NPR News Now: April 4, 2026, 10PM EDT

Host: Dwahlisa Kowtow
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: Global breaking news round-up focusing on the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, European economic responses, the U.S. labor market, a festival tragedy in Louisiana, and Brexit's impact on orange marmalade.

Main Theme

This episode provides a concise but impactful overview of major world and U.S. news developments. The top stories cover the aftermath and global consequences of military action in Iran, implications for European energy pricing, U.S. job trends, a festival tragedy in Louisiana, and the curious fate of a beloved British breakfast staple after Brexit.

Key Discussion Points

1. Attack on Iran's Nuclear Power Plant

Segment Starts: [00:17]

• A nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran, located on the Persian Gulf, was struck for the fourth time since the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran began.
• One security staff member died.
• No radiological increases have been detected, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi issued a stern warning:

  "Nuclear power plants and surrounding areas must never be attacked." - Rafael Grossi [00:39]

• Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Arauchi, emphasized regional risk:

  "Any radioactive fallout from the plant will end life in neighboring Gulf Arab countries." [00:50]

• Possible contamination of Gulf waters, vital to nearby states—Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE—remains a pressing concern.

2. EU Proposes Windfall Tax on Energy Firms

Segment Starts: [01:27]

• Finance ministers from Austria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain urge the European Commission to impose a "solidarity levy" on energy companies benefitting from war-driven price spikes.
• The idea mirrors measures taken during the 2022 Ukraine crisis.
• The ministers’ letter to EU Climate Commissioner Woepke Hoekstra explained this would help mitigate soaring fuel prices after Iran closed the vital Strait of Hormuz.

  "They… urge him to take the action to signal to EU citizens and businesses that the bloc is trying to help those suffering from the price rises." - Terry Schultz [01:44-02:26]

3. U.S. Unemployment and Economic Snapshot

Segment Starts: [02:26]

• March saw unemployment tick down by a tenth of a percent; 178,000 jobs were added.
• However, revised February data reveals a net loss of more than 130,000 jobs.
• Economist Heather Long highlighted a nuanced labor market:

  "On the one hand, the economy is still growing. We got this AI boom. But on the other hand, the middle class is frustrated. You can't change jobs, and obviously the gas prices and the tariffs are having a real impact on people." - Heather Long [02:47]

• Companies are investing heavily in artificial intelligence technology, leaving less financial room for hiring or wage increases.

4. Louisiana Festival Tragedy

Segment Starts: [03:03]

• Organizers canceled a Buddhist Lao New Year festival near New Iberia, Louisiana after a drunk driving incident injured over 20 attendees.
• The alleged driver, Todd Landry, is in custody, charged with driving while impaired.
  • 13 injured transported by ambulance, two by helicopter.
• Organizers are now focusing on supporting the victims and their families.

5. Brexit and British Marmalade

Segment Starts: [04:07]

• EU rules may soon require British marmalade to be labeled as "citrus marmalade" for sale within the bloc.
• Britain lost its ability to negotiate special label status after leaving the EU:

  "Back in the 1970s, Britain was able to win a special dispensation from Brussels to grant British marmalade protected status. But with the UK now out of the European Union, its bargaining power is approximately zero." - Vicki Barker [04:41]

Notable Quotes

• "Nuclear power plants and surrounding areas must never be attacked."
  — Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General [00:39]
• "Any radioactive fallout from the plant will end life in neighboring Gulf Arab countries."
  — Abbas Arauchi, Iranian Foreign Minister [00:50]
• "On the one hand, the economy is still growing. We got this AI boom. But on the other hand, the middle class is frustrated. You can't change jobs, and obviously the gas prices and the tariffs are having a real impact on people."
  — Heather Long, Chief Economist, Navy Federal Credit Union [02:47]
• "Its bargaining power is approximately zero."
  — Vicki Barker, on Britain's trade leverage post-Brexit [04:41]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:17] — Iran nuclear plant strike coverage
• [01:27] — European windfall tax proposal
• [02:26] — U.S. jobs report and economic analysis
• [03:03] — Louisiana festival drunk driving tragedy
• [04:07] — Brexit impacts British marmalade exports

This episode succinctly covers a range of urgent global and domestic stories, interweaving hard news with economic analysis and lighter cultural notes, maintaining NPR’s factual and measured tone throughout.