NPR News: 03-22-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — March 22, 2026, 12PM EDT

Host: Nora Rahm
Length: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This edition of NPR News Now delivers concise updates on the most pressing global and domestic news for midday March 22, 2026. Major stories include new federal immigration deployments at U.S. airports due to a government shutdown, escalating conflict in the Middle East, widespread power outages in Cuba, devastating floods in Hawaii, the debut of Saturday Night Live UK, key municipal elections in France, and a U.S. Supreme Court case regarding mail-in ballots.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Federal Immigration Agents at U.S. Airports

Starts at 00:35

• Context: Ongoing partial government shutdown has caused major staffing shortages at the TSA, now entering its fifth week.
• Action: President Trump is deploying federal immigration (ICE) agents to assist at U.S. airports starting tomorrow.
• Details:
  • Tom Homan, Trump’s “border czar,” is leading the operation.
    • “It’s a work in progress, but we will be at the airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along.” (Tom Homan, 01:02)
  • ICE agents will guard airport entries and exits, but will not screen baggage, as they lack training for that role.
    • “I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in that.” (Tom Homan, 01:12)
  • ICE will continue to enforce immigration laws during this deployment.
  • TSA wait times have increased sharply; many TSA officers have been working unpaid.
• Reporter: Luke Garrett (Washington)

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2. Escalating Tensions: U.S., Iran, and the Middle East Conflict

Starts at 01:36

• Update: President Trump threatens to “obliterate Iran’s power plants” if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened in 48 hours.
• Situation:
  • Conflict is in its fourth week; Iran is launching missiles regionally.
  • Iran threatens U.S. and allied infrastructure in the Gulf should its own energy infrastructure be targeted.
    • “If the US targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure, it would target water, desalination, energy and information infrastructure owned by the US in the Gulf.” (Emily Fang paraphrasing Iranian spokesperson, 01:55)
  • Saudi Arabia intercepted one of three Iranian missiles; UAE also responding to Iranian drones and missiles.
  • Arab and Muslim leaders meet in Saudi Arabia; Turkish foreign minister warns the Gulf may retaliate against Iran.
  • So far, Gulf countries have expelled Iranian diplomats but have not taken military action.
  • Two Iranian missiles hit southern Israel, injuring over 120 people.
• Reporter: Emily Fang (Van, Turkey)

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3. Power Crisis in Cuba

Starts at 02:39

• Event: Cuba experienced its third major blackout this month, leaving the entire island without power.
• Effects:
  • “Cellular and Internet service was almost entirely unavailable in most areas.”
  • Recurring power outages are attributed to infrastructure breakdowns.
• No direct quotes

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4. Severe Flooding in Hawaii

Starts at 02:58

• Impact: Damage may exceed $1 billion after prolonged heavy rains cause some of Hawaii’s worst flooding in two decades.
• Actions:
  • Evacuation orders lifted for Oahu’s North Shore but extended in Maui County.
  • Flood alerts remain for parts of Hawaii Island.
  • About 200 National Guard members activated; search and rescue teams are operating where weather allowed.
• Reporter: Bill Dorman (Hawaii Public Radio, 03:12)

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5. British Saturday Night Live Debut

Starts at 03:32

• Event: The UK version of Saturday Night Live premiered on Sky TV.
• Reception:
  • Opening skit featured a parody of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
  • “Britain is funny, but Saturday Night Live UK is not. Yet.” (The Times of London, via Vicki Barker, 03:46)
  • “A shockingly competent spin-off, untroubled by either annoying Americanisms or annoying Americans.” (Sunday Telegraph, via Vicki Barker)
  • The Observer critic notes “it didn't fail and it could have been a lot worse.”
• Reporter: Vicki Barker (London)

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6. French Municipal Elections

Starts at 04:28

• Event: Second and final round of municipal elections underway; 1,500+ positions at stake.
• Significance:
  • Seen as an indicator of public sentiment ahead of 2027 presidential elections.
• No direct quotes

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7. Supreme Court Case: Mail-in Ballots

Starts at 04:48

• Upcoming: U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments on Mississippi’s mail-in ballot grace period.
• Case:
  • Concerns ballots postmarked on Election Day but arriving later.
  • Brought by Trump allies, who seek to restrict mail-in voting “except in certain cases, such as illness or serving in military.”
• No direct quotes

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tom Homan, on ICE at airports:

  • “It’s a work in progress, but we will be at the airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along.” (01:02)
  • “I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine because they’re not trained in that.” (01:12)

• Iran security spokesperson (paraphrased by Emily Fang):

  • “If the US targeted Iran’s energy infrastructure, it would target water, desalination, energy and information infrastructure owned by the US in the Gulf.” (01:55)

