NPR News: 04-04-2026 3PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President Trump is again threatening Iran over the strait of Hormuz, saying on social media today, it has 48 hours to open the strait or, quote,, all hell will rain down. This is the search for a missing U.S. service member in Iran continues after Tehran shot down two U.S. military planes yesterday. To other crew members were rescued. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Israel continue to strike Iran, and Piers-D Parvaz has more. The U.S. and Israeli strikes have been hitting many targets, including a weapons depot and a nuclear power plant. But some strikes have also hit targets like the B-1 bridge between the cities of Tehran and Kat-Aj in response to that strike. Iran released a list of bridges in the region that they could destroy. And there was also a strike on a red crescent warehouse in Boucher. Iranian media also had reports that U.S. and Israeli strikes hit the Azo-D-Sport Stadium in Tehran, as well as cause damage to Shahid Bihashji University. Piers-D Parvaz reporting, it's the first time U.S. military personnel and aircraft have

1:04been shot down over Iran in this war. The CDC is warning of an illicit drug that's often found alongside fentanyl and some parts of the country. And Piers-Pingwang reports it can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Dr. Michael Lynch is an ER physician based in Pittsburgh. He started seeing overdoses involving metatomidine some two years ago. The powerful sedative is often mixed with fentanyl that fentanyl overdose drugs don't work on it. So people would start breathing again, but they wouldn't wake up even after people got naloxone or narkan. Patients also came in delirious, agitated with very high heart rates and not responding to typical medications. So what we're seeing is tenfold increases in people needing ICU care for withdrawal. According to the CDC, the drug is most prevalent in the Northeast U.S., though it's also showing it more in the Midwest and the South. Pingwang and PR News. It was a holiday-short and trading week on Wall Street, with markets closed for a good Friday, and Piers-Maria Aspen reports all of the major indices posted losses.

2:08The war in Iran and the resulting energy crisis has had investors swinging from panic to relief and back again. Stocks had their best day of 2026 on Wednesday. As investors hoped President Trump would do more to end the war. But then his address to the nation that evening left room for doubt and sparked another if temporary sell-off. The war has already sent oil prices soaring and damaged some of the refineries and other infrastructure needed to produce more. Consumers are paying more at the gas pump, while companies are paying more for shipping and trucking. The longer the war continues, the longer this oil shock risks fueling inflation and wider economic damage. Maria Aspen and PR News. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Some two dozen states are suing to stop President Trump's latest executive order placing new restrictions on voting by mail from going into effect.

3:09The suit was filed by a group of Democratic states, along with a separate suit by a coalition of voting rights groups. The Constitution is clear that voting administration belongs to states, although Congress can set federal rules for federal elections as well. Women's College basketball is set for its national championship game. It will be South Carolina and UCLA, battling for the title after both won their semi-final matches. Steve Futterman has more from Phoenix. In the first semi-final, South Carolina handed undefeated Yukon its first loss of the season, 62-48. In the other semi, UCLA beat Texas 51-44. The most memorable moment on semi-final night came just off the court. When Yukon coach Gino Oriemab and South Carolina coach Don Staley exchanged angry words just as the game was ending. Afterwards Oriemab said it stemmed from Staley, refusing to shake hands just before the game. At one point, the exchange became so heated both coaches had to be held back by their

4:19assistants. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Phoenix. And tonight in men's final four play, Yukon takes on Illinois and then Michigan plays Arizona. The winners of each game will meet in the finals on Monday. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington. 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.