Up First from NPR US-Iran Talks, Summers Resigns Over Epstein Ties, Cuba Kills Four In Boat Strike
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Feb 26, 2026 
Suvonne Lee, WBUR reporter who covered Larry Summers' resignation and related emails. She discusses Summers’ ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the university’s response. She also walks through the U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva and the stakes around nuclear and missile limits. Finally, she covers Cuba’s deadly boat strike and the questions it raises about motives and regional fallout.
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Stakes And Sticking Points In U.S.-Iran Talks
- U.S.-Iran talks aim to avert a wider war by addressing nuclear enrichment and missile concerns.
- The U.S. is pressing Iran to include ballistic missiles and regional proxy support, but Iran rejects giving up defense assets as a nonstarter tied to Israel.
Negotiations Shadowed By Regime Change And Regional Tension
- Negotiations extend beyond nukes to Iran's regional behavior and treatment of protesters, raising regime-change specter.
- Trump publicly endorsed regime change, which complicates diplomacy and increases regional anxiety amid a major U.S. military buildup.
Larry Summers Steps Down After Epstein Email Fallout
- Larry Summers announced retirement after emails showed a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and halted his teaching.
- Harvard reopened investigations; Summers will not receive Professor Emeritus and stepped back after being on academic leave since new files surfaced.