Iran War, TSA Funding, No Kings Marches

Summary of Iran War, TSA Funding, No Kings Marches

by NPR

14m•March 28, 2026
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Overview of Up First — Iran War, TSA Funding, No-Kings Marches (March 28, 2026)

This episode covers major developments a month into the U.S.-Iran conflict, the political fight over Department of Homeland Security funding and TSA pay, and nationwide “No Kings” protests (with a focus on Minnesota after a deadly ICE operation). Reporters on the ground in Tel Aviv and the Twin Cities provide eyewitness detail; NPR reporters and commentators place the military and domestic fallout in political and economic context.

Key developments in the Iran conflict

  • Overnight strikes expanded the violence: Iran struck a military base in Saudi Arabia and reportedly injured at least a dozen U.S. service members. Attacks also occurred at Kuwait’s airport and an Omani port.
  • Israel reported strikes on major industrial infrastructure inside Iran and acknowledged that some Iranian munitions breached its defenses. Israeli forces and U.S. assets continue to be targeted.
  • The Houthi movement in Yemen fired at Israel for the first time in this conflict; at least one intercept was reported.
  • Civilian impact: one man (a 50-year-old security guard) was killed in Tel Aviv by a cluster munition that damaged apartment blocks and local infrastructure. Many Israelis report exhaustion from repeated sheltering.
  • Region sentiment: Gulf residents (e.g., Dubai) worry about regional instability; Iranians are harder to reach due to internet blackouts, but some fleeing to Turkey expressed support for the U.S./Israeli campaign.

Domestic political and economic effects

  • Public opinion: A Reuters‑Ipsos poll shows 61% of Americans disapprove of the war (up 18 points since early March). Trump’s approval hit around 36%, his lowest of the second term so far.
  • Economic effects: Energy price spikes (diesel, gasoline) and higher fertilizer costs are hitting farmers and are likely to put upward pressure on food prices, contributing to political unpopularity.
  • Political risk: Worries persist over an unclear end point for the conflict and large U.S. troop deployments to the region.

DHS, TSA funding and the shutdown standoff

  • Senate negotiators produced a bipartisan DHS funding deal that would fund much of the department but would not fund ICE or Border Patrol and did not include major election‑law changes. Trump did not fully back that deal.
  • The House passed its own DHS funding bill to fund the entire department (including ICE and Border Patrol) for eight weeks, but the Senate went into a two-week recess, leaving the bill’s prospects uncertain.
  • To ease airport disruptions, President Trump issued an executive order directing that TSA workers be paid from DHS reserve funds. Long lines and travel disruptions continue despite that move.

No-Kings protests — national scope, Minnesota focus

  • Organizers report more than 3,000 protests across all 50 states and in several countries (e.g., Australia, Ecuador, Greece).
  • Central demands: an end to warrantless immigrant arrests by federal officers, opposition to unilateral military action without Congress, and resistance to threats to federal election administration.
  • Minnesota: St. Paul was billed as a flagship rally—organized in part by Minnesota AFL‑CIO—as a “day of healing” remembering two U.S. citizens killed during a federal ICE operation earlier in the year. High-profile supporters were reported to be participating.
  • Community climate: Many immigrant communities remain fearful; hundreds of additional immigration officers were reported in the state earlier in March. Organizers advise digital-security practices (encrypted apps, metadata scrubbing) for participants.

Notable quotes & data points

  • Reuters‑Ipsos poll: 61% disapprove of the war; Trump’s approval around 36%.
  • Israeli military spokespeople emphasize a high interception rate but acknowledge some missiles and cluster munitions have penetrated defenses.
  • Local organizer Bethany Winkles: “Those things are connected because they are an assault on our democracy.”
  • NPR reporting highlights symbolic moves by the White House (ordering Trump’s name on currency and a commemorative gold coin, renaming institutions) as part of the broader political backdrop.

What to watch next

  • Whether the Senate will reconvene/advance the House DHS funding bill after recess and how that affects TSA operations and airport conditions.
  • Escalation or de‑escalation in the Iran conflict, including further regional players (e.g., Houthis) joining or expanding involvement.
  • The economic trajectory of energy and food prices and their political impact ahead of fall elections.
  • Outcomes and local consequences of the nationwide No‑Kings protests, particularly in communities affected by ICE actions.

Takeaways

  • The conflict with Iran is widening geographically and causing both military casualties and civilian harm; defenses are stressed but not impermeable.
  • The war is politically costly for the White House amid rising energy costs and public uncertainty about objectives and duration.
  • Domestic governance issues—DHS funding, TSA pay, immigration enforcement—and large civic protests are converging with foreign policy turbulence, amplifying national tensions.

Episode credits

  • Hosts: Scott Simon and Don Gagné (Up First)
  • On-the-ground reporting: Piers Kari Khan (Tel Aviv), Meg Anderson (Minnesota)
  • NPR contributor: Ron Elving
  • Production and editorial team named in episode (Elena Tworek, Danny Hensel, Gable Conner, and others)