NPR News Now — Episode Summary

Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode: NPR News: 03-18-2026 2PM EDT
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: March 18, 2026

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise roundup of pressing national and international news as of March 18, 2026. The bulletin covers major political developments in the U.S., updates on escalating conflict in the Middle East, economic decisions from the Federal Reserve, a historic policy move on medical psilocybin in New Mexico, and a spacewalk at the International Space Station.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Heated Senate Confirmation Hearing: Mark Wayne Mullen for Homeland Security Secretary

• (00:01–01:05)
• Mark Wayne Mullen, the nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, faced intense scrutiny in his Senate confirmation hearing.
  • Bipartisan outrage over Mullen's controversial past remarks.
  • Senator Rand Paul confronted Mullen for previously calling him a "freaking snake" and allegedly supporting a physical attack on Paul.
    • Rand Paul [00:20]: “To know that you supported the felonious, violent attack on me from behind.”
  • Mark Wayne Mullen rebuttal: Denied supporting violence, said he "understood it," not approved it.
    • Mullen [00:32]: “I did not say I supported it. I said understood it. There's a difference.”
  • Democrats criticized Mullen for blaming two US citizens for their deaths at the hands of immigration agents; he conceded he should have retracted those statements.
• Reporter: Claudia Grizales

2. Federal Reserve Leaves Interest Rate Unchanged

• (01:05–01:18)
• The Federal Reserve decided to keep its benchmark interest rate stable, aiming to balance a softening job market against persistent inflation.
• Wartime spikes in energy prices are a concern amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

3. Intelligence Chiefs Grilled on War with Iran

• (01:18–01:51)
• Senators pressed U.S. intelligence leaders on what information the Trump administration had prior to launching military action against Iran.
• Senator Jon Ossoff queried DNI Tulsi Gabbard on claims regarding Iran’s nuclear program:
  • Jon Ossoff [01:37]: “That opening statement ... stated that as a result of last summer's airstrikes, quote, iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote. Correct?”
  • Denali Wilson [01:50]: “That's right.”

4. President Trump Temporarily Lifts Jones Act to Lower Gas Prices

• (01:51–02:31)
• In response to gas price spikes tied to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, President Trump announced a 60-day suspension of the Jones Act.
• This move allows foreign-built and -operated ships to carry domestic cargo, aiming to increase supply and reduce costs during a politically sensitive election year.
  • Reporter: Deepa Shivaram

5. Escalation in the Iran-Israel Conflict

• (02:31–02:52)
• Israeli forces reportedly assassinated Iran's Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib, the latest in a series of targeted killings since war broke out over two weeks ago.
• Iran's supreme leader was killed earlier in the conflict.

6. New Mexico Launches Medical Psilocybin Access Fund

• (02:52–04:07)
• New Mexico becomes the first U.S. state to allocate public funds, $630,000, for equitable access to medical psilocybin treatment, regardless of income.
• Denali Wilson, Healing Advocacy Fund [03:22]:
  • “Psilocybin is a type of psychedelic and psychoactive compounds that temporarily alters a person's senses. How we perceive our environment, how we're perceiving time, our emotional state.”
• The program will cover treatment for PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, and end-of-life care. Legal groundwork was laid by the New Mexico Medical Psilocybin Act in 2025, with the program launching later this year.
  • Reporter: Jeanette Didios

7. NASA Astronauts Conduct Spacewalk at ISS

• (04:07–04:40)
• NASA successfully conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. A prior attempt was delayed in January due to a medical emergency among Crew 11, which led to their evacuation back to Earth.

8. Stock Market Update

• Dow Jones fell by over 400 points; S&P and NASDAQ down by about half a percent each.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Rand Paul confronts Mullen [00:20]:
  “To know that you supported the felonious, violent attack on me from behind...”
• Mark Wayne Mullen clarifies stance [00:32]:
  "I did not say I supported it. I said understood it. There's a difference."
• Jon Ossoff pushes DNI Gabbard [01:37]:
  “…[the] airstrikes, quote, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated, end quote. Correct?”
• Denali Wilson on psychedelics and therapy [03:22]:
  “Psilocybin is a type of psychedelic and psychoactive compounds that temporarily alters a person's senses...”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mark Wayne Mullen Confirmation Hearing — 00:01–01:05
• Federal Reserve Rate Decision — 01:05–01:18
• Intelligence Briefing on Iran War — 01:18–01:51
• Trump Lifts Jones Act — 01:51–02:31
• Iran-Israel Conflict Update — 02:31–02:52
• New Mexico Psilocybin Fund — 02:52–04:07
• NASA Spacewalk — 04:07–04:40
• Market Update — 04:40

This five-minute bulletin delivers a brisk yet thorough sweep of the day's key political, economic, and scientific developments, maintaining NPR’s straightforward reporting tone while highlighting political tensions and emerging trends.