NPR News: 02-17-2026 12PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 17, 2026, 12PM EST

Episode Overview: This episode delivers a concise roundup of key national and international stories, including tributes to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, developments in nuclear talks between the US and Iran, Olympic athlete analysis, a major Hollywood death, updates on a US government shutdown, and a report on Ramadan preparations in Egypt.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson

[00:16–01:05]

• Announcement: Renowned civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson has died at age 84 after battling progressive supernuclear palsy.

• Legacy: Jackson is remembered as a protégé of Martin Luther King, Jr. and a formidable leader in the fight against racism and discrimination.

• Political Impact: He was a two-time presidential candidate (1984, 1988) and "paved the way for other African American leaders, such as the nation's first African American president, Barack Obama."

• Memorable Moment: His iconic call to "keep hope alive" at the Democratic National Convention is spotlighted.

  "Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive." — Audience/Chorus, [01:01]

• Tone: Solemn and reverent, celebrating a lifetime of activism and influence.

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2. US–Iran Nuclear Talks

[01:08–02:08]

• Update: A second round of indirect nuclear talks between US and Iran has wrapped in Geneva, with both sides remaining firm on key issues.

• Participants: US side represented by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi.

• Negotiation Points: Slight progress noted; Iran seeks the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, willing to curb its program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump administration insists on zero enrichment.

• Outlook: No public US comment; future talks unscheduled.

• Reporter:

  "The three hour talks had made good progress and were more constructive than earlier negotiations, but that more work needed to be done." — Jackie Northam, [01:23]

• Tone: Cautiously diplomatic.

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3. Winter Olympics — Peak Athleticism in Cross Country Skiing

[02:08–03:07]

• Segment Focus: Scientific measure of VO2 max ranks cross country skiers as among the world’s top athletes.

• Expert Insight:

  "Skiing is the only sport that we’re standing upright and we’re using all four limbs at the same time." — Stephen Seiler, [02:46]

• Scientific Explanation: Upright posture, simultaneous use of all limbs, and rigorous cardio push skiers’ bodies to their maximum.

• Reporter:

  "Years of this training can push a skier's VO2 max towards its upper limits." — Jonathan Lambert, [02:53]

• Tone: Inquisitive and informative.

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4. DHS Shutdown, Spokesperson Resignation, and Political Standoff

[03:07–03:54]

• Current Event: Department of Homeland Security faces another day of shutdown amid funding disputes between White House and Congressional Democrats over immigration enforcement.
• Leadership Change: Key spokesperson Trisha McLaughlin departs from DHS.
• Broad Implications: Ongoing tensions and uncertainty for agency operations.

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5. Hollywood Remembers Robert Duvall

[03:54–04:05]

• Announcement: Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall has died at 95.

• Legacy: Lauded for memorable performances in The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, The Apostle, The Judge, and his Oscar-winning role in Tender Mercies (1983).

  "He's being described today as a giant for memorable roles that also earned him Oscar nominations..." — Lakshmi Singh, [03:54]

• Tone: Respectful and celebratory of Duvall's cinematic contributions.

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6. Ramadan Preparations in Cairo, Egypt

[04:05–04:46]

• Reporter’s Snapshot: Aya Batrawi covers festive market scenes—from historic mosques to plastic Ramadan-themed goods imported from China.

• Local Perspective:

  "There's lanterns, which is a standard traditional must-have in Ramadan to put on the table in front of the door of the house. Like all around the stuff here that I'm seeing on sale, this stuff isn't even going to last a month. I think it’ll break probably by the second week of Ramadan." — Aya Batrawi, [04:31]

• Cultural Insight: A blend of modern consumerism and traditional rituals marks the start of Ramadan.

