NPR News: 03-21-2026 7PM EDT
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. The three-week-old U.S.-Israeli war in Iran shows no sign of ending anytime soon. The Pentagon and President Trump say it's going very well, something they say a lot. But they continue to struggle with gaining safe passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz. And Piers Gregg Myrie has more on where things stand.
What is the current status of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran?
Iran has lost most of its conventional military power, but it's still very well positioned to carry out attacks from the rugged coast. coastline with drones or with these fast boats in the Gulf, and particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which is just 21 miles wide. The Gulf has really become a giant parking lot for ships. There's some 3,000 oil tankers, gas tankers, cargo ships, and the U.S. Navy only has around 20 ships in the region.
And here's Greg Myrie. Meanwhile, Iran launched an unsuccessful missile attack on a joint U.K.-U.S. base in the Indian Ocean today, some 2,500 miles from Iran, though it's not clear how close the missiles got to the base. With oil shipments blocked at the Strait of Hormuz, gas prices are likely headed for $4 a gallon nationwide on average in the coming days. NPR's Amy Held has more.
Gas prices are not at record highs, but the increase is the fastest ever, according to GasBuddy. Patrick DeHaan is their head of petroleum analysis, and he says with Iran's retaliatory attacks on sites across the Middle East, there is no quick fix. These things aren't rebuilt overnight. It can take time to resume output. So at this point, we likely are looking at an impact that could last beyond several months when it comes to natural gas, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel. The U.S. is a huge natural gas producer for industry and home heat, insulating it for now. But jet fuel prices have more than doubled. So airlines are charging more and in some cases eliminating underbooked flights. Amy Held, NPR News.
Gas prices are already up a dollar from just a month ago. Former FBI Director and Special Counsel Robert Mueller has died at the age of 81, according to a statement from his family. Empire's Shonda Lee Stuster has more.
Mueller led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and the possible obstruction of justice by President Trump. Trump, who openly despised Mueller and his investigation, celebrated his death on Saturday. Trump wrote on social media, quote, "'Good. I'm glad he's dead.'" WilmerHale, the law firm where Mueller served as a partner, remembered Mueller as a friend. A spokesperson for the law firm called Mueller, quote, an extraordinary leader and public servant and a person of the greatest integrity. The firm also said Mueller's service as FBI director, a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam, and at the Department of Justice was, quote, exemplary and inspiring. Shondalese Duster, NPR News.
You're listening to NPR News from Washington.
The story of a long-shot space voyage looks to be a long-shot success for Hollywood. NPR's Bob Mondello has more.
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. an 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.
Nearly 90,000 bottles of a children's pain reliever have been recalled because of reports it contained particles and other possible contaminants. Terra Pharmaceuticals' children's ibuprofen oral suspension comes in a berry-flavored formula for kids as young as 2 years old. The Food and Drug Administration says the recall was launched after some of the customers reported a gel-like mass and black particles in the product.
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