NPR News: 02-16-2026 6PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — February 16, 2026, 6PM EST

Main Theme

This fast-paced five-minute update from NPR News Now covers major national and international developments, including a high-profile Minnesota police shooting investigation, the Texas Senate primary race, the deaths of film legends Robert Duvall and Frederick Wiseman, a record-breaking travel period for China’s Lunar New Year, and more. The reporting reflects NPR's commitment to concise, factual news delivered on the hour.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Investigation Standstill: Minnesota Police Shooting

[00:15–01:14]

• The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has again been denied access to federal evidence in the case of Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis.

• Despite persistent requests, the FBI remains unwilling to share materials, leading to concern and frustration among state investigators.

  “The BCA’s Evans calls the lack of cooperation, quote, unquote, ‘concerning and unprecedented.’”
  — Brian Baxd, [00:52]

• The BCA plans to continue independent investigations into both this incident and another fatal shooting of Renee Macklin earlier in January.

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2. Texas Senate Primary Heats Up

[01:14–02:12]

• Early voting begins for the Texas Senate race. Incumbent Republican John Cornyn faces strong primary competition from State Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt.

• Ken Paxton voices skepticism of his opponents’ motives, suggesting they're more interested in fame than public service:

  “Unfortunately, my opponents are people who, frankly, just want to join those ranks of performance artists who want to come to Washington, D.C. and want to become famous, get the most clicks on social media and raise money. But the job entails a whole lot more than that.”
  — Ken Paxton, [01:42]

• No candidate is expected to win outright on March 3, setting the stage for a runoff between the top two candidates in May.

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3. Remembering Robert Duvall

[02:12–02:57]

• Renowned actor Robert Duvall has passed away at age 95 after a career spanning over 90 films.

• Duvall was celebrated for roles such as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Hagen in The Godfather, and Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now.

  “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
  — Robert Duvall as Lt. Col. Kilgore, Apocalypse Now, highlighted at [02:48]

• He earned seven Oscar nominations, winning Best Actor for Tender Mercies (1983).

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4. Atlanta’s Airport Remains World’s Busiest

[03:03–03:23]

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport maintained its ranking as the world’s busiest, with over 63 million domestic and international travelers in 2025, according to OAG.

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5. NAACP Challenges FBI Use of Voter Data

[03:23–04:02]

• The NAACP is seeking a judicial order to limit the federal government’s use of voter data seized during an FBI raid at Atlanta’s Fulton County Elections Hub.
• The group requests a full inventory and record of data access, with agents having searched for 2020 election records in January.

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6. Lunar New Year: Spring Migration in China

[04:02–04:39]

• Asia prepares for Lunar New Year celebrations, prompting the world’s largest annual human migration, known as “Chunyun.”

• Chinese authorities report about 3.5 billion trips, many by people reuniting with family in rural areas.

  “This torrent of travelers in the two week run up to the Lunar New Year has come to represent China’s rapid urbanization and the hard work of people who work far from home.”
  — Emily Feng, [04:31]

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7. Documentary Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman Dies

[04:39–04:57]

• Frederick Wiseman, influential American documentarian, has died at 96.
• His acclaimed 1967 film Titicut Follies exposed the grim reality inside a prison facility, marking a distinguished career exploring institutional life.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The PCA's Evans calls the lack of cooperation, quote, unquote, ‘concerning and unprecedented.’”
  — Brian Baxd, [00:52]
• “Unfortunately, my opponents are people who, frankly, just want to join those ranks of performance artists... But the job entails a whole lot more than that.”
  — Ken Paxton, [01:42]
• “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
  — Robert Duvall as Lt. Col. Kilgore, [02:48]
• “This torrent of travelers... has come to represent China’s rapid urbanization and the hard work of people who work far from home.”
  — Emily Feng, [04:31]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Minnesota police shooting investigation update: [00:15–01:14]
• Texas GOP Senate primary: [01:14–02:12]
• Robert Duvall obituary: [02:12–02:57]
• Atlanta Airport travel statistics: [03:03–03:23]
• NAACP/FBI voter data case: [03:23–04:02]
• China’s Lunar New Year migration: [04:02–04:39]
• Frederick Wiseman obituary: [04:39–04:57]

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This episode delivers brisk, essential updates on topics of national and global significance, with pointed commentary and tributes highlighting the breadth of NPR’s journalistic reach.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

See Terms live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Minnesota criminal investigators have again been denied access to evidence collected by federal authorities after the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Backs received a formal notice from the FBI.

