NPR News: 03-29-2026 10PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now — March 29, 2026, 10PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst

Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on major global and national events, spanning developments in the Middle East, Ukraine’s military technology diplomacy, the ongoing TSA funding crisis, NASA’s upcoming lunar mission, and the weekend box office. It features direct reporting from NPR correspondents and brief statements from key stakeholders.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Israel Expands Ground Invasion Into Southern Lebanon

Reported by Daniel Estrin from Tel Aviv
[00:15–01:13]

• Expansion of Israeli Military Operations:
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders an enlargement of the buffer zone in southern Lebanon with the aim of preemptively thwarting attacks by Hezbollah.
  • "Netanyahu is now ordering it to be expanded, he says, to thwart the threat of Hezbollah invading northern Israel and to push anti tank missile fire farther away from the Israeli border." – Daniel Estrin [00:38]
• Civilian Impact:
  There is growing pressure on Netanyahu to protect northern Israeli residents who have not been evacuated but face regular attacks.
• Related Incidents:
  An Iranian missile strike caused a significant fire at an Israeli chemical plant, though authorities report no hazardous leak.

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2. Ukraine Shares Air Defense Technologies with Gulf States

Reported by Joanna Kakissis from Kyiv
[01:13–02:08]

• Ukraine’s Anti-Drone Expertise:
  President Volodymyr Zelensky commits to sharing Ukraine’s air defense technologies with three Gulf nations—the latest targets of Iranian attacks.
  • "The Russians are sharing information with the Iranians, he said, and we do not know how many weapons the Russians are transferring to them." – Joanna Kakissis, quoting Zelensky [01:49]
• Diplomatic Engagements:
  Deals now signed with Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with the UAE negotiations near conclusion.

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3. ICE Remains in Airports Amid TSA Pay Crisis

Reported by Jeff Brady from Minneapolis
[02:08–03:10]

• TSA Paychecks Resume Without New Congressional Funding:
  President Trump directed the TSA to use existing funds after Congress failed to pass a DHS budget.
• Continued ICE Support at Airports:
  ICE officers, supporting TSA tasks, may remain until the agency’s staffing stabilizes.
  • "Depends how many TSA agents come back to work. How many TSA agents have actually quit and have no plan coming back to work?" – Tom Homan, White House border czar [02:45]
• Impact of Staffing Crisis:
  Hundreds of TSA employees quit following missed paychecks, causing prolonged wait times at airports.
• Political Stalemate:
  Democrats refuse new DHS funding without reforms after incidents involving officer lethality.

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4. NASA Prepares for Artemis II Manned Moon Mission

Reported by Nell Greenfield Boyce from Florida
[03:10–04:14]

• Crew Readiness:
  Artemis II astronauts are in pre-flight quarantine at Kennedy Space Center, prepping for a 10-day journey around the moon.
• Mission Commander’s Perspective:
  • "You look at the size of this vehicle and you know it's going one one place. It is going to space and it is going to go there in a hurry. When those engines light, this thing is moving out." – Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman [03:43]
• Mission Timeline:
  First, an orbital test of systems; then, a looping lunar flyby if all checks go well.

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5. Weekend Box Office Update

[04:14–04:55]

• ‘Project Hail Mary’ Dominates:
  Amazon MGM’s science fiction adventure holds the top spot with $54 million, notable as the “best non-franchise opening” since 2023’s Oppenheimer.
• Other Performers:
  ‘Hoppers’ from Disney/Pixar remains strong in fourth weekend with $12 million.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Netanyahu is now ordering it to be expanded, he says, to thwart the threat of Hezbollah invading northern Israel..." – Daniel Estrin [00:38]
• "The Russians are sharing information with the Iranians, he said, and we do not know how many weapons the Russians are transferring to them." – Joanna Kakissis relaying Zelensky’s statement [01:49]
• "Depends how many TSA agents come back to work. How many TSA agents have actually quit and have no plan coming back to work?" – Tom Homan, White House border czar [02:45]
• "You look at the size of this vehicle and you know ... it is going to go there in a hurry. When those engines light, this thing is moving out." – Commander Reid Wiseman, Artemis II [03:43]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:15] Israel expands ground invasion in southern Lebanon
• [01:13] Ukraine provides air defense tech to Gulf states
• [02:08] ICE/TSA airport staffing after funding lapse
• [03:10] Artemis II lunar mission update
• [04:14] Box office highlights

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For further details, listen to the full 5-minute episode or read NPR’s online reporting for continuous updates.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expanding the ground invasion in southern Lebanon. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more from Tel Aviv.

