NPR News Now: 04-01-2026 3PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: April 1, 2026
Runtime: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

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.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Artemis 2 Lunar Mission Launch Imminent

[00:01–00:46]

• Lakshmi Singh introduces the anticipation surrounding the now-imminent Artemis 2 crewed lunar mission from Kennedy Space Center—NASA’s first to the moon in over 50 years.
• NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports from the site, describing a positive mood:

  “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)

• Boyce notes “hopeful anticipation” and a crowded press center, signifying the mission’s public excitement.

2. Supreme Court: Birthright Citizenship Under Scrutiny

[00:46–02:11]

• The Supreme Court hears arguments challenging whether a U.S.-born baby's citizenship should hinge on the parents’ immigration status.
• Lakshmi summarizes the government's concern over "birth tourism" and international travel enabling birthright citizenship, with Chief Justice John Roberts responding critically:

  “Well, it’s a new world. It’s the same constitution.” (00:46)

• NPR's Anusha Mathur reports from outside the Court, where crowds gather—among them, Emily Valentine and her sister, donning shirts reading “Protect Birthright Citizenship.”

  "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)

• Protester Luis Villa Guzman voices anxiety over the President’s unprecedented attendance:

  “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)

• The court is expected to rule by late June or early July.

3. U.S.-Iran Tensions and President’s Upcoming Speech

[02:11–02:37]

• President Trump will address the nation tonight regarding the war in Iran amidst conflicting statements about Iran’s request for a ceasefire.
• Iran calls the U.S. President’s claims “false and baseless.”

4. American Journalist Kidnapped in Baghdad

[02:37–03:14]

• Authorities continue searching for Shelly Renee Kittelson, an American journalist abducted in Baghdad. She had previously received warnings of threats.
• A suspect, believed to be one of the kidnappers, is now under interrogation by U.S. and Iraqi officials.

5. Gas Prices & Consumer Adaptation Amid Iran War

[03:14–03:50]

• U.S. gas prices remain high, above $4 a gallon, partly due to ongoing conflict in Iran.
• NPR’s Stephen Bassarha reports from a busy gas station in Alabama:
  • Ken Davis, commuter:

    "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)

  • Davis is reducing personal travel due to fuel costs, highlighting the differential impact EVs have on households.

6. AI Chatbots and Mental Health Practices

[03:50–04:33]

• A new paper in JAMA Psychiatry recommends that mental health providers regularly discuss with patients their use of AI chatbots, given their rising popularity for emotional support.
  • Shady Saba, NYU School of Social Work:

    “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)

  • This practice could help providers better understand their patients’ circumstances and mental health.

Notable Quotes

• Nell Greenfield Boyce (on Artemis 2):

  “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)

• Chief Justice John Roberts (on birthright citizenship):

  “Well, it’s a new world. It’s the same constitution.” (00:46)

• Luis Villa Guzman (on Trump at the Supreme Court):

  “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)

• Ken Davis (on gas prices and EVs):

  “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 Timestamps

| 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.