US-Iran Talks Begin, Dems List Of DHS Demands, Search For Nancy Guthrie Continues

Summary

Up First from NPR: February 6, 2026

Episode Title: US-Iran Talks Begin, Dems List Of DHS Demands, Search For Nancy Guthrie Continues
Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Layla Fadel
Reporters & Guests: Greg Myhre, Claudia Grisales, Alana Wise

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Overview

This episode of Up First covers three major news stories:

1. Tense negotiations between the US and Iran aimed at averting war
2. Democrats’ detailed reform demands for the Department of Homeland Security ahead of a government funding deadline
3. The ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie, after confirmation of a ransom letter
   The hosts discuss the implications and urgency of these stories with NPR correspondents, offering context, analysis, and updates.

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1. US-Iran Talks and the Risk of War

Segment Start: 02:19

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The US and Iran have begun negotiations in Oman to avoid an escalated conflict, prompted by threats from Iran and the recent US military buildup in the region (aircraft carriers, warplanes).
• Greg Myhre (NPR National Security Correspondent) explains that Iran is in a position of weakness and may be willing to make concessions, but the US seeks a broader agreement covering ballistic missiles and regional militancy, not just the nuclear program.
  • "In most negotiations, if the two sides can't agree, the diplomats go home... This scenario is different. The US has spent a month moving Navy ships and warplanes into the region. If there's no deal, President Trump could unleash attacks on Iran." — Greg Myhre [03:08]
• Myhre cites Iran expert Alex Fatanka in assessing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s intentions, emphasizing Iran’s desire to avoid war while avoiding major policy shifts:
  • “I can see he wants to avoid war, but I can't see... a man who's ready to change course. So they're essentially engaged in what I can only call a crisis management. Day to day, avoid war.” — Cited by Greg Myhre [04:18]
• State of Iran’s Nuclear Program:
  • The program suffered setbacks after last year’s US and Israeli bombing campaign, but “obliterated” claims are exaggerated. Serious concerns remain about highly enriched uranium—its location is unknown outside Iran. [04:37]
• Potential Consequences if Talks Fail:
  • A US military strike could trigger a short but intense conflict with possible regional escalation. Iran retains significant missile and drone capabilities. [05:11]

Notable Quotes

• “If there's no deal, President Trump could unleash attacks on Iran.” — Greg Myhre [03:08]
• “Only Iran knows the answer and it isn’t talking about it.” — Greg Myhre, on the fate of highly enriched uranium [04:59]

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2. Democrats’ Demands for Department of Homeland Security Reforms

Segment Start: 05:44

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• DHS funding will expire in one week unless Congress acts. Negotiations are ongoing, but agreement is uncertain.
• Democrats’ 10-point reform plan demands (delivered to GOP counterparts):
  • Removal of masks for immigration enforcement agents (for identification and accountability)
  • Mandatory use of body cameras
  • Clear rules on use of force, mandatory removal during investigations if force is used
  • Standardized uniforms and identifying information for personnel
  • Judicial (not administrative) warrants for deportations to safeguard Fourth Amendment rights
  • Immediate legal representation for detainees
  • Stronger oversight, including congressional access to detention facilities
  • Enhanced training for agents
  • End to “paramilitary police” practices
• Reform push is partly in response to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Preddy in Minneapolis last month. [06:13]
• Republican Response: Mixed. Some openness to body cameras, but strong opposition to removing masks (citing safety for agents).
  • Claudia Grisales: "That's been a nonstarter for Republicans who say that doing so would put agents at risk of being targeted." [07:54]
• Potential Outcomes:
  • ICE received a large funding boost last year and is less at risk, but agencies like the Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA would be impacted if a deal isn’t reached.
  • Both parties see political stakes, hoping to carry a "winning message" into the midterms. [08:42]

Notable Quotes

• "Democrats say judges should be signing off and that these administrative warrants risk violating people's Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures." — Claudia Grisales [07:19]
• "Both sides... want to take a winning message to voters in the midterms this year." — Claudia Grisales [08:56]

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3. The Search for Nancy Guthrie

