NPR News: 02-08-2026 11AM EST

Summary of NPR News: 02-08-2026 11AM EST

by NPR

5m•February 8, 2026
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Overview of NPR News: 02-08-2026 11AM EST

This 11 a.m. NPR newscast (Feb 8, 2026) covers breaking diplomacy between Israel, the U.S., and Iran; changes in Pentagon–higher education ties; a major Arctic cold blast across the U.S. East; Portugal’s presidential runoff; accessibility innovations for blind Super Bowl fans; and U.S. success at the Winter Olympics. Short sponsor messages from Charles Schwab and Allianz Travel Insurance bookend the report.

Top stories (quick bullets)

  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making an earlier-than-planned trip to Washington to meet President Trump on Wednesday amid concerns about Iran’s missile program and regional proxy activity.
  • Iran and the U.S. held first negotiations since last June’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites; Iran says its nuclear program is negotiable but its missile program is not.
  • The Pentagon is cutting graduate-level professional military education and fellowship ties with Harvard, accusing the university of promoting anti-American ideas.
  • Extreme cold warnings span from North Carolina to New Hampshire — life‑threatening Arctic blast with near-zero temps and high winds.
  • Portugal is holding a presidential runoff between a center-left socialist (favored in polls) and a hard‑right populist; the presidency is mostly ceremonial but has veto and dissolution powers.
  • Accessibility technology will let blind and low-vision fans experience the Super Bowl via a tactile field device and live audio play-by-play.
  • U.S. wins its first medal at the Winter Olympics: Breezy Johnson captured gold in the women's downhill; Lindsey Vonn is out of competition after a crash.

Details by story

Netanyahu’s sudden Washington trip / Iran talks

  • Netanyahu advanced his Washington visit to meet President Trump on Wednesday.
  • Context: U.S. and Iran held negotiations Friday — first round since last June’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.
  • Iran’s foreign minister: nuclear program negotiable; ballistic missile program defended as non-negotiable.
  • Israel’s concerns: missiles (which reportedly struck civilian and military sites in Israel during the June conflict) and Iran’s support for regional militias.
  • Netanyahu says any negotiation must include limits on ballistic missiles and an end to support for proxy groups. Israeli officials reportedly believe a U.S. strike on Iran remains possible despite talks.

Pentagon ends some ties with Harvard; higher ed response

  • Pentagon announced it is severing ties with Harvard University for graduate-level professional military education and fellowships, citing promotion of anti-American ideals.
  • MIT president (Kendall or Sally Kornbluth) pushed back on the idea that higher education can easily present a unified front: public university leaders face political pressure, enrollment declines, and financial strain that complicate collective action.
  • MIT had declined to join the administration’s "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education."

Extreme cold across the eastern U.S.

  • National Weather Service issued extreme cold warnings from North Carolina to New Hampshire.
  • New York: lows near zero, winds gusting up to 50 mph; parts of upstate NY and New England already below zero.
  • Temperatures could run 15–20°F below normal in New York City over the weekend; lows in the teens reported as far south as North Carolina.
  • Forecast emphasizes life‑threatening conditions and strong winds.

Portugal presidential runoff

  • Runoff between a center-left socialist (polling ahead) and a hard-right populist.
  • Though largely ceremonial, Portugal’s president can veto laws and dissolve parliament under specific conditions — giving the role political significance.

Super Bowl accessibility for blind and low-vision fans

  • Some visually impaired fans at the Super Bowl will use a tactile tabletop "one-court" device that recreates the field; combined with real-time audio play-by-play, it allows users to feel ball movement and plays.
  • Personal story: Scott Thornhill (American Council of the Blind) will experience the Super Bowl in this accessible format; he played football through college and described the experience as emotionally meaningful.

Winter Olympics

  • U.S. first medal: Breezy Johnson won gold in the women’s downhill.
  • Lindsey Vonn crashed on the downhill course and is out of the competition.

Notable lines / soundbites

  • NPR reporter Daniel Estrin (Tel Aviv): notes Israel’s insistence that negotiations with Iran must include missile limits and an end to proxy support.
  • MIT’s president (Kornbluth): “I can’t imagine what it’s like to be the president of a red-state public [university]… very, very hard to get everybody onto the same page.”
  • Scott Thornhill on accessibility: the tactile device lets him “know again that it's a handoff to the running back who's running to the right side,” describing the experience as full circle.

Takeaways & recommended actions

  • If traveling or living along the eastern seaboard, heed extreme cold warnings, prepare emergency kits, and check local advisories for wind chill and travel impacts.
  • Watch for developments from the Netanyahu–Trump meeting, which could influence U.S.–Iran dynamics and regional security policy.
  • Higher education leaders face political and financial pressures; expect continued public debate over university–government relationships and academic-military ties.
  • Accessibility tech is advancing in live events; organizations and venues should consider similar solutions to improve inclusion.

Sponsors / disclosures

  • Sponsor mentions included Charles Schwab (wealth management and trading platform) and Allianz Travel Insurance (AllTrips annual travel insurance plan).