Overview of NPR News: 02-08-2026 10PM EST
A ~3–4 minute news roundup from NPR covering a looming partial U.S. government shutdown over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expedited Washington visit amid U.S.–Iran talks, a new study linking wildfire smoke to tens of thousands of U.S. deaths, a Winter Olympics figure‑skating team gold for the U.S., and Super Bowl weekend box‑office results. Short market and advertising notes are included.
Key headlines
- House–Senate negotiations on DHS funding have stalled; a partial government shutdown is possible at the DHS funding deadline (midnight Friday).
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is making a sudden, earlier trip to Washington to meet President Trump amid renewed U.S.–Iran nuclear talks.
- New research links wildfire smoke exposure to more than 24,000 U.S. deaths per year; climate change and development patterns are increasing exposure.
- Team USA won Olympic gold in the figure‑skating team event, edging Japan by one point; Ilya Malinin’s quad program was decisive.
- Weekend box office: R thriller Send Help tops slow Super Bowl weekend; Kevin James’s Solomio debuts strongly; indie Iron Lung continues solid performance.
DHS funding standoff and potential partial shutdown
- Situation: Congress must pass DHS funding by midnight Friday to avoid lapses that would affect agencies such as the Coast Guard, TSA and FEMA.
- Democratic demands: Require judicial warrants for certain DHS actions, improved officer identification, and new use‑of‑force standards following the January killings of two Minnesotans by DHS agents.
- Political dynamics: Senate GOP leader John Thune called Democrats’ demands “unrealistic.” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said talks are stalled and that he hadn’t heard back from the White House, Speaker Mike Johnson, or Senate leadership on the proposals.
- Notable point: The report notes that certain DHS deportation operations would apparently retain funding even if other DHS programs lapse.
Netanyahu’s sudden Washington trip and U.S.–Iran diplomacy
- Netanyahu will meet President Trump on Wednesday, a week earlier than planned.
- Context: This follows the first round of U.S.–Iran talks since last June’s U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear sites.
- Israeli concerns: Iran’s foreign minister signaled willingness to negotiate the nuclear program but not its missile program. Israel wants limits on Iranian ballistic missiles and an end to support for proxy militant groups; Israeli officials remain worried and believe a U.S. attack on Iran is possible despite talks.
Wildfire smoke health study — main findings
- Study published in Science Advances by researchers from institutions including Harvard and Mount Sinai.
- Key finding: Exposure to fine particles from wildfire smoke is linked to over 24,000 deaths per year in the U.S., mainly via worsened heart and lung disease.
- Mechanism: Small particulate matter in smoke penetrates lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
- Drivers: Climate change is increasing the frequency/intensity of large wildfires; growth of homes near wildlands raises population exposure.
- Policy note: Authors highlighted recent shifts away from aggressive climate policy (mentioned specifically as President Trump’s policy direction in the report) as an underappreciated risk given these findings.
Winter Olympics — figure skating team event
- Result: Team USA won gold in the team figure‑skating event, narrowly beating Japan by one point.
- Decisive moment: Ilya Malinin’s quad‑stacked free skate in the men’s event secured the victory, giving the U.S. back‑to‑back team titles.
- What’s next: Individual competitions continue with ice dance and men’s singles scheduled this week.
Box office — Super Bowl weekend highlights
- Top releases:
- Send Help (R survival thriller): #1 with an estimated $10 million in its second weekend; $53 million global total.
- Solomio (Kevin James romantic comedy, Angel Studios): Strong debut with ~$7 million.
- Iron Lung (low‑budget indie): $6 million this weekend; two‑week total ~$31 million; production budget ~$3 million.
- Context: A relatively slow weekend overall due to the Super Bowl.
Other brief items
- Markets: U.S. futures trading higher at the time of the report.
- Sponsor: Mint Mobile ad noted — plan starting at $15/month (first three months, $45 upfront for three months), taxes/fees extra; see mintmobile.com/switch for terms.
Takeaways
- DHS funding negotiations are the immediate political flashpoint with a Friday deadline and concrete operational risks for several agencies if funding lapses.
- U.S.–Iran diplomacy is advancing but remains contentious; Netanyahu’s early visit signals Israeli anxiety over missile and proxy issues.
- Public‑health implications of wildfire smoke are substantial and growing with climate change and development patterns—this adds urgency to climate and land‑use policy debates.
- Sports and entertainment: U.S. figure skating continued its Olympic success; niche and low‑budget films are finding notable box‑office traction during a slow weekend.