Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – March 31, 2026, 12PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Episode Overview
This five-minute news roundup features breaking and developing stories from the U.S. and around the world. Major topics include economic fallout from the U.S.–Iran war, Middle East conflict escalations, a Supreme Court decision on conversion therapy in Colorado, NASA’s historic Artemis 2 lunar mission, a mistrial in a high-profile bribery case, and changes to California’s Farm Workers Day.

Key News Highlights & Discussion Points

1. Gas Prices Soar Amid U.S.–Iran Conflict

[00:01–00:36]
Lakshmi Singh introduces the episode with urgent news on increasing gasoline prices surpassing $4 per gallon for the first time in over three and a half years.
Scott Horsley reports:
- AAA data: Average nationwide price is $4.02/gallon.
- Price jump: over $1 per gallon in the month since the U.S. and Israel began military actions against Iran.
- Disrupted oil shipments: “Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz” is affected, highlighting the conflict’s immediate impact on global oil flows.

“Gas prices have jumped more than a dollar a gallon in the month since the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran.”
— Scott Horsley ([00:15])

2. Oil Tanker Attack & Escalation in UAE

[00:36–01:34]
Eya Batrawi and Aria Paul chronicle the widening conflict:
- Kuwaiti-owned oil tanker struck by Iran off Dubai—fire contained, no oil leak.
- Multiple Iranian missiles intercepted over Dubai, causing widespread alarm.
- Iran targets U.S. military presence in UAE with claimed attacks.
- Significant U.S. troop deployments, Dubai’s strategic importance as a U.S. Navy port.
- Diplomatic and social fallout:
  - Iran revokes residency of 1,200 Emiratis in response to similar UAE actions.
  - UAE closes major Iranian institutions on grounds of links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

“Iran says it’s targeting U.S. Marines in the United Arab Emirates… The UAE has shut down a large Iranian hospital and a social club... after being found to have been misused.”
— Aria Paul ([01:04])

3. U.S. Defense Secretary Visits Troops

[01:34–01:43]
Lakshmi Singh notes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited troops in the Middle East, but didn’t disclose which base. He claims morale is high among personnel.

4. Supreme Court Strikes Down Colorado Conversion Therapy Ban

[01:43–02:12]
Lakshmi Singh reports:
- Supreme Court, in an 8–1 decision, invalidated Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors, citing free speech concerns.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is the sole dissenter.

“The Supreme Court has ruled against a Colorado law that bans conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors.”
— Lakshmi Singh ([01:43])

5. Countdown for NASA’s Historic Artemis 2 Lunar Mission

[02:12–02:56]
Brendan Byrne from Central Florida Public Media covers the impending crewed lunar mission:
- First planned astronaut mission to the moon in over 50 years.
- All technical issues (hydrogen leak, helium system) are fixed.
- Launch director Charlie Blackwell Thompson emphasizes safety and readiness.
- SLS rocket to send the Orion capsule (4 astronauts – 3 Americans, 1 Canadian) on a 10-day lunar circumnavigation.

“Certainly all indications are right now we are in excellent, excellent shape as we get into count.”
— Charlie Blackwell Thompson ([02:32])

“The 10-day mission will test out key systems of the Orion vehicle as it travels around the moon and back, taking the crew farther into deep space than any other mission.”
— Brendan Byrne ([02:37])

6. Mistrial Looms in Akron, Ohio, Bribery Case

[02:56–03:45]
Jury in the trial of former First Energy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling reports it cannot reach a verdict in a $60 million scheme.
Judge to consider a mistrial motion at a later date.

7. California Renames Farm Workers Day

[03:45–04:35]
Aya Ali Ahmad from KQED details:
- Farm Workers Day, formerly honoring labor leader Cesar Chavez, is renamed after sexual abuse allegations.
- Dolores Huerta, Chavez’s co-founder, is among the accusers.
- Cities like San Jose reviewing public commemoration of Chavez.
- Day’s focus: dignity, respect, wages, and safety for current farm workers.

“Leaders have started to make the shift away from a name and really honor the workers, reinforce that dignity and respect for workers is the foundation of the labor movement.”
— Gene Cohen ([04:13])

8. Financial Snapshot

[04:35]
Lakshmi Singh: The Dow is up 476 points.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Gas prices have jumped more than a dollar a gallon in the month since the U.S. and Israel launched their war against Iran.”
— Scott Horsley ([00:15])
“Iran says it’s targeting U.S. Marines in the United Arab Emirates... The UAE has shut down a large Iranian hospital and a social club...”
— Aria Paul ([01:04])
“Certainly all indications are right now we are in excellent, excellent shape as we get into count.”
— Charlie Blackwell Thompson, NASA ([02:32])
“Leaders have started to make the shift away from a name and really honor the workers...”
— Gene Cohen, South Bay Labor Council ([04:13])

Timestamps for Key Segments

Gas Price Surge: 00:01–00:36
Oil Tanker Attack & UAE Escalation: 00:36–01:34
Defense Secretary Visit: 01:34–01:43
SCOTUS Conversion Therapy Ruling: 01:43–02:12
Artemis 2 Moon Mission: 02:12–02:56
Akron Bribery Case: 02:56–03:45
Farm Workers Day Renamed: 03:45–04:35
Financial News: 04:35

This episode rapidly covers significant international conflict developments, space exploration milestones, major legal rulings, labor history reckoning, and economic indicators—all within a concise, fact-heavy five minutes, maintaining NPR’s measured and informative tone.

