Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
President Trump is, again, threatening Iran over the state of Hormuz, saying on social media today, it has 48 hours to open the state or, quote, "all hell will rain down and glory to God." This, as the search for a missing U.S. service member in Iran continues, Tehran shot down two U.S. military planes yesterday, but two other crew members were rescued.
Earlier, Trump said the U.S. would pound Iran back to, quote, "the Stone Age." Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former State Department official, says, "It shows Iran remains a threat." It's extraordinary, frankly, in the thousands of soared teas that both the Americans and
Israelis have flown that this is the first time that you had a down-dear craft.
“But it is, I think, tremendously symbolic.”
I suggest that the Americans don't have total escalation, dominance of the Earth's base. Iranians still have capacity. Not to mention the propaganda value of this, assuming the Iranians find the airmen. Speaking there on NPR's weekend edition, Iranian media reports that for the fourth time since the start of the war, a nuclear power plant has been struck, and the plant remains
functioning. But NPR's deparves reports a possible radiation leak wouldn't be limited to just Iran. The nuclear power plant in Boucher, which is on the country's coastline on the Persian Gulf, was struck by a projectile from a strike to its perimeter on Saturday, killing one of the plant's security personnel.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says that no increase in radiation levels have been detected in the area. But in the statement posted on X, the agency's director General, Rafael Grossi, said that
“the nuclear power plants in surrounding areas must never be attacked.”
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Al-Aqqi noted on X that any radio act to fall out from the plant will cook and life in neighboring Gulf Arab countries. Radioactive material from the damage plant could leak into the Gulf, contaminating waters vital to states like Kuwait, Bahrain, Ataat, and the United Arab Emirates. Deparves, NPR News, Vaughan, Turkey.
The Trump administration wants to privatize airport security operations run by the TSA and Piers Joel Rose reports. President Trump's budget proposes cutting funding for the TSA, the transportation security
administration by more than $50 million.
And it would require smaller ports to enroll in a program in which TSA pays for private contractors to staff security checkpoints. That program is existed for years but only 20 airports are enrolled. The Trump administration argues that privatized screening would save taxpayers' money.
“But critics, including the union that represents TSA officers, say it would undermine”
security. The budget request reflects the White House's priorities but it's Congress that ultimately sets and approves spending levels, and lawmakers are still deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security in this year's budget, Joel Rose and P.R. News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News.
Vacuation orders and warnings are up in Riverside County east of the Marino Valley in Southern California as a fast-growing wildfire now stands up more than 4,100 acres. Fire officials say the cause of the fire is under investigation. This amid very windy dry conditions at high temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the area through this afternoon
with wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour possible. Women's College Basketball is set for its national championship game. It will be South Carolina and UCLA battling for the title after both won their semi-final matches. Steve Futterman has more from Phoenix.
In the first semi-final South Carolina handed undefeated UConn, it's first loss of the
season, 62 to 48. In the other semi-UCLA B Texas, 51 to 44. The most memorable moment on semi-final night came just off the court when UConn Coach General Oriemum and South Carolina Coach Don Staley exchanged angry words just as the game was ending.
After words Oriemum said it stemmed from Staley, refused into shake hands just before the game. The protocol is the 40th game you meet at the airport and say thanks and I waited there for like 3 minutes. At one point the exchange became so heated both coaches had to be held back by their assistance.
For MPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Phoenix. In the men's final four takes place tonight, UConn takes on Illinois and then Michigan Place, Arizona. I'm Janine Herbst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
