Up First from NPR – February 18, 2026

"US & Iran Plan To Meet Again, CBS: Colbert & Cooper, Social Media On Trial"

Episode Overview

This episode of Up First dives into three major news stories:

1. The latest on US-Iran negotiations amidst Iranian protests and governmental crackdowns.
2. Turmoil and controversy at CBS, including Anderson Cooper leaving 60 Minutes and network tensions with Stephen Colbert over political interviews.
3. Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance in court to defend Meta against accusations that social media platforms are addictive and harmful to minors.

The episode brings together voices from NPR’s international, media, and tech correspondents for concise updates and analysis.

1. US–Iran Developments Amid Ongoing Protests

[02:08 – 05:27]

Key Points

• Two Timelines in Iran:

  • Ongoing diplomatic talks between Iranian and US officials (including indirect meetings in Geneva).
  • Forty days of mourning for those killed in the January protests, a period rooted in Iranian tradition.

• Regime Response:

  • The regime is allowing some mourning ceremonies but under tight surveillance and restrictions (night only, no flowers, no filming).
  • Undercover agents are present; some ceremonies are outright banned.
  • Social media posts have surfaced claiming security forces opened fire at ceremonies—NPR has not independently verified these.

• Diplomatic Talks Update:

  • Main negotiators: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi, US envoy Steve Wykoff, and Jared Kushner.
  • Meeting described as “constructive” by Arachi, but substantial issues remain, particularly on uranium enrichment.
  • Trump administration insists on “zero enrichment,” while Iran claims rights for civilian purposes.

• Regional Tensions:

  • Military posturing from both sides: US troop buildup; Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz for exercises.
  • Senator Lindsey Graham presses for possible regime change, echoing historical analogies:
    • Quote: “We got a chance here to stop this regime. History would judge you as poorly if we let the Ayatollah off the hook. How many times could we have stopped Hitler? A bunch.” — Lindsey Graham, [04:56]
  • Israel’s perspective: Wants Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities eliminated; ex-defense minister Yoav Gallant says conditions for strike are “coming.”

Notable Quotes

• “What we're seeing is people there starting to have ceremonies to honor those killed in the protest by the regime... there are undercover agents at the services and people are told they have to be held at night, no flowers, no filming.” — Jackie Northam, international affairs correspondent, [02:37]

2. CBS Turmoil: Colbert, Cooper, and Corporate Influence

[05:37 – 09:22]

Key Points

• Anderson Cooper Leaves 60 Minutes:

  • Stays at CNN, leaves 60 Minutes after nearly 20 years.
  • Cites desire to spend time with his children and discomfort with new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss’s leadership and editorial direction.

• Stephen Colbert’s Blocked Interview:

  • CBS barred Colbert from airing an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
  • CBS told Colbert it was due to "equal time" election rules, which traditionally exempt news/talk shows.
  • Federal Communications Chair (Trump appointee) Brendan Carr has threatened to re-examine this exemption for late-night TV.
  • Colbert defied CBS by discussing the issue on-air:
    • Quote: “I was told in some uncertain terms that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this.” — Stephen Colbert (via David Folkenflick), [07:08]
  • Colbert was allowed to post the interview on YouTube.
  • CBS issued a denial, claiming only to have provided "legal guidance." Colbert fired back:
    • Quote: “They know damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS's lawyers, who, for the record, approve every script that goes on the air, whether it's about equal time or this image of frogs having sex.” — Stephen Colbert (via David Folkenflick), [09:34]

• Paramount/Warner Bros. Discovery Deal:

  • Warner Bros. Discovery is in final negotiations to be sold to Netflix; Paramount (CBS’s parent) given final chance to improve their bid.
  • The Ellison family, close to Trump, is guiding CBS corporate moves and possibly influencing editorial decisions.

• Overall Implications:

  • The day’s events (Cooper’s exit, Colbert’s blocked segment, and Paramount negotiations) seen as connected symptoms of broader corporate and political pressures inside CBS and its parent company.

Notable Quotes

• “I think you can't look at these as separate episodes… right now you have the Ellison family who are very close to Trump and want to stay on his right side. And you're seeing this play out inside the network, play out inside the news division… Colbert, of course, has been one of the chief critics of the president on major television.” — David Folkenflick, NPR media correspondent, [08:39]

3. Social Media on Trial: Zuckerberg Faces Addictiveness Claims

[10:00 – 13:22]

Key Points

• Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Lawsuit:

  • Focus: Whether social platforms can be held legally responsible for “addicting” young users.
  • Zuckerberg appears in court to defend Meta against claims that Instagram is purposefully designed to hook teenagers.
  • Plaintiffs argue features like infinite scroll/autoplay “are like digital casinos” and affect children’s brains similar to slot machines.
  • Meta defends itself by citing safeguards and denying it prioritizes profits over youth safety.

• Case Background:

  • Main plaintiff: A young woman (Kaylee) and her mother claim Instagram/YouTube triggered or worsened her mental health struggles (anxiety, depression, body image).
  • Case is first of 1,600+ similar lawsuits alleging social media companies failed to protect youth from harm.
  • Legal strategy: Suing under product liability law, likening platforms to other defective products.

• Broader Legal Landscape:

  • Previous legal protections (Section 230) shielded tech platforms from liability, but “product defect” theory is now gaining traction.
  • The trial is expected to be lengthy, with expert testimony and high stakes:
    • If the plaintiffs win, it could lead to multi-billion-dollar settlements and major changes to social media design for kids.
  • Comparison to historic tobacco litigation.
    • Quote: "Lawyers battling the tech companies say the apps are like digital casinos... affect kids' brains no differently than a slot machine.” — Bobby Allen, NPR tech correspondent, [10:39]

Notable Quotes

• “This is why Zuckerberg will be taking the stand. He's defending exactly against that allegation, and in particular, the allegation that Instagram was deliberately designed to hook young people.” — Bobby Allen, [10:29]

• “If a jury sides with the families, this case could result in a multi billion dollar settlement and big changes to how social apps operate.” — Bobby Allen, [13:06]

Memorable Moments & Tone

• Colbert’s Irreverence:

  • The late-night host’s on-air pushback against CBS’s guidance is both humorous and subversive, perfectly capturing his signature tone.

• Candid Honesty from NPR:

  • Journalists stress their commitment to verifying information (“NPR could not independently verify those social media posts,” [03:17]).

• Historical Parallels and High Stakes:

  • References to the dangers of appeasement (Iran/Hitler analogies) and “digital casinos” draw stark lines about the seriousness of the issues.

Notable Quotes With Timestamps

• "There are undercover agents at the services and people are told they have to be held at night, no flowers, no filming." — Jackie Northam, [02:37]

• “We got a chance here to stop this regime. History would judge you as poorly if we let the Ayatollah off the hook. How many times could we have stopped Hitler? A bunch.” — Lindsey Graham, [04:56]

• “I was told in some uncertain terms that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this.” — Stephen Colbert (via Folkenflick), [07:08]

• "Lawyers battling the tech companies say the apps are like digital casinos... affect kids' brains no differently than a slot machine.” — Bobby Allen, [10:39]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• US–Iran protests & diplomacy: 02:08 – 05:27
• CBS/Colbert/Cooper/Paramount story: 05:37 – 09:22
• Social media addiction trial: 10:00 – 13:22

Summary Conclusion

This episode spotlights a world in flux: Iranian citizens try to grieve amid repression, the US media grapples with political and corporate pressure, and tech giants finally face legal reckoning for the addictive impact of their products on youth. Up First delivers rapid, thoughtful reporting and context, giving listeners a clear map of the day’s most urgent headlines and the stakes behind them.