NPR News: 02-17-2026 11PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 02-17-2026 11PM EST

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

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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.

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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.

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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])

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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

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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.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Tributes are pouring in for the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, including from former President Barack Obama. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, Obama praised.

[Elena Moore]

Jackson's legacy in civil rights and politics, saying in a statement that Jackson's presidential runs in the 80s laid the foundation for his bid. Decades later, Jackson was a strong supporter of Obama's campaign. In a 2008 interview with NPR, he was asked to describe the role he'd play in the election that year.

[Giles Snyder]

Work on voter registration, voter mobilization, education, coalition building, Reinvest in America to convince young America that they really do have the power to change the course of the country.

[Elena Moore]

In his tribute to Jackson, Obama wrote that he and former first lady Michelle Obama would always be grateful for Jackson's lifetime of service, writing, quote, we stood on his shoulders. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

A T shirt featuring American civil rights leaders led to a mistrial in Texas today. The shirt was worn by a defense attorney during jury selection in the case of nine people linked to a non fatal shooting outside an ICE detention facility in Alvarado on the 4th of July. The judge said the shirt displayed what he called a politically charged message. Trump administration threatening to quit the International Energy Agency if it continues to focus on climate change. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. The U.S. has provided about $6 million to the agency, about 14% of its budget.

[Jeff Brady]

The International Energy Agency was created after the 1973 Arab oil embargo and conducts research on energy markets. In recent years, it's focused on the big goal in the Paris climate agreement, zeroing out greenhouse gases by 2050. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking in Paris, said the IEA was behaving like a climate advocacy organization and should return to its fossil fuel routes.

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

We're all in on that, but if they insist that it's so dominated and.

[Stephen Psaha]

Infused with climate stuff, yeah, then we're out.

[Jeff Brady]

IEA executive Director Fatih Birol says he met with Wright in Paris and that it was a very positive meeting. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Police have released new details about the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the search in its third week. As NPR's and Ilana Wise reports, surveillance.

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

Footage released last week showed an armed man in gloves and carrying a Walmart brand backpack at Guthrie's door the morning of her disappearance. DNA testing on the gloves did not link to anyone already known to police, but officials say they are testing additional DNA found at Guthrie's home. They are also working with Walmart to trace the individual who purchased the backpack and canvassing gun shops to see if anyone recognizes the man in the video. The Pima County Sheriff's Office has stressed that the family and their spouses are not considered suspects in this case. Alana Wise, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

And you're listening to NPR News. Authorities say six backcountry skiers have been found alive following an avalanche in Northern California in the Castle Peak area northwest of Lake Lake Tahoe. Officials say the six skiers are waiting to be rescued and that crews are still searching for 10 others who remain missing. A winter storm warning was in effect at the time of the avalanche. With heavy snow forecast in the Sierra Nevada, home builders are starting the year pessimistic. A survey found their confidence in the market dropped this month. NPR's Stephen Psaha has more.

[Stephen Psaha]

Builder confidence in the market for new single family homes fell to 36, and anything below 50 is considered a poor market. The index dropped 1 point. The national association of Home Builders runs a survey and blames the decline in part on high construction costs. Home buyers also are not showing up to buy new homes, even as builders offer more incentives like price cuts. 36% of builders cut prices this month by 6% on average. More homes are needed to help lower home prices further. Redfin recently reported Americans need to earn about $110,000 a year to afford a typical home, down from last year, but still significantly more than most American families make. Stephen Bassaha, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Financial markets in Asia are largely advancing in Wednesday trading. Japan's benchmark Nikkei appears set to snap a four day losing streak. The Nikkei is up more than 1.2% following the Trump administration's announcement of the first investments under Japan's $550 billion trade deal, the that cut tariffs on Japanese imports to the U.S. i'm Jael Snyder, NPR News.

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[Giles Snyder]

Com.