NPR News Now: 02-18-2026 11PM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Date: February 19, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode presents a rapid-fire update on significant national and global news spanning political, legal, environmental, economic, and entertainment spheres. Covering breaking stories from President Trump’s $10 billion legal demand against the U.S. government to the latest on movie box office bursts and holiday closures in Asian markets, the news is presented in NPR’s concise, authoritative style.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. President Trump’s $10 Billion Legal Demand

[00:16–01:16]

• Trump has filed claims against the government for over $10 billion, citing damages from the leak of his tax returns (2019) and the FBI search for classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
• This places Trump's own Justice Department appointees in a challenging position since both the Attorney General and Deputy AG previously served as Trump's personal lawyers.
• DOJ’s Response: They claim adherence to guidance from career ethics lawyers.
• Legal Context: Typical claims against the government involve much smaller sums (e.g., “crashes of postal trucks or medical malpractice in federal hospitals for veterans”).
• Trump reportedly pledges any recovered funds will "go to charity."
• Notable Quote:

  “President Trump’s demands for money are many times greater than in those run-of-the-mill cases. He says he’ll give any money he recovers to charity.”
  — Carri Johnson, NPR [01:10]

2. Lawsuit Over Climate Pollution Regulations

[01:16–02:08]

• Multiple environmental and public health groups are suing the Trump administration after it repealed Obama-era climate pollution regulations.
• The Trump EPA reversed the finding that greenhouse gases are dangerous to public health — the legal foundation for climate rulemaking under the Clean Air Act.
• Lawsuit filers include American Lung Association, Earthjustice, and Public Citizen.
• The case could return to a more conservative Supreme Court than ruled on similar issues in 2007.
• Notable Quote:

  “The Trump EPA reversed that endangerment finding, calling it the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”
  — Jeff Brady, NPR [01:43]

3. Fatal Avalanche in California

[02:08–02:35]

• Eight backcountry skiers have been found dead near Lake Tahoe after Tuesday’s avalanche.
• Three of the bodies were found by survivors; one skier remains missing.

4. U.S. Becomes More Renter-Friendly

[02:08–03:11]

• Rental market shifts: More bargaining power for renters nationwide, with exceptions in coastal cities (Boston, NYC, San Jose).
• Rents are down — median asking rent in the 50 largest metros is just under $1,700 (down 1.5% YOY).
• Supply glut: More apartments built, especially in the Sun Belt, although construction is likely to slow due to high vacancies.
• Notable Quote:

  “Empty apartments across most of the country are pushing rents down.”
  — Stephen Psaha, NPR [02:40]

5. Newark Airport Incident and Recovery

[03:11–03:48]

• JetBlue emergency: An engine failure caused a return and emergency evacuation at Newark International Airport.
• Temporary ground stop until normal operations resumed.
• Passengers used emergency slides to evacuate; the incident was resolved without long delays.

6. Strong Movie Box Office Performance

[03:48–04:34]

• Box office surge: ~$900 million in ticket sales since January 1; best start since pre-pandemic times.
• Popular titles:
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash
  • Marty Supreme
  • Valentine’s Day hit Wuthering Heights
• Upcoming releases:
  • Pixar comedy
  • Michael Jackson biopic
  • Sci-fi thriller Project Hail Mary (“I’ve never done a space. I can’t even moonwalk.”)
  • Devil Wears Prada 2
  • Peaky Blinders finale
  • New Star Wars film with Baby Yoda
• Notable Quote:

  “Ticket sales of about $900 million since January 1st have cinemas riding high at what’s usually a slack time for the film industry.”
  — Bob Mondello, NPR [03:50]

7. Asian Markets Update

[04:34–04:55]

• Lunar New Year closures: Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan markets remain closed; Japan’s Nikkei is up after tech-driven Wall St. gains.
• U.S. benchmarks: S&P 500 (+0.6%), Dow (+0.3%).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “President Trump’s demands for money are many times greater than in those run-of-the-mill cases. He says he’ll give any money he recovers to charity.”
  — Carri Johnson, NPR [01:10]
• “Empty apartments across most of the country are pushing rents down.”
  — Stephen Psaha, NPR [02:40]
• “Ticket sales of about $900 million since January 1st have cinemas riding high at what’s usually a slack time for the film industry.”
  — Bob Mondello, NPR [03:50]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Trump’s Legal Demand: [00:16–01:16]
• Climate Policy Lawsuit: [01:16–02:08]
• California Avalanche: [02:08–02:35]
• Rental Market Trends: [02:35–03:11]
• Newark Airport Incident: [03:11–03:48]
• Movie Industry News: [03:48–04:34]
• Market News: [04:34–04:55]

End of news summary. For more details on any of these stories, visit NPR.org.