NPR News: 02-26-2026 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 26, 2026, 11AM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode presents the latest headlines as of late February 2026, focusing on major political investigations, changes in healthcare funding, election security, the economy, and a lighter wildlife story. The tone is straightforward, urgent, and factual, aimed at quickly briefing listeners on breaking US news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Congressional and Epstein Investigation Updates

[00:20–01:22]

• Hillary Clinton's Testimony:
  Former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton is scheduled for closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee in New York, pertaining to her connections with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

• Justice Department Review:
  The DOJ is now reviewing whether it wrongly withheld certain documents concerning uncooperated allegations of sexual abuse by President Trump during his tenure. NPR previously reported the absence of these records in public releases.

• Oversight Committee Response:
  Committee Chair James Comer stated:

  “We're looking into the accusation by the NPR. We don't know the answer to that. We know what the administration says. We're still looking to get a definitive answer on that. But look, let's just be realistic here. If you go by a lot of what the Democrats have said, you had Jasmine Crockett accuse Lee Zeldin of taking donations from Jeffrey Epstein. It was the wrong Jeffrey Epstein.”
  (James Comer, 00:57)

• Upcoming Testimony:
  President Bill Clinton is scheduled for similar testimony the following day; neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing.

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2. Minnesota Medicaid Funding Pause Amid Fraud & Immigration Crackdown

[01:22–02:29]

• Suspension of Medicaid Reimbursements:
  The Trump administration has suspended over a quarter-billion dollars in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota due to suspected fraud, focusing on personal care and home/community services—rather than direct medical care (physician visits).

• Backdrop of Controversy:
  The action follows reported fraud in daycare centers allegedly run by Somali residents in Minneapolis and sparked a major immigration crackdown. This led to protests and, notably, the deaths of two US citizens shot by immigration officers.

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3. Election Security—No ICE at Polls

[02:29–03:13]

• Clarifying Federal Role in Elections:
  President Trump’s second term has been characterized by controversial moves regarding the federal government’s involvement in elections.
  Steve Bannon^, Trump's former strategist, declared:

  “We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November. We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again.”
  (Steve Bannon^, 02:45)

  ^(attribution from Miles Parks' segment, not a direct participant in interview)

• DHS Statement:
  Heather Honey, the DHS’s top Trump-appointed election official, countered:

  “Any suggestion that ICE is going to be present at polling places is simply disinformation. There will be no ICE presence at polling locations.”
  (Heather Honey, 02:51, paraphrased by Miles Parks)

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4. Economic News: Unemployment & Grocery Prices

[03:13–04:30]

• Unemployment Claims:
  Initial jobless claims rose by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 212,000, aligning with economist forecasts and reflecting stable employment conditions.

• Tariff Rulings and Consumer Prices:
  After the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Trump quickly re-imposed worldwide tariffs using Section 122 and may utilize other statutory options.

  • Expert Insight:

    “For a consumer, it doesn't really matter, you know, what authority the president calls on to impose the tariff.”
    (Carola Binder, 04:16)
    This suggests that, despite legal shifts, the practical effect on grocery prices is likely to be muted.

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5. Human Interest: Lake Tahoe Bear Family

[04:30–04:58]

• Bear Family’s Winter Den:
  In Lake Tahoe, California, a mama bear named Rose and her triplet cubs were discovered hibernating under a cabin. Wildlife officials say moving the family could threaten the cubs’ survival, so they will remain sheltered until spring, when the cubs are big enough to safely relocate.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• James Comer on NPR’s reporting and mistaken accusations:

  “…you had Jasmine Crockett accuse Lee Zeldin of taking donations from Jeffrey Epstein. It was the wrong Jeffrey Epstein.”
  [00:57]

• Steve Bannon (as referenced by Miles Parks) inciting fears about ICE at polls:

  “We're going to have ICE surround the polls come November. We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again.”
  [02:45]

• Heather Honey, on ICE at polling places:

  "Any suggestion that ICE is going to be present at polling places is simply disinformation. There will be no ICE presence at polling locations."
  [02:51, paraphrased]

• Carola Binder, economics professor, on tariff authorities:

