NPR News: 02-19-2026 9AM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now – February 19, 2026, 9AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: The episode delivers concise, up-to-date reporting on global and U.S. breaking news—highlighting major political, economic, and sports developments this morning.

---

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Arrest of Former Prince Andrew in Britain

• [00:18 - 00:57]

  • King Charles expresses “deep concern” after his brother, former Prince Andrew, is arrested.

  • The arrest is linked to alleged misconduct during Andrew’s time as a British trade envoy, involving new evidence from U.S. Justice Department files about Jeffrey Epstein.

  • NPR’s Lauren Frayer reports the evidence alleges Andrew passed secret government information.

  • Andrew denies any wrongdoing, stating he "strenuously denies any wrongdoing" despite settling a lawsuit connected to Epstein’s victims.

    “We’ve long known that Andrew was good friends with Epstein. He admits that he settled a lawsuit with one of Epstein’s underage victims. He has said he strenuously denies any wrongdoing…” — Lauren Frayer ([00:35])

---

2. President Trump’s “Board of Peace” Meeting

• [00:57 - 02:01]

  • President Trump convenes a high-profile “Board of Peace” meeting at the newly renamed US Institute of Peace.

  • Expected announcements: over $5 billion raised for Gaza; updates on humanitarian efforts and formation of an international stabilization force.

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witko to address the gathering, with focus on Iran and Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

  • Indonesia is so far the only country committing troops to the proposed international force.

    “Trump says he’s raised over $5 billion from Board of Peace members, though officials haven’t given further details…” — Michelle Kellerman ([01:50])

---

3. Trump’s Visit to Georgia & Political Fallout

• [02:01 - 02:26]
  • After the Board of Peace meeting, President Trump heads to Georgia to visit the district formerly represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene.
  • Greene had publicly broken with Trump over the slow release of Epstein files.

---

4. U.S. Labor Union Membership Update

• [02:26 - 03:11]

  • Labor Department data: 14.5 million U.S. workers were union members in 2025, about 10% of the workforce—a slight increase.

  • The rise is attributed partly to federal workers joining unions amidst government restructuring under Trump.

  • Public support for unions remains high (near a 60-year peak) but overall union density is still half of its 1980s level.

    “In a time of fear and uncertainty and hardship, workers are realizing that they are better off in a union.” — Heidi Schierholz, Economic Policy Institute ([02:49])

---

5. Market Update & Other Headlines

• [03:11 - 04:44]
  • Markets: Dow futures down in pre-market trading.
  • Meta Lawsuit: Mark Zuckerberg testifies in Los Angeles, defending Meta (Instagram) against allegations of targeting users under 13.

    “Zuckerberg told the jury it is difficult to enforce a minimum age policy for Instagram.” ([03:23])

  • South Korea: Former president Yoon Song Yeol sentenced to life for attempting to impose martial law in 2024.
  • 2026 Milan Winter Olympics:
    • U.S. speed skater Jordan Stolz pursues a historic third gold in the 1500m, having already set two Olympic records.

      “Guaranteed the last lap. He might even be down by 20 meters with a lap to go. And I keep watching him come back. A lot of it is just his power and strength.” — Eric Heiden ([04:15])

    • Women’s ice hockey gold medal game: Team USA vs. Canada later today.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lauren Frayer (on Prince Andrew):
  “He has said he strenuously denies any wrongdoing, though. And now he’s been arrested in response to evidence allegedly found in those latest documents…” ([00:35])

• Michelle Kellerman (on Trump’s Gaza Fundraising):
  “Trump says he’s raised over $5 billion from Board of Peace members, though officials haven’t given further details…” ([01:50])

• Heidi Schierholz (on union growth):
  “In a time of fear and uncertainty and hardship, workers are realizing that they are better off in a union.” ([02:49])

• Eric Heiden (on Jordan Stolz’s skating):
  “Guaranteed the last lap. He might even be down by 20 meters with a lap to go. And I keep watching him come back.” ([04:15])

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:18–00:57: Prince Andrew arrest & Epstein evidence
• 01:15–02:01: Trump’s Board of Peace meeting & Gaza fundraising
• 02:26–03:11: Labor union report & analysis
• 03:11–04:44: Market update, Meta lawsuit, S. Korea sentencing, Olympics highlights

---

Summary:
This NPR News Now episode provides critical updates on high-profile legal, political, economic, and sports stories. Highlights include Prince Andrew’s arrest tied to the Epstein scandal, President Trump’s unprecedented international peace efforts and billion-dollar Gaza fundraising, steady although limited growth in U.S. union membership, Meta’s legal woes over child safety, and standout Olympic performances. Packed into five minutes, the episode offers listeners a clear snapshot of the latest headlines and contextual insights.

Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Britain's King Charles says he is deeply concerned over the arrest of his brother, the former Prince Andrew. Andrew was formerly a British trade envoy. NPR's Lauren Frayer says today's arrest is linked to alleged misconduct in office involving late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, new evidence

[Lauren Frayer]

in the latest batch of files released by the U.S. justice Department. We've long known that Andrew was good friends with Epstein. He admits that he settled a lawsuit with one of Epstein's underage victims. He has said he strenuously denies any wrongdoing, though. And now he's been arrested in response to evidence allegedly found in those latest documents showing that he allegedly passed secret government information.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Lauren Frayer reporting. President Trump is gathering members of what he's called his Board of Peace for a meeting today in Washington. He's expected to announce he's raised over $5 billion for Gaza. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Trump's negotiators will also be on hand to update him and other world leaders.

[Michelle Kellerman]

At least two dozen delegations are expected to attend the meeting at the US Institute of Peace, which now has Trump's name on it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to speak, along with Trump's son in law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witko. Those two led negotiations this week on Iran and on Russia's war in Ukraine. The focus of this board meeting will be on humanitarian assistance for Gaza and plans for an international stabilization force. Indonesia became the first and so far still the only nation to say it will send troops. Trump says he's raised over $5 billion from Board of Peace members, though officials haven't given further details about the finances. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Korva Coleman]

After he meets with the board this morning, President Trump is leaving for Georgia. He's expected to visit the congressional district once represented by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene. She broke with Trump over the slow release of some of the Epstein files. The share of U.S. workers who are union members was little changed in 2025, NPR's Andrea Hsu tells us. That's according to a new report from the labor department.

[Andrea Hsu]

More than 14 and a half million workers in the U.S. were members of labor unions last year. That's 10% of the U.S. workforce up very slightly from the year before. Some of the growth was driven by federal workers who joined unions amid President Trump's dismantling of the federal government. Heidi Schierholz is president of the left leaning Economic Policy Institute.

[Heidi Schierholz]

In a time of fear and uncertainty and hardship, workers are realizing that they are better off in a union.

[Andrea Hsu]

Meanwhile, public support for labor unions remains near a 60 year high. But the share of the US workforce that's unionized hasn't budged much in recent years. It's only half of what it was in the 1980s. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street and premarket trading, Dow futures are lower. This is npr. A jury in Los Angeles heard testimony yesterday from the CEO of big tech company Meta. Mark Zuckerberg is defending against a lawsuit that alleges some social media platforms target children younger than 13 years old. Zuckerberg told the jury it is difficult to enforce a minimum age policy for Instagram. A court in South Korea has sentenced a former president to life in prison. Yoon Song Yeol was convicted for his botched effort to impose martial law in late 2024. It only lasted for a few hours, but the South Korean court says Yoon illegally tried to seize unchecked power. US Speed skater Jordan Stoltz continues his quest for a historic medal run today at the Olympics. As NPR's Ping Huang reports, he's set for a 1500 meter race.

[Ping Huang]

Stolz is a 21 year old speed skating phenomenon from Wisconsin. Here in Milan, he's already notched two gold medals and two Olympic records. Legendary US Speed skater Eric Heiden says Stolz is known for finishing stronger than

[Eric Heiden]

his competitors guaranteed the last lap. He might even be down by 20 meters with a lap to go. And I keep watching him come back. A lot of it is just his power and strength. As the races get longer, Stolz is

[Ping Huang]

favored to win today's 1500 meter race and he said he was feeling good about it. If he wins, he'll be the first American since Eric Haydn to get at least three gold medals in a single Winter Games. After today, Stolz has one more race, the mass start on Saturday. Ping Huang, NPR News, Milan.

[Korva Coleman]

Later today at the Winter Olympics, it is the gold medal game for women's ice hockey. Team US USA will face Canada. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR Promo Announcer]

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.