DHS shutdown; Russia-Ukraine talks; Winter Olympics : NPR

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At the moment's prime tales Funding for the Division of Homeland Safety ran out final week, triggering a 3rd partial authorities shutdown in three months. The company shut down after lawmakers failed to satisfy a Friday deadline to fund DHS and its workforce of over 260,000 individuals. The funding lapse factors to a higher difficulty: Congress's constant failure to do its job on time. Take a look at these 5 issues it's best to know in regards to the shutdown.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5291x2976+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F5e%2F05981ad141da9dc7045b6839891f%2Fgettyimages-2261511063.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5291x2976+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F81%2F5e%2F05981ad141da9dc7045b6839891f%2Fgettyimages-2261511063.jpg" class="img" alt="The Department of Homeland Security sign is seen outside its headquarters on Feb. 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C. " loading="lazy"/> The Division of Homeland Safety signal is seen exterior its headquarters on Feb. 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong/Getty Photographs disguise caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Photographs 🎧 The White Home and Democrats have been buying and selling gives, however a number of roadblocks stand in the best way of an settlement, NPR's Sam Gringlas tells Up First. Democrats say Republicans' proposals to reform immigration enforcement techniques are inadequate. The GOP calls Democrats' calls for, together with judicial warrants for some enforcement operations, unreasonable. Primarily based on how shortly lawmakers left Washington, D.C., on Thursday for a weeklong recess, Gringlas concludes that either side stand removed from a deal. People aren't anticipated to note the impacts of the partial shutdown until it actually drags on. As Russia's battle in opposition to Ukraine nears its fourth anniversary, officers from each nations and the U.S. are set to satisfy in Geneva tomorrow. The officers will conduct one other spherical of negotiations targeted on ending the battle.

🎧 The Kremlin claims it prefers diplomacy over battle, however insists that Russia's victory is inevitable. NPR's Charles Maynes says that Russia makes use of these speaking factors in its negotiations with the White Home, aiming to persuade the U.S. that Ukraine's mission is hopeless. The Kremlin suggests that when the battle is settled, the U.S. and Russia can resume enterprise, opening up main funding alternatives. Russia is demanding that Ukraine hand over territory. Ukraine counters Russia by arguing in opposition to giving up territory that Russia hasn't been capable of declare in the course of the battle. Over the weekend, the Winter Olympics noticed some wonderful performances by U.S. athletes, in addition to stumbles from high-profile names. U.S. velocity skater Jordan Stolz gained his second Olympic gold. In the meantime, others, akin to U.S. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, fell in need of a medal.

🎧 Determine skater Ilia Malinin, who fell repeatedly in his determine skating program on Friday, knowledgeable reporters that his preparation for the Olympics unraveled. Dr. Sahen Gupta, a sports activities efficiency psychologist on the College of Portsmouth, research this phenomenon, often known as the "yips" or "twisties." Gupta says that whereas athletes practice to deal with stress with strategies like meditation to quiet the mind, the distinctive Olympic stress can generally overwhelm this coaching. NPR's Brian Mann says specialists have informed him that athletes typically study from Olympic setbacks and return stronger.

Image present <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5498x3093+0+286/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2F72%2F09f46352489b8244968f047e6e15%2Flesotho-flying-doctors-6766.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5498x3093+0+286/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcc%2F72%2F09f46352489b8244968f047e6e15%2Flesotho-flying-doctors-6766.jpg" class="img" alt="Residents of the isolated village of Mphooko wave as a team from the Lesotho Flying Doctor Services departs after a day treating patients in the village. Mphooko is inaccessible by road, and relies on the LFDS for basic medical care." loading="lazy"/> Residents of the remoted village of Mphooko wave as a staff from the Lesotho Flying Physician Providers departs after a day treating sufferers within the village. Mphooko is inaccessible by highway, and depends on the LFDS for primary medical care. Tommy Trenchard for NPR disguise caption

