NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-25-2026 10AM EST

Episode Date: February 25, 2026

NPR News: 02-25-2026 10AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. In President Trump's State of the Union address last night, he focused on what he says is the best economy. Though many Americans say they're struggling. Trump also blamed Democrats for things he says went wrong. And Pierce Domenico Montanaro has more on the Democratic response at the address. The Democratic response spans from Abigail Spanberger to the Al Greens and Elon Omar's. and Al Green being Congressman, Elon Omar, congresswoman from Minnesota. And they're far more boisterous when it comes to their response to Trump.

You know, Al Green holding up signs, Elon Omar, shouting at the president at different times. And that's maybe not something Democrats are going to have to worry about in 2026 because it's still Trump's world for better or worse for him in the Republican Party. But they are going to have to deal with it when it comes to primary voting in 2028. In Paris, Domenico Montanaro reporting. Resident Trump's pick to be the next surgeon general is appearing for her confirmation Senate hearing this morning. Dr. Casey Means is an entrepreneur and a wellness influencer who was tapped for the job after Trump's first pick withdrew her nomination. And peers Will Stone has more. Casey Means gained popularity after publishing a book on diet and metabolic health.

She graduated from Stanford Medical School, but never completed her medical training to become ahead and next surgeon. She went on to start a company that promotes devices to monitor your blood sugar and has ties to the supplement industry. Her confirmation hearing was supposed to take place back in October, but it was canceled at the last minute because Means was pregnant and went into labor. Critics of her nomination point to her lack of clinical and leadership experience and raise concerns about some of her views, including on the childhood vaccine schedule. Will Stone and PR News. Stocks up on higher this morning as Paramount sweetens its offer to buy. Warner Brothers. And Pierre Scott Horsley reports the Dow jumped around 130 points in early trading. Fairmount's now offering $31 a share for Warner Brothers up from its earlier bid of $30.

Rival bidder Netflix may have to raise its own offer if it still wants to acquire the story at Warner Brothers Studio and streaming service. Computer chipmaker Nvidia is set to report earnings and investors are hoping for another blockbuster quarter. Nvidia has been a symbol of the runaway demand for artificial intelligence chips. President Trump boasted in his State of the Union speech last night about the low cost of gasoline, but retail pump prices have been inching up in recent days. AAA reports the average price of regular gas is approaching $3 a gallon. That's up 11 cents from a month ago, but still 16 cents cheaper than this time last year. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington.

On Wall Street, the Dow is up 106 points. The NASDAQ is up 259 points. That's up 1.1%. The SMP 500 up 37. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Several states all led by Democrats are suing the Trump administration over its overhaul of childhood immunization policy. Colorado Public Radio's John Daly has more. Fifteen states are suing over the revised immunization schedule.

Last month, the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped seven childhood vaccines from a list of those universally recommended. Among them are hepatitis B, influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser accuses the CDC and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, of disregarding federal law,

ignoring scientific evidence, and putting children in danger. A federal health agency spokesperson defends the changes saying the updated schedule still protects children against serious disease while aligning U.S. guidance with international norms.

For NPR News, I'm John Daly. Denver. The Louvre Museum in Paris has a new boss, art historian Christoph Larrabo. He's a veteran museum director who's taking over after the previous director quit in the wake of the brazen daylight heist of the French crown jewels, last October, along with the deteriorating state of the museum. Mortgage rates dropped sharply last week, hitting their lowest level in almost four years. The Mortgage Bankers Association says the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan has fallen to 6.09%. Refinance applications rose 4% last week from the week before as the rates drop.

I'm Janine Herbst. NPR News in Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNowplus at plus.npr.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.