NPR News: 04-05-2026 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – April 5, 2026, 5AM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A concise, up-to-date recap of the day’s major national and international news, featuring breaking developments in U.S.–Iran relations, NASA’s Artemis II moon mission, changes in college admissions policy, wildfire management in California, and the latest NCAA basketball action.

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Breaking News: U.S. Airman Rescued in Iran (00:13 – 01:23)

• Overview:
  President Trump announced that a U.S. military airman shot down and stranded in Iran has been rescued after more than a day behind enemy lines. The incident involved cooperation between U.S. and Israeli forces.

• Details:

  • The downed aircraft was an F15 fighter jet over western Iran.
  • Two crew members ejected: the pilot was rescued quickly; the colonel, a weapons officer and the second crew member, was injured and evaded capture for over 24 hours.
  • President Trump’s statement, shared on Truth Social, highlighted the high-risk nature and successful outcome of the mission.

• Notable Quote:

  • "This brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran. The Iranians were closing in on him, but US Forces found him first... we will never leave an American war fighter behind."
    — President Trump (reported by Greg Myhre, 01:03)

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Artemis II Moon Mission Update (01:23 – 02:08)

• Overview:
  The Artemis II crew is more than halfway to the moon; their journey is expected to culminate Monday with a moon flyby that coincides with a rare astronomical event.

• Key Points:

  • The international crew (three Americans, one Canadian) will witness a total solar eclipse from lunar orbit.
  • NASA’s Kelsey Young described the eclipse as offering a uniquely rare perspective.

• Memorable Quote:

  • "The sun will pass behind the moon from their perspective, creating a solar eclipse from a perspective that is very, very unique to this mission."
    — Kelsey Young, NASA (01:41)

• Challenge on Board:

  • The spacecraft’s toilet is malfunctioning.
  • The crew has been directed to use urine collection bags as a backup measure.

• Lighthearted Quote:

  • "It's a little bit of camping in space already, but then it makes camping a little bit tougher when you don't have the full capability of the toilet."
    — John Honeycutt, NASA Space Launch System Program Manager (02:00)

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Federal Court Blocks Trump-Era College Admissions Data Policy (02:08 – 03:12)

• Overview:
  A federal judge halted a Trump administration rule that would have required colleges to collect and report data on applicants’ race, responding to a lawsuit by 17 Democratic state attorneys general.

• Key Discussion Points:

  • The court found the policy’s 120-day rollout to be “rushed and chaotic.”
  • Plaintiffs cited risks to student privacy.
  • The judge noted that while the government can collect some data, the manner and timeline of implementation were problematic.
  • The case comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision limiting affirmative action but permitting students to discuss race in essays.

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Wildfire in Southern California Contained (03:12 – 03:55)

• Overview:
  The Springs Fire in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, is now 95% contained. Conditions have improved thanks to lighter winds.

• Key Points:

  • No homes or structures were lost.
  • Evacuation orders have been lifted.
  • The cause remains under investigation.
  • This update reflects effective response and coordination among fire agencies.

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NCAA Basketball Championship Updates (03:55 – 04:36)

• Men’s Final Four Recap:

  • UConn defeated their opponent 71–62, advancing to the NCAA Championship for the third time in four years, and will play Michigan Monday.

  • Terrace Reed Jr. secured the win with clutch free throws in the final seconds.

    • Quote:
      "Yeah, with 30 seconds left, I looked at coach, gave him a nod like, yo, coach, let me, let me catch the ball, let him foul me. I'm knock these two down. So I felt like just trusting in the work I put in, trusting the guys around me."
      — Terrace Reed Jr., UConn Center (04:11)

  • Michigan defeated Arizona in the other semifinal, 91–73.

• Women’s Final Four Recap:

  • South Carolina beat UConn 62–48, breaking the Huskies' 54-game winning streak.
  • UCLA pulled out a hard-fought win over Texas, 51–44.
  • South Carolina and UCLA will face off in the women’s NCAA championship game.

