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Chapter 1: What are the latest updates on the Middle East conflict?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. 16 days into the widening war in the Middle East, some 1,200 civilians have been killed in Iran, according to authorities there. Thirteen U.S. service members have lost their lives. The White House says the war has cost $12 billion so far, the price of oil rising to a three-and-a-half-year high.
President Trump is calling on nations to protect the Strait of Hormuz, a key passageway for oil supply. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul that's causing a dilemma for U.S. allies Japan and South Korea. South Korea's presidential office says it will carefully consider how to respond to President Trump's request without elaborating.
Trump's request will likely top the agenda as Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi visits the White House on Thursday. Japan's laws strictly limit overseas military deployments. and Tokyo has suggested that operations in the Strait of Hormuz might not pass legal muster. The U.S. has strained its alliances with both Seoul and Tokyo by asking both to help the U.S. counter China.
Chapter 2: How is the U.S. responding to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz?
The U.S. has also triggered local concerns by reportedly withdrawing Marines from Japan and missile defense batteries from South Korea to send to the Middle East, although neither has been officially confirmed by the U.S. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. Lebanon's president is proposing ceasefire talks with Israel, but Israel is not publicly weighing in. Itai Stern reports from Tel Aviv.
Speaking with reporters at the site of an Iranian missile strike in northern Israel, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar would not comment on the reports. But a person familiar with the matter, not authorized to speak publicly, tells NPR that Ron Dermer, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been appointed to lead potential negotiations with Lebanon.
This comes after a weekend of heavy rocket fire from Hezbollah toward northern Israel. Israel has responded with large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon and officials say they are not ruling out an Israeli ground campaign in Lebanon. Lebanese authorities say the fighting has displaced around 800,000 people. For NPR News, Amitai Stern in Tel Aviv. The war is unpopular among U.S. voters.
The latest NPR-PBS Marist poll showing 56 percent do not approve of military action in Iran, and that includes some in the president's own base. NPR's Danielle Kurtz-Laben reports Trump appears worried about perception of U.S.
Chapter 3: What are Lebanon's proposals for ceasefire talks with Israel?
actions. President Trump has been angrily criticizing press coverage of the war. In one social media post, he said the news media, quote, actually wants us to lose the war. So then yesterday, when FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened the licenses of broadcasters running, as he put it, hoaxes and news distortions, it was easy to connect that to the president's anger at war coverage.
Watchdog groups say such a move revoking a broadcast license would violate free speech and censorship laws. This is NPR News. In Budapest today, supporters of rival candidates to lead the country took to the streets ahead of next month's election. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban faces an unprecedented challenge to his 16-year rule by opposition candidate Peter Magyar.
Blizzard warnings blanketing the central U.S., much of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan dealing with heavy snow and high winds. But to the southwest, an early heat wave is worsening. Most of Texas and New Mexico are under red flag warnings for critical fire danger.
Meantime, a cold front is sweeping eastward, bringing the chance of severe weather to parts of the Mid-Atlantic by tomorrow, and that includes tornado risk. Tonight is the 98th Annual Academy Awards. Steve Futterman reports two films have a strong chance to win the top prize, Best Film. Throughout the Hollywood Awards season, two films have stood out, repeatedly capturing the top awards.
Chapter 4: What do recent polls reveal about U.S. voter sentiment on military actions?
And the winner is One Battle After Another. One Battle After Another, which tells the sometimes quirky story of a group of revolutionary immigrants trying to stay in the U.S. and... Sinners, which depicts supernatural events in the 1930s Black South. One battle after another is the favorite, but Sinners has seen a surge in support in recent weeks.
Chapter 5: How is the media coverage of the war affecting public perception?
The star of Sinners, Michael B. Jordan, is the favorite to win Best Actor, while Jessie Buckley is the overwhelming favorite to win Best Actress for her portrayal of Shakespeare's wife in Hamnet. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. This is NPR News. In the military, transgender troops face a new crackdown. Like in my head, I know I'm doing nothing wrong.
Chapter 6: What are the implications of the crackdown on transgender troops in the military?
I feel like I'm hiding something, but I shouldn't have to hide it. On the Sunday Story, how the Trump administration is pushing out trans service members and what this could mean for mission readiness. The Sunday Story from the Up First podcast. Listen now on the NPR app.