NPR News: 02-24-2026 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 25, 2026, 8PM EST

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode, anchored by Ryland Barton, delivers a roundup of the day’s top news stories in under five minutes. Key topics include President Trump's upcoming State of the Union address, corporate backlash against administration tariffs, vaccine policy controversy, the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a diplomatic resolution between the US and France, a missing persons case involving Savannah Guthrie’s family, and efforts to save New Zealand’s near-extinct flightless parrot.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s State of the Union Address Approaches [00:15–01:04]

• President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress in his first State of the Union since returning to office.
• Political Stakes:
  • The address carries high stakes in an election year, with Republicans defending Congressional control.
  • Trump faces low approval ratings; the latest NPR/PBS News Marist Poll indicates most Americans feel the country is headed in the wrong direction.
  • Elena Moore points out:

    “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. FedEx and Major Companies Suing for Tariff Refunds [01:04–01:55]

• FedEx is now the most prominent company suing the Trump administration for tariff refunds after the Supreme Court’s ruling against the tariffs.
• Legal Uncertainty:
  • Hundreds of companies, both large (like Costco and Revlon) and small, are seeking refunds in the Court of International Trade.
  • The Supreme Court left the refund process undefined, referring the matter back to the lower court.
  • The Trump administration warns the process may become bogged down in prolonged litigation, with small businesses especially concerned about legal costs.
  • Alina Selyuk summarizes:

    “The Supreme Court paved the way for anyone who's paid the tariffs that it struck down to get their money back, but it didn't say how… The Trump administration is suggesting that litigation might bog all this down for possibly years.”
    (Alina Selyuk, 01:31)

3. OBGYNs Withdraw from CDC Vaccine Policy Committee [01:55–02:39]

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) exits the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
• Concerns Over Scientific Integrity:
  • ACOG cites recent committee decisions, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as undermining scientific integrity.
  • Specific controversy surrounds the dropping of the hepatitis B vaccine recommendation at birth.
  • Rob Stein explains:

    “The group says it's taking the step because recent decisions have undermined the committee's scientific integrity.”
    (Rob Stein, 02:08)

4. Ukraine Marks Four Years Since Russia’s Invasion [02:39–03:49]

• Ukrainian President Zelensky affirms national resilience and persistence in the ongoing war against Russia.
• International Support & Impact:
  • Dozens of European officials join Kyiv to mark the grim anniversary.
  • The conflict’s toll extends to tens of thousands of deaths, massive displacement, and broader instability.
  • Zelensky declares that Putin has “not achieved his goals.”

5. Savannah Guthrie Family Offers Reward in Mother’s Disappearance [03:49–04:33]

• TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie’s family offers a $1 million reward for information about her missing mother, who vanished from her Arizona home three weeks ago.
• Guthrie expresses hope:
  • Her family is “holding out for a miracle and hopes her mother will be found alive.”

6. Diplomatic Row Between US and France Resolved [03:49–04:33]

• A diplomatic spat erupted after the US Embassy retweeted a controversial State Department statement on a domestic French incident.
• Ambassador Charles Kushner was barred from government meetings but later resolved the matter via a “frank and amicable call” with the French Foreign Minister.
• Eleanor Beardsley describes:

  “The punishment has since been rescinded after Kushner put in a call to French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot. The US Embassy in Paris says the two men had a frank and amicable call and reaffirmed their shared commitment…”
  (Eleanor Beardsley, 04:13)

7. Conserving New Zealand’s Endangered Flightless Parrot [04:33–04:56]

• Conservationists in New Zealand hope for a record number of kakapo (flightless parrot) hatchlings following a bumper rimu berry crop.
• Over 30 years, the population has climbed from around 50 to over 200, fueling cautious optimism for the species’ survival.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Political Stakes:

  “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

• On Tariff Refund Uncertainty:

  “The Supreme Court paved the way for anyone who's paid the tariffs that it struck down to get their money back, but it didn't say how… The Trump administration is suggesting that litigation might bog all this down for possibly years.”
  – Alina Selyuk, 01:31

• On Vaccine Policy Concerns:

