NPR News: 03-21-2026 2AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – March 21, 2026, 2AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Theme: Rapid-fire update of top national and international news events

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Overview

This tightly packed NPR News Now update covers escalating Middle East military tensions, economic fallout in the U.S., a consequential legal verdict involving Elon Musk, severe weather impacts in Hawaii, an investigation into Colombia’s president, and the passing of a martial arts icon.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. Escalation in the Middle East & U.S. Military Response

[00:16–01:08]

• The U.S. is deploying three additional warships and 2,500 Marines to Iran in response to Iranian attacks on Israel and regional energy infrastructure.
• Iran has largely blocked oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, sharply raising global oil prices.
• President Trump commented on the situation, stating Iran "will not be able to maintain that stranglehold for very long and the economy will return to normal."

Military Analysis:

• Expert notes the military maneuver is “relatively safe, but you need a lot of help…you need ships, you need volume. NATO could help us, but they so far haven’t had the courage to do so.”
  • Quote [00:47]:

    “At a certain point it’ll open itself.”

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2. U.S. Economic Response: Georgia Suspends Gas Tax

[01:08–01:49]

• Georgia becomes the first state to suspend its gas tax in the wake of oil price surges.
• Governor Brian Kemp signed a 60-day suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax.
• The tax suspension is expected to provide immediate relief as fuel prices have spiked dramatically.

Details from Raul Bali (WABE):

• The suspension affects a 33-cent excise tax on gasoline and a 37-cent tax on diesel.
• AAA Data: Regular unleaded gas in Georgia jumped by more than $1 to $3.79/gal; diesel soared from $3.61 to $5.25/gal.

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3. Elon Musk Found Liable for Manipulating Twitter Stock

[02:09–02:48]

• A federal jury found Elon Musk liable for manipulating Twitter stock prices ahead of his 2022 takeover.

• Musk allegedly made misleading statements about bot accounts and the status of his acquisition bid.

• Quote from Stockholders’ Attorney Mark Malumpfy [02:39]:

  “The jury’s verdict sends a strong message that just because you’re a rich and powerful person, you still have to obey the law, and no man is above the law.”

• Musk could owe up to $2.6 billion in damages; his legal team declined comment.

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4. Severe Flooding in Hawaii

[03:00–03:17]

• Oahu, Hawaii experienced its “worst flooding in 20 years.”
• Over 200 people were rescued after heavy rains.
• Damage is estimated to exceed $1 billion, according to Governor Josh Green.

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5. Colombian President Gustavo Petro Investigated

[03:18–04:17]

• U.S. prosecutors are investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro for possible ties to drug traffickers.
• The probe follows a White House meeting between Petro and Trump about drug trafficking.
• The Colombian embassy and President Petro reject the allegations.
  • Quote [03:50]: Embassy says no “competent authority” confirmed the investigations.
• President Trump has repeatedly accused Petro of being "an ally of drug traffickers”—an accusation Petro denies.

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6. Death of Chuck Norris

[04:17–04:37]

• Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris has died at age 86.
• His family described it as a “sudden passing”; cause was not disclosed.
• Noted for his martial arts stardom and leading role in “Walker, Texas Ranger.”

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7. Stock Market Declines

[04:38–04:55]

• The Dow Jones and Nasdaq each fell 443 points; S&P 500 dropped 100 points on Friday.

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Notable Quotes

• Military Analyst [00:47]:

  “It’s relatively safe, but you need a lot of help in the sense of you need ships, you need volume. NATO could help us, but they so far haven’t had the courage to do so.”

• Attorney Mark Malumpfy [02:39]:

  “The jury’s verdict sends a strong message that just because you’re a rich and powerful person, you still have to obey the law, and no man is above the law.”

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• [00:16] — Opening update on U.S. military escalation regarding Iran
• [01:24] — Georgia suspends gas taxes, with details on expected impact
• [02:09] — Report on Elon Musk’s market manipulation verdict
• [03:00] — Massive flooding and rescues in Hawaii
• [03:35] — News of U.S. investigation into Colombia’s President
• [04:17] — Announcement of Chuck Norris’s death
• [04:38] — Summary of Friday’s stock market losses

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Summary

This NPR News Now episode delivers a brisk, fact-driven briefing on dramatic geopolitical, legal, and societal developments shaping the day—from military actions in the Gulf and economic policies at home, to a high-profile legal judgment and the loss of a cultural icon. It balances rapid updates with expert voices and direct statements from those involved, reflecting NPR's signature concise yet informative style.

