NPR News: 02-18-2026 3AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 18, 2026, 3AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder (NPR)
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: Brief, fast-paced world and national news roundup covering diplomacy, emergencies, sports, medical advancements, and financial updates.

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Episode Overview

This edition of NPR News Now delivers a concise update on major news events as of early February 18, 2026. Top stories include Iran’s naval maneuvers and nuclear talks, a major D.C. wastewater spill and ensuing political fallout, an avalanche rescue in California, Olympic figure skating highlights, a Capitol security incident, a promising new approach to treating preeclampsia, and a quick market update.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz; Nuclear Talks in Geneva

• [00:16] Iran temporarily shut parts of the Strait of Hormuz during live-fire naval drills.
• Talks between Iran and the U.S. over Iran’s nuclear program began in Geneva, signaling possible progress.
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi expressed optimism on “main guiding principles” but warned the U.S. against military action, stating Iran is “fully prepared to defend itself.”
  • Notable quote:

    "The consequences of any attack against Iran will not be confined to its borders."
    — Abbas Arakchi (00:56)

• Further negotiations are planned in two weeks.

2. Major Sewer Line Collapse Near Washington, D.C.

• [01:18] President Trump blamed Maryland’s Democratic leadership for a large sewer collapse that spilled millions of gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River.
• Finger-pointing: Maryland governor Wes Moore blamed federal oversight, as DC Water, a federally regulated utility, manages the line.
  • Emergency repairs are expected to take a month, complete rehabilitation could take up to ten months.
  • Drinking water remains unaffected.

3. Avalanche at Lake Tahoe—Ongoing Rescue Efforts

• [01:55] Six backcountry skiers rescued after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California.
• Two were hospitalized; crews are still searching for nine out of fifteen skiers.
• The sheriff’s office revised the skier count from sixteen to fifteen.

4. Olympics: U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Hopes

• [02:29] Alyssa Liu (reigning world champion) stands in third after the short program.
• Isabel Levito is in eighth; both have medal chances.
• Amber Glenn, a favorite, fell to thirteenth after an impressive routine faltered on the last jump, leaving her “in tears.”
  • Notable moment:

    “She nailed a triple axel, one of only a few women at these Olympics doing that jump, but then did only a double rather than the required triple on a separate jump, losing substantial points and leaving the ice in tears.”
    — Rachel Treisman (02:54)

• The free skate on Thursday will determine final medals.

5. Capitol Security Incident

• [03:12] An 18-year-old from Georgia arrested after rushing toward the U.S. Capitol building armed with a loaded shotgun.
  • The suspect wore protective gear and left a Kevlar helmet and gas mask in his SUV.
  • He had more ammunition in his possession.

6. Medical Research: Preeclampsia Drug Trial

• [03:55] South African researchers test a new drug for preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication.
  • Prof. Kathy Kluver of Stellenbosch University leads the trial at Tigerberg Hospital, reporting reduced maternal blood pressure and improved fetal blood flow.
  • Researchers expressed astonishment at the early results.
  • Notable quote:

    “We were like, we don’t believe this, like, this is impossible.”
    — Team Member (04:21)

7. Global Financial Markets Update

• [04:32] Most Asian financial markets closed for Lunar New Year, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea.
• Japan’s Nikkei bucked the trend, rising more than 1%. U.S. indexes (S&P, Dow, Nasdaq) each gained 0.1%.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The consequences of any attack against Iran will not be confined to its borders."
  — Abbas Arakchi, Iranian Foreign Minister (00:56)
• “She nailed a triple axel... but then did only a double rather than the required triple... leaving the ice in tears.”
  — Rachel Treisman on Amber Glenn (02:54)
• “We were like, we don’t believe this, like, this is impossible.”
  — Preeclampsia researcher at Stellenbosch University (04:21)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Iran, nuclear talks, Strait closure: [00:16]–[00:56]
• D.C. sewer line collapse & political fallout: [01:18]–[01:55]
• Lake Tahoe avalanche rescue: [01:55]–[02:29]
• Olympic women’s figure skating update: [02:29]–[03:12]
• Capitol security arrest: [03:12]–[03:55]
• Preeclampsia drug trial advancement: [03:55]–[04:32]
• Asia markets/Lunar New Year update: [04:32]–[04:55]

