NPR News: 02-17-2026 9AM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are in Geneva today for two sets of high-profile discussions. They've concluded the latest round of indirect talks with Iranian officials over Iran's nuclear program.
What are the latest developments in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks?
Now they've moved to discussions with Ukraine and Russia over Russia's war in Ukraine. NPR's Charles Maines reports from Moscow earlier talks about that war have not achieved a breakthrough.
The trilateral talks marked the third such meeting in recent weeks. Previous negotiations yielded several goodwill-generating prisoner swaps, but little clarity on how to put an end to the fighting. Months of U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have bogged down over Russian maximalist demands on Ukrainian territory including land not controlled by Russian forces, as well as Ukraine's desire for ironclad security guarantees from the U.S. should it sign on to a peace deal. Also unclear what U.S. protections for Ukraine are on offer or what the Kremlin might accept. On the eve of the talks, President Trump suggested the onus was on Kiev to make concessions, saying Ukraine better come to the table fast.
Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson has died. The civil rights icon and two-time Democratic presidential candidate died this morning at the age of 84.
What challenges are faced in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia?
That's according to his family and Jackson's Rainbow Push Coalition of Chicago. NPR's Cheryl Corley says Jackson built a national profile around civil rights and political activism.
Jesse Jackson was an aide to Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. He later founded his Rainbow Push coalition and led boycotts to force companies to open up their doors to minorities. He ran for president twice and was the first African-American candidate to win major primaries. During his lifetime, he also traveled widely to mediate or spotlight both national and international disputes. NPR's Cheryl Corley reporting.
The NAACP and allied groups have gone to federal court. They're asking a judge to limit how the federal government uses voter data seized by the FBI. This was taken during a raid of the Fulton County Elections Hub near Atlanta, Georgia. From member station WABE, Christopher Alston has more.
The groups are asking the judge to bar any use beyond the stated criminal investigation, including using the data for election administration or immigration enforcement. They also want an inventory of what agents took during the January 28th seizure and the identities of those who accessed it. The motion notes that the records were taken as the Justice Department has been suing some states to obtain unredacted voter information. The FBI's warrant sought 2020 election records. President Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that the Fulton County records will reveal fraud. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. For NPR News, I'm Christopher Alston in Atlanta.
On Wall Street, Dow futures are flat. This is NPR. A partial shutdown is still underway at the Department of Homeland Security. Congress has not yet passed a funding bill for the agency, and lawmakers are out of town this week. Democrats are demanding changes in how federal immigration agents operate. such as removing their masks. Republicans have not agreed to all of Democrats' demands. It's Mardi Gras today in New Orleans. Many people are attending parades, hoping to catch throws, including beads. Traditional plastic beads can be toxic and bad for the environment. As the Gulf State's newsroom's Drew Hawkins reports, some crews are moving away from plastic beads and using locally recycled glass.
Francisco Troutman is CEO of Glass Half Full. The company turns recycled glass into sand that's used to rebuild Louisiana's disappearing coastline. This year, she's also queen of Crue de Vue. The raunchy walking parade is known for its satirical themes.
My message is that we can keep our culture, have fun, and still, you know, make the world and the environment a better place.
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