NPR News: 03-24-2026 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: 03-24-2026 10PM EDT – Episode Summary

Main Theme

This episode delivers rapid-fire updates on major national and international news stories including U.S.-Iran relations under President Trump, legal developments in AI and election security, a new uranium refinery project in Tennessee, significant government policy shifts, federal lawsuits over police shootings, and a noteworthy change to Major League Baseball.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tensions and Negotiations with Iran

• Trump's Public Comments
  President Trump claims Iran delivered a valuable, unnamed "present" linked to oil and gas flow through the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasizes ongoing negotiations and asserts that Iran has agreed to stop pursuing nuclear weapons, repeating these claims for the second day.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “Iran, quote, gave us a present that is worth a tremendous amount of money… it is related to the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz.”
      – Ryland Barton, Host ([00:15])
    • “What I said yesterday was exactly correct. We're in negotiations right now. They're doing it along with Marco, J.D. we have a number of people doing it. And the other side, I can tell you they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there.”
      – President Trump ([00:40])

  • Iran officials deny any negotiations with the U.S. at this time.

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2. Federal Judge Questions Pentagon’s AI Ban

• Anthropic and Pentagon Dispute
  A federal judge casts doubt on the Pentagon's ban of Anthropic, an AI company, after it was labeled a supply chain risk. Anthropic is suing for a preliminary injunction, objecting to military use of its model Claude for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance. The Pentagon insists only the military decides on product use, while Trump has banned government agencies from using Claude.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • "Judge Rita F. Lynn… says the government's ban on Anthropic looks like punishment and an attempt to cripple the company."
      – John Ruich, NPR Correspondent ([01:08])

  • Ruling expected within days.

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3. Election Fraud Investigation Controversy in California

• Sheriff Bianco’s Seizure of Ballots California’s Attorney General has requested a judge halt a Republican sheriff's election fraud probe. Sheriff Chad Bianco, gubernatorial candidate, seized 650,000 ballots based on claims of vote tally discrepancies, which the registrar attributes to incomplete data.

  • Notable Quotes:
    • "Attorney General Rob Bonta has asked a judge to stop Bianco's probe because Bianco has not shown that any crime was committed."
      – Madison Almond, KVCR ([02:06])
    • "When asked for a response, Bianco sent an email questioning why Bonta would obstruct an investigation."
      – Madison Almond ([02:27])

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4. Minnesota Sues Over Federal Officer Shootings

• Withholding of Evidence Alleged Minnesota files a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly withholding evidence in investigations of three federal shootings. The complaint claims the administration broke its promise to cooperate.

  • The context includes a Trump-ordered immigration crackdown in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

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5. Policy Shifts on Internet Routers and Uranium Refinery

• Ban on Foreign-Made Internet Routers The government bans imports of foreign consumer-grade internet routers, citing cybersecurity and supply chain risks. This affects equipment connecting most home digital devices.

• Depleted Uranium Refinery in Tennessee Despite protests due to environmental and health risks, BWXT secures approval to build a federally contracted depleted uranium refinery in Jonesboro, Tennessee.

  • Contract value: $1.6 billion; production start required by end of 2028.

  • Community tensions noted; broader context includes concerns due to the U.S.'s “semi hot war in the Middle East.”

  • Notable Quotes:

    • "There's a lot of pressure on our commission from state government, from federal government. Our country right now is in a semi hot war in the Middle East. And I think that all of that plays into the atmosphere around a decision like this that can't be ignored."
      – Gabriel Wilson, local protester ([04:04])

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6. MLB Implements "Robot Umpires"

• Major League Baseball opens its new season with a system allowing video review of balls and strikes ("robot umpires").
  • Human umpires make calls, but only two appeals per team; only pitchers, catchers, and batters can challenge.
  • Technology had been tested at the minor league level since 2019.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S.-Iran Relations & President Trump Comments: 00:15 – 00:54
• Anthropic AI / Pentagon Legal Dispute: 00:54 – 01:53
• California Ballot Seizure & Legal Intervention: 01:53 – 02:41
• Minnesota Federal Lawsuit over Officer Shootings: 02:41 – 03:13
• Ban on Foreign-Router Imports: 03:13 – 03:25
• Depleted Uranium Refinery Approval (Tennessee): 03:25 – 04:30
• MLB "Robot Umpires" Policy Launch: 04:30 – 04:55

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Iran, quote, gave us a present that is worth a tremendous amount of money.”
  – Ryland Barton ([00:15])

• "Judge Rita F. Lynn… says the government's ban on Anthropic looks like punishment and an attempt to cripple the company."
  – John Ruich ([01:08])

• "There's a lot of pressure on our commission from state government, from federal government. Our country right now is in a semi hot war in the Middle East."
  – Gabriel Wilson ([04:04])

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Tone and Language

Succinct, fact-driven, with a focus on unfolding events and official statements. The style is neutral, prioritizing clarity and direct reporting typical of NPR’s news delivery. Direct quotes from key figures (e.g., President Trump, judges, local activists) bring authenticity and immediacy to the updates.

