NPR News Now — March 30, 2026, 4PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of major national and international news stories as of March 30, 2026. The episode covers critical updates ranging from government pay issues, conflict in the Middle East, a tragic Texas school shooting, Supreme Court considerations, White House renovations, an art theft in Italy, and the latest NCAA basketball and stock market news.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. TSA Officers Begin Receiving Back Pay Amid DHS Shutdown

• (00:01 – 00:36)

• TSA officers, unpaid for over 40 days due to the extended Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, began to receive partial payments today.
• The union president, Aaron Barker, notes that while the payments provide some relief, they do not cover the full back pay owed:
  • "It does give some sort of relief, but officers were expecting to have their full back pay and that did not happen." — Aaron Barker (00:29)
• Most officers received two missed paychecks but are still owed a partial paycheck. The Trump administration is redirecting DHS funds to pay workers as Congress remains deadlocked over immigration enforcement funding disagreements.

2. US-Iran Tensions and Troop Build-up

• (00:59 – 01:41)

• President Trump claims progress on ending the war with Iran but simultaneously threatens strikes on critical Iranian civilian infrastructure if no agreement is reached.
• Greg Myhre details the surge in US military presence in the Middle East, enhancing potential action options:
  • "More than 2,000 Marines arrived in the region over the weekend. Another 2,000 or so Marines are on the way by ship...the U.S. is going to have roughly 50,000 troops in the Middle East." — Greg Myhre (01:23)
• The rhetoric and military buildup underscore escalating tensions and leverage in negotiations.

3. Central Texas School Shooting

• (01:41 – 02:14)

• At Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Mulverde, Texas, a 15-year-old student shot a teacher before fatally shooting himself.
• The teacher was taken to a San Antonio hospital; the severity of her injuries was not detailed.
• The story is reported factually and without speculation, reflecting NPR's measured tone.

4. Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Birthright Citizenship

• (02:14 – 02:53)

• The Court will consider the fate of automatic citizenship for children born in the US.
• Domenico Montanaro cites polls showing Americans support citizenship in general, but opinions split sharply for children of undocumented immigrants:
  • "A Pew Research center poll, for example, found that 9 in 10 say they support automatic citizenship for those born to U.S. citizens. But they're split nearly half and half on it, continuing to be granted to those whose parents are in the country illegally." — Domenico Montanaro (02:32)
• The segment notes the influence of political messaging on public opinion surrounding this polarizing issue.

5. Military Construction at the White House

• (02:53 – 03:19)

• Some US troops may assist with White House upgrades, including a $400 million complex under the site of the demolished East Wing.
• The news comes directly from President Trump, who spoke to reporters on Air Force One.

6. Major Art Theft in Italy

• (03:19 – 04:21)

• Thieves stole approximately $9 million in impressionist art, including works by Renoir, Cezanne, and Matisse, from a private museum near Parma.
• Anastasia Tsioulkas reports the theft appears highly organized:
  • "Police said...robbers forced open the entry door, were in and out of the museum within three minutes, and then hopped a fence with the loot." — Anastasia Tsioulkas (03:43)
• The incident follows a high-profile $100 million jewelry heist at the Louvre months earlier.

7. NCAA Men’s Basketball & Market Summary

• (04:21 – 04:40)

• The NCAA Men’s Final Four is set for Saturday in Indianapolis:
  • Matchups: Michigan vs. Arizona, UConn vs. Illinois.
• Brief financial news roundup:
  • The Dow closed up 49 points, S&P down 25, Nasdaq down 153.

Notable Quotes

• "It does give some sort of relief, but officers were expecting to have their full back pay and that did not happen."
  — Aaron Barker, TSA Union President (00:29)
• "More than 2,000 Marines arrived in the region...the U.S. is going to have roughly 50,000 troops in the Middle East."
  — Greg Myhre, NPR (01:23)
• "A Pew Research center poll...9 in 10 say they support automatic citizenship for those born to U.S. citizens. But they’re split nearly half and half on it, continuing to be granted to those whose parents are in the country illegally."
  — Domenico Montanaro, NPR (02:32)
• "Robbers forced open the entry door, were in and out of the museum within three minutes, and then hopped a fence with the loot."
  — Anastasia Tsioulkas, NPR (03:43)

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 00:01 — TSA back pay begins amid DHS shutdown
• 00:59 — Trump threatens Iran; US troop surge in Middle East
• 01:41 — Central Texas school shooting
• 02:14 — Birthright citizenship debate at the Supreme Court
• 02:53 — White House ballroom military renovations
• 03:37 — $9M art theft in Parma, Italy
• 04:21 — NCAA Final Four preview; market recap

This episode delivers a succinct but thorough picture of today’s pressing news, highlighting political tension, domestic tragedies, legal debates, international intrigue, and sports—exemplifying NPR’s balanced, fact-driven approach.