• Media on SNL UK’s debut:

  • “Britain is funny, but Saturday Night Live UK is not. Yet.” (The Times of London, 03:46)
  • “A shockingly competent spin-off, untroubled by either annoying Americanisms or annoying Americans.” (Sunday Telegraph)

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Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:35 — U.S. Airports: ICE Deployments Amid TSA Staff Shortages
• 01:36 — Middle East Crisis: U.S. Threats, Iran, and Regional Response
• 02:39 — Cuba: Island-wide Blackout
• 02:58 — Hawaii: Devastating Floods and Ongoing Evacuations
• 03:32 — SNL UK: British Debut and Reviews
• 04:28 — France: Municipal Elections Significance
• 04:48 — U.S. Supreme Court: Mail-in Ballot Case

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End of summary.

Transcript

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[Nora Rahm]

live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump is sending federal immigration agents to US Airports starting tomorrow as the Transportation Security Administration faces staffing issues from the partial government shutdown now in its fifth week. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

Trump's border czar, Tom Homan is in charge of the ICE deployments to US Airports. On Sunday morning, Homan told CNN he doesn't have a finalized plan yet.

[Tom Homan]

It's a work in progress, but we will be at the airports tomorrow helping TSA move those lines along.

[Luke Garrett]

Homan said he expects ICE agents to guard entries and exits at the nation's busiest airports.

[Tom Homan]

I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X ray machine because they're not trained in that.

[Luke Garrett]

While their goal is to help TSA move passengers through security lines, Homan said ICE will still enforce immigration laws at US Airport. TSA security wait times have increased as more agents call out sick or quit. Most TSA officers have worked without pay during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Rahm]

President Trump is warning that the United States would, quote, obliterate Iran's power plants if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The conflict in the Middle east is entering its fourth week. NPR's Emily Fang reports. Tehran continues to launch missiles in the region. And as US And Israeli strikes hit

[Emily Fang]

Iran, a spokesperson affiliated with Iran's security branches said if the US Targeted Iran's energy infrastructure, it would target water, desalination, energy and information infrastructure owned by the US in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted one of three Iranian missiles fired at it overnight. The United Arab Emirates said it was responding to Iranian drones and missiles. Speaking from Saudi Arabia, where leaders from Arab and Muslim countries are meeting, Turkey's foreign minister warned the Gulf may be forced to retaliate against Iran. So far, Gulf countries have expelled Iranian diplomats, but they have not intervened militarily in the conflict. Two Iranian missiles also hit southern Israel overnight, injuring more than 120 people. Emily Fang, NPR News, Van, Turkey.

[Nora Rahm]

Utility crews are working to restore power in Cuba after the third major blackout this month. The power grid collapsed last night, plunging the entire island into the dark. Cellular and Internet service was almost entirely unavailable in most areas. Power outages have become relatively common in recent years because of breakdowns in infrastructure. Damage across Hawaii could top $1 billion. After weeks of heavy rain triggered some of the worst flooding in 20 years. Much of the state remains under a flood watch. Hawaii Public Radio's Bill Dorman reports evacuation

[Bill Dorman]

orders were lifted late Saturday for the north Shore of Oahu, but were extended to parts of Maui County. Flooding alerts have also been posted for parts of Hawaii Island. Search and rescue teams have moved in where the weather has stabilized. About 200 National Guard members have been activated to help with operations.

[Nora Rahm]

This is NPR News. A British version of Saturday Night Live debuted on Sky TV last night. Vicki Barker reports.

[Vicki Barker (Audience Member)]

Oh, golly. Well, what if Donald shouts at me?

[Vicki Barker]

British viewers would have instantly recognized their charisma challenged Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the opening skit. Also watching British TV reviewers pens poised the Times of London's verdict quote, britain is funny, but Saturday Night Live UK Is not. Yet its reviewer wants to see more understated British humor in future installments. But the Sunday Telegraph calls the show, quote, a shockingly competent spin off, untroubled by either annoying Americanisms or annoying Americans. And to the observer, it didn't fail and it could have been a lot worse. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London.

[Nora Rahm]

French voters are casting ballots today in the second and final round of municipal elections. There are more than 1500 positions at stake in cities and towns across the country. The results will be closely watched as an indication of voter sentiment ahead of next year's presidential election. The U.S. supreme Court hears arguments tomorrow on mail in ballots. The case involves Mississippi's practice of allowing a grace period for accepting ballots postmarked on Election Day but arriving later. It was brought by allies of President Trump, who wants to bar mail in voting altogether, except in certain cases, such as illness or serving in military. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington.

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