NPR News: 03-19-2026 12PM EDT

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Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dua Halisai-Kaltel.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth isn't denying the Pentagon is asking Congress for an additional

$200 billion for U.S. military effort in Iran. The comments follow overnight Iranian

counter-attacks on a major oil field in Qatar and Piers-Qaulorens reports.

Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Cain began a news conference

by paying tribute to the six servicemen and women who died last week when two air force

refueling tankers collided. Hegseth went on to attack the media for negative reporting on the war

against Iran, where Hegseth said the U.S. military continues to face only minor resistance

as it systematically destroys Iran's navy, air force, and missile production capability.

Hegseth did not dispute reporting that the Pentagon has asked Congress for roughly $200 billion

saying it was needed to replenish missiles and the expensive interceptors the U.S.

and allies are using to intercept Iran's comparatively cheap drone weapons.

Quellorens in PR News. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business

about the U.S. strategy to stabilize the global economy during Operation Epic Fury

as it relates to SPR, Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The largest coordinated SPR release in history, 400 million barrels, was approved the last week,

and some countries are going to do more. The U.S. could unilaterally do another SPR release

to keep the price down. Benchmark crude oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel

before pulling back. This follows attacks on a major gas complex and cutter and other oil

and gas refineries in the region. The Federal Bureau of Investigations may be purchasing

commercially available data that can be used to track American's location. As in Paris,

Jude Jaffee blog reports that came out in a Senate Intelligence hearing today.

Back in 2023, then FBI Director Chris Ray told Congress the FBI was no longer purchasing

commercial databases that include location data from internet advertising. At this hearing,

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon asked current FBI Director Cash Patel if he could

also commit to not purchasing American's location data. Patel did not.

We do purchase commercially available information that's consistent with the Constitution and the

laws under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Wyden says data purchases without a warrant

are an end run around the Fourth Amendment, and that's compounded by the potential to use AI to

comb through private information. As spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment or clarify what data

the FBI is buying. Jude Jaffee blog and Pierre News. The World Happiness Report is out,

and it shows Finland remains the happiest land in the world, followed by other

Nordic countries and Costa Rica in the top five. You're listening to NPR from New York.

Gas prices continue to climb across the United States since the U.S.-Israeli war

on around started nearly three weeks ago. Averaging $3.88 for a gallon of regular,

a gallon of diesel is more than $5, according to AAA. Drivers in California are paying

the highest gas prices, more than $5.5 for a gallon of regular. A new report finds

majorities of nearly all religious groups in the U.S. now support non-discrimination protections

for LGBTQ people. The results are from the Public Religion Research Institute,

as NPR's Jason DeRose reports. In the U.S. about three quarters of white

mainline Protestants, black Protestants, white Catholics and Hispanic Catholics say they

support laws that prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people. PRRI also found nearly six

and ten Hispanic Protestants show similar support. Even among traditionally conservative

white evangelicals, 54% say they favor non-discrimination protections. Among other religions,

nearly six and ten Muslims, as well as large majorities of Hindus, Jews, and Buddhists agree

with such protections. PRRI found Jehovah's Witnesses to be the only religious group without

majority support for LGBTQ rights. Jason DeRose, NPR News. Russian officials are confirming

its trilateral peace talks with the U.S. and Ukraine are on hold because of the Iran war.

The news comes as European leaders are pressing Hungary to stop blocking an aid package that was

previously proved for Ukraine in December. This is NPR News from New York.

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