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For a concise, hour-by-hour news update, this episode delivers a broad sweep of headline issues in under five minutes, making it essential listening for anyone needing a quick, authoritative overview of unfolding stories on March 24, 2026.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump says that Iran, quote, gave us a present that is worth a tremendous amount of money. Trump said he wouldn't reveal the present, but said it is related to the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said, quote, it showed that we're dealing with the right people. He also claimed for the second day in a row that Iran had agreed to stop pursuing nuclear weapons.

[C]

What I said yesterday was exactly correct. We're in negotiations right now. They're doing it along with Marco. J.D. we have a number of people doing it. And the other side, I can tell you they'd like to make a deal and who wouldn't if you were there.

[B]

Iran has denied negotiating with the U.S. a federal judge has cast doubt on the government's ban of the AI company Anthropic. This in a hearing about the Pentagon's designation of the company as a supply chain risk. NPR's John Ruich reports.

[D]

Judge Rita F. Lynn of the U.S. district Court for Northern California says the government's ban on Anthropic looks like punishment and an attempt to cripple the company. Anthropic sued the Pentagon after it labeled the company a supply chain risk amid a contract disagreement over how the company's AI model, Claude, can be used. Anthropic does not want its AI used in autonomous weapons or for mass surveillance of US Citizens. The Pentagon argues it's not up to companies to decide how military uses their products. President Trump has also ordered all government agencies to stop using Claude. Anthropic asked for a preliminary injunction against the government action. Judge Lean heard arguments from both sides in court in San Francisco and said she expects to make a ruling in the next few days. John Ruich, NPR News.

[B]

California's attorney general is asking a judge to halt a Republican sheriff's election fraud investigation. He alleges the sheriff seized hundreds of thousands of ballots without evidence from member station kvcr. Madison Almond reports.

[E]

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who's running for governor of California, seized 650,000 ballots casted in last year's election to redraw California's congressional map. Bianco says he did so because his citizens group alleged a discrepancy in the vote tally. Riverside County's registrar says the allegation is based on incomplete data. Attorney General Rob Bonta has asked a judge to stop Bianco's probe because Bianco has not shown that any crime was committed. When asked for a response, Bianco sent an email questioning why Bonta would obstruct an investigation. For NPR News, I'm Madison Ahmed.

[B]

Minnesota officials have filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of withholding evidence related to three shootings by federal officers. The lawsuit claims that the federal government reneged on its promise to cooperate with state investigations. The administration sent thousands of officers to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area for the immigration crackdown as part of President Trump's nationwide deportation campaign. U.S. stock indexes closed down today as uncertainty continues about how long the war with Iran will last. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Trump administration is banning imports of foreign made Internet routers, citing supply chain vulnerability and cybersecurity risks. The ban targets consumer grade routers, the boxes that connect home computers, phones and smart devices to the Internet. One of Tennessee's oldest towns is set to become home to a federally contracted depleted uranium refinery, a material the Trump administration says it needs to update the nuclear weapons stockpile. WOT's Pierce Gentry reports.

[F]

After months of debate over potential environmental and health risks, BWXT received just enough votes from the county government this week to overcome a zoning hurdle and move forward with its project. Hundreds of locals packed the county courthouse in protest, including musician Gabriel Wilson, who says outside pressure shaped the vote.

[G]

There's a lot of pressure on our commission from state government, from federal government. Our country right now is in a semi hot war in the Middle east. And I think that all of that plays into the atmosphere around a decision like this that can't be ignored.

[F]

The project now heads to federal regulators for review under its $1.6 billion federal contract. BWXT must begin production by the end of 2028. For NPR News, I'm Pierce Gentry in Jonesboro, Tennessee.

[B]

Major League Baseball season starts tomorrow and so begins the era of challenging balls and strikes through so called RO robot umpires. Human umpires will still make each call, but the decisions can be appealed to. The computer teams only get two challenges and only pitchers, catchers and batters can make them. The system has been tested in the Minor league since 2019. This is NPR News.

[A]

This message comes from IXL. Spring is here and school testing is just around the corner. IXL can help make an impact on your child's learning. Receive 20% off an IXL membership if you sign up [e-mail] NPR.