NPR News: 02-07-2026 10AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 7, 2026, 10AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston, NPR
Length: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise news update delivers the latest headlines from around the world, spanning politics, public health, technology, finance, weather, and sports. With reporting from correspondents and direct quotes from notable figures, the episode highlights significant societal developments both in the U.S. and internationally.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Controversy Over Racist Video Posted by President Trump

• [00:15] Host Windsor Johnston reports that President Trump refuses to apologize for sharing a racist deepfake video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes on Air Force One.
  • Trump expresses no regret, insisting on his support for Black Americans.
  • Quote:
    • "Nobody has been. And that's why I got a tremendous, the highest vote with male black voters that they've seen in many, many decades. I've done great with them. Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them. And I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time."
      — Donald Trump [00:37]
  • The White House initially defended the post before it was deleted.
  • The video sparked bipartisan condemnation, with backlash from civil rights groups and lawmakers.

2. Uvalde School Safety Funding Included in Federal Appropriations Bill

• [00:58] The federal budget allocates funds for school safety in Texas, targeting two districts, including Uvalde, site of the devastating 2022 mass shooting.
  • [01:31] Reporting by Camille Phillips explains that San Antonio will convert a closed school into a training site for emergency response.
  • Quote:
    • "When you talk about Uvalde, what comes to mind? Minutes matter, seconds matter, training matters. And we can't, we can't think. It's not going to happen to us."
      — Congressman Tony Gonzalez [01:42]
  • Both Uvalde ISD and Northeast ISD receive $4.2 million each for such improvements.

3. EU Finds TikTok in Breach for Addictive Design

• [02:11] The European Commission claims TikTok violates the Digital Services Act due to features inducing compulsive use, particularly among minors.
  • [02:23] John Ruich notes:
    • Infinite scroll, autoplay, and push notifications "fuel the urge to keep scrolling" and lead users—especially minors—into "autopilot mode," risking their mental and physical health.
    • TikTok denies the allegations, calling the findings "false and misleading" and plans to challenge them.
  • Quote:
    • "Features like TikTok's infinite scroll, autoplay, and push notifications are in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act. It says those and other design features, quote, fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into autopilot mode."
      — John Ruich [02:23]

4. Dow Jones Crosses Record 50,000 Mark

• [03:02] The Dow Industrial Average reaches a historic milestone, surpassing 50,000 for the first time.

5. Severe Winter Weather Forecast

• [03:02] A swift-moving winter storm is forecasted to bring heavy snow and cold temperatures to parts of the Great Lakes and Northeast, tracking from the Northern Plains to New England.

6. U.S. Skiers Struggle on First Day of 2026 Winter Olympics

• [03:02] U.S. athletes finish outside medal contention in both men's and women's events in Milan.
  • [03:47] Brian Mann reports:
    • Jess Diggins, a medal favorite, places more than two minutes behind gold medalist Frida Karlsson (Sweden) in her race, collapsing after the finish.
    • U.S. men's alpine racers are well off the podium; Kyle Negomir is best-placed, at tenth.
    • Hopes remain for upcoming events featuring Lindsey Vonn and Breezy Johnson.
  • Quote:
    • "Diggins collapsed in the snow after the final sprint. Her best shot at a medal comes next week in a shorter 10k race."
      — Brian Mann [03:47]

7. U.S. Measles Outbreak Grows to Decades-High

• [04:33] The largest U.S. measles outbreak in decades surges to 920 cases, with 40 new infections reported since Tuesday and 277 people in quarantine.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump on Racist Video Backlash:
  "Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them. And I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time." — Donald Trump [00:37]

• Rep. Tony Gonzalez on School Emergency Preparedness:
  "Minutes matter, seconds matter, training matters. And we can't, we can't think. It's not going to happen to us." — Tony Gonzalez [01:42]

• EU Charges TikTok With Addictive Design:
  "...fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into autopilot mode. That may lead to compulsive behavior and could harm the physical and mental well being of its users, including minors." — John Ruich [02:23]

