NPR News: 03-22-2026 10PM EDT

Summary

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

Date: March 23, 2026
Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Duration: 5 minutes

---

Episode Overview

This edition of NPR News Now delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of the latest national and international events. The episode focuses on political tensions surrounding airport security and immigration, escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, a closely-watched jury trial on social media addiction, a significant Senate confirmation, Kenya’s new policy on citizens fighting in Ukraine, and a major box office success.

---

Main News Stories & Key Insights

1. Trump Administration to Deploy Immigration Agents to Airports

• There is uncertainty and concern surrounding plans by the Trump administration to send immigration agents to U.S. airports in response to long security lines.
• Key Points:

  • Lack of clarity about agents’ specific roles and locations.

  • Democratic leaders and the TSA union express fears that untrained ICE agents could increase chaos and pose safety risks.

  • The Homeland Security Secretary, Tom Holman, states agents might screen airport entries/exits, but their qualifications are questioned.

  • An ongoing partial government shutdown over ICE enforcement changes has left TSA officers unpaid, prompting more than 400 resignations and thousands of call-outs.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “It's not clear yet where they'll go or what exactly they will do.” – Jennifer Ludden, 00:54
    • “I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X ray machine because they're not trained in that.” – Carrie Kahn, 01:18

---

2. Iran Launches Major Airstrikes on Israeli Cities

• Iran targeted cities near its own nuclear research center, with missile strikes hitting Israeli locations and leaving over 100 wounded.
• Carrie Kahn reports from Arad, one of the impacted cities.

  • Description of devastation: windows blown out, furniture and personal belongings strewn, residents searching through debris.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “There isn't a window around and the cars parked all around. There's a large bus with all its windows blown out. And you could see directly into people's homes and their apartments...clothes everywhere, and people are just looking around, seeing if they can recognize anything of what these apartment buildings look like.” – Carrie Kahn, 01:55

---

3. Jury Deliberations in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

• A Los Angeles jury is close to delivering a verdict in a landmark case debating whether Instagram and YouTube intentionally foster addiction in young users.
• Case Details:

  • Plaintiff: California woman claims depression, anxiety, and body image issues are linked to compulsive social media use starting in childhood.

  • Argument: Lawyers allege Meta and Google built “defective products”; companies deny responsibility, claiming mental health issues have many causes.

  • Broad Implications: First jury trial of its kind, with 1,600 related cases pending; verdict could shape future settlements.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “It's the first time the question of social media addiction has been before a jury, and the case is tied to 1600 other pending cases. The outcome could shape how those cases eventually settle.” – Bobby Allen, 03:17

---

4. Senate Advances Mark Wayne Mullen’s DHS Nomination

• The Senate holds a weekend session to advance Mark Wayne Mullen’s nomination for Homeland Security Secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.
• If confirmed, Mullen (Cherokee Nation member) becomes the second Native American in a U.S. cabinet.

---

5. Kenya Grants Amnesty for Citizens Fighting in Ukraine

• Kenya announces it will not prosecute citizens who joined Russia’s military, an act previously outlawed without government approval.
• Details:

  • Agreement with Russia to halt further Kenyan recruitment.

  • Repatriation for current Kenyan fighters is now possible.

  • Reports of deceptive recruitment tactics and over a thousand Kenyans enlisted.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “Russia and Kenya last week signed an agreement to hold further recruitment of Kenyans. It allows those currently deployed to terminate their contracts and return home.” – Immanuel Egunza, 04:19

---

6. Box Office Milestone: ‘Project Hail Mary’ Debuts Strong

• Project Hail Mary (Amazon MGM) earns an estimated $80 million in its opening weekend.
• Marks the studio’s biggest debut and the second-largest ever for a non-franchise film (after Oppenheimer).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's not clear yet where they'll go or what exactly they will do.”
  — Jennifer Ludden, 00:54
• “I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X ray machine because they're not trained in that.”
  — Carrie Kahn, 01:18
• “There isn't a window around and the cars parked all around...people are just looking around, seeing if they can recognize anything of what these apartment buildings look like.”
  — Carrie Kahn, 01:55
• “It's the first time the question of social media addiction has been before a jury, and the case is tied to 1600 other pending cases.”
  — Bobby Allen, 03:17
• “Russia and Kenya last week signed an agreement to hold further recruitment of Kenyans. It allows those currently deployed to terminate their contracts and return home.”
  — Immanuel Egunza, 04:19

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:35 — U.S. plans to deploy immigration agents to airports
• 01:39 — Iran-Israel missile strikes and local impact
• 02:33 — Social media addiction trial in Los Angeles
• 03:31 — DHS Secretary nomination; Kenya-Ukraine amnesty deal
• 04:53 — Box office: 'Project Hail Mary'

