NPR News: 02-24-2026 9PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 24, 2026, 9PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of national and international headlines, focusing on President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, partisan tensions in Congress, a standoff between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic, economic updates including the stock market and Home Depot earnings, legal troubles for high-profile UK figures, and a Chicagoan protest via snowplow naming.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

State of the Union Address Preview

• President Trump's Message: President Trump is set to claim credit for a significant turnaround since taking office, emphasizing achievements in health care and immigration.

  • Insight: Despite positive framing by the administration, recent polling suggests voters are skeptical about the country's direction.
  • Quote:

    "Most voters, like Iowa Democrat Renee Schulte, say the country is worse off than a year ago and that the State of the Union is not strong."
    — Ryland Barton (00:15)

• Partisan Division & Boycotts:

  • Some Democrats in Congress intend to boycott Trump's speech, with a number choosing to protest on the National Mall instead.

  • Republican Response: Speaker Mike Johnson harshly criticized the Democrats' move.

    • Quote:

      "It doesn't matter how many little gatherings they have or where they stand or how high the volume is on the microphones. They have nothing to offer, nothing but their TDS agenda. The Trump derangement syndrome. And it's on full display."
      — House Speaker Mike Johnson (00:57)

  • Trump is expected to deliver another lengthy address, possibly exceeding the previous 99-minute record.

• Policy Focus & Supreme Court Defeat:

  • The president will defend his tariff policies, especially after the Supreme Court blocked his emergency powers to indefinitely tax foreign goods.

  • Public unease is notable regarding the cost of living and Trump's economic strategies.

    • Quote:

      "Any new policies aimed at the cost of living are gonna come. While the president says he's gonna push new tariffs now, those raise prices..."
      — Danielle Kurtzleben (01:49)

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Pentagon vs. Anthropic: AI Ethics Clash

• Background: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pressuring AI company Anthropic to loosen AI safety standards for military applications.
• Details:
  • Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amade, refused to allow the AI to be used for mass domestic surveillance or lethal drone attacks.
  • Hegseth threatened to retaliate by both using the tools without the company’s consent and banning Anthropic from future military contracts.
• Ethical Debate: The Pentagon dismissed the company's safeguards as “woke AI,” while Anthropic warns that unchecked AI “can lead to illegitimate government abuses.”
  • Quote:

    "Either Anthropic relaxes its AI rules or the Trump administration will retaliate by using Anthropic's tools against its wishes as a matter of national security and also banning Anthropic from future military work."
    — Bobby Allen (02:19)

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Markets & Business Updates

• Stock Market:
  • S&P 500 and Dow rose more than 0.75%; NASDAQ up 1%.
    — Ryland Barton (03:01)
• Home Depot:
  • Despite a nearly 4% drop in quarterly sales, annual sales grew by 3%.
  • CFO Richard McPhail cited customer concerns about inflation, job stability, and higher financing costs.
    • Quote:

      "Our customers also tell us they have concerns over general economic uncertainty, including inflation, growing job concerns and higher financing costs."
      — Richard McPhail (04:09)

  • The company is reacting to new tariffs and preparing to lay off about 800 corporate employees.

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International & Legal Headlines

• UK Scandal:
  • Arrests of former Prince Andrew and former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson for links to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Focus on the antiquated, vaguely defined offense of “misconduct in public office,” which may complicate prosecution.

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Civic Protest & Local Humor

• Chicago Snowplow Naming Contest:
  • Residents named a snowplow "abolish ICE,” poking at federal immigration enforcement after a controversial ICE crackdown in the city.
  • ICE operation led to over 4,000 arrests.
  • Another winning entry was “Pope Frio, the 14th,” referencing a local pope.
    • Memorable moment:

      "Chicagoans took a jab at President Trump choosing to name a snowplow, abolish ICE in a contest."
      — Ryland Barton (04:33)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Voter Discontent:

  "Most voters ... say the country is worse off than a year ago and that the State of the Union is not strong."
  — Ryland Barton (00:15)

• Democratic Protest:

  "They have nothing to offer, nothing but their TDS agenda. The Trump derangement syndrome."
  — House Speaker Mike Johnson (00:57)

• Cost of Living Challenge:

  "While the president says he's gonna push new tariffs now, those raise prices..."
  — Danielle Kurtzleben (01:49)

• AI Ethics Standoff:

  "Either Anthropic relaxes its AI rules or the Trump administration will retaliate by using Anthropic's tools against its wishes as a matter of national security..."
  — Bobby Allen (02:19)

• Economic Uncertainty:

  "Our customers also tell us they have concerns over general economic uncertainty, including inflation, growing job concerns and higher financing costs."
  — Richard McPhail, Home Depot CFO (04:09)

