NPR News: 02-27-2026 5AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 27, 2026 – 5AM EST

Overview

In this concise five-minute segment, NPR News Now covers the latest major stories shaping the morning of February 27, 2026. Topics include new testimonies in the Epstein investigation involving the Clintons, Denver's unprecedented executive order restricting ICE operations, public remembrance for civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, safety measures at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, an ethical clash between AI company Anthropic and the U.S. Defense Department, and mass layoffs at the fintech company Block.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Clinton Testimonies on Epstein Investigation

• [00:18–01:11]
  • Content: Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of the ongoing investigation into the late Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Context: Hillary Clinton testified the previous day, asserting she never met or communicated with Epstein.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Hillary Clinton (paraphrased by Dave Mattingly): “She never met Epstein and never had any connection or communication with him.” [00:29]
• Location: Both depositions are taking place in Chappaqua, New York.

2. Denver’s Executive Order Limiting ICE Operations

• [01:11–01:53]
  • Content: Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signs an executive order restricting ICE operations in city property and granting local police authority to arrest ICE agents under certain conditions.
  • Details:
    • ICE is barred from enforcing immigration on city-owned property (libraries, schools, etc.).
    • Local police empowered to provide medical aid and, if hindered by ICE, can arrest federal agents to protect residents.
    • Emphasis on de-escalation by Denver police.
    • Notable Quote:
      • Mayor Mike Johnston (quoted by Kyle Harris): “If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation.” [01:37]
• Context: Part of local responses amid fears of surges in federal immigration enforcement.

3. Reverend Jesse Jackson Lies in Repose

• [01:53–02:55]
  • Content: Mourners pay respects to civil rights leader Jesse Jackson at Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago, following his passing at age 84.
  • Details:
    • Thousands have visited to honor Jackson’s legacy.
    • His senior advisor, Reverend Jeanette Wilson, shares how Jackson's death is motivating a new generation.
    • Notable Quote:
      • Reverend Jeanette Wilson: “He said, I’m ready to step up. And so I think that his death will inspire a generation that felt like they were so hopeless in despair they didn’t see anything.” [02:32]
  • Next steps: Jackson will lie in repose in South Carolina before a service in Washington, D.C.

4. U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem – Departure Authorization

• [02:55–03:33]
  • Content: The State Department permits non-essential personnel and families to depart from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
  • Reason: Cited safety risks from terrorism and civil unrest.
  • No further details provided.

5. Anthropic Refuses DoD’s AI Demands

• [03:33–04:17]
  • Content: AI firm Anthropic publicly refuses U.S. Defense Department demands to relax AI safety standards for military use.
  • Details:
    • DoD seeks unrestricted use of Anthropic AI, but company bars military from using it in mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.
    • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to blacklist Anthropic; CEO Dario Amode holds firm, citing democratic values.
    • Pentagon denies intent to use AI for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.
    • Notable Quote:
      • Dario Amode (statement cited by John Ruich): “In some cases, AI can undermine rather than defend democratic values, and threats from the DoD do not change Anthropic’s position.” [03:56]

6. Block Lays Off 40% of Workforce

• [04:17–04:56]
  • Content: Fintech giant Block (formerly Square) announces 4,000 layoffs, representing 40% of its labor force.
  • Details:
    • CEO Jack Dorsey cites plans to rely more on AI; layoffs happen despite higher quarterly earnings.
    • Block handles payment processing and personal finance services.
    • Dorsey is also known as the co-founder of Twitter/X.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hillary Clinton’s response: “She never met Epstein and never had any connection or communication with him.” (attributed by Dave Mattingly, 00:29)
• Mayor Mike Johnston on ICE intervention: “If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation.” (quoted by Kyle Harris, 01:37)
• Rev. Jeanette Wilson on Jackson’s legacy: “I think that his death will inspire a generation that felt like they were so hopeless in despair they didn’t see anything.” (quoted by Summer Van Benton, 02:32)
• Dario Amode, Anthropic CEO, on DoD demands: “In some cases, AI can undermine rather than defend democratic values, and threats from the DoD do not change Anthropic’s position.” (quoted by John Ruich, 03:56)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:18 | Epstein investigation – Clintons’ testimonies | | 01:11 | Denver restricts ICE operations | | 01:53 | Reverend Jesse Jackson remembrance | | 02:55 | U.S. Embassy Jerusalem staff authorized to leave | | 03:33 | Anthropic rejects DoD AI collaboration terms | | 04:17 | Block (Square) announces mass layoffs |