---

This summary captures the urgent tone, global reach, and impactful reporting characteristic of NPR News Now, giving listeners a meaningful grasp of the world’s top stories as of March 23, 2026.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

This message comes from Cachava. Sometimes you crave a treat while prioritizing your wellness goals. Cachava's newest coffee flavor is the perfect treat. This all in one nutrition shake delivers bold flavor from decaffeinated Brazilian beans with 25 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, greens and more. Treat yourself to the flavor and nutrition your body craves. Go to cachava.com and use code NPR. New customers get 15% off their first order. That's K A C H A V A.com code NPR

[Jeanine Herbst]

live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. There's confusion and concern as the Trump administration plans to deploy immigration agents tomorrow to help with long airport security lines. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. It's not clear yet where where they'll go or what exactly they will do.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Democratic leaders in Congress say immigration agents could make airport chaos worse and may even pose a danger. The head of the union that represents TSA officers echoed that and said ICE agents don't have the training to detect explosives and other threats. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Holman told CNN Sunday that ICE agents could screen airport entries and exits.

[Carrie Kahn]

I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X ray machine because they're

[Jennifer Ludden]

not trained in that a part government shutdown over demands by Democrats for changes to ICE immigration enforcement has left TSA officers unpaid. DHS says that's led more than 400 to quit and thousands more to call out from work. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Iran launched a new wave of airstrikes in Israel last night with missiles striking two cities near Iran's nuclear research center. More than 100 people were wounded. NPR's Kerry Khan is in the Israeli city of Irad, where one of the Iranian missiles hit.

[Carrie Kahn]

Here in Arab the missile fell between several apartment buildings in this huge apartment complex, and it didn't hit an apartment directly, but the blast of it blew out walls, windows. There isn't a window around and the cars parked all around. There's a large bus with all its windows blown out. And you could see directly into people's homes and their apartments. There are closets that were just ripped open. There isn't one glass window still. You see furniture strewn about, clothes everywhere, and people are just looking around, seeing if they can recognize anything of what these apartment buildings look like.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Carrie Kahn reporting from Arad, Israel. A jury in Los Angeles is expected to deliver a verdict this week in a trial over social media addiction. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, jurors heard weeks of testimony about whether Instagram and YouTube were designed to hook young people.

[Bobby Allen]

A jury of five men and seven women have been deliberating for more than a week and have indicated they may be close to a verdict. The case focused on a California woman who said she developed depression, anxiety and body image issues after compulsively using Instagram and YouTube as a young child. Lawyers for the woman say Meta and Google built defective products that led to her becoming addicted to social media and contributed to her mental health struggles. Tech company attorneys say social media platforms are being scapegoated for complex mental health issues that have many root causes. It's the first time the question of social media addiction has been before a jury, and the case is tied to 1600 other pending cases. The outcome could shape how those cases eventually settle. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Senate met in a rare weekend session advancing the nomination of Mark Wayne Mullen to be Trump's president, Trump's next homeland security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem. His confirmation is expected earlier next week. If confirmed, Mullen, a member of the Cherokee Nation, would be the second Native American to serve as a cabinet member. Kenya says it will grant amnesty to its citizens who enlisted to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine. That follows talks in Moscow last week between Russian and Kenyan foreign affairs ministers. Emmanuel Egunza has more from Nairobi.

[Immanuel Egunza]

Kenya's foreign affairs minister, Moussali Mudavadi, says the government will not prosecute citizens who joined Russia's military despite laws banning enlistment in foreign armed forces without approval. Russia and Kenya last week signed an agreement to hold further recruitment of Kenyans. It allows those currently deployed to terminate their contracts and return home. Officials say more than a thousand Kenyans are known to have been recruited. Some have been repatriated, while others remain on the front lines. Some families report Russia making dishonest and lucrative offers to recruit Kenyans for its depleted forces. Russia maintains the enlistments were voluntary. For NPR News, I'm Immanuel Egunza in Nairobi, Kenya.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, Amazon's MGM's Project Hail Mary took the top spot with an estimated $80 million in ticket sales. It's the biggest opening for the studio and the second biggest ever for a non franchise film behind Only Oppenheimer. I'm Jeanine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Commercial Narrator]

This message comes from Schwab at Schwab, how you invest is your choice, not theirs. That's why when it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices. You can invest and trade on your own, plus get advice and more comprehensive wealth solutions to help meet your unique needs. With award winning service, low costs and transparent advice, you can manage your wealth your way at Schwab. Visit schwab.com to learn more.