War on Iran; TSA back pay; DHS asylum process : NPR
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Today’s best stories
Iran allows some ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuzbut most oil and gas tankers remain stuck. President Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran wants a deal to end the war, yet he has deployed thousands of American troops to the Middle East. The president also warned of possible moves by the United States to seize or destroy Iranian oil and Khrag Island, home to Iran’s main oil processing facility. As fighting continues, NPR has confirmed that more than a dozen U.S. service members were injured and two E-3 Sentry jets were damaged in an Iranian strike on a Saudi air base Friday.
A member of the police special forces stands guard atop a vehicle in downtown Tehran, Iran, on Monday.
Vahid Salemi/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP
- 🎧 NPR’s Aya Batrawy, who is in Dubai, reports First as people there adapt to a new normal because they are not used to attacks. No missile had ever hit the city before this war, which is why Dubai, a refuge, has no shelters. Batrawy has noticed a difference in the city: fighter jets are chasing and shooting down Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are relatively cheap to produce and can cause significant damage. Pakistan says it is ready to host Iran and the United States for a meeting in the coming days, but there are no signs that this is the case. The Trump administration says U.S. diplomacy is working and that’s why some ships are crossing the strait. However, Iran says there are no negotiations with the United States.
Transportation security officers started receiving their first paychecks yesterday after more than 40 days of closure of the Department of Homeland Security. However, the partial government shutdown is not yet over and there is uncertainty over when they will receive their next paycheck.
- 🎧 TSA workers still haven’t received the full amount owed to themcausing anxiety and worry, Johnny Jones, a union leader who represents TSA workers, told NPR. Most security screeners received two full paychecks that they missed, but TSA workers are still waiting to be paid for part of a third missed paycheck, DHS says. It is unclear where the funds came from since Congress did not appropriate them. Many critics of the Trump administration are questioning the legality of this White House action. NPR’s Joel Rose says security lines at U.S. airports were much shorter yesterday, showing good early signs that business is getting closer to normal. However, the consequences of this event are likely not yet in the rearview mirror, as more than 500 TSA agents resigned during the shutdown, according to DHS.
DHS has lifted its ban on reviewing asylum applications. Treatment will be suspended for 36 countries classified as “high risk” and subject to travel restrictions to the United States. In November 2025, the Trump administration halted the processing of some 4 million asylum applications through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The decision to pause is part of a series of immigration restrictions after an Afghan national allegedly shot and killed two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC.
Life advice
Nuthawut Somsuk/Getty Images
Finding that silver lining can sometimes seem futile, but optimism can be helpful no matter your situation. Unlike pessimism, which helps humans survive by imagining worst-case scenarios, optimism can more effectively solve the problems of the modern world, says behavioral scientist and psychologist Deepika Chopra. Plus, Chopra says the best part is, anyone can train themselves to see the glass half full. Take this quiz to find out your level of optimism, then learn how to practice becoming more optimistic with these strategies:
- ➡️ Make a “ta-da list” that will trace all your accomplishments of the day, whatever their size.
- ➡️ To avoid being overwhelmed by all the bad things that could happen in the future, schedule a “worry time” into your day. Use the time allotted to go through your worry list and ask yourself if you can control, change, or let go of your worries.
- ➡️ Follow the “7/10 rule” for statements where you choose a statement that you are at least 70% sure about. Then continue to build on these affirmations until you believe them 100%.
To learn more about the science behind optimism and manifestation, listen to this episode of NPR Life kit. Subscribe to THE Life kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships and more.
Listening of the day
On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 2026 Grammy Award winners Aura V. and Fyütch (Harold Simmons II) enjoy a morning music practice session in their home recording space. They sing their hit “Harmony”. Photo by Dee Dwyer for NPR
Dee Dwyer for NPR
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Dee Dwyer for NPR
In February, 8-year-old Aura V and her father, Harold Simmons II, who uses the stage name Fyütch, made history. They won the Grammy for Best Children’s Music Album for Harmonymaking Aura the youngest Grammy winner to be nominated individually. The album’s 13 songs, which took more than two years to write and record, follow themes of love, positivity and inclusion. Simmons says he wanted the album to capture the life he wanted to model for his daughter while “making dope beats.” But what is life like for the young girl after winning a Grammy? NPR spoke to him about his life now. Listen to his story and excerpts from the album.
3 things to know before you leave
Statues of d’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers in Condom, France.
Arterra Group/Universal Images via Getty Images
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Arterra Group/Universal Images via Getty Images
- Archaeologists may have found the remains of d’Artagnan, the swaggering swordsman of The Three Musketeersbeneath the tiles of a Dutch church near where he died fighting more than 3 1/2 centuries ago.
- Anthony Palmini has become a leading figure in the world of “romance” audio publishing – a booming book genre that combines romance and fantasy. Last year, he registered more than 50 book titles. This year, it is on track to double that figure.
- BTS’s new album, Arirangdebuted at number 1 in the Billboard 200 albums charted this week after selling around 532,000 copies. The group’s success extended to the Hot 100 singles chart as their song “Swim” debuted at No. 1.
This newsletter was published by Yvonne Denis.
