NPR News: 03-05-2026 10PM EST

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The State Department says it's reestablishing diplomatic relations with Venezuela's interim authorities. The embassy was close seven years ago, and the building itself is still a need of repair as MPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. After the Trump administration ousted Nicolas Maduro in a military operation earlier this year, the State Department has been working to reestablish a diplomatic presence there. Now it said it's agreed with Venezuela's interim authorities to reestablish diplomatic and consular relations. The State Department calls this a step to promote stability and support economic recovery in Venezuela. At the White House President Trump said the interim leader, Delsey Rodriguez, has been doing a, quote, fantastic job working with his administration. He also praised Secretary of State Marker Rubio and said his next job will be Cuba. Michelle Kellerman and PR News, the State Department.

1:01As tensions escalate between the U.S. Israel and Iran, attacks on American military facilities in the Middle East are raising new questions. NPR's Tom Bowman reports details about strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Qatar remain scarce. We're not getting a lot of information about these strikes on U.S. facilities in Bahrain and Qatar. We're getting information from commercial satellite photos, not from the Pentagon, not from the State Department. And I think that's a real concern. They're giving a lot of detail about what targets are hitting in Iran, but not what is being hit in Bahrain, Qatar, and also the Emirates. That's NPR's Tom Bowman reporting. The House has blocked a war power's resolution that would constrain President Trump's military action against Iran. It was the second vote on the issue in two days. The Senate rejected a similar measure Wednesday, mostly along party lines. Republicans have largely backed the president's decision to strike Iran, while most Democrats

2:02oppose it, though divisions remain within both parties. Leaders in Minnesota are reacting to President Trump's firing of Homeland Security Secretary Christine Nome today. Minnesota Public Radio's Tandra Kovan reports Trump share the news on social media. Secretary Nome has been under criticism from state leaders over some of the tactics used during the federal surge in Minnesota, and especially after the killing of too many appless protesters, Renee McLean-Good and Alex Prety. Several Democratic elected officials have expressed their relief in Nome's departure. Governor Tim Walls posted to social media stating that it's, quote, good she's gone. Senator Tina Smith said she welcomes the news, but that it won't bring back McLean Good and Prety. For NPR News, I'm Chandra Kovan in St. Paul. At the close on Wall Street, the doll was down 784 points. This is NPR News. Millions of people across Western Cuba remain in the dark after a blackout hit the island

3:05this week. State media report, one of its largest thermo-electric power plants, where a shutdown spark the outage is down. Officials say it may stay that way for at least three more days. A major ice detention facility in Texas is under quarantine after a measles outbreak. NPR's Martin Kosti reports Campy's Montana near Al Paso is currently closed to visitors and attorneys. News of the quarantine comes from Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, who represents the Al Paso area. In a statement, she said she knew a 14 active measles cases in the camp, and she said it would stay closed until March 19th or 20th. NPR has also learned at least one person about to be deported from the camp to a foreign country was held back because of the quarantine. The camp is one of ice's largest, averaging almost 3,000 detainees. It opened last year and is run by a private company, acquisitions logistics LLC. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to NPR requests for comment on the

4:06measles quarantine. Martin Kosti and PR News. The Venturi County Sheriff's Office in California says pop singer Brittany Spears was arrested after a traffic stop late last night. The Grammy-winning artist emerged from a year's long conservatorship in 2021 and is spoken publicly about legal battles with family and struggles with mental health. Officials have not said what charges Spears may face, a court date is listed for May 4th. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.