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For the latest headlines and in-depth reporting, listen to the full “NPR News Now” episode or visit NPR’s website.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to testify today to members of the House Oversight Committee as as part of the panel's investigation of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hillary Clinton spent hours before the committee yesterday testifying about what she knew. Speaking to reporters afterwards, the former first lady senator and secretary of state said she never met Epstein and never had any connection or communication with him. The Clintons are giving their depositions in Chappaqua, New York, where they live in Colorado. The mayor of Denver has signed an executive order that restricts the operations of U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement in the city. As Kyle Harris with Colorado Public Radio reports, that order allows local police to arrest ICE agents in certain circumstances.

[Kyle Harris]

The order bars ICE officers from staging immigration enforcement actions on city owned property. It also bars agents from places like libraries and schools. And Mayor Mike Johnston declared law enforcement could offer medical aid to people injured by ice. If a federal agent restricted that aid, local police could arrest them to protect Denver. If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against the Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation. Police said they will prioritize de escalation in interacting with federal law enforcement. The executive order comes as cities around the country are preparing for possible surges by federal immigration officers. For NPR News, I'm Kyle Harris in Denver.

[Dave Mattingly]

The body of the late civil rights leader, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, is lying in repose at Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters in Chicago. Jackson died earlier this month at the age of 84. Summer Van Benton, with member station WBEZ, says mourners are paying their respects.

[Summer Van Benton]

Jackson founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition here in Chicago in 1996. Thousands have come through to pay their respects to the late civil rights leader. Jackson's senior advisor, Reverend Jeanette Wilson, says she thinks Jackson's passing will awaken people recalling a conversation she had with a young man. And he started recounting the work that Reverend Jackson has done. He said, I'm ready to step up. And so I think that his death will inspire a generation that felt like they were so hopeless in despair they didn't see anything. Of next week, Jackson will lie and repose in his home state of South Carolina before heading to Washington, D.C. for NPR News, I'm Sommer Van Benton in Chicago.

[Dave Mattingly]

The State Department is authorizing the departure of non essential government employees and their families from the US Embassy in Jerusalem. The statement cites safety risks connected to terrorism and civil unrest. It did not elaborate further. This is NPR News from Washington. The AI company Anthropic says it won't agree to demands from the Defense Department to loosen its safety standards to help the US military. As NPR's John Ruich reports, the Pentagon wants to use Anthropic's AI models without limits.

[John Ruich]

The DoD wants to be able to use Anthropic's AI for any lawful use, but the company has drawn a line saying it does not want its AI models used for domestic mass surveillance or in fully autonomous weapons. This week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to blacklist Anthropic over those limits. Now Anthropic CEO Dario Amode says in a statement his company cannot in good conscience accede to the DoD demands. He says in some cases, AI can undermine rather than defend democratic values and threats from the DoD do not change Anthropic's position. DoD spokesperson Sean Parnell said on social media the Pentagon has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans or to use AI to develop fully autonomous weapons. John Ruich, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

The financial technology company Block says it's cutting 40% of its workforce. CEO Jack Dorsey says the company is laying off 4,000 of its 10,000 employees and will reconfigure its business to rely more on artificial intelligence. The job cuts were announced as Block reported higher quarterly earnings compared to the same period a year ago. Block provides payment processing as well as personal finance. Dorsey was the co founder of the social media platform Twitter, now known as X. Wall street futures are on the downside this morning. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

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