Segment Start: 09:32

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The FBI has confirmed a ransom letter in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance; no direct contact has been made with the family.
• Law enforcement is treating the ransom note seriously, but find it unusual kidnappers have not contacted the family directly.
  • “Officials say that the ransomers have not made contact with the Guthrie since the message was sent to the media.” — Alana Wise [09:55]
• Pima County Sheriff confirmed blood on her porch is Nancy’s. Authorities are operating under the assumption she is alive.
  • “DNA testing confirmed the blood belongs to the 84-year-old mother of three.” — Alana Wise [10:17]
• Timeline of Disappearance:
  • 9:48 p.m. (Saturday): Nancy returned home.
  • 1:47 a.m.: Doorbell camera disconnected, then her pacemaker disconnected from its app.
  • Doorbell camera registered some movement; the footage is unrecoverable.
• $50,000 reward for information leading to recovery/arrest of the perpetrators.
• Family Public Pleas:
  • Savannah Guthrie and siblings posted emotional appeals on social media.
    • “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.” — Family’s public statement [12:03]
  • Cameron Guthrie: “We need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.” [12:48]
• President Trump promised federal resources for the search. [11:31]
• FBI says any negotiation with ransomers is up to the family. [12:51]

Notable Quotes

• “Please know that we are doing everything to bring your mother home.” — FBI’s Heath Yankee, directed to the Guthrie family [11:27]
• “We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.” — Savannah Guthrie and siblings [12:03]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• US-Iran Tensions & Talks: 02:19 - 05:35
• DHS Funding & Reform Demands: 05:44 - 09:24
• Search for Nancy Guthrie: 09:32 - 12:59

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Memorable Moments

• The clear, sobering assessment of what’s at stake in the US-Iran negotiations, especially with the military poised for immediate action if talks fall apart.
• Details of the Democrats’ multi-faceted DHS reform demands—many of which would alter frontline protocols and accountability measures.
• The emotional public pleas from Savannah Guthrie’s family, bringing a human face to the high-profile, distressing kidnapping case.

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Tone & Takeaways

Throughout the episode, the tone is urgent yet measured, reflecting the seriousness and complexity of each story. The hosts and correspondents prioritize clarity, context, and human impacts—whether talking about the threat of war, shifting immigration enforcement paradigms, or a family’s anguish and public hope.

This summary provides a full picture of the episode’s major topics and developments for those seeking to stay informed without having heard the broadcast.

Transcript

[Layla Fadel]

Good morning. Up first, listeners. In a world that feels off balance, that changes fast. Staying Informed Matters. Follow up first on your podcast app. So the day's top stories are waiting for you when you wake up.

[Steve Inskeep]

The US And Iran opened talks in a bid to avoid a war.

[Layla Fadel]

President Trump, though, moved Navy ships and warplanes to the region for possible military strikes. What happens if talks fall apart this time?

[Steve Inskeep]

I'm Steve Inskeep with Layla Fadel, and this is up first from NPR News. Democrats gave a detailed list of demands to change how immigration agents operate. Lawmakers have a week to reach an agreement or lose funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Agencies like the TSA and FEMA could be affected if Congress doesn't reach a deal in time.

[Layla Fadel]

And the FBI confirms a ransom letter in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie, but no direct contact has been made with the family yet. What's the latest in the investigation? Satan, stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

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[Greg Myhre]

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[Layla Fadel]

The U.S. and Iran opened negotiations today in a bid to avoid a war.

[Steve Inskeep]

They meet at the urging of Iran's neighbors. The neighbors know Iran has threatened attacks in all directions if it is struck in any way. The US has an aircraft carrier and other forces in the region to set this up.

[Layla Fadel]

And to break this down, we're joined by NPR national security correspondent Greg Myhre. Good morning.

[Greg Myhre]

Hi, Layla.

[Layla Fadel]

So, Greg, what is the prospect for a deal here?

[Greg Myhre]

Well, Layla, there is a chance. If these talks, which are taking place in Oman, are limited to Iran's nuclear program. Now, this is what Iran wants, and Iran is in a position of real weakness, and it's likely to make some concessions. It suffered multiple setback setbacks in the past two years. And this includes the US And Israeli bombing campaign against nuclear facilities last June. But the sides are far apart, and here's the real catch. In most negotiations, if the two sides can't agree, the diplomats go home and decide whether to meet again. This scenario is different. The US has spent a month moving Navy ships and warplanes into the region. If there's no deal, President Trump could unleash attacks on Iran.

[Layla Fadel]

What if Iran offered a limited nuclear agreement? Would that be enough to satisfy President Trump?