[Brian Baxd]

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension had been shut out from the outset, but the BCA continued to seek access to evidence. Superintendent Drew Evans says the FBI gave word last week that no materials would be turned over. Preddy, an ICU nurse, was killed by Border Patrol agents. Minneapolis, on January 24th. At least two officers fired multiple shots. The PCA's Evans calls the lack of cooperation, quote, unquote, concerning and unprecedented. He says state authorities will continue their own investigation into the Preddy case, as well as the fatal shooting of a second citizen, Renee Macklin good earlier in January. For NPR News, I'm Brian Baxd in St. Paul.

[Ryland Barton]

Early voting begins this week in Texas, where Republican Senator John Cornyn is seeking the party's nomination for a fifth term in Congress. Andrew Schneider with Houston Public Media reports.

[Andrew Schneider]

If John Cornyn wins the general election this fall, he could become one of the longest serving senators in Texas. But first he has to get past state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has led or tied Cornyn in most polls for nearly a year and fend off attacks from Congressman Wesley Hunt.

[Ken Paxton]

Unfortunately, my opponents are people who, frankly, just want to join those ranks of performance artists who want to come to Washington, D.C. and want to become famous, get the most clicks on social media and raise money. But the job entails a whole lot more than that.

[Andrew Schneider]

Most analysts expect none of the three candidates will win an outright majority in the March 3 primary. That would force a runoff between the top two contenders in May. For NPR News, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston.

[Ryland Barton]

Actor Robert Duvall has died. He played everything from tough Marines to sensitive cowboys over the course of his career that spanned five decades. He was 95. NPR's Glen Weldon has more.

[Glen Weldon]

In all, Robert Duvall appeared in over 90 movies. Most notably, he played the silent Boo Radley in 1962's To Kill a Mockingbird. In the Godfather films, he was Tom Hagen, the calm, controlled legal advisor to the Corleone crime family. He said it was one of his favorite performances, but it was his role as Lt. Col. Kilgore in 1979's Apocalypse now that supplied him with one of the most oft quoted lines of dialogue in movie history.

[Ken Paxton]

I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

[Glen Weldon]

He earned an Oscar nomination for that role, one of seven over the course of his career. He won the Academy Award for best actor in 1983's Tender Mercies, in which he played a country singer in recovery. Glenn Weldon, NPR News, Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson.

[Ryland Barton]

International Airport remains the world's busiest airport. According to travel data giant OAG, Atlanta had more than 63 million seats for domestic and international travelers in 2025. This is NPR News. The NAACP is asking a judge to limit how the federal government uses voter data seized in an FBI raid near Atlanta. The civil group asked the judge to bar any use beyond the stated criminal investigation. They also asked for a full inventory of what agents took during the January seizure at the Fulton County Elections Hub and who has accessed it. FBI agents arrived at the elections warehouse with a warrant seeking 2020 Fulton county election records. People across Asia are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year tomorrow. In China, the holiday means a rush to get home with hundreds of millions of people traveling by bus, air and train in NPR's Emily Fang says is jokingly termed the spring Migration.

[Emily Feng]

Transportation authorities said travelers made about 3.5 billion trips during this year's Chunyun, or spring migration, many made by people leaving cities to see parents in the countryside or to reunite with their partners after months of working apart. Travelers posted videos of crowded train stations and airports, which have boosted the number of trips to accommodate the rush of people. This torrent of travelers in the two week run up to the Lunar New Year has come to represent China's rapid urbanization and the hard work of people who work far from home. Emily Feng, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

American filmmaker Frederick Wiseman has died at 96. He was known for his probing documentaries chronicling the inner workings of institutions. His 1967 film Titicut Follies exposed appalling conditions at a prison facility. This is NPR News.

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