Overview of NPR News: 02-08-2026 1PM EST
A roundup of the top national and international headlines from NPR News. Major items include a looming partial U.S. government shutdown tied to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding negotiations, developments in an apparent assassination attempt on a senior Russian military intelligence officer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming Washington meeting about Iran, violent kidnappings in Nigeria, a dangerous Arctic blast along the U.S. East Coast, and an Olympic downhill crash.
Key stories
U.S. politics — DHS funding and possible partial shutdown
- Republicans and Democrats are negotiating DHS funding ahead of a deadline at midnight Friday; if no agreement is reached, a partial government shutdown could occur.
- House and Senate Democrats (including Minority leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries) are pushing for conditions tied to DHS funding after federal immigration agents killed two Minnesotans in January. Demands include:
- A requirement for judicial warrants,
- Better identification for DHS officers,
- New use-of-force standards.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune called those demands "unrealistic." Hakeem Jeffries said the White House, Speaker Mike Johnson and Leader Thune have not responded to the proposals.
- If funding lapses, agencies such as the Coast Guard, TSA and FEMA would be affected — but NPR reports some DHS immigration enforcement activities (described as a "mass deportation agenda") would still have funds to operate.
- Reporter: Luke Garrett (NPR, Washington)
Russia — Attack on senior GRU officer
- Russian authorities say a suspect has been detained in Dubai in connection with a Friday shooting of Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, first deputy head of the GRU, who was shot three times in his Moscow apartment building and is recovering after surgery.
- Russia alleges the attacker worked for Ukrainian intelligence; Kyiv denies involvement in this case.
- The shooting is the latest in a pattern of high-profile attacks on senior Russian military figures since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
- Reporter: Charles Maines (NPR, Moscow)
Middle East — Netanyahu to meet U.S. president about Iran
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he will meet in Washington on Wednesday with President Trump to discuss U.S. negotiations with Iran.
- Netanyahu says any deal with Iran must include limits on ballistic missiles and an end to Iranian support for regional proxy militant groups.
Nigeria — Kidnapping and killings
- Gunmen attacked a priest’s home in northern Nigeria, abducting the priest and 10 others; three people were killed.
- Kidnappings have risen in the region, carried out by both Islamic militants and armed gangs seeking ransom. The U.S. has criticized the Nigerian government for insufficient protection of Christians, though attacks affect both Christians and Muslims.
Weather — Extreme cold advisory across the East Coast
- The National Weather Service issued extreme cold warnings from North Carolina to New Hampshire.
- New York experienced one of its coldest winters recently; a new Arctic blast with winds gusting up to 50 mph will create wind chills near or below -20°F in parts of the Northeast.
- Lows approaching zero in New York, teens as far south as North Carolina; many upstate New York and New England locations were below zero at midnight.
- Temperatures are expected to moderate slightly over the coming week but remain near or just above freezing.
- Reporter: Bruce Conweiser (NPR, New York)
Sports — Winter Olympics downhill crash
- Skier Lindsay Vaughn crashed near the top of the downhill course in Italy during the Winter Olympics, landing perpendicular to the slope and tumbling to a stop. Vaughn was attempting a comeback after retiring more than six years ago.
- Her teammate Breezy Johnson won the event.
Notable quotes
- Hakeem Jeffries: "Unfortunately, we haven't heard back from the White House or Mike Johnson or Speaker or Leader Thune in terms of the demands that we've put on the table."
- John Thune (paraphrased by NPR): called Democratic demands "unrealistic."
Main takeaways and next steps
- Watch for developments before the DHS funding deadline at midnight Friday — a partial shutdown could begin, affecting agencies like TSA, Coast Guard and FEMA, while some immigration enforcement actions may continue.
- Monitor updates on Lt. Gen. Alexeyev’s condition and any diplomatic fallout from Russia’s allegation of foreign involvement in the attack.
- Netanyahu’s Washington meeting could shape U.S.-Israeli coordination on Iran negotiations, particularly on missile limits and proxy activities.
- Residents along the eastern seaboard should heed extreme cold warnings and prepare for dangerous wind chills.
- Follow Olympic coverage for athlete recovery updates and further event results.
Credits
- Host: Noor Rahm (NPR)
- Reporters: Luke Garrett, Charles Maines, Bruce Conweiser (as credited in the broadcast)