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Tommy Trenchard for NPR The Lesotho Flying Physician Service is a band of airborne well being staff who ship important medical care to remoted communities within the southern African nation. Lesotho, known as the Kingdom within the Sky, is the world's solely nation fully above 4,593 ft. Its rugged terrain makes highway transport practically inconceivable, leaving roughly 300,000 individuals with out dependable entry to well being care. For many years, the service was their lifeline till President Trump's support cuts in January 2025 all however severed it. After a tumultuous 12 months, the flying docs now purpose to bounce again stronger, extra environment friendly, and fewer reliant — with or with out U.S. assist. Check out these images displaying the work the docs do of their neighborhood.

Behind the story by Frank Langfitt, NPR's roving nationwide correspondent

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2530+0+381/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2Feb%2F1294e8834e8a98dae8f2c338b068%2Ficeboat-npr-19.JPG" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4500x2530+0+381/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2Feb%2F1294e8834e8a98dae8f2c338b068%2Ficeboat-npr-19.JPG" class="img" alt="Iceboat racer and sailor, Ray Gauthier, sails across the ice in Claiborne, Md. The wooden boats are skinny and have ice skates underneath and a large white sail with colorful numbers and letters. Ray is racing with another ice boat nearby." loading="lazy"/> Ice boat racer and sailor, Ray Gauthier, sails throughout the ice at Claiborne Touchdown, in Claiborne, Md., on Monday. Wesley Lapointe for NPR disguise caption

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Wesley Lapointe for NPR As NPR covers the Winter Olympics in Italy, an obscure winter sport — ice boating — has loved a renaissance again house in the course of the current deep freeze. The extended low temperatures froze rivers, lakes and bays, offering a number of the greatest ice boating situations in many years.

NPR's Frank Langfitt joined ice boaters not too long ago on the Chesapeake Bay and even skippered a vessel himself.

I am a sailor who lives in Annapolis. When ice started to cowl the bay, my social media feed lit up with movies of those swish wood vessels gliding alongside sheer ice. I reached out by means of Fb to a bunch of ice boaters on Maryland's Japanese Shore who had been offering free rides to scores of curious spectators. Even when you've got little interest in crusing, ice boating is a revelation. The boats experience on three slim steel blades, making a sail virtually frictionless. Which means ice boats can typically journey at greater than thrice the velocity of the wind. It is breathlessly thrilling and entertaining. I went out for half an hour with an ice boater. Even in a gentle breeze, we hit speeds of practically 30 mph. Because the wind dropped, I took an ice boat for a quick sail and located it surprisingly easy. The boat has only one sail, and also you steer by utilizing a wood tiller to show the entrance blade. Hear and study extra about my ice boating expertise. You too can learn my story and see images of individuals in motion out on the ice.

3 issues to know earlier than you go <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2528x1422+0+1/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2Fb4%2F7c291624474c89f615ab3a954047%2Fap26045723673899.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2528x1422+0+1/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2Fb4%2F7c291624474c89f615ab3a954047%2Fap26045723673899.jpg" class="img" alt="In this image from video provided by NASA, a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Americans Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev, approaches the International Space Station for docking on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026." loading="lazy"/> On this picture from video supplied by NASA, a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying People Meir and Jack Hathaway, France's Sophie Adenot and Russia's Andrei Fedyaev, approaches the Worldwide House Station for docking on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. NASA/AP/NASA disguise caption

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NASA/AP/NASA The 4 members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 mission docked on the Worldwide House Station on Saturday. The crew will spend eight months conducting experiments to organize for human exploration past Earth's orbit.Former President Barack Obama responded to the racist AI video depicting him as an ape that Trump's social media account posted earlier this month.A whole bunch of well-wishers welcomed the Buddhist monks with rose petals, conventional lion dances, and chants as they returned to their east Fort Value, Texas, temple after their 2,300-mile cross-country stroll for peace. (through KERA) This article was edited by Yvonne Dennis and Suzanne Nuyen.