NPR News: 04-04-2026 10AM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from April 4, 2026, focuses primarily on escalating military actions tied to the Iran conflict, including US losses and infrastructure strikes, while also covering a new drug threat, business cost increases, regulatory disputes over prediction markets, and a college basketball update.

US Jets Downed and Search Underway

Two American fighter jets were shot down over Iran on Friday, prompting a US search-and-rescue operation for one missing service member; two crew members have already been rescued. A US official confirmed the effort is ongoing. Iranian state media has broadcast calls for nomadic tribes and local villagers to target any foreign pilots in the area, offering a monetary reward for captures. This development heightens risks for US personnel amid broader hostilities.

Israeli Strikes on Tehran and Regional Escalations

Israel conducted a new wave of strikes on what it describes as regime infrastructure in Tehran, targeting air defense sites along with weapons storage and research facilities. Separately, Iran has continued firing at neighboring countries, damaging a desalination plant in Kuwait on Friday. Iran also reports one of its own desalination plants remains fully out of service after an airstrike.