NPR News Now – February 24, 2026, 2PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers major news from the United States and around the world for the afternoon of February 24, 2026. Anchored by Lakshmi Singh, the stories focus on President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address and the political divides over his economic and tariff policies, ongoing legal action over alleged surveillance by federal immigration agents, the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, newly released documents concerning former Prince Andrew, breakthroughs in horse vocalization science, and a stock market update.

Key Stories & Insights

1. Preview: President Trump's State of the Union

• (00:14–01:04)

• President Trump is scheduled to deliver the State of the Union address tonight amid skepticism from voters across parties about his economic management and tariffs.
• Unfavorable polling highlights dissatisfaction, particularly with the cost of living and overall economic direction.

Voices from the Public

• Karen Borman, Democrat from New York:
  Quote (00:41):
  “The cost of living is still up and the way Trump is making a mess out of this whole economy, I don't even know what's going on.”
• Deanna Killen, Texas Republican:
  Quote (00:56):
  “I would say I am extremely worried where the US Dollar is going as far as how it will affect my business.”

Key Point

• The State of the Union is anticipated to address these concerns along with the possibility of Trump criticizing the Supreme Court, which recently struck down his global tariff policy in a 6-3 decision.

2. Federal Lawsuit over Alleged DHS Surveillance in Maine

• (01:04–02:12)

• A federal lawsuit in Maine claims Department of Homeland Security agents illegally surveilled people who film or observe immigration enforcement operations.
• Plaintiffs argue this violates the First Amendment by retaliating against citizen observers.

Notable Moment

• Colleen Fagan, observer in Portland, Maine:
  (Recalling an agent’s comment)
  Quote (01:51):
  “...and now you're considered a domestic terrorist, the agent said.”

DHS Response

• DHS denies maintaining a database on domestic terrorists and asserts its methods adhere to the U.S. Constitution.

3. Four Years Since Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

• (02:12–02:57)

• The war continues with no resolution in sight, despite U.S.-led negotiation efforts.
• The Kremlin demands territory; Ukraine seeks security guarantees not yet offered by the U.S. On-the-ground advances remain slow and costly.

Insight from Moscow

• Charles Maynes, NPR Correspondent:
  Quote (02:22):
  “The Kremlin says its military will simply take what diplomacy doesn't deliver. Despite Russian forces going up against overstretched Ukrainian defenses, Russian battlefield advances have come at a glacial pace and with heavy losses.”

Russian Economic Fallout

• Roughly 40% of Russia’s budget is now dedicated to wartime security, yet recent growth has stalled and contraction looms.

4. Prince Andrew Investigation

• (02:57–03:47)

• The UK House of Commons is releasing official papers about Prince Andrew’s time as trade envoy.
• Andrew faces a new inquiry into sensitive information he’s suspected of sharing with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
• Andrew Mountbatten Windsor denies any wrongdoing.

5. New Research on the Complexity of Horse Whinnies

• (03:47–04:40)

• Scientists have unraveled the mechanics behind the horse’s distinct two-tone whinny.
• Research included video analysis and CT scans of horse larynxes, and audio recordings of horses with vocal fold paralysis.

Notable Quotes

• Ari Daniel, NPR Reporter:
  Quote (03:47):
  “A horse’s whinny is a far more complex sound than you might expect.”

• Elodie Brieferre, Animal Behavioral Scientist, University of Copenhagen:
  Quote (04:17):
  “We finally know how horses produce these two tones at the same time.”

• The low pitch arises from vocal fold vibrations, while the high pitch is created by whistling above the larynx.

6. Stock Market Update

• (04:40–04:53)

• All major indices are up:
  • Dow: +450 points (almost 1%)
  • S&P: +53 points
  • Nasdaq: +240 points (more than 1%)

Memorable Quotes

• Karen Borman (00:41):
  “The cost of living is still up and the way Trump is making a mess out of this whole economy, I don't even know what's going on.”
• Deanna Killen (00:56):
  “I would say I am extremely worried where the US Dollar is going as far as how it will affect my business.”
• Unnamed DHS Agent (via Colleen Fagan, 01:51):
  “…and now you’re considered a domestic terrorist, the agent said.”
• Charles Maynes (02:22):
  “The Kremlin says its military will simply take what diplomacy doesn't deliver…”
• Elodie Brieferre (04:17):
  “We finally know how horses produce these two tones at the same time.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Start | End | |------------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | President Trump’s State of the Union, economy | 00:14 | 01:04 | | Supreme Court tariffs decision, lawsuit in ME | 01:04 | 02:12 | | Ukraine War Anniversary & Russian economy | 02:12 | 02:57 | | Prince Andrew investigation | 02:57 | 03:47 | | Research on horse whinnies | 03:47 | 04:40 | | Stock Market Update | 04:40 | 04:53 |

This episode provides a tight overview of global headlines, giving listeners sharp, quote-rich insight into politics, global conflict, legal controversies, science, and markets.