NPR News: 02-18-2026 3PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 18, 2026, 3PM EST

Hosted by Lakshmi Singh

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Overview

This episode covers the latest national and international news, focusing on recent tragedies, developing political stories, social issues, and shifting cultural trends. Noteworthy segments include the fatal avalanche in Lake Tahoe, President Trump's latest controversies and legal challenges, a surge in local police immigration enforcement, Meta's ongoing legal challenges, updates from the Ukraine-Russia conflict, a look at musical evolution in Olympic figure skating, and trends in US housing and rental markets.

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Key News Segments and Insights

Lake Tahoe Avalanche: Rescue Operation Turns to Recovery

• [00:14]
  • Lakshmi Singh reports that the avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, has moved from a rescue to a recovery operation.
  • Shannon Moon (Nevada County Sheriff) provides a grave update:

    "Eight of the additional nine additional skiers have been located deceased. We are still looking for one of the members at this time." (00:36)

  • The challenging snowy terrain is complicating efforts to locate the last missing skier.
  • Six people were rescued, having been sheltered with limited equipment; two could not walk due to injuries.

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President Trump: Black History Month Reception Amid Controversy

• [00:48]
  • President Trump hosts a White House reception for Black History Month shortly after a controversial, now-deleted social media photo that depicted Barack and Michelle Obama in a racist manner.
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt defends Trump:

    "There is a lot this president has done for all Americans, regardless of race, and he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist, and I'm happy to provide you those receipts." (01:25)

  • The administration also faces a lawsuit from the Association of National Park Rangers for allegedly attempting to erase history at national parks.

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Surge in Local Police-ICE Agreements

• [01:35]
  • Jacqueline Diaz reports on dramatic growth of agreements allowing local police to perform immigration enforcement in partnership with ICE.
  • In 2026, ICE has over 1,400 agreements, compared to 45 in 2019—a significant increase during Trump’s second term.
  • Key Insight: Critics argue this program increases the risk of racial profiling and civil rights violations, since local police receive minimal training in immigration law.

    "Critics of the program are warning that 287g powers heighten the risk of racial profiling and civil rights violations by local police who get little training in complex immigration law." (02:00)

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Meta CEO Zuckerberg Called to Testify on Social Media Addiction

• [02:33]
  • Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to take the stand in a California trial examining whether social media companies are liable for youth addiction to platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

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Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Stalled

• [02:43]
  • As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, peace talks in Geneva remain inconclusive.
  • Ukrainian President Zelenskyy accuses Russia of delaying tactics, while Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umarov describes the talks as “substantive.”

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Olympic Figure Skating: Musical Diversity and Copyright Hurdles

• [03:27]
  • Chloe Veltman highlights the evolving musical selections in Olympic figure skating, with skaters now using vocal music and diverse genres.
  • US ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates performed to a Lenny Kravitz medley.
  • Expert Commentary: Daphne Backman, IceDance.com editor, credits the move with attracting younger audiences and social media traction.
  • However, copyright issues plague the event—Russian skater Peter Gumennik had to switch his soundtrack at the last minute for lack of permissions.

    "On social media, there’s potential for viral. But at this Olympics, copyright problems have become a major headache." (03:27)

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U.S. Rental Market Trends: Renter-Friendly Shifts

• [04:10]
  • Steven Bazaha reports that rental power is shifting in favor of tenants across most of the US—except coastal hotspots.
  • Median asking rent in the top 50 metros is just under $1,700, down 1.5% from the previous year.
  • The growing vacancy rate is attributed to a surge in new apartment construction, especially in the Sun Belt, but new builds are expected to slow because of over-supply.

    "But empty apartments across most of the country are pushing rents down." (04:17)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sheriff Shannon Moon ([00:36]):

  "Eight of the additional nine additional skiers have been located deceased. We are still looking for one of the members at this time."

• Press Secretary Caroline Levitt ([01:25]):

  "He has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist, and I’m happy to provide you those receipts."

