NPR News: 02-26-2026 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — 02-26-2026, 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly, NPR
Date: February 26, 2026
Summary of Main Theme:
This concise five-minute newscast covers a rapidly evolving international and domestic news landscape, including sensitive diplomatic efforts involving the US, Iran, and Ukraine; ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and related resignations; political ramifications of US military partnerships; and a deadly incident involving US-registered Cuban nationals and the Cuban military.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Nuclear Talks & Ukraine War Negotiations

[00:16]

• Steve Witkoff (Trump's special envoy) and Jared Kushner (Trump's son-in-law) are conducting indirect negotiations with Iran in Geneva, with mediation provided by Oman.
• The goal: Ending Tehran’s nuclear program.
• High stakes: There’s a significant US naval buildup in the Middle East, and President Trump has threatened military strikes if no deal is reached.
• Additional meetings: Witkoff and Kushner will also discuss with Ukrainian officials paths to ending Russia’s war with Kiev.

2. Hillary Clinton Testifying in Epstein Investigation

[01:24]

• Hillary Clinton will testify—behind closed doors—to the House Oversight Committee regarding the late Jeffrey Epstein's activities, as Congress investigates potential connections.
• Sage Miller (NPR): Both Hillary and Bill Clinton initially resisted the subpoena but later cooperated, calling for public depositions.
• Hillary to BBC:

  “We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.” — Hillary Clinton [01:39]

• The deposition remains private. Bill Clinton, linked to Epstein through documented travels but not accused of any crime, will testify Friday—the first former president to do so in Congress since Gerald Ford in 1983.

3. Larry Summers Resigns from Harvard Over Epstein Ties

[02:14]

• Larry Summers, former Harvard president, is stepping down from all teaching and administrative duties at Harvard due to connections with Epstein.
• Kirk Carapeza (GBH): Summers will retire at the academic year’s end and is immediately on leave.
• Jessica Wong (Harvard senior):

  “On one hand, I'm very happy that no female student will have to be advised by him. But at the same time, I'm like, there never should have been a culture that allowed this to happen.” — Jessica Wong [02:43]

• Summers is also resigning from a prominent center at Harvard Kennedy School, expressing gratitude to students and colleagues.

4. Pentagon–Scouting America Partnership

[03:12]

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is working to maintain the Pentagon’s partnership with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts).
• Pressure increased after internal Pentagon memos, revealed in an NPR report, suggested plans to cut ties.
• Graham Smith (NPR): Some congressional backlash, especially among Trump-aligned constituents, pushed negotiations forward.
• Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE):

  “There’s some big time Trump supporters in Omaha called me enraged that Hecsock would be picking a fight with the Scouts.” — Don Bacon [03:42]

• Pentagon’s requested concessions: Scouts must register applicants per their sex assigned at birth, moving away from policies supporting gender fluidity and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

5. Deadly Boat Incident Off Cuba Involving US-Registered Vessel

[04:16]

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio reports the US is still gathering facts after a fatal boat shooting involving Cuban soldiers and a Florida-registered speedboat.
• Cuban perspective: The boat, allegedly carrying armed Cuban-Americans, entered Cuban waters and opened fire. The response left four from the boat dead and six injured.
• Cuban government claims: Those killed were planning terrorist attacks against the island.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant.” — Hillary Clinton [01:39]
• “On one hand, I'm very happy that no female student will have to be advised by him. But at the same time, I'm like, there never should have been a culture that allowed this to happen.” — Jessica Wong [02:43]
• “There’s some big time Trump supporters in Omaha called me enraged that Hecsock would be picking a fight with the Scouts.” — Rep. Don Bacon [03:42]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:16 — International negotiations: US-Iran, Ukraine
• 01:24 — Hillary Clinton to testify in Epstein investigation
• 02:14 — Larry Summers’ Harvard resignation
• 03:12 — Pentagon & Scouting America partnership dispute
• 04:16 — Fatal incident involving Cuban soldiers and US-registered speedboat

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NPR News Now delivers significant headlines shaping US politics, higher education, defense policies, and international affairs—distilled succinctly for a sharp, informed start to the day.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff and Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner are holding more indirect talks with Iran today about ending Tehran's nuclear program. As with the last round, these latest discussions are taking place in Geneva with Oman acting as a mediator. Iran's foreign minister is among those representing his country. This is the third time the two sides have met amid a buildup of American naval assets in the Middle east, including two aircraft carrier strike groups led by the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R. Ford. Trump has threatened to strike Iran if a deal can't be reached. While in Geneva, Witkoff and Kushner will also be meeting with Ukrainians officials to discuss ending Russia's war with Kiev. Former first lady senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify to the House Oversight Committee today as part of its investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. NPR's Sage Miller says her testimony will be behind closed doors.

[Sage Miller]

Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, agreed to testify earlier this month after initially defying a congressional subpoena. They called for the deposition to be public. Hillary Clinton told the BBC they have nothing to hide.

[Unidentified NPR Correspondent]

We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly. We think sunlight is the best disinfectant,

[Sage Miller]

but it will remain private. Hillary Clinton is likely to be asked about her husband's relationship with Epstein. Bill Clinton took trips on Epstein's private jet and appears in photos with him, but has not been accused of wrongdoing. Bill Clinton is slated to testify Friday. It'll be the first time a former president has testified in front of Congress since gerald Ford in 1983. Sage Miller, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

Former Harvard President Larry Summers says he will step down from his teaching and administrative positions at the Ivy League school over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Kirk Carapeza with member station GBH has more from Boston.

[Kirk Carapeza]

Harvard says Summers will retire from his academic and faculty appointments at the end of this school year and remain on leave until then. He won't teach or take on any new students to advise. Harvard senior Jessica Wong says that's welcome news.

[Jessica Wong]

On one hand, I'm very happy that no female student will have to be advised by him. But at the same time. I'm like, there never should have been a culture that allowed this to happen.

[Kirk Carapeza]

Summers is also resigning from his role leading the Harvard Kennedy School's center for Business and Government. In a statement, he says his decision to leave was difficult and he's grateful to the students and colleagues he's worked with. For NPR News, I'm Kirk Carapeza in Boston.

[Dave Mattingly]

This is NPR News. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is working on an agreement to continue the partnership between the Pentagon and Scouting America. Last fall, NPR reported on internal Pentagon memos that detailed plans by the military to sever that relationship. NPR's Graham Smith reports.

[Graham Smith]

After NPR's November report on the scouting memos, some members of Congress said they'd heard from angry constituents. Here's Nebraska Republican Don Bacon.

[Don Bacon]

There's some big time Trump supporters in Omaha called me enraged that Hecsock would be picking a fight with the Scouts.

[Graham Smith]

Earlier this month, the Pentagon tweeted that the partnership might continue if the organization abandoned DEI and, quote, gender fluid stances. Now a Defense Department source who wouldn't be identified for fear of retribution tells NPR Hegseth is near reaching an agreement. Among the concessions from scouting applicants would now have to register under the sex assigned at birth. Graham Smith, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US Government is still gathering information about yesterday's shooting involving Cuban soldiers and a group of 10 people aboard a speedboat registered in Florida. The Cuban government says those on the boat entered Cuban waters and began firing on the soldiers, injuring one of them. Cuba says the soldiers returned fire, killing four and injuring six on the boat. Cuba's government alleges those on the boat were armed Cubans living in the US Who'd planned to carry out terrorist attacks on the island. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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