NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2026 5AM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital say the compound was attacked by two Iranian drones today, resulting in flames and minor damage, but no deaths or injuries. Saudi Arabia's defense ministry is urging Americans to avoid the embassy in Riyadh for now. The American embassy in Kuwait remains closed following an Iranian attack there. The State Department is now advising Americans in more than a dozen countries in the Middle East to leave immediately, citing serious safety risks because of the ongoing attacks. Those countries include Israel, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. In Jerusalem, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee is advising Americans leaving Israel to cross into Egypt by land before seeking to fly out of Cairo commercially. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was on Capitol Hill yesterday, briefing some members of Congress

about the U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. NPR Sam Gringlass says lawmakers were largely divided along party lines. The Secretary of State met with a bipartisan group of more than a dozen congressional leaders, including the so-called gang of aid, who Rubio called just before the strikes. We've complied with the law 100 percent, and we're going to continue to comply with it. But we did notify members of Congress. We just can't notify 535 people. That's not possible. But most Democrats, like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a few Republicans dispute the administration's assertion that an imminent threat justified action without authorization. That briefing raised many more questions than it answered. Lawmakers are set to vote later this week on resolutions

to curb continued military action against Iran. Even if they do pass, they are unlikely to overcome a presidential veto. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegeset of each said the U.S. military operation is aimed at destroying Iran's missile capabilities, its Navy, and to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Pentagon is also trying to end Iran's support of its proxy groups. NPR's Frank Langford spoke to some residents of Pennsylvania and asked their opinions of the U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. Tom Think is a Democrat who served on a nearby borough council. The U.S. attack shocked him. I was horrified. It just reminds me of Iraq and things that have happened before. And you wonder, where is Congress?

Patrick Basim has a different take. He's running for the York County Republican Committee and says he's glad to see President Trump trying to remove any potential nuclear threat. I think it's a great day for the Iranian people. They should feel liberated. I feel liberated as an American not having to deal with that thought in my head. Basim said he hopes Iranians can overthrow the regime. and hold free elections. Frank Langford, NPR News, Harrisburg.

This is NPR News. The House Oversight Committee has released videos of the depositions of former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton. The couple testified separately to the committee last week as part of the panel's investigation into the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. NPR Sage Miller has more. The Clintons provided hours of closed-door testimony. Bill Clinton was once friends with Epstein and appears numerous times in the Epstein files. The Clintons initially fought a subpoena from the Republican controlled committee, but ultimately agreed to the interviews after they were threatened with contempt of

Congress. Both have denied any wrongdoing. Hillary Clinton told reporters she never recalls meeting Epstein and has no information on his criminal activities. In his opening statement released online, Bill Clinton said he saw nothing and did nothing wrong. The transcripts of their deposition are not yet available. That's because the Clinton's attorneys must approve them before they are released to the public. NPR is currently reviewing the videos. Sage Miller, NPR News. There are congressional primaries today in Texas and North Carolina, the first in the U.S. ahead of the November midterm elections. In Texas, veteran Republican Senator John Cornyn is being challenged by the State's Attorney General Ken Paxton and GOP Congressman Wesley Hunt. On the Democratic side, voters are

choosing between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Representative James Tallorico. Wall Street Futures are down sharply this morning. I'm Dave Mattingley, NPR News, in Washington.