NPR News: 02-19-2026 4PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 19, 2026 4PM EST

Quick Summary

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise roundup of the day’s most pressing international, national, and sports headlines. Major topics include the unprecedented arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the latest revelations from the Justice Department linking Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to an arts camp, President Trump’s initiatives for Gaza, the magnitude of Oklahoma wildfires, and Olympic events in Milan.

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Major News Stories

1. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Arrested

• [00:16] Lakshmi Singh reports: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) becomes "the first senior member of the British monarchy in modern history to be arrested."

  • Stripped of royal titles, Windsor faces accusations of sharing sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Epstein, described as a "known child sex offender and an accused human trafficker," died in 2019.

• Notable quote:

  • Donald Trump ([00:57]): “It’s really interesting because nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive, but now they speak. But I’m the one that can talk about because I’ve been totally exonerated.”

2. Epstein-DOJ Files: Arts Camp Allegations

• [01:06] A congressional committee is reviewing new Justice Department files.

  • NPR’s Eva Berger unpacks details: Epstein donated over $400,000 to the Interlaken Center for the Arts in the 1990s, giving him access to the campus lodge.
    • Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell frequented the campus, allegedly “using [their] small dog as an icebreaker to meet two young teenage girls.”
    • One survivor, speaking anonymously, described "grooming behavior while unsupervised at Epstein’s lodge."
    • Former administrator Russ McMahon recalled the open nature of the campus.

• Notable quote ([01:31]):

  • Anonymous survivor: “Grooming behavior while unsupervised at Epstein’s lodge.”
    (Paraphrased by Eva Berger.)

• [02:07] Trump: “In hindsight, mistakes may have been made.”
  (Raises questions about past oversight and accountability.)

• [02:10] Security has since significantly increased at the campus.

3. President Trump’s Gaza Peace Initiative

• [02:17] Trump convenes the first meeting of his Board of Peace, dedicated to Gaza relief and recovery.

  • The U.S. pledges $10 billion to the board.
  • Attendees included representatives from over 40 nations, with high-profile heads of state.
  • Board promises another $7 billion in aid.

• Notable quote ([02:43]):

  • Donald Trump: “This is something very special and we’re going to straighten out Gaza. We’re going to make Gaza very successful and safe and we’re also going to maybe take it a step further where we see hotspots around the world. We can probably do that very easily.”

• [02:57] Some U.S. allies (UK, France, Sweden) declined participation, expressing “concerns it would rival the United Nations.”

4. Oklahoma Wildfires

• [03:13] Crews battle multiple wildfires, with emergency declarations in at least three counties.
  • Governor Kevin Stitt: Evacuations underway in towns including Tyrone and Woodward.
  • 15-20% containment reported, as of recording.
  • Reporter update: Fires have burned about 300,000 acres, with significant livestock losses.

5. Winter Olympics in Milan: Sports Highlights

• [03:37] U.S. Women's Hockey Team captures gold, defeating Canada 2-1 in sudden death overtime.

  • The U.S. and Canada remain the only nations to have won Olympic gold in women’s hockey since 1998.

• [04:05] Olympic Debut: Ski Mountaineering (Ski Mope)

  • NPR’s Brian Mann details: A backcountry sport involving uphill skiing with traction skins and technical downhills.
    • French, Spanish, and Swiss athletes dominated the new event.
    • U.S. skiers Cam Smith and Anna Gibson fell short of finals; potential in team relay remains.
  • Brian Mann ([04:51]): "Still to come this weekend, for the first time ever in these Olympics, women will cross country ski a full 50 kilometer marathon. It's the same distance as the men. That'll be the final Olympic race for US Cross country skiing legend Jesse Diggins, who says these are her last Winter Games."

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Key Moments & Quotes

• [00:57] Donald Trump: “It’s really interesting because nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive, but now they speak. But I’m the one that can talk about because I’ve been totally exonerated.”
• [01:31] Eva Berger (quoting a survivor): “Grooming behavior while unsupervised at Epstein’s lodge.”
• [02:07] Donald Trump: “In hindsight, mistakes may have been made.”
• [02:43] Donald Trump: “This is something very special and we’re going to straighten out Gaza. We’re going to make Gaza very successful and safe and we’re also going to maybe take it a step further where we see hotspots around the world.”
• [03:37] Lakshmi Singh: “The US and Canada are the only teams to have won gold since women's hockey became an Olympic Sport in 1998...”
• [04:51] Brian Mann: “...for the first time ever in these Olympics, women will cross country ski a full 50 kilometer marathon. It's the same distance as the men. That'll be the final Olympic race for US Cross country skiing legend Jesse Diggins, who says these are her last Winter Games.”

