NPR News: 02-24-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 02-24-2026, 5PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Episode Theme: The latest developments in national politics, immigration policy, international affairs, AI in the military, technology, and political scandals—all packed into a concise five-minute news update.

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1. Epstein Files Inquiry and Trump Connection

[00:13–01:00]

• Key Points:
  • House Democrats are launching an investigation into why certain files relating to Jeffrey Epstein that mention President Trump have not been made public.
  • An internal NPR investigation revealed the Justice Department withheld over 50 pages of documents, cited to include FBI interviews and notes tied to a woman’s decades-old sexual abuse allegations against Trump.
  • The White House maintains that Trump is “totally exonerated.”
• Notable Quote:
  • “A review of FBI case records, emails and discovery logs… finds more than 50 pages of documents haven’t been published. These include what appear to be FBI interviews as well as notes from conversations with a woman who accused Donald Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor.” —Stephen Fowler, [00:33]
  • “The White House says in a statement that Trump is, quote, totally exonerated.” —Stephen Fowler, [00:58]

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2. State of the Union Preview: Immigration

[01:00–01:55]

• Key Points:
  • President Trump is set to deliver the State of the Union, anticipated to highlight his enforcement-heavy immigration agenda.
  • One year into his second term, illegal border crossings are at a historic low, with over 70,000 people in immigration detention—though over 70% have no criminal convictions.
  • Public disapproval of current immigration enforcement is rising, particularly after a Minneapolis operation led to the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of federal agents.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The president has often said his policy targets criminal immigrants. However, DHS data shows that of the people in immigration detention, over 70% have no criminal conviction.” —Jasmine Garsd, [01:26]
  • “Polls show most Americans now disapprove of the way immigration is being enforced, especially after a months-long operation in Minneapolis ended with two American citizens killed by federal agents.” —Jasmine Garsd, [01:41]

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3. Ukraine War Anniversary and Appeal to the U.S.

[01:55–02:31]

• Key Points:
  • The fourth anniversary of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
  • President Zelensky expresses hope that Trump will publicly reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraine during the State of the Union.
  • Ukraine’s morale is described as unbroken, but peace talks, brokered by the U.S., remain stalled.
• Notable Quote:
  • “We didn’t lose our country, our independence and freedom. We have it now. We speak in the capital. Russia is not winning. This is very important and everybody’s asking how long we can hold the line and how long we can stay.” —Volodymyr Zelensky, [02:09]

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4. AI in the Military: Anthropic vs. the Pentagon

[02:31–03:00]

• Key Points:
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pressing Anthropic, makers of the Claude chatbot, to grant the military unrestricted use of its AI—including potentially for lethal and surveillance purposes.
  • Threats of terminating Anthropic’s government contract loom if demands are not met by Friday.
  • Anthropic has thus far resisted, refusing to permit its technology for lethal targeting or mass surveillance.
• Notable Moments:
  • The tension highlights the ethical debate over AI’s role in military operations and government pressure on tech companies.

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5. Technology: Waymo Expands Robo Taxis

[03:00–03:14]

• Key Points:
  • Waymo broadens its autonomous taxi service footprint to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, now serving 10 major markets.
  • The move outpaces rivals Tesla and Amazon, whose autonomous vehicles are still testing in limited cities.

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6. Political Scandal: Congressman Tony Gonzalez

[03:14–04:37]

• Key Points:
  • Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalez faces bipartisan calls for resignation after allegations of an affair with a former staffer, Regina Santos Aviles, who later died by suicide.
  • Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert publicly demanded Gonzalez’s resignation, citing alleged sexual texts.
  • Other representatives joined the call, but House Speaker Mike Johnson insists due process should play out.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Republican Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was the first to publicly demand the South Texas congressman step down over allegations of misconduct… Attached to her message was a screenshot of sexual text messages allegedly between Gonzalez and his staffer, Regina Santos Aviles.” —David Martin Davies, [03:51]
  • “House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending Gonzalez’s right to due process and says the investigation process should play out.” —David Martin Davies, [04:26]

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7. Chicagoans Name Snowplow ‘Abolish ICE’

[04:37–04:53]

• Key Points:
  • In a contest, Chicagoans named a city snowplow “Abolish ICE” as a jab at President Trump, reflecting local opposition to last year’s immigration raids where ICE detained over 4,000 and clashed with protesters.

