NPR News Now – April 3, 2026, 3PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This edition of NPR News Now covers the latest breaking developments in U.S.-Iran tensions, congressional investigations related to Jeffrey Epstein, DHS funding and TSA workforce concerns, a major milestone for NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission, and new research on soda taxes in fast food settings. Each story is succinctly presented, reflecting the rapid-fire, authoritative tone of NPR’s news reporting.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S. F-15 Shot Down Over Iran and Ongoing Military Conflict

[00:01]

• Incident: A U.S. F-15 jet was shot down over Iranian territory. One crew member has been rescued, while the search continues for the second.
• Iranian Response: Iran’s government issued a televised appeal urging civilians to search for and detain foreign pilots.
• White House Reaction: President Trump has been briefed on the situation but made no public remark at this time.
• Significance: This is the first U.S. military aircraft lost in Iranian territory since the war’s outbreak over five weeks ago.
• Escalation: President Trump claims the U.S. has destroyed a major bridge in Iran; threats of further attacks loom.

Memorable Quote:
"It's the first time America has lost a military aircraft in Iranian territory during this war that started more than five weeks ago."
— Jeanine Herbst [00:20]

• Further Reporting:
  • Emily Fang explains:
    • Target was the B1 bridge west of Tehran, under construction at the time.
    • Attack killed eight people per IRGC sources.
    • IRGC threatens retaliation against major bridges in the Middle East.
    • Trump threatens more strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants, if Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

Quote:
"Trump has threatened the US will hit more civilian infrastructure, including power plants in Iran, by next week if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz."
— Emily Fang [00:39]

2. Congress Tackles Jeffrey Epstein File Investigation

[01:04]

• Context: Former Attorney General Pam Bondi is subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding her handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
• Recent Development: President Trump fired Bondi yesterday. Todd Blanche, Trump’s former personal lawyer, is now acting attorney general.
• Congressional Stance:
  • Rep. Nancy Mace emphasizes Bondi’s obligation to testify despite her firing, signaling ongoing bipartisan pressure for accountability.

Quote:
"She was subpoenaed. She is required by law to show up... Just because she's fired doesn't mean this goes."
— Rep. Nancy Mace [01:20]

• Concerns Raised: Mace also notes discomfort over new acting AG Blanche’s statement that the Epstein files should not be part of future proceedings.

3. DHS and TSA: Funding, Staffing, and Travel Concerns

[01:36]

• Executive Action: President Trump is expected to sign an order ensuring DHS employee pay amid ongoing Congressional budget gridlock.

• Operational Impacts:

  • Improved TSA wait times since agents began receiving pay, but hundreds have resigned during the recent partial shutdown.
  • Full recovery may take months due to the time required to train new replacements.

• Industry Perspective:

  • Analyst Henry Hartveldt warns that uncertainty over back pay could lead to further TSA absenteeism, directly impacting airport security and travel predictability.

Quote:
"If the back pay isn't fully repaid ... we’re going to start seeing absenteeism increase again."
— Henry Hartveldt [02:28]

• Bottom Line: Fluctuating staffing levels mean airport wait times could become unpredictable again.

4. NASA Artemis II: Moon Mission Progress

[02:52]

• Update: Artemis II astronauts have performed their translunar injection, sending their Orion capsule on course for the moon.
• Crew: Three Americans and one Canadian are aboard—the first lunar mission since the Apollo program.
• Milestone: First crewed moon mission engine firing since Apollo 17 (1972), following tests of life support systems.
• Context: The capsule is now 250,000 miles from Earth, set for a lunar fly-around early next week.

5. Effectiveness of Soda Taxes in Fast Food Settings

[03:57]

• Study Findings: New research published in PLOS Medicine finds that local sugary drink taxes have not reduced soda consumption in fast food restaurants.
• Scope: Study examined drive-thru transactions at major Taco Bell locations in multiple cities with soda taxes: Chicago, Oakland, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

Quote:
"The small tax on soda did not appear to influence decision making."
— Allison Aubrey [03:57]

• Implications: While soda taxes reduce purchases in grocery stores, their impact in fast food environments is negligible—possibly due to the tax being too minor to affect consumer choices.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "It's the first time America has lost a military aircraft in Iranian territory during this war that started more than five weeks ago." — Jeanine Herbst [00:20]
• "Trump has threatened the US will hit more civilian infrastructure, including power plants in Iran, by next week if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz." — Emily Fang [00:39]
• "She was subpoenaed... Just because she's fired doesn't mean this goes." — Rep. Nancy Mace [01:20]
• "If the back pay isn't fully repaid... we’re going to start seeing absenteeism increase again." — Henry Hartveldt [02:28]
• "The small tax on soda did not appear to influence decision making." — Allison Aubrey [03:57]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S.-Iran Jet Downing / Escalation: [00:01 – 01:04]
• Congress / Epstein Files Investigation: [01:04 – 01:36]
• DHS Funding / TSA Labor Crisis: [01:36 – 02:52]
• NASA Artemis II Moon Mission: [02:52 – 03:57]
• Soda Tax Fast Food Study: [03:57 – 04:34]

For More Info

For further coverage or sponsor-free listening, visit NPR News Now at plus.npr.org/newsnow.