Loading summary

Transcript16 lines

[00:02]
A
Live from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. Gasoline prices have crossed the $4 a gallon threshold as oil prices keep climbing. NPR's Scott Horsley reports on the economic fallout from the U.S. war with Iran.
[00:16]
B
AAA says the average price of gasoline nationwide is now just under $4.02 a gallon. It's the first time pump prices have topped the $4 mark in more than three and a half years. Gas prices have jumped more than a dollar a gallon in the month since the US And Israel launched their war against Iran. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[00:36]
A
Kuwait Petroleum says a giant ship carrying oil was hit by Iran off the coast of Dubai. NPR's Eya Batrawi reports. It took hours to contain the fire. There are no reports of leakage.
[00:48]
C
Several Iranian missiles were intercepted over the skies of Dubai, causing loud booms overhead Tuesday morning. Iran says it's targeting U.S. marines in the United Arab Emirates in an area outside a military base. The US has deployed thousands more forces, including Marines, to the region. Dubai has also long served as a port of call for the US Navy. Meanwhile, Iran's judiciary says it's revoking the residency of 1,200 Emirati citizens. It says this is in response to the UAE revoking the residencies of some Iranians. The UAE has shut down a large Iranian hospital and a social club in Dubai, as well as five Iranian schools. The UAE's foreign ministry told NPR certain institutions directly linked to the Iranian regime and its Revolutionary Guard will be closed after being found to have been misused. Aria Paul's NPR News, Dubai Defense Secretary
[01:34]
A
Pete Hegseth revealed today he recently made a previously unannounced trip to the Middle east to visit with U.S. troops. He did not specify which base he visited. Hegseth says morale is high. The Supreme Court has ruled against a Colorado law that bans conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors. The majority of the court finds the law raises free speech concerns. The vote was 8 to 1. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson cast the sole dissenting vote. NASA could launch its historic Artemis 2 mission tomorrow evening. The crew of four aims to fly around the moon and back. From central Florida public media, Brendan Byrne reports the countdown is underway.
[02:12]
D
For the first time in more than 50 years, the clock at Kennedy Space center has been turned on for a crewed lunar mission. Mission managers say that all the issues with the rocket, like its leaking hydrogen and faulty helium system, are fixed. Launch director Charlie Blackwell Thompson says they'll keep a close eye on the rocket and only launch when ready.
[02:31]
C
But certainly all indications are right now
[02:33]
A
we are in excellent, excellent shape as
[02:36]
C
we get into count.
[02:38]
D
Once that count hits zero, NASA's massive SLS rocket will launch the Orion space capsule and its crew of four, three US astronauts and one from Canada. The 10 day mission will test out key systems of the Orion vehicle as it travels around the moon and back, taking the crew farther into deep space than any other mission. For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne in Orlando.
[02:57]
A
You're listening to NPR News. The jury in an Akron, Ohio, corruption trial of two former First Energy Corps executives says it cannot reach a verdict. The defendants, former CEO Chuck Jones and former Senior Vice President Michael Dowling, are charged with connection to a $60 million bribery scheme. The judge says she will consider a mistrial motion at a later time. Today is Farm Workers Day in California. The holiday until recently, was named after Cesar Chavez, but now it's been renamed after sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader came to light earlier this month. Aya Ali Ahmad from member station KQED has more.
[03:45]
E
Chavez is co founder of the United Farm Workers. Dolores Huerta is among his accusers. Cities across the state are now moving to strip his name from public sites. In San Jose, where Chavez once lived, the city is cataloging murals and landmarks bearing his name, also with an eye toward renaming them. Gene Cohen with the South Bay Labor Council says the focus of the holiday is changing. Leaders have started to make the shift
[04:14]
A
focus away from a name and really
[04:17]
E
honor the workers, reinforce that dignity and respect for workers is the foundation of the labor movement. Labor groups across the state say they'll use the day to focus on farm workers still fighting for higher wages and safer working conditions. For NPR News, I'm Aya Aliamod in San Jose.
[04:36]
A
The dow is up 476 points. It's NPR.
[04:40]
D
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@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.