PBS News Hour full episode, March 5, 2026

The U.S. and Israel initiated a war with Iran by killing its supreme leader, leading to over 1,200 civilian deaths and extensive damage to Iranian infrastructure, including the Azadi Stadium and health facilities. The conflict has rapidly widened, drawing in Azerbaijan, which reported Iranian drone attacks, and Bahrain, which saw an oil refinery ablaze from an Iranian missile. Lebanon also faced Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah strongholds, causing over 100 deaths. Iran's foreign minister declared an end to negotiations, while China dispatched an envoy to seek dialogue.

GEOFF BENNETT: 'Just days after the U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran by targeting and killing its supreme leader... more than 1,200 people have been killed.' (02:39, 03:00) 'Even Azerbaijan, to Iran's north, has now been drawn into the fight.' (05:01) 'Bahrain said an Iranian missile slipped through its air defenses and set a state-run oil refinery ablaze.' (05:34) 'In Beirut, more buildings toppled from Israeli airstrikes. At least 100 people have been killed.' (06:11)

President Trump seeks direct involvement in selecting Iran's next leader, rejecting the late supreme leader's son and encouraging CIA-trained Iranian Kurds to fill the power vacuum. This policy raises concerns about unpredictability and increased violence for defenseless Iranian civilians, who lack air raid sirens or shelters. The U.S. embassy in Kuwait is closed due to the conflict, and two U.S. soldiers were killed in Kuwait by an Iranian strike, highlighting the direct impact on American personnel.

GEOFF BENNETT: 'President Trump today said he should be involved in selecting the country's next leader.' (02:46) 'Mr. Trump encouraged the Iranian Kurds, trained by the CIA, to fill the vacuum.' (07:00) LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: 'Iranian civilians are completely defenseless.' (10:51) GEOFF BENNETT: 'The Pentagon also released the names of the two remaining U.S. soldiers killed this past weekend when Iran struck a tactical operation center in Kuwait.' (07:11)

The conflict has unprecedentedly impacted Gulf nations, with hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones launched at them. While missile defense systems are largely effective, the attacks threaten the region's economic stability, built on wealth and tourism. Gulf nations, traditionally neutral, are now reconsidering their stance, with Qatar's foreign minister stating attacks 'cannot go unanswered.' This also prompts a re-evaluation of hosting U.S. military bases, as the perceived defensive capability in return for hosting them is being questioned, especially after past incidents like the attack on Hamas operatives in Doha.

LEILA MOLANA-ALLEN: 'This has been unprecedented for the Gulf nations. Hundreds of cruise and ballistic missiles, of drones have been launched at these countries by Iran.' (07:57) 'Iran doesn't have to destroy these countries. It just has to pierce that stability to stop their success.' (08:29) 'The Qatari foreign minister responded, that was completely untrue. They're dragging the Gulf into a war that is not their own. And even though the Gulf has always been neutral thus far, he said these attacks cannot go unanswered.' (09:03) 'The issue, of course, is that in the past few years with the reduction of the military presence in the Gulf, already they were starting to feel maybe that wouldn't happen.' (09:29)

President Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the first cabinet member ousted in his second term, primarily due to a $220 million ad campaign prominently featuring her. Senator John Kennedy's questioning of Noem about presidential approval for the campaign, which Trump denied, was the 'breaking point.' Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma was nominated as her replacement, chosen for his loyalty and media presence, despite finding out about the nomination shortly before the public.

AMNA NAWAZ: 'The president today fired Kristi Noem as the secretary of homeland security, the first member of his Cabinet to be ousted in his second term.' (02:27) LISA DESJARDINS: 'It does seem, however, that really the breaking point was testimony this week and that $220 million ad campaign that you mentioned, which prominently featured her.' (30:42) SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: 'The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?' (31:06) LISA DESJARDINS: 'Senator Kennedy told me he spoke with President Trump that night and that Trump not only denied what Kristi Noem had said, but he was sharply angry about it.' (31:25) GEOFF BENNETT: 'He also announced his choice to replace Noem. That's Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.' (30:21)

The war in Iran caused a significant market downturn and a spike in oil prices, raising concerns about inflation and long-term economic dislocation, especially if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein noted that while current economic indicators are good, a 'bifurcated economy' exists where asset owners thrive while others struggle, contributing to polarization. He strongly criticized political attacks on the Federal Reserve's independence, warning that such actions undermine creditor confidence and risk currency inflation, which acts as a default.

AMNA NAWAZ: 'The markets had their worst day today since the war in Iran began, and oil prices saw another big jump.' (46:45) LLOYD BLANKFEIN: 'I suppose if they close the Straits of Hormuz, oil prices stayed up, that would feed into inflation, and that would create other kinds of dislocation.' (47:23) 'The gap between the people with assets and the people without assets have widened out... we really do have a bifurcated economy at this point.' (51:57) 'I think it's absolutely crazy to be assaulting the Fed. It does no good... By attacking the independence of the Fed... you're telegraphing to your creditors that they may not be protected.' (53:11)

Rocket Lab, a New Zealand-based company, is a rapidly expanding player in the private space industry, second only to SpaceX in launch frequency. They specialize in launching small payloads using their Electron rocket, which features 3D-printed Rutherford engines and a carbon composite structure, achieving a 95% reliability rate. The company is pursuing a holistic 'end-to-end' strategy, building satellites and planning missions to the moon, Mars, and Venus. They are developing a larger rocket, Neutron, designed to carry 40 times more payload than Electron, aiming to meet significant market demand and compete in the growing $600 billion global space economy.

MILES O'BRIEN: 'The world's second most frequent flier to space after SpaceX, Rocket Lab.' (40:17) SHAUN O'DONNELL: 'We designed this facility to be able to build one Electron launch vehicle a week.' (42:02) 'The rocket itself is the first orbital vehicle made entirely from carbon composite materials.' (42:20) PETER BECK: 'You're able to build a satellite using your own components, launch the satellite on your own rocket and operate the satellite in orbit. So, for us, this is where we have been driving methodically to go.' (43:45) SHAUN D'MELLO: 'The rocket is designed to deliver nearly 29,000 pounds of payload to low-Earth orbit, 40 times more than Electron.' (44:19)