NPR News: 03-19-2026 2PM EDT

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

The director of National Intelligence is back on Capitol Hill, testifying before the House

Intelligence Committee about domestic terror threats and also the war with Iran.

Yesterday, Tulsi Gabbard was pressed by Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas on

U.S. and Israeli objectives in Operation Epic Fury.

We can see through the operations that the Israeli government has been focused on disabling

the Iranian leadership and taking out several members, obviously, beginning with the

Iatola and the Supreme Leader.

And they continue to focus on that effort.

How does that differ from our goals?

The President has stated that his objectives are to destroy Iran's ballistic missile,

capability, their ballistic missile production capability, and their navy, the IRGC navy,

and mind-length capability.

Gabbard said she was not privy to Israel's calculus to attack energy infrastructure in the Middle East.

Primary contests in Illinois revealed rifts among Democrats over Israel.

In Piers-Domenica, Montenora reports, this comes amid a decline in American public support

for the mid-east ally.

This year, for the first time, Gallup found Americans saying they have more sympathy with

the plight of Palestinians than with Israelis.

Support among Democrats has been dropping for the past decade, but since Israel's overwhelming

response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks, the reversal has been rapid.

Before October 7, more Democrats sided with Israelis.

Now, two-thirds choose Palestinians.

A majority of those younger than 35 also side more with Palestinians, a flip from a decade ago.

While these changes have been most acute with Democrats and young voters,

a plurality of independence also side more with Palestinians.

Republicans continue to side overwhelmingly with Israelis.

Domenica, Montenora, and Piers News, Washington.

The first year of congestion pricing in New York City has been a resounding success,

according to new data.

Bruce Connbiser reports, numbers support that claim.

Subway ridership jumped 7.7 percent in the first 12 months of the city's congestion pricing

The result was 90 million more subway rides over the previous year.

The promising data comes from the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee,

which advises the city's mass transit authority.

The MTA spearheaded the years-long battle to impose a $9 congestion pricing fee on drivers

entering Manhattan below 60th Street.

Committee officials admit that not all of the surge in ridership is the result of the new

tolls, but they say that's the primary reason.

President Trump tried to kill the city's congestion pricing program,

saying it would hurt the local economy.

But a federal judge rejected the president's claim earlier this month.

Friend Piers News, I'm Bruce Connbiser, and Greenbrook, New Jersey.

And this is NPR News?

Health officials with the Trump administration are backpedaling on an effort to more heavily

regulate the indoor tanning industry.

And Piers Will Stone reports this comes despite protests from medical groups.

The proposed regulations had been in the works for many years.

They would have banned anyone under 18 from using tanning beds,

and required those who do use them to sign documents acknowledging the risks.

There is extensive research showing that tanning beds

significantly increase the risk of skin cancer, especially if you tan at a young age.

Dr. Susan Taylor is president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Science has taught us that there's really no such thing as a safe tanning bed.

A memo on the FDA's decision signed by Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. notes

there were, quote, scientific and technical concerns,

and possible unintended consequences of the proposed regulations,

but did not elaborate.

Will Stone and Piers News.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says so far,

U.S. forces have struck more than 7,000 targets in Iran, adding its largest strike

assault yet is coming today.

Meanwhile, Japan and leaders of some European nations are condemning Iranian

counter-attacks on unarmed commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf,

attacks on oil and gas installations,

and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. and Israeli allies.

In a statement, the group said,

freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law,

and that the effects of Iran's actions will be felt by people in all pulch

to the world, especially the most vulnerable.

This is NPR News from New York.

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