NPR News: 02-18-2026 10PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 18, 2026, 10PM EST

Main Theme

This five-minute NPR News Now broadcast delivers concise updates on major stories from the U.S., including a landmark trial against Meta, a crackdown on commercial driving schools, a major Catholic church abuse settlement, a deadly avalanche in California, rising education levels, significant union activity at a Volkswagen plant, and a quirky lawsuit over boneless wings.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Media Trial (00:18–01:11)

• Background: Mark Zuckerberg testified in the first trial bringing tech companies to court over allegations they design platforms deliberately to addict young people.
• Key Points:
  • Internal documents show Meta’s strategy: “If we want to big with teens, we have to bring them in as tweens.” (Bobby Allen, 00:41)
  • Zuckerberg acknowledged recalling the document but disputed remembering the context.
  • On beauty filters: Zuckerberg was shown an email he wrote defending the filters, stating that removing them could be “paternalistic.” He tried to strike a balance between restricting certain features and allowing self-expression.
• Notable Quote:
  • Bobby Allen summarizing Zuckerberg: “He says he was trying to find, you know, the right balance between limiting them and also allowing people to express themselves.” (Bobby Allen, 01:02)

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2. Crackdown on Commercial Driving Schools (01:11–01:41)

• Overview: The Transportation Department is ordering more than 550 commercial driving schools to close.
• Issues Identified:
  • Use of unqualified instructors.
  • Failure to adequately test students.
  • Focus on states issuing licenses to immigrants allegedly not meeting qualification standards.

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3. New Jersey Catholic Diocese Settles Abuse Claims (01:41–02:18)

• Settlement Details: The Diocese of Camden, NJ agrees to a $180 million settlement with clergy sex abuse survivors as part of a bankruptcy case.
• Context:
  • The settlement awaits court approval.
  • Last week, all five Catholic dioceses in New Jersey released a list naming over 180 abusive clergy (including 56 priests and one deacon from Camden), spanning decades. Many are deceased; surviving accused clergy have been removed from ministry.
• Notable Quote:
  • “A statement from the Camden bishop thanks victims for coming forward and says he’s profoundly sorry for what they suffered.” (Jason DeRose, 01:50)

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4. Fatal Avalanche in Lake Tahoe Area (02:18–03:17)

• Incident: Eight backcountry skiers are confirmed dead, one missing after an avalanche near Castle Peak, Lake Tahoe.
• Details:
  • Occurred around 11:30am Tuesday, involved a guided three-day tour with 15 people (Blackbird Mountain Guides).
  • Six survivors (one guide, five clients) were rescued.
  • The operation shifted from rescue to recovery due to dangerous conditions.
• Notable Quote:
  • Sheriff Shannon Moon: “Our focus remains on recovering, but the snow and the unsure conditions are creating an issue to making sure that we can safely do that.” (02:54)
  • “High avalanche danger continues to impede access.” (Maria Palma, 03:11)

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5. Educational Attainment Rises Nationwide (03:17–03:35)

• Statistics:
  • Adults (25+) with a bachelor’s degree rose from 34% to nearly 38% over five years.
  • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC saw among the largest increases.
  • Springfield, MA was the only metro area with a decrease.

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6. Volkswagen Workers in Tennessee Voting on First Union Contract (03:35–04:33)

• Unionization Drive:
  • 32,000 Volkswagen assembly plant workers are voting on whether to ratify their first contract after joining the United Auto Workers union in April 2024.
  • Contract includes:
    • ~$6,500 immediate bonus
    • Wage increase of 20%+ over four years
    • Cost-of-living adjustments
    • Frozen health care premiums
  • 73% voted to unionize—a rare UAW victory in the South.
  • UAW hopes this deal inspires unionization at other Southern plants, though other campaigns have so far stalled.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Voting closes Thursday, and the UAW is hoping a ratified contract will be a step toward unionizing more Southern auto workers.” (Stephen Bassarha, 04:25)

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7. Judge Rules for Buffalo Wild Wings in Boneless Wing Lawsuit (04:33–04:58)

• Case Details: Judge John Tharp ruled that Buffalo Wild Wings can market “boneless wings” as wings.
• Judicial Humor:
  • Ruling featured puns: “the case…has no meat on its bones” and plaintiff “did not drum up enough factual allegations.”
  • The original lawsuit (2023) alleged false advertising, but, as Ryland Barton quipped, it “just didn’t fly.”
• Notable Quote:
  • “The case…has no meat on its bones.” (Judge John Tharp, reported by Ryland Barton, 04:39)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Meta’s youth strategy:
  • “If we want to big with teens, we have to bring them in as tweens.” (Internal Meta document, 00:42)
• On the avalanche recovery mission:
  • “Our focus remains on recovering, but the snow and the unsure conditions are creating an issue…” (Sheriff Shannon Moon, 02:54)
• On the Buffalo Wild Wings case:
  • “The case…has no meat on its bones.” (Judge John Tharp, 04:39)
  • “But that just didn’t fly.” (Ryland Barton, 04:50)