[C]

The killed soldier was from New Haven, Connecticut. He he moved to Israel to serve in the military. Israel has been expanding its ground invasion into neighboring Lebanon, creating what Israel calls a new buffer zone. Netanyahu is now ordering it to be expanded, he says, to thwart the threat of Hezbollah invading northern Israel and to push anti tank missile fire farther away from the Israeli border. Netanyahu is facing pressure to protect residents of northern Israel who have not been evacuated from their homes and who face daily Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks in southern Israel. An Iranian missile attack hit a chemical plant, sparking a massive fire. Authorities ruled out a leak of hazardous substances. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[B]

Ukraine's President Zelensky says he will provide air defense technologies to three Gulf nations that have been targeted by Iran in retaliatory strikes for the U s Israeli war. NPR's Joanna Kissis has more.

[D]

Iran has been hitting Gulf nations with attack drones similar to the ones Russia has used on Ukraine for nearly four years. Four years Ukraine has come up with cheap, innovative ways to shoot them down. Zelensky said Ukraine wants to share its anti drone technology with allies. The Russians are sharing information with the Iranians, he said, and we do not know how many weapons the Russians are transferring to them. Zelensky was speaking to reporters on zoom from Qatar, where he signed one of the deals on Friday. He made a deal with Saudi Arabia and said he was finalizing another with the United Arab Emirates. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[B]

ICE officers could remain at airports even after TSA workers start getting paid again, according to White House border czar Tom Holman. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. TSA paychecks could resume as early as tomorrow, even though Congress hasn't allocated money for that.

[E]

After lawmakers failed to pass a Department of Homeland Security budget last Friday, President Trump directed the Transportation Security Administration to pay workers from existing funds. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have been helping the TSA with checking identification and other tasks. On CNN's State of the Union, Tom Homan said ICE officers might remain at airports.

[F]

Depends how many TSA agents come back to work. How many TSA agents have actually quit and have no plan coming back to work?

[E]

The TSA says hundreds of workers quit after going weeks without pay. That's increased security wait times by hours at airports around the country. Democrats vow to block DHS funding without reform after officers killed two U.S. citizens. In Minneapolis, Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[B]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. NASA is preparing to send four astronauts on a mission that could take them around the moon. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports. Officials say everything's on track for a launch attempt on Wednesday.

[G]

The Artemis II astronauts are in pre flight quarantine at Kennedy Space center in Florida. Mission Commander Reid Wiseman reporters that it's surreal to see the massive 322 foot tall rocket standing on the launch pad.

[H]

You look at the size of this vehicle and you know it's going one one place. It is going to space and it is going to go there in a hurry. When those engines light, this thing is moving out.

[G]

Their test flight is expected to last 10 days. First, while their Orion capsule is in orbit around Earth, they'll check out its communications, life support, navigation and propulsion. If their spacecraft all looks good, they'll go on a looping trip around the moon before coming back to splashdown in the Pacific. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[B]

At the weekend box office, Amazon MGM's Project Hail Mary took the top spot again with an estimated $54 million in ticket sales. The Phil Lord and Chris Miller sci fi Adventure dipped only 32% after notching the best non franchise opening weekend since 2023's Oppenheimer. The film, which cost $200 million to produce, has already grossed 300 million worldwide in just two weeks. In second place, Disney Pixar's original Hoppers with $12 million in its fourth weekend. US futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[I]

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