NPR News Now – February 24, 2026, 3PM EST

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now edition, anchored by Lakshmi Singh, delivers a concise roundup of the day's most pressing stories in under five minutes. Dominated by coverage of President Trump's upcoming State of the Union address, this bulletin also features updates on the Democratic response, a significant Supreme Court decision regarding USPS liability, a high-profile missing person case, Olympic hockey victories, and major pharmaceutical pricing news.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s State of the Union Address Preview

• [00:16–01:18]

  • President Trump is set to deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term.
  • Republicans hope the address will mark a reset after challenging months.
  • Pollster Ashley Koening highlights the president's need to address several critical issues: the lingering effects of a recent partial government shutdown, economic concerns, immigration policy, and foreign relations with Iran.
  • Trump faces low approval, with a new NPR poll revealing 60% of Americans believe the country is worse off than a year ago.

  Notable Quote:

  • 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 during his second term.” [00:48]

2. Democratic Party Response

• [01:18–01:49]

  • Virginia Governor Abigail Spamberger will deliver the official Democratic rebuttal, expected to focus on affordability—an issue pivotal to both her campaign and the national Democratic strategy for the upcoming midterms.
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom is also energizing voters across the country.

  Notable Quote:

  • Abigail Spamberger:
    “I think right now this moment requires a recognition of what we're up against. And yes, I believe the Democratic Party must fight fire with fire.” [01:39]

3. Supreme Court: USPS Cannot Be Sued for Intentional Mail Delivery Refusals

• [01:49–02:51]

  • The Supreme Court ruled that the United States Postal Service is shielded from lawsuits regarding intentional failure to deliver mail, referencing a Texas case involving allegations of racially motivated harassment by postal workers.
  • The majority opinion, supported by all conservative justices except Justice Neil Gorsuch, states that Congress likely designed the law to limit mail delivery complaints from entering the court system.

  Notable Quote:

  • Hansi Lo Wang (summarizing the Court):
    “The court says it thinks that Congress likely wrote the law the way it did to, quote, better keep complaints about mail delivery out of court.” [02:36]

4. High-Profile Missing Person – Guthrie Family Offers Reward

• [02:51–03:13]
  • Savannah Guthrie (Today show host) announces a $1 million reward for information about her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared three weeks ago from her Arizona home.

5. U.S. Olympic Hockey Teams: Visits and Victories

• [03:13–04:04]
  • The U.S. Men’s Hockey Team arrives at the Capitol after defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime to win Olympic gold.
  • President Trump joked about also inviting the Women’s Team, who declined due to scheduling, after their own gold medal win over Canada.
  • The Women’s Team issued a gracious statement thanking the president.

6. Ozempic and Wegovy Price Reduction Announcement

• [04:04–04:47]

  • Drugmaker Novo Nordisk will reduce the list prices of its popular diabetes and obesity drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, from over $1,000 to $675 per month starting in 2027.
  • The move coincides with new Medicare price negotiation rules and follows disappointing clinical trial results for a new drug, which caused a significant drop in company stock.

  Notable Quote:

  • Sidney Lupkin:
    “Starting in 2027, the list price for the drugs will drop to $675 for a month supply. That's also when lower negotiated prices for Medicare kick in.” [04:18]

Financial Markets Update

• [04:47–04:55]
  • Closing numbers:
    • Dow up 377 points
    • S&P up 48
    • Nasdaq up 226

Memorable Moments and Tone

The episode maintains NPR’s signature calm, factual delivery, emphasizing the gravity and range of national events—from high-stakes political addresses and court rulings to personal stories of loss and Olympic celebrations. The balanced reporting highlights both political tension and human interest.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:16 – Trump’s SOTU prep and polling data
• 01:18 – Democratic response preview
• 01:49 – Supreme Court’s USPS ruling
• 02:51 – Guthrie family’s missing person reward
• 03:13 – U.S. Olympic hockey teams’ updates
• 04:04 – Ozempic & Wegovy price cut
• 04:47 – Market update

For a quick, authoritative snapshot of U.S. news, this episode captures political, judicial, human, and economic developments with clarity and context.