NPR News: 02-26-2026 9AM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now – 9AM EST, February 26, 2026

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme: The episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of major global and national news, focusing on diplomatic tensions with Iran, a violent incident involving a Florida-based boat in Cuba, developments in the Epstein case implicating notable U.S. figures, memorials for civil rights leader Justine Jackson, and a notable resignation at Harvard.

---

Key News Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Talks & Heightened Sanctions

[00:11–00:52]

• Geneva hosts third round of US-Iranian nuclear negotiations amidst increasing US pressure.
• US expands sanctions targeting Iran's missile, drone, and oil networks, aiming to coerce Tehran into a new deal.
  • Quote [00:38], Marco Rubio (US Secretary of State):

    "Iran poses a very grave threat to the United States and has for a very long time... you can see them always trying to rebuild elements of [their nuclear program]."

• After Iran talks, Geneva will also see a Ukrainian delegation meeting with US envoys, setting up trilateral talks with Russia.

---

2. Violent Incident in Cuban Waters

[00:52–01:54]

• Cuba’s Interior Ministry reports a Florida-registered boat entered Cuban waters with “terrorist intent.”
• Gunfight ensued: 4 dead, 6 injured.
• Cuban authorities claim the boat’s occupants were planning attacks; US promises investigation.
  • Quote [01:35], Kiki Naranjo (friend of survivor):

    “They are all men who want Cuba to be free... they grew tired of promises by politicians.”

• The U.S. pledges an investigation and appropriate reaction.

---

3. Missing Epstein Files & Political Repercussions

[01:54–02:54]

• DOJ reviews Jeffrey Epstein files after NPR uncovers missing documents from the public database.
• The files relate to allegations against President Trump of sexual abuse of a minor in the 1980s.
• Rep. Robert Garcia (ranking Oversight Democrat) demands an explanation from AG Pam Bondi.
  • Quote [02:22], Stephen Fowler (NPR):

    "The missing documents relate to a woman who said she was sexually abused by both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump when she was a minor in the early 1980s."

• DOJ claims missing documents are duplicates, privileged, or linked to ongoing investigations.

---

4. Congressional Probe: Clinton Testimonies

[02:54–03:31]

• Hillary Clinton to testify before House Oversight (behind closed doors) in New York regarding Epstein probe.

• Bill Clinton scheduled to testify the next day.

• Both deny knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and face no accusations of wrongdoing.

• Harvard’s Larry Summers (former Treasury Secretary) will resign at the end of the school year, amid Epstein-related scrutiny.

  • Summers' name appears “hundreds of times” in newly-released Epstein files.

---

5. Remembering a Civil Rights Leader

[03:31–04:39]

• Memorials begin for Justine Jackson, who died at 84.
• Jackson’s body lies in repose at Chicago’s Rainbow Push Coalition, which he founded.
• Son, Yusef Jackson, commemorates his father:
  • Quote [04:16], Yusef Jackson:

    “And so now his soul is freed to be with our mighty ancestors, his remains left to be honored and remembered.”

• Upcoming observances in South Carolina (his birthplace), Washington, D.C., and a Chicago funeral.

---

6. Market Brief

[04:39–04:54]

• US futures up: Dow +0.2%, Nasdaq +1%.

---

Notable Quotes

• Marco Rubio [00:38]:

  “Iran poses a very grave threat to the United States and has for a very long time... you can see them always trying to rebuild elements of [their nuclear program].”

• Kiki Naranjo [01:35]:

  “They are all men who want Cuba to be free... they grew tired of promises by politicians.”

• Stephen Fowler, paraphrasing Oversight letter [02:22]:

  "The missing documents relate to a woman who said she was sexually abused by both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump when she was a minor in the early 1980s."

• Yusef Jackson [04:16]:

  “And so now his soul is freed to be with our mighty ancestors, his remains left to be honored and remembered.”

