Nine To Noon USA correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben
Mar 16, 2026
Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR political correspondent covering U.S. politics and foreign policy. She discusses efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and which allies might join, how gas and fertilizer shocks ripple through American lives, tensions between the administration and the media over coverage, and the politics and hurdles surrounding a sweeping voting bill.
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Allies Are Largely Declining Strait Of Hormuz Military Role
- President Trump claims other countries will help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Danielle Kurtzleben lists repeated refusals or hesitations from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and South Korea, leaving no clear international coalition.
Hormuz Disruption Still Hurts US Consumers And Farmers
- Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz can raise US gas prices despite domestic production because oil is a global market.
- Danielle Kurtzleben notes 20% of global oil transits the strait and also flags fertilizer supply risks for American farmers.
Administration Signals Pressure On Broadcast News
- The Trump administration has issued public threats toward media coverage of the Iran war, including comments about potentially using regulatory pressure.
- Danielle Kurtzleben highlights tweets from Trump, comments by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and FCC chair Brendan Carr suggesting license threats.