• Tone: Vivid, relatable, and gently humorous.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

| Time | Quote / Moment | Speaker | |---------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | 01:01 | "Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive." | Audience/Chorus | | 01:23 | "The three hour talks had made good progress and were more constructive than earlier negotiations, but that more work needed to be done." | Jackie Northam | | 02:46 | "Skiing is the only sport that we’re standing upright and we’re using all four limbs at the same time." | Stephen Seiler | | 04:31 | "There's lanterns, which is a standard traditional must-have in Ramadan ... this stuff isn't even going to last a month. I think it’ll break probably by the second week of Ramadan." | Aya Batrawi |

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:16] Jesse Jackson tribute and legacy
• [01:08] US-Iran nuclear talks update
• [02:08] Winter Olympics — Scientific look at athleticism in skiing
• [03:07] DHS shutdown and political standoff
• [03:54] Robert Duvall remembered
• [04:05] Ramadan preparations in Cairo

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Summary

In under five minutes, this episode honors civil rights icon Jesse Jackson and acting legend Robert Duvall, recaps cautious progress in US–Iran diplomacy, uncovers scientific accolades for cross country skiers, reports on federal shutdown ripple effects, and brings listeners to a lively Cairo market ahead of Ramadan. The tone remains factual, respectful, and at times warmly personal, providing a snapshot of key events shaping the news.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Tributes abound today for the Reverend Jesse Jackson. His family says Jackson, who battled progressive supernuclear palsy, died this morning. Jackson is being remembered as a protege of the late Martin Luther King, Jr. Who would continue to be a powerful force against racism and discrimination. He was also a powerful political force, one who paved the way for other African American leaders, such as the nation's first African American president, Barack Obama. Jackson was a two time presidential candidate in 1984 and again four years later where he delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention that ended with this iconic refrain, keep hope alive.

[Audience/Chorus (echoing 'Keep hope alive')]

Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Reverend Jesse Jackson. He was 84 years old. A second round of nuclear talks between the US And Iran has ended in Geneva. Both sides entrenched on key issues ahead of the negotiations which took place amid a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. Here's NPR's Jackie Northam.

[Jackie Northam]

The indirect talks were between special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner on the US Side in Iran's foreign Minister Abbas Arachi speaking afterwards. Arachi said the three hour talks had made good progress and were more constructive than earlier negotiations, but that more work needed to be done. The US has so far not commented on the talks. President Trump has firm that Iran possessed no nuclear weapons and so zero enrichment. Tehran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for research and civilian purposes, but has indicated it's willing to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. It's unclear if or when another round of talks is scheduled. Jackie Northam, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Now to the Winter Olympics, which offers a full spectrum of athleticism from figure skating to curling. But as NPR's Jonathan Lambert tells us, one sport may have the best athletes, at least by one scientific measure.

[Jonathan Lambert]

For an athlete to work hard, their muscle cells need oxygen. The more oxygen they can get, the harder they can go. Scientists call the maximum amount of oxygen an athlete can use during exercise VO2max. Scientists have measured VO2max across all kinds of athletes, and cross country skiers consistently rank towards the top. Stephen Seiler, an exercise physiologist at the University of Agdir, explains why cross country.

[Stephen Seiler]

Skiing is the only sport that we're standing upright and we're using all four limbs at the same time.

[Jonathan Lambert]

That means their cardiovascular systems are working overtime to fuel all those muscles and fight gravity because they're upright. Years of this training can push a skier's VO2 max towards its upper limits. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow is up 53 point, a last check at 49,554. It's NPR News. As agencies under the Department of Homeland Security face another day of a shutdown during a funding standoff, one of the agency's Chief spokespersons, Trisha McLaughlin, is leading, leaving the DHS. That according to a statement at NPR. Meanwhile, the funding dispute continues between the White House and congressional Democrats demanding changes to immigration enforcement operations. Hollywood continues to honor Oscar winning actor Robert Duvall, who died Sunday at the age of 95. He's being described today as a giant for memorable roles that also earned him Oscar nominations, including the Godfather, Apocalypse now, the Apostle, the Judge and Tender Mercies, the 1983 film for which he won an Academy Award for best actor. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts this week. NPR's Aya Batrawi brings us this report from old Cairo, Egypt.

[Aya Batrawi]

I'm standing immediately next to a really big, beautiful mosque towering over me from the 1400s. And right across from us is this little store selling all this plastic stuff made in China to get ready for Ramadan. So some of the stuff I'm seeing now are like Ramadan Mubarak trays that you can serve food on. There's plastic cups with Ramadan Bakker. There's even like tissue boxes for Ramadan. There's lanterns, which is a standard traditional must have in Ramadan to put on the table in front of the door of the house. Like all around the stuff here that I'm seeing on sale, this stuff isn't even going to last a month. I think it'll break probably by the second week of Ramadan.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Aya Batrawi reporting. The Dow is up 53 points at last check. You're listening to NPR News.

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