NPR Up First: US-Iran Talks, Summers Resigns Over Epstein Ties, Cuba Kills Four In Boat Strike

Date: February 26, 2026
Hosts: Michelle Martin, Ada Peralta
Reporters: Jane Araf, Suvon Lee
Guest Voices: Timothy Patrick McCarthy (Harvard faculty), Michael Bustamante (Univ. of Miami), Kiki Naranjo (People’s Self Defense Group)

Episode Overview

This episode covers three major stories dominating the morning’s news:

1. Crucial US-Iran talks in Geneva with growing fears of war.
2. Larry Summers’ resignation from Harvard over ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and its implications for the university.
3. A deadly boat confrontation in Cuban waters, the context, and its repercussions for US-Cuba relations.

Each story is analyzed with on-the-ground reporting, expert interviews, and direct quotes, exploring the wider ramifications in US foreign policy, academia, and the ongoing pressure on Cuba.

1. US-Iran Talks: Nuclear Tensions and Risk of War

Segment Start: [02:22]
Key Speakers: Michelle Martin, Jane Araf (NPR), Timothy Patrick McCarthy (Harvard faculty)

Summary

• US and Iranian officials meet in Geneva for potentially decisive talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
• President Trump recently claimed Iran was developing missiles capable of reaching the US, heightening war worries.
• The talks follow last year's escalation: Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent US airstrikes, halting previous negotiations.
• The US military buildup in the Middle East is described as the largest since the 2003 Iraq invasion.

“US threats against Iran and the probable Iranian retaliation have raised what seems to be a very real risk of a wider war, and it has the entire region in a state of high alert.”
– Jane Araf, [02:54]

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio expresses uncertainty about a diplomatic breakthrough:

“The Iranian insistence on not discussing ballistic missiles is a big, big problem. I'll leave it at that.”
– Marco Rubio (via Jane Araf), [03:39]

Key Points

• US demands Iran address both nuclear enrichment and ballistic missiles; Iran refuses, citing national defense.
• Iranian Foreign Minister says Israel is pushing these demands, calling it a “recipe for failure.”
• No breakthrough expected, but the scheduling of further talks would be seen as progress.
• The Trump administration also wants Iran to halt support for militant groups and stop crackdowns on protests.
• The threat of regime change, openly discussed by Trump, looms over negotiations.

“Ultimately, there’s that specter of toppling regime. Trump in February said regime change in Iran would be the best thing that could happen.”
– Jane Araf, [05:05]

• Regional tension is high; countries advise citizens to leave. Oil prices are up, and US bases are on alert.

2. Harvard’s Larry Summers Resigns Over Epstein Ties

Segment Start: [06:08]
Key Speakers: Michelle Martin, Suvon Lee (WBUR), Timothy Patrick McCarthy (Harvard faculty), Theda Skocpol (Harvard professor)

Summary

• Larry Summers, former Harvard president and US Treasury Secretary, announces retirement after scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• Summers’ resignation follows new email revelations detailing a close, personal relationship with Epstein, including conversations about his personal life and “banter about Epstein being Summers’ wingman.” ([06:31])
• Summers had already been on academic leave; he won’t receive the honorary title of professor emeritus.
• Harvard’s review into Epstein connections continues.

Faculty Reaction

“His high profile has become not just a distraction for Harvard to have to deal with, but the kind of pall that’s been cast upon the university at a time where the university hardly needs any more burdens.”
– Timothy Patrick McCarthy, [08:47]

“This is somebody who has a lot to offer intellectual life and was a valued teacher by many Harvard students.”
– Theda Skocpol (as paraphrased), [09:12]

• More professors’ and even a college president’s ties to Epstein are being reviewed, including at Bard College and among other Harvard faculty.

“Each day is bringing new developments. It’s kind of like what consequences will be next.”
– Suvon Lee, [09:54]

3. Cuban Boat Confrontation: Four Killed, Rising Tensions

Segment Start: [10:06]
Key Speakers: Michelle Martin, Ada Peralta (NPR), Kiki Naranjo (Auto Defensa del Pueblo), Michael Bustamante (Cuba scholar, Univ. of Miami)

Summary

• Cuban border troops engage a boat registered in Florida; four people on board are shot and killed.
• Cuban government claims the men had “terrorist intent,” citing recovered weapons.
• Some killed were Cuban exiles known to the government, designated as terrorists.

The Human Story

• One survivor, Mahail Sanchez Gonzalez, runs an anti-Castro organization. According to his associate Kiki Naranjo:

“None of those men, he told me, are terrorists. All of them are men who want Cuba to be free, he says. But they grew tired. They got tired of promises from presidents. They got tired of promises from Congress.”
– Ada Peralta paraphrasing Kiki Naranjo, [11:03]

• On whether US pressure is enough:

“The only thing the Cuban government understands is bullets.”
– Kiki Naranjo (via Ada Peralta), [12:09]

Consequences and Context

• Incident revives memories of the 1996 “Brothers to the Rescue” shootdown.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges caution, saying the situation is under investigation.
• Scholar Michael Bustamante observes:

“The Trump administration seems torn between actually wanting to escalate things with Cuba beyond a point, but then also fearing the consequences.”
– Michael Bustamante (via Ada Peralta), [13:11]

• Potential feared outcomes include mass migration or military intervention, which analysts say Trump likely wants to avoid.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On US-Iran Talks:
  “No breakthroughs expected today. But if more talks are scheduled, that in itself is seen as progress.”
  – Jane Araf, [04:47]

• On the Harvard Community's Atmosphere:
  “His high profile has become … the kind of pall that’s been cast upon the university at a time where the university hardly needs any more burdens.”
  – Timothy Patrick McCarthy, [08:47]

• On Cuban Opposition Sentiment:
  “They grew tired … of promises from presidents. … The only thing the Cuban government understands is bullets.”
  – Kiki Naranjo (via Ada Peralta), [12:09]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• US-Iran Talks Begin in Geneva: [02:22]
• Background and Stakes of US-Iran Negotiations: [02:54] – [05:57]
• Larry Summers Resignation Announced: [06:08]
• Summers' Relationship with Epstein and Reaction: [06:31] – [09:54]
• Cuban Boat Shootout and Fallout: [10:06] – [13:25]

This episode blends high-stakes diplomacy, the shockwaves of accountability in academia, and the enduring volatility in US-Cuba relations, delivering essential reporting and context for a fast-moving news day.