NPR News: 02-27-2026 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 27, 2026, 5PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton | Length: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of key U.S. and international news stories, including government and military policy changes, developments in a high-profile criminal trial, economic updates, major sports events, and scientific milestones.

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1. U.S. Government to Cease Use of Anthropic AI

[00:15–01:12]

• Announcement: President Trump has ordered the immediate cessation of Anthropic’s AI tools across all federal agencies, including the Pentagon.
• Reason: The Pentagon set a deadline for Anthropic to allow broader military uses of their AI, specifically addressing restrictions on domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons.
• Background:
  • Anthropic’s $200 million contract with the Defense Department is under scrutiny due to the company's ethical limitations.
  • The Pentagon insists AI companies permit lawful military applications.
  • Anthropic CEO stands firm: Their AI model, Claude, won’t be used for surveillance or weapons.
• Quote:
  • “Anthropic says Claude cannot be used for domestic surveillance or to power autonomous weapons. The Pentagon says AI companies must allow lawful uses of their technology.” – Shannon Bond [00:40]

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2. Scouting America Rebrand Controversy

[01:12–01:22]

• Update: Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts) will maintain its new inclusive name and continue admitting girls (200,000 currently participate).
• Criticism: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticizes the rebrand as part of “woke culture.”

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3. Iran Nuclear Negotiations Stalled

[01:22–01:52]

• Status: President Trump expresses dissatisfaction with ongoing indirect talks with Iran over its nuclear program.
• Negotiation Tensions:
  • Talks remain inconclusive despite repeated attempts.
  • Trump warns of potential military action if Iran doesn’t curtail its program.
• Iran’s Position: Claims the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
• Quote:
  • “I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. So I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens.” – President Donald Trump [01:38]

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4. High School Shooting Trial in Georgia

[01:52–03:08]

• Overview: Colin Gray, father of a suspected high school shooter, testifies in his own defense regarding accusations of negligence for providing a gun to his son, Colt.
• Defense:
  • Gray details a troubled family history, including his wife's drug addiction and threats of violence.
  • He stresses a trusting relationship with his son but claims to be unaware of his son's dark side.
• Prosecution: Probes past behavioral issues of the son, raising questions about Gray’s judgment.
• Quote:
  • “I don't know if anybody could ever see that kind of evil... There’s this whole other side of Colt I didn’t know existed.” – Colin Gray [02:45]

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5. Stock Market Update

[03:08]

• Summary: U.S. stocks dropped, with the S&P 500 falling nearly 0.5%.

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6. Mexico Readies for FIFA World Cup Amid Cartel Violence

[03:08–03:48]

• Concern: FIFA is seeking reassurances from Mexico regarding safety after recent cartel incidents, ahead of this summer’s Men’s World Cup.
• Response:
  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum states FIFA will review security and transportation plans for Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
  • Sheinbaum highlights urgent infrastructure projects in host cities.

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7. NASA Revises Moon Mission Plans

[03:48–04:26]

• Change:
  • NASA modifies its Artemis moon landing sequence due to delays.
  • Now, a third mission will test the Orion crew capsule’s rendezvous with a lunar lander in Earth orbit before attempting a lunar landing in the fourth mission.
• Historical Echo:
  • NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman compares the new plan to Apollo program tactics.
  • Quote: “No one at NASA forgot their history books. They knew how to do this. They've had plans like this for a long time. Now we're putting it in action.” – Jared Isaacman [04:11]
• Next Step: The crew test flight around the moon could launch as soon as April.

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8. Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse

[04:26–04:55]

• Event: A blood red moon will be visible due to a total lunar eclipse Tuesday morning across much of the Western Hemisphere.
• Significance: This will be the last total lunar eclipse until late 2028.
• Explanation: The moon’s red appearance results from sunlight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse.

