NPR News: 03-19-2026 5PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton, defense secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon is requesting roughly $200 billion more dollars to fund the war in Iran. The unusually high amount comes after an escalation of attacks as NPR's quill Lawrence reports. Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Cain began a news conference by paying tribute to the six servicemen and women who died last week when two air force refueling tankers collided. Hegseth went on to attack the media for negative reporting on the war against Iran, where Hegseth said the U.S. military continues to face only minor resistance as it systematically destroys Iran's navy, air force, and missile production capability. Hegseth did not dispute reporting that the Pentagon has asked Congress for roughly $200 billion dollars, saying it was needed to replenish missiles and the expensive interceptors the U.S. and allies are using to intercept Iran's comparatively cheap drone weapons. Quill Lawrence and PR News Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu denies that he pressured President Trump into going

1:01to war with Iran, saying that Trump long ago told him that they need to make sure Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons. He made the comments as Iran intensifies its attacks on oil and gas facilities controlled by the U.S. and its allies in the region. Those strikes came in response to Israel bombing Iran's giant natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Trump has said the U.S. didn't have any knowledge of Israel's attack on the field, former director for Iran at the National Security Council, Nate Swanson, says that's unlikely. I think it's quite significant. I don't know if it's the president saying it to distance himself from the attack. I mean, there's no way the Israelis would have conducted an attack on this magnitude without U.S. knowledge and some level of aggressiveness. Netanyahu says Israel will hold off any further attacks on the gas field at Trump's request. Lawmakers in California say they'll rename Sezar Shavez Day, a state holiday celebrating the late famed labor leader, the decision comes after revelations that Shavez molested

2:02and raped young girls and women in the 1960s and 70s while he was president of the United Farm Workers, NPR's Adrian Florida reports. The speaker of the California State Assembly, Robert Rivas, says lawmakers are moving to rename Sezar Shavez Day, celebrated every March 31st, to Farm Worker Day. The Farm Worker Movement was never ever about one man. It was built by thousands, tens of thousands of workers. A New York Times investigation this week revealed allegations that Shavez, who died in 1993, sexually abused and raped young girls and women, including his long-time organizing partner, Dolores Huerta, states and cities are moving quickly to remove Shavez's name from schools, streets, parks, and community centers. Adrian Florida and PR News Los Angeles. The price of crude oil briefly rose above $119 per barrel today before pulling back to around $95 per barrel. This is NPR News from Washington. Federal regulators have escalated a probe of Tesla after several of its cars crashed while

3:06using its self-driving feature. It comes as CEO Elon Musk prepares to roll out a new model with no steering wheel or pedals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it is examining nine crashes where the self-driving software failed to quickly alert drivers that they should take control in fog and other poor conditions. A private investigator has been trying to convince the UK not to send him to the US to face charges of orchestrating a hacking campaign against climate activists in the US. NPR's Michael Copley reports a court in London has denied the appeal. The private investigator is an Israeli named Amit Forlet. He was arrested in London in 2024. Federal charges against Forlet include conspiracy to commit computer hacking. He's denied ever ordering or paying for hacking. A lawyer representing US authorities in London confirmed Forlet's request to appeal extradition was denied. US prosecutors alleged the hacking operation was commissioned by a former lobbyist for Exxon Mobile, with a goal of discrediting climate activists and fighting lawsuits against

4:07the fossil fuel industry. Exxon Mobile has said it's never been involved in or aware of any hacking activities. Michael Copley and NPR News. A year after his death, an AI version of Val Kilmer will co-star an independent film called as Deep as the Grave. The producers St. Kilmer had signed on to perform in the movie before his death. Kilmer's estate gave permission for his digital replication and is being compensated for it. Kilmer died last April from pneumonia at the age of 65. This is NPR 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. For more information, visit www.npr.npr.npr.