NPR News Now — February 22, 2026, 9PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes
Published: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise roundup of the hour's top news stories, spanning politics, security, international relations, weather emergencies, history, and culture. Major topics include a security incident at Mar-a-Lago, international controversy over remarks by a U.S. ambassador, severe blizzard warnings in the Northeast, the restoration of a historic Alamo artifact, and major winners at the British BAFTA Film Awards.

Key News Stories and Discussion Points

1. Security Breach at Mar-a-Lago

[00:12] - [01:06]

• Incident: U.S. Secret Service agents fatally shot a man attempting to breach security at former President Trump's private club in Palm Beach, Florida.
• Details: The suspect, in his early 20s, was armed with a shotgun and fuel can, and was confronted after breaching the perimeter.
• Outcome: The suspect was killed on-site after raising his firearm in a threatening manner. No injuries to agents or officers; Trump was in Washington, D.C., not Florida.

Notable Quote:

"Agents and officers then shot and killed him. He died at the scene. No agents or officers were injured, and officials said no Secret Service protectees were present at the shooting."
— Luke Garrett, NPR Correspondent (00:55)

2. Diplomatic Backlash Over U.S. Ambassador's Remarks

[01:06] - [02:07]

• Controversy: Fourteen Arab and Muslim-majority countries condemned comments by U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, implying that Israel has a biblical right to land extending into neighboring countries.
• Context: Huckabee's statements came in response to a question by Tucker Carlson about biblical claims to territory in the region.
• Response: U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar among those condemning; U.S. Embassy clarified no official policy change.

Notable Quotes:

"Talk show host Tucker Carlson asked Ambassador Huckabee, who has also served as a pastor, about the Bible in which God promises Abraham land from the Nile to the Euphrates... whether Israel has a right to lands in Arab countries."
— Daniel Estrin, NPR (01:21)

"Huckabee said it would be fine if they took it all."
— Daniel Estrin, paraphrasing Huckabee (01:35)

“They are not asking to go back to take all of that, but they are asking to at least take the land that they now occupy...legitimately.”
— Tucker Carlson, referencing Huckabee’s remarks (01:39)

3. Major Blizzard Threatens Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

[02:07] - [03:10]

• Warning: Tens of millions under blizzard warnings, with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont declaring a state of emergency.
• Severity: Expected to be the worst storm since 2013; multi-hazard event with potential for heavy snow, flooding, and high winds.
• Precautions: Residents asked to stay off roads; commercial travel banned; warnings of widespread, possibly prolonged, power outages.

Notable Quotes:

"This is not our first snowstorm. We're New England. But this is going to be a bad one, probably the worst storm we've seen since 2013."
— Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (02:31)

"We're looking at a multi-hazard event. We're not only talking heavy wet snow, but also the potential for coastal flooding and very high winds."
— William Turner, State Emergency Management Director (02:39)

4. Restoration of a Historic Alamo Artifact

[03:10] - [04:09]

• Artifact: Restoration of a cannon from the Battle of the Alamo, discovered in 1852 and owned by Texas Declaration of Independence signer Samuel Maverick.
• Anecdotes: The artifact was donated by Maverick's direct descendant; previously used as a bird bath on a ranch.
• Restoration Site: Texas A&M University.

Notable Quotes:

"I was kind of skeptical, if I'm being honest... I about fell over. I think he could have knocked me over with a feather. I was so excited. And I had wrote about that cannon in my master's thesis."
— Colby Lanham, Alamo researcher & historian (03:25)

5. Highlights from 2026 BAFTA Film Awards

[04:09] - [04:56]

• Top Winner: "One Battle After Another" (politically charged action thriller) wins Best Picture and five other prizes.
• Other Notables:
  • "Sinners" (vampire saga) and "Frankenstein" (gothic horror) win three prizes each.
  • Paul Thomas Anderson named Best Director.
  • Jessie Buckley wins Best Actress for "Hamnet".
  • Robert Aramayo wins Best Actor for "I Swear," beating out A-list stars.
• Significance: BAFTA winners often predict Oscar outcomes.

Notable Quotes:

"Paul Thomas Anderson was named best director for 'One Battle After Another.' Jessie Buckley won the best actress prize for 'Hamnet,' while Robert Aramayo took the best actor prize for the British indie film 'I Swear,' beating stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet."
— Jeanine Herbst, NPR (04:34)

Memorable Moments

• The Human Side of History: Enthusiastic personal reaction and connection by historian Colby Lanham to the Alamo artifact (03:25).
• Diplomatic Fallout: Huckabee’s controversial biblical justification for Israeli claims over Middle Eastern land prompts a rare twelve-country condemnation (01:06–01:49).
• Storm Severity: Clear communication of public safety concern and state measures by Connecticut officials (02:24–03:10).

Useful Timestamps

• Mar-a-Lago Shooting: 00:12–01:06
• Ambassador Huckabee Controversy: 01:06–02:07
• Northeast Blizzard Update: 02:07–03:10
• Alamo Artifact Restoration: 03:10–04:09
• BAFTA Film Awards Recap: 04:09–04:56

This summary captures the full scope of the episode’s news briefing, offering a comprehensive yet accessible account of the hour’s most significant stories and moments.