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Memorable Quotes & Soundbites

• “Anthropic says Claude cannot be used for domestic surveillance or to power autonomous weapons. The Pentagon says AI companies must allow lawful uses of their technology.” – Shannon Bond [00:40]
• “I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. So I'm not thrilled with that...” – President Donald Trump [01:38]
• “I don't know if anybody could ever see that kind of evil... There’s this whole other side of Colt I didn’t know existed.” – Colin Gray [02:45]
• “No one at NASA forgot their history books. They knew how to do this. They've had plans like this for a long time. Now we're putting it in action.” – Jared Isaacman [04:11]

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Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Anthropic AI ban: [00:15–01:12]
• Iran negotiations & Trump’s comments: [01:22–01:52]
• Colin Gray testimony: [02:23–03:08]
• FIFA/Mexico Cup safety: [03:08–03:48]
• NASA mission update: [03:48–04:26]
• Lunar eclipse preview: [04:26–04:55]

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NPR News Now condenses the day’s most pressing stories into a succinct, informative package, blending U.S. policy, world affairs, justice, science, and even celestial highlights for listeners on the go.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump says the U.S. government will stop using Anthropic's artificial intelligence software. NPR's Shannon Bond reports. The announcement comes ahead of a deadline the Pentagon set for the company to drop restrictions on how the military uses its technology.

[Shannon Bond]

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president said he was directing all federal agencies to immediately cease using Anthropic's AI tools. He also said agencies including the Pentagon would have six months to phase out Anthropic's products. Anthropic and the Defense Department have been at loggerheads over how the military can use its AI model, Claude. Under a contract worth up to $200 million. Anthropic says Claude cannot be used for domestic surveillance or to power autonomous weapons. The Pentagon says AI companies must allow lawful uses of their technology. Anthropic CEO had said the company would not back down despite the government's threats. Shannon Bond, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, says it's keeping its new name and will continue to welcome the 200,000 girls who participate in its programs. That's despite Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticizing the rebrand he sees as part of woke culture. President Trump says he's not happy with the latest talks over Iran's nuclear program, but indicated he would give the negotiations more time to reach a deal to avert another war in the Middle East.

[President Donald Trump]

I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have. So I'm not thrilled with that. We'll see what happens. We're talking later. We'll have some additional talks today. But no, I'm not happy with the way they go.

[Ryland Barton]

He spoke a day after US Envoys held another inconclusive round of indirect talks with Iran in Geneva. Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to curtail its nuclear program. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon. The father of the suspected shooter at a Georgia high school took the stand in his own defense today. Colin Gray is charged with second degree murder, among other charges for giving his son a gun as a present. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[Chase McGee]

Colin Gray refuted allegations that he was a negligent or absent father, instead recounting his family's troubled history with multiple moves and workplace injuries. He spoke of his wife's drug addiction and an episode where she threatened to kill him and their son, Colt. He described a trusting relationship with Colt, who was charged with the killings of two students and two teachers.

[Colin Gray]

I don't know if anybody could ever see that kind of evil. And I it's like the Colt I knew and relationship I had. There's this whole other side of Colt I didn't know existed.

[Chase McGee]

Prosecutors asked Gray about several instances where his son had severe anger or behavioral issues going back as far as first grief. For NPR news, I'm Chase McGee in Winder.

[Ryland Barton]

U.S. stocks sank today. The S&P 500 fell nearly half a percent. This is NPR. Mexico is trying to reassure soccer's international governing body, FIFA, that it can safely host the Men's World cup this summer after deadly cartel violence. This week, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says FIFA will review security and transportation mobility in host cities. Shanebaum says transportation projects remain urgent in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. NASA's plan to send humans to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years is changing course as Central Florida Public Media's Brendan Byrne reports. Delays prompted NASA to rethink the plan.

[Brendan Byrne]

NASA was working with a three step process to land humans on the moon, an uncrewed mission around the moon followed by one with a crew doing a lunar flyby. The third mission would take astronauts to the surface. That third mission will now launch the Orion crew capsule to Earth orbit, where it will practice rendezvousing with a lunar lander. A fourth flight will return humans to the moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says it looks more like the agency's Apollo program.

[Jared Isaacman]

No one at NASA forgot their history books. They knew how to do this. They've had plans like this for a long time. Now we're putting it in action.

[Brendan Byrne]

NASA is still proceeding with a crew test flight around the moon and back that could launch as early as April. For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne in Orlando.

[Ryland Barton]

In other moon news, a blood red moon will soon grace the skies for a total lunar eclipse. There won't be another until late 2028. The spectacle will be visible Tuesday morning for much of the Western Hemisphere. During a full lunar eclipse, the Earth is between the sun and the moon, casting a shadow that covers the full moon. The moon looks red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere. I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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