Overview of NPR News: 02-09-2026 2AM EST
This newscast covers a range of international, national and sports stories: diplomatic tensions between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland after President Trump expressed interest in a greater U.S. presence in Greenland; President Trump uninviting Maryland Governor Wes Moore from a White House governors’ dinner; a growing U.S. measles outbreak and potential exposures tied to Washington, D.C.’s March for Life; the limited reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt; injury of U.S. Olympic downhill skier Lindsay Vonn; Team USA’s figure skating team gold in Milan; and weekend North American box office results.
Key stories and details
Greenland — U.S. interest, diplomatic outreach
- Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said the crisis with the U.S. over President Trump’s interest in increased presence on Greenland is not resolved but is improving.
- A small U.S. congressional delegation (including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Angus King) visited Nuuk, Greenland.
- Denmark and Greenland welcome negotiations; Canada and France have opened diplomatic offices in Greenland as added support.
- NPR reporter: Terry Schultz.
Trump uninvites Maryland Governor Wes Moore
- President Trump uninvited Governor Wes Moore (D–Maryland) from a White House dinner of the National Governors Association; at least one other Democratic governor was also uninvited.
- Moore called the move “blatant disrespect” and noted the sting of being the only Black governor in the U.S., saying it was particularly painful given his leadership role in the governors’ organization.
- Source: Interview excerpt on CNN, reported by NPR.
Measles outbreak and potential exposures
- D.C. health officials are investigating potential measles exposures tied to the National March for Life (end of January) and high-traffic transit locations: Reagan National Airport, Union Station, Amtrak, and the D.C. subway. Contagious individuals also visited the Basilica and Catholic University.
- Children’s National Hospital issued a public notice about possible exposure in its emergency department.
- NPR reports the CDC has recorded 733 confirmed measles cases so far this year. The report also notes a growing outbreak in South Carolina, described as having cases “nearing 1,000.” (These figures underscore the risk to the U.S.’s measles-elimination status.)
- NPR reporter: Kristen Wright.
Rafah crossing (Gaza–Egypt)
- The Rafah border crossing reopened Sunday after a two-day closure. Although almost 20,000 Palestinians reportedly wait for medical evacuation to Egypt, only 36 crossed in the first four days after the initial opening.
Olympics — alpine and figure skating
- U.S. downhill skier Lindsey Vonn (transcript used “Lindsay Vaughn”; likely Lindsey Vonn) suffered a broken leg 13 seconds into her run at the Olympics, was airlifted to a hospital in Milan and later reported in stable condition.
- Breezy Johnson won Olympic gold in the downhill event.
- Team USA won the figure skating team event in Milan by a single point over Japan. Ilya Malinin’s quad-heavy free skate clinched the gold after a tight three-day competition.
- Figure skating continues with ice dance and men’s singles.
Box office (North America)
- Top films for the weekend:
- Send Help — $10 million (No. 1)
- Solo Meal — $7.2 million (No. 2)
- Iron Lung — $6 million (No. 3)
- Melania expanded to additional theaters but saw a 67% drop to $2.4 million
- Note: Super Bowl weekend is traditionally slow for theaters.
Notable quotes
- Governor Wes Moore: called the uninviting decision “blatant disrespect” and said, “It’s not lost to me that I’m the only black governor in this country.”
- Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen: described the situation with the U.S. as “not out of the crisis” but “in a much better position” than weeks earlier, emphasizing removal of threats and trade tensions from the table.
Data & numbers at a glance
- CDC-reported confirmed measles cases (NPR): 733 so far this year.
- South Carolina measles outbreak described as growing, “nearing 1,000” cases.
- Rafah crossing: ~20,000 waiting; 36 allowed through in first four days of opening.
- Olympic downhill crash: occurred 13 seconds into the run.
- Box office weekend top gross: Send Help — $10M.
Main takeaways
- Diplomacy: Tensions over U.S. interest in Greenland are easing but unresolved; Denmark and Greenland are engaging with the U.S. and receiving support from other European partners.
- Domestic politics: The White House’s action to uninvite Democratic governors raises political and racial-sensitivity concerns from affected officials.
- Public health: The U.S. measles situation is serious — local health departments are tracing exposures from large public events and transit hubs; public vigilance and vaccination remain critical.
- Humanitarian/war zone access: Rafah’s limited throughput highlights ongoing challenges getting medical care to Palestinians.
- Sports and culture: U.S. athletes saw both triumph (figure skating team gold) and injury (Vonn’s crash); the film industry experienced weak box office typical of Super Bowl weekend.
Recommended follow-ups (if you want more depth)
- Monitor updates from Greenlandic and Danish officials and the U.S. State Department on any agreement or security arrangements concerning U.S. presence in Greenland.
- Watch CDC and local health department alerts for confirmed measles exposure notices and vaccination guidance.
- Follow Olympic medical bulletins and team statements for Lindsey Vonn’s recovery and ongoing figure skating results.
- Check humanitarian reporting for changes in Rafah crossing operations and numbers allowed to cross for medical evacuations.