NPR News: 03-20-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – March 20, 2026, 2PM EDT

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers concise, up-to-the-minute global and national news updates. Today's broadcast, anchored by Kristen Wright, covers high-stakes geopolitical tensions involving the U.S., Ukraine, Iran, and Russia, major changes in American broadcasting, rising violence in Africa, and developments in U.S.-Swiss relations and commemorative coinage.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. U.S., NATO, and Middle East Tensions

[00:16–01:26]

• President Trump Criticizes NATO Allies (00:16)

  • On social media, President Trump referred to NATO allies as "cowards," accusing them of reluctance to aid efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz for oil tankers threatened by the current Iran war.
  • Trump insisted NATO was not doing enough to address Tehran's attacks on vital energy infrastructure.
    • Quote: "President Trump called NATO allies cowards on social media today." – Kristen Wright [00:16]

• Ukraine Assists Middle East with Drone Defense (00:44)

  • Ukrainian officials, under security chief Rustam Umarov, are sending anti-drone units to five Middle Eastern nations: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.
  • Objective: To counter Iranian Shahed attack drones menacing U.S.-aligned Gulf nations.
  • Ukraine’s air defense experience is being exported, after enduring over 57,000 Russian drone attacks since 2022.
    • Quote: "The main focus is intercepting shahead attack drones, which Iran has launched on Gulf nations hosting American bases." – Joanna Kakis [01:08]

2. U.S.-Ukraine Diplomatic Efforts

[01:26]

• Ukrainian peace negotiators are heading to Washington for high-level meetings with White House envoys in hopes of advancing talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war.

3. James Comey Legal Developments

[01:26–02:34]

• Former FBI Director Subpoenaed (01:26)
  • A federal grand jury in Florida has subpoenaed James Comey, months after a separate case against him was dismissed.
  • The current probe reportedly centers on U.S. intelligence concerning foreign election interference.
  • President Trump has long accused Comey of misconduct and has been vocal in encouraging legal actions against him.
    • Quote: "President Trump has called the former FBI director a liar and a leaker, and he's blamed Jim Comey for an investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russia years ago." – Carrie Johnson [01:51]
  • Comey maintains his innocence, claiming he's subject to vindictive prosecution.

4. Historic End for CBS News Radio

[02:34–03:31]

• CBS News Radio, after nearly a century, will end broadcasting in May 2026.
  • Around 700 affiliate stations currently carry CBS News Radio.
  • All team positions will be eliminated; attributed broadly to "shifts in programming strategies and challenging economic realities."
    • Quote: "The memo says all positions on the radio team are being eliminated." – Kristen Wright [02:44]
  • "World News Roundup" is the nation’s longest-running newscast, airing since 1938.

5. Rising Terrorism in Africa

[03:31–04:20]

• Nigeria: Largest global increase in terrorism-related deaths in 2025—up 46%.
  • Islamist militants and criminal gangs are driving violence, especially in the country's north and central areas.
  • Recent suicide attack in Maiduguri killed 23 people—the worst in years.
  • Boko Haram and other groups are reportedly strengthening.
    • Quote: "This week, 23 people were killed in a suspected suicide attack in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, in one of the worst such attacks in years." – Emmanuel Akinwotu [03:46]
• DR Congo: Terrorism-related deaths surged by nearly 28%, largely due to the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces.

6. Switzerland Halts Weapons Exports to U.S.

[04:20]

• Switzerland suspends arms exports to the U.S., citing neutrality amid the ongoing Iran war.

7. Trump Commemorative Coin Approved

[04:20–04:56]

• A federal arts commission has approved the design for a gold coin bearing President Trump’s image, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.
  • U.S. Mint will proceed with production, but denomination and size are not yet determined.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kristen Wright on Trump’s NATO criticism:
  "President Trump called NATO allies cowards on social media today." [00:16]

• Joanna Kakis on Ukraine’s aid to the Middle East:
  "Ukrainian security chief Rustam Umira visited five Middle Eastern countries in the past week to talk about countering drone attacks." [00:44]

• Carrie Johnson on Comey investigation:
  "Now a grand jury in Florida has issued a new subpoena to Comey, according to a source familiar with the matter." [01:53]

• Kristen Wright on the closure of CBS News Radio:
  "CBS News Radio’s signature broadcast, World News Roundup, is the longest running newscast in the country." [02:48]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• U.S.-NATO-Iran Tensions: 00:16–01:26
• Ukraine Peace Negotiations: 01:26
• James Comey Legal News: 01:26–02:34
• CBS News Radio Ends Broadcasts: 02:34–03:31
• African Terrorism Report: 03:31–04:20
• Switzerland Halts Arms Exports: 04:20
• Trump Commemorative Coin: 04:20–04:56

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Tone and Language

True to the NPR News Now format, the episode maintains a brisk, factual, and impartial tone, focusing on essential developments with clarity and context for listeners seeking rapid, reliable updates.