• Chloe Veltman ([03:27]):

  "At this Olympics, copyright problems have become a major headache."

• Steven Bazaha ([04:17]):

  "But empty apartments across most of the country are pushing rents down."

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Timestamps & Key Segments

• 00:14: Avalanche turns from rescue to recovery
• 00:48: Trump’s Black History Month event amid racist controversy
• 01:35: Surge in local police/ICE agreements
• 02:33: Zuckerberg slated to testify on social media addiction
• 02:43: Ukraine-Russia peace talks stagnate
• 03:27: Olympic figure skating’s musical evolution and copyright issues
• 04:10: Rental market trends and falling rents

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This episode delivers concise updates on urgent news events, with informative commentary and context, making it ideal for listeners seeking a quick but thorough briefing on both national and international happenings.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The operation to find a group of backcountry skiers who got caught in yesterday's avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California has has now gone from rescue to recovery. In a news conference a short time ago, Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon said most of the members of a tour group did not survive the Castle Peak avalanche.

[Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon]

Eight of the additional nine additional skiers have been located deceased. We are still looking for one of the members at this time.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The snowy terrain is expected to complicate the search for that final skier and recovery of those who've died. A crew rescued six people who moonset were sheltered and had some equipment to try to stay warm. However, under extreme conditions, two were unable to walk because of injury sustained in the avalanche. President Trump's hosting a White House reception this hour in recognition of Black History Month. The event coming days after a now deleted image appeared on his social media account depicting former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as apes moments ago, press secretary Caroline Levitt defended Trump.

[Press Secretary Caroline Levitt]

There is a lot this president has done for all Americans, regardless of race, and he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist, and I'm happy to provide you those receipts.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Meanwhile, President Trump is also facing legal pushback over allegations he's attempting to erase history at national parks. The association of National Park Rangers is suing the administration. A federal law allows local police to be deputized for immigration enforcement duties. They're partnered with ICE officials. The use of these agreements has soared in President Trump's second term. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz has details.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

Data reviewed by NPR shows that as of February 13, Immigration and Customs Enforcement had reported more than 1,400 such agreements with police. In 2019, there were just 45 such deals. The Trump administration sees it as a major tool in its immigration agenda. Critics of the program are warning that 287g powers heighten the risk of racial profiling and civil rights violations by local police who get little training in complex immigration law. Jacqueline Diaz, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was scheduled to take the witness stand today in California in a state court trial over whether social media companies are legally responsible for young people's addiction to their products. In Meta's case, platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are under scrutiny ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. Still no sign of a breakthrough in the latest US Broker peace talks. In Geneva, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umarov told reporters talks were substantive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to drag out the talks. It's NPR News. Olympic figure skaters are adopting broader musical choices for their programs, going from mostly classical works to wide array of genres, from rock to hip hop. NPR's Chloe Veltman has more.

[Chloe Veltman]

This is the third Winter Olympics at which figure skaters have been allowed to use vocal music. The International Skating Union ruled on this change more than a decade ago. In Milan, US Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates skated to a medley of Lenny Kravitz songs. Daphne Backman is the owner and editor in Chief of IceDance.com she says the broadening of musical choices is enabling the sport to connect with younger audiences. On social media, there's potential for viral. But at this Olympics, copyright problems have become a major headache. Some competitors, like Russia's Peter Gumennik, had to make last minute soundtrack changes because they lacked the necessary permissions. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Well, the US Is becoming more renter friendly, according to a report from realtor.com, nPR's Steven Bazaha with details.

[Steven Bazaha]

There are some exceptions where landlords have more power. Coastal cities like Boston, New York City and San Jose still have few vacancies, but but empty apartments across most of the country are pushing rents down. In the 50 largest metros, the median asking rent in January was a bit under $1,700, down 1.5% from a year earlier. A big reason for dropping rents and vacancies are new apartments being built, especially in the Sun Belt. But the national association of Realtors is expecting apartment construction to slow down this year in part because of those vacancies.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's Stephen Bassaha. It's npr.

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