Morning news brief

NPR | By Steve Inskeep,

Leila Fadel

Published March 12, 2026 at 4:45 AM EDT

U.S.-Israel strikes continue as Iran effectively closes Strait of Hormuz, Trump ran on lower gas prices, but the Iran war challenges that, probe points to U.S. being at fault for Iran school strike.

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The Trump administration's crackdown on immigrant truckers shifts into higher gear

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The White House wants tougher rules for commercial licenses after several high-profile crashes involving foreign-born drivers. But critics say that would do little to make the nation's roads safer.
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NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Rep. Kevin Kiley of California about changing his political party affiliation from Republican to Independent.
DOJ's program to restore gun rights to felons raises questions about transparency

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The Department of Justice has quietly restarted a decades-dormant program to restore gun rights to felons. One name on the list is raising questions about transparency.
Trump ran on lowering gas prices. The war with Iran is challenging that promise

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President Trump made lowering gas prices the centerpiece of his affordability agenda. He now faces the political perils of the war with Iran, as Middle East energy infrastructure is disrupted.
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