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Quick Segment Guide (Timestamps)

• 00:18–01:11 – Zuckerberg testimony in media addiction trial
• 01:11–01:41 – Commercial driving school closures
• 01:41–02:18 – NJ Catholic church $180M abuse settlement
• 02:18–03:17 – Deadly avalanche in Lake Tahoe, CA
• 03:17–03:35 – Rising college graduation rates
• 03:35–04:33 – VW Tennessee workers vote on union contract
• 04:33–04:58 – Boneless wings court ruling

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This summary captures the key stories and tone of NPR’s concise, fact-driven reporting in this five-minute news update.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told a jury today that the company has tried to keep preteens off of Instagram, but it hasn't always worked. He was testifying in a landmark media trial that marks the first time tech companies have been brought to trial for claims that they deliberately design apps to addict young people. NPR's Bobby Allen has more.

[Bobby Allen]

He was shown an internal strategy document that said, quote, if we want to big with teens, we have to bring them in as tweens to this, Zuckerberg said yes, he recalled the document but didn't remember the context around it. He said while the minimum age to use Instagram is 13, they have struggled with keeping preteens off the app. He was also shown an email he wrote saying that getting rid of beauty filters would be paternalistic. He says he was trying to find, you know, the right balance between limiting them and also allowing people to express themselves.

[Ryland Barton]

NPR's Bobby Allen reporting. The Trump administration says more than 550 commercial driving schools that train truckers and bus drivers must close. The Transportation Department says they employed unqualified instructors and failed to adequately test students. The department has been targeting states that gave licenses to immigrants who it says shouldn't have qualified. A Catholic diocese in New Jersey has announced a 180 million dollar settlement with clergy sex abuse survivors. NPR's Jason DeRose reports.

[Jason DeRose]

The diocese of Camden in southern New Jersey reached the settlement agreement as part of a bankruptcy case. It's still pending court approval. A statement from the Camden bishop thanks victims for coming forward and says he's profoundly sorry for what they suffered. Last week, the five Catholic diocese in New Jersey released a list naming more than 180 abusive clergy spanning a of decades. Many of them are now deceased while those still living have been removed from ministry. Camden listed 56 priests and one deacon against whom victims brought credible allegations of abuse. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

In California, authorities say eight backcountry skiers are confirmed dead after an avalanche near Castle Peak in the Lake Tahoe area. One skier remains missing. From member station KUNR, Maria Palma reports.

[Maria Palma]

The avalanche struck around 11:30am Tuesday in remote terrain within the Tah National Forest. The group was on a guided three day ski tour with Blackbird Mountain Guides. Fifteen people were on the trip. Six survivors, one guide and five clients were rescued Tuesday. Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon says the operation has officially shifted from a rescue to a recovery mission.

[Sheriff Shannon Moon]

This incident remains ongoing. Our focus remains on recovering, but the snow and the unsure conditions are creating an issue to making sure that we can safely do that.

[Maria Palma]

Roughly 50 responders from multiple agencies are deployed. In heavy snow, winds and near zero visibility. High avalanche danger continues to impede access. For NPR News, I'm Maria Palma in Reno.

[Ryland Barton]

This is NPR. The share of adults age 25 and older with a bachelor's degree increased from 34% to nearly 38% over the last five years. The Durham Chapel Hill, North Carolina, metro area saw one of the largest increases. Springfield, Massachusetts, was the only metro area with a decrease. Roughly 32,000 Volkswagen assembly plant workers in Tennessee are deciding whether to ratify their first union contract. NPR's Stephen Bassarha reports. They first voted to join the United Auto Workers union almost two years ago.

[Stephen Bassarha]

If those workers approve the contract, they will immediately get a roughly $6,500 bonus. Wages would also go up more than 20% over four years and get cost of living adjustments. The union says health care premiums will also be frozen under this contract. 73% of workers voted to unionize in April 2024. It was a rare win for the union in the South, a part of the country with lots of foreign car factories and few unions. The UAW made an aggressive push to unionize other Southern plants, but those campaigns have fizzled in the nearly two years it's taken to negotiate this contract. Voting closes Thursday, and the UAW is hoping a ratified contract will be a step toward unionizing more Southern auto workers. Stephen Besarha, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that boneless wings at Buffalo Wild Wings can be marketed as wings. In his ruling, Judge John Tharp said the case, quote, has no meat on its bones. Also, he wrote that the plaintiff did not drum up enough factual allegations. A Chicago man filed the lawsuit in 2023 arguing that Buffalo Wild Wings had engaged in false advertising, but that just didn't fly. This is NPR News.

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