NPR News Now – February 6, 2026 – 5AM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now segment, hosted by Dave Mattingly, delivers concise updates on major global and national news. Featured this hour: US-Iran nuclear talks, a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, the Clintons’ Congressional testimony, resignations at the Minneapolis U.S. attorney’s office, Winter Olympics opening, preparations for Super Bowl 60, a new obesity drug price war, and a Wall Street update.

Key Stories and Insights

1. US-Iran Nuclear Discussions Intensify

[00:17–00:54]

• Details: President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is meeting Iranian officials in Oman to push Iran away from its nuclear ambitions. The talks follow a June 2025 US military strike on Iranian nuclear sites and a recent build-up of US naval power in the region.

• Additional Context: Witkoff’s efforts follow his involvement in talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

• “The White House wants Tehran to give up its nuclear ambitions. Last June, the US Military struck three Iranian nuclear sites. Currently, there’s a large buildup of American naval assets in the Middle East.” — Dave Mattingly [00:27]

2. Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Exchange & Military Dialogue Renewal

[00:54–01:32]

• Key Outcomes:

  • Prisoner exchange: 300 soldiers released and another exchange planned.
  • US and Russia agree to reopen a suspended military communication channel—deemed “crucial to achieving and maintaining peace.”

• Unresolved Issues: Stalled diplomacy due to Russia’s territorial demands and Ukraine’s quest for security guarantees from the West.

• “Witkoff also says the US And Russia have agreed to re establish a military dialogue channel suspended following Russia’s full scale invasion in 2022, with Witkoff calling it crucial to achieving and maintaining peace.” — Charles Maynes [01:08]

3. Clintons Agree to Testify in Epstein Investigation

[01:32–02:29]

• Background: Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify for a Congressional probe into Jeffrey Epstein. There’s public argument over testimony format—public vs. videotaped depositions.

• Political Dispute: Hillary Clinton wants the testimonies public for transparency, accusing Republicans of turning “accountability into an exercise in distraction.” The House Oversight Committee, in turn, accuses the Clintons of “trying to spin the facts.”

• “Hillary Clinton lobbies for upcoming testimonies to be public instead of videotaped, arguing for transparency and claiming that despite the Clintons engaging in good faith with investigators, Republicans have, quote, ‘moved the goalposts and turned accountability into an exercise in distraction.’” — Elena Moore [02:08]

4. Minneapolis U.S. Attorney’s Office Resignations (ICE-Involved Shooting Fallout)

[02:29–03:11]

• Issue: Eight more staff resign after the DOJ’s controversial handling of a fatal police shooting by an ICE agent. Combined with last month’s departures, the office faces a drain of legal talent.

• Allegations: DOJ obstructed state investigation and pressured federal prosecutors to probe the widow of the victim, Renee Macklin Goode.

• “DOJ not only refused to let state police help investigate, they also pressured federal prosecutors here to investigate Goode’s widow.” — Matt Sepik [02:57]

5. Milan 2026 Winter Olympics & Super Bowl 60

[03:11–03:59]

• Italy hosts the 2026 Winter Olympics; athletes march in Milan’s San Siro Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.
• NFL’s Super Bowl 60 is set for Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in California, home to the 49ers; Patriots and Seahawks are in final preparation.

6. Obesity Drug Price War & Legal Challenge

[03:59–04:43]

• Issues at Stake: Telehealth company Hims launches a compounded, non-FDA-approved Wegovy pill at $49—a $100 discount compared to Novo Nordisk’s brand price.

• Industry Reaction: Novo Nordisk promises legal action, underscoring the tension and complexity in the rapidly changing obesity drug market.

• “Compounded drugs are made with the same active ingredients as brand name versions, but by specialized pharmacies and not drug companies. They’re not generics and haven’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.” — Sidney Lupkin [04:18]

7. Wall Street Market Summary

[04:43–04:52]

• Major stock indexes suffered sharp losses: the Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ each plummeted over 1% in yesterday’s trading.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Russia-Ukraine Prisoner Swap:
  "The most immediate outcome—the release of some 300 soldiers and another prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine."
  — Charles Maynes [00:58]

• On Heightened Political Tensions Over Testimony:
  "Republicans have, quote, ‘moved the goalposts and turned accountability into an exercise in distraction.’"
  — Hillary Clinton, read by Elena Moore [02:10]

Important Segment Timestamps

• US-Iran Nuclear Talks begin: [00:17]
• Russia-Ukraine Negotiations & Prisoner Exchange: [00:54]
• Clintons', Epstein Investigation Testimony: [01:32]
• Minneapolis Attorney Resignations: [02:29]
• Olympics & Super Bowl Preps: [03:11]
• Obesity Drug Price War: [03:59]
• Stock Market Drop Recap: [04:43]

This edition of NPR News Now provided listeners with a brisk and insightful roundup of international diplomacy, American politics, legal controversy, major sporting events, and shifts in the healthcare and financial sectors—all within five minutes.