NPR News: 02-26-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 26, 2026, 5PM EST – Episode Summary

Main Theme:
This episode delivers concise updates on major U.S. and global news stories, highlighting political controversies, legal developments, international diplomacy, economic updates, and cultural milestones in just under five minutes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Tensions over Clinton Deposition

• Summary: Former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified before Congress, stating she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and didn't recall meeting him.
• Incident: The hearing was disrupted when Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) leaked a photo of Clinton in the deposition room, which was subsequently posted by a conservative influencer—contravening committee protocol.
• Reaction: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) condemned the breach:

  "Republicans breaking their own committee rules ... by releasing photos, not acceptable. And it was gracious of the secretary and her team to continue the deposition."
  (Garcia, 00:55)

• Clinton had advocated for a public deposition; former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify next, with Democrats pushing for President Trump’s testimony as well.
• Timestamps: 00:24 – 01:15

2. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Amid Military Tension

• Summary: Another round of U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations concluded in Geneva, to be followed by technical talks in Vienna.
• Details: The U.S. team, led by advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Iranian officials under Omani mediation.
• Progress is reported but lacks specific details (per Oman’s foreign minister).
• The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna will host upcoming talks.
• Meanwhile, the U.S. maintains significant military presence in the region, signaling readiness for possible escalation.
• Notable Quote:

  "President Trump has ordered a large US Military buildup in the Middle East. It includes more than a dozen warships and perhaps a couple hundred warplanes."
  (Greg Myre, 01:39–02:21)

• Timestamps: 01:15 – 02:21

3. Tennessee Sanctuary City Law Overturned

• Summary: Tennessee's attorney general moves to invalidate a law criminalizing local officials voting for sanctuary policies, citing its unconstitutionality.
• Details: The law made pro-sanctuary votes a felony; its reversal is seen as a triumph for local governance and free speech.
• Reaction:

  "We challenge that law because it tramples on free speech and it tramples on local self government."
  (Clay Capp, paraphrased by Cynthia Abrams, 02:53–02:58)

• Other state immigration measures remain untouched.
• Timestamps: 02:21 – 03:08

4. Economic Update: U.S. Mortgage Rates Fall

• Summary: The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate dips below 6% for the first time since late 2022, aiding homebuyers as the spring market approaches.
• Timestamps: 03:08 – 03:23

5. FedEx’s Lawsuit Over Tariffs

• Summary: FedEx plans to refund shippers/customers if tariffs are returned following their lawsuit against the Trump administration over trade war levies.
• Context: The Supreme Court recently limited the president's emergency tariff powers.
• Timestamps: 03:23 – 03:43

6. Honoring Reverend Jesse Jackson

• Summary: Public tributes for civil rights leader Jesse Jackson continue as he lies in repose in Chicago.
• Legacy Discussion: Civil rights groups warn the progress Jackson championed is at risk.
• Memorable Quote:

  "One of the things that so many of us are talking about right now is as we celebrate his incredible life of service and leadership is also to be recommitted to the vision of that leadership at a time when it has never been more critical."
  (Maya Wiley, 04:10)

• New generations are urged to protect gains in voting rights and racial justice.
• Timestamps: 03:56 – 04:37

7. Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital

• Summary: East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is renamed Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, recognizing her philanthropy in healthcare and literacy.
• Background: Dolly Parton's initiatives include a massive book donation program and substantial funding for COVID-19 vaccine research.
• Timestamps: 04:37 – 05:09

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Robert Garcia (on congressional photo leak):

  "...by releasing photos, not acceptable. And it was gracious of the secretary and her team to continue the deposition." (00:55)

• Greg Myre (on U.S. military buildup near Iran):

  "President Trump has ordered a large US Military buildup in the Middle East..." (01:39)

• Maya Wiley (on Jesse Jackson’s legacy):

  "...as we celebrate his incredible life of service and leadership is also to be recommitted to the vision of that leadership at a time when it has never been more critical." (04:10)

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Useful Timestamps

• Hillary Clinton Congressional Hearing: 00:24–01:15
• U.S.-Iran Nuclear Negotiations: 01:15–02:21
• Tennessee Sanctuary City Law: 02:21–03:08
• Mortgage Rate Dip: 03:08–03:23
• FedEx Tariff Lawsuit: 03:23–03:43
• Jesse Jackson Tribute: 03:56–04:37
• Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital Renaming: 04:37–05:09

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Overall Tone:
Factual and urgent, with a focus on political accountability, civil rights vigilance, and community progress, reflecting NPR’s hallmark concise reporting style.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

This week on the NPR Politics Podcast, the CBS Stephen Colbert dust up is part of a pattern corporations are changing to avoid angering President Trump and his administration.

