NPR News: 03-04-2026 5PM EST

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The Senate appears to have narrowly rejected a resolution that would require congressional approval before the Trump administration makes any further attacks on Iran. The House is expected to vote on a similar measure tomorrow. The U.S. and Israel continue to intensify the bombing campaign of Iran and its forces today. A U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. President Trump says the military is targeting Iran's nuclear program and leadership. So we're in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead. The U.N. Refugee Agency estimates 100,000 people fled Tehran in the war's first two days. Qatar says it's spoken to Iran and warned that Iranian attacks on the Gulf cannot go unanswered. As NPR's Aya Batraoui reports, Qatar is one of several of Iran's neighbors targeted in the war as Iran retaliates against U.S. troops in the region. Qatar hosts thousands of U.S. troops at a sprawling base that's been hit. Iran insists its attacks are directed at U interests in the region and not at other countries But the Qatari readout of today call said Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al told Iran foreign minister that facts on the ground clearly show Iranian missiles and drones have also targeted civilian areas as well as Qatar's gas production facilities. The country's halted its gas production as a result. The prime minister, according to the Qatari readout, also told Iran's foreign minister the attacks inflict harm on its neighbors and drag them into a war that is not theirs. He said Qatar prefers diplomacy, but these aggressions, cannot go unanswered. Until now, Gulf Arab states have not responded militarily to Iran's attacks. Ayy Abotrawi, NPR News, Dubai. The House Oversight Committee has voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to answer questions over the Justice Department's handling of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. Five Republicans joined Democrats supporting the move proposed by Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina. James Tallarico, an Austin-area state lawmaker won Texas's Democratic Senate primary. That win was partly fueled by Latino voters. This growing part of Texas's electorate is not particularly aligned with either party, as NPR's Ashley Lopez reports. Counties along Texas's southern border, which have very large Latino populations were a key part of James Tallarico defeat of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett Early turnout figures show he won about two of the vote in those South Texas counties He also garnered significant support among Latinos in metropolitan areas This could be a worry for Texas Republicans who saw significant gains among those voters in 2024 and redrew congressional lines in their favor last year with the expectation that most of these voters would continue to support the party. Affordability was a key part of Tallarico's campaign, which is historically one of the most important issues for Latinos. Ashley Lopez, NPR News. This is NPR News from Washington. A new report says Rhode Island Catholic clergy abused hundreds of children for decades while church leaders minimized the scandal. The state's attorney general released the report saying at least 75 clergy molested more than 300 victims since 1950. Church officials agreed to hand over records but did not allow key people to be interviewed. The diocese says the report reflects its cooperation but misleads the public into thinking the problems are ongoing. The IRS says about 40 percent of taxpayers have already filed their returns this year. NPR Scott Horsley reports the nation top tax collector offered an update today on Capitol Hill Frank Bissignano who running both the IRS and the Social Security Administration told the House Ways and Means Committee some 55 million tax returns have already been filed this year So far the average refund is about larger than this time last year Bissignano says taxpayers who ask for direct deposit are getting their refunds in an average of nine days. I think what you're finding is bigger refunds, quicker refunds, and an easier IRS to operate through. The IRS cut about 25 percent of its staff last year. The agency has reassigned some HR and IT staffers to assist taxpayers during this year's filing season. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. A toucan seeing flying around the Las Vegas desert has been captured by a bird rescue group. They've been trying to catch the bird for months since he escaped from his owner in November. Sam, the toucan flew into a garage where the homeowners trapped it until a rescue group could come. A vet says he shows sign of wear and tear, but thinks he'll be okay. I'm Rylan Barton. This is NPR News from Washington.