NPR News: 03-22-2026 3PM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nur Rahm.

President Trump is warning that the U.S. would quote, obliterate Iran's power plants.

If it doesn't open, the strait of war moves within 48 hours.

The conflict in the Middle East is entering its fourth week.

NPR's Emily Fang reports Tehran continues to launch missiles in the region.

As U.S. and Israeli strikes hit Iran.

A spokesperson affiliated with Iran's security branches said if the U.S. targeted Iran's

energy infrastructure, it would target water desalination, energy, and information infrastructure

owned by the U.S.

In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted one of three Iranian missiles fired at it overnight.

The United Arab Emirates said it was responding to Iranian drones and missiles.

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, where leaders from Arab and Muslim countries are meeting,

Turkey's foreign minister warned the Gulf may be forced to retaliate against Iran.

So far, Gulf countries have expelled Iranian diplomats, but they have not

intervened militarily in the conflict.

Two Iranian missiles also hit southern Israel overnight,

injuring more than 120 people.

Emily Fang in pure news, Van Turkey.

The Trump administration is sending ICE officers to some airports tomorrow

to assist the Transportation Security Administration.

Hundreds of agents who screened people in luggage have quit since the Department of Homeland Security

ran out of money last month.

Democrats in Congress won't approve DHS funding

until changes are made to how ICE agents are enforcing immigration laws.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffreys told CNN,

putting ICE officers in airports is a bad idea.

The last thing that the American people need are for untrained ICE agents to be deployed

at airports all across the country,

potentially to brutalize or in some instances, kill them.

We've already seen how ICE conducts itself.

These are untrained individuals when it comes to doing the current job that they have

for the most part. Let alone deploying them in close exposure and highly sensitive situations

at airports across the country.

Borders are, Tom Homan says they won't screen passengers or baggage, but we'll help in other ways.

With no major economic data coming up this week,

Wall Street investors will continue to closely follow the war in Iran.

NPR's Rafael NAM reports.

There are a few things that are more difficult to process for investors than not having any sense

of what comes next.

And as the war rages on, investors are starting to get a loan about the effects on the U.S.

and the global economies.

One big fear is inflation.

Americans are already feeling the effects of higher gasoline prices,

while diesel prices are also spiking.

Businesses and households could also start reducing their spending

if they grow more cautious about the economy.

And the continued declining stock markets could hit retirement portfolios as well.

A lot, though, depends on when the conflict ends.

Rafael NAM, NPR News.

This is NPR News in Washington.

The Senate was in session today in advance the nomination of Republican Senator Mark Wayne

Mullen to be the next head of the Department of Homeland Security.

A confirmation vote is expected this week.

The Supreme Court hears arguments tomorrow on mail-in ballots.

The case involves Mississippi's allowance of a grace period for accepting ballots,

postmarked on Election Day, but arriving later.

The case was brought by allies of President Trump.

He wants to bar mail-in voting altogether,

except in certain cases, such as illness or military service.

The World Happiness Report finds the same country that has reported

the highest well-being for almost a decade is still ranked number one.

It also finds a stark decline in life satisfaction among young people in the U.S.

NPR's Amy Held has more.

For the ninth year running, Finland ranks as the world's happiest country, the U.S. 23rd.

But Americans have dropped to near the bottom globally when it comes to falling happiness

among young people under 25.

There's no single reason, but researchers say heavy social media use stands out.

Co-author Martin Berger says more than five hours a day is associated with less life satisfaction.

The local report more stress and more of the prestige symptoms,

but also more negative comparisons when others.

And time lost, he says, doing other meaningful things, like meeting in person.

People in Nordic countries ranking high in happiness are on social media a lot too.

But researchers say a mix of other factors, like strong social supports,

contribute to well-being, Amy Held and PR News.

And I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.