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For listeners:
This bite-sized edition provides a sharp snapshot of world impacts, political tension, human drama, life-saving innovation, and economic trends, all in under five minutes.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday while it conducted live fire naval drills in the area. The closure came just as Tuesday's talks on Iran's disputed nuclear program are getting underway in Geneva. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arakchi, expressed optimism about the talks with the us, Saying progress was made on the main guiding principles. But he warned the US against taking any military action. Iran remains fully prepared to defend itself against any threat or act of aggression.

[A]

The consequences of any attack against Iran.

[B]

Will not be confined to to its borders. The two sides are expected to hold more negotiations in two weeks. President Trump says he's ordered the federal government to coordinate repairs to a broken sewer line that's dumping wastewater into the Potomac river near Washington, D.C. nPR's Michael Copley reports that the break has also unleashed a torrent of finger pointing.

[C]

Late last month, part of a decades old sewer line in Maryland collapsed, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater into the Potomac River. President Trump has blamed Maryland Governor Wes Moore and other local Democrats for the spill, saying the Federal Emergency Management Agency will now help coordinate the response. But the sewer line is managed by DC Water, a utility in the District of Columbia that's federally regulated. Moore says it's the federal government that hasn't been doing its job. DC Water says emergency repairs will take about a month, followed by a longer rehab effort that could take up to 10 months. The utility says drinking water in the area has not been contaminated. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[B]

In Northern California, the Nevada County Sheriff's Department says six backcountry skiers have been rescued following an avalanche near Lake Tahoe. The six were rescued late Tuesday night. The sheriff's office says two have been taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities now say 15 skiers were in the group, not 16 as initially believed. Crews still searching for nine others. Halfway through the Olympic women's figure skating competition, only two Americans stand in the top 10. NPR's Rachel Treisman reports from Milan.

[D]

Reigning world champion Alyssa Liu, reigning US Champion Amber Glenn and Isabel Lovito were among the favorites coming into the short program, widely considered the US's best hope at a women's medal in two decades. After a strong skate, lou stands in third place and Levito in eighth. In a shocking twist, Glenn is in 13th place despite a strong program. Up until her very last jump, she nailed a triple axel, one of only a few women at these Olympics doing that jump, but then did only a double rather than the required triple on a separate jump, losing substantial points and leaving the ice in tears. All three women have a chance to make up some points at Thursday's free skate, which ends with medals. Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan.

[B]

This is NPR. U.S. capitol Police have arrested an 18 year old Georgia man after he ran toward the west side of the Capitol building armed with a shotgun. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan says he was wearing a tactical vest and gloves and that he had a Kevlar helmet and a gas mask in the SUV he parked near the Capitol. The chief says the shotgun was loaded and the man had additional rounds in his possession. Preeclampsia is marked by skyrocketing blood pressure, and in pregnancy, it can pose a fatal health risk to mother and baby. Ari Daniel reports on a new drug being tested in South Africa the researchers hope may be the first for the condition.

[E]

Kathy Kluver is a professor at Stellenbosch University who studies preeclampsia that really is.

[D]

One of the most serious complications of pregnancy.

[E]

Prescribing conventional blood pressure medicine is risky because it may also reduce blood flow to the baby. Now Kluver and her team are testing a new drug at Tigerberg Hospital in Cape Town that appears to reduce the mother's blood pressure while also improving blood flow to the womb.

[D]

We were like, we don't believe this, like, this is impossible.

[E]

The researchers say there's still more to learn about how the drug works and whether it can keep mothers pregnant for longer. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel.

[B]

Most of Asia's financial markets remain closed for lunar New Year holidays, and markets in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea among those closed. Japan's benchmark, however, advanced. Tokyo's Nikkei gained more than 1% in Wednesday trading after the S and P, the Dow of the NASDAQ added a tenth of a percent. This is NPR News.

[C]

This message comes from Bombas. You need better socks and slippers and underwear because you should love what you wear every day. One purchased equals one donated. Go to bombus. Com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.