• Olympic Setback for U.S. Skiers:
  "Diggins collapsed in the snow after the final sprint. Her best shot at a medal comes next week in a shorter 10k race." — Brian Mann [03:47]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump Video Controversy: 00:15 – 00:58
• Uvalde School Safety Funding: 00:58 – 02:11
• TikTok EU Ruling: 02:11 – 03:02
• Wall Street Milestone: 03:02
• Winter Storm Warning: 03:02
• Winter Olympics Update: 03:02 – 04:33
• Measles Outbreak: 04:33 – 04:54

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This roundup delivers a punchy, informative slice of the world’s top stories, with clear attribution and firsthand commentary for listeners to stay up-to-date in just five minutes.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says he won't apologize for posting a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday night. Trump told reporters that he didn't make a mistake and said he's been supportive of black Americans.

[Donald Trump]

Nobody has been. And that's why I got a tremendous, the highest vote with male black voters that they've seen in many, many decades. I've done great with them. Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them. Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them. And I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump says he didn't see the entire video. The White House initially defended the post. It was deleted. The video drew widespread backlash, including from civil rights groups and lawmakers from both parties. The federal appropriations bill passed by Congress includes funding for school safety enhancements at two South Texas school districts, including Uvalde. Texas Public Radio's Camille Phillips reports that's where 19 children and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting in 2022.

[Tony Gonzalez]

Standing outside a recently closed elementary school in San Antonio, Republic Congressman Tony Gonzalez says every school district in America should have a space to train for emergencies.

When you talk about Uvalde, what comes to mind? Minutes matter, seconds matter, training matters. And we can't, we can't think. It's not going to happen to us.

Gonzalez secured $4.2 million each for both Uvalde and Northeast ISD in San Antonio. The San Antonio school district is using the money to convert the closed school into a space where police and other staff can practice scenarios like responding to a shooting. I'm Camille Phillips in San Antonio.

[Windsor Johnston]

An official investigation has found that TikTok is violating a European Union law because it's so addictive. NPR's John Ruich reports. The app may have to make some changes or face a fine.

[John Ruich]

The European Commission, which is the executive arm of the EU, says features like TikTok's infinite scroll, autoplay and push notifications are in breach of the EU's Digital Services Act. It says those and other design features, quote, fuel the urge to keep scrolling and shift the brain of users into autopilot mode. That may lead to compulsive behavior and could harm the physical and mental well being of its users, including minors. It says TikTok disregarded important indicators of compulsive use and failed to implement reasonable, proportionate and effective measures to mitigate risks. TikTok says in a statement the findings are false and misleading, and it'll challenge them. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Wall street ended the week hitting a major milestone. For the first time ever, the dow crossed the 50,000 mark. You're listening to N. Washington. A fast moving winter storm is expected to bring more snow and bitter cold to parts of the Great Lakes and the Northeast today. Forecasters say the system will move from the Northern Plains into the Great Lakes before tracking into New England. It's been a tough first day for US Skiers in the Italian Alps as competition at the Winter Olympics gets underway in men's downhill racing and a women's cross country ski race, U.S. athletes finished out of medal range. NPR's Brian Mann reports from Milan.

[Brian Mann]

U.S. cross country skier Jesse Dickens is a big medal favorite at these Olympics, but In her first 20 kilometer outing, she finished more than two minutes behind Sweden's Frida Karlsson, who captured gold in a dominant performance. Diggins collapsed in the snow after the final sprint. Her best shot at a medal comes next week in a shorter 10k race in the downhill. US men's alpine racers Bryce Bennett and Ryan Cochran Siegel also finished well off the podium, with the medals going to skiers from Switzerland and Italy. The top U.S. finisher, Kyle Negomir, finished 10th place. The U.S. goes at it again tomorrow when Lindsey Vonn and Breezy Johnson ski the downhill in Cortina. Johnson finished first and Vaughn in third place in their training runs today. Brian Mann, NPR News, Milan, South Carolina's.

[Windsor Johnston]

Measles outbreak is growing and now stands at 920 cases, the largest outbreak the U.S. has seen in decades. Public health officials report 40 new cases since Tuesday, and 277 people are currently in quarantine. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.

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