NPR News: 02-23-2026 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — 02-23-2026, 1 PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh (with reporting from Jeremy Siegel, Kerry Conn, Domenico Montanaro, and Rebecca Hersher)
Date: February 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers the latest news headlines, focusing on high-profile arrests related to the Epstein investigation, severe winter weather in the northeastern US, cartel violence and security efforts in Mexico, turbulent markets ahead of the State of the Union, deep political divides in public opinion, and a new dinosaur discovery.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. Fresh Arrest in the Epstein Investigation

[00:19]

• Former British ambassador to the US, Peter Mendelsohn, has been arrested in London connected to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
• Lakshmi Singh:

  “Authorities detained him today on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation into connections to the late convicted sex offender and financier.”

• The arrest used the same legal language as that of King Charles' brother, former Prince Andrew, arrested four days earlier.
• Mandelson has not been accused of sexual misconduct; he did not respond to NPR’s inquiries.

2. Northeast Blizzard and Crisis Response

[01:17]

• Tens of millions in the Northeast are under blizzard warnings; travel is heavily disrupted.
• Jeremy Siegel (Boston):

  “The message from city officials has been stay home if you can, but for essential workers at Boston Medical center, like surgery resident Colton Yahn, that’s not an option.”

• (On working through the storm)
  • Colton Yahn:

    “Cold and wet, I guess.” [01:36]

  • Lakshmi Singh:

    “Part of the deal.” [01:40]
    “We love what we do.” [01:42]

• Airports from Boston to D.C. have canceled nearly all flights; roads remain dangerous.

3. Cartel Violence Erupts, Order Restored in Mexico

[02:09]

• President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, states most roads are cleared after a crackdown that killed cartel leader El Mencho.
• Kerry Conn:

  “President Claudia Shane Bum says practically all activities are back up and running following yesterday’s military action that killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, Nemesio Ciguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho.”

• The operation was led solely by Mexican forces, although intelligence was shared with the U.S.
• US travelers in Mexico were warned to shelter as shops and cars burned and police clashed with cartels.

4. Turbulent Markets Ahead of State of the Union

[02:57]

• U.S. stock markets are sharply down on the eve of President Trump’s State of the Union address.
• Lakshmi Singh:

  “The Dow Jones Industrial Average now down 750 points, or 1.5%, at 48,875. The S&P has fallen 74 points, more than 1%. The Nasdaq down 1.2%.”

5. Deep Divides in Public Opinion on the State of the Union

[03:33]

• NPR/PBS News/Marist poll reveals sharp divides in how Americans assess national strength.
• Domenico Montanaro:

  “Of those with college degrees, 69% say that the state of the Union is not strong. Those without degrees, though, are split 50–50. Women, 63% say that the state of the Union is not strong—that’s 12 points higher than men.”

• Political polarization by education and gender remains significant in the Trump era.

6. Political Responses to State of the Union

[03:58]

• President Trump to deliver the State of the Union tomorrow night.
• Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, first woman in her role, will give the Democratic response.

7. New Dinosaur Discovery

[04:13]

• Scientists have discovered a new Spinosaurus species in the Sahara.
• Rebecca Hersher:

  “The new species is different from its cousins because it has a large horn-like crest sticking up from its skull. The authors speculate that the animal used that crest to attract others of its species.”

• Discovery published in Science; led by a University of Chicago team.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Cold and wet, I guess.” — Colton Yahn [01:36], on trudging through blizzard conditions after a hospital shift.
• “Part of the deal.… We love what we do.” — Lakshmi Singh [01:40–01:42], reflecting on essential public service work.
• “Of those with college degrees, 69% say that the state of the Union is not strong. Those without degrees, though, are split 50–50.” — Domenico Montanaro [03:33], highlighting polarization.

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Timestamps: Highlights

• Epstein Investigation & Peter Mendelsohn Arrest — [00:19]
• Northeast Blizzard Report/Essential Workers — [01:17–01:43]
• Mexican Cartel Violence & Security Response — [02:09]
• Market Declines Before State of the Union — [02:57]
• Poll: State of the Union Perceptions — [03:33]
• Democratic Response & Political Leadership News — [03:58]
• New Spinosaurus Species Discovery — [04:13]

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

live from NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. There has been another arrest in the fallout of the Epstein investigation. Former British ambassador to the US Peter Mendelsohn has been arrested in London. Authorities detained him today on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation into connections to the late convicted sex offender and financier. Same language police used to describe the arrest of King Charles brother, the former Prince Andrew, four days ago, also in an Epstein related investigation. Mandelson has not been accused of sexual misconduct. He did not immediately respond to NPR's phone calls. Tens of millions of people across the northeastern US Are under a blizzard warning today as an intense winter storm batters the region. Jeremy Siegel of member station GBH in Boston reports. Thousands of plow drivers, bus operators and medical professionals are still braving the elements.

[Jeremy Siegel]

The message from city officials has been stay home if you can, but for essential workers at Boston Medical center, like surgery resident Colton Yahn, and that's not an option. I found him trudging through the snow after finishing an overnight shift. How would you describe walking home in this weather?

[Lakshmi Singh]

Cold and wet, I guess.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Part of the deal.

[Lakshmi Singh]

We love what we do.

[Jeremy Siegel]

So the storm is snarling travel across the region. Streets are coated in snow, and airports spanning from Boston down to D.C. have canceled nearly all flights. For NPR News, I'm Jeremy Siegel in Boston.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The president of Mexico says security forces have cleared all highways and roads that drug gangs had blocked following yesterday's killing of a drug cartel leader. NPR's Kerry Conn has the latest.

[Kerry Conn]

President Claudia Shane Bum says practically all activities are back up and running following yesterday's military action that killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, Nemesio Ciguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. Mexico has been under intense pressure from the US to crack the down on drug kingpins. Major airlines canceled flights stranding travelers. The US Warned Americans in Mexico to shelter in places. Gang members burned shops, cars and battled police. Shanebaum says the operation against El Mencho was conceived and executed only by Mexico. There was no participation in the operation by US Forces, she stressed, but added intelligence sharing always occurs. Carrie Kann, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

On the eve of the State of the Union, US Stocks are trading sharply lower this hour. The Dow Jones Industrial Average now down 750 points, or 1.5%, at 48,875. The S&P has fallen 74 points, more than 1%. The Nasdaq down 1.2%. This is NPR News. President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress tomorrow night for the annual State of the union address. NPR's Domenico Montono describes one of the key findings of a latest NPR PBS News Marist poll on how respondents believe the U.S. is faring.

[Domenico Montanaro]

There are really big splits by education and gender. I mean, of those with college degrees, 69% say that the state of the Union is not strong. Those without degrees, though, are split 5050 women, 63% say that the state of the Union is not strong. That's 12 points higher than men. Both of those divides have been really pronounced throughout this decade with Trump on the political scene and how people view him.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Domenico Montanaro reporting. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to be elected to her state's top office, will deliver the Democratic response. Scientists have discovered a new species of dinosaur. NPR's Rebecca Hersher with details.

[Rebecca Hersher]

The dinosaur is a type of Spinosaurus. That's a group of dinosaurs that were very large predators with long, pointy skulls, ideal for fishing. The new species of Spinosaurus was discovered in the Sahara and in an area that was marshy when the Animal lived about 95 million years ago. The discovery was made by an international group of scientists led by a team from the University of Chicago. The details were published in the journal Science last week. The new species is different from its cousins because it has a large horn like crest sticking up from its skull. The authors speculate that the animal used that crest to attract others of its species. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is npr.

[Jeremy Siegel]

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