NPR News: 03-22-2026 10AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: 03-22-2026 10AM EDT

Date: March 22, 2026
Host: Windsor Johnston
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of breaking national and international news, covering U.S. immigration and DHS funding issues, the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and its global consequences, domestic politics on transgender athletes and voting laws, a nationwide blackout in Cuba, severe flooding in Hawaii, and an upcoming Supreme Court case on mail-in ballots.

---

Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Federal Immigration Enforcement at U.S. Airports

[00:16 – 00:45]

• Federal Deployment:
  The White House will deploy federal immigration agents to U.S. airports starting Monday.

  • Quote: "I'm currently working on the plan now of execution, working with the director of ICE and administrator at TSA, the acting administrator. So we'll put together a plan today and we'll execute tomorrow." — Tom Homan, border czar ([00:31])

• Context:
  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been shut down since February due to a funding dispute. TSA agents are working without pay, causing lengthy lines and staffing shortages at airports.

2. U.S.-Iran War: Uncertain Messaging and Global Impact

[00:45 – 02:46]

• War Uncertainty:
  President Trump claims he is winding down military action in Iran, but statements remain inconsistent.

  • Quote: "The president said he wants to wind it down... he said the war will end very soon. However, in another interview, he asked, why should we have a ceasefire when we are defeating Iran? I really don't know which statement reflects the president's real intention." — Hossein Mousavian, former Iranian nuclear negotiator ([01:29])

• Duration:
  The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran is now in its fourth week.

• International Ripple: Impact on UK Economy:
  British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is holding an emergency meeting over the war's effect on the cost of living, meeting with top ministers and the Bank of England.

  • Gas prices and mortgage rates have surged, with thousands of home loan products withdrawn.
  • Fuel and fertilizer prices are rising as British farmers plant spring crops.
  • Quote: "Peppers, tomatoes, it'll be over the next month, six weeks, that we see those cost increases." — Tom Bradshaw, National Farmers Union president ([02:41])

• Political Stakes:
  The crisis reignites Britain's cost of living concerns ahead of local elections, challenging Labour's strategy to highlight recent economic improvements.

3. Cuba Nationwide Blackout

[03:03 – 03:11]

• Event:
  Cuba suffers another nationwide power grid collapse, resulting in total blackout. It’s the second such incident in a week.

4. U.S. Politics: Transgender Athlete Ban Blocked, Voting Legislation Debated

[03:11 – 03:49]

• Senate Action:
  The Republican-led Senate blocks a proposal to ban transgender athletes from women's sports — a top priority for President Trump.
  • The debate continues over wider legislation on voting, calling for stricter voter ID and registration requirements.

5. Hawaii Flood Emergency

[03:49 – 04:26]

• Historic Floods:
  Hawaii faces its worst flooding in two decades with estimated damages already near $1 billion.
  • Over 5,000 people evacuated.
  • Power outages for more than 8,000 customers, mostly on Oahu.
  • Flood watch now extends to Maui.
  • Quote: "Hawaii Governor Josh Green calls it the worst flooding in 20 years to hit the state and estimates damage is already around a billion dollars and counting." — Bill Dorman, Hawaii Public Radio ([03:49])

6. Supreme Court: Mail-In Ballot Deadlines

[04:26 – 04:55]

• Case Overview:
  The Supreme Court is set to review whether states can count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving afterward.

  • The case spotlights Mississippi's deadline and similar laws in other states, questioning their compatibility with federal statute.

• Political Climate:
  President Trump continues to denounce mail-in voting, labeling the practice as “corrupt.”

---

Notable Quotes

• Tom Homan (Border Czar):
  “I'm currently working on the plan now of execution, working with the director of ICE and administrator at TSA, the acting administrator. So we'll put together a plan today and we'll execute tomorrow.” ([00:31])

• Hossein Mousavian (Former Iranian Negotiator):
  “The president said he wants to wind it down... in another interview, he asked, why should we have a ceasefire when we are defeating Iran? I really don't know which statement reflects the president's real intention.” ([01:29])

• Tom Bradshaw (National Farmers Union):
  “Peppers, tomatoes, it'll be over the next month, six weeks, that we see those cost increases.” ([02:41])