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Transcript

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[Kristen Wright]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. President Trump called NATO allies cowards on social media today. He said they don't want to help open the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers threatened by the Iran war. Tehran has been striking energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials say they've deployed anti drone units to several Middle Eastern countries. NPR's Joanna Kakis reports from Kyiv. Ukraine has developed an air defense system to protect its cities from Russian drones nightly.

[Joanna Kakis]

Ukrainian security chief Rustam Umira visited five Middle Eastern countries in the past week to talk about countering drone attacks. Writing on social media, Umarov said Ukrainian specialists had been sent to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan. The main focus is intercepting shahead attack drones, which Iran has launched on Gulf nations hosting American bases. The US And Israel initiated the war on Iran. Shahed drones resemble small jets and carry explosives. Russia makes its own shaheds and has used more than 57,000 of these drones on Ukraine. Joanna Kakis and PR News, Kyiv.

[Kristen Wright]

Ukraine's president says peace negotiators are heading to Washington to meet with White House envoys to move forward negotiations to end Russia's full scale war against Ukraine. Former FBI Director James Comey has been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury months after a separate case against him collapsed. NPR's Kerry Kahn. KERRY Johnson reports President Trump has been eager to see Comey targeted by the justice system.

[Carrie Johnson]

President Trump has called the former FBI director a liar and a leaker, and he's blamed Jim Comey for an investigation into Trump campaign ties to Russia years ago. Now a grand jury in Florida has issued a new subpoena to Comey, according to a source familiar with the matter. It seems to be part of a broader case focused on U.S. intelligence reports about foreign election interference. Comey's lawyer declined to comment. Also, DOJ is fighting to revive a separate case against Comey that a judge threw out after finding the U.S. attorney in Virginia had been appointed illegally. Comey says he's the target of vindictive prosecution and there's no basis to charge him with any wrongdoing. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Kristen Wright]

After nearly 100 years on the air, CBS News Radio will end broadcasting in May, according to an internal CBS memo obtained by NPR. CBS News Radio is heard on roughly 700 affiliates. The memo says all positions on the radio team are being eliminated. It calls this a necessary decision stemming from a shift in station programming strategies and challenging economic realities. CBS Radio's signature broadcast, World News Roundup, is the longest running newscast in the country. It has delivered original reporting to the nation since 1938, including legendary newscaster Edward R. Murrow's World War II reports from London. This is NPR News from Washington. Violence in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo by Islamist and militant groups rose sharply last year. That's according to a report by the Institute for economics and peace. NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu reports.

[Emmanuel Akinwotu]

Researchers from the Institute for Economics and Peace say Nigeria recorded the largest increase globally in terrorism related deaths in 2025, with killings rising by 46% from the previous year. Experts say the surge is down to a long running security crisis that has seen Islamist militant groups and criminal gangs launch attacks on communities mostly across Nigeria's north and central region. This week, 23 people were killed in a suspected suicide attack in Maiduguri, northeast Nigeria, in one of the worst such attacks in years. Local politicians have warned that Boko Haram and other militant groups are growing in strength in the region. In Congo, terrorism related deaths rose by nearly 28% amid rising attacks by the ISIS affiliated Allied Democratic Forces. Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR News, Lagos, Switzerland announced

[Kristen Wright]

today it's halting weapons exports to the U.S. the Swiss government says it won't issue licenses for companies to send arms. It cites neutrality in the Iran war. A federal arts commission has approved a final design for a commemorative gold coin honoring President Trump. The commission says the coin bearing his image, celebrates America's 250th birthday this summer. The approval clears the way for the US Mint to start making the coin. Mint officials say the size and denomination of the coin have not been determined. I'm Kristen Wright. This is NPR News in Washington.

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