NPR News: 03-16-2026 6PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Fears of a global energy crisis are growing, as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran continues. More U.S.-Israeli strikes hit Tehran today, Israel again bombarded Lebanon, and an Iranian drone strike-rather temporarily shut down Dubai's airport, which is a crucial global travel hub and the attack underscored the threats to the world economy. As the war started more than two weeks ago, Tehran has effectively stopped shipping traffic in the strait of Hormuz, and that's dramatically increased the price of oil. President Trump says he's asked roughly half a dozen other countries to send warships to reopen the strait to oil traffic, so far none has committed. But despite his repeated requests today, he says the U.S. doesn't need them. We don't need anybody. We're the strongest nation in the world. We have the strongest military by far in the world. We don't need them, but it's interesting, I'm almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react.

1:03Iran's foreign minister says the strait is open to all ships, except U.S. and Israeli vessels. As Israel wages war in Iran, it's also expanding its campaign in Lebanon. Israel's military says it's launched a new ground incursion into southern Lebanon to fight Hezbollah, as it prepares for possible ceasefire talks with Lebanon. Impires Daniel Estran has more from Tel Aviv. The Israeli military says it has begun limited and targeted ground operations against Hezbollah, sending troops across the border into parts of southern Lebanon, where Israel has not previously operated during this current war. Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians have followed Israeli evacuation orders and fled southern Lebanon. The Norwegian refugee council aid group says one in seven people in Lebanon are now displaced. A person briefed on the matter, not authorized to speak publicly and speaking on condition of anonymity, says Israel intends to gradually increase its ground incursion deeper into Lebanon, while at the same time there are behind-the-scenes efforts to try to hold direct

2:07ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon. Daniel Estran and PR news Tel Aviv. The federal judge has blocked key parts of the Trump administration's controversial changes to federal vaccine policies and Pierce Robstein reports. District Court Judge Brian Murphy in Boston issued a preliminary ruling in a lawsuit filed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. It puts a hold on a series of changes made by Health Secretary Robert of Kennedy Jr. and an influential CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee that he stocked with members who share his anti-vaccine views. That includes a decision to slash the number of vaccines that the federal government recommends that children receive routinely. The Health and Human Services Department says the government plans to appeal the ruling. Robstein and PR news. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles says she's been diagnosed with breast cancer. In a statement, she says she's grateful doctors detected the cancer early and that she'll

3:10continue in her role at the White House as she undergoes treatment. The 68-year-old didn't offer more details about the treatment, but President Trump praised her, saying she's an amazing fighter. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers women face, and the American Cancer Society estimates more than 321,000 women will be diagnosed this year. Extreme weather alerts span the U.S. from near-record heat in the West to twisters in the East and mid-Atlantic to blizzards in the Midwest. Reproor of Member Station WCWMU is in Michigan where heavy ice and heavy snow have forced snow plows off some roads. Areas of the Upper Peninsula have gotten up to three feet of snow, and snowfall records may be broken. Some parts of the region remain under a blizzard warning through Tuesday morning. 60-mile per hour winds along the Lake Superior Shoreline closed a state highway. Dan Weingarten is with the Michigan Department of Transportation. So if the plows aren't out and about, it's a good sign that the rest of us should stay

4:12home if we possibly can. Around 100,000 people in the Northern Lower Peninsula are without power after heavy ice consumed the area. Northern Michigan is still recovering from a devastating ice storm that hit nearly a year ago. For MPR News, I'm Rick Brewer. Wall Street was hired by the closing bell, the Dow up 387 points, NASDAQ 268, S&P 500 up 67. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington. At this year's Oscars, one battle after another took home the award for best picture, Michael B. Jordan won for lead actor, and the telecast had plenty of jokes at Timothy Shalamet's expense. Listen to a recap on pop culture happy hour via the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.