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Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The US Military is deploying three more warships to Iran, along with another 2500 Marines. The the moves come as Iran continues its attacks on Israel, as well as a number of energy sites in neighboring Gulf states. Oil prices continue to climb this week as Iran has also blocked most oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. But President Trump said Friday that Iran will not be able to maintain that stranglehold for very long and the economy will return to normal.

[Military Analyst/Expert]

It's a simple military maneuver. It's relatively safe, but you need a lot of help in the sense of you need ships, you need volume. NATO could help us, but they so far haven't had the courage to do so. And others could help us, but you know, we don't use it. You know, at a certain point it'll open itself.

[Dale Willman]

Georgia is the first state to suspend its gas tax in response to the war in Iran. The war has caused fuel prices to spike across the country. From member station wabe, Raul Bali reports that the suspension takes effect immediately.

[Raul Bali]

Lawmakers cheered after Governor Brian Kemp signed the 60 day suspension of the state's motor fuel tax that was quickly pushed through the legislature this week.

In the coming days and weeks, as retailers get new shipments of motor fuel, those prices on the billboards will not include the 33 cent excess excise tax on gasoline and the 37 cent tax on diesel fuel.

Like the rest of the nation, Georgia has seen gas prices jump since the war in Iran started. According to AAA, regular unleaded has jumped more than a dollar a gallon to 379. It's been even worse for diesel, which which has jumped from 361 a gallon to 525 a gallon. For NPR News, I'm Raoul Bally in Atlanta.

[Dale Willman]

A federal jury has found Elon Musk liable for attempting to drive down the social media platform Twitter's stock prices ahead of his takeover of the company in 2022. Kate DiBenedetti with member station KQED reports.

[Kate DiBenedetti]

The civil lawsuit accused Musk of making misleading statements about the number of bots on Twitter and falsely saying that his takeover was temporarily on hold. Attorneys for the former stockholders say the billionair was trying to manipulate the market to get a better deal. Here's attorney Mark Malumpfy Speaking outside the

[Mark Malumpfy]

courtroom, the jury's verdict sends a strong message that just because you're a rich and powerful person, you still have to obey the law, and no man is above the law.

[Kate DiBenedetti]

Musk's legal team declined to comment. The plaintiff's attorneys estimate Musk could owe up to $2.6 billion in damages. For NPR News, I'm Katie DiBenedetti in San Francisco.

[Dale Willman]

More than 200 people were rescued Friday as heavy rains pummeled the Hawaiian island of Oahu and triggered the worst flooding the island has seen in 20 years. Hawaii Governor Josh Green says the damage could top $1 billion. You're listening to NPR News. U.S. prosecutors are investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro for possible ties to drug traffickers. That's according to accounts published by the New York Times and other media outlets. Manuel Reda reports. It comes about a month after Petro met with Trump at the White House to discuss combating drug trafficking.

[Manuel Rueda]

According to the Times, federal prosecutors in Manhattan and Brooklyn are in the early stages of investigating if Petro's presidential campaign met with and took money from drug traffickers. NPR has not independently verified the investigation. The Trump administration has not commented. The Colombian embassy in Washington said that reports of investigations against Petro were not confirmed by any, quote, competent authority and and added that the president has confronted criminal activity throughout his public life. President Trump has often accused Petro of being an ally of drug traffickers, a charge the Colombian president has rejected. For NPR News, I'm Manuel Rueda in Lima, Peru.

[Dale Willman]

Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris has died. He was 86 years old. His family described the death as a sudden passing but did not offer a cause of death. Norris began as a successful martial artist before moving to Hollywood, where he starred in movies and on television. He headlined the show Walker Texas Ranger, which was a staple of Saturday nights for more than eight years. On CBS, stocks fell on Friday. The Dow was down 443 points. The Nasdaq closed down 443 points as well, and the S&P 500 closed down 100 points. I'm Dale Willman, and you're listening to NPR News.

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