[Greg Myhre]

Probably not. The US Delegation led by Steve Witkoff wants to talk about broader issues, and they include limits on Iran's ballistic missiles, the missiles they fired at Israel and US Military targets last June. The US Also wants Iran to stop supporting militant proxy groups in the region. Also, it's not clear if they'll discuss the threat. Thousands of Iranian protesters that were slaughtered by government security forces just last month. And Iran has always resisted widening the scope of the talks. I spoke about this with Alex Fatanka, an Iran expert at the Middle East Institute in Washington. He watched the speech this week by Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. I can see he wants to avoid war, but I can't see. I didn't hear a man who's ready to change course. I'm not listening to a man who says, yeah, we've been wrong in the way we've handled our nuclear program. So they're essentially engaged in what I can only call a crisis management. Day to day, avoid war.

[Layla Fadel]

What do we know about the state of Iran's nuclear program right now?

[Greg Myhre]

Well, we know it was set back. We don't know all the details. Trump claimed last year it was obliterated, but that doesn't really seem to be the case. If so, there'd be no need for additional negotiations or military strikes. The big question is the roughly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium. It may have been moved out of the nuclear sites before they were bombed or buried inside those fac that were hit. Only Iran knows the answer and it isn't talking about it.

[Layla Fadel]

So if the talks fail and this becomes an armed confrontation, I mean, what might that look like?

[Greg Myhre]

Well, the US has amassed this large force that could wage an extended fight, but that doesn't mean it would topple the Iranian regime, especially if it's a short battle. And the Iranians still have missiles and drones that would threaten U.S. military targets and Israel. The additional risk is that the war could spread to the wider Middle east.

[Layla Fadel]

Thank you. That's NPR's Greg Myhre.

[Greg Myhre]

Sure thing, Layla.

[Layla Fadel]

The clock is ticking for the Department of Homeland Security, where one week from today, the agency is due to run out of baseline funding.

[Steve Inskeep]

Lawmakers are in talks on a new DHS plan which would revamp the way federal immigration officers do their jobs. But it's not clear that any deal is in sight.

[Layla Fadel]

NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has been following all this and joins us now. Good morning, Claudia.

[Claudia Grisales]

Good morning, Layla.

[Layla Fadel]

Okay, so Democrats have this new list expanding on specific reforms. They want to see what is new in these demands.

[Claudia Grisales]

Right. They released a 10 point plan for DHS immigration law enforcement agents in a letter to their GOP counterparts, part of a continuing response to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Preddy in Minneapolis last month. And we heard Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterate some of their past such as the removal of masks for DHS immigration law enforcement agents, the mandatory use of body cameras and rules for the use of force. But now they also want these agents to wear identifying information like their last name and an end to what they call paramilitary police. And that is why they want standard uniforms and equipment to bring them in line with civil enforcement. They also want expanded training and they want officers removed from the job if they do use force for the duration of an investigation.

[Layla Fadel]

There's also big concerns about the warrants used in these deportation actions. Right. What can you tell us about that?

[Claudia Grisales]

Yeah, they want to ensure that DHS officers are using judicial warrants instead of what's happening now where DHS is using warrants written by agency officials. Democrats say judges should be signing off and that these administrative warrants risk violating people's Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. They also want other basic rights protected, such as immediate access to legal representation for those who are taken into custody and charged. As part of all this, they want heightened oversight, such as allowing members to access detention facilities regardless of who funds them.

[Layla Fadel]

Are Republicans open to these demands?

[Claudia Grisales]

Well, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are not clear they can get this done. There are some areas Republicans say they'll support, things like body cameras, but there are others who are flatly rejecting, for example, getting rid of masks. That's been a nonstarter for Republicans who say that doing so would put agents at risk of being targeted. Democrats argue this is how they're held accountable. So Republicans aren't shutting down the overall proposal as of yet, but there's still a lot of negotiating left to do and not a lot of time. And one option could be another stopgap bill that kicks the can down the road for a few more weeks.

[Layla Fadel]

Okay, so it looks like there's openings for negotiation. Not much time, like you said. But what if these talks end up breaking down entirely? What happens, though?

[Claudia Grisales]

Well, as we know, Immigration and Customs Enforcement got a huge injection of cash last year with the partisan GOP plan they dubbed the one big beautiful bill. In fact, they got $75 billion, which makes them the government's largest law enforcement agency. So it wouldn't make much of a difference when it comes to ice, which is the thing Democrats want to reform, but the rest of the AGENC would lose out. That includes the Coast Guard, the tsa, and disaster response at fema. So both sides still, however, want to own this issue and they want to take a winning message to voters in the midterms this year. So a lot of incentive there as well.

