NPR News Now – April 3, 2026, 6PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton, NPR
Date: April 3, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes
Theme: Major U.S. and international news updates, including military incidents, federal budget priorities, election law, housing trends, Myanmar’s leadership, Artemis 2 mission, and a gubernatorial milestone in New Jersey.

Key News Segments & Insights

1. U.S. Air Force Planes Shot Down Amid Conflict with Iran

[00:29] Ryland Barton

• Two U.S. Air Force combat planes shot down: One near the Strait of Hormuz, another in southwestern Iran.
• One crew member rescued from each crash, but search continues for another.
• Context: Ongoing war with Iran, over a month in length.

Quote:
Ryland Barton [00:29]:
"2 U.S. Air Force combat planes were shot down today, and that's according to an official not authorized to discuss the incidents."

2. White House Seeks Record Defense Budget; Domestic Cuts Proposed

[01:04] Danielle Kurtzleben

• White House requests the largest defense budget in U.S. history: $1.5 trillion.
• Paired with proposed $73 billion in domestic spending cuts.
• Trump's priorities: National security over federal funding for social programs (e.g., daycare, Medicaid, Medicare).

Quote:
Donald Trump [01:22]:
"It's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individuals things. They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal. We have to take care of one military protection. We have to guard the country."

Notable Moment:

• The White House posted, then deleted, a video of Trump outlining these priorities.

3. States Challenge New Voting Executive Order

[01:41] Ryland Barton & [01:52] Miles Parks

• 24 states file lawsuit to block Trump's executive order adding restrictions on mail-in voting.
• Third such suit, following earlier cases from the Democratic Party and voting rights groups.
• Legal experts expect courts to swiftly block the order, as happened with a similar 2025 order on voter registration.
• States' rights highlighted: Constitution gives them power over elections, but with federal oversight.

Quote:
Letitia James, NY Attorney General (via Miles Parks) [01:52]:
"no president has the power to rewrite the rules on his own."

4. Seniors Seeking Roommates Due to Housing Crisis

[02:31] Ryland Barton & [02:41] Jennifer Ludden

• Seniors (65+) seeking roommates have tripled in the past decade.
• Driven by rising housing costs pricing out both buyers and renters living solo.
• Matt Hutchinson (Spare Room): While not the largest group, it's the fastest-growing roommate demographic.
• Human stories:
  • David West, 72, shares housing and costs out of necessity post-divorce and job loss.
  • Darla Desatel, 74, finds value in companionship and adaptability.

Quotes:
Matt Hutchinson [02:49]:
"They're not the biggest group of roommates, but they're by far the fastest growing."

David West [03:05]:
"And it's that give and take thing."

Darla Desatel [03:10]:
"She's also proud she's learned to live with less."

5. Myanmar Elects Military Leader as President

[03:24] Ryland Barton

• Min Aung Hlaing, the general who led the 2021 coup, now elected president by Parliament.
• Seen as an effort to legitimize army control – election widely dismissed as neither free nor fair by opposition and independent observers.

6. NASA’s Artemis 2 Crew and Meals in Space

[03:44] Marion Sumrall

• Artemis 2 mission crew en route to the moon.
• Menu includes rehydrated foods like spicy green beans and maple cream cookies.
• NASA customizes menus for each astronaut; strict nutritional tracking at Johnson Space Center.

Quotes & Notable Moments:
Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut (via video, paraphrased by Marion Sumrall) [04:01]:
"Foods you wouldn't even imagine being rehydrated are actually good."

Norm Knight, NASA [04:28]:
"We have a food lab and we have folks at the Johnson Space center tracking what they eat, the nutrition, the calories. It makes a difference."

7. New Jersey Governor Moves into Historic Mansion

[04:46] Ryland Barton

• Governor Mikie Sherrill and family to reside full-time in Drumthwacket, the official governor’s mansion.
• First time in 20+ years the mansion is inhabited full-time by a sitting governor.
• Fun fact: "Drumthwacket" is Scots Gaelic for "wooded hill".

Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump [01:22]:
  "We have to take care of one military protection. We have to guard the country."

• Letitia James (via Miles Parks) [01:52]:
  "No president has the power to rewrite the rules on his own."

• Matt Hutchinson [02:49]:
  "They're not the biggest group of roommates, but they're by far the fastest growing."

• David West [03:05]:
  "And it's that give and take thing."

• Norm Knight, NASA [04:28]:
  "We have a food lab and we have folks at the Johnson Space center tracking what they eat, the nutrition, the calories. It makes a difference."

Timestamps of Key Segments

• U.S. Air Force incidents & Iran conflict: [00:29]
• Defense budget & social spending cuts: [01:04]
• Executive order on voting lawsuits: [01:41]
• Seniors and roommates/housing crisis: [02:31]
• Myanmar's new president: [03:24]
• Artemis 2 meal planning/space food: [04:01]
• NJ governor moving into Drumthwacket: [04:46]

This summary encapsulates the major news categories covered in this NPR News Now episode, along with context, direct quotes, and timestamps for easy navigation.