NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-22-2026 12AM EDT

Episode Date: March 22, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says U.S. forces will obliterate Iran's power plants if it does not reopen the strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iranian forces have shut down the strait, stopping 20% of the world's oil from reaching markets around the world. As oil prices continue to climb because of the blockade, President Trump is facing major pressure from around the world to reopen the strait. As NPR's Greg Miret tells us, Iran's threat to shipping remains real. Iran has lost most of its conventional military power, but it's still very well positioned to carry out attacks from the rugged coastline with drones or with these fastboats 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, all stranded, according to the UN shipping agency. These ships are unwilling to. to challenge the Iranians, and the U.S. Navy only has around 20 ships in the region.

That's NPR's Greg Mirey with our reports. The International Energy Agency is calling the global fuel crisis the largest supply disruption ever in the global oil market. And as NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports, the agency says governments, businesses, and households should all take action. The suggestions include reducing driving speeds by at least six miles per hour on highways and taking public transport or car sharing. The war between the U.S. and Israel and Iran has disrupted oil tankers

moving through the critical strait of Hormuz Waterway and damaged energy infrastructure across the Gulf. The IEA says it could take months or even years to restore oil and gas flows from the region. Ruth Sherlock MPR News. Former FBI director Robert Mueller has died. That's according to a statement that came from his statement that came from his family on Saturday. They said he died Friday night. As NPR's Kerry Johnson reports, he transformed the FBI after the attacks on September 11th, 2001, and went on to investigate President Trump's campaign ties to Russia. Robert Mueller led the FBI for 12 tumultuous years,

taking office only days before terror attacks hit the nation on 9-11. He helped transform the Bureau from a traditional crime-fighting agency into one that works to identify and prevent terror networks from striking on American soil. Later in his career, he served as special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. Mueller said he could not reach a conclusion about whether President Trump obstructed justice, but he also said he could not exonerate Trump.

Trump posted on social media that, quote, I'm glad he's dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people. Mueller, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and Marine, was 81 years old. Carrie Johnson, NPR News. And this is NPR News. It's spring break for many universities, which is a busy travel time,

but those flying right now are finding continuing problems with security screening at airports. TSA officers have not been paid since the partial government shutdown began on February 14th, and hundreds of them have quit causing delays with screening. Travelers are being told to arrive at airports as much as four hours early to make sure they don't miss their flights. President Trump said this weekend he will use ICE officers to help with the delays. The story of a long-shot space voyage

looks to be a long-shot success for Hollywood. NPR's Bob Mandelao explains. Project Hell 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 dollars. I put the knot an astronaut. Two days ago, they up that prediction to $60 million. I've never done a space. I can't even moonwalk. Now, based on previews and first day ticket sales, it looks like the weekend 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 Peel's Us. Bob Mandello and PR News. Almost 90,000 bottles of a children's pain reliever have been recalled. The FDA says there are reports of particles and other contaminants in the children's ibuprofen oral suspension that's manufactured by ptero Pharmaceuticals.

The pain reliever is used by children as young as two years old. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.