NPR News: 02-24-2026 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 24, 2026, 10AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: The episode provides a brisk summary of the major U.S. and international news events.

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Overview

This episode of NPR News Now covers major political, economic, and social stories as of the morning of February 24, 2026. Key topics include President Trump's upcoming State of the Union, new economic data, U.S.–Iran negotiations, ongoing investigations related to Jeffrey Epstein and President Trump, a New England blizzard, and falling prices for obesity medications.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s State of the Union & Political Landscape

• Context: President Trump is set to deliver the State of the Union address at a time of turmoil.
• Expert Analysis:
  • Ashley Koening (Rutgers pollster): "There is so much on the table right now ... between whether we're talking about the partial shutdown, the economy, immigration or Iran, and then clearly him seeing his worst poll numbers right now during his second term." (00:38)
  • NPR poll finds 60% of Americans say the country is worse off than a year ago.
• Focus: Trump is expected to highlight accomplishments, address the cost of living, and lay groundwork for the midterm elections.
• Reporter: Franco Ordonez

2. Economic & Market Update

• Stock Market:
  • Markets opened higher; Dow Jones up 150 points.
  • Home Depot stocks performed well despite slumping home sales.
• Tariffs:
  • Old tariffs ended, and new 10% tariffs under Trump began overnight.
  • Trump announced a plan to increase tariffs to 15% soon.
• Tech Acquisition:
  • Meta (Facebook’s parent) plans to buy up to $100 billion worth of chips from AMD for AI efforts, possibly taking a 10% stake in AMD.
• Reporter: Scott Horsley

3. U.S.–Iran Nuclear Talks

• Upcoming Talks: U.S. and Iran to hold nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday.
• Quote from Iran’s Vice Foreign Minister, Majid Takhtravanchi:
  • "If the US Attacks Iran, how can anybody expect Iran to be silent? We have to respond to U.S. assets in the region, but our definite preference is to go along the line of peace. That is why the next Geneva meeting is very important." (02:17)
• Military Context: U.S. is enhancing military assets in the region, but Iran emphasizes a preference for a peaceful solution.

4. Justice Department & Epstein File Removals

• NPR Investigation:
  • Justice Department reportedly withheld or removed documents from the Epstein files, specifically regarding allegations that Trump sexually abused a minor (~1983).
  • FBI interviewed the accuser four times as an adult, with only one interview appearing in the public database, sans mention of Trump.
  • Trump has consistently denied the allegations.

5. Savannah Guthrie’s Plea for Missing Mother

• Development:
  • Savannah Guthrie released a new video pleading for the return of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, kidnapped more than three weeks ago.
  • The family offers a $1 million reward.
• Quote from Ashley Koening (Guthrie family friend):
  • "Please keep praying without ceasing. We still believe. We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home." (03:27)
  • The family acknowledges the possibility that she may be "gone."

6. New England Blizzard & Aftermath

• Impact:
  • Nor’easter dropped up to three feet of snow in Rhode Island; much of New Jersey got two feet.
  • Air and rail travel heavily disrupted; thousands without electricity.
  • Hundreds of schools remain closed or have delayed reopening.
• Meteorological Details:
  • Gusts above 50 mph; widespread tree and power line damage.
• Reporter: Bruce Conviser

7. Lowered Prices for Obesity Medications

• Latest:
  • Pharma giant Novo Nordisk will lower Ozempic and Wegovy list prices to $675/month (down from over $1,000), beginning next year.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ashley Koening on Political Climate:

  "There is so much on the table right now ... him seeing his worst poll numbers right now during his second term." (00:38)

• NPR poll finding:
  "60% of Americans say the country is worse off than a year ago." (00:54)

• Iran’s Vice Foreign Minister on Response to U.S.:

  "If the US Attacks Iran, how can anybody expect Iran to be silent? ... our definite preference is to go along the line of peace." (02:17)

• Savannah Guthrie Family’s Appeal:

