NPR News Now - 03-26-2026 6PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton
Date: March 26, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This rapid-fire NPR News Now segment delivers the biggest national and international headlines of the hour. Major stories include President Trump's decision to extend the deadline for possible strikes on Iran, a tumultuous day on Wall Street, impacts of the government shutdown on Delta Airlines and TSA, an immigration bond ruling, and updates on the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The episode closes with an international crime story involving Ursula Andress.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.–Iran Tensions & Extended Deadline

• [00:36] President Trump extends the deadline for potential U.S. strikes on Iranian power plants.
  • Trump announced on social media that he is “pausing the period of energy plant destruction by 10 days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8pm Eastern Time.”
  • Talks with Iran are ongoing, with Pakistan mediating discussions.
  • U.S. has put forward a 15-point peace framework.
  • Iranian officials publicly criticized the plan as “unfair and one sided,” per Reuters.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Trump says he's giving Iran more time to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as talks with Tehran continue.” — Franco Ordonez, [00:48]
  • Steve Witkoff (Trump’s envoy):
    • “Strong and positive messaging” from talks, despite Iran’s public position.

2. Stock Market Turmoil Amid Uncertainty

• [01:36] Largest drop on Wall Street since the current war with Iran began.
  • Dow Jones fell by nearly 470 points (over 1%).
  • S&P 500 dropped nearly 1.25%.
  • Nasdaq is now in “correction territory.”
• Causes:
  • Tech sector especially hit, amplified by Meta’s (Facebook/Instagram) losses after court defeats related to user safety for young people.
  • Investor anxiety over prolonged U.S.–Iran conflict, surging oil prices ($100+/barrel), and inflation concerns.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Tech stocks in particular tumbled... dragged down in part by a sell-off in Meta shares after the parent company of Facebook and Instagram lost back-to-back court cases blaming Meta for the harmful impact of its products on young people.” — Maria Aspen, [01:53]

3. Delta Airlines & TSA Travel Delays

• [02:36] Continued travel disruptions at Delta’s Atlanta hub amid government shutdown-related TSA delays.
  • Delta is expanding its travel waiver policy—passengers flying to/from Atlanta through March 30 may rebook without fees if they travel by April 6.
  • Fare differences will be waived if customers stay in the same cabin and booking class.
  • TSA has “the longest wait times ever,” per acting administrator.
  • Delta has temporarily suspended special services for members of Congress.
  • TSA employees currently working without pay due to the partial government shutdown.
• Notable Quote:
  • “TSA’s acting administrator said this week that the agency is experiencing the longest wait times ever because of the partial government shutdown that started last month.” — Marlon Hyde, [02:52]

4. Immigration Ruling: Detention Without Bond

• [03:30] A federal appeals court upheld the government’s ability to detain immigrants without bond—a win for the Trump administration.
  • It’s the second appellate ruling in favor, overriding several lower court decisions that called the practice unlawful.

5. Mark Twain Prize: Bill Maher Honored

• [03:30, 04:08] The Kennedy Center confirms Bill Maher will receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
  • President Trump voiced opposition; the White House initially dismissed the story as “fake news.”
  • Maher has been both critical of and engaged with the Trump administration.
• Notable Moments:
  • Anonymous sources tipped the announcement, later confirmed by the Kennedy Center.
  • Trump recently called Maher “a lightweight” on social media. [04:38]
  • Maher, in a statement, reflected:
    • “It is indeed humbling to get anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.” — Bill Maher, [04:38]

6. International Crime: Ursula Andress Theft

• [04:53] Italian police recovered $23 million in stolen assets from actress Ursula Andress.
  • Stolen assets include property, artwork, and financial holdings in Florence and Tuscany.
  • Andress alleges advisors schemed to take her assets across eight years.

Most Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On U.S.–Iran Talks:
  • “Foundation of a framework for a peace plan via Pakistan... resulted in strong and positive messaging and talks.” — Steve Witkoff (via Franco Ordonez), [00:48]
• On Mark Twain Prize:
  • “It is indeed humbling to get anything named for a man who’s been thrown out of as many school libraries as Mark Twain.” — Bill Maher, [04:38]
• Tongue-in-Cheek Comment on the Economy:
  • “The stock market is going down and we’ve lost a lot of jobs. It’s like his even more evil twin replaced his usual evil twin.” — Unidentified Commentator, [04:31]

Important Timestamps

• [00:36] U.S.–Iran deadline extension and peace plan update
• [01:36] Wall Street downturn analysis
• [02:36] Delta’s new travel waiver and TSA update
• [03:30] Appeals court immigration detention ruling; Mark Twain Prize announcement
• [04:53] Recovery of Ursula Andress’ stolen assets

This summary covers the top news stories in the concise yet thorough style of NPR News Now, emphasizing direct reporting, economic implications, and moments of humor within a rapidly changing news cycle.