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Quick Reference Timestamps

• Epstein Files & Trump: [00:13–01:00]
• State of the Union - Immigration: [01:00–01:55]
• Ukraine War Anniversary: [01:55–02:31]
• AI & Defense (Anthropic): [02:31–03:00]
• Waymo Robo Taxis Expansion: [03:00–03:14]
• Rep. Tony Gonzalez Scandal: [03:14–04:37]
• ‘Abolish ICE’ Snowplow (Chicago): [04:37–04:53]

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Tone: Factual, urgent, and reflective of NPR’s signature steady news delivery.
Summary Utility: Captures all major news developments and political undercurrents of the day—ideal for listeners seeking a concise but thorough update.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. House Democrats say they're investigating why some Epstein files that mention President Trump have not been made public. It follows an NPR investigation that files found the Justice Department withheld documents related to sexual abuse accusations against the president. NPR's Stephen Fowler reports.

[Stephen Fowler]

A review of FBI case records, emails and discovery logs released in the latest tranche of files finds more than 50 pages of documents haven't been published. These include what appear to be FBI interviews as well as notes from conversations with a woman who accused Donald Trump of sexual abuse decades ago when she was a minor. Now Democrats on the House Oversight Committee say they're launching an investigation into those files. The White House says in a statement that Trump is, quote, totally exonerated. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

President Trump will deliver the State of the union address tonight. NPR's Jasmine Garce has more on what the president's expected to say about immigration.

[Jasmine Garce]

President Trump won the 2024 election largely on the promise of a mass immigration crackdown. Tonight, he's expected to talk about the fulfillment of that promise. A year into his presidency, illegal border crossings are at a historic low. There are over 70,000 people in immigration det. Detention. The president has often said his policy targets criminal immigrants. However, DHS data shows that of the people in immigration detention, over 70% have no criminal conviction. Polls show most Americans now disapprove of the way immigration is being enforced, especially after a months long operation in Minneapolis ended with two American citizens killed by federal agents. Jasmine Garsd, NPR News, New York.

[Ryland Barton]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to hear President Trump say he's still on Ukraine's side during the State of the Union address. Today marks four years since Russia invaded its neighbor. Zelenskyy says Russia has not broken Ukrainians.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

We didn't lose our country, our independence and freedom. We have it now. We speak in the capital. Russia is not winning. This is very important and everybody's asking how long we can hold the line and how long we can stay.

[Ryland Barton]

The anniversary comes as US Brokered peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have made little progress. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and created instability far beyond its borders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pressuring Anthropic to give the military broader access to its AI Hegseth gave Anthropic a Friday deadline to open its technology for unrestricted military use or risk losing its government contract. Anthropic is the maker of the chatbot Claude, which is used in classified military networks. But the company has refused to allow its technology to be used for lethal attacks or mass surveillance. The US Stock market rose today. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Waymo is sending its robo taxis to four more cities in Texas and Florida, expanding the territory covered by its fleet fleet of self driving cars to 10 major metropolitan markets. The move into Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, Florida, widens Waymo's early lead in autonomous driving, while rival services from Tesla and Amazon are still testing their robo taxis in a few cities. Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez is under pressure from fellow Republicans to resign following a report alleging an affair with a former staffer who later took her own life. Gonzalez has denied the allegation. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies has more.

[David Martin Davies]

Republican Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was the first of Gonzalez's colleagues to publicly demand the South Texas congressman step down over allegations of misconduct. Boebert wrote on the social media platform X reptonygonzalez resign. Attached to her message was a screenshot of sexual text messages allegedly between Gonzalez and his staffer, Regina Santos Aviles. Santos Aviles took her own life last September. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace and Florida Representative Anna Paulina Lun echoed the call for Gonzalez to resign. House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending Gonzalez's right to due process and says the investigation process should play out. For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio.

[Ryland Barton]

Chicagoans took a jab at President Trump choosing to name a snowplow abolish ICE in a contest. Trump sent ICE officers into the city during a crackdown last year. They arrested more than 4,000 people and clashed with protesters. This is NPR News from Washington.

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