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NPR News Now

NPR News: 02-23-2026 6PM EST

23 Feb 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What recent events prompted the U.S. State Department's advisory for citizens in Mexico?

0.537 - 20.016 Ryland Barton

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.

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20.417 - 37.26 Ryland Barton

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 Kerry Kahn reports.

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37.375 - 58.366 Unknown

The killing of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, Nemesio Osiguera Cervantes, was carried out solely by Mexican forces, says Mexico's defense secretary. Ricardo Trevilla told reporters the U.S. did provide intelligence, but the bravery of his troops was the operation's success, he says, while overcome by emotion.

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58.686 - 61.29 Ryland Barton

We are also going to recognize our people.

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61.27 - 70.303 Unknown

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.

Chapter 2: How did the killing of a drug cartel leader impact violence in Mexico?

70.764 - 80.186 Unknown

President Trump has repeatedly threatened unilateral U.S. intervention. On social media, the U.S. ambassador praised Mexico's military. Carrie Khan, NPR News.

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80.387 - 91.497 Ryland Barton

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.

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91.578 - 113.198 Domenico Montanaro

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. An even higher 78% say they see a serious threat to democracy. That includes 9 in 10 Democrats, 8 in 10 Independents, and even 61% of Republicans.

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113.178 - 126.402 Domenico Montanaro

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.

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126.682 - 136.62 Domenico Montanaro

That's 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.

136.6 - 144.969 Ryland Barton

For some communities along the East Coast, the massive blizzard is also bringing threats of coastal flooding. Patrick Madden of member station WBUR reports.

145.189 - 157.542 Patrick Madden

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.

157.662 - 162.507 Jim Boudreau

So we expect some splash over flooding this afternoon and around the tide tonight about four o'clock in the morning.

162.79 - 174.385 Patrick Madden

Boudreaux says that could make some roads impassable. And like many towns and cities near the ocean, the majority of residents here in Scituate have also lost power. For NPR News, I'm Patrick Madden in Scituate, Massachusetts.

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