[Layla Fadel]

That's NPR's Claudia Grisales. Thanks, Claudia.

[Claudia Grisales]

Thank you.

[Layla Fadel]

The FBI has confirmed the existence of a ransom letter for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie.

[Steve Inskeep]

This was the letter that a few media outlets received earlier in the week. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Sunday from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

[Layla Fadel]

NPR's Alana Wise has been following the story and joins me now. Good morning.

[Alana Wise]

Morning.

[Layla Fadel]

So, Alana, what's the latest with the case?

[Alana Wise]

So the FBI said they are taking the ransom note seriously. Officials say that the ransomers have not made contact with the Guthrie since the message was sent to the media. Heath Yankee is with the FBI's Phoenix office. He said it's out of the ordinary at this stage in a kidnapping case for the kidnappers not to make additional contact to the family of the victim. Also, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said yesterday there was blood found on the porch of Nancy Guthrie's house. DNA testing confirmed the blood belongs to the 84 year old mother of three. The sheriff said investigators are operating as though Nancy is alive and they're hopeful that she can be found and returned home safely.

[Layla Fadel]

Do they have any suspects?

[Alana Wise]

No. And officials say they still don't know how many people might have been involved. The FBI said they're looking through information from banks, social media and phone companies to learn more about her disappearance. Sheriff Nanos gave this timeline of what happened on the night Nancy disappeared. Nancy had gone to one of her daughter's houses for dinner on Saturday night. She was dropped back off at her home around 9:48pm at 1:47am her doorbell camera was disconnected and a while later, her pacemaker disconnected from the app. The doorbell camera picked up some movement, but they haven't been able to restore the footage. Now the FBI is offering a fifty thousand dollar reward for any information that leads to Nancy Guthrie's recovery and or the arrest and conviction of whoever took her. Here's the FBI's Heath Young Key addressing the Guthrie family.

[Greg Myhre]

Please know that we are doing everything to bring your mother home.

[Alana Wise]

And the case has gotten massive national attention. Earlier this week, President Trump said he had reached out to Savannah Guthrie and would dedicate whatever federal resources were needed in order to find her.

[Layla Fadel]

And just recap for us what we've heard from the family this week.

[Alana Wise]

Of course, there was this emotional video earlier in the week on Instagram where Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings were pleading with potential kidnappers to bring their mom home. They said they were, quote, ready to talk and they wanted clear proof that Nancy was still alive.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

We live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.

[Alana Wise]

The family talked about how Nancy is elderly, how she needs certain medications and she experiences daily pain. But they also talked about what she's like as a mother and a grandmother. And they talked about how much they missed her and wanted to see her come home. And just last night, Cameron Guthrie, Nancy's son, issued a new plea in an Instagram video. In it, he said the family had not heard directly from any alleged captors.

[Greg Myhre]

We need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.

[Alana Wise]

The FBI has said that any decision to work with ransomers would ultimately be up to the family.

[Layla Fadel]

That's NPR's Ilana Wise. Thank you for your reporting.

[Alana Wise]

Thanks, Layla.

[Layla Fadel]

And that's up first for Friday, February 6th. I'm Layla Falden.

[Steve Inskeep]

And I'm Steve Inskeep. Today's up first was edited by Andrew Sussman, Jason Breslow, James Dubeck, Mohamed El Bardisi and Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Baj and Nia Dumas. Our director is Milton Guevara. We get engineering support from Nisha Hyness. And our technical director is the equally supportive Stacy Abbott. Our executive producer is Jay Shaylor. Join us Monday.

[Greg Myhre]

Foreign.

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[Layla Fadel]

An evergreen story isn't tied to one news cycle.

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[Layla Fadel]

The Evergreen is also a podcast from OPB about the Northwest. I'm Jen Chavez. Listen to the Evergreen podcast from OPD every Monday, part of the NPR Network.

[Greg Myhre]

This year's Grammys featured historic wins for.

[Steve Inskeep]

Bad Bunny and Kendrick Lamar, lavish performances and occasional chaos.

[Greg Myhre]

And it was a night of speeches that refle this moment in America.

[Claudia Grisales]

Listen to a recap on pop culture.

[Steve Inskeep]

Happy Hour in the NPR app or.

[Greg Myhre]

Wherever you get your podcasts.