  “The group says it's taking the step because recent decisions have undermined the committee's scientific integrity.”
  – Rob Stein, 02:08

• On the US-France Diplomatic Incident:

  “The punishment has since been rescinded after Kushner put in a call to French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot. The US Embassy in Paris says the two men had a frank and amicable call and reaffirmed their shared commitment…”
  – Eleanor Beardsley, 04:13

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• Trump’s State of the Union Preview: 00:15 – 01:04
• Tariff Refund Lawsuits: 01:04 – 01:55
• Vaccine Policy Controversy: 01:55 – 02:39
• Ukraine War Anniversary: 02:39 – 03:49
• Guthrie Missing Persons Reward: 03:49 – 04:33
• US-France Diplomatic Row: 03:49 – 04:33
• New Zealand’s Kakapo Conservation: 04:33 – 04:56

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Summary Takeaways

This episode offered lightning-quick coverage of the day’s major political, legal, international, and environmental headlines—underscoring the intersecting pressures on American leadership, global diplomacy, and endangered species rescue efforts. NPR conveyed urgency, skepticism, and cautious hope across stories, maintaining a brisk but informative tone throughout.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

See Terms Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight. 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.

[NPR Reporter 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.

[NPR News Anchor]

FedEx is now the highest profile company to sue the Trump administration for a refund of the tariffs that the Supreme Court declared illegal last week. As NPR's Alina Selyuk reports, FedEx joins a very long list of firms demanding refunds in court.

[Mint Mobile Advertiser]

The FedEx case is at the Court of International Trade, where hundreds of companies have already preemptively sued the government to line up for refunds. Many are small firms, but also giants like Costco and Revlon. The Supreme Court paved the way for anyone who's paid the tariffs that it struck down to get their money back, but it didn't say how and sent the matter back to the Court of International Trade. So it's unclear how the process will work. And the Trump administration is suggesting that litigation might bog all this down for possibly years. Small business owners are especially concerned that they may have to spend even more money to hire lawyers to sue to try to get their tariff payments back. Alina Seloukh, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The national organization that represents obstetricians and gynecologists is withdrawing from a CDC committee that advises the government, federal federal government on vaccine policy. NPR's Rob Stein has more.

[NPR Reporter Rob Stein]

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the group is withdrawing from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The group says it's taking the step because recent decisions have undermined the committee's scientific integrity. Under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The CDC advisory committee has made a series of controversial recommendations that includes dropping a long standing recommendation that all babies get vaccinated against hepatitis B at birth. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that Russia has not broken Ukrainians nor triumphed in its war. Today is four years to the day since Russia invaded Ukraine. More than a dozen senior European officials marked the Grimit anniversary in Kyiv. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, upended life for millions of Ukrainians and created instability far beyond its borders. Zelensky says his country has withstood the onslaught by Russia's big, bigger and better equipped army and that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not achieved his goals. You are listening to NPR News From Washington. Today show host Savannah Guthrie says her family is now offering a one million dollar reward for information leading to the recovery of her mother. It's been three weeks since 84 year old Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Arizona home. Savannah Guthrie says her family is still holding out for a miracle and hopes her mother will be found alive. A phone call has ended a diplomatic spat that risked damaging U.S. france relations. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. The spat was over accusations by France that the US Was weighing in on French domestic affairs.

[NPR Reporter Eleanor Beardsley]

The French government was irked when the American Embassy retweeted a State Department comment after the killing of a young right wing activist. The Post declared violent radical leftism is on the rise in France and is a threat to public safety. Ambassador Charles Kushner was summoned. When he did not appear, he was barred from meeting with members of the French government. The punishment has since been rescinded after Kushner put in a call to French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot. The US Embassy in Paris says the two men had a frank and amicable call and reaffirmed their shared commitment to working on issues that impact the US And France. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[NPR News Anchor]

New Zealand conservationists have been fighting for years to keep the world's only flightless parrot from disappearing. Now they're hoping for a record number of cockapoo after a bumper crop of Remu berries sparked rare mating activity over three decades, the number of cockapoo has risen from about 50 to more than 200. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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