NPR News: 02-17-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 17, 2026, 5PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Correspondents: Jeff Brumfiel, Cheryl Corley, Michael Copley, Chloe Veltman

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Episode Overview

This concise five-minute news bulletin provides listeners with updates on breaking national and world events. In today’s episode: new allegations of a secret Chinese nuclear test, the death of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, a political dispute over a major environmental crisis near DC, Bayer’s settlement in the Roundup litigation, a tense security incident at the US Capitol, and figure skating’s musical evolution at the Olympics.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alleged Secret Chinese Nuclear Test

• [00:16–01:07]
  • The Story: The US released new evidence it claims points to a secret Chinese nuclear test that occurred six years ago (June 22, 2020).
  • Evidence: "A remote seismic station in Kazakhstan detected a tiny earthquake, except the US says it wasn't an earthquake at all." — Jeff Brumfiel, 00:30
  • Expert Opinion:
    • Christopher Yaw, State Dept. arms control official:
      • "It is quite consistent with what you would expect from a nuclear explosive test." — Michael Copley quoting Yaw, 00:45
    • Ben Dando, seismologist at norsar (an independent monitoring group):
      • "We can't really confirm or deny whether a nuclear test took place at this point." — Cheryl Corley quoting Dando, 01:02
  • Larger Context: The Pentagon’s estimate that China could reach 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.

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2. Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Death

• [01:18–02:21]
  • Career Highlights: Civil rights icon, aide to Martin Luther King Jr., founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, two-time presidential candidate.
  • Legacy:
    • Remembered for the 1988 Democratic National Convention speech — notably, his call to action:
      • "America will get better and better." — Ryland Barton quoting Jackson, 01:49
      • "Keep hope alive." — Cheryl Corley & Jeff Brumfiel, 01:52–01:54
    • Global influence; compared to "a political Muhammad Ali" for advocacy work abroad (Clarence Lusane, Howard University, via Cheryl Corley, 02:04).
    • Jackson on legacy:
      • "While other civil rights activists died young martyrs, I was blessed to be a long distance runner." — Chloe Veltman referencing 2016 NPR interview, 02:10

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3. Potomac River Sewer Line Disaster & Political Fallout

• [02:21–03:11]
  • Incident: A decades-old sewer pipe in Maryland collapsed, dumping hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River.
  • Political Response:
    • President Trump:
      • Ordered FEMA to coordinate repairs. Blamed Maryland Governor Wes Moore and local Democrats.
    • Governor Moore:
      • Argued federal government is at fault, as DC Water (who manages the line) is federally regulated.
    • DC Water:
      • Emergency repairs: ~1 month. Full rehabilitation: up to 10 months. Drinking water remains safe.
  • Quote:
    • "The break has also unleashed a torrent of finger pointing." — Michael Copley, 02:34

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4. Bayer Settles Roundup Cancer Lawsuits

• [03:11–03:40]
  • Settlement: $7.25 billion to settle lawsuits alleging Roundup causes cancer.
  • Supreme Court: Preparing to hear Bayer’s argument over federal regulation and warning labels.
  • Company Stance:
    • Bayer maintains that Roundup’s active ingredient “does not cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma when used as directed.”
  • Additional Briefs:
    • A man arrested after approaching the US Capitol with a shotgun — promptly complied with police; no Congressional session underway.

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5. Olympic Figure Skating Embraces New Musical Genres

• [04:04–04:46]
  • Shift in Sport: Since rule changes over a decade ago, Olympic skaters can use vocal music; now, selections range from rock to hip hop.
  • Notable Example: US ice dancers Madison Chock & Evan Bates skated to Lenny Kravitz.
  • Impact:
    • Broadens the sport’s appeal to younger, online audiences.
    • “There’s potential for viral moment, but at this Olympics, copyright problems have become a major headache” — Chloe Veltman, 04:34
    • Russian skater Petr Gumennik had to change music last minute due to copyright issues.
  • Expert: Daphne Backman, IceDance.com, sees greater opportunity and complexity for athletes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the nuclear test:

  • “It is quite consistent with what you would expect from a nuclear explosive test.” — Christopher Yaw (Michael Copley), 00:45
  • “We can’t really confirm or deny whether a nuclear test took place at this point.” — Ben Dando (Cheryl Corley), 01:02

• Honoring Jesse Jackson:

  • “Keep hope alive.” — Cheryl Corley & Jeff Brumfiel, 01:52–01:54
  • “He was kind of a political Muhammad Ali to many people around the world.” — Clarence Lusane (Cheryl Corley), 02:04

• On the sewer spill and political blame:

  • “The break has also unleashed a torrent of finger pointing.” — Michael Copley, 02:34

