NPR News: 02-16-2026 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 16, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Nora Ramm
Duration: ~5 minutes

---

Overview

This midday news update from NPR covers key national and international stories, including the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, shifting immigration enforcement in Minnesota, new allegations about the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, updates on diplomatic negotiations regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s nuclear program, changing chocolate prices, and market closures due to holidays.

---

Key Discussion Points

1. Department of Homeland Security Shutdown

[00:18–01:11]

• The DHS remains largely shut down after Congress fails to approve its budget, now entering a third day of closure.

• FEMA, a critical agency under DHS, is impacted—though it can still respond to emergencies, there are expected delays in reimbursements and in providing technical assistance/grant support for disaster preparedness.

• Quote:

  • “FEMA also provides funding to help jurisdictions with technical assistance on helping them write their plans or administer their grants... And so that funding is not part of this disaster relief fund and that funding would not be able to be used until they can come to a budget agreement.” — Diane Criswell, former FEMA Administrator [00:45]

• Congress is now recessed for a week, putting any resolution on hold.

---

2. Changes in Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota

[01:11–02:14]

• President Trump’s border adviser, Tom Homan, says that after a crackdown, most federal immigration agents are withdrawing from Minnesota.
• Over a thousand agents have already left, with several hundred to follow, leaving behind only a “small” force for specific investigations and to address any unrest.
• Homan hopes even this contingent can depart soon, though he did not specify its exact size.
• Quote:
  • “...an additional security force would stay to protect immigration agents, to respond when they get surrounded by agitators and things get out of control.” — Reported summary of Tom Homan’s remarks [01:54]
• Continuing concerns about protests disrupting church services and alleged fraud investigations.

---

3. New European Report: Navalny Was Poisoned

[02:14–03:12]

• A European report claims Alexei Navalny (died in Arctic prison, 2024) was poisoned with epibetidine, a rare toxin, found via conclusive analyses of his remains.
• The report implicates the Russian government as the only party with means, motive, and opportunity.
• The US acknowledges the European findings, but Russia, via spokesman Dmitry Peskov, dismisses the evidence as “biased and unfounded,” standing by its claim of natural causes.
• Quote:
  • “...analyses of samples from Navalny's remains conclusively showed traces of epibetidine, a toxin found in poisonous frogs in South America.” — Charles Maynes reporting [02:38]
• No criminal investigation from Russian authorities has been initiated.

---

4. Diplomatic Negotiations: Ukraine and Iran

[03:12–03:49]

• Ukrainian, Russian, and US negotiators are in Geneva for another round of peace talks as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches.
• Separately, the US and Iran are set to resume indirect talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
• Today saw a meeting between Iran’s top nuclear negotiator and the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

---

5. Chocolate Prices

[03:49–04:27]

• Chocolate prices in the US are up 14% year-on-year, despite a 50% drop in global cocoa prices due to improved weather in West Africa.
• Factors slowing relief for consumers:
  • Long-term corporate contracts delay price adjustments
  • Ongoing US tariffs on European chocolate
• Industry analysts foresee potential price stability or savings for consumers only by 2027.
• Quote:
  • “The bittersweet news: love for chocolate may be constant, but the market is volatile and between levies and climate change, prices could surge again.” — Amy Held [04:12]

---

6. Market and Economic Updates

[04:27–04:56]

• US stock markets are closed for President’s Day.
• Upcoming: Commerce Department to release Q4 GDP data; Walmart will release quarterly earnings.
• Asian market closures (Beijing, Seoul) for Lunar New Year.

---

Notable Quotes

• Diane Criswell on FEMA Funding:

  • “It also, you know, provides funding for mitigation projects. And so that funding is not part of this disaster relief fund and that funding would not be able to be used until they can come to a budget agreement.” [00:57]

• Charles Maynes reporting on Navalny:

  • “The report notes that only Russia's government had the means, motive and opportunity to administer the poison to Navalny while he was serving out a lengthy prison sentence...” [02:44]

• Amy Held on Chocolate Prices:

  • “The bittersweet news: love for chocolate may be constant, but the market is volatile and between levies and climate change, prices could surge again.” [04:12]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• DHS Shutdown/FEMA Funding – 00:18–01:11
• Minnesota Immigration Enforcement Changes – 01:11–02:14
• Navalny Poisoning Report – 02:14–03:12
• Ukraine-Russia and Iran Talks – 03:12–03:49
• Chocolate Prices Analysis – 03:49–04:27
• Market Closures and Reports – 04:27–04:56

---

This episode delivers a concise but thorough overview of urgent national security, foreign policy, and consumer economic issues as they stood at midday, February 16, 2026.

