NPR News: 03-18-2026 5AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Madinglay. With the U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran now in their third week, the Senate Intelligence Committee will be questioning top officials today about the war, as well as domestic terror threats. Those scheduled to testify include FBI Director Cash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence. Your schedule to appear before the House Intelligence Committee tomorrow. President Trump's choice to succeed Christine Nome, as Homeland Security Secretary, appears before a Senate panel today for his confirmation hearing. NPR Semenabustia reports on Republican Senator Mark Wain Mullin of Oklahoma. The shake-up in leadership comes after a tumultuous few months at DHS, an immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota resulted in protests and the deaths of two U.S. citizens. One lawmakers failed to pass a budget to fund the agency, resulting in a shutdown. Nome has faced bipartisan scrutiny over federal immigration enforcement tactics, her spending

1:03of department money, and management of disaster relief. Mark Wain Mullin has spent over a decade on Capitol Hill. He was first elected to the House in 2012 and then the Senate in 2022. He does not have a background in immigration policy, but has been a vocal supporter of the president and his goal of mass deportations. NPR News of Washington. With the Department of Homeland Security still in a partial government shutdown, airline passengers across the U.S. are being advised to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled flight. There are long security lines with many TSA workers calling out or quitting their jobs because they're currently not being paid. Marlon Hyde with Member Station W-A-B-E has more from Atlanta. Ricky Smith is the general manager of Hartfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He said in a video posted on Instagram that just over a third of TSA workers here are calling out. Here's Aaron Barker, the president of the local union that represents Georgia TSA officers

2:05at a press conference earlier this week. They have reason for not showing up. Whether I can't put gas on my car, I have to take care of my children. The airport and city officials are supporting those TSA workers who are working despite not getting paid, with compensation that includes meal vouchers and free parking. Friend PR News. I'm Marlon Hyde in Atlanta. The partial government shutdown now more than a month old is also affecting the pay of those in the U.S. Coast Guard and the Secret Service among others. Democratic lawmakers in Congress want changes to how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents do their jobs before agreeing to fully fund DHS. Triple A says regular gasoline in the U.S. is now averaging 384 a gallon nationwide. The price went up another five cents since yesterday. This is NPR News. Flight's out of Dubai's international airport are returning to normal following Iranian

3:05drone strikes over the last couple of days. NPR's Aibat Rawi has more. The UAE says Iranian drones attacked a major gas production plant in Abu Dhabi, forcing it to suspend operations. And for the third time, a key oil storage facility was hit in the Emirate of Fragera, sparking a fire there. The attacks have forced Gulf Energy producers, including Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, to also suspend or halt gas and oil production. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is rerouting some oil exports through the Red Sea to bypass the state of Hamuz. Countries that rely on Arab Gulf states for energy are now rationing supplies. Pakistan has suspended schools and reduced working hours for some government offices. Bangladesh has similarly shuttered universities to conserve resources. Aibat Rawi and Pairanus Dubai were deported by Umkar Handaqar in Mumbai. The straight-of-war moves remains largely closed to commercial ship traffic because of the ongoing war with Iran. The Associated Press reports about 90 ships, including oil tankers, have passed through the narrow waterway since the U.S. and Israel began attacking Iran.

4:08The AP cites maritime and trade data platforms. Economists don't expect the federal reserve to announce any changes to U.S. interest rates when the Fed wraps up its latest policy meeting this afternoon. They cite the ongoing war with Iran, rising energy prices, and concerns about a potential spike in inflation in the U.S. economy. The Central Bank left rates unchanged in January. Dow futures are up 235 points this morning. I'm Dave Mattingley, NPR News in Washington.