NPR News: 02-23-2026 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: 02-23-2026 6AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: February 23, 2026
Length: 5 minutes
Format: Concise hourly news update

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of breaking national and international news, touching on a major winter storm on the US East Coast, the political climate ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union address, changes in US tariffs, the killing of a major Mexican drug lord, a security breach at President Trump’s Florida estate, and updates on airport security operations. The tone remains direct, factual, and urgent, with brief expert commentary and field reports.

---

Major Headlines & Key Discussion Points

1. Massive Nor’easter Hits U.S. East Coast

[00:15–00:57]

• Blizzard warnings remain active from Virginia's coast up to Maine’s Canadian border.
• Impact on New York City:
  • Over two inches of snowfall per hour overnight.
  • Streets deserted following a citywide state of emergency and travel ban.
  • More than 3,000 flight cancellations at three major airports.
  • Tens of thousands lose power across New Jersey.
• Quote:

  “Snow fell at a rate of more than 2 inches per hour as building maintenance workers pushed snow blowers through the night trying to keep sidewalks clear.”
  —Steve Kastenbaum, [00:31]

• The situation is described as historic and severely disruptive.

---

2. U.S. Political Climate & Upcoming State of the Union

[00:57–02:00]

• President Trump to deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term.
• New NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll Findings:
  • 57% of 1,400+ Americans polled say the State of the Union is "not strong" (up 4 points from last year).
  • 80% of Democrats and two-thirds of independents are pessimistic, while 73% of Republicans rate it as "strong."
  • Notable splits by education (69% of college graduates find it weak) and gender.
  • 60% believe the country is worse off than a year ago.
  • Most see Trump’s policy direction as "change for the worse."
• Quote:

  “That presents a political challenge for Trump's State of the Union address in this midterm election year.”
  —Domenico Montanaro, [01:56]

---

3. Major Changes to U.S. Tariffs & International Reactions

[02:00–03:10]

• Starting tonight, the U.S. will stop collecting many Trump-imposed tariffs, per a Supreme Court order.
• President Trump plans to reimpose a 15% global tariff using different legal authority.
• International Impact:
  • China is reviewing the situation.
  • European officials are alarmed, reacting strongly to the unstable trade policy.
  • Effects on Businesses:
    • Michael Shapps, a wine grower importing/exporting transatlantically, notes rising costs and dwindling business prospects.
    • “The doors were open. Now they're closed.” —Michael Shapps, [02:56]
  • Many European wine growers are exiting the U.S. market, disrupting historic trade ties.
  • EU officials warn against being, “taken hostage by the Trump administration and its tariffs.” —Paraphrased, [02:58]

---

4. Organized Crime Leader Killed in Mexico

[03:10–04:13]

• Mexican military kills Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), head of the Jalisco New Generation cartel.
• The U.S. had a $15 million bounty on him for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine.
• Aftermath:
  • Widespread violence erupts in Jalisco: vehicles and businesses set on fire.
  • El Mencho died en route to Mexico City after being wounded.
  • His death leaves a "power vacuum," often a precursor to further violence.
• Quote:

  “El Mencho’s death now leaves a power vacuum in Mexico, and that is usually followed by intense violence.”
  —Eder Peralta, [04:07]

---

5. Intruder Killed at President Trump’s Florida Estate

[04:13–04:36]

• Incident: An armed intruder breached Trump’s Florida estate carrying a shotgun and a gas can.
• Secret Service and sheriff’s deputy responded with lethal force; the suspect (Austin Martin, 21, of North Carolina) was killed.
• President Trump was in Washington, D.C. at the time; no other injuries reported.

---

6. Airport Security Update

[04:36–04:55]

• Despite federal shutdown-induced confusion, TSA’s PreCheck program remains functional.
• Initial suspension of PreCheck was reversed and operations continue as normal.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Description | |-----------|--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:31 | Steve Kastenbaum | “Snow fell at a rate of more than 2 inches per hour as building maintenance workers pushed snow blowers through the night…” | | 01:56 | Domenico Montanaro | “That presents a political challenge for Trump's State of the Union address in this midterm election year.” | | 02:56 | Michael Shapps | “The doors were open. Now they're closed.” | | 04:07 | Eder Peralta | “El Mencho’s death now leaves a power vacuum in Mexico, and that is usually followed by intense violence.” |

---

Additional Quick Notes

• Wall Street futures opened lower.
• European and Chinese officials are monitoring and potentially preparing responses to U.S. tariff maneuvers.
• No new updates on the ongoing government shutdown beyond mentions of its effect on federal agencies.

