NPR News Now – February 14, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Nora Ram, NPR
Episode Theme: Key political and international developments, protests abroad, U.S. redistricting battles, and recent U.S.-Venezuela relations—all recapped in five minutes.

Main Themes

• U.S. lawmakers seek to reassure allies at the Munich Security Conference amid shifting global alliances.
• Mass protests in Munich over Iran’s crackdown; calls for international support.
• Contentious U.S. redistricting disputes ahead of the midterms reach the Supreme Court.
• Confirmation of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny’s poisoning and ongoing tensions.
• Major developments in U.S. policy towards Venezuela and the military’s role.
• Department of Homeland Security shutdown after Congressional budget disagreements.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Munich Security Conference & U.S. Global Standing

[00:14–01:09]

• Several Democratic lawmakers attend the Munich Security Conference, aiming to reassure European leaders about future U.S. reliability.
• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply criticizes former President Trump’s foreign policy:
  • Quote (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 00:49):
    “Can command the Western Hemisphere and Latin America as his personal sandbox, where Putin can saber rattle around Europe and for essentially authoritarians to have their own geographic domains.”
• Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats present themselves as offering “a different way forward.”

2. Iran Protests & International Response

[01:09–02:01]

• Outside the conference, hundreds of thousands protest Iran’s deadly suppression of demonstrations.
• Reza Pahlavi—the exiled son of Iran’s last shah—calls for global pressure on Tehran:
  • Quote (Reza Pahlavi, 01:37):
    “The Iranian people are in full revolt and the regime is at the weakest it's ever been... The only question is at what price do the Iranian people can regain their freedom.”
• He urges for more protests in the diaspora, notably in Los Angeles and Toronto.

3. U.S. Redistricting Battles Ramp Up Before Midterms

[02:01–03:10]

• Republican officials in New York, including Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, ask the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a new Democratic-friendly congressional map.
• A state judge found the existing map diluted Black and Latino voting power.
  • NPR’s Hansi Lo Wang notes the new map could give Democrats an edge and is part of a wider national battle over district maps.
• Other states face similar disputes, notably Utah and Virginia.

4. Navalny’s Death Officially Attributed to Poisoning

[03:10–03:32]

• Five European countries release test results confirming that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned and died in a penal colony.
• The statement claims Russia had the “means, motive and opportunity” to commit the crime; Russia denies responsibility.

5. U.S.–Venezuela Relations Transform After Military Intervention

[03:32–04:33]

• President Trump to pay official visit to Venezuela, expressing strong support for interim President Delsey Rodriguez after U.S. forces ousted Nicolas Maduro.
• Trump previously visited the troops at Fort Bragg, praising their military might:
  • Quote (President Trump, via Carrie Kahn, 03:53):
    “The entire world saw what the full military might of the US can do and ensured... we are feared by potential enemies around the world.”
• The U.S. and Venezuelan diplomatic ties only just resumed after this intervention.

6. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Shutdown

[04:33–04:53]

• DHS shuts down after Congress fails to pass its budget.
• The impasse centers on Democratic efforts to reform immigration enforcement following fatal incidents involving DHS officers.

Notable Quotes

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [00:49]:
  “Can command the Western Hemisphere and Latin America as his personal sandbox, where Putin can saber rattle around Europe and for essentially authoritarians to have their own geographic domains.”
• Reza Pahlavi [01:37]:
  “The Iranian people are in full revolt and the regime is at the weakest it's ever been. It's on the verge of collapse. It's a matter of time before this regime goes… The only question is at what price do the Iranian people can regain their freedom.”
• President Trump (reported by Carrie Kahn) [03:53]:
  “The entire world saw what the full military might of the US can do and ensured, quote, was we are feared by potential enemies around the world.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:14 – Munich Security Conference; U.S. delegation and criticism of Trump’s foreign policy
• 01:09 – Iran protest coverage; Reza Pahlavi’s comments
• 02:01 – New York redistricting battle and court challenges
• 03:10 – Confirmation of Navalny’s poisoning by European countries
• 03:32 – U.S.–Venezuela post-intervention relations; Trump’s visit
• 04:33 – Department of Homeland Security’s shutdown over budget disagreements

This NPR News Now episode offers a concise yet impactful briefing of the day’s top national and international stories, with firsthand quotes and expert reporting. Listeners get a snapshot of America’s evolving role abroad, major political disputes at home, and significant developments in global human rights and democracy movements—all within five minutes.