NPR News Now – 9PM EST, February 23, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes
Episode Overview
This edition of NPR News Now delivers a concise yet comprehensive update on the day’s top news stories across U.S. politics, the Supreme Court, global energy crises, FDA policy, and a rare celestial event. The episode balances hard news—such as political polling, judicial rulings, and economic updates—with science and health reporting, all within a tightly paced five-minute format.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Americans’ Views Ahead of the State of the Union Address
[00:17–01:19]
- President Trump’s first State of the Union address of his second term is scheduled for tomorrow.
- Polling Insight:
- New NPR/PBS News/Marist survey shows 57% of Americans believe the State of the Union is "not strong," a 4% increase from the previous year.
- Major partisan divides:
- 8 in 10 Democrats and two-thirds of independents express skepticism.
- 73% of Republicans say the State of the Union is strong.
- Educational gap:
- 69% of those with a college degree say the Union is weak; those without degrees are evenly split 50/50.
- “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.” (Domenico Montanaro, [00:54])
- Political Context:
- These perceptions pose a challenge for President Trump, especially in the midterm election year.
Memorable Quote:
“That presents a political challenge for Trump’s State of the Union address in this midterm election year.”
— Domenico Montanaro ([01:13])
2. Federal Judge Blocks Special Counsel Report Release
[01:19–02:07]
- Legal Update:
- Judge Aileen Cannon (appointed by Trump) has blocked parts of Jack Smith’s special counsel report regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents.
- Reasoning:
- Judge Cannon cited “legal errors in the way the special counsel got his job” as grounds for barring further action, including preparation of the final report.
- She previously dismissed indictments on obstruction and unlawful retention charges.
- Concerns about grand jury information and the presumption of innocence.
Memorable Quote:
“She says to release it would damage the presumption of innocence that Trump is owed.”
— Carrie Johnson ([01:55])
3. Supreme Court to Hear Fossil Fuel Industry’s Climate Case
[02:07–03:02]
- Judicial Action:
- Supreme Court will review a case filed by oil and gas companies (including ExxonMobil and SunCorp) attempting to block state-level climate change lawsuits.
- Industry Position:
- Arguing greenhouse gas emissions are a federal issue; concerned state lawsuits could create “a tangle of local regulations.”
- Department of Justice:
- Supports energy companies’ position.
- Local Government View:
- Boulder, CO asserts they are pursuing damages strictly for local harms.
Memorable Quote:
“Energy companies… argued greenhouse gas emissions are a federal issue and that US Energy policy can’t be set through state courts.”
— Michael Copley ([02:34])
4. Market Reaction to Tariffs
[03:02–03:20]
- Economic News:
- Stock markets slumped after President Trump increased tariffs:
- S&P 500 down 1%
- Dow down more than 1.5%
- Nasdaq down more than 1%
- Stock markets slumped after President Trump increased tariffs:
5. Slovakia-Ukraine Energy Update
[03:20–03:55]
- International Spotlight:
- Slovakia is halting emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine, escalating an ongoing oil delivery conflict.
- Prime Minister Fico cites oil shortages after Russian oil shipments halted (Ukraine blames Russian drone strikes).
- Fico threatens to oppose Ukraine’s EU membership.
6. FDA Eases Rules for Treating Ultra-Rare Diseases
[03:55–04:33]
- Health Policy:
- New FDA proposal would allow approval of advanced treatments (e.g., gene editing) for extremely rare diseases without traditional preliminary efficacy studies.
- Safeguards:
- Approval only with plausible efficacy evidence; follow-up studies required for confirmation.
Memorable Quote:
“The new policy is designed to make state-of-the-art technologies like gene editing available to patients in situations where the disease is so rare that it would be impossible to conduct a study first.”
— Rob Stein ([04:02])
7. Upcoming Planetary Event
[04:33–04:56]
- Science Note:
- On Saturday, a "planetary parade" will feature six planets visible in the western sky.
- Mercury, Venus, Saturn: near horizon, visible to naked eye.
- Jupiter: higher up.
- Uranus, Neptune: require binoculars/telescopes.
- On Saturday, a "planetary parade" will feature six planets visible in the western sky.
Notable Quotes
- “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.”
— Domenico Montanaro ([00:54]) - “She says to release it would damage the presumption of innocence that Trump is owed.”
— Carrie Johnson ([01:55]) - “Energy companies… argued greenhouse gas emissions are a federal issue and that US Energy policy can’t be set through state courts.”
— Michael Copley ([02:34]) - “The new policy is designed to make state-of-the-art technologies like gene editing available to patients in situations where the disease is so rare that it would be impossible to conduct a study first.”
— Rob Stein ([04:02])
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Topic | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|------------| | Public skepticism on State of the Union | 00:17–01:19| | Judge blocks special counsel report | 01:19–02:07| | Supreme Court takes up climate lawsuits | 02:07–03:02| | Stock market reaction to tariffs | 03:02–03:20| | Slovakia-Ukraine oil delivery dispute | 03:20–03:55| | FDA policy on rare diseases | 03:55–04:33| | Planetary parade event | 04:33–04:56|
Summary compiled for listeners who want a clear, detailed outline of the top stories from this episode of NPR News Now.
