NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-01-2026 12AM EDT

Episode Date: April 1, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is planning to deliver an address to the nation Wednesday night. The White House says he'll give an update on the Iran War. Trump's address comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains largely shut down, sending oil and gas prices sharply higher. NPR Stephen Passa. Nationally, a gallon of regular gas at the pump now costs, on average, more than $4. Not really all that much higher from when Americans were paying a week ago, just a few cents more. But if you compare it to a month ago before the war with Iran began, we are paying more than a dollar per gallon extra.

And this does have a huge psychological effect. I mean, think about that big sign in front of gas stations, the one that you pass every day with that big four at the front. Plus, it really has been a while since gas was north of $4 a gallon. That was more than three years ago, and it was due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. With the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil remaining above $100 a barrel, stocks are higher in Wednesday trading after President Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. will be done attacking Iran within two to three weeks. An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad after threats by Iran-backed militias against U.S. citizens. Iraqi security forces say they have arrested

one of the kidnappers. NPR's J. Naraf has details. Iraq's Ministry of Interior said a foreign journalist was kidnapped Tuesday in central Baghdad. The Al-Montor news organization identified the journalist as American Shelley Kittleson, who has contributed to their publication. Iraqi security forces said they intercepted one of the kidnappers' vehicles, which crashed and have arrested one of the suspects. They said they're still searching for the kidnapped journalist. Kittleson is a Rome-based freelance journalist who has covered Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan for years. The U.S. Embassy has advised Americans to leave Iraq, partly due to kidnapping threats by Iran-backed militias. Jane Araf, NPR News, Amman.

Pakistan and China's foreign ministers have issued a joint statement calling for talks to end the Iran war as part of a broader peace plan. NPR's Dia Hadid reports a statement calls for a ceasefire and end to attacks on civilian infrastructure and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. For days, Pakistani officials have said they hope to help mediate talks to end a war that has seized up the global economy, pushed up the price of fossil fuels and key commodities like fertilizer, and that has killed thousands. of people, mostly Iranians and Lebanese. The joint statement with China came after high-ranking Pakistani officials led a flurry of meetings with regional powers. China is Iran's biggest customer for oil, and it's seen as sympathetic to the country. Iran's foreign minister is told Al Jazeera that he has received direct messages from the US Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff,

but they do not constitute, quote, negotiations. De Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai. And you're listening to NPR News. Prince Harry's privacy invasion lawsuit against British tabloids now in the hands of a high court judge. Testimony in the suit brought by Harry and also music legend Elton John and five other high-profile figures against the Daily Mail's publisher ended Tuesday after more than 10 weeks. A judge in the case says he will rule later. The publisher denies wrongdoing. Back in Washington, a giant throne with a gold-painted toilet seat appeared in front of the Lincoln Memorial Monday. And Pierce, Frank Langford, reports on the reception, the satirical artwork by people on the National Mall. Scores of people took turns posing for photos on the gold-colored toilet seat.

The artwork is called Throne Fit for a King and critiques Trump's focus on things like White House decor versus the economy. Tai Pilot is a chef in northern Virginia. Stuff like this demonstrates how gross our political system, our economic system can be. where the wealthy get to keep building up at the expense of everyone else. At the same time, the administration has draped three federal buildings with giant banners featuring the president's face. His name adorns the Kennedy Center and the U.S. Institute of Peace. The White House insists that, quote,

President Trump is focused on saving our country, not garnering recognition. Frank Langford NPR News, Washington. President Trump and First Lady Melania, Trump turned up at the Kennedy Center Tuesday night, attending the opening night of the musical Chicago. Some of the crowd booed when the Trump Center, but the booze were drowned by cheers from others. I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News.