NPR News: 03-08-2026 11PM EDT

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman.

In Iran, a panel of senior clerics has named a new Supreme Leader to head the country.

As NPR's Jackie Northam reports, the choice signals continuity for Iran's hardline regime.

A panel of 88 clerics chose overwhelmingly to make Mojtaba, Hamaneye, Iran's new Supreme

Leader.

He's the 56-year-old son of the former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hamaneye, who was killed

in an Israeli air strike at the start of the war.

The younger Hamaneye is considered a hardliner, who is closely associated with a violent

crackdown on protesters during the 2009 so-called Green Revolution.

Hamaneye is close with the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Garg Corps.

It has pledged its support for the new Supreme Leader.

Pro-regime state TV showed images of large crowds celebrating the news.

Last week President Trump said Hamaneye was a lightweight and an unacceptable choice to

lead Iran.

Israel has vowed to target him.

In Venezuela, protesters are testing out new freedoms on International Women's Day.

As NPR's Adder Peralta reports, in Caracas, a small contingent called for democracy and

freedom for all political prisoners.

Ever since the U.S. seized Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro, street protests

returned to Caracas on Sunday, hundreds of women marched through major thoroughfares

of the capital city, demanding an end to authoritarian rule.

Look at us now.

We're out again.

Arpetalездad!)

iceberg Rodriguez as student of political science says this is a time of great hope in Venezuela.

I also have fear she says that the democracy won't take hold because it's my only hope.

She hopes that maybe in a year or two she'll be able to graduate college, work for a decent

wage, and be free to think and say what she wants.

Adder Peralta, NPR News.

Garacas!

South Texas politicians are now speaking out after three mariachi student

musicians were apparently detained along with their parents by US

immigration and customs enforcement. Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton has

more on our story. 15th Congressional District Republican incumbent Monica

De La Cruz and her challenger Democratic nominee Bobby Polito along with

Democratic U.S. Representative Vicente Gonzalez all took to social media

voicing concerns about the detention of the family. Brothers 18-year-old

Antonio Gamma's Quayar 14-year-old Caleb and 12-year-old Joshua are being

held in two separate detention facilities along with their parents after

being taken into custody last month. Antonio and Caleb are both members of the

award-winning mariachi oral group from McAllen High School. The family

came to the U.S. from Mexico in 2023 seeking asylum. I'm Jerry Clayton in San

Antonio and you're listening to NPR News. A state department spokesperson says all

non-government employees are being ordered to leave Saudi Arabia. Family

members of government employees there are also being told to leave the

decision followed a recent security review. Just core embassy staff are being

allowed to stay. Pixar's animated film Hoppers is at the top of the box office

charts and PR's Bob Mandelo has our details. The computer animated beavers in

Pixar's latest family comedy have opened the floodgates when it comes to

ticket sales. Hoppers is expected to take in 46 million dollars by the end of

the weekend. That beats the opening of every original animated film since

Coco almost a decade ago, though a couple of animated sequels have done

better. Credit a story that's easy to understand. You created a fake animal

which makes the other animals think you're an animal. Yes, guys, this is like

Avatar. This is nothing like Avatar. It also continues a hot streak for Hollywood

generally with each week putting a little more distance between this year's

totals and the lackluster early ticket sales in 2025. 2026 is now up almost

10%. Bob Mandelo NPR News. Musician Country Joe McDonald has died. He was 84

years old. His family announced his death from complications of Parkinson's

disease. McDonald was a star of the hippie rock culture of the 60s. His music

was often funny and sometimes angry. Perhaps his best known tune was I feel like

I'm fixing to die rack, which was an attack on the war in Vietnam. He wrote or

co-wrote hundreds of songs and released dozens of albums. I'm Dale Wilman

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