  "Please keep praying without ceasing. We still believe ... that she can come home." (03:27)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:11 – News headlines and State of the Union preview
• 00:22 – Trump’s State of the Union challenges (Franco Ordonez & Ashley Koening)
• 01:08 – Economic news, tariffs, tech acquisitions (Scott Horsley)
• 01:56 – Iran nuclear talks preview / Takhtravanchi interview
• 02:38 – Epstein file investigation and allegations
• 03:27 – Savannah Guthrie family plea
• 03:38 – Blizzard impacts in New England (Bruce Conviser)
• 04:30 – Ozempic/Wegovy price drop

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Conclusion

In just five minutes, this episode provides succinct, reliable updates on American politics, global diplomacy, economic trends, a high-profile missing person case, severe winter weather, and changes to vital healthcare costs. The reporting balances urgency and reflection, giving listeners a comprehensive snapshot of the day’s news.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term tonight. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports.

[Franco Ordonez]

The speech is a chance for President Trump to not only tout his accomplishments, but set the stage for the upcoming midterms and and focus on plans to tackle the high costs for everyday Americans. Rutgers University pollster Ashley Koening says the administration faces an uphill battle.

[Ashley Koening]

There is so much on the table right now with the president going into this speech between whether we're talking about the partial shutdown, the economy, immigration or Iran, and then clearly him seeing his worst poll numbers right now during his second term.

[Franco Ordonez]

The speech comes at a time when many don't feel great about the State of the Union. And the new NPR poll finds 60% of Americans say the country is worse off than a year ago. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Stocks opened higher this morning as President Trump's latest tariffs take effect. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped about 150 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Customs agents stopped collecting President Trump's outlawed tariffs overnight and began collecting the new tariffs Trump ordered to replace them. For now, imports are being taxed at 10%, although Trump announced plans over the weekend to boost that to 15%. Facebook parent Meta plans to buy as much as $100 billion worth of chips from Advanced Micro Devices to power the tech company's artificial intelligence push. The deal also includes an option for Meta to buy a 10% stake in AMD. Stock at home Depot opened higher after the company reported better than expected profits for the most recent quarter. Sales at the home improvement chain have been fairly steady despite the slump in home home sales. Scott Horsley, NPR news, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

The U.S. is preparing for further nuclear talks with Iran as the US Continues to build military assets in the Middle East. Iran says the talks will happen in Geneva Thursday. Iran's vice foreign minister is Majid Takhtravanchi. He says Iran is ready to reach an agreement, but he says the whole region will suffer if the US Attacks Iran.

[Majid Takhtravanchi]

If the US Attacks Iran, how can anybody expect Iran to be silent? We have to respond to U.S. assets in the region, but our definite preference is to go along the line of peace. That is why the next Geneva meeting is very important.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition, an NPR investigation finds the Justice Department has withheld or removed some pages in the public database of the Jeffrey Epstein files. These missing files are related to allegations that President Trump sexually abused a minor around 1983. There are records that show the FBI interviewed this accuser of Trump four times when she was an adult. But only one of the interviews is in the public database, and it does not mention Trump at all. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing. This is NPR today. Show host Savannah Guthrie has released a new video pleading for her mother's return. Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home more than three weeks ago. Savannah Guthrie says her family is now offering a $1 million reward.

[Ashley Koening]

Please keep praying without ceasing. We still believe. We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home.

[Korva Coleman]

Bud Guthrie admits the family realizes that their mother may be quote, gone. This week's massive nor' easter has left three feet of snow in parts of Rhode Island. Bruce Conviser, tell us much of New Jersey got about two feet of snow.

[Bruce Conviser]

Air travel ground to a halt Sunday and Monday, but today more than half the scheduled flights departing from Newark Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia are expected to take off. Rail travel on New Jersey Transit is expected to resume today, but with limited service. Buses will be running again. The blizzard was also packing strong winds, including gusts topping 50 miles per hour. Those winds brought down trees and snap power lines a overnight. More than 40,000 remained without electricity, and nearly four hundred and fifty schools across the state will remain closed today or reopen late. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Konfeiser in Greenbrook, New Jersey.

[Korva Coleman]

The prices of obesity, fighting drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy will come down. Drug maker Novo Nordisk says that starting next year, the list price will be $675 per month, a supply. That list price is currently more than $1,000 per month. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

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