NPR News: 02-24-2026 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 4PM EST, February 24, 2026

Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on the day’s top news stories, including President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, notable guests at the event, developments involving AI company Anthropic and the US government, the passing of actor Robert Carradine, and new Pew Research data on teen chatbot usage. As usual, the program’s tone is factual, brisk, and centered on major national news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s State of the Union Address

• Reporter: Elena Moore ([00:14]–[01:04])
• President Trump is preparing for his first State of the Union address since returning to the White House.
• With Republicans defending their Congressional majority in an election year, Trump's low approval ratings are raising concern within the party.
• Polls suggest a majority of Americans feel Trump is “moving the country in the wrong direction.” Historical precedent suggests governing parties often lose seats in midterms.
  • Quote: “Low poll numbers are often a warning sign. Since World War II, the party controlling the White House historically loses an average of 27 seats in the House and four in the Senate in midterm elections.” — Elena Moore [00:45]

2. Guests at the State of the Union

• Host: Lakshmi Singh ([01:04]–[01:32])

• Trump has invited several notable guests, including:

  • Erica Kirk (widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk)
  • Members of the US men’s hockey team (recent gold medalists at Milan Olympics)
  • The women’s hockey team, who also won gold, declined citing a scheduling conflict.

• House Democrats invited survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, including Amanda Roberts.

  • Quote: “I stand here for my sister, for my survivor sisters, and for every survivor around the world who has been forced into silence. Today is monumental. Today we say to this administration and to the nation that survivors deserve to be seen.” — Amanda Roberts [01:32]

• Context: Roberts’ sister-in-law was a prominent Epstein accuser; Ghislaine Maxwell is imprisoned, and former Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten Windsor) is under investigation for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Epstein.

3. AI and National Security: Anthropic in the Crosshairs

• Reporter: Bobby Allen ([01:55]–[03:11])
• The Trump administration warns it will cancel a $200M AI contract with Anthropic unless the company relaxes its safety guardrails.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to drop the deal during a meeting with CEO Dario Amodei, demanding Anthropic loosen restrictions on AI for classified systems.
• Anthropic holds firm on two red lines: no AI-controlled weapons, no mass domestic surveillance.
• Administration officials argue these guardrails are instances of “woke AI” and present a national security risk.
  • Quote: “Anthropic, which has positioned itself as a safety first AI lab, says good faith discussions with the White House continue. But defense officials are ratcheting up pressure, seeing Anthropic’s guardrails as an instance of woke AI.” — Bobby Allen [03:01]

4. Robert Carradine Remembered

• Host: Lakshmi Singh ([03:11]–[03:48])
• Actor Robert Carradine has died by suicide at age 71; family revealed he lived with bipolar disorder for 20 years.
• Career highlights: roles in Bonanza, The Cowboys, Mean Streets, and iconic portrayal of Louis Skolnick in Revenge of the Nerds (1984).
• Notable moment: Multiple voices repeat “Nerds” in homage to the film ([03:38]–[03:44]).

5. Pew Research: Teens and AI Chatbots

• Reporter: Ritu Chatterjee ([03:48]–[04:52])
• A Pew survey finds 64% of US teens use AI chatbots, while only 51% of parents think their teens do.
• Nearly half of teens use chatbots for schoolwork and information; 16% for casual conversation; about 10% for emotional support or advice.
  • Quote: “16% of teens say that they use chatbots to have casual conversations, and about 1 in 10 report using these tools to get emotional support or advice.” — Monica Anderson, Pew Research Center [04:31]
• Teens are more positive about AI’s personal impact than about its societal effects.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Elena Moore: “Low poll numbers are often a warning sign…” [00:45]
• Amanda Roberts: “I stand here for my sister, for my survivor sisters, and for every survivor around the world who has been forced into silence. Today is monumental…” [01:32]
• Bobby Allen: “...good faith discussions with the White House continue. But defense officials are ratcheting up pressure, seeing Anthropic’s guardrails as an instance of woke AI.” [03:01]
• Homage to ‘Nerds’: Multiple voices, “Nerds.” [03:38–03:44]
• Monica Anderson: “16% of teens say that they use chatbots to have casual conversations, and about 1 in 10 report using these tools to get emotional support or advice.” [04:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump’s State of the Union preview & poll context: [00:14–01:04]
• State of the Union guests (Epstein survivors, hockey team): [01:04–01:32]
• Amanda Roberts’ statement: [01:32–01:55]
• Anthropic AI contract dispute: [01:55–03:11]
• Remembering Robert Carradine: [03:11–03:48]
• Tribute to ‘Nerds’: [03:38–03:44]
• Pew teen chatbot survey: [03:48–04:52]