---

Useful Timestamps

• Blizzard/Nor’easter Coverage: [00:15–00:57]
• State of the Union/Poll Results: [00:57–02:00]
• Tariffs/Business Impact: [02:00–03:10]
• El Mencho & Mexican Cartel Violence: [03:10–04:13]
• Florida Estate Intruder/PreCheck Update: [04:13–04:55]

---

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive yet concise brief of the featured NPR News Now episode.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from Charles Schwab. When it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices like full service, wealth management and advice when you need it. You can also invest on your own and trade on thinkorswim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. Blizzard warnings are still up from Virginia's Atlantic coast to part of Maine's border with Canada. The massive nor' easter is also pounding New York City, as reporter Steve Kastenbaum tells us.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

Snow fell at a rate of more than 2 inches per hour as building maintenance workers pushed snow blowers through the night trying to keep sidewalks clear. New York streets were deserted after the mayor declared a state of emergency and banned unnecessary travel. Air traffic came to a halt with more than 3,000 flights canceled at the area's three airports. The storm knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes across New Jersey.

[Korva Coleman]

Steve Kastenbaum reporting. President Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term tomorrow night. A new NPR PBS News Marist poll shows that Americans are skeptical of how things are going in the country. NPR's Domenico Montanaro explains 57% of the

[Domenico Montanaro]

more than 1,400 people that Marist surveyed say the State of the Union is not strong. That's a 4 point increase from a year ago and includes 8 in 10 Democrats and 2 thirds of independents. Republicans largely take the opposite view. With Trump in office, 73% of Republicans say the State of the Union is strong. The splits by education and gender are also notable. 69% of college degree holders say the State of the Union is weak, while those without degrees are split 50, 50. What's more, six in 10 say the country is worse off than a year ago. And most describe the direction that Trump is moving the country as change for the worse. That presents a political challenge for Trump's State of the Union address in this midterm election year. Domenico Montana, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Starting late tonight, the US Government will stop collecting many of the tariffs President Trump initially imposed last year. That's following last Friday's U.S. supreme Court ruling. But Trump said over the weekend he'll still impose a 15% global tariff. He'll use a different legal authority. China says it's doing a full assessment of the trade situation, and NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Europeans say they're watching the new tariffs closely.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Michael Shapps is a wine grower in Burgundy, France and Virginia, so he imports and exports both ways.

[Michael Shapps]

It's been crazy. The up and downs on both sides of the Atlantic.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Shaps says business thrived when there were no tariffs. Now he has to pay the higher costs himself or pass them on to his customers. He says many wine growers are pulling out of the US Market and tariffs are ruining business between the US and eu, long each other's largest trading partners.

[Michael Shapps]

The doors were open. Now they're closed.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The whiplash of the last 48 hours has many European officials calling to fight back and not be, quote, taken hostage by the Trump administration and its tariffs. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in premarket trading, futures are lower. This is npr. The Mexican military has killed one of that country's most powerful drug lords, a man also sought by the United States. As NPR's Eder Peralta reports, his death has unleashed a wave of violence.

[Eder Peralta]

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes was better known as El Mencho and he turned the Jalisco New Generation cartel into one of the most powerful organized crime groups in the world. The US was offering a $15 million bounty for El Mencho, accusing his cartel of making billions of dollars by shipping fentanyl and cocaine to the U.S. mexico's defense ministry said El Mencho was injured during an operation to capture him in the state of Jalisco. He died while being airlifted to Mex City. At the same time, members of his cartel have unleashed violence across the state. In Guadaljara and Puerto Vallarta, armed men have set cars and businesses on fire. El Mencho's death now leaves a power vacuum in Mexico, and that is usually followed by intense violence. Ada Pearlta, NPR News, Mexico City.

[Korva Coleman]

Federal officials are investigating an intruder who got into President Trump's Florida estate yesterday morning carrying a shotgun and a gas can. Secret Service agents and a sheriff's deputy fired shots at the man and killed him. Trump was in Washington, D.C. no one else was injured. Officials identified the man as 21 year old Austin Martin of North Carolina. The Transportation Security Administration, or tsa, says its pre check program at airports is still up and running. That's despite Saturday's announcement from the Department of Homeland Security it would be suspended. That's because the agency is still partially shut down. This is NPR News.

[Commercial Announcer]

This message comes from Midi Health introducing agewell Longevity Care, designed by women for women. Women can feel overlooked by the healthcare industry, especially when it comes to aging. Midi Health offers personalized services conveniently accessible through telehealth visits and covered by major insurance providers. Your health is worth it. Book your virtual Visit [e-mail] that's joinmidi.com.