NPR News: 04-04-2026 12AM EDT

Iran's military downed two U.S. aircraft on Friday in the five-week-old war, marking the first losses of American planes. This NPR News Now episode mixes conflict updates with economic data, White House policy moves, business adjustments tied to the war, and brief cultural and sports notes.

Escalation in U.S.-Iran Conflict

Iran shot down an A-10 Warthog single-seat attack plane and an F-15E two-seat fighter jet in separate incidents. The Warthog pilot was rescued; for the F-15E, one pilot was saved while search efforts continue for the second airman. NPR Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman noted these strikes demonstrate Iran's forces remain operational despite over 17,000 U.S. and Israeli bombing targets hit so far. The regime persists, challenging assumptions that Iran poses no ongoing military threat.

Trump's Military-Focused Budget Priorities

The White House released a budget blueprint requesting boosts for military spending, offset by $73 billion in domestic cuts. President Trump emphasized this during a closed lunch with religious leaders, captured in a briefly posted-then-deleted video: federal resources must prioritize "military protection" over programs like daycare, Medicaid, and Medicare, which he said states can handle. The proposal outlines executive priorities, though Congress controls final spending.