[Ryland Barton]

It's really the first time I can remember so many of these organizations have

[Greg Myre]

bent because of their own business interests.

[NPR Host]

This week on the NPR Politics Podcast, listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told members of Congress she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and didn't recall ever meeting him. Her deposition was paused today after Colorado Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert leaked a photo of Clinton in the room to a conservative influencer who posted online a violation of the committee's rules. The committee's ranking Democratic member, Robert Garcia of California, says there should be repercussions for leaking the photo.

[Robert Garcia]

What is not acceptable is oversight. Republicans breaking their own committee rules that they established with the secretary and her team, which you've all reported and you've seen by releasing photos, not acceptable. And it was gracious of the secretary and her team to continue the deposition.

[Ryland Barton]

Clinton has long called for the deposition to be open to reporters. Former President Bill Clinton will testify tomorrow. Democrats say President Trump should testify as well. The US And Iran have wrapped up the latest round of nuclear talks with a plan plan to hold further discussions next week. As NPR's Greg Myhre reports, this comes with a large U.S. military force now positioned for a possible military strike against Iran.

[Greg Myre]

The US Team, led by presidential advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held several hours of negotiations with the Iranians in Geneva, Switzerland. Oman's foreign minister mediated and said afterward on social media there was significant progress, though he didn't offer specifics. He did say the sides agreed to hold technical talks next week in Vienna. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has long monitored Iran's nuclear program, is based there. President Trump has ordered a large US Military buildup in the Middle East. It includes more than a dozen warships and perhaps a couple hundred warplanes. Greg Myre, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

Tennessee officials say that a state law policing how public officials vote is unconstitutional. Cynthia Abrams with member station WPLN reports.

[Cynthia Abrams]

Tennessee's attorney general has proposed a settlement, throwing out the law. State lawmakers passed the legislation last year, making it a felony for local officials to vote in favor of sanctuary city policies. Nashville Metropolitan Councilmember Clay Capp, one of the plaintiffs in the case, says this is a huge victory.

[Robert Garcia]

We challenge that law because it tramples

[Ryland Barton]

on free speech and it tramples on local self government.

[Cynthia Abrams]

The law was passed alongside a flurry of other immigration actions which are not impacted by the settlement. For NPR News, I'm Cynthia Abrams in Nashville.

[Ryland Barton]

The average long term US mortgage rate slipped this week below 6% for the first time since late 2022. That's good news for home shoppers as the spring home buying season gets rolling. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Shipping giant FedEx says it will return any tariff refund it might get to shippers and customers who paid them. The company is suing the Trump administration, saying it should pay money collected during President Trump's trade war over the last year. Last week, the Supreme Court struck down the president's power to issue the tariffs using an emergency power. The public is paying respects to Reverend Jesse Jackson as the civil rights icon lies in repose in his Hometown of Chicago. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. Civil rights leaders say the racial progress Jackson fought for is under threat.

[Debbie Elliott]

Honoring Jesse Jackson isn't just looking back at his legacy, but pushing his fight forward, says Maya Wiley, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human, a coalition of more than 240 groups.

[Maya Wiley]

One of the things that so many of us are talking about right now is as we celebrate his incredible life of service and leadership is also to be recommitted to the vision of that leadership at a time when it has never been more critical.

[Debbie Elliott]

She says a new generation must work to preserve hard fought gains on voting rights, equal protection and racial justice at a time when they're under attack. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

The East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville is now known as Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. Hospital officials say the name change is part of a promise to transform pediatric care in the region. Parton's philanthropy already impacts her home state and beyond, including a program that sends 3 million books to kids every month. And she donated $1 million to research that helped produce Moderna's COVID 19 vaccine. This is NPR News from Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or

[NPR Host]

any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.