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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump is again threatening Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, saying on social media Today it has 48 hours to open the straight or quote, all hell will rain down. And glory to God this as the search for a missing U.S. service member in Iran continues. Tehran shot down two U.S. military planes yesterday, but two other crew members were rescued. Earlier, Trump said the U.S. would pound Iran back to, quote, the Stone Age. Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former State Department official, says it shows Iran remains a threat.
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It's extraordinary, frankly, in the thousands of sorties that both the Americans and Israelis have flown that this is the first time that you had a downed aircraft. But it is, I think, tremendously symbolic. It suggests that the Americans don't have total escalation dominance of the airspace. Iranians still have capacity, not to mention the propaganda value of this, assuming the Iranians find the airmen speaking there.
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On NPR's Weekend Edition, Iranian media reports that for the fourth time since the start of the war, a nuclear power plant has been struck and the plant remains functioning. But NPR's Dee Parvez reports a possible radiation leak wouldn't be limited to just Iran.
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The nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which is on the country's coastline on the Persian Gulf, was struck by a projectile from a strike to its perimeter on Saturday, killing one of the plant's security personnel. The International Atomic Energy Agency says that no increase in radiation levels have been detected in the area. But in a statement posted on X, the agency's director general, Rafael Grossi, said that the nuclear power plants and surrounding areas must never be attacked. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arauchi, noted on X that any radioactive fallout from the plant will end life in neighboring Gulf Arab countries. Radioactive material from the damaged plant could leak into the Gulf, contaminating water's vital to states like Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Dee Pavaz, NPR News, Vaughn, Turkey.
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The Trump administration wants to privatize airport security operations run by the TSA. NPR's Joel Rose reports.
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President Trump's budget proposes cutting funding for the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration, by more than $50 million. And it would require small airports to enroll in a program in which TSA pays for private contractors to staff security checkpoints. That program has existed for years, but only 20 airports are enrol. The Trump administration argues that privatized screening would save taxpayers money. But critics, including the union that represents TSA officers, say it would undermine security. The budget request reflects the White House's priorities, but it's Congress that ultimately sets and approves spending levels. And lawmakers are still deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security in this year's budget. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
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And you're listening to NPR News. Evacuation orders and warnings are up in Riverside county, east of the Moreno Valley in Southern California as a fast growing wildfire now stands at more than 4,100 acres. Fire officials say the cause of the fire is under investigation. This amid very windy dry conditions at high temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the area through this afternoon, with wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour. Possible Women's college basketball is set for its national championship game. It will be South Carolina and UCLA battling for the title after both won their semifinal matches. Steve Futterman has more from Phoenix.
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In the first semifinals, South Carolina handed undefeated UConn its first loss of the season, 62 48. In the other semi, UCLA beat Texas 51 44. The most memorable moment on semifinal night came just off the court when UConn coach Gino Auriemma and South Carolina coach Don Staley exchanged angry words just as the game was ending. Afterwards, Auriemma said it stemmed from Staley refusing to shake hands just before the game. The protocol is before the game, you
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meet at half court and shake hands.
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And I waited there for like three minutes. At one point, the exchange became so heated, both coaches had to be held back by their assistants. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Phoenix.
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And the men's final four takes place tonight. UConn takes on Illinois, and then Michigan plays Arizona. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
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Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: A concise roundup of key national and global news stories, focusing on U.S.-Iran tensions, a nuclear power plant incident, TSA privatization, a major Southern California wildfire, and coverage of the NCAA Women's Basketball semifinals.
This edition of NPR News Now covers breaking developments in U.S.–Iran relations amid military tensions, concerns over a strike at an Iranian nuclear facility, domestic policy shifts around airport security, a fast-moving wildfire threatening Riverside County, CA, and dramatic moments from the NCAA Women’s Basketball semifinals. The episode presents brief, high-impact reports from NPR correspondents, combining national security, international affairs, policy, and sports.
[00:01–01:03]
President Trump issued a stern warning to Iran regarding blocking the Strait of Hormuz, giving the country a 48-hour ultimatum on social media:
“It has 48 hours to open the strait or, quote, all hell will rain down. And glory to God.”
This follows the downing of two U.S. military planes by Iran; a search for a missing U.S. service member continues.
Trump previously threatened to “pound Iran back to the Stone Age.”
Expert Analysis:
“It’s extraordinary, frankly, in the thousands of sorties that both the Americans and Israelis have flown that this is the first time that you had a downed aircraft. But it is, I think, tremendously symbolic. It suggests that the Americans don’t have total escalation dominance of the airspace. Iranians still have capacity, not to mention the propaganda value of this, assuming the Iranians find the airmen.” [00:40]
“Any radioactive fallout from the plant will end life in neighboring Gulf Arab countries.”
“That program has existed for years, but only 20 airports are enrolled. The Trump administration argues privatized screening would save taxpayers money. But critics, including the union that represents TSA officers, say it would undermine security.”
Geno Auriemma: “The protocol is before the game, you meet at half court and shake hands. And I waited there for like three minutes.” [04:16]
“It has 48 hours to open the strait or, quote, all hell will rain down. And glory to God.” – Jeanine Herbst quoting President Trump [00:01]
“It’s extraordinary... Americans don’t have total escalation dominance of the airspace. Iranians still have capacity, not to mention the propaganda value…” [00:40]
“The nuclear power plants and surrounding areas must never be attacked.” – Reported by Dee Parvez [01:20]
“The protocol is before the game, you meet at half court and shake hands. And I waited there for like three minutes.” [04:16]
This NPR News Now episode delivers urgent updates on tensions in the Persian Gulf, a significant nuclear safety scare, debates over federal security policy, wildfire threats in California, and a heated NCAA Women’s basketball semifinal. The reporting balances succinct headlines with key insights and expert analysis, offering listeners a rapid, reliable pulse on major developments impacting the U.S. and the world.