Up First from NPR

Episode: DHS Shutdown, Ukraine Peace Talks, Olympics Stars Stumble
Date: February 16, 2026
Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Layla Fadell
Duration: ~10 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on three major news stories:

• The latest partial government shutdown in the US, affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Renewed peace talks among the US, Russia, and Ukraine in Geneva
• Notable successes and surprises from the Winter Olympics, including American stars stumbling and historic wins by athletes from other countries

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DHS Shutdown and Congressional Gridlock

• Situation:
  Funding for DHS lapsed, marking the third partial shutdown in three months. Congress left for recess without reaching a deal.
• Impact:
  Core security functions (e.g., airport security, ICE, TSA) continue, but the shutdown signals a recurring legislative failure.
• Analysis (02:11–05:39):
  • Congressional reporter Sam Greenglass describes a pattern where major political crises (“the crisis cycle”) catch national attention, but quick, decisive action rarely follows.
  • Lawmakers blame each other for missed deadlines—pointing to both legislative inaction and a lack of political will to compromise.
  • Efforts to address underlying issues, like health subsidies and immigration reform, often break down due to partisan differences and a political culture that disincentivizes consensus.
  • Former Senator Heidi Heitkamp notes the decline in willingness to reward compromise from both party bases (04:21).
  • Senator Tim Kaine highlights that on issues like healthcare and immigration, the parties are "in fundamentally very, very different places" (04:33).
  • The immediate, pragmatic impacts of the shutdown are muted (funds still available for now), but prolonged gridlock could eventually be felt by the public.

Notable Moment:

“Shouldn't we be here trying to figure out how to solve problems rather than trying to figure out how to score political points for the purposes of the next election?”
— Unnamed Lawmaker/Interviewer (03:14)

2. Ukraine Peace Talks in Geneva

• Context:
  As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its four-year mark, diplomatic negotiations continue in Geneva with US, Russian, and Ukrainian officials present.
• Participants:
  US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner (chosen by President Trump); Secretary of State Marco Rubio voices caution.
• Analysis (05:47–09:21):
  • Rubio expresses uncertainty about Russian intentions:

    “We don’t know the Russians are serious about ending the war they say they are and under what terms... But we’re going to continue to test it.”
    — Secretary of State Marco Rubio (06:35)

  • Charles Mains (NPR, Moscow) explains Russia’s dual messaging: professing to prefer diplomacy while signaling an inevitable victory without concessions.
  • Russia is offering the carrot of future investment and business opportunities to entice the US into a deal but demands Ukrainian territorial concessions—including territory not under their control.
  • Ukraine, represented by President Volodymyr Zelensky, resists making concessions and seeks “ironclad security guarantees” to prevent future attacks.
  • European nations’ findings on Alexei Navalny’s death (presence of toxin epibetidine) support claims he was murdered, contradicting official Russian statements.

Notable Moment:

“The Americans often return to the topic of concessions, and too often those concessions are discussed in the context only of Ukraine, not Russia.”
— President Volodymyr Zelensky (08:23, paraphrased by Charles Mains)

3. Winter Olympics: Triumphs, Surprises, and Setbacks

• Highlights:
  • US speed skater Jordan Stoltz wins his second gold medal at Milan Cortina Games, setting two Olympic records.
  • Disappointments for US stars:
    • Erin Jackson, former 500m gold medalist, finishes fifth.
    • Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin again falls short of a medal; this is her eighth straight Olympic event without medaling.
• Performance Under Pressure (09:34–12:28):
  • The phenomenon of “the yips” or “twisties,” where psychological pressure leads to performance blocks, is explored.
  • Dr. C. Gupta, a sports psychologist, speaks about acute Olympic stress and how even well-prepared athletes can struggle.
  • There is hope: history shows that athletes often bounce back after setbacks—Nathan Chen and Simone Biles are cited as examples.

Notable Moment:

“In most sports, it’s about a 10 minute period every four years. That’s when you’re actually competing in the finals for the medals. Right. This is what we characterize as an acute and immediate stress environment.”
— Dr. C. Gupta, University of Portsmouth (11:49)

• International Moments:
  • Italy’s Federica Brinognier wins two golds after a severe leg injury.
  • Norway’s Johannes Klæbo achieves his ninth Olympic gold in cross-country skiing, setting a Winter Games record.
  • Brazil earns its first Winter Olympic medal through Lucas Pinero Broughton in men’s giant slalom—a milestone for South America.

Notable Moment:

“Layla, it turns out this is the first Winter Olympic medal ever for an athlete from South America.”
— Brian Mann (13:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------|--------------| | DHS Shutdown & Political Stalemate | 02:07–05:39 | | Ukraine Peace Talks / Navalny Investigation | 05:47–09:21 | | Olympics Recap, Athlete Pressure, Global Triumphs| 09:34–13:19 |

Memorable Quotes

• On Congressional Dysfunction:

  “The base on both sides, their willingness to reward compromise is greatly diminished.”
  — Heidi Heitkamp (04:21)

• On Negotiating Peace:

  “We don’t know the Russians are serious about ending the war.”
  — Secretary of State Marco Rubio (06:35)

• On Olympic Pressure:

  “Yips, twisties. These are actually very highly studied. So the technical term of that is performance failure or performance blocks.”
  — Dr. C. Gupta (11:21)

Tone

The episode maintains NPR's signature tone: measured, analytical, informative, and anchored in direct reporting from correspondents and expert voices. The dialogue is respectful, with emphasis on providing context and parsing complex issues for listeners starting their day.

Summary

In this episode, NPR’s Up First explores three major stories: persistent US congressional dysfunction leading to another partial government shutdown and what that means; the difficult, ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine and the continued uncertainty about Russia’s intentions; and dramatic moments from the Winter Olympics, both disappointing and historic, including American athletes’ struggles with pressure and record-setting wins for other countries. Through interviews and expert analysis, the episode offers a concise yet comprehensive briefing on these top news items.