NPR News Now – February 15, 2026, 12AM EST
Main Theme
This five-minute NPR News Now episode, hosted by Dale Willman, provides a rapid-fire roundup of major overnight headlines, covering the latest U.S. government shutdown, fresh international developments regarding Alexei Navalny’s death, a breakthrough NASA crewed mission, humanitarian updates from Sudan, controversy in Olympic curling, and a dramatic college basketball altercation.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Partial U.S. Government Shutdown
[00:19–01:11]
- For the third time in three months, the federal government faces a partial shutdown after Congress failed to pass a spending bill before the Department of Homeland Security’s deadline.
- Potential impact: TSA screening agents will not receive pay until funding is resolved, raising concerns over air travel disruptions.
- Notably, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will continue full operations due to surplus funds from an earlier funding bill.
Notable Quotes:
- Ron Elving (NPR):
"There's plenty of money on hand for ICE to continue operations even as other parts of the Department of Homeland Security have to shut down or cut back." [00:43] "This may be one reason he [Trump] liked it so much. So Democrats know this won't keep ICE from operating, but they hope it will call attention to the relationship between ICE and DHS and put more heat on the administration of the overall agency." [01:03]
2. European Statement on Navalny’s Poisoning
[01:11–02:12]
- Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands jointly conclude that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with epibatidine, a toxin from South American dart frogs.
- Russia maintains that Navalny died of natural causes in prison, but the European statement claims poisoning was “highly likely” and asserts Russia had both motive and means.
- Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnya, calls the findings a validation of her accusations against President Putin.
Notable Quotes:
- Rob Schmitz (NPR):
"Navalny was held in prison when he died, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer the poison to him," [01:46] "Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnya, told reporters at the Munich Security Conference that the finding is a validation of her longstanding assertion that Russian President Vladimir Putin was responsible for her husband's death." [02:04]
3. NASA’s Crew 12 Launch and ISS Docking
[02:12–03:14]
- NASA’s Crew 12 mission, comprised of two NASA astronauts, one French astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut, successfully docked at the International Space Station (ISS).
- The crew is set for an eight-month stint focusing on research to aid human exploration beyond Earth orbit and improving food production in space.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman mentions preparations are underway for the Artemis 2 mission—an upcoming lunar flyby.
Notable Moments:
- Space Station Audio:
"Dragon SpaceX on the big loop. Dragon contact and soft Capture complete." [02:31]
- Lydia Calitri (NPR):
"The mission replaces the crew from NASA's Crew 11 mission, which departed the ISS a month ahead of schedule in January due to a medical evacuation… During their eight month mission, the crew will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond Earth's orbit and enhance food production in space." [02:35]
4. Sudan Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur
[03:14–03:50]
- A UN report states that over 6,000 civilians were killed during three days of fighting in October in Darfur.
- The Rapid Support Forces, a Sudanese paramilitary group, are identified as the main perpetrators, with the violence targeting people based on ethnicity and involving war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
5. Olympic Curling Cheating Controversy
[03:50–04:33]
- In a preliminary Olympic curling match, the Canadian men’s team’s victory over Sweden was overshadowed by a heated dispute.
- The Swedes accused Canadians of illegally touching the stone post-release; a Canadian player responded with an expletive.
- No foul was called due to lack of official observation, which is rare due to curling’s code of sportsmanship.
- Officials issued a language warning and announced closer observation in future matches.
Notable Quotes:
- Ping Huang (NPR):
"Players throw a granite stone down the ice. They must release it before it crosses the hogline or it gets removed from play... Mark Kennedy on Team Canada responded with a expletive." [04:01]
"The controversy is unusual in curling, a sport that prides itself on good sportsmanship, in which players are supposed to call their own fouls." [04:17]
6. College Basketball Brawl: St. John’s vs. Providence
[04:33–04:58]
- Six players ejected after a fight during the game, which followed a hard foul by Duncan Powell of Providence.
- Several ejections were for players leaving the bench area, and the match was delayed for nearly 20 minutes as officials addressed the chaos.
Memorable Quotes and Speaker Attributions
- Ron Elving on ICE operations:
"Democrats know this won't keep ICE from operating, but they hope it will call attention to the relationship between ICE and DHS…" [01:03]
- Rob Schmitz on Navalny report:
"Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer the poison to him." [01:46]
- Ping Huang on curling controversy:
"The controversy is unusual in curling, a sport that prides itself on good sportsmanship, in which players are supposed to call their own fouls." [04:17]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Partial Government Shutdown/ICE Operations: 00:19–01:11
- Navalny Poisoning Report: 01:11–02:12
- NASA Crew 12 at ISS: 02:12–03:14
- Darfur UN Casualty Report: 03:14–03:50
- Olympic Curling Cheating Drama: 03:50–04:33
- College Basketball Altercation: 04:33–04:58
This brief but information-rich episode walks listeners through urgent U.S. government affairs, international human rights issues, scientific advancements in space, and drama from both the Olympics and college basketball—delivering the essential news at a rapid, accessible pace with the signature clarity and authority of NPR.