Transcript

[Capital One Advertiser]

This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card, earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. This is the third day that the Department of Homeland Security is largely shut down after Congress failed to approve its budget. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is affected. Diane Criswell was administrator under President Biden. She says FEMA will still be able to respond to emergencies, but there may be delays in reimbursing jurisdictions for recovery work and in helping them prepare for disasters.

[Diane Criswell]

FEMA also provides funding to help jurisdictions with technical assistance on helping them write their plans or administer their grants or giving them the grant funding. It also, you know, provides funding for mitigation projects. And so that funding is not part of this disaster relief fund and that funding would not be able to be used until they can come to a budget agreement.

[Nora Ramm]

Congress recessed for a week without making a deal. President Trump's border azar is reiterating that a small number of federal immigration enforcement agents will remain in Minnesota despite announcing an end to its recent crackdown. Tom Homan spoke to CBS's Face the Nation yesterday about the Trump administration's next steps. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports.

[Alina Selyuk]

Homan says more than a thousand immigration enforcement agents have already left and several hundred would be removed early in the week to get back to, quote, the original footprint exceptions. Beyond that footprint, he said, will include investigators who will stay to finish the probe into allegations of fraud, as well as the protests that had disrupted a church service. Plus, Homan said an additional security force would stay to protect immigration agents, to respond when they get surrounded by agitators and things get out of control. He did not specify the size of this force beyond saying small, and he said he hoped this contingent could also be removed fairly quickly. Alina Seluk, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ramm]

The Kremlin is rejecting a new European report that says Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was likely murdered by a rare poison. Navalny died two years ago in a remote prison in Russia's Arctic under mysterious circumstances. NPR's Charles Mains reports from Moscow.

[Charles Maynes]

Issued by the U.K. france, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, the report claims that analyses of samples from Navalny's remains conclusively showed traces of epibetidine, a toxin found in poisonous frogs in South America. The report notes that only Russia's government had the means, motive and opportunity to administer the poison to Navalny while he was serving out a lengthy prison sentence in Russia's Arctic. The US Says it has no reason to dispute those findings. Yet Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the European allegations as biased and unfounded. Russia's government has always maintained Navalny died by natural causes and declined to launch a criminal investigation into his death. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.

[Nora Ramm]

You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Ukrainian negotiators arrived in Geneva today for another round of talks on ending Russia's war a week before the fourth anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion. Russia and the US Will also attend the negotiations, which begin tomorrow. Also tomorrow in Geneva, the US And Iran resume indirect talks on Iran's nuclear program. The top negotiator for Iran met today with the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog. People are spending more for chocolate these days. NPR's Amy Held reports.

[Amy Held]

Chocolate prices are up some 14% compared to a year ago, even though the global price of cocoa is down around 50%. Weather conditions have improved in West Africa, the world's top cocoa producer. Companies like Hershey often have long term contracts and it can take a while to pass on savings. Then there are ongoing tariffs on European chocolates. The bittersweet news love for chocolate may be constant, but the market is volatile and between levies and climate change, prices could surge again. As of now, though, analysts say cost savings may reach consumers by 2027. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The stock market is closed today for the President's Day holiday. When trading resumes this week, investors will have some reports to consider. The Commerce Department is to release the fourth quarter numbers on the gross domestic product, the total monetary value of goods and services. Walmart is to report its quarterly earnings. Stock markets in Beijing and Seoul will be closed tomorrow for the lunar new Year. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Cachava Advertiser]

This message comes from Cachava. That wellness goal you set at the start of the year, it's not too late to stick with it and make your future self proud, especially with The all in One Nutrition Shake from Cachava with 25 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, greens, adaptogens and more. No fillers, no nonsense, just the highest quality ingredients. Stick with your wellness goals. Go to cachava.com and use code NPR for 15% off. That's K-C-H-A-V A.com code NPR.