NPR Up First – March 28, 2026

Episode Overview

On this episode of Up First, hosts Scott Simon and Don Gonyea break down the three biggest stories shaping the day: the escalating war in Iran—including overnight attacks on U.S. service members and regional escalation, continued chaos and political gridlock over TSA and DHS funding that’s affecting travel, and nationwide “No Kings” marches protesting the Trump administration’s policies.

1. Escalation in the Iran War

Theme: Intensifying military conflict in Iran, regional spillover, and impact on global politics and energy prices.
[02:16 – 05:58]

Key Discussion Points

• Overnight, Iran struck a Saudi Arabian military base injuring at least a dozen U.S. troops.
• Israel carried out major strikes on Iranian industrial and infrastructure targets.
• A new Gulf military force has entered the war on Iran’s side. Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen joined the fight, firing a missile at Israel that was intercepted.
• Iran breached Israel’s air defenses in several places. In Tel Aviv, a cluster bomb killed one and damaged infrastructure.
• Both sides claim military achievements, but Iran is now using cluster bombs making interceptions more difficult and causing civilian harm.
• The U.S. and Israel won’t confirm interceptor supply numbers but assert ongoing air superiority.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “It was a loud, loud boom. It just sounded like metal on metal.”
  —Kerry Khan, NPR Correspondent in Tel Aviv, recalling the cluster bomb strike on her own apartment complex [03:36]
• “Dozens of Israeli Air Force every day go back and forth in complete waves after waves of strikes...”
  —Nadav Shoshone, Israeli military spokesman [04:48]

Regional Attitudes

• Exhaustion and defiance in Israel after a month of war; mounting anxiety in the Gulf, especially Dubai, about safety and reputation.
• Difficult conditions in Iran due to government clampdowns; some Iranians anonymously express support for U.S./Israeli action in hopes of regime change.

2. Impact on U.S. Politics and Government Funding

Theme: War’s effect on President Trump’s approval, comparisons to past conflicts, and government dysfunction leading to travel chaos.
[06:04 – 09:40]

Key Discussion Points

• War with Iran is highly unpopular, with 61% of Americans disapproving—a rise of 18 points in a month (Reuters/Ipsos poll).
• The stated reasons for the war have shifted multiple times, undermining public trust.
• Economic impacts: Oil and energy prices surging, especially impacting farmers through higher diesel and fertilizer costs, expected to ripple into food prices.
• President Trump’s approval drops to 36%, the lowest of his second term, due to discontent over the war and economy.
• Funding conflict: Senate passed a bipartisan Homeland Security bill, but it excluded ICE/Border Patrol funding and lacked Democratic and Trump priorities.
• The House passed their own version funding ICE and Border Patrol for eight weeks, but the Senate left on recess before any resolution.
• TSA workers, unpaid during a six-week shutdown, are now to be paid via reserve funds by executive order—lines at airports remain “historically long.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Invading Iraq was popular at first... then things got bogged down. Now, Trump’s war on Iran has been different: the stated reasons...have shifted and shifted again.”
  —Ron Elving, NPR Senior Contributor [06:32]
• “It’s not hard to see how [fuel prices] will affect food prices as well.”
  —Ron Elving [07:24]
• “Trump was live on Fox this week, calling in to complain about that [poll numbers].”
  —Ron Elving [07:48]

Other Political News

• Trump’s latest acts of symbolic personalization: ordering his signature on U.S. currency, commissioning a commemorative gold coin with his likeness, renaming the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace after himself.

3. “No Kings” Protests Across America

Theme: Mass nationwide anti-Trump demonstrations, focusing on civil liberties, war powers, and recent deadly ICE raids.
[10:31 – 14:06]

Key Discussion Points

• Over 3,000 protests in all 50 states and internationally (Australia, Ecuador, Greece).
• The largest event: the flagship march in St. Paul, Minnesota, catalyzed by an ICE operation that left two U.S. citizens dead earlier in the year.
• Protests focus on immigration raids, executive overreach in military action without Congressional approval, and threats to the electoral process.
• Organizers frame disparate issues as a collective threat to democracy.
• The St. Paul demonstration is notable for big-name appearances: Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Jane Fonda, Bernie Sanders.
• Local participants feel both motivated and fearful—especially in Minnesota, where ICE presence and public use of force remain high.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “[All these issues] are connected because they are an assault on our democracy.”
  —Bethany Winkles, Minnesota AFL-CIO [11:46]
• “The stuff that was happening with ICE in Minneapolis was just incredibly upsetting... there’s still an incredible amount of fear and trauma.”
  —Amy Carpenter, Minnesota protester [12:34, 12:40]
• Protester advice: high vigilance, encrypted apps, scrubbing metadata, and avoiding photographs of faces amid fear of federal targeting.

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Iran strikes, regional escalation: [02:16 – 05:58]
• U.S. political fallout, shutdown news: [06:04 – 09:40]
• Presidential signature on currency, White House renaming: [09:40 – 10:31]
• No Kings protests, Minnesota ICE aftermath, security measures: [10:31 – 14:06]

Conclusion

This episode offers a fast-paced, ground-level overview of a tense and transformative moment in the U.S. and abroad: a deepening regional war, mounting homefront dissatisfaction, and a wave of revived activism protesting perceived authoritarianism and abuse of executive power. The reporting captures voices from Tel Aviv bomb shelters and Minnesota protests to the corridors of Washington, constructing an urgent, multifaceted narrative of America in crisis—one where the personal, political, and international collide.