NPR News: 02-07-2026 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 7, 2026, 5AM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston (NPR News Anchor)
Episode Theme:
A concise, five-minute update on major national news stories, covering recent political controversies, infrastructure funding battles, military actions abroad, environmental policy shifts, a significant public health crisis, and industry news.

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Main Topics Covered

1. President Trump Faces Bipartisan Backlash for Racist Video Post

• Overview:

  • President Trump posted a video on Truth Social depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates.
  • The video attracted strong criticism across party lines.

• Key Voices & Reactions:

  • Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA):
    • Expressed lack of surprise, directly calling Trump a racist.

      "This is who he is. We know who he is, and he's a racist. He's been one from way back when he worked with his father when they excluded people of color from being able to lease their apartments."
      (00:40)

  • Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC):
    • Only Black Republican in the Senate, called the video "the most racist thing that he’s seen out of this White House."
  • Trump’s Response:
    • Refused to apologize, claimed he didn't see the entire video, administration deleted the post after initial defense.

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2. Federal Judge Orders Release of Funds for Gateway Tunnel Project

• Story Summary:
  • Work halted on this major Amtrak infrastructure project after funding was cut.
  • Judge Jeanette Vargas ordered the White House to release funds following arguments of irreparable harm for New Jersey.
• Key Details:
  • Sen. Cory Booker argued the president lacked authority to withhold funds.
  • NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill accused Pres. Trump of "moving the goalposts."
  • Speculation about Trump’s motives:
    • Unnamed commentator referenced rumors:

      "I've heard it's because he once stole his airport named after him. I've heard it's because he wants Penn Station named after him."
      (01:58)

  • White House Response: Funds withheld to ensure they are not used for DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives.

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3. U.S. Southern Command Strike on Suspected Drug Smugglers

• Incident:
  • U.S. Southern Command struck a boat in the eastern Pacific, suspected of carrying drugs; two people were killed.
  • Video from the strike was posted on social media, cargo blacked out.
• Broader Context:
  • At least 128 suspected smugglers killed by U.S. military in the Pacific/Caribbean since September, including some left to drown after shipwreck.
  • Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Claim: Drug cartels have ceased all narcotics operations due to these tactics—NPR notes no evidence supports this.
  • NPR’s Reporting: Cocaine seizures at US-Mexico border up 34% over the previous year.
  • Quote (Quill Lawrence):

    "The US military has now killed at least 128 people suspected of smuggling drugs in the Pacific and Caribbean since September, including shipwrecked survivors who were killed or left to drown."
    (02:28)

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4. President Reopens Atlantic Ocean to Commercial Fishing

• Policy Change:
  • Trump issued order reopening nearly 5,000 square miles of protected Atlantic sea for commercial fishing—originally protected under Obama, later restored by Biden after Trump’s previous rollback.

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5. South Carolina Measles Outbreak Surpasses 900 Cases

• Public Health Crisis:
  • Largest U.S. measles outbreak in decades, over 900 reported cases as of this airing.
  • Recent increase (44 new cases since Tuesday), 277 quarantined.
• Response:
  • Officials cite increased vaccinations, particularly in Spartanburg County (outbreak epicenter).
  • Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist:

    "I'm hoping that what we can attribute that to is a wider recognition of the threat of this disease circulating in our communities and the desire for people to be protected against the complications."
    (04:22)

  • 19 hospitalizations with serious complications (brain swelling, pneumonia).

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6. Pizza Hut to Close 250 U.S. Restaurants

• Business Story:
  • Pizza Hut’s parent, Yum Brands, will close 250 underperforming US locations in the first half of 2026.
  • Company is considering selling the Pizza Hut chain.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Rep. Maxine Waters (00:40): "This is who he is. We know who he is, and he's a racist."
• Unnamed Commentator (01:58): "I've heard it's because he once stole his airport named after him. I've heard it's because he wants Penn Station named after him."
• Quill Lawrence/NPR (02:28): "The US military has now killed at least 128 people suspected of smuggling drugs in the Pacific and Caribbean since September, including shipwrecked survivors who were killed or left to drown."
• Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist (04:22): "I'm hoping that what we can attribute that to is a wider recognition of the threat of this disease circulating in our communities and the desire for people to be protected against the complications..."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:17 - 01:31: Trump video controversy & bipartisan backlash
• 01:32 - 02:16: Gateway Tunnel project funding dispute
• 02:16 - 03:11: Military strike on suspected drug boat; cartel claims
• 03:11 - 03:55: Atlantic Ocean reopened for commercial fishing; environmental policy
• 03:55 - 04:40: South Carolina measles outbreak and vaccination efforts
• 04:40 - 04:57: Pizza Hut’s planned restaurant closures

