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Military Buildup Around Iran, Board Of Peace Meeting, Former Prince Andrew Released Feb 20, 2026

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President Trump says he will make a decision in ten days on whether or not to attack Iran as the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East is now large enough to support a sustained bombing campaign.
President Trump is widening the scope of his new Board of Peace after a Gaza-focused gathering, pitching it as a tool for other global conflicts as world leaders warn it could sideline the United Nations and the Gaza ceasefire remains fragile.
And British police are searching royal properties after the arrest of former Prince Andrew tied to the Epstein files, investigators are looking into whether he passed government documents to the convicted sex offender.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Rebekah Metzler, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our Director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:57) Military Buildup Around Iran
(05:48) Board Of Peace Meeting
(09:38) Former Prince Andrew Released
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U.S. Men's hockey overtime win and the Olympic sport that produces the best athletes Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

If enjoyed this, check out the Up First Winter Games Video Podcast. You'll find it at youtube.com/npr.
This bonus episode of Up First was edited by Eric Whitney. Our visual editors include Nicole Werbeck, Elizabeth Gillis, Grace Raver and Pablo Valdivia.
It was produced by Lauren Migaki, Brianna Scott, Ana Perez, Barry Gordemer and Elizabeth Baker.
We get engineering support from Jay Czys, Andie Huether, Becky Brown and Josephine Nyounai.
Our Executive Producers are Adam Verdugo, Jay Shaylor and Samantha Melbourneweaver.
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Trump's Board Of Peace, Former Prince Andrew Arrested, Zuckerberg Defends Meta Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

President Trump convenes the first meeting of his Board of Peace, touting $5 billion in reconstruction pledges for Gaza as Israel gives Hamas 60 days to disarm or face renewed war.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
And Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand in the first-ever social media addiction trial, defending accusations that the company knew kids under 13 were using Instagram and built its platforms to hook young users early.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Robbie Griffiths, Miguel Macias, Tina Kraja, Brett Neely, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
Our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:56) Trump's Board of Peace
(06:10) Former Prince Andrew Arrested
(08:30) Zuckerberg Defends Meta
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US & Iran Plan To Meet Again, CBS: Colbert & Cooper, Social Media On Trial Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

U.S. and Iranian negotiators agree to keep talking after meetings in Geneva, even as President Trump threatens military force and Tehran warns it could retaliate.
Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked a political guest from his late-night show, adding to a wave of upheaval involving Anderson Cooper and corporate maneuvering at the network’s parent company.
And Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand in a landmark trial testing whether social media companies can be held legally responsible for harming young users.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by James Hider, Pallavi Gogoi, Brett Neely, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Simon-Laslo Janssen.

Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) US & Iran Plan To Meet Again
(05:26) CBS: Colbert & Cooper
(09:49) Social Media On Trial
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US-Iran Talks, Texas ICE Shooting Trial, Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies At 84 Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

U.S. and Iranian officials meet again in Geneva as the Trump administration sends more military forces to the region while pressing Tehran to limit its nuclear program.
Nine defendants go on trial in Texas over a shooting outside an ICE detention center, in a case federal prosecutors are framing as terrorism and defense attorneys say grew out of a protest.
And Reverend Jesse Jesse Jackson, the civil leader, presidential candidate and longtime advocate for racial and economic justice, has died at age 84.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by James Hider, Alfredo Carbajal, Kara Platoni, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Simon-Laslo Janssen.

Our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.

(0:00) Introduction
(02:17) US-Iran Talks
(05:40) Texas ICE Shooting Trial
(09:26) Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies At 84
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Cheating in the most-polite sport, curling and what is "sledhead?" Feb 16, 2026

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DHS Shutdown, Ukraine Peace Talks, Olympics Stars Stumble Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Congress is out on recess as a partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security is underway after talks collapsed over immigration enforcement reforms.
Officials from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine prepare for new peace talks in Geneva as Moscow presses territorial demands and Kyiv insists on security guarantees.
And at the Winter Olympics in Italy, American speed skater Jordan Stolz is making history while other superstar athletes struggle with the intense pressure of competing on the world’s biggest stage.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Jason Breslow, Kate Bartlett, Tina Kraya, Eric Whitney, Mohamad ElBardicy and Adam Bearne.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Simon-Laslo Janssen.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:57) DHS Shutdown
(05:38) Ukraine Peace Talks
(09:26) Olympics Stars Stumble
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Gisèle Pelicot Tells Her Story Feb 15, 2026

Show notes

How do you find the strength to face the unimaginable? In September of 2024, Gisèle Pelicot took the stand in an unprecedented mass rape trial in France. On trial was her former husband, along with 50 other men. Police had found images and videos of her husband and dozens of men raping Pelicot while she was drugged and unconscious. In this episode of The Sunday Story, Gisèle Pelicot sits down with NPR’s Michel Martin to talk about the pain of discovering what had happened to her, the harm it did to her family, and her decision to reject shame and speak up on behalf of victims of sexual assault.
Pelicot’s new memoir, “A Hymn to Life,” will be published on February 17th.
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The Munich Security Conference; FDA Rejects Flu Vaccine; The Fall of The Quad God Feb 14, 2026

Show notes

We get the latest from the Munich Security Conference, where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech before European leaders. We also look at the reasons behind why the FDA rejected Moderna's new flu vaccine and how that decision could shape future clinical trials. Plus, we'll look at the what happened with U.S Olympic figure skater Illia Malinin, dubbed the "Quad God," on the ice yesterday. Tipped to win the gold, Malinin didn't end up even medaling.
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ICE Leaving Minnesota, DHS Funding Deadline, EPA Vehicle Emissions Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Federal immigration agents are pulling back from Minnesota after months of aggressive immigration enforcement that led to thousands of arrests, weeks of protests, and the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens.
Congress is racing to fund the Department of Homeland Security before a shutdown, with Democrats demanding changes to immigration enforcement and negotiations still stalled.
And the Environmental Protection Agency is scrapping the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Eric Westervelt, Jason Breslow, Kara Platoni, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.

Our director is Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:55) ICE Leaving Minnesota
(05:48) DHS Funding Deadline
(09:31) EPA Vehicle Emissions
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy

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