NPR News: 03-13-2026 7AM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Colman. This morning's episode covers a major escalation in the Middle East, a domestic terror attack in Michigan linked to the conflict, a deadly shooting at a Virginia university, and a new push in Congress to address the housing crisis.

Israel Strikes Tehran as Netanyahu Signals War Aims

Israel launched a new wave of attacks in the Iranian capital today. In his first press conference since the war began, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes may not succeed in toppling the Iranian regime. "We're creating the optimal conditions for the overthrow," Netanyahu said, but he added that he could not say for certain that "the Iranian people would topple it." The admission signals that Israel is preparing its public to accept a scenario where the war leaves the regime in place, but leaves Israel in a much better security situation. The prime minister's language marks a notable shift in tone from earlier war rhetoric, suggesting a more limited definition of victory.

Michigan Synagogue Attack Linked to Lebanon Airstrikes