NPR News: 02-09-2026 12AM EST

Summary of NPR News: 02-09-2026 12AM EST

by NPR

5m•February 9, 2026
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Overview of NPR News: 02-09-2026 12AM EST

This episode covers U.S. political developments—centered on former President Trump’s call for Republican-led election changes—major international news (Japan’s snap election and a Europe-wide poll about U.S. favorability), and several sports and Olympics items (Super Bowl result, Lindsey Vonn’s crash, and team figure skating). Reports are from NPR correspondents around the world; the broadcast opens and closes with a Mint Mobile ad.

Top stories — quick summaries

  • Trump and election proposals

    • Former President Trump urged House and Senate Republicans to "fix U.S. elections," calling them "rigged, stolen" without providing evidence.
    • He asked Congress to push for voter ID laws, proof of citizenship requirements, and a partial ban on mail-in voting. This followed an earlier, controversial statement about nationalizing voting.
    • Reactions: Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff said Trump intends to interfere in the upcoming election and argued voters (not courts or Congress) will ultimately decide in 2026. Sen. John Fetterman (also a Democrat) said voter ID “is not a radical idea,” showing some intra-party nuance.

  • Japan: LDP landslide in snap election

    • The Liberal Democratic Party won a decisive victory in a hastily called snap election, earning a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house.
    • The win is attributed to strong popularity of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (approx. 60% approval since taking office in October).
    • The supermajority would allow the LDP to override vetoes in the opposition-controlled upper house. Takaichi has signaled plans for tax cuts and increased defense spending.
    • Reporter: Anthony Kuhn (NPR).

  • European attitudes toward the U.S. drop

    • A YouGov poll in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain shows the lowest favorable ratings for the U.S. in a decade of tracking.
    • Denmark reported the highest unfavorable rating (84%) and the lowest share viewing the U.S. as an ally (about 25%). France recorded the highest share seeing the U.S. as an ally (53%).
    • The poll noted a spike in unfavorable views since the “Greenland crisis” last November.
    • Reporter: Terry Schultz (NPR, Brussels).

  • Sports and Olympics

    • Super Bowl: Seattle Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29–13 in Santa Clara. Highlights: Sam Darnold TD to A.J. Barner, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 135 yards, and kicker Jason Meyers set a Super Bowl record with five successful field goals.
    • Alpine skiing: Lindsey Vonn crashed in the Olympic downhill, was airlifted and underwent surgery to stabilize a left leg fracture. Vonn had torn her left ACL about a week earlier but raced anyway. Teammate Breezy Johnson won gold—the second American woman ever to win Olympic downhill (Vonn was the first in 2010). Reporter: Becky Sullivan.
    • Figure skating: U.S. defended Olympic team gold with a one-point margin over Japan. Ilya Malinin landed five quadruple jumps and scored 200.03 points, a key contribution to the victory.

Key quotes & soundbites

  • Donald Trump: called on Congress to “fix U.S. elections,” and said elections are “rigged, stolen.”
  • Sen. Adam Schiff: “He’s basically telling us he intends to interfere in this upcoming election.”
  • Sen. John Fetterman: voter ID requirements are “not a radical idea.”

Context and implications

  • U.S. politics: Trump’s proposals are likely to intensify partisan debate over election rules; lack of provided evidence for fraud claims was noted. Expect legal and political pushback and attention ahead of the 2026 midterms.
  • Japan: An LDP supermajority could speed through fiscal and defense policy changes; the scale of the victory reinforces Prime Minister Takaichi’s mandate.
  • Europe-U.S. relations: The YouGov findings suggest worsening public sentiment in Western Europe, with potential diplomatic and public-opinion consequences, particularly in Denmark and France.
  • Sports/Olympics: High-profile injuries and dramatic performances (e.g., Malinin’s quads) will shape Olympic medal narratives and athlete recovery stories to follow.

Recommended follow-ups (what to watch)

  • Congressional and state-level responses to Trump’s election proposals; related legislative activity and court challenges.
  • Implementation plans and specific bills from Japan’s LDP given its new supermajority.
  • Further polling or diplomatic responses in Europe after the reported fall in U.S. favorability.
  • Medical updates on Lindsey Vonn and any impact on future events; continued coverage of Olympic figure skating outcomes.

Credits

  • Host: Dale Willman
  • Reporters cited: Luke Garrett (U.S. politics), Anthony Kuhn (Japan), Terry Schultz (Europe), Becky Sullivan (Olympics)
  • Sponsor mention: Mint Mobile (ads at start and end of the broadcast)