NPR News Now - February 24, 2026, 11AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Length: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now provides a brisk update on major national and international headlines, covering a range of topics: an NPR investigation into missing documents in the Epstein files related to former President Trump, President Trump's upcoming State of the Union alongside fresh global tariffs and Ukraine developments, upheaval at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), disastrous weather events in the Northeast and Oklahoma-Kansas, and a scientific discovery about horse whinnies.

Key Discussion Points

1. Epstein Files Investigation & Missing Trump Documents

[00:13–01:07]

• NPR Investigation reveals that "dozens of pages of documents that mention President Trump are missing from the Epstein files database." (Korva Coleman)
• The missing documents relate to "accusations Trump sexually abused a minor more than four decades ago."
• Summary of Findings:
  • Internal FBI/DOJ files show investigators interviewed a woman four times about abuse by Trump in the mid-80s when she was 13.
  • Only her first interview is included in public files, and it contains "no mention of Trump."
• Justice Department declined NPR's requests to explain the missing documents or comment on their contents.
• White House Statement:
  • A spokeswoman asserted Trump was "totally exonerated" and said he has done "more for Epstein's victims than anyone before him."

Notable Quote:
"The Justice Department declined to answer NPR's questions on the record about these specific files, what's in them and why they're not published."
— Stephen Fowler, [00:52]

2. State of the Union, Tariffs, and US-Ukraine Relations

[01:07–02:10]

• President Trump's State of the Union Address:
  • Scheduled for tonight, with expected focus on new tariffs and the Ukraine conflict.
• New Tariffs:
  • Overnight, President Trump imposed "temporary global tariffs of 10% on goods imported into the US."
  • This follows the US Supreme Court overturning some Trump tariffs last week.
  • Trump expressed intent to raise tariffs to 15%.
• US-Ukraine Diplomatic Tension:
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the US remains supportive.
  • Ukraine is awaiting formal US agreement to security guarantees under a US-backed ceasefire with Russia.

Notable Quote:
"We have mostly everything, I think everything in the paper, but it's not still signed. It’s not signed by the United States. This is the first, I think that the United States want to sign security guarantees at the same, very same moment when the 20 points plan will be accepted by all of us."
— Volodymyr Zelensky, [01:47]

3. CDC Leadership Instability

[02:10–03:13]

• Leadership Turmoil:
  • Dr. Ralph Abraham (principal deputy director) left after only two months; previously banned vaccine promotion as Louisiana's Surgeon General.
  • During his brief CDC tenure, he commented that possibly losing "measles elimination status would be 'not really significant.'"
  • CDC has had a permanent director for only one out of the last twelve months; Acting Director Jim O’Neill left earlier in February.
  • Dr. Jay Bhattacharya (NIH Director) is stepping in as acting CDC Director while still leading NIH.

Notable Quote:
"He told reporters on a press call that the US potentially losing its measles elimination status would be, quote, not really significant."
— Selena Simmons Duffin, [02:38]

4. Severe Blizzard in the Northeast & Range Road Wildfire

[03:13–04:02]

• Northeast Blizzard:
  • From Delaware to Massachusetts, over 2 feet of snow in many areas; parts of Rhode Island saw over 3 feet.
  • Wind gusts reached hurricane strength.
  • Over 250,000 customers in eastern Massachusetts without power.
• Oklahoma–Kansas Range Road Wildfire:
  • The fire has burned nearly 450 square miles.
  • Containment stands at about 65%.

5. The Science of Horse Whinnies

[04:02–04:51]

• Discovery:
  • Horse whinnies are composed of "two tones, one low and one high." Rare in mammals.
  • Researchers filmed stallion vocal tracts, performed CT scans on larynxes, and recorded horses with a disease affecting vocal folds.
  • Conclusion: The unique sound is a blend of "vocal fold vibration" (low pitch) and a "whistling above the larynx" (high pitch).

Notable Quotes:
"We finally know how horses produce these two tones at the same time."
— Elodie Briefferre, University of Copenhagen, [04:29]

"A whinny is a unique blend of vocal fold vibration that generates the low pitch and a whistling above the larynx that produce the high pitch."
— Ari Daniel, [04:32]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On missing Epstein-Trump files:
  "Justice Department declined to answer NPR's questions on the record about these specific files, what's in them and why they're not published."
  — Stephen Fowler, [00:52]

• Zelensky on Ukraine’s U.S. Security Guarantees:
  "It's not signed by the United States. ... when the 20 points plan will be accepted by all of us."
  — Volodymyr Zelensky, [01:47]

• On CDC deputy director’s view of measles status:
  "Not really significant."
  — Selena Simmons Duffin quoting Dr. Ralph Abraham, [02:38]

• Horse whinnies discovery:
  "We finally know how horses produce these two tones at the same time."
  — Elodie Briefferre, [04:29]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Epstein Investigation / Trump Documents: [00:13–01:07]
• State of the Union / Tariffs / Ukraine: [01:07–02:10]
• CDC Leadership Changes: [02:10–03:13]
• Blizzard & Wildfire: [03:13–04:02]
• Horse Whinny Science: [04:02–04:51]

This summary captures the morning’s top news for listeners looking for a concise but thorough understanding of major current events, from political investigations to scientific breakthroughs.