• Local Wit:

  "Chicagoans took a jab at President Trump choosing to name a snowplow, abolish ICE in a contest."
  — Ryland Barton (04:33)

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:15: State of the Union Preview / National Mood
• 00:57: Boycott & Partisan Reactions
• 01:49: Policy Analysis & Court Rulings
• 02:19: AI Company vs. Pentagon Ethics Battle
• 03:01: Stock Market Recap & UK Legal News
• 03:50: Home Depot Earnings & Economic Concerns
• 04:33: Chicago’s ICE Protest Snowplow

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This concise and factual broadcast captures the evening’s pressing political, economic, and social issues with direct reporting and pointed commentary.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

See Terms Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. In his State of the Union address tonight, President Trump plans to say his administration has achieved a turnaround for the ages since former President Biden was in office, touting what he says are achievements, health care and immigration. But according to the latest NPR PBS News Marist Poll, most voters, like Iowa Democrat Renee Schulte, say the country is worse off than a year ago and that the State of the Union is not strong.

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

There's more people who are unhoused and who are filing for assistance that just isn't there anymore due to all the budgetary cuts and problems with federal funding and everything that's been caused by this administration.

[Ryland Barton]

A number of Democrats in Congress have said they'll skip Trump's speech and protest, and some are holding a rally on the National Mall. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says it's detestable that they're boycotting the speech. It doesn't matter how many little gatherings they have or where they stand or how high the volume is on the microphones. They have nothing to offer, nothing but their TDS agenda. The Trump derangement syndrome. And it's on full display. Trump says to expect a long address. Last year, his joint address topped 99 minutes longer than any recorded State of the Union. In tonight's address, President Trump will get to make the case for his tariff policies to Americans who are increasingly uneasy about his priorities. The speech comes after the Supreme Court struck down his use of emergency powers to unilaterally tax goods from other countries with no end date. Trump's focus has often been far from home. As NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben explains, this White

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

House is still making the case that any economic problems are Joe Biden's fault. Now that gets harder with every passing day. But no matter what, any new policies aimed at the cost of living are gonna come. While the president says he's gonna push new tariffs now, those raise prices, so

[Ryland Barton]

that could end up giving mixed NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is threatening to block Anthropic from working with the U.S. military for refusing to loosen its safety standards. NPR's Bobby Allen reports.

[Bobby Allen]

Anthropic's Dario Amade says the company's AI will not be used in two scenarios for mass domestic surveillance or for AI assisted lethal drone attacks. After he emphasized that to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a recent meeting, Hegseth made a direct threat. Either Anthropic relaxes its AI rules or the Trump administration will retaliate by using Anthropic's tools against its wishes as a matter of national security and also banning Anthropic from future military work. The Pentagon says tactical operations on battlefields require unfettered use of technology, calling Anthropic safeguards woke AI, But Anthropic Z says powerful AI without guardrails can lead to illegitimate government abuses. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

The U.S. stock market rose today. The S&P 500 and Dow both climbed more than three quarters of a percent, and the NASDAQ gained 1%. I'm Ryland Barton, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. The arrests of the former Prince Andrew and Britain's former ambassador to the US over their links to Jeffrey Epstein are shining a spotlight on an ancient offense known as misconduct in public office. The former prince and Peter Mandelson were arrested within days of each other. Experts say the law is vague and in need of reform and that the cases may be difficult to prosecute. Home Depot is again reporting shrinking sales, but the company did beat earnings and revenue expectations for the fourth quarter. The company says customers are putting remodeling projects on the back burner. WABE's Marlon Hyde has more.

[Marlon Hyde]

Homeowners and consumers cut back on spending during Home Depot's most recent quarter, as sales dropped nearly 4%. But it isn't all bad news for the home improvement giant. Sales for fiscal year 2025 rose by over 3%. Here's CFO Richard McPhail during Tuesday's earnings call.

[Ryland Barton]

Our customers also tell us they have concerns over general economic uncertainty, including inflation, growing job concerns and higher financing costs.

[Marlon Hyde]

A spokesperson said Home Depot is analyzing the impacts of President Trump's announcement of new tariffs. Meanwhile, the company is preparing to lay off about 800 corporate employees starting next. For NPR News, Marlon Hyde in Atlanta.

[Ryland Barton]

Chicagoans took a jab at President Trump choosing to name a snowplow, abolish ICE in a contest. Trump sent Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers into the city during a crackdown last year. ICE officers arrested more than 4,000 people. Another winner was Pope Frio, the 14th after Chicago native Pope Leo. This is NPR News from Washington.

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This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month, make the [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment for three months. 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month. Taxes and fees extra first three months.