• Bill Dorman (Hawaii Public Radio):
  “Hawaii Governor Josh Green calls it the worst flooding in 20 years to hit the state and estimates damage is already around a billion dollars and counting.” ([03:49])

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:16: Start of news briefing; headline on federal immigration agents at airports
• 00:45: DHS funding dispute and airport impact
• 01:29: Discussion with Hossein Mousavian on U.S.-Iran war ambiguity
• 02:20: UK emergency meeting over Iran war’s economic effects
• 03:03: Cuba’s nationwide blackout
• 03:11: Senate action on transgender athletes and voting laws
• 03:49: Hawaii flood crisis and evacuation
• 04:26: Supreme Court to weigh mail-in ballot deadlines

---

This episode offers a rapid yet comprehensive snapshot of global and domestic challenges at the intersection of politics, security, economics, and natural disaster — with clear implications for everyday life in the U.S. and abroad.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from NPR's sponsor, the Capital One Venturex business card. Earn unlimited double miles on every purchase with the Capital One VentureX business card. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com for details.

[B]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The White House says it will deploy federal immigration agents to US Airports starting on Monday. Specifically speaking on cnn, border czar Tom Homan said the administration is working to finalize plans.

[C]

I'm currently working on the plan now of execution, working with the director of ICE and administrator at tsa, the acting administrator. So we'll put together a plan today and we'll execute tomorrow.

[B]

The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since February over a funding dispute. Senate Democrats are refusing to approve a spending bill for the DHS until changes are made to its immigration enforcement policies. TSA agents have been working without pay for more than a month. That's led to long lines at U.S. airports and staffing shortages. The Trump administration is facing growing questions about how the war in Iran will end. President Trump says he's winding down military efforts in the region, but it's unclear what that would look like in practice. Former Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian tells NPR that the messaging from Washington has been inconsistent.

[D]

The president said he wants to wind it down. In another interview also, he said the same he said the war will end very soon. However, in another interview, he asked, why should we have a ceasefire when we are defeating Iran? I really don't know which statement reflects the president's real intention. Nevertheless, I hope a decision is made to bring this war to an end.

[B]

The war between the U.S. israel and Iran is now in its fourth week. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is holding an emergency meeting with top cabinet ministers and the head of the bank of England this week. Vicki Barker reports. They're expected to discuss the Iran war's impact on the cost of living there.

[E]

The Iran war has already pushed up gas prices and mortgage rates in Britain, with nearly 1,000 home loan products pulled off the market. And fuel and fertilizer prices are surging just as farmers are planting spring crops. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union, warning the BBC things like cucumbers,

[F]

peppers, tomatoes, it'll be over the next month, six weeks, that we see those cost increases.

[E]

The war has reignited Britain's cost of living crisis just ahead of local elections in early May, when Keir Starmer's struggling Labour Party had been hoping to emphasize the improving economy. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[B]

Cuba is without electricity after its power grid collapsed again. State officials are reporting a nationwide blackout, the second in a week. This is NPR News. The Republican led Senate has blocked a proposal that would ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. The measure is one of President Trump's priorities as he pushes Congress to act on a broader voting and election bill. Senators are holding a rare weekend session to debate the legislation, which includes stricter voter registration requirements and mandates photo ID at the polls. A powerful storm continues to move across Hawaii this weekend. Hawaii Public Radio's Bill Dorman reports the entire state remains under a flood watch.

[G]

Hawaii Governor Josh Green calls it the worst flooding in 20 years to hit the state and estimates damage is already around a billion dollars and counting. The storm system slammed Oahu Friday night and Saturday, swamping houses, cars and power lines and forcing the evacuation of more than 5,000 people. Now the flash flooding and the evacuations are moving east across the island chain to Maui. Power is out to more than 8,000 customers across the islands, the vast majority of them on the most populous island of Oahu. For NPR News, I'm Bill Dorman in Honolulu.

[B]

Supreme Court is set to consider whether states can count mail in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive afterward. The case centers on Mississippi's deadline for late arriving ballots and whether that, along with similar laws in more than a dozen states, conflicts with federal law. President Trump has continued to criticize voting by mail, calling it, quote, corrupt. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

[H]

This message comes from Schwab. Everyone has moments when they could have done better. Same goes for where you invest. Level up and invest smarter with Schwab. Get market insights, education and human help when you need it.