Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – February 15, 2026, 3AM EST

Host: Dale Willman | Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This concise news update covers the latest national and international developments, including a federal government shutdown in the U.S., findings on Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death, rising intelligence tensions between the U.S. and China, a severe winter storm heading to Northern California, and highlights from the Winter Olympics in Milan.

Key Stories & Insights

1. U.S. Government Partial Shutdown

[00:16 – 01:10]

Context: For the third time in three months, the U.S. federal government is experiencing a partial shutdown after Congress failed to agree on a spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) before the deadline.
Impacts:
- TSA agents, crucial for air travel, will not receive pay until funding is restored, potentially affecting airport operations.
ICE Operations:
- Reporter Ron Elving notes that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will maintain full operations due to a large surplus from a previous funding bill.
  - Quote:
    - “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.” — Ron Elving [00:42]
- The previously passed “one big beautiful bill” (as referred by Trump) provided this surplus.
- Democrats see this as an opportunity to highlight and critique the relationship between ICE and DHS, hoping to pressure the administration.
Congress Update: Congress is now recessed for the following week.

2. New Findings on Alexei Navalny’s Death

[01:10 – 02:11]

Study Findings:
- An international study by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, using smuggled samples from Navalny’s remains, concludes he was poisoned by epibatidine, a toxin derived from South American dart frogs and not found natively in Russia.
- Quote:
  - “The report says analyses conclusively confirm the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America, but not native to Russia itself.” — Charles Maynes [01:36]
Implications: The study asserts Russia’s government had the means, motive, and opportunity for the poisoning while Navalny was in prison.
Reaction:
- Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, reiterates that this confirms her long-held belief that his murder was ordered by the Russian state.
- The Kremlin maintains that he died of natural causes.

3. U.S.-China Intelligence Tensions Rise

[02:11 – 03:12]

CIA Recruitment Efforts:
- The CIA has released a new recruitment video in Chinese, targeting potential informants in China. The message accuses Chinese party officials of self-interest and encourages viewers to “help their own country” by working with the U.S.
- Quote:
  - “In the video, the CIA tries to persuade Chinese citizens that party officials only look out for their own interests, asking viewers if they are worried about corruption and want to help their own country.” — Emily Fang [02:26]
Background:
- The U.S. accuses China of extensive cyber operations and data collection via platforms like TikTok.
- U.S. intelligence’s insight into China has dwindled, with many prior CIA informants caught and executed since 2010 (per New York Times reporting).

4. Northern California Braces for Record Snow

[03:12 – 03:45]

Forecast:
- A cold weather system moving into Northern California is expected to bring up to a foot of snow in lower elevations, and 6 to 8 feet in the Sierra Nevadas.
Travel Warning:
- The National Weather Service alerts of potentially severe travel impacts during the holiday weekend.

5. Winter Olympics: U.S. Hockey & Historic Medals

[03:45 – 04:27]

U.S. Men’s Hockey Victory:
- The U.S. defeated Denmark 6-3 after trailing early, marking a second straight Olympic win.
- Key Player: Bridi Tkachuk with a goal and an assist.
- Advancement: The U.S. needs a win or tie against Germany to guarantee a quarterfinal berth.
- Quote:
  - “Early on, the heavily favored U.S. squad found itself behind. Denmark scored the first goal a minute 40 into the game… In the second period, though, the U.S. took over.” — Steve Futterman [03:45]
Speed Skating:
- Jordan Stoltz of Wisconsin wins his second gold, setting an Olympic record in the 500 meters. He remains in contention for more medals.
Historic First for South America:
- Brazil’s Lucas Pinero Braathan wins gold in giant slalom skiing—the first Winter Olympics medal for South America.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

