NPR News: 03-21-2026 4PM EDT
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What recent events have escalated tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. Today marks three weeks since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran. There's no sign it will end anytime soon. The Pentagon says it's going very well. NPR's Greg Myhre reports.
The U.S. and Israel dominate the skies over Iran. They're really bombing at will. Iranian missiles and drone strikes are down 90 percent from the early days of war, and this is all according to the Pentagon. The Pentagon also announced the U.S. is using Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthog planes to carry out attacks now. This move suggests that the U.S. believes the threat from the Iranian forces on the ground has been reduced to the point where these aircraft can be brought into the fight.
NPR's Greg Myhre. Stocks fell for the fourth straight week on Wall Street as the war in Iran pushed oil prices higher and the Federal Reserve braced for more economic uncertainty. NPR's Maria Aspin reports.
The surge in oil prices is hitting consumers at the gas pump, but that's just the first wave of pain. The energy crisis means companies will have to pay more for shipping and trucking, likely driving up all kinds of prices. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said this week that the war is making the country's economic outlook cloudier. The Fed held interest rates steady as it tries to keep inflation under control. But now some investors are starting to worry that the Fed might actually have to raise the cost of borrowing later this year. U.S. government bonds also sold off, and the price of gold plunged. Gold is usually seen as a safe haven investment, but it just had its worst week in 15 years.
Maria Aspin, NPR News. Heavy rains continued for a second week across Hawaii. Jackie Young has more.
Nearly 7,000 residents lost power on Friday after more heavy rains pelted the state. Multiple emergency shelters have opened, and some areas saw up to 14 inches of rain in just 24 hours. The governor described the flooding as the largest Hawaii has seen in 20 years. Early damage estimates exceed $1 billion. At least 233 people have been rescued statewide, and several thousand have been evacuated from Oahu's North Shore and Central District, some by helicopter. Forecasters warn the state could see heavy rainfall through Sunday, with more flash flooding, thunderstorms and strong winds. For NPR News, I'm Jackie Young in Honolulu.
Robert Mueller's family says the former FBI director died last night. He was 81. He led the FBI for 12 years, starting days before the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Later, he served as the special prosecutor investigating whether Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election. President Trump posted on social media, Good. I'm glad he's dead. This is NPR News in Washington. Also on social media today, President Trump said that if Democrats don't immediately sign a budget for the Department of Homeland Security, he'll send ICE officers to airports. to take the place of TSA agents. They've been working without pay for weeks in a dispute over how ICE enforces immigration laws. The story of a long-shot space voyage looks to be a long-shot success for Hollywood.
How is the ongoing war affecting the U.S. economy and oil prices?
NPR's Bob Mondello has details.
Project Hail Mary is not a sequel or a remake. It's not animated or about superheroes, video games, or toys. I'm several light years from my apartment, and I'm not an astronaut. And yet film industry analysts were predicting a week ago that the Ryan Gosling film might open to as much as $50 million. I put the knot in astronaut. Two days ago, they upped that prediction to $60 million. I've never done a spacewalk. I can't even moonwalk. Now, based on previews and first-day ticket sales, it looks like The Weeknd will top $77 million. If it does, that'll be Hollywood's best opening weekend of 2026. It'll also be one of the best openings for a non-franchise film ever. up there with the likes of Oppenheimer and Jordan Peele's Us.
Bob Mondello, NPR News.
The NCAA is suing the sports betting company DraftKings for trademark infringement. It's seeking an order to stop the use of registered trademarks associated with its basketball tournaments, such as March Madness, Final Four, and Sweet 16.
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