NPR News Now – February 23, 2026, 2AM EST

Host: Dale Willman (NPR)
Length: ~5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of key national and international news stories, covering a major winter storm, a security incident at Mar-a-Lago, U.S. tariff developments, voting deadlines in several states, U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, a Bay Area community celebration, and highlights from the British BAFTA film awards.

Major Blizzard Strikes Northeast

[00:17–00:40]

• Millions across the Northeast U.S. are affected by severe travel bans and blizzard warnings.
• Heavy snow caused over 60,000 power outages in New Jersey, with the storm projected to continue into Monday morning.
• Dale Willman: “Millions of Americans are facing travel bans and blizzard warnings as a major storm moves through the Northeast and in New Jersey, there are reports of more than 60,000 power outages.” [00:20]

Armed Intruder Shot at Mar-a-Lago

[00:40–01:09]

• An armed man breached the inner perimeter at President Trump’s Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, before being shot by Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy.
• Palm Beach County Sheriff Rick Bradshaw: “The armed man made it to the inner perimeter of Mar-A-Lago before being stopped by two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy.” [00:41]
• Law enforcement identified the intruder as a white male in his early 20s.
• The man complied in putting down a gas can but raised a shotgun, prompting law enforcement to open fire.
  • Unnamed Officer: “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment that he had with him, at which time he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position.” [00:49]
• This marks at least the second breach involving an armed figure at the property.
• President Trump was safely at the White House during the incident.

U.S. Tariffs and International Reaction

[01:09–02:16]

• The U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs initiated by President Trump, but he announced a new policy for 15% global tariffs over the weekend.
• European business owners, especially in industries reliant on U.S.-EU trade, express concern and frustration.
• Michael Shapps, wine grower (France and Virginia):
  • “It’s been crazy, the up and downs on both sides of the Atlantic.” [01:39]
  • “The doors were open. Now they're closed.” [02:01]
  • Shapps describes business losses and withdrawal from the U.S. market by European wine growers.
• Eleanor Beardsley (NPR, Paris): European officials are calling for strong responses, warning against being “taken hostage by the Trump administration and its tariffs.” [02:03]

Voter Registration Deadlines Approaching

[02:16–03:13]

• Registration windows are closing soon for upcoming primary elections in several states.
  • North Carolina: Eligible voters can register in person at early voting sites until the end of the month.
  • Illinois: Online registration ends March 1; in-person remains available until March 17 (primary day).
  • Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi: Deadlines have passed, but general election registration remains open for the fall.
• Voters are encouraged to verify their registration, as names can be purged if inactive or due to life changes.
• Hansi Lo Wang (NPR):
  • “Already registered voters may want to check their registration status. Voters can sometimes be removed from lists, especially if they move, change their name or haven’t voted in a while.” [03:00]

U.S. and Iran to Resume Nuclear Talks

[03:13–03:55]

• Scheduled negotiations are set to take place Thursday in Geneva, moving from previous rounds in Oman.
• The U.S. warns of the possibility of limited military strikes if talks fail, maintaining its stance that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapon capability.
• Dale Willman: “President Trump continues to warn that limited strikes against Iran are possible. If the talks fail. The U.S. says Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them.” [03:38]

Oakland’s Black Joy Parade: Community and Celebration

[03:55–04:33]

• The 9th annual Black Joy Parade draws diverse crowds to downtown Oakland, celebrating Black culture and resilience with music, dance, and community events.
• Elise Mnookian (KQED): “Dancers sashay and step motorcycles and classic car engines roar and black cowboys parade on horseback through the streets of downtown Oakland.” [03:55]
• Over 200 Black-owned businesses participated, selling food, crafts, and apparel.
• Ezekiel Rab, UC Berkeley student: “It’s just great to see everybody, you know, happy…” [04:05]
  • “…especially in times like this when there’s so much happening in the world.” [04:14]
• R&B singer Maya headlined the main stage, drawing special attention.

BAFTA Film Awards Highlighted

[04:33–04:57]

• The action thriller One Battle After Another won six major BAFTA awards, including Best Picture.
• Sinners (vampire saga) and Frankenstein (gothic horror) each received three awards.
• Performance awards went to:
  • Jessie Buckley (Hamnet) – Best Actress
  • Robert Aramayo (I Swear) – Best Actor
• Dale Willman: “The politically charged action thriller One Battle After Another has won six prizes, including best picture at Britain’s BAFTA awards.” [04:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The doors were open. Now they're closed.”
  • Michael Shapps, wine grower, on deteriorating U.S.-EU trade ([02:01])
• “It’s just great to see everybody, you know, happy.”
  • Ezekiel Rab, Black Joy Parade attendee ([04:05])
• “President Trump continues to warn that limited strikes against Iran are possible. If the talks fail.”
  • Dale Willman, on tense diplomatic climate ([03:38])

Useful Segments by Timestamp

• Major Storm Coverage: 00:17–00:40
• Mar-a-Lago Intruder: 00:40–01:09
• Tariffs & Trade Fallout: 01:09–02:16
• Voter Registration Deadlines: 02:16–03:13
• U.S.–Iran Nuclear Talks: 03:13–03:55
• Black Joy Parade: 03:55–04:33
• BAFTA Awards: 04:33–04:57