NPR News: 03-18-2026 9AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman, Israel's military says it will start a broad operation targeting crossings in southern Lebanon. And Pierre's Hadil al-Shelji reports from Beirut, the announcement today, came with new evacuation orders for people still in South Lebanon. While this isn't the first time the Israeli military targets bridges in South Lebanon, it now says it will widen attacks and strike many crossings on the Latani River. The Latani River is considered a buffer zone line in the conflict. In a statement posted on social media, the Israeli military said the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah uses the crossings to transfer weapons. The Israeli military began a ground-incursion in South Lebanon this week and troops moved deeper into the country. The Israeli defense minister said those evacuated south of the Latani River will not be allowed to return to their homes until, quote, the safety of northern Israeli residents is guaranteed. President Trump's nominee for Homeland Security Secretary will appear before a Senate panel

1:06today for his confirmation hearing. And Pierre's humanibustio reports on Oklahoma Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullin, who would succeed former DHS Secretary Kristi Nome, if confirmed. 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. Then lawmakers failed to pass a budget to fund the agency resulting in a shutdown. Mark Wayne 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. He met a Bustio and Pierre News Washington. A federal judge has ordered more than 1,000 full-time voice of America employees who were placed on administrative leave to be returned to work by Monday. As NPR's David Fulkenflick reports, the judge ruled that Trump administration official Kerry Lake ignored the will of Congress as she sought to dismantle the VOA network.

2:11Until last year, the voice of America broadcasted 49 language services across the globe. It's now down to just six. It seeks to offer fair news coverage in lands without a free press, and a model would a pluralistic society looks like by incorporating debate and dissent. Last March, President Trump issued an order calling for the network to be reduced to the smallest size allowed by law. He called VOA propaganda. US Judge Royce Lambrath had already ruled that Lake had illegally assumed the powers of the CEO of the network's parent agency. Now Lambrath is finding that Lake also acted unlawfully by ignoring Congress's annual funding for voice of America and by failing to analyze what her actions might do. Lake has not responded to NPR's request for comment. David Fulkenflick and PR News. On Wall Street in pre-market trading, Dow futures are down by 260 points. This is NPR. In Illinois's primary election yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate. She's seeking to succeed retiring Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin to have Stratton's

3:13Democratic opponents are sitting members of Congress. Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic last night beating the US, three to two. Its Venezuela's first time winning the championship, while the US are runners up for the second consecutive event. NPR's Becky Sullivan has more. First Venezuela toppled the defending champs Japan. Then they ended Italy's Cinderella run. The US lineup should have been formidable, stacked with star sluggers from Aaron Judge to Kyle Schwarber. Yet the Americans were shut out for seven innings before finally, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer to tie it up. It might have been a hero moment, but it wasn't. Minutes later, in the top of the ninth, the Venezuelans answered with the Eugenio Suarez RBI doubled the center left to retake the lead three to two. From second-based Suarez raised his hands into the sky and yelled a thankful prayer. Seven and a half million people watched the semi-final between the US and the Dominican Republic. Ratings for the final are expected to be even higher.

4:13Becky Sullivan and PR News. A new study finds that aggressive bullsharks can make friends. The study is from the University of Exeter's Center for Research and Animal Behavior. It says that bullsharks have relatively rich and complex social lives. They choose their social partners. The researchers say they gain benefits by doing this, including finding food and potential shark mates. This is NPR. 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.