  "For a consumer, it doesn't really matter, you know, what authority the president calls on to impose the tariff."
  [04:16]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein investigation, Clinton testimony: 00:20–01:22
• Minnesota Medicaid/Immigration crackdown: 01:22–02:29
• ICE and Election Security: 02:29–03:13
• Jobless claims, tariffs, and grocery prices: 03:13–04:30
• Lake Tahoe bear story: 04:30–04:58

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Tone & Takeaways

In its customary brisk and measured fashion, the episode covers a fast-changing US landscape: major political investigations (including the never-quite-settled Trump/Epstein saga), aggressive executive action on Medicaid and immigration, sharp concerns about election interference, and economic news that highlights stability in jobs but continued uncertainty about tariffs. The wildlife segment brings a brief, gentle shift in tone, offering a reminder of everyday observations outside of national turmoil.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton is set to testify behind closed doors in New York today to the House Oversight Committee on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This as the Justice Department now says it's taking a look at whether it improperly withheld documents from the Epstein files involving a woman's uncooperated accusations about being sexually abused by President Trump when she was a minor. This after NPR reported the records were not among those released to the public. Committee chair James Comer says mistakes can happen.

[James Comer]

We're looking into the accusation by the NPR. We don't know the answer to that. We know what the administration says. We're still looking to get a definitive answer on that. But look, let's just be realistic here. If you go by a lot of what the Democrats have said, you had Jasmine Crockett accuse Lee Zeldin of taking donations from Jeffrey Epstein. It was the wrong Jeffrey Epstein, former

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Bill Clinton testifies tomorrow. Neither he nor Hillary are accused of wrongdoing. The Trump administration is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns. Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Sepik has more.

[Matt Sepik]

They don't appear to be focusing on direct medical care, such as physician visits, rather personal care, as well as home and community based services. Vice President J.D. vance announced the cuts yesterday. The Trump administration says it's withholding just over a quarter billion dollars in reimbursements this month.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Matt Sepik from Minnesota Public Radio reporting. This comes after allegations of fraud involving daycare centers run by Somali residents in Minneapolis, which prompted President Trump to launch a massive immigration crackdown in the state, resulting in protests and the deaths of two US Citizens shot and killed by immigration officers. ICE officers won't be patrolling voting locations during this year's midterm elections. That's according to a senior official with the Department of Homeland Security who made the promise yesterday while speaking with some of the nation's top election officials. NPR's Miles Parks has more.

[Miles Parks]

Federal law prohibits troops or law enforcement from interfering with voting. But President Trump has spent his entire second term pushing the boundaries on federal involvement in elections. And earlier this month, his former strategist Steve Bannon said this on his war room podcast we're going to have ICE

[James Dubeck]

surround the polls come November. We're not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again.

[Miles Parks]

The top Trump appointed election official at the Department of Homeland Security, however, says that's not true. The official, Heather Honey, told the country's top top state voting officials that, quote, any suggestion that ICE is going to be present at polling places is simply disinformation. She followed up by saying, quote, there will be no ICE presence at polling locations. Miles Parks, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News. First time claims for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels. The Labor Department says jobless claims rose 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 212,000. That's in line with economists expectations. Well, many economists don't expect to see big changes in prices at the grocery store after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's sweeping tariffs last week. That's because the administration has many tools to keep tariffs in place. As NPR's James Dubeck reports, the Supreme

[James Dubeck]

Court said President Trump's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers act weren't allowed. But Trump quickly said he was imposing worldwide tariffs under a different law known as Section one two two. And that's not his only option. He can also use provisions related to national security or unfair trade practices. Carola Binder is an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

[Matt Sepik]

For a consumer, it doesn't really matter, you know, what authority the president calls on to impose the tariff.

[James Dubeck]

The tariffs could be challenged again in court. But in the meantime, economists say don't expect any big price cuts. James Dubeck, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A mama bear and her triplet cubs were caught on camera all cozy underneath a cabin in Lake Tahoe, California. The bear league says Rose slipped in sometime last month to give birth and that once the cubs were born, they have to stay put because moving them would endanger the babies. They will be there until the spring when the cubs should weigh between five to seven pounds. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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