NPR News: 02-17-2026 3AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 17, 2026, 3AM EST

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update from NPR News Now, hosted by Giles Snyder, provides listeners with a concise briefing on pressing national and international events as of early February 17, 2026. The episode covers the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, Olympic figure skating stories, the deaths of prominent public figures Robert Duvall and Frederick Wiseman, and global financial news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Government Shutdown Continues

[00:15–01:05]

• Status: The partial government shutdown has entered its fourth day due to a lapse in Homeland Security funding.
• Key Issues: No agreement has been reached between Republicans and Democrats. Lawmakers are currently on recess, prolonging negotiations.
• Recurrent Theme:

  “This latest effort seems to be following a familiar cycle. A crisis captures national attention... then talks fizzle, leaving sides pointing fingers.”
  — Sam Greenglass [00:35]

• Sticking Points: Democrats are demanding concessions on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

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2. U.S.–Iran Nuclear Negotiations

[01:05–02:13]

• Upcoming Talks: U.S. and Iranian negotiators will meet in Geneva for the second time in as many weeks.
• Positions:
  • President Trump wants “zero enrichment” to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
  • Iran asserts its right to enrich uranium for research and civilian uses but hints openness to limiting its program in exchange for sanctions relief.
  • Further contentious points include Iran’s ballistic missiles, use of proxies, and stockpile relocation.
• Quote:

  “Both are still firm in their demands... Iran has indicated it could be open to limiting its nuclear program if it means sanctions relief. Iran is in dire economic straits.”
  — Jackie Northam [01:28]

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3. Olympic Figure Skating Updates

[02:13–02:59]

• Ilya Malinin’s Setback:
  • The American skater suffers a disappointing performance, placing eighth.
  • Story compared to Nathan Chen’s 2018 setback and subsequent Olympic gold in 2022.
  • Psychologists call the athlete’s mental rebound critical for resilience.
• Quote:

  “The phenomenon of athletes getting the yips or twisties is actually highly studied and sports psychologists say it's crucial for athletes to recover and heal…”
  — Rachel Treisman [02:25]

• Looking Ahead: Malinin will defend his world title in March.
• Historic Moment: Japan wins its first-ever Olympic gold medal in pair skating after overcoming a short-program deficit.

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4. Federal Judge Orders Restoration of Slavery Exhibit

[02:59–03:49]

• Order: The Trump administration must restore a slavery exhibit at George Washington's historic Philadelphia home.
• Context: The exhibit, commemorating President's Day, was previously removed by the National Park Service.

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5. Remembering Robert Duvall

[03:49–04:28]

• Career Overview:
  • Duvall appeared in over 90 films, notable roles include Boo Radley (“To Kill a Mockingbird”), Tom Hagen (“The Godfather”), and Lt. Col. Kilgore (“Apocalypse Now”).
  • Praised performances led to seven Oscar nominations; won Best Actor in 1983 for “Tender Mercies.”
• Memorable Moment:

  “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”
  — Robert Duvall as Kilgore [04:14]

• Quote:

  “He was Tom Hagen, the calm, controlled legal advisor to the Corleone crime family. He said it was one of his favorite performances…”
  — Glenn Weldon [03:49]

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6. Passing of Frederick Wiseman

[04:28–04:54]

• Legacy: Influential documentarian; recipient of 2016 Honorary Academy Award.
• Note: Family and company provided no additional details on his passing.

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7. Global Financial Snapshot

[04:54–End]

• Asia Markets: Most markets are closed for Lunar New Year; Japan’s Nikkei index declines.

