The Latest: 03/19/2026 12:59am ET

0:00This is an I Heart Podcast. Guaranteed Human Listen, we've seen what's out there for patio furniture, and what you've been paying is outrageous, but that was last season you, before you ditched the specialty stores and started saving more at home-sense. Now, you're listening to this while under a designer umbrella on a luxurious teak lounge chair, because it's easy to relax when you refuse to settle, on style, on price, and outdoor pieces that will actually outlast the season. Home Sense, the home of no compromise, part of the Home Goods family. This is your 24-7 News Update, the latest views this hour in just four minutes. The war in Iran is showing few signs of slowing down. There's still no clear word on which nations, if any, will help bring the situation in the Strait of Hormuz under control. The narrow waterway normally sees about a fifth of the world's oil supply pass through it, but Iran has effectively shut it down as a result of Operation Epic Theory.

1:00While President Trump insists the U.S. doesn't need any help in the region, he's also calling out allies for their reluctance to get involved. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard isn't saying if Iran posed an imminent threat to the U.S. Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was a, quote, imminent, nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime, yes or no? Senator, the only person who can determine and what is and is not an imminent threat is the president. Gabbard faced lawmakers in an annual hearing on worldwide threats. She was also asked why she left out a line from her opening statement that was included in her written remarks. Gabbard omitted a line that said, quote, Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated by U.S. strikes in June, and there have been no effort since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability. The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates unchanged. In remarks after the announcement Wednesday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell warned there won't be another rate cut until the board sees progress on inflation. If we don't see that progress, then you won't see the rate cut. Powell says there are some economic uncertainty caused by a rise in oil prices due to the

2:03Iran war, and a wait and see approach as tariffs make their way through the economy. Powell says inflation has eased but remains somewhat elevated. Actor Sean Penn is being hailed as a great friend of Ukraine for his decision to skip the 2026 Oscars award ceremony and proceed with his trip to that country. Penn won his third Oscar for his supporting role in the film One Battle After Another. He wasn't present to collect that trophy, but the CEO of Ukrainian Railways presented him with an iron Oscar, crafted from rail car metal that survived a Russian missile attack. Penn also garnered praise from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for his activism efforts. I'm Tammy Trehio. Vice President JD Vance says President Trump will soon announce actions aimed at lowering gas prices in the U.S. Lisa Carton has details. On Wednesday that while prices have surged since the start of the Iran war, he says it's only a temporary blip. We're working on a number of things. In fact, a couple of things that I think will be announced in just the next 24 to 48 hours. I don't want to get ahead of the president on that, but we recognize this is an issue.

3:05We are fighting against it. The national average for a gallon of regular has climbed a 384 according to AAA. That's up from 379 on Tuesday and 290 a gallon in mid-February. California's gas prices are the highest in the nation. I'm Lisa Carton. A former senior intelligence officials being investigated for allegedly leaking classified information NBC News is reporting Joe Kent, a longtime Trump ally who resigned and protested over the war with Iran is now under FBI investigation. Kent stepped down this week from his role as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. A piano once used by John Lennon has a new owner, that story from Mark Mayfield. The piano sold for almost $3.3 million in an auction hosted by Christie's in New York, becoming the most expensive item to be sold from the Beatles. The instrument was sold as part of the Jim Ursa collection Hall of Fame.

4:07Lennon used the piano to compose hits like a day in the life, Lucy in the sky with diamonds and being for the benefit of Mr. Kite. I'm Mark Mayfield. Netflix has set a release date for the Lord of the Fly series. The limited series is an adaptation of the 1954 novel and tells the story of a group of young boys stranded on a tropical island and their attempts to remain civil. This marks the first television adaptation of William Golding's novel, following multiple film adaptations. The series premieres on May 4. I'm Tammy Trujillo.