9PM ET 02/18/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 9PM ET 02/18/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Licera (Fox News Podcasts)
Date: February 19, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode provides top national news headlines as of 9PM ET, focused on high-impact legal cases, major safety investigations, domestic politics, and corporate controversy. Key topics include social media addiction lawsuits, a tragic avalanche in California, a major crackdown on commercial driving schools, NYC's shifting homelessness policy, Democratic Party polling after the 2024 election, and controversy over Reese’s brand changes.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Social Media Addiction Lawsuit – Mark Zuckerberg Testifies

[00:03–00:59]

• Main Point:
  Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, takes the stand in a Los Angeles trial accusing Meta and YouTube of designing addictive features that may contribute to teen depression and suicidal thoughts.

• Discussion Highlights:

  • Plaintiffs allege Meta and YouTube have not done enough to keep underage users (under 13) off their platforms.
  • Zuckerberg claims, “Users under that age are not allowed on the app and reps work to remove them. Admitting verifying ages is challenging, but efforts to do so continue to improve.” [00:23]
  • Plaintiffs question if Meta used research on 8–12-year-olds’ digital behavior to target younger users. Zuckerberg asserts, “This was outside research that I never received.” [00:40]
  • Claims that “teens are not valuable to advertisers and make up less than 1% of Meta's revenue,” emphasizing safety priorities. [00:50]

• Notable Quote:

  “Verifying ages is challenging, but efforts to do so continue to improve.”
  —Mark Zuckerberg [00:23]

• Context:
  TikTok and Snap have already settled and are no longer defendants. The lawsuit continues against Meta and YouTube.

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2. California Avalanche – Eight Dead, Search Ongoing

[00:59–01:42]

• Main Point:
  Avalanche near Castle Peak, CA claims eight lives during a backcountry ski expedition; one person remains missing.

• Discussion Highlights:

  • Sheriff Shannon Moon: Details challenging search and rescue due to weather and conditions.
  • Ainsley Earhart: “Still looking for one of the members at this time due to the ongoing challenges of the weather, the avalanche conditions. The effort remains ongoing.” [01:14]
  • The group was near the city of Truckee, six people survived after six hours trapped.

• Notable Quote:

  “An avalanche warning went into effect Tuesday morning as the group of four guides and 11 skiers were finishing up a three-day skiing expedition…”
  —Sheriff Shannon Moon [01:28]

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3. U.S. Foreign Policy – Secretary of State Rubio’s Trip to Israel

[01:42–02:02]

• Main Point:
  Secretary of State Marco Rubio preparing to visit Israel to update Prime Minister Netanyahu on U.S.-Iran nuclear talks.

• Context:
  Compact headline with few details, but notable as a diplomatic development.

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4. Department of Transportation Closes Hundreds of Trucking Schools

[02:30–03:17]

• Main Point:
  The DOT is shutting down over 550 commercial driving schools after investigations reveal widespread safety and compliance failures.

• Discussion Highlights:

  • 1,400 sting operations found many schools used unqualified instructors and skipped essential safety instruction.
  • 448 schools failed to meet safety standards; 109 de-listed themselves upon learning of upcoming inspections.
  • Jill Nadeau: “The feds have been cracking down on the schools since last summer, when a truck driver from India made an illegal U-turn in Florida and killed three people.” [02:46]
  • Safety concerns address both training quality and hazardous material handling.

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5. NYC Shifts Policy on Homeless Encampments

[03:17–03:39]

• Main Point:
  Mayor Zoran Mamdani announces resumption of homeless encampment removals in NYC, promising a more humane approach.

• Discussion Highlights:

  • The mayor paused the policy upon taking office in January but now says cleanups will continue with new procedures.
  • The mayor had previously criticized the practice.

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6. Democrats’ Post-Election Polling Malaise

[03:39–04:09]

• Main Point:
  An AP-NORC poll shows continuing Democratic disillusionment after losing the 2024 election.

• Key Statistics (per Chris Foster):

  • “About 3 in 10 Democrats say they do not [have a positive view of the Democratic Party]. The 7 in 10 saying yes is a little higher than it was in October, but still down from the 85% favorability in September 2024 before President Trump beat Vice President Harris in the election.” [03:44]
  • 1 in 4 Americans have a negative view of both major parties, with negativity strongest among independents and under-45s.
  • Only 1 in 10 Americans feel good about both parties.
  • Republican enthusiasm is reportedly higher than Democratic.

• Notable Quote:

  “Roughly a quarter of Americans surveyed have a negative view of both parties. That's especially the case among independents and people under 45.”
  —Chris Foster [03:52]

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7. Reese's Brand Controversy – Family Member Criticizes Hershey

[04:09–04:28]

• Main Point:
  Brad Reese, grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, accuses Hershey of damaging the brand by using cheaper ingredients.