• On figure skating’s new musical landscape:

  • “At this Olympics, copyright problems have become a major headache.” — Chloe Veltman, 04:34

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Chinese nuclear test report: 00:16–01:07
• Jesse Jackson obituary: 01:18–02:21
• Potomac sewer line collapse & political fallout: 02:21–03:11
• Bayer Roundup settlement: 03:11–03:40
• Capitol security incident: 03:40–04:00
• Olympic figure skating & music choices: 04:04–04:46
• Stock market update: 04:46–04:55

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This episode effectively delivers a rapid yet substantial update on breaking stories, with a focus on both national and international ramifications—from nuclear security concerns and civil rights legacies to environmental crises and shifting cultural trends in sports.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The United States is sharing fresh evidence for what it claims was a secret Chinese nuclear test. NPR's Jeff Brumfiel has more on the alleged test, which took place six years ago.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

On June 22 of 2020, a remote seismic station in Kazakhstan detected a tiny earthquake, except the US Says it wasn't an earthquake at all. Christopher Yaw is an arms control official at the State Department. He says the data look clear.

[Michael Copley]

It is quite consistent with what you would expect from a nuclear explosive test.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

Yaw shared the details during a talk at the Hudson Institute, a D.C. think tank. Not everyone agrees. Ben Dando is a seismologist work with norsar, an independent monitoring group. He says the data are inconclusive.

[Cheryl Corley]

We can't really confirm or deny whether a nuclear test took place at this point.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

China is currently undergoing a massive expansion of its nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon believes it could have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

The influential and at times controversial American leader Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson has died. NPR's Cheryl Corley reports. Jackson built a national profile around civil rights and political activism.

[Chloe Veltman]

Jesse Jackson's career spanned decades. In the 1960s, he was active in the civil rights movement and was an aide to Martin Luther King Jr. Later, he founded his Rainbow PUSH Coalition. In the 1980s, Jackson ran for president twice. His soaring speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention electrified the audience.

[Ryland Barton]

America will get better and better.

[Cheryl Corley]

Keep hope alive.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

Keep hope alive.

[Chloe Veltman]

Howard University professor Clarence Lusane said Jackson also had a global footprint as he spotlighted and mediated disputes during his travels.

[Cheryl Corley]

He was kind of a political Muhammad Ali to many people around the world.

[Chloe Veltman]

During an NPR interview in 2016, Jackson said while other civil rights activists died young martyrs, he was blessed to be a long distance runner. Cheryl Corley, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

President Trump says he's ordered the federal government to coordinate repairs to a broken sewer line that's dumping wastewater into the Potomac river near Washington, D.C. nPR's Michael Copley reports. The break has also unleashed a torrent to finger pointing.

[Michael Copley]

Late last month, part of a decades old sewer line in Maryland collapsed, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. President Trump has blamed Maryland Governor Wes Moore and other local Democrats for the spill, saying the federal Emergency Management Agency will now help coordinate the response. But the sewer line is managed by DC Water, a utility in the District of Columbia that's federally regulated. Moore says it's the federal government that hasn't been doing its job. DC Water says emergency repairs will take about a month, followed by a longer rehab effort that could take up to 10 months. The utility says drinking water in the area has not been contaminated. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Bayer has agreed to a seven and a quarter billion dollars deal to settle thousands of lawsuits that blame Roundup for causing cancer. It comes as the US Supreme Court is preparing to hear Bayer's argument about federal rules and warning labels for the popular weed kill. Bayer says that when used as directed, Roundup's key ingredient does not cause non Hodgkin lymphoma. Police say they've arrested a man who ran toward the US Capitol this morning with a shotgun. Police say he dropped his weapon and complied when challenged by officers. Congress was not in session when the arrest occurred. And Olympic figure skaters are adopting broader musical choices for their programs, going from mostly classical works to a wide open array of genres, from rock to hip hop. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports The shift has brought opportunities and legal challenges for skaters.

[Cheryl Corley]

This is the third Winter Olympics at which figure skaters have been allowed to use vocal music. The International Skating Union ruled on this change more than a decade ago. In Milan, US Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates skated to a medley of Lenny Kravitz songs. Daphne Backman is the owner and editor in Chief of IceDance.com she says the broadening of musical choices is enabling the sport to connect with younger audiences. On social media, there's potential for viral moment, but at this Olympics, copyright problems have become a major headache. Some competitors, like Russia's Petr Gumennik, had to make last minute soundtrack changes because they lacked the necessary permissions. Chloe veltman, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

U.S. stocks finished quietly today. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ added a tenth of a percent. The Dow added a fraction. This is npr.

[Michael Copley]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News now pl@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.