NPR News Now: 03-26-2026 10AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: March 26, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

Episode Overview

This brief news update covers several major international and domestic stories, including escalating military actions and diplomatic maneuvers surrounding the US, Iran, Israel, and Pakistan; the continuing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security and its effects on TSA workers; changes to US summer fuel regulations amidst rising gas prices; economic updates; legal developments concerning former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro; the CPAC convention in Texas and its implications for the Republican Party; and the passing of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. Diplomatic Tensions and War Negotiations: US, Iran, Israel, and Pakistan

[00:00–01:12]

• Indirect US-Iran Talks via Pakistan:

  • Pakistan's Foreign Minister announces that his country is relaying messages between the US and Iran to help broker an end to the war.
  • Both sides have set out demands for a possible ceasefire.

• Intensified Israeli Strikes:

  • Daniel Estrin (NPR, Tel Aviv) reports Israel is increasing the tempo of military strikes on Iranian arms factories, anticipating a possible ceasefire within 48 hours.
  • Quote:

    "The Israeli military is speeding up its targeting in Iran over the next 48 hours, focusing on trying to hit Iran's arms factories as much as possible in case a ceasefire is declared."
    (Daniel Estrin, 00:28)

  • Pakistan is considered as a potential host for further negotiations.

• Iranian Retaliation:

  • Iran continues to fire missiles toward Israel, targeting central Israel and Jerusalem.

2. US Partial Government Shutdown: TSA Impact

[01:12–01:50]

• Stalled Senate Talks:

  • No progress in the Senate to resolve the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.
  • TSA agents remain unpaid; nearly 500 have resigned.

• Effect on Air Travel:

  • Wait times have ballooned, with reports of four-hour security queues at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport.

• Worker Hardship:

  • Pascual Contreras, TSA officer and union leader in Phoenix, voices personal and collective strain:
    Quote:

    "I already feel shame because I can't afford to pay my bills and I can't afford to go to work. And now I feel the burden of leaving my co workers."
    (Pascual Contreras, 01:36)

3. Economy & Regulation Updates

[01:50–02:53]

• EPA Relaxes Fuel Regulations:

  • To moderate rising gas prices, the EPA will let gas stations sell higher-ethanol fuel over the summer, despite expected increases in air pollution.
  • Quote:

    "The move is likely to cause some additional air pollution. It's intended to keep a lid on gas prices, which are currently averaging just under $4 a gallon."
    (Scott Horsley, 02:14)

  • Skepticism surrounds how effective this measure will be, given gas prices have surged by a dollar per gallon since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began.

• TSA & Congress:

  • No new funding for TSA agents; Delta Air Lines suspends VIP perks for lawmakers.

• Employment & Markets:

  • Jobless claims rose slightly: 210,000 new applicants for unemployment benefits.
  • The Dow Jones is up 64 points in early trading.

4. High-Profile Legal & Political Developments

[02:53–04:18]

• Venezuela:

  • Former leader Nicolas Maduro and wife Celia Flores appear in US court, seeking to dismiss their federal drug trafficking charges after being extradited in January.

• CPAC in Texas:

  • The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) convenes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
  • Reporting spotlights the GOP's growing Latino support, attributed to economic promises and former President Trump's influence.
  • Rolando Rodriguez (Latinos for Trump founder, 2016) emphasizes economic opportunity:
    Quote:

    "What they want is job for the economy to flow. And it is working. I mean, not as fast as we would like for it to happen, but it's working."
    (Rolando Rodriguez, 03:56)

  • Trump recently announced a $300 billion oil refinery project in South Texas—the first in 50 years.

5. Obituary: Tracy Kidder

[04:18–04:40]

• Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder dies of lung cancer at age 80.
• Noted for The Soul of a New Machine, a landmark narrative about the emergent field of computing.
• Won Pulitzer and National Book Award for the same work in 1981.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On US-Iran tensions:
  "The Israeli military is speeding up its targeting in Iran over the next 48 hours, focusing on trying to hit Iran's arms factories as much as possible in case a ceasefire is declared."
  (Daniel Estrin, 00:28)

• On TSA worker hardship:
  "I already feel shame because I can't afford to pay my bills and I can't afford to go to work. And now I feel the burden of leaving my co workers."
  (Pascual Contreras, 01:36)

• On fuel regulation change:
  "The move is likely to cause some additional air pollution. It's intended to keep a lid on gas prices, which are currently averaging just under $4 a gallon."
  (Scott Horsley, 02:14)

• On Latino support for the GOP in Texas:
  "What they want is job for the economy to flow. And it is working..."
  (Rolando Rodriguez, 03:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pakistan mediates US-Iran talks; Israeli military escalation: 00:00–01:12
• TSA agent strike and airport security delays: 01:12–01:50
• EPA relaxes fuel rules; economic updates: 01:50–02:53
• Maduro court case; CPAC in Texas, Latino GOP shift: 02:53–04:18
• Tracy Kidder obituary: 04:18–04:40

This episode captures a snapshot of global conflict, domestic disruption, political maneuvering, and recognition of a major literary figure, all within five minutes—delivering the broad, brisk, and balanced coverage NPR is known for.