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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Excitement is building at Florida's Kennedy Space center, just a matter of hours now until NASA sends up the four person crew of Artemis 2 on the first lunar mission in more than half a century. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce is monitoring.
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The countdown is going really smoothly. There haven't been any of the problems that have been an issue for NASA in the past. So we've been watching the fueling very carefully. We haven't seen any of those hydrogen leaks that have been pesky. So everything is looking really good. It's very smooth. And the weather is also looking very cooperative. And it's starting to feel real. Everybody's like milling around. The press center's really crowded. And so I would say there's an air of hopeful anticipation.
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NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce. Supreme Court justices appear skeptical about President Trump's argument that when it comes to extending citizenship to a baby born in the US A parent's immigration status matter. The administration raised the issue of birth tourism. Solicitor General John Sauer suggested international travels made the exploitation of birthright citizenship easier. Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back. We're in a new world now, as Justice Alito pointed out, to where 8 billion people are one plane ride away from having a child who's a U.S. citizen. Well, it's a new world. It's the same constitution. As NPR's Anusha Mather reports, crowds of protesters gathered outside the court and took note that President Trump attended in person.
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Emily Valentine arrived to the Supreme Court an hour before the argument started. She and her sister wore blue shirts that read Protect Birthright Citizenship. To them, Trump's presence is a novelty.
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Yeah, we decided we would stop by and see what was going on and
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try to see Trump come in his motorcade this morning. But to some protesters, like Luis Villa Guzman, it was worrying.
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Trump is making history whether you like it or not. He is the first sitting president to attend a U.S. supreme Court's oral hearing, and I'm afraid that the judges feel the pressure as well.
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The court is expected to issue a decision at the end of its term in late June or early July. Anusha Mathur, NPR News, Washington.
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President Trump is expected to address the Nation tonight at 9 about the war in Iran. He has said that Iranian governments asked for a ceasefire. Iran has called the claim false and baseless. The search continues today for American journalist Shelly Renee Kittelson. She was taken captive off a street in Baghdad yesterday. U.S. and Iraqi officials say Kittelson, who has worked for years in Iraq and Syria was warned, warned of threats against her in the days leading up to the attack. Authorities say they have arrested and are interrogating a man believed to be one of the kidnappers. At last check on Wall street, the dow was up 260 points, or roughly half a percent at $46,601. From Washington, this is nice. Related to the Iran war, gas prices continue to be above $4 a gallon. Consumers are on the hunt for deals. But NPR's Stephen Bassarha reports. Americans are still driving.
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Ken Davis said he didn't have much choice making the drive between Birmingham and
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Atlanta because this is something we needed to do for business. So, I mean, you know, when you're when you have to do it, you have to do it.
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He stopped at BUC EE's in Leeds, Alabama, to refuel. And just about all of the store's 100 gas pumps were taken by drivers still paying high gas prices.
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My wife doesn't have that to deal with because she has an ev. So, you know, she's got a full tank every day she leaves home. But you know me, I'm still going with gas, so I've got to pay the price for it.
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Davis said he is cutting back on personal trips. Stephen Messaha, NPR News.
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New paper in JAMA Psychiatry suggests mental health care providers should ask patients regularly about their use of AI chatbots. Here's NPR's Ritu Chatterjee.
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Recent data suggests nearly half of adults with mental health conditions use AI chatbots for emotional support, including for anxiety and depression. Shady Saba is at the New York University School of Social Work and an author of the new paper, People who
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are using these tools on a regular basis to ask about stressful experiences and how to cope with stressful experiences and personal relationship challenges.
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He says mental health care providers can learn a lot about their patients lives and mental health by asking them about their conversations with chatbots.
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That's NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reporting. U.S. stocks are higher with the Dow up 260 points. It's NPR.
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Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: April 1, 2026
Runtime: ~5 minutes
This concise NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid update on major national and international headlines. Key topics include the Artemis 2 lunar mission launch, a high-profile Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, tension surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict, the ongoing search for an American journalist in Iraq, consumer adaptation to elevated gas prices, and new recommendations on mental health care in the AI era.
[00:01–00:46]
“The countdown is going really smoothly. There haven’t been any of the problems that have been an issue for NASA in the past... Everything is looking really good.” (Nell Greenfield Boyce, 00:18)
[00:46–02:11]
“Well, it’s a new world. It’s the same constitution.” (00:46)
"Yeah, we decided we would stop by and see what was going on and try to see Trump come in his motorcade this morning." (Emily Valentine, 01:41)
“Trump is making history whether you like it or not. He is the first sitting president to attend a U.S. supreme Court's oral hearing, and I’m afraid that the judges feel the pressure as well.” (Luis Villa Guzman, 01:53)
[02:11–02:37]
[02:37–03:14]
[03:14–03:50]
"I mean, you know, when you’re—when you have to do it, you have to do it." (Ken Davis, 03:18) "My wife doesn’t have that to deal with because she has an EV... But you know me, I'm still going with gas, so I've got to pay the price for it." (Ken Davis, 03:34)
[03:50–04:33]
“People who are using these tools on a regular basis to ask about stressful experiences and how to cope with stressful experiences and personal relationship challenges.” (Shady Saba, 04:14)
“It’s starting to feel real. Everybody’s like milling around. The press center’s really crowded. And so I would say there's an air of hopeful anticipation.” (00:41)
“Well, it’s a new world. It’s the same constitution.” (00:46)
“Trump is making history whether you like it or not. He is the first sitting president to attend a U.S. supreme Court's oral hearing...” (01:53)
“My wife doesn’t have that to deal with because she has an ev... But you know me, I'm still going with gas, so I've got to pay the price for it.” (03:34)
| Segment Description | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Artemis 2 Lunar Launch Update | 00:01–00:46 | | Supreme Court: Birthright Citizenship Hearing | 00:46–02:11 | | Iran War & President's Address Announcement | 02:11–02:37 | | American Journalist Kidnapped in Baghdad | 02:37–03:14 | | Gas Prices and Driving Behavior During Iran War | 03:14–03:50 | | Mental Health, AI Chatbots, and New Clinical Guidance | 03:50–04:33 |
For listeners seeking a concise national and international news update with context, analysis, and first-hand perspectives, this NPR News Now episode provides a fast yet comprehensive overview of today’s major events.