NPR News Now – February 19, 2026, 3PM EST

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers rapid updates on significant global and national events, including a dramatic development in the British royal family, political upheaval in South Korea, devastating wildfires in Oklahoma, a controversial White House construction project, the upcoming State of the Union address, and new research linking air pollution to Alzheimer’s disease.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. British Royal Scandal: Prince Andrew Released from Jail

• [00:16–01:27]
• Britain's former Prince Andrew is released from jail after being arrested on suspicion of sharing sensitive UK government information with Jeffrey Epstein.
• Andrew is the first senior member of the British royal family to be arrested in modern history.
• Insight: The arrest follows the release of US Department of Justice files and focuses on alleged misconduct dating back to Andrew’s term as trade envoy in the early 2000s.

Notable Quote:

• Lauren Frayer:
  “Andrew had already been stripped of his royal title and evicted from his royal lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.” – [00:43]
• Lauren Frayer:
  “He’s suspected of misconduct in public office, a crime that carries up to life in prison.” – [01:18]

2. South Korea: Former President Sentenced to Life

• [01:27–01:46]
• South Korea's ex-president Yoon Sung Yeol receives a life sentence for unlawfully imposing martial law to stifle opposition. He is expected to appeal.
• A brief, factual update with little additional commentary.

3. Oklahoma Wildfires: Widespread Destruction

• [01:46–02:25]
• Four major fires have consumed over 300,000 acres in northwest Oklahoma since Tuesday.
• The largest, the Ranger Road Fire, has injured four firefighters and caused untold livestock losses, with ranchers now facing challenges feeding surviving herds.
• Almost all of Oklahoma is under a red flag warning due to dry weather and strong winds.

Notable Quote:

• Grayson Wheeler:
  “The Oklahoma panhandle is home to hundreds of thousands of cattle, and it’s unclear how many have died in the fires. Many surviving herds will also need hay brought in to feed them after their grazing lands were leveled.” – [02:00]
• Grayson Wheeler:
  “The fire danger is not over… almost all of Oklahoma is under a red flag warning, the National Weather Service’s designation for weather that’s extremely favorable to fire.” – [02:16]

4. Controversial White House Ballroom Gets Green Light

• [02:25–03:13]
• The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approves President Trump’s plan for a new White House ballroom, after the removal of a large triangular pediment from the design.
• Over 2,000 public comments were received, with over 99% opposed.

Notable Quotes:

• Rodney Mims Cook Jr.:
  “This is a facility that is desperately needed for over 150 years… The president has really given us a great deal of response with the removal of that pediment, which was quite significant.” – [02:48]
• Tamara Keith:
  “The commission received more than 2,000 written comments from the public, which a commission staff member said were over 99% opposed to the ballroom.” – [03:03]

5. U.S. Politics: State of the Union Plans and Governors' Snub

• [03:13–04:06]
• President Trump’s State of the Union is scheduled for next Tuesday.
• Virginia Governor Abigail Spamberger will deliver the Democratic response; she is Virginia's first female governor, serving since early 2026.
• The National Governors Association is skipping the annual White House event after Trump excluded two Democratic governors from the invitation list.

6. Health Study: Dirty Air and Alzheimer’s Disease

• [04:06–04:52]
• A major new study, published in PLOS Medicine, finds that higher exposure to air pollution increases the risk of Alzheimer’s diagnosis among older Americans, especially those who have had strokes.
• Context on air quality improvements in recent decades, with mention of the Trump administration’s plan to consider loosening pollution regulations for business benefits.

Notable Quote:

• Alejandra Barunda:
  “It found that older Americans had a higher chance of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s if they’d lived in a place with dirty air within the previous five years, especially if the person had also had a stroke.” – [04:19]

Notable Moments & Quotes

• First royal arrest:
  Lauren Frayer: “Andrew is the first senior member of the British royal family to be arrested in modern history.” – [00:43]

• Wildfire devastation:
  Grayson Wheeler: “It’s unclear how many [cattle] have died in the fires. Many surviving herds will also need hay brought in to feed them after their grazing lands were leveled.” – [02:00]

• Ballroom opposition:
  Tamara Keith: “Over 99% opposed to the ballroom.” – [03:03]

• Public health warning:
  Alejandra Barunda: “Air pollution can be a factor… older Americans had a higher chance of getting diagnosed with Alzheimer’s if they’d lived in a place with dirty air within the previous five years.” – [04:19]

Timestamps of Major Segments

• [00:16] – Britain’s Prince Andrew released from jail
• [01:27] – South Korea’s ex-president sentenced
• [01:46] – Oklahoma wildfire update
• [02:25] – White House ballroom approval
• [03:13] – State of the Union & governors’ event controversy
• [04:06] – Air pollution linked to Alzheimer’s study

This episode provides a brisk but comprehensive snapshot of unfolding political, environmental, architectural, and health developments, maintaining NPR’s fact-driven, measured tone.