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NPR News Now

NPR News: 02-16-2026 2AM EST

16 Feb 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

1.229 - 24.908 Dale Willman

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. National Democratic leaders say the party is ready to spend millions of dollars on a ballot measure in Virginia. The measure would allow Democrats to redraw the state's congressional map. As NPR's Ashley Lopez reports, it's an effort to help offset President Trump's plans to tilt maps across the country in the GOP's favor in time for the midterm elections.

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Chapter 2: What recent ballot measure are Virginia Democrats proposing?

24.888 - 41.04 Unknown

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Democrats can put a ballot measure before voters that would pave the way for the party to draw as many as four more seats that would favor them this year. In an interview with CNN, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the party will fight hard to make sure that measure passes.

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41.02 - 56.185 Hakeem Jeffries

We will spend tens of millions of dollars to make sure that the Republicans do not successfully manipulate voters in Virginia and that voters have all of the information necessary to make a decision.

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56.385 - 66.842 Unknown

GOP leaders in Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri redrew their congressional maps at President Trump's urging last year. The special election in Virginia will be held in April. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

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66.94 - 83.734 Dale Willman

The annual Munich security conference is wrapped up. Among the speakers Sunday was Greenland's prime minister. President Trump has been citing national security concerns related to Russia and China in connection with his repeated calls for U.S. control over Greenland. But Jens-Frederick Nielsen questions that.

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83.714 - 100.46 Jens-Frederick Nielsen

In terms of the threats in our region and the threats from Russia and China, the paradox is the Greenlandic people has never felt threatened. And the first time they felt unsafe for real, one was an ally talked about acquiring them.

101.382 - 127.507 Dale Willman

NATO, meanwhile, launched a mission this week to strengthen its presence in the Arctic. Officials say that was done in part to reduce the tensions throughout the region. China is now extending its 30-day visa-free policy to Canadian and British citizens. Beijing has been eager to attract more tourists to boost its economy and sees this latest action as one way to make that happen.

127.908 - 130.714 Dale Willman

MPA's Emily Feng has more on our story.

130.93 - 148.281 Emily Fang

Weeks after China's leader Xi Jinping met with the prime ministers from Canada and the United Kingdom, Beijing is welcoming tourists from those two countries to stay for up to 30 days without a visa. Beijing has already extended this privilege to dozens of countries, often after hosting diplomatic visits with their leaders.

Chapter 3: How is the Virginia Supreme Court involved in congressional map redrawing?

148.261 - 169.04 Emily Fang

The United States is notably not among those countries, though a 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa, agreed upon back in 2014 when U.S.-China ties were more tranquil, is still available between both countries. Travel between the U.S. and China plummeted during the COVID pandemic, and it's not yet rebounded. Neither have educational exchanges. Some 11,000 U.S.

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169.32 - 177.087 Emily Fang

students were studying in China the year before the pandemic, and now only a few hundred go each year. Emily Fang, NPR News.

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177.353 - 202.18 Dale Willman

And this is NPR News. The European Union foreign policy chief pushed back against the U.S. Sunday at the Munich Security Conference. Kaja Kallis rejected the Trump administration idea that Europe is facing civilizational erasure, and she rejected what she called European bashing. Kallis spoke one day after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. and Europe will remain connected.

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203.645 - 216.705 Dale Willman

The U.S. men's Olympic hockey team has won their first three games, including a win Sunday over Germany by a score of 5-1. Now the Americans head to the quarterfinals. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports from Milan.

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216.725 - 236.554 Becky Sullivan

Team USA came into the Olympics with eyes on a gold medal. It would be just the third ever for the Americans and the first since the Miracle on Ice team back in 1980. In the group stage, they made quick work of opponents Latvia, Denmark and Germany, outscoring them 16-5 overall. This is the first Olympics in 12 years that players from the NHL have been able to participate.

236.715 - 256.56 Becky Sullivan

Team USA captain Austin Matthews had two goals against Germany and three in the Olympics overall so far. Brady Kachuk has a pair of goals and plenty of big hits. And goaltender Connor Hellebuck, who was last year's NHL MVP, has given up just two goals in two games. The U.S. now gets to skip straight to the quarterfinals. On Wednesday, they'll face the winner of Sweden versus Latvia.

256.94 - 260.905 Becky Sullivan

Sweden is the favorite in that game. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Milan.

260.952 - 269.911 Dale Willman

Tyler Reddick led at the Daytona 500 for only one lap, but it was the one that mattered. He won Sunday's race after Chase Elliott crashed as the two drivers were fighting for the win.

Chapter 4: What are the implications of Trump's influence on redistricting?

270.412 - 279.231 Dale Willman

Reddick was driving for a team owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona winner Denny Hamlin. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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