NPR News Now – 02-26-2026 11PM EST

Host: Giles Snyder (NPR)
Date: February 27, 2026
Episode Theme:
A concise, five-minute roundup of the day's most significant U.S. and international news stories, focusing on high-impact business developments, political investigations, legal actions, and technology/space mishaps.

Key Stories & Insights

Media Industry Shakeup: Paramount in Line to Acquire Warner Bros. Discovery

[00:15–01:26]

• Netflix withdraws bid:
  • Netflix announced it will not increase its offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery, ending what had become an intense bidding war.
  • Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters stated the deal was “no longer financially attractive” and described it as “always a nice to have at the right price, but not a must have at any price.”
    • Quote (from Netflix statement, read by Mendely Del Barco):

      “No longer financially attractive... always a nice to have at the right price, but not a must have at any price.” (00:56)

• Paramount/Skydance offer:
  • Warner Bros. is now leaning toward a “superior deal” with Paramount and Skydance, David Ellison’s company, offering $111 billion, compared to Netflix’s $83 billion.
  • Assets involved: the studio and its cable channels, including CNN.
• Next steps:
  • The acquisition still needs antitrust approval from U.S. and European regulators.

Hillary Clinton Testifies on Epstein Connection

[01:26–01:55]

• Clinton’s closed-door deposition:
  • Hillary Clinton described over six hours of questioning by the House committee investigating ties to Jeffrey Epstein as “repetitive.”
  • She told reporters:

    “I don’t know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes. I never went to his offices. So it’s on the record numerous times.” (Hillary Clinton, 01:42)

• Context:
  • The deposition was held in Chappaqua, NY.
  • The Clintons initially refused to testify but relented under threat of contempt.
  • Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify the following day; he is not accused of wrongdoing.

Justice Department Sues States for Voter Data

[01:55–03:11]

• Lawsuits expand:
  • Justice Department is suing five more states (Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, New Jersey), totaling 29 states and DC, for access to complete voter files including driver’s license and Social Security numbers.
• States’ response:
  • States cite privacy laws as the reason for denying access.
• Broader context:
  • Unlike prior suits from the Trump administration, which targeted only states lost in 2020, these latest lawsuits include states won by Trump.
• Insightful segment for those tracking election integrity and data privacy debates.

Cross-Border Fighting: Pakistan and Afghanistan

[03:11–03:34]

• Escalation of conflict:
  • Pakistani strikes in major Afghan cities follow an attack on Pakistan by Afghan forces.
  • Both sides acknowledge the escalation as the most serious in months.
• Significance:
  • Indicates a continued decline in regional security.

U.S. Military Shoots Down Customs Drone in Error

[03:34–03:54]

• Military mishap:
  • The U.S. military accidentally shot down a Customs and Border Patrol drone with a laser, prompting the FAA to expand closed airspace near El Paso, Texas.
  • This follows a similar incident just over two weeks prior that shut down the El Paso airport.

NASA Mission Failure: Lunar Trailblazer

[04:12–04:52]

• Key findings from NASA panel:
  • The mission failed because the spacecraft’s software pointed its solar panels away from the sun, not toward it—an irreversible error.
    • Joe Palka reports:

      “Software that was supposed to point the spacecraft’s solar panels towards the sun instead pointed them 180 degrees away from the sun.” (Joe Palka, 04:26)

  • Other software flaws prevented corrective action.
  • The review blamed both Lockheed Martin (the builder) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (oversight) for management and oversight deficiencies.
• Reactions:
  • Both organizations state they’ve learned lessons for future missions.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Netflix on failed deal:

  “No longer financially attractive... always a nice to have at the right price, but not a must have at any price.” (00:56)

• Hillary Clinton on depositions:

  “I don’t know how many times I had to say I did not know Jeffrey Epstein. I never went to his island. I never went to his homes. I never went to his offices. So it’s on the record numerous times.” (01:42)

• NASA mission error:

  “Software that was supposed to point the spacecraft’s solar panels towards the sun instead pointed them 180 degrees away from the sun.” (Joe Palka, 04:26)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:15 – Media merger drama: Netflix vs. Paramount for Warner Bros. Discovery
• 01:26 – Hillary Clinton’s testimony about Epstein ties
• 02:32 – DOJ sues more states for voter data
• 03:11 – Pakistan-Afghanistan cross-border escalation
• 03:34 – U.S. laser accidentally shoots down border drone
• 04:12 – NASA panel reveals Lunar Trailblazer mission failure

Tone & Style

• Focused, factual, and concise reporting, emphasizing critical developments across business, politics, international affairs, and technology.
• Direct quotes and updates from primary stakeholders and officials.

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