NPR News: 03-23-2026 4AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – March 23, 2026, 4AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Length: 5 minutes
Episode Focus: Top global and national news stories updated hourly.

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now segment delivers concise updates on major overnight and early morning news stories. Today’s headlines include the closure of LaGuardia Airport following an aviation accident, the ongoing economic fallout in Britain from the Iran war, a landmark social media addiction trial verdict in Los Angeles, cultural Nowruz celebrations among Kurds in Turkey, and headline sports events.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. LaGuardia Airport Closed After Jet-Ground Vehicle Collision

[00:01–00:56]

• A major incident occurred at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport shortly before midnight.
• Details:
  • Collision between an Air Canada jetliner (operated by Jazz Aviation as Air Canada Express) and a ground vehicle, reportedly a fire truck.
  • Four people seriously injured.
  • The nose of the jet was ripped off, as shown in shared photos.
  • 72 passengers and 4 crew members were aboard.
  • All incoming flights are being diverted; airport closed until 2pm.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.
• Quote:
  • "Photos online show the nose of the plane has been ripped off." — Bruce Kahnweiser, [00:32]

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2. Iran War Sparks UK Economic Crisis Ahead of Elections

[00:56–01:53]

• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is convening an emergency cabinet meeting to address the economic consequences of the ongoing Iran conflict.
• Impacts Noted:
  • Spike in gas prices and mortgage rates: over 1,000 home loan products have been removed.
  • Rising fuel and fertilizer costs, challenging farmers as planting season starts.
  • Heightened cost-of-living crisis as local elections approach.
• Key Voices:
  • Tom Bradshaw, President, National Farmers Union, to the BBC:
    • "Things like cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes. It'll be over the next month, six weeks that we see those cost increases." [01:27]
  • Vicki Barker, summarizing the political ramifications:
    • "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." [01:36]

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3. Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial Nears Verdict in LA

[01:53–02:56]

• LA jury deliberating a case alleging Instagram and YouTube were intentionally designed to addict young users.
• Case Background:
  • Plaintiff is a California woman who claims childhood social media use resulted in depression, anxiety, and body image issues.
  • Allegations: Meta and Google created "defective products" fostering addiction and thereby harming mental health.
  • Defendants argue social media is being scapegoated for broader societal mental health issues.
  • First-of-its-kind jury trial; outcome could influence 1,600 other related lawsuits.
• Quote:
  • "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, [02:47]

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4. Nowruz Celebrations and Kurdish Identity in Turkey

[02:56–03:55]

• Thousands of ethnic Kurds in Van, Turkey, celebrate Nowruz, marking the new year.
• Cultural Context:
  • Despite national restrictions on Kurdish expression, participants openly celebrate heritage: dancing, waving Kurdish flags, chanting anthems.
  • Many anthems are linked to historic Kurdish resistance.
• Quote:
  • "Some of the Kurds here waved the Kurdistan national flag today, an expression for their long quashed ambition for an independent homeland. And they chant Kurdish anthems associated with armed Kurdish resistance groups." — Emily Fang, [03:41]

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5. Sports Highlights

[03:55–04:40]

• Soccer (Football):
  • Manchester City defeats Arsenal 2–0 at Wembley, winning the English League Cup.
  • Nico O’Reilly scores both goals; City’s first major trophy this season.
  • Arsenal’s hopes for an unprecedented quadruple end with the loss.
• Women’s NCAA Ice Hockey:
  • Wisconsin wins second consecutive championship, beating Ohio State 3-2.
  • Ava McNaughton: 34 saves.
  • Wisconsin’s ninth national title, a record.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Collision at LaGuardia:
  • "Photos online show the nose of the plane has been ripped off."
    — Bruce Kahnweiser, [00:32]
• UK Farmers on Rising Costs:
  • "It'll be over the next month, six weeks that we see those cost increases."
    — Tom Bradshaw, [01:27]
• Social Media Trial Impact:
  • "The outcome could shape how those cases eventually settle."
    — Bobby Allen, [02:47]
• Kurdish Celebration Expression:
  • "An expression for their long quashed ambition for an independent homeland."
    — Emily Fang, [03:41]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |--------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | LaGuardia Airport accident and closure | | 00:56 | UK economic impacts from Iran war | | 01:53 | LA social media addiction trial update | | 02:56 | Kurdish Nowruz celebrations in Van, Turkey | | 03:55 | Manchester City & NCAA Women’s Hockey results |

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End of news summary.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. One of New York City's major airports is closed. Bruce Konweiser reports that the shutdown is the result of a collision between a Canadian jetliner and a ground vehicle. At least four people were seriously injured.

[B]

LaGuardia Airport closed shortly before midnight, according to the Federal Aviation Administration website. The FAA page says the airport will be closed until 2pm Incoming flights are being diverted to other airports. The FAA ordered the closure shortly after an Air Canada jet collided with a ground vehicle, reportedly a fire truck. Photos online show the nose of the plane has been ripped off. Jazz Aviation lp, operating as Air Canada Express, issued a statement confirming the accident. The plane was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Kahnweiser.

[A]

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is holding an emergency meeting with top cabinet ministers and the head of the bank of England this week. The leaders will discuss the Iran war's effect on economic output. Vicki Barker reports from London.

[C]

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

[D]

Union, warning the BBC things like cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes. It'll be over the next month, six weeks that we see those cost increases.

[C]

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.

[A]

A jury in Los Angeles is expected to deliver a verdict at some point this week in a trial over social media addiction. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, jurors have heard weeks of testimony about whether Instagram and YouTube were designed to hook young people and to keep them from spending more time on to keep them, rather, spending more time on social media sites.

[E]

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.

[A]

And you're listening to NPR News. Celebrations for Nowruz, a traditional new year celebrated by Persians, Afghans, Kurds and other ethnic minority groups, continued throughout this weekend in eastern Turkey. NPR's Emily Fang reports from a Kurdish celebration

[F]

here in Van, Turkey. Thousands of ethnic Kurds have congregated to celebrate Nowruzza. Standing shoulder to shoulder, they hold hands and dance. There is no official census of the Kurdish population in Turkey, but Van Province along Turkey's border with Iran, has historically been predominantly Kurdish, even when many expressions of Kurdish ethnic identity are frowned upon or outright forbidden in Turkey. Some of the Kurds here waved the Kurdistan national flag today, an expression for their long quashed ambition for an independent homeland. And they chant Kurdish anthems associated with armed Kurdish resistance groups. Emily Fang, NPR News, Van, Turkey.

[A]

Manchester City beat Arsenal 20 Sunday at Wembley Stadium in London to claim the English league cup. Nico O'Reilly scored both goals in the second half. City's win ended Arsenal's effort to win an unprecedented four major trophies by an English team in one season. For City, it was their first major trophy of the current season. Number two Wisconsin beat top ranked Ohio State 32 on Sunday to claim their second consecutive women's NCAA ice hockey championship. Ava McNaughton had 34 saves in the win. The Badgers lead all NCAA programs with nine titles, including four of the last six. Wisconsin and the Buckeyes have faced off in each of the last four championship games. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[G]

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