NPR News: 02-05-2026 11AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 5, 2026 - 11AM EST

Main Theme/Overview
This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of the most pressing headlines in the United States and abroad as of February 5, 2026. Key topics include the results of a new poll on President Trump’s immigration tactics, updates on changes to federal health agency policies, the search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, developments in U.S.–Iran nuclear talks, a federal investigation into Nike, and the expansion of a WHO disease monitoring network.

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Top Stories & Key Insights

1. Public Backlash Against Trump Immigration Tactics

• Poll Results (00:15–01:06)

  • NPR PBS News Marist poll: President Trump's immigration and enforcement tactics, especially involving ICE, face strong public disapproval.
  • Key statistics:
    • “Two thirds say federal law enforcement agents have gone too far. That’s up significantly since last summer.” (Domenico Montanaro, 00:29)
    • 61% disapprove of ICE.
    • 62% think ICE is making Americans less safe.
    • Growing disapproval extends to independents, Latinos, and voters under 30 – “Seven in 10 of each group say ICE has gone too far and majorities of them all disapprove of the job that Trump is doing.” (Domenico Montanaro, 00:50)

• Presidential Response (01:06–01:49)

  • Trump suggested a need for a “softer touch” and withdrew 700 federal agents from Minnesota after the killing of two American protesters, but maintains a tough stance on “hard criminals.”
  • “More than 2,000 federal agents still remain deployed in Minnesota.” (Korva Coleman, 01:21)

2. Changes at Federal Health Agency After Scandal

• Bipartisan Budget Enacted (01:49–02:35)
  • After a chaotic year under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with mass staff departures and canceled grants, Congress passed a budget restoring funding and adding oversight.
  • Quote: “How do we reign in an agency that has gone rogue?” (Sen. Tammy Baldwin, 02:08)
  • The law includes mandates for specific center funding and prompt payment to grantees.
  • “It’s very, very specific. It is law, and by the way, the president just signed it.” (Sen. Tammy Baldwin, 02:22)
  • HHS did not comment on the changes.

3. Savannah Guthrie Family Appeals for Missing Mother

• Developing Story (02:35–03:20)
  • Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a direct public message to the suspected kidnappers following their mother’s disappearance.
  • Quote: “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen.” (Guthrie sibling, 02:46)
  • Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished in Tucson; authorities suspect abduction but have no suspects.

4. International News: U.S.–Iran Nuclear Talks

• Diplomacy Update (03:20–03:44)
  • Upcoming nuclear talks moved to Oman.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes U.S. concerns about Iran’s missiles and sponsorship of terror groups.

5. Nike Under Federal Investigation for Discrimination

• Workplace Probe (03:44–04:29)
  • The EEOC is in federal court demanding Nike comply with a subpoena about hiring and employment practices.
  • Unique aspect: The complaint originated from the chair of the EEOC, not from the public.
  • Nike describes the matter as “a surprising and unusual escalation” but states it is cooperating.
  • “The company says it shared thousands of pages of information and responses and will keep cooperating.” (Kristen Wright, 04:17)

6. WHO Disease Monitoring Network Grows

• Public Health (04:29–04:55)
  • Illinois and New York City join a global network to counter disease outbreaks, following California last month.
  • Context: The U.S. officially left WHO two weeks ago under the Trump administration.

7. Markets Check

• Wall Street (04:55)
  • Significant market drop: “The Dow was down 600 points, more than 1%.”

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Notable Quotes & Segments

• “Two thirds say federal law enforcement agents have gone too far. That’s up significantly since last summer.” — Domenico Montanaro, 00:29
• “Seven in 10 of each group say ICE has gone too far and majorities… disapprove of the job that Trump is doing.” — Domenico Montanaro, 00:50
• “How do we reign in an agency that has gone rogue?” — Senator Tammy Baldwin, 02:08
• “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen.” — Savannah Guthrie's sibling, 02:46

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Important Timestamps

• 00:15 — New poll on Trump’s immigration tactics
• 01:06 — Trump discusses softer touch on immigration, agent withdrawal
• 01:49 — Congressional action to reorganize federal health agency
• 02:35 — Public plea for information in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case
• 03:20 — U.S.–Iran nuclear talks moved to Oman
• 03:44 — Nike discrimination investigation
• 04:29 — Illinois, NYC join WHO disease monitoring
• 04:55 — Stock market update

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Tone & Style
The episode maintains NPR’s familiar, objective, and informative delivery, using concise reporting to present urgent developments and human-interest stories without speculation or editorializing.

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Carvana, who makes buying and financing your next car easy. Thousands of vehicles terms up front and 100% online even get it delivered to your door. Buy your car the easy way with Carvana. Delivery fee may apply.

[B]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A new NPR PBS News Marist poll is out. NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports. It finds President Trump's immigration and enforcement tactics are widely unpopular.

[C]

Two thirds say federal law enforcement agents have gone too far. That's up significantly since last summer. 61% disapprove of ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and 62% think ICE is making Americans less safe. This comes on the heels of the killing of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minnesota over the past few weeks. A key part of the coalition to help Trump get re elected were independents, Latinos and voters under 30 years old. But they've soured on the president. Seven in 10 of each group say ICE has gone too far and majorities of them all disapprove of the job that Trump is doing. Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

President Trump says his administration could use a softer touch on immigration. He spoke in an interview aired last night on NBC. Trump says it was his decision to withdraw 700 federal agents from Minnesota this week. This follows the killing of two American protesters in Minneapolis. But Trump says his administration still has to be tough with hard criminals. More than 2,000 federal agents still remain deployed in Minnesota. The bipartisan budget just passed into law will restore a lot of funding and programs in the federal health agency. Congress also created new guardrails for the agency after a chaotic year. NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports.

[D]

Under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last year, tens of thousands of staff quit or were fired. Grants were canceled with no notice and congressionally required programs were hollowed out. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, says she helped write the new health budget with this goal.

[E]

How do we reign in an agency that has gone rogue?

[D]

The new bipartisan law includes detailed instructions to fund specific centers, to fully staff them, to pay grantees promptly, and more.

[E]

It's very, very specific. It is law, and by the way, the president just signed it.

[D]

HHS did not respond to a request for comment about the new budget. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

Today's show host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have released a video online. They're delivering a message to potential kidnappers of their mother, Nancy Guthrie.

[F]

We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen.

[B]

Nancy Guthrie is 84 years old. She disappeared over the weekend in Tucson, Arizona. Investigators believe she was taken against her will. They do not have any suspects. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Iranian officials say they will hold nuclear talks tomorrow with U.S. representatives. The talks have been moved from Turkey to Oman. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US Is interested in other issues, such as limiting the reach of Iran's ballistic missiles and sponsorship of terror organizations. Shoemaker Nike is under federal investigation. The federal government is accusing the company of discriminating against white employees. NPR's Kristen Wright reports.

[G]

The government agency tasked with protecting the civil rights of workers is demanding in federal court that Nike fully comply with a subpoena. The eeoc, or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, wants information about things like Nike's hiring practices, career development opportunities and how it uses data on race and ethnicity. Most EEOC complaints are filed by the public, but this one was brought by the now chair of the agency in 2024, alleging Nike discriminates against white employees. Nike stands by its employment practices in a statement to NPR and says the government's latest action feels like a surprising and unusual escalation. The company says it shared thousand of pages of information and responses and will keep cooperating. Kristen Wright, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

The state of Illinois and New York City have joined a network from the World Health Organization. It's intended to identify and work against disease outbreaks. California was the first state to join last month. Two weeks ago, the Trump administration officially withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization. On Wall street, the dow was down 600 points, more than 1%. It's NPR.

[H]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.