NPR News: 03-04-2026 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 Rylan Barton. The Trump administration is scrambling to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens who are seeking to help leave the Middle East. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports the White House is defending itself against allegations it's not doing enough. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt was pressed about President Trump's varying statements as to the reason and timing of the war in the context of evacuations. Trump has said the strikes happened too quickly for more efforts to evacuate Americans. He's also said that it was his decision to strike. Levitt was asked why more efforts were not made to evacuate Americans if they knew the strikes were coming. I just laid out for you that there have been plans in place and that the State Department has been very clear to the American people traveling within this region not to travel to these regions. Levitt said the U is working rapidly to charter flights and get Americans on commercial flights She said more measures will be announced soon Franco Ordonez NPR News the White House A War Powers resolution to block further military action against Iran has failed in the Senate. That's as U.S. strikes continue for a sixth day without approval from Congress. NPR's Sam Greenglass reports. The War Powers Act of 1973 gives Congress a way to limit unilateral military action by the president. All but one Senate Democrat voted to stop President Trump's military campaign against Iran, and every Republican except for one voted to let the strikes continue. But that's not the same as Congress officially authorizing the use of force. And without that approval, the law requires the president to pull back within 60 days. Some Republicans say that if the operation stretches beyond that or if the president deploys troops in Iran, that could change their calculus. The House is set to vote on a similar resolution on Thursday. It is not expected to pass there either. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington. The House Ethics Committee is launching a formal investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzalez. As NPR Barbara Sprunt reports the announcement came less than a day after the Texas Republican was forced into a May runoff for his district primary The panel voted to establish a subcommittee to investigate allegations that Representative Gonzalez engaged in sexual misconduct towards an employee and or discriminated unfairly by dispensing special favors. This comes amid increasing pressure from fellow Republicans to resign after explicit text messages surfaced from Gonzalez to his then employee who died by suicide last fall. It is against the House's code of conduct for lawmakers to have sexual relationships with staffers. Gonzalez has previously denied any wrongdoing. The ethics committee probe could take months to complete. Barbara Sprint, NPR News, The Capital. The U.S. stock market rebounded today after oil prices stopped spiking and reports gave encouraging updates about the economy. This is NPR News. A blackout has hit the western half of Cuba. Millions of people in Havana and beyond are without power. The island is struggling with a crumbling electric grid and now dwindling oil reserves after the U.S. cut off oil from its main supplier, Venezuela. The government's power agency says crews are working to restore power. It's the second such outage to affect Cuba's western region in the past three months. A panel of federal judges on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments today on whether people in immigration detention have a right to a bond hearing NPR Martin Costi reports the outcome could affect the rights of thousands of people Traditionally people already in the country without legal status could ask to post bond But last summer the Trump administration changed that effectively keeping people locked up for the duration of their immigration cases. DOJ lawyer Benjamin Hayes points to the law. The statute mandates detention without bond for any alien who cannot show that they are entitled to be admitted, and that is true regardless of how long they are present in the country unlawfully. Immigrant rights groups say the administration is using prolonged detention to pressure people into accepting deportation. The ban on bond hearings is being challenged in lawsuits around the country. Last month, the Fifth Circuit, which includes Texas, ruled in favor of the administration's policy. Martin Costi, NPR News. College Football Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz has died. He led Notre Dame to a national championship and won 249 games over 33 seasons. He was the first and only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games. Lou Holtz was 89 years old. This is NPR. 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.