NPR News: 03-18-2026 7PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Skiavone. Israel says another high-ranking Iranian leader has been killed in the latest air strikes targeting the country's top officials. This comes as thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran for a mass funeral of the heads of Iran's National Security Council and others. NPR's Kerry Con reports. Defense Minister Israel Kat says Iran's intelligence minister, Esmail Hatib, was responsible for, quote, the regime's apparatus of repression and assassination and instrumental in the deadly crackdown on Iranian demonstrators earlier this year. Kat says the war is in a decisive phase in that, quote, no one in Iran has immunity. Everyone is a target. Meanwhile, mourners packed a huge Tehran square for the funerals of two leaders also killed by Israel. Live stream of the massive crowd carrying multiple coffins was broadcast on Iranian TV, Kerry Con and P.R. News Tel Aviv. Oil prices are climbing towards $110 a barrel.

1:03This comes after reported Israeli strikes on a major natural gas field in Iran. NPR's Julius Simon has the latest. South Paris is part of the largest natural gas fields in the world, shared by both Iran and Qatar. In a statement on X, Mejid Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, blamed Israel for the strikes. He described it as a, quote, dangerous and irresponsible step and said, quote, targeting energy infrastructure constitutes a threat to global energy security. When asked by NPR, an Israeli military spokesperson would not confirm the strike. Iran's government linked news agency issued a warning for residents to stay away from energy assets in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Energy says its liquefied natural gas facility has already been hit. Julius Simon and P.R. News. Stocked tumble today as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady. NPR's God Horsley reports the Fed is sticking with its forecast of just one quarter point

2:06rate cut this year. The war with Iran has already triggered a sharp jump in gasoline and diesel prices, but Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says it's too soon to tell how big or lasting that effect might be. Powell's term as Chairman is set to expire in May, but President Trump's picture of Placepal has not been confirmed yet, so he may end up serving longer. If my successor is not confirmed by the end of my term as Chair, I would serve as Chair Pro Tem until he is confirmed, that is what the law calls for, and it's what we're going to do in this situation. A Republican Senator is blocking the confirmation of Kevin Worsh's Fed Chair until the Justice Department drops his investigation of the Fed. The Federal Judge ruled that probe is simply a pressure tactic to get the central bank to lower interest rates. Scott Horsley and P.R. News, Washington. Wall Street, the Dow fell 768 points today closing at 46,225. This is NPR News in Washington. The Triple A reports the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped to over 384 today up from 298 before the war in Iran.

3:09While last time gas prices were this high was September 2023, Kiki Shepard has died. For years, she co-hosted Showtime at the Apollo, a storied showcase for black entertainers, and P.R.'s Netta Ulibi has more. Starting in 1987, Kiki Shepard was the impeccable, elegant face of Showtime at the Apollo. She worked alongside prominent MCs like Sinbad and Steve Harvey. Variety shows filmed live at the historic theater in Harlem, where Shepard's channel light on newcomers and paid tribute to legends, such as Motel Musician Eddie Kendrick's. His was a clear, crystal, powerful, tin-er-fall, settle voice. On top of her work, on screen and on stage, Shepard also founded a non-profit that helped people with sickle cell disease and their families. Netta Ulibi and P.R. News. Decades after the death of Mexican-American labor and rights leader Cesar Chavez, several women have told The New York Times he was responsible for child sexual abuse,

4:09assault, and rape. Among these accusers, one of the most prominent allies of Chavez de Loris Huerta. In a separate statement, she says Chavez twice forced himself on her and that she became pregnant both times. His accusers say that they stayed quiet for decades in part to protect the cause that Chavez championed. The Times interviewed dozens of people, including friends and family of Chavez and former members of the United Farm Workers co-founded by Chavez. I'm Luis Givoni and P.R. 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. That's plus.npr.org.