NPR News: 02-16-2026 12AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — 02-16-2026 12AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Date: February 16, 2026

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now update delivers key headlines from around the world in under five minutes. Major stories include the ongoing search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, diplomatic maneuvers around Ukraine, former President Obama’s response to Trump’s controversial social media activity, severe weather across the US, developments in West Bank land registration, the US Men's Hockey Team’s Winter Olympics success, and box office highlights led by a new adaptation of “Wuthering Heights.”

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Update on Nancy Guthrie Disappearance

[00:18 – 00:48]

• Savannah Guthrie’s Plea: “In it, she said her family still has hope for their mother, Nancy, who disappeared from her home two weeks ago. And Guth urged anyone with information about her mother to do the right thing.” – Dale Willman [00:18]
• Investigation Update: Police discovered a glove near Nancy Guthrie’s home matching those seen on a masked individual. The glove is currently undergoing DNA testing.

2. Slovakia's Pitch for Ukraine Peace Talks

[00:48 – 01:57]

• Diplomatic Developments: Slovakia, via Prime Minister Robert Fico, offered to host Ukraine peace negotiations, positioning itself diplomatically despite a pro-Russia tilt.
• International Perspective: “Fizzo praised Rubio’s boss, President Trump, as a, quote, very pragmatic and rational leader, once again dismissing reports that he told some EU leaders that he was worried about Trump’s mental state during a visit in Florida last month.” – Michel Kellerman [01:34]
• US Diplomacy: Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled positive interest during his visit.

3. Obama Responds to Trump’s Racist Video

[01:57 – 02:43]

• Criticism of Political Climate:
  • “There’s, quote, this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television. He also said many Americans find this behavior deeply troubling.” – Chandelyse Duster, summarizing Obama [02:08]
  • “What is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office, Right? So that’s been lost…” – Brian Tyler Cohen, echoing Obama’s sentiment [02:21]
• Hopeful Note: Obama referenced Americans’ desire to stay true to national values, particularly during controversies about immigration.

4. Severe Weather in California and the Southeast

[02:55 – 03:17]

• California: Facing a winter storm with thunderstorms, damaging winds, and heavy northern snowfall.
• Louisiana: Southeast storm brought tornado watches, power outages, and infrastructure damage: “High winds toppled power poles and damaged an airport jet bridge.” – Dale Willman [03:05]

5. Israeli Land Policy Shifts in West Bank

[03:17 – 03:35]

• Land Registration Policy: Israel initiates a land registration process in the occupied West Bank, enabling authorities to reclassify land as state property—a move criticized for possibly leading to large appropriations.

6. US Men’s Hockey Team at the Winter Olympics

[03:49 – 04:29]

• Dominant Victory: The US remains undefeated after a 5-1 win against Germany, with Auston Matthews scoring two goals.
• Upcoming Matchups: US advances to quarterfinals and will face Sweden or Latvia.
• Canadian Team Update: Canada continues to dominate, outscoring opponents 20-3 across three games.
• Quote: “The US never trailed, scoring once in the first period, two more times in the second… Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs led the US with two goals.” – Steve Futterman [03:49]

7. “Wuthering Heights” Box Office Triumph

[04:29 – 04:57]

• Strong Opening Weekend: Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” debuted at number one, with 76% of its audience being women.
• Box Office Numbers: $34.8M for “Wuthering Heights,” $26M for “Goat,” and $15.1M for “Crime 101.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Decorum:
  • Brian Tyler Cohen [02:21]:

    “What is true is that there doesn’t seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office, Right? So that’s been lost...”

