NPR News: 03-27-2026 10PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: March 27, 2026, 10PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton | Date: March 28, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major U.S. and international news developments for the evening of March 27, 2026. The coverage features reporting on escalating conflict in the Middle East, fallout from the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, civil rights claims linked to immigration enforcement, the stock market downturn, large-scale protests, a major church settlement, and a unique space-related medical emergency.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iranian Missile Strike in Saudi Arabia

[00:15–01:09]

• A missile launched by Iran struck the Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—a joint Saudi-U.S. military site.
• Multiple U.S. troops were wounded, and some aircraft damaged.
• "Iran has targeted US bases throughout the region since the war began a month ago. Overall, the Pentagon has put the US casualty toll at 13 killed and more than 300 injured." (Greg Myre, 00:55)
• The incident is part of a month-long wave of Iranian attacks on U.S. military positions in the region.

2. Government Shutdown Disrupts TSA Operations

[01:09–01:52]

• TSA agents, required to work unpaid during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, lead to the longest airport wait times recorded.
• Absenteeism at major airports is soaring—up to 50% at some locations.
• Ricky Smith, Atlanta International’s general manager, underscores the isolation TSA workers feel:

  "This time that was a factor, right? This seems like TSA employees are the ones who are carrying the brunt of this shutdown." (Ricky Smith, 01:41)

• The shutdown’s uniqueness: only DHS is affected, unlike previous full government closures.

3. Congressional Stalemate on DHS Funding

[01:52–02:24]

• House rejects Senate’s DHS funding bill due to exclusions—specifically, funding for ICE and Border Patrol.
• "Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says that's because it wouldn't have funded ICE and Border Patrol." (Ryland Barton, 01:58)
• The House plans another vote; some senators have already left for spring break.

4. Civil Rights Claims Over Immigration Enforcement

[02:24–03:01]

• Ten individuals file federal tort claims alleging their First Amendment rights were violated during protests of ICE operations in Minnesota.
• Attorney John Burris recounts protesters’ experiences:

  "We have people who are like dragged out of the car who are being tasered, who are being punched, who are having their heads pushed against the sidewalk, kicked at various times." (John Burris, 02:37)

• Burris draws from experience representing high-profile civil rights cases, suggesting more claimants may step forward.

5. Wall Street Extends Losses

[03:01–03:19]

• The S&P 500 marked its fifth week of losses—a streak not seen in nearly four years.
• "The S&P 500 fell more than 1.5%." (Ryland Barton, 03:07)

6. "No Kings" Protests and Immigration Tensions

[03:19–03:45]

• Large-scale "No Kings" immigration protests planned, focused on Minnesota but spanning 3,000 events nationwide.
• The unrest is fueled by President Trump’s immigration policies and the recent deaths of two protesters.

7. $148M Settlement in Albany Diocese Abuse Case

[03:45–04:30]

• The Catholic Diocese of Albany settles with more than 400 sexual abuse survivors for $148 million.
• Bishop Mark O'Connell acknowledges the emotional cost:

  "There is no amount of money that can erase the pain. And so we paid from our hurt, from our sacrifice." (Bishop Mark O'Connell, 04:04)

• The settlement became possible due to a 2019 New York state law allowing old abuse cases to be heard.

8. NASA’s First Medical Evacuation from Space

[04:30–04:55]

• Astronaut Mike Fink, 59, discussed his mysterious medical emergency at the International Space Station.
• He describes going into sudden distress during a meal, unable to speak and with no pain.
• Fink reflected on the incident in an interview with the Associated Press; the underlying cause remains unclear.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On escalation in the Middle East:

  "Iran has targeted US Bases throughout the region since the war began a month ago. Overall, the Pentagon has put the US casualty toll at 13 killed and more than 300 injured."
  — Greg Myre (00:55)

• On the toll of the partial shutdown:

  "This seems like TSA employees are the ones who are carrying the brunt of this shutdown."
  — Ricky Smith, Atlanta International Airport (01:41)

• On allegations of excessive force:

  "We have people who are like dragged out of the car who are being tasered, who are being punched, who are having their heads pushed against the sidewalk, kicked at various times."
  — Attorney John Burris (02:37)

• On church abuse settlement:

  "There is no amount of money that can erase the pain. And so we paid from our hurt, from our sacrifice."
  — Bishop Mark O'Connell (04:04)

