NPR News Now: 02-18-2026 4AM EST

Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Giles Snyder

Episode Overview

This concise, five-minute NPR News Now update covers pressing national and international headlines. Topics include the latest from the Winter Olympics, ongoing search efforts after an avalanche in California, controversy surrounding the LA 2028 Olympic Committee’s chairman, a mistrial in a Texas shooting case, new developments in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance, Indonesia’s peacekeeping offer in Gaza, and Peru's ongoing political turmoil.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Winter Olympics: Women's Alpine Skiing Slalom

[00:16–01:12]

• Reporter: Steve Futterman, Milan
• Focus: American skier Mikaela Shiffrin aims to end her Olympic medal drought in her strongest event, the slalom.
• Shiffrin, once an Olympic gold medalist in slalom (2014), holds two golds and one silver but has not medaled since 2018.
• Quote from Shiffrin on handling pressure:

  "Pressure can exist, but pressure is a privilege, and I'm grateful for that."
  — Mikaela Shiffrin [00:37]

• Background: She narrowly missed a medal (4th place) in the team combined earlier at these Games. Slalom is her final chance in this Olympics.

2. California Avalanche: Backcountry Skiers Missing

[01:12–01:47]

• Location: Sierra Nevada, Northern California
• Nine skiers remain missing; six survivors rescued, two hospitalized.
• Local authorities continue search and rescue operations.

3. LA 2028 Olympics Chair Controversy

[01:12–02:00]

• Person in Question: Casey Wasserman, LA 2028 Olympics Organizing Committee head
• Reason for Scrutiny: Wasserman's name surfaces in DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein files (email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell from early 2000s).
• Calls for resignation from local officials and activists, despite Wasserman not being accused of any wrongdoing and Committee’s backing of him.
• Notable quote from Chelsea Byer, West Hollywood City Council:

  "We should all care deeply that our own Olympic Games here in Los Angeles would risk the distraction, at the very least, of Wasserman's mired history, competing for airtime over what that stage is truly meant for."
  — Chelsea Byer [01:47]

4. Texas Detention Center Shooting Mistrial

[02:00–03:13]

• Location: Fort Worth, TX
• A federal judge declares a mistrial for nine people charged in a non-fatal shooting outside an ICE detention center after a defense attorney wore a T-shirt with civil rights leaders (“politically charged”).
• Audible response from Amber Lowry, family member of a defendant:

  "It's very frustrating. We've got our, you know, support people over here. You know, everybody's worked really hard to make this happen. So it is disappointing in that regard to just have him say, oh, I don't like your shirt. So we're going to start over again next week."
  — Amber Lowry [02:32]

• The trial will resume with a new jury pool; the attorney may face sanctions.

5. Update: Nancy Guthrie Disappearance

[03:13–04:03]

• Investigators hit a setback: DNA from a glove found near her Arizona home does not match any known individuals.
• The glove matched those seen in footage of a masked man near Guthrie’s home.
• Nancy Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie (Today Show anchor), missing since Feb 1.

6. Indonesia to Deploy Peacekeepers to Gaza

[04:03–04:34]

• Indonesia commits up to 8,000 troops for Trump-brokered Gaza ceasefire, becoming the first nation to pledge support.
• 1,000 troops could enter Gaza as early as April.
• President Prabowo Subianto is set to meet Trump at the inaugural Board of Peace summit.
• Human rights groups criticize Indonesia’s plan, citing undermining long-standing Palestinian independence support.

7. Political Turmoil in Peru

[04:34–04:54]

• Peruvian Congress removes interim President Jose Hari amid corruption allegations (third consecutive leader ousted by Congress).
• Election scheduled for April.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Pressure can exist, but pressure is a privilege, and I'm grateful for that.”
  — Mikaela Shiffrin on Olympic expectations [00:37]

• “We should all care deeply that our own Olympic Games here in Los Angeles would risk the distraction, at the very least, of Wasserman's mired history, competing for airtime over what that stage is truly meant for.”
  — Chelsea Byer, West Hollywood City Council [01:47]

• “It's very frustrating... So it is disappointing in that regard to just have him say, oh, I don't like your shirt. So we're going to start over again next week.”
  — Amber Lowry, family of defendant in Texas trial [02:32]

Segment Timestamps

• 00:16–01:12 — Winter Olympics: Mikaela Shiffrin’s final shot at a medal
• 01:12–01:47 — California avalanche: search for missing skiers
• 01:12–02:00 — LA 2028 Olympics leadership controversy
• 02:00–03:13 — Texas ICE center shooting trial mistrial
• 03:13–04:03 — Nancy Guthrie disappearance DNA setback
• 04:03–04:34 — Indonesia offers peacekeepers for Gaza
• 04:34–04:54 — Political shakeup in Peru

This episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of high-impact stories, featuring on-the-ground insights, quotes from newsmakers, and an international perspective—all within five minutes.