NPR News: 02-26-2026 7PM EST

This week on the NPR Politics Podcast, the CBS Stephen Colbert dust-up is part of a pattern. Corporations are changing to avoid angering President Trump and his administration. It's really the first time I can remember so many of these organizations have bent because of their own business interests. This week on the NPR Politics Podcast. Listen on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Netflix is declining to raise its offer to buy Warner Brothers, saying a deal is no longer financially attractive. Now Paramount is in a position to take over the Hollywood giant. Unlike Netflix, Paramount wants all of Warner's operations, including networks like CNN and Discovery. That would put CNN under the same roof as CBS and combine two of Hollywood's last five studios. Former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton says she told members of the House Oversight Committee She had no relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had no knowledge of his crimes. I never met Jeffrey Epstein, never had any connection or communication with him. I knew Ghislaine Maxwell casually as an acquaintance. But whatever they asked me I did my very best to respond She says members also asked her about UFOs and other conspiracy theories Her deposition was paused after Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert leaked a photo of Clinton in the room to a conservative influencer, a violation of the committee's rules. Clinton has long called for the deposition to be open and to the public. Former President Bill Clinton will testify tomorrow. Democrats say President Trump should testify as well. The latest round of talks between the U.S. and Iran have ended in Geneva, but will resume soon. NPR's Jane Araf reports. Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Bosaydi, said there had been significant progress in the two negotiating sessions he mediated on Thursday. He did not elaborate. The Omani diplomat also said technical-level talks would take place next week in Vienna, where the International Atomic Energy Agency, which was also at the talks, is based. The position of the two sides has seemed far apart. President Trump insists that Iran end its nuclear program and give up long-range ballistic missiles. Iran insists it has a right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and won't give up the conventional weapons. Jay Naraf, NPR News, Amman. In Wisconsin, Vice President J.D. Vance spoke about the economy and government fraud. NPR Danielle Kurtzleben reports it was a message ready for Republicans ahead of the midterms Vance touted President Trump economic agenda but also made sure to warn listeners about what he said are the dangers of electing more Democrats You watch these congressional Democrats what really fires them up? They get really mad at the idea that we're deporting illegal immigrants. They talk about the dreams of illegal immigrants who have come into our country, but what about the dreams of you and your children? Because that's who I'm fighting for. Vance also emphasized the administration's efforts to combat fraud in programs like Medicaid and Medicare. This week in his State of the Union address, President Trump said Vance will be leading the administration's anti-fraud efforts. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Anthropics CEO says the artificial intelligence company cannot in good conscience accede to the Pentagon's demands to allow wider use of its technology. technology. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on social media that the Pentagon has no interest in using AI to conduct mass surveillance or develop autonomous weapons. Taylor Swift is back at the top of the Billboard charts, not with a new song, but with an assist from a new music video. NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento reports. The song Opalite from Swift's latest album, The Life of a Showgirl is now officially number one on Billboard Hot 100 chart That thanks to a new music video and vinyl pre for that single On Instagram, Swift thanks her fans and notes that it's the first time in over a decade that she has had two different songs from the same album reach that milestone. The last time it happened was with the album 1989, which came out in 2014. The life of a showgirl rollout is the gift that keeps on giving. Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, NPR News. A federal judge has ordered changes to dam operations on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest to help salmon. U.S. District Judge Michael Simon says the Trump administration's plans would harm salmon runs that are disappearing from the landscape. Oregon, Washington, Native American tribes and conservation groups have been fighting for protections for the salmon, which are killed in large numbers by the dams. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps. Be smart. Get WISE. Download the WISE app today or visit WISE.com. T's and C's apply.