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.

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.

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

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

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.