• On Ongoing Hope:
  • Dale Willman [00:18]:

    “Guthrie posted a new message to Instagram Sunday. In it, she said her family still has hope for their mother, Nancy…”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Update: [00:18 – 00:48]
• Ukraine Diplomacy & Slovakia's Role: [00:48 – 01:57]
• Obama on Trump’s Racist Video/Political Decorum: [01:57 – 02:43]
• Severe Weather (California/Southeast): [02:55 – 03:17]
• Israel West Bank Land Registration: [03:17 – 03:35]
• US Men’s Olympic Hockey Update: [03:49 – 04:29]
• Box Office Recap: [04:29 – 04:57]

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This episode concisely delivers core updates on urgent news, global events, North American weather, sports, and cultural highlights in NPR’s signature straightforward tone. Ideal for listeners seeking the latest facts with efficient context.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. TODAY show anchor Savannah Guthrie posted a new message to Instagram Sunday. In it, she said her family still has hope for their mother, Nancy, who disappeared from her home two weeks ago. And Guth urged anyone with information about her mother to do the right thing.

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Whoever has her or knows where she.

[Dale Willman]

Is.

[Chandelyse Duster]

That.

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It'S never too late.

[Dale Willman]

Police, meanwhile, say a glove found about two miles from Nancy Guthrie's home appears to match those worn by a masked person outside her door the day she disappeared. The glove is being tested for DNA. Slovakia is pitching itself as a place for diplomacy on Ukraine, as NPR's Michel Kellerman reports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded interested in the idea as he visited the country, which leans toward Russia.

[Michel Kellerman]

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico says he's ready to host any future peace negotiations. He blamed Europe for prolonging the war by supplying weapons to Ukraine and did not criticize Russia at all during his news conference with Secretary of State Rubio, who thanked him for his insights on Ukraine.

[Steve Futterman]

Something that we care about, but it is something you live next door to.

[Michel Kellerman]

Fizzo praised Rubio's boss, President Trump, as a, quote, very pragmatic and rational leader, once again dismissing reports that he told some EU leaders that he was worried about Trump's mental state during a visit in Florida last month. Rubio is now in Hungary to meet another pro Trump leader, Viktor Orban. Michelle Keleman, NPR News, Budapest.

[Dale Willman]

Former President Barack Obama this weekend addressed the racist video that President Trump posted on a social media account earlier this month. NPR's Chandelyse Duster has more on that story.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Former President Obama told progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen there's, quote, this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television. He also said many Americans find this behavior deeply troubling.

[Brian Tyler Cohen]

What is true is that there doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office, Right? So that's been lost on the immigration.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Crackdown and protests in Minnesota and elsewhere. Obama said there is a good number of American people saying in response, quote, we're going to live up to those values that we say we believe in Chandelyse Duster, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

A winter storm is hitting much of California at this hour, bringing thunderstorms and damaging winds to some areas and heavy snowfall in the northern part of the state. In the southeastern U.S. meanwhile, another storm system brought tornado watches and some damage. In Louisiana, high winds toppled power poles and damaged an airport jet bridge. This is NPR News. Israel is beginning a land registration process in the occupied West Bank. On Sunday, the country's cabinet approved a decision to restart the long frozen process. That means Israeli authorities can declare an area of land up for registration. Critics say the move could shift large areas into state control. The US Men's hockey team remains undefeated at the Winter Olympics with a 5 to 1 victory on Sunday. It was the team's third straight win. Steve Futterman reports from Milan.

[Steve Futterman]

It was another easy win for the American men, this time against Germany. The US Never trailed, scoring once in the first period, two more times in the second. The Americans made it five to nothing in the third before Germany was able to get on the scoreboard. Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs led the U.S. with two goals. The U.S. now advances to the quarterfinals. The Americans will next play either Sweden or Latvia. The team to beat here still appears to be the Canadian squad, and it won its third game, beating France 10 to 2. In its three games, the Canadians have outscored their opponents 20 to 3. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.

[Dale Willman]

The release of Emerald Fennell's new movie Wuthering Heights brought women out to movie theaters this weekend. Post track says 76% of ticket buyers were women. The movie landed in the number one spot, bringing in $34.8 million in ticket sales across North American theaters. The animated basketball film goat came in second with 26 million dol and crime 101 landed in third with $15.1 million in sales. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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