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By
Brittney Melton
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President Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and named Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma as his choice to replace her. On social media, Trump said Noem would move to a role as "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas," a new security initiative he said the administration would announce on Saturday. Mullin, a fairly new face in the Senate, has established himself as a close ally of the president. The Senate will have to confirm Mullin for the DHS role before he can start. Here's what you need to know about Trump's pick.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a meeting in the Oval Office on Nov. 17, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
As the war in Iran enters day seven, Israel's military says it detected missiles launched from Iran, and its air defense systems were operating to intercept them. Iran's retaliation comes after Israel said it began a "broad wave" of air strikes on Tehran, with additional attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs. Israel has issued an evacuation order for that area of Beirut. The Iranian Red Crescent reports that since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, more than 1,300 people there have been killed. Check out some of the key updates that NPR is reporting on.
It has been two months since U.S. forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In that time, the U.S. and Venezuela have quickly mended their relationship. Officials from the two countries have struck oil deals. Now, they are discussing critical minerals and have agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations.
The Justice Department has released additional Epstein files involving sexual abuse allegations against Trump after an NPR investigation found officials withheld dozens of pages. The new 16-page drop includes FBI interview summaries with a woman who accused the president of abusing her when she was a minor. Now that these documents are public, there are still 37 pages that remain missing from the database, according to NPR's calculation.
Nate Kitch for NPR Ivermectin, the anti-parasitic drug that became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, is back in the spotlight. People are embracing it as an alternative cancer treatment. While it effectively fights parasitic infections like roundworms and scabies in humans, and may aid in fighting malaria, its reputation remains politically polarizing. Scientists once hoped it could treat COVID-19, but dozens of studies confirmed it offered no benefit. Despite that disappointing research, misinformation fueled the drug's use during the pandemic. Now, the drug's reputation is continuing to grow in conservative political circles as a form of cure-all for various ailments.
Mitski has described Nothing's About to Happen to Me as a concept album about a woman who hides away from society in unkempt solitude. Lexie Alley hide caption
Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: British actress Lesley Manville discussed her new film Midwinter Break, her role in Oedipus on Broadway, and how she has balanced both stage and screen for decades with Morning Edition host Michel Martin.
📺 TV: FX's Love Story follows John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's courtship, marriage, and the great strain she experienced as part of one of the world's most closely watched couples.
📚 Books: March always brings a flurry of new books, and this year is no exception. Skip the doomscrolling and instead mark your calendar for these exciting publishing highlights.
🎵 Music: Mitski describes Nothing's About to Happen to Me as a concept album about a woman living in unkempt solitude who is called a deviant when she ventures outside.
❓ Quiz: This week's quiz was a little tricky. Don't let the photos fool you. I scored a nine out of 10, so I know you can do the same or better.
Elite female distance runners take off at the start of the Atlanta Half Marathon on March 1. Jess McClain, middle left, led much of the race before an official car led her off course. Matthew Demarko/via Atlanta Track Club hide caption
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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