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Timestamps at a Glance

• 00:13 – 01:23 | U.S. airman rescued in Iran
• 01:23 – 02:08 | Artemis II progress, solar eclipse, toilet issue
• 02:08 – 03:12 | College admissions data rule blocked
• 03:12 – 03:55 | Southern California wildfire update
• 03:55 – 04:36 | NCAA men’s and women’s basketball highlights

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Tone & Style:
Direct and factual, with brief moments of human interest and humor (especially in the Artemis II segment).
Focused, urgent, and informative—consistent with NPR News Now’s concise news delivery.

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Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says the military has rescued an American service member whose fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday. NPR's Greg Myhrey reports. The airmen AVO capture for more than a day before the U.S. and Israel could reach him.

[Greg Myhre]

President Trump described the dramatic rescue in a lengthy post on Truth Social. The president said dozens of military aircraft were sent to search for the airman, a colonel. He was one of two crew members who ejected when their F15 fighter jet was struck Friday over western Iran. The pilot was rescued shortly after the shoot down, but the colonel, a weapons officer who was injured, could not immediately be reached. Trump wrote this brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran. The Iranians were closing in on him, but US Forces found him first. Trump said the airman was safe and sound, adding, we will never leave an American war fighter behind. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

The astronauts on board the Artemis II are more than halfway to the moon. The three Americans and one Canadian are expected to reach their destination Monday before looping back to Earth. NASA senior researcher Kelsey Young says the crew will see a total solar eclipse during the flyby.

[Kelsey Young]

The sun will pass behind the moon from their perspective, creating a solar eclipse from a perspective that is very, very unique to this mission.

[Windsor Johnston]

But on board, a familiar issue has resurfaced. John Honeycutt, manager of NASA's Space Launch System program, says the spacecraft's toilet is malfunctioning.

[John Honeycutt]

It's a little bit of camping in space already, but then it makes camping a little bit tougher when you don't have the full capability of the toilet.

[Windsor Johnston]

Mission control has instructed the crew to use backup urine collection bags until it's fixed. A federal judge has halted the Trump administration's policy requiring colleges to collect and share data on race in admissions. NPR's Alyssa Nadworny reports. The preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit by 17 Democratic state attorneys general.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

The attorneys generals had argued that new data requested in the Trump order jeopardized student privacy. The federal policy came from concerns that colleges were using personal statements and other proxies to consider race. The judge agreed the federal government has the authority to collect the data, but called the 120 day rollout, quote, rushed and chaotic. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the use of affirmative action in admissions, but said applicants could share information about race in their admissions essay. When the lawsuit was filed in February, a spokesperson from the Department of Education defended the data collection, saying that US Taxpayers deserve transparency into college admissions. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News in Washington. A wildfire that broke out Friday in Southern California is mostly under control. Cal Fire reports the Springs fire in Riverside county east of Los angeles is now 95% contained. Forecasters say strong winds eased, helping firefighters gain ground. No structures have been damaged and evacuation orders have been lifted. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. UConn has advanced to the NCAA championship game for the third time in the last four years and will play Michigan on Monday night. Greg Eklund has the results of Saturday night's semifinals.

[Greg Eklund]

UConn Center Terrace Reed Jr. Capped the Huskies scoring in the 7162 victory with key free throws in the game's final seconds. This season, Reed has shot a below average 59% from the line, but was determined to change that.

[Terrace Reed Jr.]

Yeah, with 30 seconds left, I looked at coach, gave him a nod like, yo, coach, let me, let me catch the ball, let him foul me. I'm knock these two down. So I felt like just trusting in the work I put in, trusting the guys around me.

[Greg Eklund]

Reed played the first two years of his collegiate career at Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines, now 36 3, defeated Arizona in the second semifinal, 91 73. Greg Eklund, NPR News, Indianapolis, South Carolina

[Windsor Johnston]

and UCLA are set to face off in the women's NCAA championship game today after winning their final four matchups. South Carolina beat UConn 62 48, snapping the Huskies 54 game winning streak. UCLA advanced with a win over Texas 51 44. This is NPR.

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