NPR News Now — March 23, 2026, 2PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: Fast-paced update on top U.S. and world news, with a focus today on an airport disaster, U.S.–Iran diplomacy, climate change, shifts in energy policy, Supreme Court election case, and a new Lyme disease vaccine.

Main News Highlights

1. LaGuardia Airport Deadly Collision (00:01–00:51)

• Overview:
  • LaGuardia Airport reopens one runway following a fatal accident.
  • An Air Canada regional jet from Montreal collided with a fire truck while landing.
  • Two pilots were killed; about 40 others hospitalized, some with serious injuries.
• Key Details:
  • The fire truck was responding to a separate incident involving a United Airlines flight with a reported odor issue.
  • Catherine Garcia (Port Authority Chief) noted the fire truck “was responding to another aircraft… when it was struck.”
• Memorable Moment:
  • The tragedy occurred during a dual emergency response, compounding confusion and risk.

2. US–Iran Crisis & Diplomatic Developments (00:51–01:46)

• President Trump Address in Memphis (00:51):
  • Announced potential US-Iran talks to end the conflict.
  • Quote:
    • “Based on preliminary conversations between the United States and Iran over the past two days, I’ve directed the Department of War to temporarily postpone planned strikes against major energy and electricity targets in Iran.”
      — President Trump, 00:51
• NPR’s Aya Batrawi Reporting (01:08):
  • Trump’s decision: U.S. military to hold off on striking Iranian energy sites for 5 days as dialogue continues.
  • Iran denies any dialogue with Washington; state broadcaster labels Trump’s pause as a tactic for lowering energy prices and strategic delay.
  • Iran’s counter-threat: if its power plants are struck, they may retaliate against Dubai and other Gulf Arab cities.
• Insight:
  • Both sides remain tense and suspicious, signaling fragile diplomacy and risks of escalation.

3. UN Climate Report: Record-Breaking Heat (01:46–02:43)

• Overview:
  • UN: 2015–2025 is the hottest decade on record.
  • Earth has warmed over 2.5°F since the late 1800s.
• Rebecca Hersher’s Analysis (02:05):
  • World Meteorological Organization annual report highlights rapid human-driven warming from fossil fuels.
  • Main finding: last 11 years the hottest ever.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “When history repeats itself 11 times, it is no longer a coincidence. It’s a call to act.”
      — UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, 02:29
  • Effects: more deadly heatwaves, droughts, floods.
• Theme: Urgent call for climate action as catastrophic trends continue.

4. Market Update & Energy Policy Shift (02:43–03:58, 04:28)

• US Stocks Surge:
  • Dow up 816 points (1.7–1.8%)
  • S&P up 97 points (1.5%)
  • Nasdaq up 1.6%
• Policy Shift:
  • Trump administration pays French company $1 billion to withdraw from U.S. offshore wind leases, redirect investment toward fossil fuels.
  • Affected leases: projects off North Carolina & New York; company had already paused after Trump’s election.
  • Reflects ongoing rollback of previous administration’s climate initiatives.

5. Supreme Court Election Case (03:58–04:15)

• Issue:
  • Supreme Court considers if states can count late-arriving mail-in ballots.
  • Most states: require receipt by Election Day.
  • 14 states & D.C.: allow grace period for postmarked ballots.
  • Ruling expected by June, ahead of midterms.

6. Lyme Disease Vaccine Progress (04:00–04:28)

• New Development:
  • Pfizer’s experimental Lyme vaccine, in partnership with French biotech, shows promise.
  • Reduces Lyme risk by 74% in a 9,000-person study.
  • Lyme is tick-borne, can cause severe complications without treatment.
• Quote:
  • “Pfizer says the vaccine reduced the risk of catching Lyme disease… by about 74%.”
    — Rob Stein, 04:00

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• President Trump:
  “Based on preliminary conversations… I’ve directed the Department of War to temporarily postpone planned strikes...” (00:51)
• UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres:
  “When history repeats itself 11 times, it is no longer a coincidence. It’s a call to act.” (02:29)
• Rob Stein (Pfizer vaccine):
  “Pfizer says the vaccine reduced the risk of catching Lyme disease… by about 74%.” (04:00)

Conclusion

This NPR News Now episode swiftly covers significant breaking news across disaster response, international conflict, climate urgency, economic trends, legal battles over voting, and encouraging health science. The tone is urgent yet measured, highlighting complex events and their implications for the U.S. and the world. Key moments include the tragic LaGuardia accident, nuanced US–Iran diplomacy, dire climate warnings, and promising medical advances—captured with direct quotes and succinct expert analysis.