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Notable Quotes

• “This latest effort seems to be following a familiar cycle... then talks fizzle, leaving sides pointing fingers.” — Sam Greenglass, on the government shutdown [00:35]

• “Both are still firm in their demands... Iran has indicated it could be open to limiting its nuclear program if it means sanctions relief.” — Jackie Northam, on US-Iran talks [01:28]

• “The phenomenon of athletes getting the yips or twisties is actually highly studied and sports psychologists say it’s crucial for athletes to recover and heal…” — Rachel Treisman, on figure skating resilience [02:25]

• “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.” — Robert Duvall as Lt. Col. Kilgore, remembered for his iconic role [04:14]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Shutdown Update: 00:15–01:05
• US–Iran Nuclear Talks: 01:05–02:13
• Olympic Skating & Athlete Resilience: 02:13–02:59
• Japan’s Historic Win in Pairs Skating: 02:59
• Federal Judge on Slavery Exhibit: 02:59–03:49
• Robert Duvall’s Career & Tribute: 03:49–04:28
• Frederick Wiseman’s Legacy: 04:28–04:54
• Asian Financial Markets: 04:54–end

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This NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid-fire review of the day’s top news stories and notable developments, balancing political, international, cultural, and sports updates in a crisp, informative style typical of NPR’s trusted reporting.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. The latest partial government shutdown is now in its fourth day after funding for the Homeland Security Department ran out at the end of last week. There's still no deal between Republicans and Democrats and what NPRC Sam Greenglass says has become a familiar situation.

[Sam Greenglass]

This latest effort seems to be following a familiar cycle. A crisis captures national attention, in this case, the deadly shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration agents in Minneapolis or recently, health subsidies expiring and spiking premiums. A number of Democrats and Republicans suggest that they will respond like when Republican Senator Bernie Moreno said last month that a bipartisan deal to save the subsidies was in the red zone only for talks to fizzle, leaving sides pointing fingers.

[Giles Snyder]

And with lawmakers on recess, there is no end in sight to this latest shutdown. Democrats are demanding curbs on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Negotiators from the US And Iran are due to meet Tuesday for talks in Geneva about Iran's nuclear program. The meeting comes as the US Continues to build up military forces in the region. Here's NPR's Jackie Northam.

[Jackie Northam]

This is the second time in as many weeks the US And Iran will be meeting. Both are still firm in their demands. President Trump doesn't want Iran to possess nuclear weapons and so wants zero enrichment. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for research and civilian uses, but Iran has indicated it could be open to limiting its nuclear program if it means sanctions relief. Iran is in dire economic straits. There are other important issues to address, such as eliminating Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles and ending its use of proxies in the region, both of which are non starters for Iran, as well as moving Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium out of the country. Jackie Northam, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

American skater Ilya Malinin is one of many star athletes who have stumbled on the Olympic stage. NPR's Rachel Treisman reports. Some have returned even stronger at their next competition.

[Rachel Treisman]

Malinin's wobbly free skate and eighth place finish reminded fellow US Figure skater Nathan Chen of his own experience. He fell during his program at the 2018 Olympics, then came back to win gold four years later. The ph of athletes getting the yips or twisties is actually highly studied and Sports psychologists say it's crucial for athletes to recover and heal in order to build up their resilience and come back even stronger. Malinin won't have long to wait for his chance to bounce back. He's set to try to defend his title at the World Figure Skating Championships in March. Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan.

[Giles Snyder]

Some figure skating history has been made at the Winter Olympics. Japan has won its first gold medal in pair skating. The Japanese pair bounced back after finishing fifth in the short. And you're listening to NPR News. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore a slavery exhibit at a home in Philadelphia where George Washington once lived. The order came on President's Day, the federal holiday honoring Washington's legacy. The exhibit was at the president's House site and Independence National Historical Park. The National Park Service took the exhibit down last month. The the actor Robert Duvall has died. He played everything from tough Marines to sensitive cowboys over the course of a career that spanned five decades. He was 95. NPR's Glenn Weldon has more.

[Glenn 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.

[Robert Duvall (quoted)]

I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

[Glenn 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. Glen Weldon, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman has also died. Wiseman died Monday at age 96. A joint statement from his family and his production company did not give additional details. Weissman was an influential documentarian who won an honorary Academy Award in 2016. Most of the financial markets in Asia are closed today for the Lunar New Year holiday. In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei lost ground. This is NPR News.

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