NPR News: 02-23-2026 6PM EST

This is Ira Glass. On This American Life, we look for stories that are surprising, that you won't hear anywhere else. Like, for example, this one astronaut who went to the moon. You know what he's not into? Space. Was it cool to float around weightless? No, no, no. This American Life, unexpected stories, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The State Department is advising U.S. citizens and government staff in several Mexican states, including Jalisco, Baja, California and Michoacan, to shelter in place. Officials are worried about continued violence after a Mexican operation that killed the leader of a major drug cartel chief. In response, gang members burned stores, vehicles and battled with security forces in cities across the country. Mexican officials say 25 National Guard troops died in six separate attacks yesterday. In total, at least 73 people died, including at least one civilian, as NPR's Carrie Khan reports. The killing of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, Nemesio Ociguera-Cervantes, was carried out solely by Mexican forces, says Mexico's defense secretary. Ricardo Trevilla told reporters the U did provide intelligence but the bravery of his troops was the operation success he says while overcome by emotion The military personnel demonstrated the strength of the Mexican state he says. Mexico has been under intense pressure from the U.S. to crack down on drug cartels. President Trump has repeatedly threatened unilateral U.S. intervention. On social media, the U.S. ambassador praised Mexico's military. Kerry Kahn, NPR News. President Trump delivers his State of the Union address tomorrow. NPR's Domenico Montanaro reports that, according to a new NPR-PBS News Marist poll, Americans are doubtful of the U.S. political system. Roughly two-thirds of the more than 1,400 respondents polled say the system of checks and balances in the country just isn't working. That comes as President Trump has spent the better part of his first year in office trying to consolidate power. And even higher, 78 percent say they see a serious threat to democracy. That includes 9 in 10 Democrats, 8 in 10 independents, and even 61% of Republicans. Of course, what they see as those threats in many cases is very different. Other polling has found that Democrats and independents are concerned about the backsliding of liberal democracy in the country, while many Republicans believe voting systems are not as strong as they should be. That an idea that President Trump has pushed to explain away his 2020 presidential election loss despite evidence to the contrary Domenico Montanaro NPR News Washington For some communities along the east coast the massive blizzard is also bringing threats of coastal flooding. Patrick Madden of member station WBUR reports. This small coastal community south of Boston has seawalls to protect against coastal flooding, but the massive storm is causing ocean water to splash over them, especially during high tide. Jim Boudreau is Situate's town administrator. So we expect some splash over flooding this afternoon and around the tide tonight about four o'clock in the morning. Boudreaux says that could make some roads impassable. And like many towns and cities near the ocean, the majority of residents here in Situate have also lost power. For NPR News, I'm Patrick Madden in Situate, Massachusetts. U.S. stock slumped today after President Trump ramped up his newest tariff. It's NPR. Nick Reiner pleaded not guilty in the murder of his parents. Film director Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner, NPR's Mondelito Barco, reports. Nick Reiner was in court wearing a prison-issued jumpsuit to tell a judge he was not guilty of murdering his parents. Since the day Rob and Michelle Reiner were found stabbed to death, the 32-year-old has been locked behind bars at L.A.'s downtown men's jail. He's charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and he's now represented by a public defender. Outside the courthouse L County District Attorney Nathan Hockman addressed reporters This case is a death penalty eligible case Hockman said the coroner report is still pending and that his office will look at all aggravated and mitigating circumstances. Reiner has a long history of substance abuse and mental health problems, which his attorneys may try to use for an insanity defense. He's due back in court in April. Mandelit Del Barco, NPR News, Los Angeles. The FDA is proposing a system for approving drugs for patients with rare or hard-to-treat diseases. It would create a path for drug makers to commercialize treatments without conducting large clinical trials. It's a shift long sought by patients and researchers focused on rare diseases, which often don't fit within the pharmaceutical industry's business model. And the public library in Richland, Washington State, is thanking a patron for returning a biography of Henry Ford 64 years after the due date. The man who returned the book says he found it in a collection given to him by a friend. There's a second library book in the collection, which the man says he'll return once he's done reading it. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.