AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome to the "News Hour."

Geneva, Switzerland, played host today to not one,## but two rounds of high-level talks aimed at# resolving two separate international disputes.

GEOFF BENNETT: We start with Iran and a U.S.# official who told Reuters that progress was made## in roughly three hours of indirect talks# over limiting Tehran's nuclear program.

U.S.

special envoy Steve Witkoff and President# Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner laid out their## case today with mediators from Oman.

Speaking# to reporters following the talks, Iran's## foreign minister said a new window has opened for# reaching an agreement, though more work is needed.

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, Iranian Foreign Minister (through# translator): We have a clearer picture of what## needs to be done and what needs to be done# down the road.

Of course, both sides still## have positions that need to be brought closer# together, but at least now we have a set of## guiding principles and a clearer path to follow.

GEOFF BENNETT:## Meantime, Iranian officials temporarily# closed the Strait of Hormuz for live-fire## military exercises broadcast# on Iranian state television.## The strait is responsible for the transit# of around 20 percent of the world's oil.

It comes as the Pentagon has added# more naval firepower to the Middle## East in recent weeks with another# aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford,## still en route.

Back in Geneva, U.S.# negotiators Witkoff and Kushner also## brokered the first of two days of talks# with officials from Ukraine and Russia.

Russian state media described the talks# as tense.And Ukraine's delegation has## said they approached the meeting without# excessive expectations as the four-year## anniversary of Russia's invasion looms next week.

A federal judge has ordered# the Trump administration to## restore a slavery-related exhibit at George# Washington's former home in Philadelphia.

MAN: I have great news.

We# just won in federal court.

(CHEERING) GEOFF BENNETT: Supporters celebrated# the ruling outside the.. calling it a tremendous victory.

Last month, National Park Service workers# took down displays that describe the local## history of slavery on the site, including the# nine enslaved people Washington kept there.

In her decision, Judge Cynthia Rufe cited author# George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984," arguing## the Trump administration does not have the power# to, in her words, disassemble historical truths.

Repair work is underway to fix a# sewer line on the Potomac River,## even as the political battle is raging over what's# been called one of the largest sewage spills in## U.S.

history.

In a social media post today, Mr.# Trump called on the governors of Maryland and## Virginia and the mayor of Washington, D.C., to# -- quote -- "get to work immediately," adding:## "If they can't do the job, they have to# call me and ask politely to get it fixed."

A day earlier, the president placed blame# directly on Maryland Governor Wes Moore,## who fired back, saying the president has his# facts wrong again.

The busted pipe is under## the jurisdiction of a D.C.-based water# authority and the federal government.## The president has directed# FEMA to assist in the cleanup.

In Georgia, a public school in the city# of Savannah is mourning the death of a## special education teacher, Linda Davis, who# was killed in a car crash that involved a## man fleeing ice agents.

The Department of# Homeland Security says Guatemala native## Oscar Vasquez-Lopez tried to evade a traffic stop# early yesterday and collided with Davis' vehicle.

Police charged Lopez with first# degree homicide and reckless driving,## among others.

In a statement, the school's# principal called Davis a beloved member of## its community, saying her contributions to# the students and staff will not be forgotten.

The top spokesperson for the Department of# Homeland Security is stepping down.

The person## familiar with the decision confirms to the "News# Hour" that Tricia McLaughlin will be leaving the## administration next week.

The source says her# departure had been planned since December, but## McLaughlin stayed on following the fatal shootings# of Renee Good and Alex Pretty in Minneapolis.

In her time at DHS, McLaughlin became known as# one of the most vocal defenders of President## Trump's deportation campaign.

Her# exit comes amid growing public## disapproval of the administration's# hard-line immigration policies.

Netflix is granting Warner Bros.

Discovery# a seven day waiver to restart takeover## talks with Paramount.

Warner Bros.

had# already backed a deal for Netflix to## buy its studio and streaming business.# Now Paramount has until Monday to come## up with what they're calling a best# and final offer to upend that deal.

In the meantime, the Warner Bros.

board# is advising shareholders to stick with## the Netflix offer.

Its stock ended# the day more than 2 percent higher.

Elsewhere on Wall Street today, stocks# ended largely unchanged.

The Dow Jones## industrial average gained around# 30 points on the day.

The Nasdaq## added about 30 points.

The S&P# 500 also posted a modest gain.

Several major celebrations# and religious observances are## overlapping today.

Let's start on the# streets of New Orleans and Mardi Gras.## Marching bands and floats cruised# the streets of the Big Easy with the## traditional tossing of beads and candy# to revelers.

Mardi Gras is, of course,## French for Fat Tuesday, the last day# before Christians begin the season of Lent.

In Egypt, shoppers stocked up on treats and# decorations as Muslims prepare to enter the## holy month of Ramadan.

Those observing the# traditional fast will abstain from eating,## drinking and other activities# during daylight hours.

And, in Beijing, traditional lion dancers# marked the lunar new year holiday and the## start of the year of the horse.

Millions# will be traveling to visit family,## exchanging gifts and taking steps to# ensure good luck for the year ahead.

And in Winter Olympic action today, Team# USA made the podium in several big events,## but came up short in others.

A warning, some# spoilers are ahead.

The U.S.

men won silver in## the speed skating team pursuit, while the women's# team barely missed a medal, coming in fourth.

Mac Forehand secured another silver for Team# USA in an epic free ski big air final amid## practically blizzard conditions.# And in the men's two-man bobsled,## it was a fourth place finish for the# U.S., while Germany swept the event,## winning gold, silver and bronze# for their second straight Olympics.

Looking at the total medal count,# the U.S.

remains in third place## with 21 medals behind host nation# Italy and overall leader Norway.

Still to come on the "News Hour": how# the Justice Department is being reshaped## by controversial priorities# and widespread resignations;## Stephen Colbert calls out CBS for blocking# an interview with a Democratic candidate;## and a new book aims to help readers see Toni# Morrison's literary genius with fresh eyes.