WBUR Podcasts, Boston.

Generally speaking, everybody's scared, and fear of death looms over everybody's head.

An Iranian expat who lives in Europe worries what's next for his family in Tehran.

It's Thursday, March 12th, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WBUR, Boston.

I'm Shiko Thauri.

Today on the show, as the regional war in the Middle East continues, we hear how swing

voters in Michigan are thinking about it.

And David Archiletto was once a shy teen on American Idol.

Since then, he's come to terms with his fame and

faith as he recounts in his new memoir. I was known as the smiley kid who never talked. And then to

suddenly be thrown in front of everybody, I couldn't hide anymore. But I think I did my best to just

let my voice do the work. But first, today, Iran's new Supreme Leader said the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial oil route, will stay closed.

It's his first public statement since taking over from his slain father.

He also threatened more strikes on U.S. military bases in the region.

The U.N. refugee agency says more than three million

people in Iran have been displaced by the war. Redin Yad is keenly aware of that reality.

He's an Iranian English teacher in Europe who is anxiously trying to keep in touch with his mother

and grandmother who left Iran when the war began. Yad begins his conversation

with Lisa Mullins by describing how challenging it's been for his family in Iran.

Very little communication with family and friends has been extremely difficult. Internet

connection is quite unstable. Personally, I have only been able to speak with my mother once since the war started.

It was just long enough for her to tell me she was okay. Once I received a message through a neighbor

...