Loading summary
Korva Coleman
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump has posted a video online of a large explosion. He didn't explain anything about it. The Associated Press reports this is a likely U.S. attack on the Iranian city of Isfahan. NPR's Emily Fang has more.
Emily Fang
Posting without context or a caption, President Trump shared on social media a video of two successive explosions, one leaving a giant cloud of smoke around the same time. Several social media videos from within Iran were shared with diaspora websites despite a widespread telecommunications blackout in Iran. Iran and they show what appear to be secondary explosions around a military site in Isfahan, including a possible munitions depot. Iran's Navy said it had struck a container ship in the Persian Gulf it claimed was owned by Israel in response to Israel's repeated strikes on Tehran this week. Emily Fang, NPR News fan Turkey the
Korva Coleman
national average price of gasoline has risen above $4 a gallon, according to AAA. That's more than a dollar higher than what it was before the war started a month ago. NPR's Camilla Dominoski reports.
Camilla Domonosky
Last year, gasoline prices were remarkably stable, a straight line, more or less. For most of this month, they've also been a straight line, almost straight up. Prices vary around the country, most expensive on the west coast and least expensive in the middle of the continent, but they're rising everywhere. Crude oil is driving prices up as the war in Iran disrupts global oil trade. A switch to summer gasoline and the typical seasonal rise in demand aren't helping. The average cost of public charging electric vehicles is 41 cents a kilowatt hour, AAA reports, up slightly 2 cents from a month ago. Camila Domonosky, NPR News.
Korva Coleman
The U.S. supreme Court has blocked a Colorado law. The state law blocks therapists from using what's called conversion therapy to change a teenager's sexual orientation or gender identity. The high court ruled the law wrongly regulates speech based on a viewpoint. The case was brought by an evangelical Christian who provides this talk therapy. A federal panel has decided to let the oil and gas industry operate in the Gulf of Mexico without following the Endangered Species act rules. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth convened a rare meeting. He did not extensively consult environmental agencies. He cited national security. Environmental groups say many endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico could be made extinct. TSA agents are getting some of their back pay. President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to find money for them after more than a month of unpaid work. Cameron Kokoms is a TSA agent in Boise, Idaho.
Cameron Kokoms
It's been nice that we got these paychecks, but at the end of the day, you know, we are still going to be behind with our, you know, late fees and all these different things.
Korva Coleman
The Homeland Security Department is still partially shut down as Congress disputes funding for the agency. You're listening to npr. A California sheriff who seized more than half a million state ballots says he has paused his probe into election fraud. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican, is also running for California governor. He says there are legal challenges against his probe. California's attorney general says the sheriff has no authority over election material. Today is the birthday of late labor and farm workers leader Cesar Chavez. Arizona lawmakers have sent a bipartisan bill to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. It repeals the state's holiday honoring him. Hobbs says she will sign it. From member station kjzz, Wayne Shutske has more.
Wayne Schutzke
The Arizona House approved the bill days after multiple women alleged Chavez used his power and influence in the labor movement he helped lead to sexually abuse them. The bill had bipartisan support, but some Democrats criticized Republicans for repealing the holiday altogether instead of replacing it with a new day honoring the farm workers movement.
Mariana Sandoval
Representative Mariana Sandoval, failing to recognize, honor and uplift the voices of workers who feed this nation and to confront the exploitation they often endure misses an important opportunity to unite us.
Wayne Schutzke
A spokesman for Hobbs said she will sign the bill and look for other ways to recognize the farm workers movement. For NPR News, I'm Wayne Schutzke in Phoenix.
Korva Coleman
NASA is preparing to launch its Artemis 2 mission tomorrow night from Florida. Four astronauts are to be launched into space. They're to fly around the moon and return to Earth within 10 days. On Wall street at this hour, the Dow is up about 440 points. This is NPR.
NPR Announcer
Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now +@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.
Host: Korva Coleman | Duration: ~5 minutes
This NPR News Now episode provides the top headlines and developments as of late morning, March 31, 2026. Major stories include escalating U.S.-Iran tensions following a likely U.S. attack on Isfahan, the ongoing disruption of global oil markets, Supreme Court decisions on conversion therapy, developments in the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry, TSA back pay during a Homeland Security funding standoff, election probe controversy in California, the repeal of Cesar Chavez Day in Arizona amid abuse allegations, and an Artemis 2 lunar mission update.
[00:00 - 00:49]
[00:50 - 01:39]
[01:39 - 01:58]
[01:58 - 02:16]
[02:16 - 02:48]
[02:49 - 03:00]
[03:00 - 03:40]
[03:40 - 04:20]
[04:20 - 04:32]
[04:32 - 04:40]
| Timestamp | Segment & Key Content | |:-------------:|:------------------------:| | 00:00 | U.S. attack on Isfahan, escalation with Iran | | 00:50 | National gas prices surge, EV charging cost | | 01:39 | Supreme Court rules on conversion therapy law | | 01:58 | Oil & gas industry exempted from Endangered Species Act | | 02:16 | TSA agents get pay after executive order | | 02:49 | Homeland Security funding dispute continues | | 03:00 | California sheriff suspends ballot probe | | 03:40 | Arizona to repeal Cesar Chavez holiday | | 04:20 | NASA Artemis 2 lunar mission prepares for launch | | 04:32 | Market update: Dow Jones up 440 points |
This summary covers all major content, highlights pivotal moments, and offers direct quotes for clarity and impact. It serves as a complete briefing for listeners and non-listeners alike.