NPR News Now – 02-17-2026 11PM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Date: February 18, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international news stories, with a particular focus on tributes to the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, U.S. political developments involving the International Energy Agency, updates on a high-profile missing person case, a dramatic avalanche rescue, and the state of the housing market. The reporting is direct, factual, and urgent, characteristic of NPR's brief news bulletins.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. Remembering Reverend Jesse Jackson

• [00:17-01:14]
  • Context: Reverend Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader, has passed away.
  • Obama's Tribute: Former President Barack Obama issued a statement lauding Jackson's civil rights legacy and his instrumental role in paving the way for later leaders, including Obama himself.
    • "Jackson’s presidential runs in the 80s laid the foundation for [Obama’s] bid decades later." — Elena Moore ([00:30])
    • “We stood on his shoulders.” — President Barack Obama, as quoted by Elena Moore ([01:01])
  • Historical Note: Jackson was an active supporter of Obama’s 2008 campaign, working on voter registration, mobilization, and coalition-building to empower younger generations.

2. Texas Mistrial Over Politically Charged T-shirt

• [01:14-01:47]
  • Incident: A mistrial was declared in Texas after a defense attorney wore a T-shirt featuring American civil rights leaders during jury selection, which the judge said displayed a "politically charged message."
  • Case Background: The case involves nine people linked to a non-fatal shooting outside an ICE detention facility on July 4th.

3. U.S. Threatens to Leave International Energy Agency (IEA)

• [01:47-02:27]
  • Reason: The Trump administration is threatening to withdraw U.S. membership from the IEA if it continues prioritizing climate change over fossil fuel research.
  • Details: The U.S. contributes about 14% of the IEA's budget ($6 million).
  • Quote:
    • “The IEA was behaving like a climate advocacy organization and should return to its fossil fuel roots.” — Energy Secretary Chris Wright ([01:47])
    • “If they insist that it’s so dominated and infused with climate stuff…then we’re out.” — Unattributed, contextually likely a U.S. official ([02:16])
  • Recent Developments: IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol described his meeting with Wright in Paris as “very positive.”

4. Update on Nancy Guthrie Disappearance

• [02:27-03:12]
  • Investigation: Police released new surveillance details in the Nancy Guthrie missing person case, now entering its third week.
  • Footage: Video shows an unidentified armed man with gloves and a Walmart-brand backpack at Guthrie's door.
  • Evidence: DNA from the gloves did not match existing records; additional DNA from Guthrie’s home is being tested. Police are also tracing the backpack’s purchase and canvassing local gun shops.
  • Officials’ Statement: Family members and spouses are not considered suspects.
  • Quote:
    • “The Pima County Sheriff’s Office has stressed that the family and their spouses are not considered suspects in this case.” — Alana Wise ([03:02])

5. Avalanche Rescue in California

• [03:12-03:48]
  • Incident: Six backcountry skiers were found alive after an avalanche near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe.
  • Rescue Status: The skiers are awaiting rescue; 10 others are still missing.
  • Conditions: A winter storm was active, intensifying rescue challenges.

6. Housing Market Gloom

• [03:48-04:30]
  • Builder Confidence: Confidence among new home builders fell further this month, dropping to a score of 36 (below 50 signals a poor market).
  • Reasons: High construction costs and flat buyer interest are major factors, despite price cuts averaging 6%.
  • Market Impact: More housing supply is needed to lower prices. Americans now need to earn ~$110,000/year for a typical home—a slight decrease from last year, but still out of reach for many.
  • Quote:
    • “Home buyers also are not showing up to buy new homes, even as builders offer more incentives like price cuts.” — Stephen Psaha ([03:56])

7. Asian Financial Markets Advance

• [04:30-04:56]
  • Update: Japan's Nikkei is up 1.2%, poised to break a four-day losing streak after the Trump administration’s announcement of fresh investments through Japan’s $550 billion trade deal.
  • Tariff Impact: The deal cuts tariffs on Japanese imports to the U.S.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "We stood on his shoulders." — Barack Obama, as quoted by Elena Moore, on Jesse Jackson’s legacy ([01:01])
• “The IEA was behaving like a climate advocacy organization and should return to its fossil fuel roots.” — Energy Secretary Chris Wright ([01:47])
• "Home buyers also are not showing up to buy new homes, even as builders offer more incentives like price cuts.” — Stephen Psaha ([03:56])

Timestamps for Key Stories

• 00:17-01:14 — Jesse Jackson tributes and Obama’s statement
• 01:14-01:47 — Texas mistrial over T-shirt
• 01:47-02:27 — U.S. threatens IEA withdrawal over climate policy
• 02:27-03:12 — New developments in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
• 03:12-03:48 — Avalanche rescue in northern California
• 03:48-04:30 — Drop in builder confidence, home affordability
• 04:30-04:56 — Asian financial market gains/US-Japan trade deal

This episode provided straightforward, urgent updates on the day's top news, highlighting the continued influence of civil rights leaders, ongoing policy disputes over energy and the environment, unfolding investigations, and the economic pressures facing Americans.