NPR News: 03-01-2026 7PM EST

Get in, loser. We're taking a trip under the sea to a junkyard. I've done cobra helicopters. We've seen old washer machines. Does a second strip book count? This junk helped create one of the world's largest artificial reefs and a new home for many marine animals. But how did our trash become another fish's treasure? Find out on Shortwave, listen in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. With a promise to avenge the deaths of three American service members killed in the fight against Iran, President Trump today grieved their loss, calling them American patriots, but predicted more losses are ahead. Sadly, there will likely be more. Before it ends, that's the way it is. Five service members were seriously wounded. President Trump spoke earlier in an address posted online. He declared that combat operations will continue and called on Iran's fighting forces to surrender. I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military, police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain death. Won't be pretty. Trump called Iran supreme leader who along with senior Iranian leaders was killed in the Saturday attack by the U and Israel a wretched vile man responsible for countless deaths Iran says it is currently led by its president, the head of the judiciary there, and a representative of the Council of Experts. Iran's state-run news agency says the death toll from an attack on a girls' elementary school has reached 153, and PR's Aya Batrawi has the latest. The school in the southwestern city of Manab was struck early Saturday as students across Iran were just starting the school week, killing more than half the students there and wounding nearly 100 others who were rushed to hospital. Erna, Iran's state news agency, quoted a spokesman for the education ministry, saying Israel had bombed the school three times. He says there were more than 260 students in the school at the time. Earlier, official reports had indicated 170 students in the school. The report made no mention of teachers or adults possibly killed and wounded. Israel says it's unaware of Israeli military strikes in the area, the U.S. says it's looking into it. It is the single deadliest strike of the war that began early Saturday with Israeli and later U.S. strikes on Iran that killed the country's supreme leader and other top officials. Ayyabatrawi, NPR News, Dubai. The leaders of Britain, France and Germany are saying they are ready to work together with the U to defend their interests in the Middle East after missile attacks from Iran NPR Rob Schmitz reports The three leaders said in a statement that they would take steps to defend their interests and those of allies in the region, potentially using missiles and drones to do so. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on Iran to ditch its authoritarian Islamist constitution and make what she called a credible transition to democracy after U.S. and Israeli strikes killed the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has warned that the strikes on Iran risk another Iraq or Afghanistan-style quagmire that could have consequences in Europe, but said Berlin will not lecture Washington as it seeks U.S. help to end the war in Ukraine. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin. This is NPR News. At the start of trading today oil prices rose sharply despite an OPEC-plus decision to increase production. The spike comes in response to the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran. Prior authorization is the process of getting approval from your insurance company for a test or treatment. But one in three people insured, polled by health policy firm KFF, say the process is a major burden in securing adequate health care. Sarah Bowden reports. Part of the problem is that rules for how prior authorizations are handled and when one is needed vary between insurance companies and policies University of Pittsburgh health policy researcher Miranda Yavar says this is confusing for doctors and patients It's a solvable problem if we have the will and the political conditions are ripe. I don't think know that they are at this particular moment, although there is promise at the state level. AHIP, the insurer trade group formerly known as America's Health Insurance Plan, says prior authorizations help ensure patients receive safe, evidence-based care and keep costs low. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Bowden. At the box office this weekend, Scream 7 debuted with $64 million in ticket sales, a record in the history of the Scream movie franchise. It was a bigger-than-expected take for Paramount, which entered the weekend with news of its acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery. In second place with $12 million, last weekend's winner, the animated Goat. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News, 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.