• Discussion Highlight:

  • Brad Reese’s claims were aired on LinkedIn, sparking debate over Hershey's ingredient choices.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mark Zuckerberg on Underage Users:
  “Verifying ages is challenging, but efforts to do so continue to improve.” [00:23]

• Ainsley Earhart on Avalanche Rescue:
  “Still looking for one of the members at this time due to the ongoing challenges of the weather, the avalanche conditions. The effort remains ongoing.” [01:14]

• Chris Foster on Democratic Sentiment Post-2024 Election:
  “About 3 in 10 Democrats say they do not [have a positive view of the Democratic Party]... only 1 in 10 feel good about both parties.” [03:44]

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Segment Timestamps Reference

• 00:03 – Meta social media addiction lawsuit, Zuckerberg testimony
• 00:59 – California avalanche deaths and rescue update
• 01:42 – Secretary Rubio’s Israel trip headline
• 02:30 – DOT crackdown on commercial driving schools
• 03:17 – NYC mayor on homeless encampment cleanups
• 03:39 – Poll: Democrats post-election mood; general party favorability
• 04:09 – Reese's family vs. Hershey ingredient controversy

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Summary prepared for listeners who want all critical headlines and context from the Fox News Hourly Update, 9PM ET, February 18, 2026.

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

Social media sites accused of being addictive. I'm Lisa Licera of Fox News. Meta's Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand in a trial in Los Angeles that accuses the company and YouTube of creating addictive features that lead to teen depression and suicidal thoughts.

[Mark Zuckerberg]

A lawyer for the now 20 year old plaintiff asking Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg whether Instagram has done enough to remove millions of users under the age of 13. Zuckerberg explaining users under that age are not allowed on the app and reps work to remove them. Admitting verifying ages is challenging, but efforts to do so continue to improve. He was also asked about internal emails citing a study of 8 to 12 year olds digital behaviors for app development and whether this was used to actively target younger users. Zuckerberg saying this was outside research that he never received. He went on to tell a lawyer for Meta that teens are not valuable to advertisers and make up less than 1% of Meta's revenue, highlighting priorities to keep people safe.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Kristin Goodwin in Los Angeles. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case. TikTok and Snap have settled. Eight people are dead, one is missing after they were caught in an avalanche on a ski expedition in California.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon we are.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Still looking for one of the members at this time due to the ongoing challenges of the weather, the avalanche conditions. The effort remains ongoing.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

An avalanche warning went into effect Tuesday morning as the group of four guides and 11 skiers were finishing up a three day skiing expedition near Castle Peak, a popular backcountry ski area near the city of Truckee in Lake Tahoe.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Claudia Cowan Six people in the party survived and were rescued after being trapped for six hours. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will reportedly travel to Israel next week to update Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the U. S Iran nuclear talks. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Licera]

The U.S. department of Transportation getting ready to close more than 550 commercial driving schools.

[Jill Nadeau]

The DOT conducted roughly 14 1,400 sting operations, finding many of the schools that are supposed to be training commercial drivers came up short. Investigators found unqualified instructors. They didn't teach students how to handle hazardous materials and more 448 schools failed to meet basic safety standards. Another 109 removed themselves from the registry of schools when they learned that inspectors were planning to visit. The feds have been cracking down on the school since last summer, when a truck driver from India made an illegal U turn in Florida and killed three people. In Washington, Jill Nadeau, Fox News, New.

[Lisa Licera]

York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani says the city will resume cleaning makeshift homeless encampments. But he says the city will take a more humane approach to a practice he previously criticized. He has paused the clearing of the encampments when he took office last month. A new poll finds a lot of Democrats are still disenchanted with their party since losing the 2024 presidential election.

[Chris Foster]

Asked if they have a positive view of the Democratic Party, about 3 in 10 Democrats say they do not. In this AP Nork poll, the 7 in 10 saying yes is a little higher than it was in October, but still down from the 85% favorability in September 2024 before President Trump beat Vice President Harris in the election. Republicans are slightly more enthusiastic about their own party these days. Roughly a quarter of Americans surveyed have a negative view of both parties. That's especially the case among independents and people under 45, 1 in 10 feel good about both parties. Chris Foster, Fox News.

[Lisa Licera]

The grandson of the inventor of Reese's peanut butter cups is accusing Hershey of hurting the Reese's brand by using cheaper ingredients and many products. Brad Reese made the accusations on LinkedIn. I'm Lisa Licera. This is Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart.

[Mark Zuckerberg]

Thank you for joining me for for the 52 episode podcast series the Life.

[Podcast Host]

Of Jesus, A listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.