NPR News: 03-29-2026 5AM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Thousands of U.S. sailors and

Marines have arrived in the Middle East. NPR Shandali Stuster reports their deployment

comes as the U.S. Israeli-led war against Iran enters its fifth week.

U.S. Central Command said Saturday in a social media post that about 3,500 sailors and

Marines arrived in a Middle East aboard the USS Tripoli. The 31st Marine Expeditionary

Unit, based in Okinawa, Japan, arrived in a Middle East on Friday, the post said. The

unit also has transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical

assets. U.S. Central Command did not say would mission the unit will be carrying out.

At least 2,000 additional soldiers have been ordered to deploy to the Middle East, where

the U.S. already has 40,000 to 50,000 troops. Shandali Stuster and P.R. News.

Demonstrations were held across the nation on Saturday to protest the policies of President

Trump. Organizers of the No Kings rally say millions of people turned out in major cities,

suburbs, and small towns in both red and blue states. In Utica, New York, demonstrator

Aaron Woodman said he came to call attention to actions being taken by the Trump administration,

including the war in Iran. Even though like in the Constitution, it says like we have these

procedures to follow here, and if we're not following them, then of course we're going to let

these negative things happen here. So more that this happens, more we have to be like no, we

elected you to follow the law here, and if you're not doing that, you're not standing up for us,

and we're going to hold you accountable here. People also took to the streets in Washington,

DC, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles calling for an end to immigration enforcement and the rising

cost of living. A federal judge in Sacramento has paused a merger of local television giants

that was championed by President Trump, and PR's Amy Held reports direct TV sued,

arguing the merger concentrates market power, reduces local news, and will result in higher

prices for consumers. U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley ordered next

start temporarily keep Tegna's assets separate pending review of antitrust laws. If the merger

goes through, next star will operate hundreds of stations reaching 80 percent of U.S. households.

Congress had passed the law limiting owners to less than half of that, but the FCC granted a waver,

and last week approved the merger. Earlier President Trump had endorsed it,

posting on social media the deal would quote, help knock out the fake news. In a move critics

censorship, next star ordered its ABC stations in September to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.

Nunley has ordered next star and Tegna to appear at an April 7 hearing to determine next steps.

A group of eight Democratic-led states are also suing Amy Held and PR News.

This is NPR News in Washington. Hundreds of employees at one of the U.S. Navy's biggest

shipbuilding contractors have voted to approve a deal with path ironworks ending a week-long strike.

The shipyard says members of the union ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement

that goes into effect immediately. The union local said not all of its goals were reached,

but the deal includes improvements that are a win for its workers. The shipyard and the union

had negotiated for weeks without resolving differences before the walkout began. Celebrations

broke out Saturday night at the University of Illinois after the men's basketball team earned

its first trip to the final four in 21 years. Illinois Public Media's Reginald Hardwick reports.

Students climbed on top of the University of Illinois famed Alma Mater Statue,

wearing orange, and clutching newspapers that read final four on the front page.

Freshman Dylan Zorbos was among those celebrating.

In the second half, Illinois and Iowa exchanged leading game 13 times,

but the Alini pulled ahead, beating Iowa 71-59, fulfilling a wish for head coach Brad Underwood.

You know, you dream about this as a kid and I dreamt about doing it at Illinois and there's been

no other thing for me. Illinois will head to Indianapolis next Saturday for their first final four

games since 2005. For NPR News, I'm Reginald Hardwick in Urbana. I'm Windsor Johnston NPR News in

Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a Prime Membership,

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