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Episode Tone

The reporting is direct, factual, and brisk, with news highlights delivered in a neutral, informative tone typical of NPR’s straight news bulletins. The urgency and seriousness of the topics are underscored by the pacing and selection of focus areas, particularly public health and government controversies.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump is facing bipartisan backlash after posting a video on social media depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Ob as primates. Speaking to ABC News, Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters said she's not shocked by the post on Truth Social.

[Maxine Waters]

This is who he is. We know who he is, and he's a racist. He's been one from way back when he worked with his father when they excluded people of color from being able to lease their apartments.

[NPR News Anchor]

Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, called the video the most racist thing that he's seen out of this White House. Trump told reporters Friday he would not apologize, saying he didn't make a mistake. He also said he didn't see the entire video. The administration initially defended the post before it was later deleted. A federal judge in New York is ordering the White House to release funds for one of the nation's largest infrastructure projects. Work on the Gateway Tunnel project on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor came to a stop after money ran out this week. Steve Kastenbaum reports.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

Judge Jeanette Vargas sided with a lawyer for the state of New Jersey who argued they'd suffer irreparable harm if left with a giant abandoned hole in the ground. Earlier in the day, Senator Cory Booker claimed that the president didn't have the authority to halt funding. This is a bipartisan project in which.

[Maxine Waters]

Congress moved the funding for this project.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill accused President Trump of continually moving the goalposts.

[Unidentified Commentator]

I've heard it's because he once stole his airport named after him. I've heard it's because he wants Penn Station named after him.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

White House officials said the funding was stopped to ensure that the money was not used for DEI principles. For NPR News, I'm Steve Kastenbaum in New York.

[NPR News Anchor]

U.S. southern Command has carried out another deadly strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific suspected of carrying narcotics. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports to People aboard were killed.

[Quill Lawrence]

Southcom posted a grainy video on social media showing a small boat that explodes into flames. The video is edited so the boat's cargo is blacked out. The US military has now killed at least 128 people suspected of smuggling drugs in the Pacific and Caribbean since September, including shipwrecked survivors who were killed or left to drown. This week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claimed without evidence that top cartel drug traffickers have decided to cease all narcotics operations due to this tactic. But NPR has reported that during the last three months of 2025, cocaine seizures at the U S. Mexican border were up 34% from the previous year, according to U.S. customs and Border Protection data. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump has issued an order that reopens a large section of the Atlantic Ocean to commercial fishing. The order affects a nearly 5,000square mile preserve east of Cape that was created by former President Barack Obama. Trump rolled back protections in the area during his first term in office, and former President Joe Biden later restored them. South Carolina's measles outbreak has surpassed 900 cases, the largest outbreak the U.S. has seen in decades. NPR's Maria Godoy reports. Public health officials say they've seen an encouraging rise in vaccinations in the state.

[Maria Godoy]

Public health officials on Friday reported 44 new measles cases since Tuesday. 277 people are currently in quarantine. Health officials stressed that vaccination is the best way to protect against measles and will be key to ending this outbreak. State epidemiologist Linda Bell told reporters this week vaccinations were up dramatically in January compared to last year in Spartanburg county, which is the epicenter of the outbreak.

[Linda Bell]

I'm hoping that what we can attribute that to is a wider recognition of the threat of this disease circulating in our communities and the desire for people to be protected against the complications, she said.

[Maria Godoy]

At least 19 people have been hospitalized with complications, including brain swelling and pneumonia. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Pizza Hut is Planning to close 250 US restaurants in the first half of this year. Its parent company, Yum Brand, says it's targeting underperforming locations as it considers selling the chain. This is NPR News.

[Capital One/Midi Health Announcer]

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