NPR News: 03-07-2026 2AM EST

0:00LifeKit can help you change your life in record time. In just about 20 minutes, a lifeKit episode gives you evidence-based tips you can put into practice that day. No fast-forwarding to get to the good stuff. Just smart, straightforward advice right away. Listen to the LifeKit podcast in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says the only deal he'll accept from Iran is unconditional surrender. He made those comments on a social media post Friday. On Thursday, Trump said any new leader in Iran will need U.S. approval. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt responded Friday to that claim. Of course, it's in the best interest of the United States of America for Iran to no longer be led by a radical terrorist regime that chance death to America and is lying to the United States in the world about their secret ambitions to possess a nuclear bomb. The fighting in Iran, meanwhile, continues. Israel's military says it launched new strikes on Tehran early Saturday, local time.

1:02Gulf Arab states continue to intercept Iranian missiles and drones that are fired at them in response to the U.S. Israeli attacks on Iran, and Pairs Ayatrawi has the latest from Dubai. The U.S. Military Central Command says Iran fired seven attack drones at residential neighborhoods in Bahrain. Reuters reports one of the drones was intercepted near a tower where Israel's embassy in Bahrain is located. Meanwhile, the UAE says it intercepted 109 drones and nine ballistic missiles fired at it from Iran on Friday alone. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, which also all host U.S. troops, reported interceptions of Iranian missiles and drones over their territory. The attacks have mostly been intercepted. The war has effectively halted shipping through the strait of Harmuz, hindering the energy exports of Gulf Arab states. Work at Saudi Arabia's biggest oil refinery and Qatar's gas production have also been suspended since Monday. Flights, however, are slowly resuming again from Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international travel. A. Abel-Trawi and Pair News, Dubai.

2:03A federal judge sharply questioned the legality of a defense department policy, stripping the credentials from hundreds of journalists. The journalists did not agree to a ban on asking for information that had not been cleared by the Pentagon brass for release. As NPR's David Falkenflick reports, the Pentagon press corps got a pro-mega right-wing takeover after the policy went into effects. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, a four-of-fox and friends weekend host, called the policy Common Sense Stuff last fall. Even as old employer, Fox News declined to submit to it, nor did NPR CNN in the New York Times, among others. The Times took the defense department to court. U.S. Judge Paul Friedman asked U.S. Justice Department trial attorney Michael Bruns why the burden was on reporters not to ask questions, rather than Pentagon personnel, not to give answers. I am not persuaded, Friedman said. He suggested the policy might be unconstitutional, invoking the famous Pentagon papers case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court more than a half century ago. David Falkenflick, NPR News.

3:04Many people in Michigan have been killed by what appears to be a tornado, powerful storms off the Great Lakes are pounding that state this weekend, while other storms are causing major damage across much of the Midwest. You're listening to NPR News. A fire in a tourist town in the southern Mexican state of Ohio Friday burned more than 60 shops in Cabanas, but officials say there were no injuries. A local prosecutor says the fire was apparently caused by a short circuit because no flammable materials were found. A state judge in Kansas heard arguments Friday in a case challenging a new law that restricts bathroom use and identity documents for transgender people. As Zainar, one of the Kansas News Service reports, the new law invalidated an unknown number of driver's licenses and birth certificates overnight. The law also created harsh penalties for people who use restrooms that don't align with their sex-assigned birth. Republican lawmakers say banning gender marker changes on IDs will help law enforcement and first responders.

4:07Advocates say the law endangers trans people who do not want to out themselves whenever they show their IDs. Harper Seldon is an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing two trans people challenging the law. He argued in court that the law discriminates against a marginalized group. The effect of SB244 is to mark Daniel and Matthew and all transgender people like them with a scarlet teeth. The judge said he would decide whether to issue a temporary injunction next week. For NPR News, I'm Zain Irwin in Kansas City, Missouri. The Winter Paralympics were officially open Friday night in Italy, some countries boycotted the opening ceremonies because the Russian flag made its return to the games for the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Some booze were hurt as four members of the delegation entered the stage wearing bright red uniforms. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org.

5:11That's plus.npr.org.