NPR News: 02-18-2026 8AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 18, 2026, 8AM EST

Episode Overview

This rapid-fire episode provides listeners with the latest early-morning headlines from the U.S. and around the world. Key themes this hour included the partial success of Russia-Ukraine peace talks, U.S. immigration controversies, a developing winter storm tragedy in Northern California, a promising new drug trial for preeclampsia in South Africa, and highlights from the Winter Olympics in Italy.

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1. Russia–Ukraine Peace Talks: Tense Progress

[00:15–01:10]

• Outcome of Geneva Talks:
  U.S.-sponsored negotiations between Russia and Ukraine ended earlier than planned, though all sides indicated some progress.
• Details Scarce:
  • Russian lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky described the talks as “difficult and businesslike,” with no explanation for the abrupt halt.
  • Both Ukraine and White House envoy Steve Witkoff acknowledged progress but shared no specifics.
  • Key sticking points include Russia’s ultimatums and Ukraine’s demand for U.S. security guarantees.
• Political Pressure:
  President Trump told reporters that "the onus was on Kyiv to make concessions, saying Ukraine better come to the table fast.” (Charles Maynes, 00:58)
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Negotiations have bogged down over Russian ultimatums, Ukraine’s surrendered territory... as well as Ukraine’s demands for ironclad security guarantees from the US.” —Charles Maynes, [00:47]

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2. Immigration: Judicial Intervention in a High-Profile Case

[01:10–02:02]

• Federal Court Order:
  A federal judge ruled that immigration officers cannot detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador last year.
• Complex Legal Struggle:
  • Judge Polazzini, seeing no evidence of an imminent deportation plan, ordered Garcia remain free during legal proceedings.
  • Garcia previously spent time in a Salvadoran prison due to the error, then was returned to the U.S., where he faces federal human smuggling charges (which he denies).
  • The Trump administration floated deporting him to African countries where he has no ties, but has not yet acted on it.
• Notable Quote:
  • “To avoid his indefinite detention, she ordered that he must remain out of detention while his various cases play out in court.” —Jimena Bustillo, [01:32]

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3. DHS Shutdown & Protest Fallout

[02:02–02:18]

• Agency Closure:
  The Department of Homeland Security remains partially shut down, as lawmakers clash over immigration operations.
• Context:
  • Tensions heightened after federal agents shot and killed two American protesters in Minneapolis last month.
  • Details on internal negotiations are scarce.

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4. Northern California Avalanche Disaster

[02:18–03:11]

• Major Winter Storm:
  Northern California is grappling with its first big winter storm of the season, causing avalanches in high elevations.
• Rescue Operations:
  • Six skiers rescued from an avalanche; at least nine are still missing.
  • Affected skiers were staying in remote backcountry huts.
• Expert Perspective:
  Brian Schwartz (Sierra Avalanche Center) describes rescue challenges:

  “The storm is ongoing. You know, it’s still snowing anywhere from 2 to 4 inches an hour right now. And that avalanche path is reloading with new snow very rapidly.” —Brian Schwartz, [02:49]

• Local Response:
  Blackbird Mountain Guides confirmed responding to the incident and are in contact with affected clients.

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5. Preeclampsia Drug Trial in South Africa

[03:11–04:07]

• Serious Threat:
  Preeclampsia—characterized by dangerously high blood pressure—is a leading cause of maternal and infant mortality.
• Innovative Research:
  Kathy Kluver (Stellenbosch University) and her team are testing a drug that appears to lower maternal blood pressure without compromising blood flow to the fetus.
• Hopeful Results:

  “We were like, we don’t believe this, like, this is impossible.” —Kathy Kluver, [03:55]

• Ongoing Questions:
  Researchers need more data to confirm efficacy and whether the drug can help pregnancies last longer.