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Timestamps and Segments

• 00:16–00:57: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor arrest, royal fallout, Trump/Epstein commentary
• 01:06–02:10: DOJ files reveal Epstein/Maxwell’s grooming at arts camp, interview with a survivor, campus security update
• 02:17–02:57: Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza, allied responses
• 03:13–03:37: Oklahoma wildfires update, evacuation efforts, acreage burned
• 03:37–04:51: Winter Olympics: US women’s hockey gold, debut of ski mountaineering, women’s cross-country marathon highlight

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Tone & Style

The reporting is direct and factual, with interview snippets and official statements adding weight and gravity. The episode overlays urgent news and measured analysis, maintaining NPR’s hallmark authoritative-yet-neutral delivery.

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For listeners: This fast-paced NPR News Now episode offers a succinct pulse on consequential world events, political developments, disaster response, and sports—the essential headlines you need in under five minutes.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Months after he was stripped of his royal titles, including prince, today, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor became the first senior member of the British monarchy in modern history to be arrested. He is now out on bail. The former prince is accused of using his previous position as trade envoy to share sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 as a known child sex offender and an accused human trafficker. Another prominent Epstein associate President Trump reacted to today's news out of Britain.

[Donald Trump]

It's really interesting because nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive, but now they speak. But I'm the one that can talk about because I've been totally exonerated.

[NPR News Reporter]

I did nothing.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A congressional committee is looking at investigations into Epstein and associates, including the reams of materials recently released by the Justice Department. New NPR reporting on DOJ files paints a fuller picture of how convicted sex offenders Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell used an arts camp to prey on young Girls in the 1990s. NPR's Eva Berger has more.

[Eva Berger]

According to files released by the DOJ, Epstein donated more than $400,000 to Interlaken center for the Arts that included an on campus lodge. He and Maxwell used it during brief stays for several summers between 1994 and 2000. They reportedly walked their small dog around campus, using it as an icebreaker to meet two young teenage girls. One of them, now an adult, spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity. She said she experienced, quote, grooming behavior while unsupervised at Epstein's lodge. Former administrator Russ McMahon described the campus as open and welcoming at the time.

[Donald Trump]

In hindsight, mistakes may have been made.

[Eva Berger]

Today, the campus has significantly increased security. Eva Berger, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump hosted the first meeting of his Board of Peace, which was formed to help rebuild Gaza. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. Trump announced the U.S. will contribute $10 billion to the board.

[Franco Ordonez]

The White House says more than 40 nation nation sent representatives, including heads of state from Argentina, Hungary and others, to attend the meeting at the US Institute of Peace. The president said those involved have promised $7 billion to the effort.

[Donald Trump]

This is something very special and we're going to straighten out Gaza. We're going to make Gaza very successful and safe and we're also going to maybe take it a step further where we see hotspots around the world. We can probably do that very easily.

[Franco Ordonez]

But several key U.S. allies did not join the talks, including the U.K. france and Sweden, who declined to join the board over concerns about the charter, including concerns it would rival the United Nations. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's npr. Fire crews in Oklahoma have been facing down multiple wildfires. Governor Kevin Stitt tells NPR he declared emergencies in at least three counties he

[NPR News Reporter]

had to evacuate the town of Tyrone Woodward. They're about 15 to 20% contained, but we have about, I don't know, 150,000 acres so far that's burned reports of livestock that were damaged.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Actually, the fires have now burned roughly 300,000 acres. In the Winter Olympic Games in Milan, the US women's hockey team has won gold. They defeated arch rival Canada 2 to 1 in sudden death overtime. The US and Canada are the only teams to have won gold since women's hockey became an Olympic Sport in 1998, while a brand new Olymp Olympic sport played out for the very first time in the snowy Alps today at the Games. We're talking about ski mope. NPR's Brian Mann has more.

[Brian Mann]

Ski Mountaineering combines skills used when skiing in the wild mountain backcountry athletes hike on boots. At times they ski uphill using special traction skins on their skis. Then they plunge down a winding alpine course in this premier event for the sport at the Olympic level, the French, Spanish and Swiss dominated. As expected, US Skiers Cam Smith and Anna Gibson raced early in qualifying heats, but failed to reach the final round of sprint racing. They'll both have one more outing and a team relay on Saturday. Still to come this weekend, for the first time ever in these Olympics, women will cross country ski a full 50 kilometer marathon. It's the same distance as the men. That'll be the final Olympic race for US Cross country skiing legend Jesse Diggins, who says these are her last Winter Games.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Brian Mann. It's NPR.

[NPR News Reporter]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.