NPR News Now – February 15, 2026, 11PM EST

Host: Dale Willman, NPR

Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of the latest national and international developments, with particular focus on U.S.-EU relations, Minnesota’s economic fallout post-ICE operations, Virginia’s redistricting battle, Olympic speed skating triumphs, and the latest Film Independent Spirit Awards. The update also teases ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and the U.S.

Key Topics & Insights

1. U.S.-EU Relations: Secretary of State Rubio in Slovakia

Timestamps: [00:17]–[01:02]

• Setting: Secretary of State Mark Rubio visited Slovakia, addressing concerns about U.S.-Europe dynamics.
• Rubio’s Message: Rubio dismissed reports of European unease about decreasing dependence on the United States.
  • Emphasized partnership and alliance over dominance.
  • Urged for a stronger, more independent Europe, both as individual states and as a coalition.
• Quote (Rubio, 00:31):
  • “We never—we don't want Europe to be dependent on—we're not asking Europe to be a vassal of the United States. We want to be your partner. … The stronger you are … the stronger NATO is.”

Memorable Moment: Rubio’s clear stance that the U.S. seeks cooperation, not subservience, in transatlantic relations.

2. Aftermath of ICE Operations in Minnesota

Timestamps: [01:02]–[02:08]

• Overview: ICE agents are departing Minnesota after aggressive crackdowns.
• Economic Impact: Minneapolis has sustained more than $200 million in losses, including wages and hotel cancellations.
  • Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis ([01:22]): “The operations have cost the city more than $200 million, including lost WA and hotel cancellations.”
• Community Voices:
  • Khalid Abdi, small business owner ([01:36]):
    • “The damage caused by this operation has been staggering.”
    • Predicts slow recovery: “Customers will start going back to work. It might take a couple months after they leave because people have to get back to their financial being stable.” ([01:48])
• Political Fallout: Backlash from both parties after two U.S. citizens were killed by ICE agents last month.

3. Virginia Ballot Measure and Redistricting

Timestamps: [02:08]–[03:12]

• Democratic Strategy: Democrats will heavily fund a ballot measure that could let them redraw Virginia’s congressional map.
• Background: The move is seen as a counterweight to recent GOP-led redistricting in several states, allegedly at the behest of President Trump.
• Legal Context: The Virginia Supreme Court granted approval for the ballot measure.
• Quote (Hakeem Jeffries, 02:46):
  • “We will spend tens of millions of dollars to make sure that the Republicans do not successfully manipulate voters in Virginia and that voters have all of the information necessary to make a decision.”
• Election Date: Special election scheduled for April.

4. Winter Olympics: Speed Skating Records Shattered

Timestamps: [03:12]–[04:07]

• Headline: Sixth world record broken in long track speed skating at these Games.
• Highlights:
  • Femke Kok of the Netherlands set a new Olympic record in the women’s 500m sprint: 36.49 seconds ([03:22]).
  • Dutch teammate Juta Leerdam took silver; Miho Takagi of Japan took bronze.
  • Erin Jackson (USA) finished just five hundredths of a second off the podium after a stumble.
• Quote (Ping Huang, 03:22):
  • “It's becoming the norm for speed skaters to blast through previous Olympics Olympic records. Sunday was no different in the women's 500 meter sprint. Going last in the event, sprinter Femke Kok clocked the distance in 36.49 seconds, beating the previous Olympic record by nearly half a second.”

5. Film Independent Spirit Awards Winners

Timestamps: [04:07]–[04:56]

• Top Honors:
  • Best Film: “Train Dreams” (Netflix)
  • Best Director: Clint Bentley, “Train Dreams”
  • TV Sweep: Netflix’s “Adolescence”
  • Lead Acting Prize: Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You”
  • International Feature: “The Secret Agent”
• No direct quotes; rapid-fire presentation of results.

6. Iran-U.S. Indirect Talks Resume

Timestamps: [04:56]–[End]

• Diplomatic Context: Iran’s top diplomat is headed to Geneva for a new round of indirect talks with the U.S.
• Mediation: Oman mediates, Swiss officials involved.
• Contentious Topics:
  • Iran’s nuclear program
  • Ongoing crackdown on protests in Iran

Notable Quotes

• Mark Rubio (00:31):
  “We want to be your partner. We want to work with Europe. We want to work with our allies.”
• Jacob Frey (01:22):
  “The operations have cost the city more than $200 million...”
• Khalid Abdi (01:36):
  “The damage caused by this operation has been staggering.”
• Hakeem Jeffries (02:46):
  “We will spend tens of millions of dollars to make sure that the Republicans do not successfully manipulate voters in Virginia...”
• Ping Huang (03:22):
  “It's becoming the norm for speed skaters to blast through previous Olympics Olympic records.”

Episode Flow & Tone

• Style: Fast-paced, informative, and factual, with NPR’s signature balanced reporting.
• Language: Direct, with emphasis on both official statements and on-the-ground perspectives.
• Purpose: To summarize major unfolding events efficiently for listeners seeking an up-to-date briefing.

For further coverage, visit NPR.org or tune in to the next hourly update.