NPR News: 02-16-2026 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 02-16-2026 3AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Date: February 16, 2026
Episode Theme:
A roundup of the latest headlines from around the world, touching on missing persons, diplomatic efforts in Europe, political discourse in the US, developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a historic Olympic win for Brazil, and weekend box office results.

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1. Savannah Guthrie’s Plea for Missing Mother

[00:16] – [01:09]

• Story: Savannah Guthrie, TODAY Show host, made a fresh public appeal for information about her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for two weeks.
• Details:
  • In a video posted to Instagram, Savannah says, “It's never too late, and you're not lost or alone, and it is never too late to do the right thing.”
    — Savannah Guthrie, quoted by Dale Willman [00:33]
  • Police have found a glove two miles from Nancy’s home, believed possibly linked to a person seen there before her disappearance.

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2. Slovakia Offers Itself for Ukraine-Russia Diplomacy

[01:09] – [01:53]

• Story: Slovakia, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, is positioning itself as a venue for possible Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
• Key Points:
  • Fico blames Europe for prolonging war by arming Ukraine.
  • He avoids any criticism of Russia during a joint conference with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “It is something that we care about, but it is something you live next door to.”
    — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, [01:27]
  • Fico commends President Trump as “very pragmatic and rational,” denying rumors he raised concerns about Trump’s mental state.
• Further Action: Rubio is headed to Hungary to meet Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another leader aligned with Trump’s policies.

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3. Obama Responds to Trump’s Racist Social Media Post

[01:53] – [02:51]

• Story: Former President Barack Obama publicly addresses a racist video posted by President Trump earlier in the month.
• Interview: Obama speaks with progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen, weighing in on the changing tone of American public discourse.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “There’s, quote, this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television.”
    — Barack Obama, reported by Shondalyse Duster [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.”
    — Barack Obama, [02:16]
• Context: Obama highlights that many Americans remain committed to upholding national values, especially amid immigration crackdowns and protests.

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4. Israel’s New West Bank Land Policy

[02:51] – [03:36]

• Story: The Israeli cabinet approved restarting land registration in the occupied West Bank, giving authorities formal control over new tracts.
• Criticism:
  • Detractors argue this is a significant land grab at the expense of Palestinians.
  • It’s viewed as further deepening Israeli control over the region.

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5. Brazil Wins First Winter Olympics Gold

[03:36] – [04:27]

• Story: Brazil celebrates its first-ever Winter Olympics medal—a gold—won by skier Lucas Pinero Brasin.
• Highlights:
  • Lucas, who only recently switched his Olympic affiliation from Norway to Brazil, dedicated his win to his mother’s homeland.
  • On the medal podium, he performed a samba-inspired dance.
• Quotes & Context:
  • Brazil’s president: “An inspiration. [The win] widens the horizon for Brazilian sport.”
    — [03:57]
  • “Many are celebrating Brazil’s ocar del ski, its ‘skiing dude.’”
    — Carrie Khan, [04:18]
• Atmosphere: Despite Carnival and summer temperatures back home, the country is jubilant over its unlikely Winter Games triumph.

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6. Weekend Box Office Results

[04:27] – [04:54]

• Highlights:
  • Wuthering Heights led with $34.8 million, fueled largely by women moviegoers (76% of ticket buyers).
  • Goat, an animated basketball movie, took second with $26 million.
  • Crime 101 debuted in third, earning $15.1 million.
• Cultural Note: Valentine’s Day contributed to strong box office performance, especially for romantic films.

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Memorable Quotes, Attributed with Timestamps

• Savannah Guthrie:
  “It’s never too late, and you’re not lost or alone, and it is never too late to do the right thing.” [00:33]
• Sec. Marco Rubio:
  “It is something that we care about, but it is something you live next door to.” [01:27]
• Barack Obama:
  “There’s, quote, this sort of clown show that’s happening in social media and on television.” [02:08] “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.” [02:16]
• Carrie Khan (on Brazil's Olympic joy):
  “Many are celebrating Brazil’s ocar del ski, its ‘skiing dude.’” [04:18]

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For listeners: This episode covers a fast-moving, varied set of headlines—delivering essential updates on international diplomacy, shifting political norms, evolving land rights, landmark athletic achievements, and cultural trends, all within a concise five-minute news cycle.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie made another plea for her mother's release on Sunday. In a video posted to Instagram, she said her family still has hope for their mother, Nancy Guthrie. She disappeared from her home two weeks ago. In in the video, Savannah Guthrie urged anyone who may have information about her mother to step forward. It's never too late, and you're not lost or alone, and it is never too late to do the right thing. Police, meanwhile, say they found a glove about two miles from Guthrie's home that may have been worn by someone seen outside her home just before her disappearance. Slovakia is pitching itself as a place for diplomacy on Ukraine. It's as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded interested in the idea as he visited the country, which leans politically toward Russia.

[Michelle 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.

[Dale Willman]

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

[Michelle 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 Shondalyse Duster has more.

[Shondalyse 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.

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.

Crackdown and protests in Minnesota and elsewhere. Obama said there's 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]

Israel's cabinet Sunday approved a decision to restart a land registration process in the occupied West Bank. That means Israeli authorities can now declare an area of land up for registration. Critics say the process amounts to a major land grab for Palestinians. The decision is the latest to deepen Israeli control over the West Bank. This is NPR News. While Brazilians are celebrating Carnival this weekend, many people are also taking time to enjoy South America's first medal at a Winter Olympics. And that medal is gold. As NPR's Carrie Khan reports, the skier dedicated the medal to his mother's homeland with a photographing podium, high jump and a samba inspired dance.

[Carrie Khan]

Yes, it does snow in parts of Brazil's far south occasionally. But Lucas Pinero Brasin credits his childhood in Brazil playing soccer for building his passion for sports, not skiing. Until two years ago, he competed for Norway's team where his father's from, but in 2023 took up Brazil's flag after winning the Gian Slalom gold. Saturday, he did a samba dance on the Olympic podium and in an interview with Brazilian press, credited his win to Brazilian strength. Brazil's president congratulated Pinero, calling him an inspiration. That quote widens the horizon for Brazilian sport. And while the weather may be in the high 80s in Rio for Carnival weekend, many are celebrating Brazil's ocar del ski, its skiing dude. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

[Dale Willman]

Valentine's Day was a hit at the box office this weekend. Date Night pushed Wuthering Heights to the number one spot with $34.8 million in ticket sales over three days. Post Track says 76% of those buying tickets were women. Second place went to the animated basketball film goat, which earned 26 million. And crime 101 brought in 15.1 million, landing in third. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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