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6. Winter Olympics: U.S. Skiers Shine

[04:07–04:47]

• Team Silver for U.S.:
  Two U.S. skiers, including Ben Ogden from Vermont, earned silver in the men’s cross-country team event.
• Notable Competition:
  The Americans pushed the legendary Norwegian team, led by Johannes Klebo, in a fiercely contested race.
• Commentary:

  “Really a sign of new U.S. strength capturing silver here... grabbing silver, a remarkable feat.” —Brian Mann, [04:36]

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Notable Moments (With Timestamps)

• Russia–Ukraine Progress & Tensions:
  “Negotiations have bogged down...” —Charles Maynes, [00:47]
• Judicial Release for Abrego Garcia:
  “...he must remain out of detention...” —Jimena Bustillo, [01:32]
• Avalanche Rescue Conditions:
  “It’s still snowing anywhere from 2 to 4 inches an hour...” —Brian Schwartz, [02:49]
• Preeclampsia Drug Breakthrough:
  “We were like, we don’t believe this...” —Kathy Kluver, [03:55]
• Olympic Silver Medal Significance:
  “Really a sign of new U.S. strength capturing silver here...” —Brian Mann, [04:36]

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Episode Tone & Conclusion

This edition of NPR News Now is brisk, serious, and information-dense, with a focus on global diplomacy, legal battles in the U.S., unfolding weather disasters, medical innovation, and a touch of Olympic hope. The reporting is factual yet empathetic, especially in catastrophe coverage and medical advances, offering both gravity and glimmers of progress.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. US Sponsored peace talks between Russia and Ukraine broke off earlier than expected today in Geneva, but participants are suggesting some progress was made. NPR's Charles Means has more from Moscow.

[Charles Maynes]

The Kremlin's lead negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, gave no explanation for the abrupt end to the meetings, but described them as difficult and businesslike and said they would continue at a later date. Ukraine noted progress in negotiations, a view shared by White House envoy Steve Witkoff, though neither provided further details. Negotiations have bogged down over Russian ultimatums. Ukraine surrendered territory, including land not controlled by Russian forces, as well as Ukraine's demands for ironclad security guarantees from the US should it even consider a deal ahead of the talks, President Trump said the onus was on Kyiv to make concessions, saying Ukraine better come to the table fast. Charles Maynes, NPR News, Moscow.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge has ordered that federal immigration officers cannot detain Kilmar abrego Garcia. As NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports, Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration in her order.

[Jimena Bustillo]

Judge Polazzini says that she has no reason to believe that immigration officers plan to swiftly deport Abrego Garcia. So to avoid his indefinite detention, she ordered that he must remain out of detention while his various cases play out in court. Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported to a prison in El Salvador last year and ordered returned by Zinis. The Trump administration brought him back to the US Months later, where he now faces federal human smuggling charges. Abrego Garcia denies the allegations. The Trump administration has considered deporting him to various African countries to which he has no ties, but has not taken the steps to do so. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

The Department of Homeland Security is still partially shut down as lawmakers disagree over how the agency conducts immigration operations. This comes after federal agents shot and killed two American protesters last month in Minneapolis. Details on negotiations have been scarce. Northern California is still getting hit by its first major winter storm of the season. Heavy snow has fallen in higher elevations, and officials say teams have rescued six backcountry skiers caught in an avalanche. At least nine others are missing. Greg Mechek of CAP Radio has more.

[Greg Mechek]

The skiers have been staying at backcountry huts and were heading back when the avalanche struck. The Sierra Avalanche center had issued a warning for the area just hours earlier. Lead forecaster Brian Schwartz says dangerous conditions are complicating rescue efforts.

[Brian Schwartz]

The storm is ongoing. You know, it's still snowing anywhere from 2 to 4 inches an hour right now. And that avalanche path is reloading with new snow very rapidly.

[Greg Mechek]

Truckee based Blackbird Mountain Guides did not confirm it was one of their tour groups, but it said it was responding to the incident and is in contact with affected clients. For NPR News, I'm Greg Mechek.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. The condition known as preeclampsia is marked by skyrocketing blood pressure and can be fatal to pregnant women and their babies. Ari Daniel reports on a new drug being tested in South Africa that researchers hope may be the first for the condition.

[Ari Daniel]

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

[Kathy Kluver]

It really is one of the most serious complications of pregnancy.

[Ari Daniel]

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.

[Kathy Kluver]

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

[Ari Daniel]

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.

[Korva Coleman]

Events continued today at the Winter Olympics in Italy. Two American skiers have won a silver medal in the men's cross country team event. NPR's Brian Mann has more.

[Brian Mann]

This team silver builds on a history making run for Ben Ogden of Vermont. He also captured silver in an earlier cross country race. These Olympics, gushed Schumacher, contributing to this win. Really a sign of new US Strength capturing silver here. And they really challenged at times the Norwegian team led by just this incredibly legendary skier, Johannes Klebo. So grabbing silver, a remarkable feat.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Brian Mann prepared that report. And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

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