NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-10-2026 1AM EST

Episode Date: February 10, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Kentucky Congressman James Comer, says it did not come as a surprise that Glenn Maxwell chose to stay silent Monday when faced by lawmakers investigating the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. As expected, Elaine Maxwell took the fifth and refused to answer any questions. This obviously is very disappointing. We had many questions to ask about the crime. and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators.

We sincerely want to get to the truth through the American people and justice for the survivors. That's what this investigation is about. Maxwell appeared before House Oversight and a video call from the federal prison camp in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself, refusing to answer questions unless President Trump grants her clemency first. SpaceX is now cutting off illegal users of its Starlink satellites in Ukraine. NPR's Eleanor Beardsler reports on the move that's hindering Russian forces in the east

who illegally use Starlink to propel their drones deeper into Ukraine. There is now what's known as a white list where civilian and military users of Starlink in Ukraine must register their terminals. Anton Sadyukov sells and adapts Starlink terminals. He told newspaper the Kiev Independent, it's already making a difference. Right now, the entire front on the enemy's side has stopped, he says. SpaceX cut off their technology and this has been effective. NPR visited a hospital and an undeclosed site in the east, where surgeon Oleksi Mikhail-Yuk says cutting access to technology

and tough economic sanctions are the only way to end the war. Because war is money. We're seeing it every day. He says since Russian forces have been blocked from using Starlink, they are seeing fewer wounded Ukrainian soldiers. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Keeve. At the Winter Olympic speed skaters are breaking records, and Pierce Pingwang reports new speed records have been set three nights in a row. The stadium was a sea of orange.

The stands were filled with fans of Team Netherlands, giving huge cheers whenever their speed skaters raced. They were not disappointed. Late in the event, Dutch speed skater Femke Kalk, set an Olympic record, finishing two and a half laps on the track in one minute, 12.59 seconds. Minutes later, her teammate Yuta Lirdom beat that time. by about a quarter of a second, setting a new, new Olympic record. U.S. gator Brittany Bo, who holds a world record in this distance, just missed the podium.

She finished fourth by a fraction of a second behind Mijo Takagi from Japan, who set the last Olympic record in 2022 in Beijing. Bo's next event is the women's 500 meters on Sunday. So far, speed skating leads in setting new Olympic records at these games. Ping Huang and PR News, Milan. This is NPR News. A trial that could have a big effect on social media companies is underway in Los Angeles. Opening statements began Monday in L.A. County Superior Court in a trial in which Instagram

parent company Meta and Google's YouTube are facing claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. TikTok and Snap are originally named in the lawsuit but settled for undisclosed sums. Meanwhile, the European Union is accusing TikTok of an addictive design that harms children and is seeking changes to protect users. EU regulators say TikTok has not adequately addressed features such as auto play and infinite scroll and how they affect physical and mental health. TikTok could face possible fine of up to 6% of its annual revenue. Before carnival season ends with Fat Tuesday later this month, it's time for a king cake.

Aubrey Uy, as a member station WNO in New Orleans reports on beginning bakers learning an old custom. Students at New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute are setting up for a four-hour kingcake class, hauling stand mixers to their workstations. Some people in today's class already work in the restaurant industry, but their baking experience is limited, like Sierra Francois. I think we all like what cake made me, and we know how important it is to the culture. And so we want to do justice. And they aren't afraid to experiment. to her classic cinnamon filling, Francois adds coffee liqueur and bourbon. Her finished cake comes out of the oven, puffed up, and golden brown.

Her first contribution to a rich tradition. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.