NPR News: 03-16-2026 7PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Iran is threatening to take out satellites and media infrastructure associated with a Persian-language news organization that's based in London. Empire's Aruzu Rizhvani has more. Iran's revolutionary guard corps says that in the coming hours, it will strike industries across the region that are associated with the U.S. The group is urging workers to evacuate and civilians to avoid areas near production facilities. The message was first reported by Iran's Tasnim News Agency, which is associated with the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Last week, the news agency published a list of major U.S. companies in a social media post that included Amazon, Microsoft, and Palantir. The Revolutionary Guard's threat came soon after Iran's foreign minister Abbas Erarchi called on neighboring countries that host U.S. forces to clarify their positions on the war, adding that certain countries are, quote, encouraging this slaughter. Iran's Aruzu Rizhvani and PR News Urbihl in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

1:03The U.K.'s prime minister has rebuffed President Trump's demands that he and other allies send warships to secure the state of Hormuz, that key oil supply route has become imperiled by U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian retaliation. If he's learned for air, has more. U.K. Prime Minister Kierstamer says he's working with allies on a plan to reopen the state of Hormuz. He told reporters it will not be a NATO mission and says the U.K.'s will not be drawn into the wider war. Stamer has given the U.S. only limited access to British military bases for what he calls defensive operations only. Trump has reacted with personal insults against Stamer. But at every stage, I've stood by my principles. Most Britons oppose the war and Stamer, a human rights lawyer by training, said his relations with Trump are still good. He told reporters the U.K. is evacuating Britons from the Gulf, supporting them in Lebanon and introducing price caps for heating bills inside the U.K., Lauren Friar and Pierre News London.

2:05The Federal Appeals Court ruled today that the Trump administration can, for now, deport immigrants to countries they're not from. Impierre Cimena Busteel reports the order reverses another judge's order blocking the policy. In a two-to-one decision, an appeals panel for the first target reversed a lower courts block on what are known as third-country deportations. These are deportations to a country that an immigrant is not from and does not have connections to. In the last year, the administration has increased the use of these deportations, sending migrants to other countries like South Sudan or Eswatini. Immigration attorneys have tried to stop these deportations, arguing that they can happen with little opportunity to argue against them. The appeals panel said that the court would hold oral arguments later this spring. Impierre Cimena Busteel and Pierre News, Washington. Wall Street Hire by the closing bell, the Dow up 387 points. You're listening to NPR News. The Kennedy Center's Board of Directors has voted to shut down operations for two years,

3:06following this summer's July 4th celebrations. It was a widely expected decision, and it comes in the wake of numerous resignations and cancellations by performers during President Trump's second term. Trump though cited the need for repairs as the reason for the closure. The board also voted to install Matt Flaka as CEO and executive director, replacing Trump ally Richard Grinnell, who oversaw far-reaching changes at the venue in Washington, D.C., that prompted an outcry for many artists and exacerbated the operations' financial challenges. A wildfire covering nearly 600,000 acres is burning in Western Nebraska with few signs of containment. Nebraska Public Media's Macy Buyers has more. Constantly shifting high winds have made it difficult to control the spread of the largest wildfire in Nebraska history. Firefighters from across the state have been pitching in since Thursday to fight it. Volunteer Tyler Bendo worked for 24 hours straight. I have been out here since yesterday, since 1 o'clock.

4:08Still out here. I got a relief coming in right now to take me out so I can go home and get some rest. Ben asked about the first thing he'll do when he gets home. Bendo said, take a shower and go to sleep. Bendo said he is thankful for the community support of firefighters and people affected. Federal help has arrived and winds have died down, but the large fire will still take some time to control. For NPR News, I'm Macy Buyers. U.S. Future's contracts are trading lower at this hour. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington. 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.