NPR News: 03-12-2026 8AM EDT

0:00Who should win the Oscar for the best original song this year? On the latest all songs considered from NPR music, we rank the nominees. I think Diane Warren should have won two Academy Awards. The problem is very often the lyrics are not much more insightful than you would find on the nearest throw pillow. Here's the NPR music podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman, the US and Israel say they're continuing to strike targets inside Iran on this 13th day of the war. Iran is fired at other Persian Gulf nations and it has attacked ships in the Persian Gulf. For the first time in this war, two oil tankers have been hit near ports in neighboring Iraq. NPR's Greg Myri says Iran is effectively choking off vital oil supplies shipped through the state of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. The US's sunk most of Iran's navy, including mine laying ships, but Iran still has other ways to hit these oil tankers and cargo ships.

1:00The state of Hormuz is just 20 miles wide or so at its narrowest point, and Iranian forces can fire drones or rockets or missiles at passing ships. And several ships have been hit in the last 24 hours. NPR's Greg Myri reporting President Trump says that he will release 172 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. The goal is to stabilize the world oil supply, but it's not enough to replace what Iran is now cutting off. Meanwhile, the President campaigned in Kentucky yesterday. NPR's Mara Lias and reports Trump is trying to help defeat a fellow Republican. President's usually campaign on behalf of their parties and incumbents, but not this time. President Trump was in Kentucky's fourth congressional district, represented by Thomas Massey since 2012. Massey is a complete and total disaster as a congressman and, frankly, as a human being. The district is safely read and Trump is confident that if Massey loses the primary or Republican, we'll still win in November. The President and Massey have clashed over many issues,

2:04including Trump's constitutional authority to conduct the war in Iran, federal spending, and the Epstein files. Massey forced Trump to back down and release the files when he and other Republicans banded together with Democrats. Mara Lias and NPR News. The former accountant for Jeffrey Epstein spoke to lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee yesterday. NPR's Ava Berger reports he spoke of his years-long relationship with the late sex offender. Richard Khan managed Epstein's finances from 2005 until Epstein's death in 2019. Khan told lawmakers that he was, quote, not aware of Epstein's crimes when he worked for him. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in Florida on state charges, involving the sexual abuse of a child, and served 13 months on work release. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019. Now, Khan is the co-executor of Epstein's estate. Khan's lawyer shared his prepared opening statement with NPR. In that statement, he said that any gifts to women from Epstein did not raise any red flags.

3:07He also told lawmakers he regrets that he may have, quote, unknowingly assisted Epstein in any way. Ava Berger and NPR News, Washington. On Wall Street in pre-market trading, doubt futures are lower. This is NPR. Lawmakers in Washington state have approved attacks on those making more than a million dollars a year. The tax is expected to affect about 30,000 households in that state. From member stations KUOW and KNKX, Sarah Meistan reports. A bill that would levy a 9.9 percent tax on all household incomes over a million dollars has passed its final legislative hurdle and is now on its way to the governor's desk. The tax is predicted to generate over $3 billion annually from the state's highest earners. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Peterson, who shepherded the tax through the legislature, says the money is desperately needed to support programs like child care and education. We're on our way toward reforming a tax system that for 93 years has punished

4:09poor and working people and has not asked enough of our wealthiest and most successful. The new tax would go into effect in 2029, but court challenges and a potential ballot initiative to repeal it are expected in the coming months. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Meistan in Olympia. This week, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz posted on social media. He and his wife would be moving from Seattle to Florida after living in the city for more than 40 years. Schultz did not cite the new tax, but said he hoped Washington State would remain a place for business and entrepreneurship to thrive. A powerful storm is raking the southeastern U.S. this morning, whether forecasters have posted tornado warnings and watches for parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and man, the Florida panhandle. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.