NPR News: 02-24-2026 12PM EST - NPR News Now

Loading summary

Transcript14 lines

[00:01]
Warby Parker Announcer
Support for NPR and the following message come from Warby Parker, the One Stop Shop for all your vision needs. They offer expertly crafted prescription eyewear plus contacts, eye exams and more for everything you need to see. Visit your nearest Warby Parker store or head to warbyparker.com
[00:20]
Lakshmi Singh
live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. In about nine hours, President Trump is scheduled to deliver a constitutionally mandated annual speech to a joint session of Congress, the State of the Union. It is an opportunity for the president of the United States to set the national agenda or perhaps reset it. A new NPR PBS News Marist poll suggests a majority of Americans believe the country is doing worse under Trump's watch. The president sees it differently, and he's expected to try to make that point on matters of the economy, military action overseas and military deployments at home, among other actions. NPR's Frank Ordonez spoke with a pollster
[01:01]
Ashley Koening
about all of it, but I did speak with Ashley Koening from Rutgers University, who told me that the administration faces an uphill battle.
[01:09]
There is so much on the table right now with the president going into the 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.
[01:25]
Lakshmi Singh
NPR's Frank Ordonia is reporting. U.S. customs agents are now collecting new global tariffs of 10%, not the 15% tariffs the president had plans for over the weekend. Farmers in the Northwest are scrambling to make sense of the tariffs just ahead of planting and harvesting some of spring's first crops. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Anna King has more in this field.
[01:49]
Anna King
North of Pasco, Washington, are recently mown down asparagus ferns. The ground will be tilled up soon. Readied for spring tariffs could really shift the domestic asparagus market.
[02:03]
Ashley Koening
It has the potential to help the domestic industry in the short term, but it is disruptive to the marketplace.
[02:12]
Anna King
That's Alan Schreiber, who heads up the Washington Asparagus Commission. He says farmers might not have to ship crops far away if they're not competing with Peru and Mexico. But it's still not yet clear if the tariffs will stick. For NPR News, I'm Anna King.
[02:28]
Lakshmi Singh
A new US Military task force is working to dismantle Mexican drug cartels.
[02:33]
Quill Lawrence
More from NPR's the Mexican Military carried out the raid that killed Demessio Seguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, who led the violent Jalisco New Generation cartel. But a new U.S. multi agency group shared key intelligence from satellites and intercepted conversations to make the raid possible. According to a US Official who is not authorized to speak publicly. Scores of people died across Mexico in the violence that followed the raid. Mexican officials fear a bloody power struggle to replace El Mencho and take over lucrative networks that smuggle drugs across the US Bor. But again, the US Task force is gathering intelligence and sharing it with Mexican forces as cartel operatives discuss succession. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
[03:16]
Lakshmi Singh
It's NPR. The U.S. house of Representatives is expected to vote later today on an aviation safety bill spurred by the deadly mid air Collision near Washington, D.C. nPR's Joel Rose reports. The bipartisan legislation has sparked internal disagreement among Republican lawmakers.
[03:36]
Joel Rose
The Roeder act, as it's known, would require wider use of a safety system known as ADS B, which transmits an aircraft's location. Federal safety investigators say that could have prevented the mid air collision of a U.S. army helicopter and a passenger jet that killed 67 people last year. The Senate approved the bill unanimously, and it has support from families of the crash victims. But it faces headwinds in the House, where some powerful Republican committee leaders have proposed their own bipartisan bill. The Pentagon also has concerns. After supporting the ROTOR act last year, the Pentagon now says it could create, quote, unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
[04:17]
Lakshmi Singh
More snow could be on the way to parts of the Northeast recovering from blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service is following a storm out of Canada that could hit the upper Great Lakes today and produce up to 2 inches of snow before it pushes into Buffalo, New York. The British House of Commons is allowing papers related to the former Prince Andrew's appointment as a trade envoy to be released to the public. Andrew is now the subject of a new investigation into sensitive information he is suspected of sharing with financier Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor denies any wrongdoing. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.
[04:59]
NPR Promo Announcer
Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news now@plus.NPR.org that's plus NPR. Org.

