Summary5 min read

NPR News Now – 5PM EST, February 18, 2026

Host: Ryland Barton (NPR News, Washington)
Length: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise update on major stories in politics, environment, sports, public safety, and entertainment as of February 18, 2026. Highlights include President Trump’s unprecedented legal claims against the U.S. government, challenges to climate regulation rollbacks, a landmark Olympic win for skier Mikaela Shiffrin, a tragic avalanche in California, booming movie box office numbers, and a furry interruption at a cross-country ski event.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. President Trump Seeks Compensation from Government

[00:15–01:14]

News: President Trump demands over $10 billion from the U.S. government in connection with the search of his Mar-a-Lago residence and the public release of his tax returns.
Legal Focus:
- Trump claims damage due to exposure of his tax returns and the FBI search for classified papers.
- His appointees in the Department of Justice, including the Attorney General and Deputy AG (both former personal lawyers), are in a difficult spot.
Ethics: DOJ affirms that officials adhere to recommendations from career ethics lawyers.
Scope: Such legal claims are typically reserved for more routine government actions (postal truck accidents, malpractice); the sum of Trump’s demand is exceptionally large.
Pledge: Trump states he will donate any funds recovered to charity.
- 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.” — Carrie Johnson [01:06]

2. Lawsuit Over Climate Deregulation

[01:14–02:05]

News: Environmental and public health organizations sued the Trump administration for reversing regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
Legal Challenge:
- Lawsuit argues that the administration is unlawfully rehashing debate already settled by the Supreme Court.
- The EPA reversed its previous determination that greenhouse gases are a public health danger, labeling the action “the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”
- Plaintiffs include the American Lung Association, Earthjustice, Public Citizen.
Future Outlook: The case is likely to take years and could head to a more conservative Supreme Court than in 2007.
- Quote: “The case likely will take years to litigate and could bring the issue of regulating climate pollution before a Supreme Court that is more conservative than the one that issued the original decision in 2007.” — Jeff Brady [01:52]

3. Mikaela Shiffrin’s Olympic Triumph

[02:05–02:48]

News: American skier Mikaela Shiffrin wins gold in women’s slalom, ending her eight-year Olympic medal drought. This is her first medal since 2018, and comes after a disappointing showing in Beijing.
Personal Moment: Emotional post-race comments as this is her first medal since the death of her father in 2020.
Race Details: Took a strong lead in the first run; main challenge was a clean and focused second run.
- Quote: “These moments, we do build them up for sure. Like I said, the biggest task today was to simplify and focus on the skiing.” — Mikaela Shiffrin [02:40]
- Memorable: Shiffrin discussing her father moves her to tears.

4. Avalanche near Lake Tahoe and Other U.S. News

[03:02–03:45]

Update: Eight bodies recovered, one still missing after a deadly avalanche in California’s Lake Tahoe backcountry; six survived.
Transport Regulation:
- The Trump administration orders closure of 550+ commercial driving schools over unqualified instructors and improper licensing, especially concerning some licenses issued to immigrants.

5. Box Office Resurgence

[03:45–04:32]

News: Movie ticket sales hit $900 million since January 1, 2026—the best start since the pandemic.
Blockbusters:
- Ongoing success: “Avatar Fire and Ash,” “Marty Supreme.”
- Valentine’s hit: “W Heights.”
- Spring lineup includes a Pixar comedy, Michael Jackson biopic, sci-fi thriller “Project Hail Mary,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” a “Peaky Blinders” film, and the first “Star Wars” film in seven years—featuring Baby Yoda.
- Quote: “Holiday hits like Avatar Fire and Ash and Marty supreme are still doing well. So is the Valentine’s Day smash W Heights. And the spring lineup looks promising with everything from a new Pixar comedy to a Michael Jackson biopic.” — Bob Mondello [03:49]
- Movie dialogue and references scattered for texture and entertainment (“I believe music could change the world,” “I can't even moonwalk…”)

6. Unusual Moment at Olympic Women’s Team Sprint

[04:32–End]

Event: A Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul ran onto the cross-country ski course, exciting spectators and racers as it dashed to the finish line. The dog was safely restrained after crossing.
- Memorable: “Racers stayed focused as spectators cheered on the canine interloper before it crossed the finish line and was restrained by officials.” — Ryland Barton [04:36]

Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:06 | Carrie Johnson | “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.” | | 01:52 | Jeff Brady | “The case likely will take years to litigate and could bring the issue of regulating climate pollution before a Supreme Court that is more conservative than the one that issued the original decision in 2007.” | | 02:40 | Mikaela Shiffrin| “These moments, we do build them up for sure. Like I said, the biggest task today was to simplify and focus on the skiing.” | | 03:49 | Bob Mondello | “Holiday hits like Avatar Fire and Ash and Marty supreme are still doing well. So is the Valentine’s Day smash W Heights. And the spring lineup looks promising with everything from a new Pixar comedy to a Michael Jackson biopic.” | | 04:36 | Ryland Barton | “Racers stayed focused as spectators cheered on the canine interloper before it crossed the finish line and was restrained by officials.” |

Additional Context

Ads, sponsor promotions, and outro material are omitted per instruction.
Tone: Direct, neutral, and succinct, matching NPR’s standard delivery.

For more hourly news updates, listen to NPR News Now or subscribe to NPR NewsNow+.

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Transcript16 lines

[00:01]
A
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[00:15]
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump wants the government he leads to pay him billions of dollars. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports. Trump has filed claims over the search of his Florida resort and the leak of his tax returns in 2019.
[00:30]
C
The president's asking for than $10 billion because of damage he says he suffered after his tax returns became public in an FBI search for classified papers at Mar A Lago. The legal demands are putting his appointees at the Justice Department on the spot. Both the attorney general and the deputy AG once served as Trump's personal lawyers. A spokesperson there says officials follow the guidance of career ethics lawyers. Most legal claims like these against the government involve crashes of postal trucks or medical malpractice in federal hospitals for veterans. 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. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.
[01:14]
B
Environmental and public health groups sued the Trump administration this morning for ending regulations on climate pollution. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. The groups argue the White House is violating the law and rehashing arguments. The Supreme Court already decided the Trump.
[01:29]
D
Administration repealed the basis for federal action to rein in the greenhouse gases heating the climate a under the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency previously found that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Now the Trump EPA reversed that endangerment finding, calling it the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history. Among the groups filing the lawsuit are the American Lung Association, Earthjustice and Public Citizen. The case likely will take years to litigate and could bring the issue of regulating climate pollution before a Supreme Court that is more conservative than the one that issued the original decision in 2007. Jeff Brady, NPR News.
[02:06]
B
American skier Mikayla Shifrin ended her eight year Olympic medal drought today as she won gold in the women's slalom. It was her third Olympic gold in the first since 2018. Steve Futterman reports.
[02:18]
E
When it was over, when she crossed the finish line and realized she had won the gold, Michaela Shifrin says there was a sense of relief. The frustration of failing to win a single medal in Beijing four years ago could be set aside. Shiffrin had a huge 8/10 of a second lead after the first run. The only question was whether she could get through the second run without falling or missing a gauge.
[02:40]
B
These moments, we do build them up for sure. Like I said, the biggest task today was to simplify and focus on the skiing.
[02:49]
E
At one point during her post race news conference, Shifrin became emotional talking about her father, who died in 2020. This was her first Olympic medal since his death. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.
[03:03]
B
The bodies of eight backcountry skiers have been found and one remains missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California. Six others have been found alive. This is NPR News from Washington. 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 add adequately test students. The department has been going after states that gave commercial driver's licenses to immigrants who it says shouldn't have qualified. The movie industry has been on a ticket selling spree in 2026, the best first six weeks since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. NPR's Bob Mondello reports.
[03:46]
F
Ticket sales of about $900 million since January 1st have cinemas riding high at what's usually a slack time for the film industry. Holiday hits like Avatar Fire and Ash and Marty supreme are still doing well. So is the Valentine's Day smash W Heights. And the spring lineup looks promising with everything from a new Pixar comedy to a Michael Jackson biopic.
[04:06]
C
I believe music could change the world.
[04:09]
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To the sci fi thriller project Hail Mary, about a reluctant astronaut. I've never done a space I can't even moonwalk. Plus, the Devil Wears Prada 2, a big screen finale for Peaky Blinders, and the first Star wars film in seven years featuring Baby Yoda.
[04:22]
D
The kid will live centuries beyond me. I won't always be around to protect.
[04:27]
F
Him, all before the summer blockbusters arrive on Memorial Day. Bob Mondello, NPR News.
[04:32]
B
As cross country skiers pushed to the finish in the women's team sprint, a Czechoslovakian wolfdog named Nazgul wandered onto the course. Racers stayed focused as spectators cheered on the canine interloper before it crossed the finish line and was restrained by officials. The dog had slipped away from a local owner while out on a walk. This is NPR News from Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.