NPR News: 02-23-2026 3PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — 3PM EST — February 23, 2026

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This succinct NPR News Now episode provides a rapid update on significant news headlines as of February 23, 2026, at 3PM EST. Key topics include President Trump's anticipated State of the Union address, a crippling Nor’easter in the Northeast, the arrest of former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson, current Wall Street downturns, U.S. election redistricting battles, and a look at the risks and trends involving synthetic peptides.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Upcoming State of the Union Address

• Theme: High anticipation surrounds Trump’s forthcoming speech, set against a backdrop of low public sentiment and recent Supreme Court decisions.
• Backdrop: “The latest poll suggests a majority of Americans believe the country is worse off than a year ago. A key part is backlash over Trump’s global tariffs policy, which was largely struck down by the supreme court last week.” — Lakshmi Singh (00:19)
• Political Drama: Mara Liaison speculates whether Trump will directly criticize Supreme Court justices during the address, and whether he’ll meaningfully address affordability concerns, which voters care deeply about.
• Quote: “Will he repeat his insults, call them lapdogs and fools, or how much time he will be talking about affordability? That’s something he has struggled to do consistently for months.” — Mara Liaison (00:46)

2. Historic Nor’easter Paralyzes the Northeast

• Severity: Heavy snow at “2 to 3 inches an hour” with dangerous “wind gusts anywhere from 40 to 70 mph.”
• Impact: Over 40 million people are under blizzard warnings; widespread travel bans and power outages reported.
• Governor’s Warning: “We were seeing very dangerous situations on the road. Tree branches down and coming down, utility lines down, as well as whiteout conditions.” — Governor of New Jersey (01:37)
• Regional Effects: More than half a million without power from Virginia to New York; over 5,000 U.S. flights cancelled with thousands more delayed.

3. UK’s Former Ambassador Arrested in Epstein File Probe

• Details: Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador to Washington, arrested for “misconduct in public office” after ties with Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
• Escalating Scandal: He’s suspected of sharing confidential government information with Epstein, alongside Prince Andrew (King Charles’ brother), who was arrested days prior.
• Prime Minister’s Involvement: “Starmer has come close to losing his own job over his judgment in naming Mandelson in the first place.” — Lauren Frayer (02:47)

4. Financial Market Update

• Selloff: Wall Street is sharply down—Dow drops more than 800 points (-1.6%), S&P down 1%, Nasdaq falls 1.4%.
• Quote: “The Dow Jones industrial average is now down more than 800 points, or 1.6%, at 48,825.” — Lakshmi Singh (02:58); Repeat update at (04:40).

5. Utah Redistricting Legal Battle

• Court Decision: Federal judges uphold a new congressional map imposed by a state judge, after previous Republican-led map was ruled partisan gerrymandering.
• National Context: The conflict is part of wider U.S. redistricting disputes headlining the midterm election cycle.

6. Rising Trend and Risks: Synthetic Peptides in Wellness

• Popularity: Peptides are gaining traction among wellness enthusiasts who believe they boost health and recovery.
• Risk Factors: Most peptides are unproven in humans; only some like insulin and GLP-1 are FDA-approved.
• Expert Warning: “Most of the research has just been done on, like in rodents or, you know, in a plastic dish in a lab.” — Paul Knoffler (UC Davis School of Medicine) (04:21)
• Advice: Consult a doctor before use; beware of unregulated, potentially harmful products.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Trump and the Supreme Court:
  “Will he repeat his insults, call them lapdogs and fools…?”
  — Mara Liaison (00:46)
• On the Nor’easter’s Danger:
  “Tree branches down and coming down, utility lines down, as well as whiteout conditions.”
  — Governor of New Jersey (01:37)
• On Peptide Risks:
  “Most of the research has just been done on, like in rodents or… in a plastic dish in a lab.”
  — Paul Knoffler (04:21)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:14] — Opening headlines; Trump’s State of the Union preview
• [01:02] — Nor’easter conditions and regional impact
• [01:31] — New Jersey governor’s interview on the storm response
• [01:43] — Power outages and flight cancellations update
• [01:50] — Arrest of Peter Mandelson in UK Epstein probe
• [02:58] — Wall Street plunge and continued market coverage at [04:40]
• [03:12] — Utah redistricting ruling and national election context
• [04:04] — Synthetic peptides trend and health risks