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – February 24, 2026, 12PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Overview

This concise five-minute update delivers the latest national and international headlines, with coverage spanning U.S. politics, trade developments, military actions, aviation safety reform, weather, and a high-profile UK investigation. Each segment presents clear reporting from NPR correspondents and affiliated regional experts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump's Forthcoming State of the Union

Overview:
President Trump is set to give the annual State of the Union address to Congress in nine hours. It’s framed as a key opportunity for him to shape or “reset” the national agenda amid waning public approval.
Public Opinion:
- A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll indicates most Americans believe the nation is doing worse under his administration.
- Trump intends to counter this perception during his address, focusing on economic performance, military actions, and domestic deployments.
Expert Analysis:
Ashley Koening, Rutgers University, outlines the challenges:

“There is so much on the table right now… partial shutdown, the economy, immigration or Iran, and then clearly him seeing his worst poll numbers right now during his second term.” (Ashley Koening, 01:08)
Reporting:
NPR’s Frank Ordoñez provides the poll summary and insight into administration concerns. (00:19–01:25)

2. New Tariffs and Impact on Northwest Farmers

Policy Change:
U.S. customs agents are implementing a revised global tariff rate of 10% (down from the planned 15%). This affects farmers just ahead of spring planting, especially in the Northwest.
On the Ground:
Anna King (Northwest Public Broadcasting) reports from asparagus country in Washington:
- Fields are being prepped for spring, but uncertainty around tariffs looms.
- Alan Schreiber, Washington Asparagus Commission:
  
  “It has the potential to help the domestic industry in the short term, but it is disruptive to the marketplace.” (Ashley Koening quoting Alan Schreiber, 02:02) “Farmers might not have to ship crops far away if they're not competing with Peru and Mexico. But it's still not yet clear if the tariffs will stick.” (Anna King, 02:11)
Reporting:
Anna King explains potential benefits and risks to local producers. (01:49–02:28)

3. U.S. Military Task Force & Mexican Cartel Takedown

Background:
A joint U.S.–Mexico operation led to the death of El Mencho, head of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, a major player in narco-violence.
Intelligence Sharing:
- U.S. intelligence (satellite data and intercepted communications) was pivotal in the raid.
- Concerns remain about increased violence and cartel succession struggles.
  
  “Scores of people died across Mexico in the violence that followed the raid. Mexican officials fear a bloody power struggle…” (Quill Lawrence, 02:32)
Ongoing Efforts:
A new multi-agency U.S. military task force continues to support Mexican authorities with intelligence as new cartel leadership emerges.
Reporting:
Quill Lawrence provides details on the operation and aftermath. (02:28–03:16)

4. Aviation Safety Legislation Following Fatal Collision

Upcoming Vote:
The House will vote on the bipartisan ROTOR Act, spurred by a deadly helicopter-passenger jet collision that killed 67 near Washington, D.C.
Legislative Details:
- The Act would mandate wider use of ADS-B, a system to transmit aircraft locations, which investigators believe could have prevented the crash.
- The Senate passed it unanimously; victim families support it.
Internal Disagreement:
- Some Republican House leaders propose an alternative, citing concerns.
- Pentagon now expresses reservations:
  
  “…it could create, quote, unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks.” (Joel Rose, 03:35)
Reporting:
Joel Rose outlines the political and institutional divides. (03:16–04:16)

5. Weather & International Developments

Snowstorm Updates:
More snow predicted for the Northeast, upper Great Lakes, and Buffalo, NY, as the region recovers from recent blizzard conditions.
UK Parliamentary Investigation:
- British House of Commons opens access to documents relating to Prince Andrew’s tenure as trade envoy.
- Prince Andrew is under new investigation over alleged sharing of sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Andrew denies wrongdoing.
Reporting:
Brief updates provided by Lakshmi Singh. (04:16–04:58)

Memorable Quotes

Ashley Koening (01:08):
“There is so much on the table right now… partial shutdown, the economy, immigration or Iran, and then clearly him seeing his worst poll numbers right now during his second term.”
Alan Schreiber, via Anna King (02:02):
“It has the potential to help the domestic industry in the short term, but it is disruptive to the marketplace.”
Quill Lawrence (02:32):
“Scores of people died across Mexico in the violence that followed the raid. Mexican officials fear a bloody power struggle…”
Joel Rose (03:35):
“…it could create, quote, unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks.”

