NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-30-2026 3AM EDT

Episode Date: March 30, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump Sunday spoke about his 15-point plan for ending the war with Iran, speaking with reporters on Air Force One. He said Iran has agreed to most of those points, and he says the Iranian leaders they're in touch with seem willing to talk. We have a group. It's really a new regime. It's a new group of people, people that we've never dealt with before, that are acting very reasonable. It is truly regime change. Iran has come up with its own list of demands, including that the U.S. leave all its military bases in the region. Some 2,500 U.S. Marines, meanwhile, arrived in the Middle East this weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he's widening his country's invasion of southern Lebanon.

Visiting troops in northern Israel Sunday, Netanyahu says he's creating what he calls a security buffer zone to prevent Hezbollah militants from firing rockets into Israel. But Lebanon's government says Israeli attacks have killed more than 12. 1,200 people and displaced about a fifth of that country's population. M. Pierre's Lauren Freer reports from Beirut. First Israeli officials said they'd take Lebanese territory up to the Latani River, 10 to 20 miles north of the current border. Then they ordered residents out of a zone 10 miles beyond that. Colette Sleam is the principal of a school housing displaced people on the boundary of that zone,

where the roar of Israeli warplanes interrupted our interview. residents are fleeing north in waves, she says, and her shelter is now full. Israel has been striking homes, bridges, highways, and fuel stations, forcing people from homes that in some cases had only just been repaired from the last Israeli invasion in 2024. Lebanon's government says at least 49 people were killed Sunday, including a paramedic. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, Beirut. One month into the war with Iran, thousands of U.S. troops are arriving. in the Middle East, signaling that the war may not end soon, but President Trump is also dealing with mounting problems at home. And Pierre's Mar-Lyason has more on that story.

Congress and the President have not been able to work out a compromise to fund the Department of Homeland Security. That's causing long lines at airports because TSA agents, who are not being paid, are quitting their jobs or staying home from work. The president has signed an emergency order allowing him to pay the TSA agents. In addition, President Trump, is dealing with the economic fallout from the war in Iran. As long as Iran restricts shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices will continue to rise. And that has caused the war to become even more unpopular and Trump's approval ratings to drop even further. Polls show Trump's base is still solidly behind him, but there are cracks in his MAGA coalition.

An AP poll last week showed one quarter of Republicans saying the war has already gone too far. Mara Liason, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News. Paramilitary forces in Sudan attack the city of Dilling in South Kordofan this weekend. The Sudan Doctors Network says at least 14 people were killed, including some children. At least 23 others were wounded. Until recently, the region had been under siege for more than two years. The teams heading to Indianapolis for the men's final four are now set.

Michigan hammered Tennessee 95 to 62 on Sunday, and in a dramatic finish, Yukon knocked off top-seated Duke, 73 to 72. Greg Eklund reports. The same day the Yukon women advanced to the final four, the Yukon men made a shocking second half comeback against Duke to advance to their third final four in the last four years. Yukon freshman Braylin Mullins took a pass from teammate Alex Caraband and hit the game-winning shot from 35 feet with four tenths of a second left. I had the ball and I know AK had just hit one so I threw him at four seconds left and man, he just threw the ball back to me. I knew I had to put one up.

So, man, I'm just happy that was the one that went down tonight. It was the only three-point shot Mullins made in the game. The Huskies and Michigan Wolverines join Arizona and Illinois as the four national semi-finalists. For NBR News, I'm Greg Eklund. The sci-fi adventure movie Project Hail Mary had another good weekend at North American box offices, bringing in $54.5 million in ticket sales worldwide. It has now grossed $300 million. Hoppers remained in second. The Pixar and Disney animated release added $12.2 million to its total,

bringing its worldwide hall to $297 million. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.