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This five-minute NPR News Now segment delivers concise, vital updates on domestic and international developments, with a timely blend of politics, crises, and science, maintaining NPR’s signature tone of clarity and urgency.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is preparing to deliver a high stakes State of the Union address in a high stakes year months ahead of the midterm elections. The latest poll suggests a majority of Americans believe the country is worse off than a year ago. A key part is backlash over Trump's global tariffs policy, which was largely struck down by the supreme court last week. NPR's Mara Liaison reports.

[Mara Liaison]

The state of the Unions are any president's biggest opportunities to speak to the public. And the big question for me is how much time Trump will spend in his State of the Union address excoriating the Supreme Court justices who will be sitting right in front of him. Will he repeat his insults, call them lapdogs and fools, or how much time he will be talking about affordability? That's something he has struggled to do consistently for months.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Mara liaison reporting. A major nor' Easter is underway. The National Weather Service says this morning's latest satellite imagery showed very heavy Snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches an hour. Wind gusts anywhere from 40 to 70 mph. Conditions make for more treacherous whiteout conditions and power outages. More than 40 million people across the northeastern US are under blizzard warnings. Governor of New Jersey tells WABC TV not all roads are passable.

[Governor of New Jersey]

Extended the travel ban until noon today because we were seeing very dangerous situations on the road. Tree branches down and coming down, utility lines down, as well as whiteout conditions.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Governor Cheryl Paraoutage US Reports more than half a million people from Virginia to New York have no electricity. According to the aviation site FlightAware, more than 5,000 flights in and out of the US were canceled today and additional 2,000 were delayed. The United Kingdom's former ambassador to Washington has been arrested in an investigation related to the Epstein files. Peter Mandelson is a veteran politician from Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ruling Labour Party. NPR's Lauren Frere has this from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

Footage shows Peter Mandelson being led out of his North London home by plainclothes officers. In a statement, police say he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. That's the same language they used to describe the arrest of King Charles brother Andrew four days earlier. Both men are accused of sharing confidential government information with Jeffrey Epstein. Neither has been charged nor commented. Police say Mandelson has been taken in for questioning after searches of two properties. Prime Minister Starmer fired Mandelson as ambassador last fall after the extent of his ties to Epstein came out. And Starmer has come close to losing his own job over his judgment in naming Mandelson in the first place. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow Jones industrial average is now down more than 800 points, or 1.6%, at 48,825. The S&P has fallen 1%. The Dow is down 1.4%. It's NPR News. Federal judges have denied a Republican attempt to block a new congressional map in Utah. The map was imposed by a state judge. It gives Democrats a better chance of picking up a congressional seat. The judge had ruled that a previous map by Republican lawmakers violated state rules against partisan gerrymandering. The legal battle in Utah comes as Democrats and Republicans have engaged in a nationwide redistricting battle ahead of this year's midterm elections. Some wellness enthusiasts are turning to synthetic peptides to optimize their health. They believe these molecules can help them fight off illness, make them stronger or heal faster, among other benefits. But many popular peptides, peptides are experimental and as Sarah Bowden tells us, that comes with risk.

[Sarah Bowden]

Some peptides are FDA approved, like insulin and GLP1 weight loss drugs. Others are at best unproven because they haven't been studied in humans for their efficacy and safety. That concerns Paul Knoffler, a Salem molecular biologist at UC Davis School of Medicine.

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Most of the research has just been done on, like in rodents or, you know, in a plastic dish in a lab.

[Sarah Bowden]

If you still want to try peptides, Knopfler says you should talk to your doctor first. And don't just buy them off the Internet. They could be fake or contain ingredients that are toxic to your body. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Bowden.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Quick look at Wall street again. The Nasdaq is down 1.4%, or 319 points. The S&P is now off 81 more than 1%. The Dow is down 812 points. It's nice.

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