NPR News Now: February 6, 2026 – 3AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Duration: ~5 minutes
Theme: Major U.S. political developments, ongoing international diplomacy, economic updates, and breaking news stories.

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides succinct updates on the day's most pressing stories: the Clinton-Epstein congressional investigation, a razor-thin Democratic primary, public opinion on the Trump administration, fragile Russia-Ukraine-US talks, the presumed survival of Nancy Guthrie, Amazon’s AI-driven investment strategy, and a snapshot of Asian markets.

Key News Stories & Insights

The Clinton-Epstein Congressional Probe

[00:17–01:14]

• Bill and Hillary Clinton are set to testify regarding the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.
• Disagreement centers on whether their depositions should be public or videotaped.
• Hillary Clinton’s Position:

  “Despite the Clintons engaging in good faith with investigators, Republicans have, quote, moved to the goalposts and turned accountability into an exercise in distraction.”
  (Reporter: Elena Moore, 00:48)

• House Oversight Committee Response: Accuses the Clintons of trying to spin facts, referencing prior lawyer agreements.

High-Stakes Democratic Primary

[01:14–01:40]

• The Democratic primary and special election for a U.S. House seat remain undecided.
• Analilia Mejia and Tom Malinowski are separated by fewer than 500 votes.
• Highlights the competitive nature and significance of this election.

Trump Administration Approval & Immigration Policy

[01:40–02:14]

• Latest NPR/PBS/Marist Poll:
  • Only 39% approve of Trump’s performance, consistent since November.
  • 36% approve of his foreign policy and economic handling.
  • 51% strongly disapprove—a joint decade high, matching the aftermath of Jan 6, 2021.
• Notable Analysis:

  “It’s a really difficult spot for any president... 51% say they strongly disapprove of the job that Trump is doing. That’s tied for the worst score in the decade that Marist has been asking…”
  (Domenico Montanaro, 01:49)

Russia-Ukraine-US Talks in Abu Dhabi

[02:14–03:15]

• Breakthroughs:
  • Exchange of 157 prisoners of war—the first in five months.
  • U.S. and Russia to resume military-to-military dialogue.
• No Progress on Ending the War: Only procedural advances; humanitarian issues linger.
• Ukrainian Perspective:

  “These talks are missing a human dimension, as if territories are empty spaces while Putin continues to do what he wants to Ukrainian civilians.”
  (Eleanor Beardsley quoting Oleksandr Matvechuk, 02:56)

• Worsening Conditions:

  “The number of killed and wounded has surged 31% higher than in previous year.”
  (Elena Moore, 02:50)

Nancy Guthrie Presumed Alive; Ransom Notes Investigation

[03:15–03:37]

• Pima County Sheriff: Believes Nancy Guthrie (mother of Savannah Guthrie) is “still out there.”
• Ransom notes sent to media are being treated seriously.
• No suspects have been identified.

Amazon’s $200 Billion AI Investment & Investor Jitters

[03:37–04:38]

• Amazon plans to vastly increase tech spending (~$200B) in 2026, targeting artificial intelligence and data center growth.
• Shares dipped 11% in after-hours trading amid investor concerns.
• CEO Andy Jassy on AI:

  “Every customer experience that we know of today is going to be reinvented with AI…”
  (Alina Selyuk relaying Jassy’s comments, 04:25)

• Amazon argues this shift will push more business to cloud computing, where they lead.

Asia Markets Recap

[04:38–04:56]

• Stocks in Asia: Mostly down following U.S. tech sell-offs.
• Japan’s Nikkei Index: Bucked the trend, closing up 0.8%.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Hillary Clinton (via statement on X): Advocates for public testimonies for accountability and transparency. (00:48)
• Domenico Montanaro: “51% say they strongly disapprove... tied for the worst score in [Marist] decade.” (01:49)
• Oleksandr Matvechuk (Ukrainian Nobel Peace Laureate): Critiques peace talks for ignoring civilian suffering. (02:56)
• Andy Jassy (Amazon CEO): Passionately defends AI investment, envisioning a total reinvention of customer experiences. (04:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Clintons to Testify: 00:17–01:14
• Democratic House Primary Update: 01:14–01:40
• Trump Approval Poll: 01:40–02:14
• Russia-Ukraine-US Talks: 02:14–03:15
• Nancy Guthrie Missing: 03:15–03:37
• Amazon AI Strategy: 03:37–04:38
• Asian Markets: 04:38–04:56

For more detailed reporting and the latest updates, visit npr.org.