On ICE’s funding resilience:
- “This may be one reason [Trump] liked it so much.” — Ron Elving [00:48]
Navalny poisoning investigation:
- “The report says Russia’s government had the means, motive and opportunity to [issue] the poison while Navalny was in prison.” — Charles Maynes [01:42]
U.S.-China intelligence efforts:
- “U.S. intelligence agencies have less insight into China now.” — Emily Fang [02:55]
Olympics record:
- “He finished first in the 500 meters with an Olympic record setting time.” — Dale Willman [04:29]
South America’s historic moment:
- “That’s the first medal in a winter game ever for South America.” — Dale Willman [04:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:16 – U.S. Government Shutdown & ICE funding
01:10 – Navalny poisoning report
02:11 – U.S.-China intelligence and CIA video
03:12 – California snowstorm warning
03:45 – U.S. Men’s Hockey win at Olympics
04:27 – Speed skating & historic South American medal

For the latest and most complete coverage, visit npr.org or tune in hourly.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:01]
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[00:16]
Dale Willman
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. For the third time in three months, the federal government is in a partial shutdown. Congress could not agree on a spending bill to continue funding for the Department of Homeland Security before a Friday night deadline. Air travel could be affected because TSA screening agents will not be paid until funding is restored. But NPR's Ron Elving says one part of DHS will remain in full force.
[00:42]
Ron Elving
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. That's because ICE got a huge war chest from the last big funding bill, the one Trump called the one big beautiful bill. This may be one reason he liked it so much. So 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.
[01:11]
Dale Willman
That's NPR's Ron Elving reporting. Congress, meanwhile, is in recess for the next week. The late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny likely died from poisoning by a rare frog toxin. That's according to a study by five European countries into his death in a remote Russian prison two years ago. NPR's Charles mainnes has more.
[01:32]
Charles Maynes
The findings were announced by the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands. And based on samples from Navalny's remains smuggled out of Russia. The report says analyses conclusively confirm the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America, but not native to Russia itself. The report says Russia's government had the means, motive and opportunity to issue the poison while Navalny was in prison. Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnyv, said the new findings confirm what she and her husband's supporters have always insisted. Navalny was murdered on order of Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin maintains the opposition leader died from natural causes. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.
[02:12]
Dale Willman
A tense security relationship between the US And China could be ratcheting up. The CIA has released a new video message in Chinese as part of ongoing U.S. intelligence efforts to recruit informants in China. NPR's Emily Fang reports.
[02:26]
Emily Fang
In the video, the CIA tries to persuade Chinese citizens that party officials only look out for their own interests, Asking viewers if they are worried about corruption and want to help their own country. It says working for the US Would ultimately benefit China. US Officials have repeatedly accused China of being behind numerous hacking operations against U.S. businesses and agencies and of collecting data on Americans through unorthodox ways, including through social media platform TikTok. But US intelligence agencies have less insight into China now. Many of the CIA's previous spies and informants were caught and executed starting in 2010, according to reporting from the New York Times. Emily Fang, NPR News.
[03:12]
Dale Willman
And you're listening to NPR News. A cold weather system heading into Northern California could bring a foot of snow to lower lying areas starting Sunday afternoon. And for those at higher elevations, including in the Sierra Nevadas, meteorologists say they could see from 6 to even 8ft of snow. The National Weather Service is warning of potentially major travel impacts during the holiday weekend in Italy. The US Men's hockey team has won a second straight game at the Winter Olympics. Steve Futterman has our details.
[03:45]
Steve Futterman
The American team got off to a slow start but came on strong after that to defeat Denmark 6 3. Early on, the heavily favored US squad found itself behind. Denmark scored the first goal a minute 40 into the game. Then after the Americans tied it, Denmark took a 2 to 1 lead midway through the first period. In the second period, though, the US Took over, scoring three straight goals, going on top four to two and led the rest of the way. Bridi Tkachuk led the Americans with a goal and an assist. The US Team next takes on Germany. A win or a tie in regulation in that game will guarantee the Americans advance to to the quarterfinals. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.
[04:27]
Dale Willman
Jordan Stoltz, meanwhile, won his second speed skating gold medal of the Milan Olympics on Saturday. He finished first in the 500 meters with an Olympic record setting time. The 21 year old from Wisconsin also won a gold in the 1000 meters and has two more individual events left to go. Brazil's Lucas Pinero Braathan, meanwhile, won the Olympic giants slalom. That's the first medal in a winter game ever for South America. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.
[04:55]
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