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Up First (NPR)

Iran War, TSA Funding, No Kings Marches

14 min episode · 2 min read
·

Episode

14 min

Read time

2 min

Topics

Leadership, Science & Discovery, Economics & Policy

AI-Generated Summary

Key Takeaways

  • Iran War Public Opinion: A Reuters-Ipsos poll shows 61% of Americans actively disapprove of the Iran war, up 18 points from early March. Trump's approval rating has dropped to 36%, his lowest of the second term, driven by rising fuel costs and no clear exit strategy.
  • Iran Defense Breach: Iran has shifted to cluster bomb munitions, which release multiple detonations upon interception, overwhelming Israel's multilayered defense system. Despite Israel's claimed 90% interception rate, Iranian missiles have penetrated defenses in Tel Aviv and near Israel's nuclear facility within one week.
  • TSA Funding Workaround: After six weeks of government shutdown left TSA workers unpaid and airports experiencing historically long lines, Trump issued an executive order directing TSA salaries be paid from DHS reserve funds. Senate recess delays any permanent resolution for at least two weeks.
  • No Kings Protest Tactics: Organizers coordinating 3,000+ protests across all 50 states and multiple countries advise participants to use encrypted messaging apps, strip metadata from photos before posting, and avoid photographing other protesters' faces to reduce exposure to federal targeting.

What It Covers

NPR's Up First covers three major stories on March 28, 2026: the one-month mark of the US-Iran war with 12 troops injured, a TSA funding crisis causing airport chaos, and nationwide No Kings protests across all 50 states.

Key Questions Answered

  • Iran War Public Opinion: A Reuters-Ipsos poll shows 61% of Americans actively disapprove of the Iran war, up 18 points from early March. Trump's approval rating has dropped to 36%, his lowest of the second term, driven by rising fuel costs and no clear exit strategy.
  • Iran Defense Breach: Iran has shifted to cluster bomb munitions, which release multiple detonations upon interception, overwhelming Israel's multilayered defense system. Despite Israel's claimed 90% interception rate, Iranian missiles have penetrated defenses in Tel Aviv and near Israel's nuclear facility within one week.
  • TSA Funding Workaround: After six weeks of government shutdown left TSA workers unpaid and airports experiencing historically long lines, Trump issued an executive order directing TSA salaries be paid from DHS reserve funds. Senate recess delays any permanent resolution for at least two weeks.
  • No Kings Protest Tactics: Organizers coordinating 3,000+ protests across all 50 states and multiple countries advise participants to use encrypted messaging apps, strip metadata from photos before posting, and avoid photographing other protesters' faces to reduce exposure to federal targeting.

Notable Moment

An NPR correspondent reporting from Tel Aviv was inside her apartment complex when an Iranian cluster bomb struck the building, blowing out windows and damaging the facade — a direct illustration of Iran's ability to penetrate Israeli air defenses.

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Episode Transcript

At least a dozen US service members injured by Iranian strikes overnight. The month into the war, it's unclear if The US is in ceasefire talks or preparing to widen the conflict. I'm Scott Simon. I'm Don Gonyea, and this is Up First from NPR News. The war in Iran has shocked energy prices. Both are dragging down president Trump's approval rating. Meanwhile, little relief from long lines at airports as the government fights over the funding of the Department of Homeland Security. And people opposed to the Trump administration gather at no kings protests around the country. What are they planning in Minnesota where protesters against ICE were killed earlier this year? So please stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your weekend. This message comes from BetterHelp. Summer can feel like a sprint. Kids' home, trips to plan, routines flipped upside down. It's easy to slip into survival mode just trying to get through it. Then suddenly, it's over, and you're wishing you enjoyed the days just a little bit more. Therapy can help you slow down and actually be present for the moments that matter. With BetterHelp, you can connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere on your schedule. Don't just survive this summer. Thrive. Visit betterhelp.com/npr. This message comes from Prolon. Wanna look and feel your best this spring? Prolon's five day fasting mimicking diet is a clinically developed nutrition program with the program with the goal of promoting fat loss while protecting lean body mass. Developed at USC's longevity institute, it aims to assist the body in entering a fasting like state that helps reset metabolism, target visceral fat, and support healthy metabolic markers. Get 15% off plus a bonus gift when you subscribe at prolonlife.com/npr. This message comes from Rosetta Stone. New Rosetta Stone Sapphire combines their trusted immersion method with the latest innovations and technology to help you learn faster and personalize your lessons. They have helped millions learn languages for over thirty years. Take your language skills to the next level with Rosetta Stone Sapphire. Get unlimited access to all 25 Rosetta Stone languages, plus all the new Sapphire learning tools. Visit rosettastone.com/npr and receive 20% off today. There's no let up in the war on Iran as more US military assets are moved into the region. Overnight in a serious breach, Iran struck a military base in Saudi Arabia, injuring US troops stationed there. Israel says it has hit major industrial targets inside Iran, and a new military force in The Gulf has now joined the war on the side of Iran. NPR's Carrie Khan is in Tel Aviv. Carrie, thanks for being with us. Good morning. It appears, that fighting in the last twenty four hours has been significant. Please bring us up to date. Israel says it hit major Iranian infrastructure this morning and it strikes Friday. Iran says it has retaliated. A military spokesman, this morning gave some very strong statements about striking US …

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