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• US-Iran Talks & Sanctions: 00:11–00:52
• Florida-Registered Boat Incident in Cuba: 00:52–01:54
• Epstein Files & Oversight Inquiries: 01:54–02:54
• Clintons & Harvard’s Summers – Congressional/Epstein fallout: 02:54–03:31
• Justine Jackson Memorials: 03:31–04:39
• Market Update: 04:39–04:54

---

This episode efficiently summarizes complex, high-stakes developments in global diplomacy, domestic politics, and societal remembrance, maintaining the urgency and matter-of-fact style characteristic of NPR’s hourly news updates.

Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One. What's in your wallet? Terms apply.

[Jeanine Herbst]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The third round of U. S. Iranian talks are underway in Geneva over its nuclear program. This as the Trump administration expands its pressure on Tehran with new sanctions aimed at the country's missile, drone and oil networks, hoping to pressure Iran into a deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Iran poses

[Marco Rubio]

a very grave threat to the United States and has for a very long time. They are in possession first and foremost. After their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it. And here they are. You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Meanwhile, after the Iran talks are over, a Ukrainian delegation will meet with US Envoys in Geneva in the run up to another round of trilateral talks with Russia. Cuba says a boat registered in Florida was carrying 10 people with, quote, terrorist intent. NPR Zeta Peralta reports a gunfight ended with four people dead.

[Ada Peralta]

Cuba's Interior Ministry says the boat entered into Cuban waters and when border troops approached, the occupants opened fire. Cuban troops returned fire, killing four people and injuring six. The Cuban government says the men on board were Cubans living in Florida planning terrorist attacks on the island. Kiki Naranjo is a friend of one of the survivors, survivors and says none of the men were terrorists. They are all men who want Cuba to be free, he says, but they grew tired of promises by politicians. Narangjo and his friend run a group that he says wanted to sabotage the government from the inside. The U.S. says it will investigate and react appropriately. Ada Peralta, NPR News, Mexico City.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Department of Justice says it's reviewing documents of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after an NPR investigation revealed some Epstein files are missing from a public database. The files relate to allegations of sexual abuse of a minor against President Trump. And as NPR's Stephen Fowler reports, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is asking the Department of Justice for

[Stephen Fowler]

answers after an NPR investigation revealed dozens of pages of interviews and notes weren't published in the Epstein files. House Oversight Democrats said they would investigate. In a letter first shared with npr, ranking member Robert Garcia is asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to explain what happened. The missing documents relate to a woman who said she was sexually abused by both Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump when she was a minor in the early 1980s. The Justice Department has said any files not made public are because they're duplicates, privileged or part of an active investigation. So Garcia wants the AG to answer if there's an active investigation into Trump. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear before a House Oversight committee behind closed doors in New York today. Part of a congressional investigation into Epstein for former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify tomorrow. Neither Clinton has been accused of wrongdoing. Both deny having any knowledge of Epstein's crimes. This is NPR News. Former U.S. treasury Secretary Larry Summers will resign from teaching at Harvard University as the campus reviews his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Summers has been on leave since November, and his name has appeared hundreds of times in newly released Epstein files. Harvard says Summers, a former president of the university, will leave at the end of the school year. He worked at the Ivy League school for more than 50 years, including serving as its president for five years. Today's the beginning of a series of memorials and observances for the late civil rights leader Justine Jackson. He died just over a week ago at the age of 84. Starting today, his body will lie in repose in Chicago for two days at his Rainbow Push Coalition. Npr. Cheryl Corley has more.

[Cheryl Corley]

People will be able to pay their respects at the organization Jackson founded in Chicago decades ago. Jackson was approached of Martin Luther King, Jr. And went on to become an influential leader in his own right, as his son Yusef Jackson noted shortly after his father's death.

[Yusef Jackson]

And so now his soul is freed to be with our mighty ancestors, his remains left to be honored and remembered.

[Cheryl Corley]

Next week, Jackson will lie in state in South Carolina's Capitol building. Jackson was born in the state, and he'll also be honored in Washington, D.C. before his Chicago funeral. Cheryl Corley, NPR News, Chicago.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading in positive territory at this hour. Dow futures are up about 0.2%. Nasdaq futures are up about 1.10of a percent. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[Homes.com Announcer]

This message comes from homes.com the right agent can make or break your home search. That's why homes.com provides an agent directory that details each agent's experience so you can find the right one and ultimately the right home. Homes.com we've done your homework.