NPR News: 03-23-2026 12PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – March 23, 2026, 12PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers concise updates on major news stories from the U.S. and abroad, including diplomatic developments between the U.S. and Iran, a deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport, a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles, a hate crime investigation in London, the latest on U.S. stock markets, and box office news for Amazon’s new film.

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Key News Discussions & Insights

1. U.S.–Iran Diplomatic Talks

[00:01–01:12]

• President Trump announced ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran to end hostilities, stating:
  • “Both countries will meet to end the war, quote, very, very soon.” (Lakshmi Singh quoting Trump, 00:19)
• Deal objectives:
  • Iran would stop enriching uranium and remove current stockpiles.
  • Trump suggested, “We’ll take it ourselves,” in reference to the enriched uranium. (Deepa Shivaram, 00:48)
• U.S. postpones strikes on Iranian power and energy sites for five days, remarking the talks are “productive.”
• Iran’s Foreign Ministry denies having dialogue with Trump.

Notable Quote

“If this happens, it's a great start for Iran to build itself back and it's everything that we want. And it's also great for Israel and ... the other Middle Eastern countries.”
—Bob Mondello, 00:35

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2. LaGuardia Runway Collision

[01:12–01:47]

• Incident: Two pilots killed when an Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck during landing.
• Impact: 40 passengers and crew hospitalized, with some serious injuries.
• Context: The fire truck was responding to an unrelated United Airlines flight emergency.
• Airport status: LaGuardia closed until at least 2pm Eastern.

ATC Audio

“Truck 1 and Company LaGuardia Tower requesting to cross 4 at Delta, Truck 1 and Company cross 4 at Delta, Truck 1, and Company crossing 4 at Delta.”
—Air Traffic Controller, 01:36

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3. Social Media Addiction Trial, L.A.

[01:47–02:56]

• Landmark case: Jury close to a verdict on whether Instagram & YouTube’s designs caused addiction and mental health issues in a young woman.
• Plaintiff claims: Meta and Google’s platforms are defective and contributed to depression, anxiety, and body image problems.
• Corporate defense: Tech companies argue platforms are being scapegoated for complex issues.
• Significance: First jury trial on social media addiction—outcome may affect 1,600 related cases.

Notable Insight

“The outcome could shape how those cases eventually settle.”
—Bobby Allen, 02:50

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4. North London Hate Crime Investigation

[02:56–03:14]

• Incident: Four ambulances from a Jewish charity set on fire in Golders Green.
• Police response: Treated as antisemitic hate crime.
• No injuries reported at the scene.

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5. Stock Market Update

[03:14–03:29]

• Strong performance:
  • Dow up >700 points (1.6%) at 46,310
  • S&P and Nasdaq both up over 1%

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6. “Project Hail Mary” – Box Office Record

[03:29–04:35]

• Film success: Amazon’s space-themed “Project Hail Mary” is a major box office hit.
• Figures:
  • Over $80 million opening weekend in North America (biggest so far in 2026).
  • $140 million+ globally by Sunday night.
• Pop culture impact:
  • 85% of viewers would recommend the film.
  • Could “save Hollywood from extinction,” as Bob Mondello puts it.

Memorable Quote & Moments

“The story of an alien encounter during a long shot trip to save the Earth from extinction seems to be morphing into a tool to save Hollywood from extinction.”
—Bob Mondello, 03:50

“Project Hail Mary will take in more than $80 million in North America this weekend, easily the best opening of 2026.”
—Bob Mondello, 04:02

“Thumbs up? No, that's thumbs down. Would you the thumbs up? It's close enough.”
—Air Traffic Controller, 04:16

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• U.S.–Iran talks/Conflict resolution: 00:01–01:12
• LaGuardia collision: 01:12–01:47
• Social media trial: 01:47–02:56
• London hate crime: 02:56–03:14
• Stock market update: 03:14–03:29
• “Project Hail Mary” box office: 03:29–04:35

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For full details, refer to the timestamped highlights above.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump says the United States and Iran are talking before taking off from Memphis. From West Palm Beach, Florida, today, Trump told reporters that his administration's engaged in talks with Iran in laying out objectives for how to end the conflict. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports. The president says both countries will meet to end the war, quote, very, very soon.

[Deepa Shivaram]

President Trump says an end to the war with Iran would involve an agreement of no more enriched uranium for Iran and a removal of the material they already have.

[Bob Mondello]

If this happens, it's a great start for Iran to build itself back and it's everything that we want. And it's also great for Israel and it's great for the other Middle Eastern countries.

[Deepa Shivaram]

How the US Would remove the enriched uranium is unclear. The president said, quote, we'll take it ourselves. Trump posted on social media that because talks with Iran were productive over the last few days and are set to continue, the US Will postpone strikes on Iranian power plants and energy sites for the next five days. Iran's Foreign Ministry denies having dialogue with Trump. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, the White house.

[Lakshmi Singh]

New York's LaGuardia Airport is closed until at least 2pm Eastern after a Runway collision last night. Two pilots were killed when their Air Canada regional jet out of Montreal collided into a fire truck during landing. Local Authorities say about 40 passengers and crew members were taken to area hospitals, some with serious injuries. Live ATC provided a recording of air traffic control radio chatter during the incident.

[Air Traffic Controller]

Truck 1 and Company LaGuardia Tower requesting to cross 4 at Delta, Truck 1 and Company cross 4 at Delta, Truck 1, and Company crossing 4 at Delta.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The region's Port Authority chief, Catherine Garcia, says the fire truck was responding to a separate incident aboard a United Airlines flight when it was struck. A jury in Los Angeles is expected to deliver a verdict soon in a trial over social media addiction. NPR's Bobby Allen reports. The case centers on whether Instagram and YouTube were designed to hook young people and keep them spending more time on the social media sites.

[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 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, from Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR News. British police are investigating an early morning attack in North London as an anti Semitic hate crime. They say four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were set on fire in Golders Green, a neighborhood with a large Jewish population. There were no immediate reports of injuries. US Stocks continue to trade higher this hour. The Dow Jones Industrial Average up more than 700 points, or 1.6%, at 46310s and P is up more than 1%. The Nasdaq is also up 1.3%. A feel good film about a space voyage is shaping up to be Amazon's biggest movie hit yet. NPR's Bob Mondello reports. If the weekend numbers at the box office are any indication, Project Hail Mary's taken off.

[Bob Mondello]

The story of an alien encounter during a long shot trip to save the Earth from extinction seems to be morphing into a tool to save Hollywood from extinction.

It is time go.

[Air Traffic Controller]

I think you're being go time, pal.

[Bob Mondello]

Project Hail Mary will take in more than $80 million in North America this weekend, easily the best opening of 2026.

Oh, my God.

It's also doing extremely well overseas. Its worldwide total through Sunday night will top 140 million.

[Air Traffic Controller]

Thumbs up? No, that's thumbs down. Would you the thumbs up? It's close enough.

[Bob Mondello]

And exit polls say 85% of those who've seen Project Hail Mary would recommend it to a friend, suggesting it'll continue to soar for a few more weeks at least. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

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