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NPR News Now continues to provide pithy, comprehensive news summaries with careful attribution and concise reporting, making the most of its five minutes to highlight the day’s pressing national stories.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump will address a joint session of Congress in a few hours. NPR's Elena Moore reports. This is his first State of the Union address since returning to the White House just over a year ago.

[Elena Moore]

The State of the Union is a formality, but there are potential political stakes for Trump. His speech comes at the start of an election year where Republicans are on the defensive. They're trying to keep control of Congress, but Trump is battling low approval numbers. In the latest NPR PBS News Marist Poll, a majority of Americans say Trump is moving the country in the wrong direction. Low poll numbers are often a warning sign. Since World War II, the party controlling the White House historically loses an average of 27 seats in the House and four in the Senate in midterm elections. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump invited a number of guests. They include Erica Kirk, widow of the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Members of the U.S. men's hockey team who recently won gold in Milan are also expected to be there. Women's team, which also won gold at the Olympics, will not be they declined, citing a scheduling conflict. House Democrats have invited Jeffrey Epstein, survivors to Trump's State of the Union speech tonight. Among them Amanda Roberts. Her sister in law was a late Virginia, is you free?

[Amanda Roberts]

I stand here for my sister, for my survivor sisters, and for every survivor around the world who has been forced into silence. Today is monumental. Today we say to this administration and to the nation that survivors deserve to be seen.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Robert's sister in law was among the most prominent women to accuse Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and the former Prince Andrew of sexual abuse when she was a minor. Maxwell was imprisoned for sex trafficking, and Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is under investigation over sensitive government information he may have shared with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. The Trump administration says it'll terminate Anthropic's $200 million contract by Friday unless the company loosens its safety guardrails. NPR's Bobby Allen reports. A threat came during a meeting today between company executives and top Trump officials.

[Bobby Allen]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Anthropic CEO Dario Amade that it would drop the AI company as a contractor unless it agreed terms. Anthropic's popular chatbot, Claude, has been cleared for classified systems, but Amade says the company has two red lines that its products not be used for AI controlled weapons or mass domestic surveillance, according to a person familiar with the meeting. Trump officials told Anthropic they intend to consider the company a supply chain risk unless it decides to change course. Anthropic, which has positioned itself as a safety first AI lab, says good faith discussions with the White House continue. But defense officials are ratcheting up pressure, seeing Anthropic's guardrails as an instance of woke AI. Bobbi Allen, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's npr. People are paying tribute to actor Robert Carradine today. In a statement, his family disclosed that Carradine lived with bipolar disorder for 20 years and died by suicide. Carradine's career spanned more than 40 years, with roles in Bonanza, the Cowboys or the legendary John Wayne and Mean Streets. F fans will also remember him as Louis Skolnick, the underdog who made nerds cool in this 1984 20th Century Fox

[Amanda Roberts]

film, Revenge of the Nerds.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Nerds.

[Carvana Announcer]

Nerds.

[Podcast Sponsor Announcer]

Nerds.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Nerds.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

What is a nerd?

[Lakshmi Singh]

Actor Robert Carradine was 71 years old. A new survey by Pew suggests that nearly two thirds of U.S. teenagers use artificial intelligence chatbots. NPR's Ritu Chatterjee also reports. Researchers found a gap between what parents think about their teens use of chatbots and what adolescents are actually doing.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

The survey finds 51% of parents think their teen uses chatbots, whereas 64% of teens report they use them. Adolescents say they use chatbots for many things. Nearly half use them for help with schoolwork and to search for information. Monica Anderson directs Internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center.

[Amanda Roberts]

16% of teens say that they use chatbots to have casual conversations, and about 1 in 10 report using these tools to get emotional support or advice.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

While more teens are positive about AI's impact on them personally, they are more mixed about the impact on society at large. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's npr.

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