NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-26-2026 7PM EDT

Episode Date: March 26, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. President Trump says he is declaring a national emergency to pay TSA agents who've been working without pay during the 41-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. This comes as Congress has been at an impasse to fund the agency. Democrats have been holding out for a deal to rein in President Trump's immigration crackdowns. Wait times at some airports have exceeded four hours with up to 40 to 50 percent of employees calling out of work. More than 480 TSA agents have quit. Thousands of U.S. paratroopers and Marines are deploying to the Middle East. This says President Trump weighs whether to seize Karg Island home to Iran's main oil processing facility.

NPR's Jackie Northam reports. Karg Island in the Persian Gulf is considered an economic lifeline for Iran. More than 90% of its oil exports are funneled through the tiny island. The buildup of troops heading to the Middle East is fueling speculation that the U.S. might try to seize and hold Karg Island. Caitlin Talmudge, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says that would be militarily challenging. Inserting U.S. forces so close to Iran's shores would be risky and carry the potential for casualties. Iran has warned it will launch retaliatory strikes against energy infrastructures in the region if Karg Island is attacked, which could send world energy prices soaring. Jackie Northam, NPR News.

The Treasury Department plans to print President Trump's signature on every new U.S. U.S. paper bill, it would be the first time a sitting president's signature appears on currency. It's part of his administration's broader push to put Trump's name and image on public symbols. Treasury is also backing a plan to put Trump's visage on a coin. Mortgage rates continue to rise sharply since the war with Iran began. The average 30-year fixed mortgage is now around 6.4 percent, according to Freddie Mac. NPR's Stephen Besaha reports that's leading to fewer people in the U.S. buying and selling homes. Just days before the war began, mortgage rates fell below 6% for the first time in two and a half years.

But the wars disrupted the bond market, which raises the cost of borrowing. So do investor concerns about fuel prices and inflation. Mike Fred and Tony is the Mortgage Bankers Association's chief economist. He says this rise in mortgage rates comes just as the busy spring home buying season begins. This is a tough time to see a jump in rates like this because it likely is going to cause a number of people to at least take a step back and say, okay, is this the time to move forward or should I wait until things settle down? Mortgage rates now are at their highest level in six months. Stephen Besah, NPR News.

The International Olympic Committee is banning transgender women from competition, aligning with President Trump's recent executive order ahead of the 28 Los Angeles Games. Eligibility will be determined by a gene screening. It's unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level. U.S. stocks had their worst day today since the war with Iran started. This is NPR News from Washington. The House Ethics Committee is holding a rare public hearing into alleged ethics violations by Florida Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Sheriffillus McCormick. She's facing federal charges for allegedly stealing $5 million in COVID-19 disaster relief funds.

She denies any wrongdoing. A new report from AARP finds 59 million Americans are caregivers for their older parents, spouses, and other loved ones. NPR's Allison Aubrey. reports the care is often unpaid, equal to about $1 trillion of labor each year. If you take your parent to the doctor or help out by picking up their groceries, you're likely part of the unpaid caregiver economy. AARP estimates that includes 49 billion hours of care each year. Without family caregivers, millions of older adults would require institutional care, which would drive up costs for families and taxpayers. There's also the physical and

emotional toll of caring, says CEO Dr. Maisha Minter Jordan. Caregivers are stretching their finances, sacrificing their own well-being, and too often they are doing it alone. She says policymakers can do more to support caregivers, including tax credits and deductions to offset costs. Allison Aubrey NPR News. Wildlife experts are warning against discarding vapes after a squirrel was caught vaping on camera in a London park. A viral video shows a gray squirrel puffing or more likely chewing on an e-cigarette while perched on a france in Brixton. A spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it's a reminder of the danger litter poses to wildlife. This is NPR News.