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Important Timestamps

• Iranian missile strikes Saudi airbase: 00:15–01:09
• TSA delays and agent absenteeism: 01:09–01:52
• DHS funding standoff in Congress: 01:52–02:24
• Civil rights claims from ICE protestors: 02:24–03:01
• Stock market downturn: 03:01–03:19
• "No Kings" protest plans: 03:19–03:45
• Albany Diocese abuse settlement: 03:45–04:30
• NASA astronaut medical mystery: 04:30–04:55

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For a comprehensive news update, NPR News Now provides bite-sized coverage of the most pressing topics, maintaining a calm, factual tone and focusing on stories' developments and human impacts.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. An Iranian missile hit an air base in Saudi Arabia, injuring a number of U.S. troops. As NPR's Greg Myhre reports, Iran has been striking bases with U.S. forces over the last month.

[Greg Myre]

The Iranian missile slammed into the Prince Sultan Air Base, a military facility shared by Saudi and US Forces outside the capital, Riyadh. This comes from a US Official speaking to NPR who is not authorized to comment publicly. The official said US Servicemembers were wounded and some aircraft were apparently damaged as well. The Wall street journal reported that 10Americans were hurt in the strike too seriously. Iran has targeted US Bases throughout the region since the war began a month ago. Overall, the Pentagon has put the US casualty tol at 13 killed and more than 300 injured. Greg Myre, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

Travelers are facing the longest wait times in TSA history because TSA agents have been required to work without pay during the government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Employees at some airports are calling out of work at rates of 40 to 50%. Ricky Smith is the general manager of the world's busiest airport, Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International.

[Ricky Smith]

During the previous shutdown, it was a full government shutdown, and so TSA employees did not necessarily feel isolated or underappreciated relative to other federal government employees. This time that was a factor, right? This seems like TSA employees are the ones who are carrying the brunt of this shutdown.

[Ryland Barton]

The House today rejected a bill to fund most of DHS that passed out of the Senate. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says that's because it wouldn't have funded ICE and Border Patrol. Johnson says the House will vote on a bill to fund the entire agency later tonight, but some senators have already left Washington for spring break. Ten people have filed claims in federal court against the Department of Homeland Security, saying the agency violated their constitutional rights. As NPR's Meg Anderson reports, the claims originate from President Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota earlier this year.

[Meg Anderson]

The people who filed these federal tort claims allege their First Amendment rights were violated while protesting the ICE surge in Minnesota. At a press conference, civil rights attorney John Burris detailed some of what they say they experienced.

[John Burris]

We have people who are like dragged out of the car who are being tasered, who are being punched, who are having their heads pushed against the sidewalk, kicked at various times. Those are unconstitutional uses of forces.

[Meg Anderson]

Burris, who represented Rodney King against the LAPD in the early 90s, says he expects more people to come forward. The federal government must now respond to or deny the federal court claims. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

U.S. stocks deepened their drops today as Wall street finished off a fifth straight losing week, its longest such streak in nearly four years. The S&P 500 fell more than 1.5%. This is NPR. Minnesota will be the flagship of the no Kings protests tomorrow. Emotions are still raw over President Trump's immigration crackdown or the killing of two protesters by federal agents there. More than 3,000 events are planned in communities across the country. Rallies are in more than a dozen other countries. The Catholic diocese of Albany, New York, has reached a $148 million settlement with hundreds of people who say they were sexually abused. Mariam Ahmed from member station WAMC reports

[Mariam Ahmed]

the diocese settled with a committee representing more than 400 victims. The settlement comes after New York child abuse survivors were allowed to file lawsuits as part of a lookback window created under state law in 2019. Albany Bishop Mark O' Connell says $50 million will be paid from parish assets.

[John Burris]

There is no amount of money that can erase the pain. And so we paid from our hurt, from our sacrifice. But we there's no way that this is like perfect amount that everyone's happy.

[Mariam Ahmed]

Diocese across the country have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result of sexual abuse settlements. For NPR News, I'm Maryam Ahmed in Albany.

[Ryland Barton]

The astronaut who prompted NASA's first medical evacuation earlier this year says doctors still don't know why he suddenly fell sick at the International Space Station. 59 year old Mike Fink said in an interview with the Associated Press that he was eating dinner when he went into distress. He couldn't talk and remembers no pain. Fink has logged more than 549 days in space. This is NPR News.

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