Segment Timestamps

State of the Union & Polls: 00:19–01:25
Tariffs & Northwest Farmers: 01:25–02:28
U.S. Military & Mexican Cartels: 02:28–03:16
Aviation Safety Bill: 03:16–04:16
Weather & Prince Andrew Investigation: 04:16–04:58

For Further Listening

Listen to the full podcast for hourly updates on national and global headlines, or subscribe to NPR News Now+ for an ad-free experience.

Loading summary

Transcript14 lines

[00:01]
Warby Parker Announcer
Support for NPR and the following message come from Warby Parker, the One Stop Shop for all your vision needs. They offer expertly crafted prescription eyewear plus contacts, eye exams and more for everything you need to see. Visit your nearest Warby Parker store or head to warbyparker.com
[00:20]
Lakshmi Singh
live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. In about nine hours, President Trump is scheduled to deliver a constitutionally mandated annual speech to a joint session of Congress, the State of the Union. It is an opportunity for the president of the United States to set the national agenda or perhaps reset it. A new NPR PBS News Marist poll suggests a majority of Americans believe the country is doing worse under Trump's watch. The president sees it differently, and he's expected to try to make that point on matters of the economy, military action overseas and military deployments at home, among other actions. NPR's Frank Ordonez spoke with a pollster
[01:01]
Ashley Koening
about all of it, but I did speak with Ashley Koening from Rutgers University, who told me that the administration faces an uphill battle.
[01:09]
There is so much on the table right now with the president going into the 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.
[01:25]
Lakshmi Singh
NPR's Frank Ordonia is reporting. U.S. customs agents are now collecting new global tariffs of 10%, not the 15% tariffs the president had plans for over the weekend. Farmers in the Northwest are scrambling to make sense of the tariffs just ahead of planting and harvesting some of spring's first crops. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Anna King has more in this field.
[01:49]
Anna King
North of Pasco, Washington, are recently mown down asparagus ferns. The ground will be tilled up soon. Readied for spring tariffs could really shift the domestic asparagus market.
[02:03]
Ashley Koening
It has the potential to help the domestic industry in the short term, but it is disruptive to the marketplace.
[02:12]
Anna King
That's Alan Schreiber, who heads up the Washington Asparagus Commission. He says farmers might not have to ship crops far away if they're not competing with Peru and Mexico. But it's still not yet clear if the tariffs will stick. For NPR News, I'm Anna King.
[02:28]
Lakshmi Singh
A new US Military task force is working to dismantle Mexican drug cartels.
[02:33]
Quill Lawrence
More from NPR's the Mexican Military carried out the raid that killed Demessio Seguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, who led the violent Jalisco New Generation cartel. But a new U.S. multi agency group shared key intelligence from satellites and intercepted conversations to make the raid possible. According to a US Official who is not authorized to speak publicly. Scores of people died across Mexico in the violence that followed the raid. Mexican officials fear a bloody power struggle to replace El Mencho and take over lucrative networks that smuggle drugs across the US Bor. But again, the US Task force is gathering intelligence and sharing it with Mexican forces as cartel operatives discuss succession. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
[03:16]
Lakshmi Singh
It's NPR. The U.S. house of Representatives is expected to vote later today on an aviation safety bill spurred by the deadly mid air Collision near Washington, D.C. nPR's Joel Rose reports. The bipartisan legislation has sparked internal disagreement among Republican lawmakers.
[03:36]
Joel Rose
The Roeder act, as it's known, would require wider use of a safety system known as ADS B, which transmits an aircraft's location. Federal safety investigators say that could have prevented the mid air collision of a U.S. army helicopter and a passenger jet that killed 67 people last year. The Senate approved the bill unanimously, and it has support from families of the crash victims. But it faces headwinds in the House, where some powerful Republican committee leaders have proposed their own bipartisan bill. The Pentagon also has concerns. After supporting the ROTOR act last year, the Pentagon now says it could create, quote, unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
[04:17]
Lakshmi Singh
More snow could be on the way to parts of the Northeast recovering from blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service is following a storm out of Canada that could hit the upper Great Lakes today and produce up to 2 inches of snow before it pushes into Buffalo, New York. The British House of Commons is allowing papers related to the former Prince Andrew's appointment as a trade envoy to be released to the public. Andrew is now the subject of a new investigation into sensitive information he is suspected of sharing with financier Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in jail in 2019. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor denies any wrongdoing. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.
[04:59]
NPR Promo Announcer
Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news now@plus.NPR.org that's plus NPR. Org.