NPR News: 04-04-2026 7AM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.

U.S. forces are searching for a missing crew member after two American fighter jets were

shot down over Iran on Friday.

NPR's D Parvez reports on how Iranian state media is covering the search.

State media has televised a call out asking for nomadic tribes and local villagers to target

any foreign pilots in the area.

Announcement includes a monetary reward for any capture.

A U.S. official confirmed to NPR that a search and rescue operation is in progress.

That's NPR's D Parvez reporting.

The war in Iran is having real consequences for the economy.

NPR's Domenico Montenoro reports, even with some positive economic signals for President

Trump.

The broader outlook is being shaped by the war and rising costs.

Trump did, though, get some good news with a positive jobs report.

Inflation is also holding steady, which makes you wonder, though, what the economy would

look like.

If it wasn't for this war or Trump's tariffs, because both of those things have led to

higher prices and really damaged Trump's approval ratings on the economy.

The war is clearly also consuming so much of Trump's attention.

NPR's Domenico Montenoro reporting.

The White House wants to begin privatizing airport security operations.

NPR's Joel Rose reports there are currently handled by the TSA.

President Trump's budget proposes cutting funding for the TSA, the Transportation Security

Administration, by more than $50 million.

And it would require small airports to enroll in a program in which TSA pays for private

contractors to staff security checkpoints.

That program has existed for years, but only 20 airports are enrolled.

The Trump Administration argues that privatized screening would save taxpayers money.

The critics, including the union that represents TSA officers, say it would undermine security.

The budget request reflects the White House's priorities, but it's Congress that ultimately

sets and approves spending levels, and lawmakers are still deadlocked over funding for the

Department of Homeland Security in this year's budget.

Joel Rose and NPR News, Washington.

The CDC is warning of an elicid drug that's often found alongside fentanyl in some parts

of the country.

NPR's Ping-Mong reports.

Dr. Michael Lynch is an ER physician based in Pittsburgh.

He started seeing overdoses involving metatomidine some two years ago.

The powerful sedative is often mixed with fentanyl that fentanyl overdose drugs don't work

on it.

So people would start breathing again, but they wouldn't wake up even after people got

naloxone or narkan.

Patients also came in delirious, agitated with very high heart rates and not responding

to typical medications.

So what we're seeing is tenfold increases in people needing ICU care for withdrawal.

According to the CDC, the drug is most prevalent in the Northeast U.S., though it's also showing

it more in the Midwest and the South.

Ping-Mong and NPR News.

This is NPR News in Washington.

Pope Leo carried a wooden cross through all 14 stations at the Coliseum on Good Friday.

It was the first time in decades that a pope completed the full ritual.

About 30,000 people attended.

The pontiff is set to lead additional Easter events this weekend, including a vigil and

Sunday Mass.

The most visited museum in the world last year was once again the Louvre in Paris.

NPR's Netta-Ulibee reports it's been a top museum destination for decades.

Officials at the Louvre these days complain about over-attendance, but that does not stop

them from making slick, promotional YouTube videos about its exquisite restorations of

old master paintings.

It's a project that is clearly...

Other most popular museums include the Vatican Museum at number two and the National Museum

of Korea in Seoul at number three.

Major art museums in East Asia have seen a notable spike in attendance, including in Shanghai

and Hong Kong.

But in the U.S., museum attendance is shake here.

For example, wildfires and government shutdowns last year adversely affected attendance at

many museums in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., Netta-Ulibee, NPR news.

Amazon says it's adding a 3.5% fuel and logistic surcharge to sellers because of higher fuel

prices amid the war in Iran.

The online retailer says the added cost will take effect on April 17th.

UPS FedEx and the United States Postal Service say they also plan to impose surcharges as

oil prices continue to rise.

This is NPR.