NPR News: 02-19-2026 9PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now - February 19, 2026, 9PM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Length: 5 minutes
Overview:
This NPR News Now segment delivers concise highlights on major political, judicial, and cultural developments from around the country, focusing on a new Trump administration immigration policy, political maneuvering in Georgia, a notable judicial nomination, market news, a high-profile Broadway production, and controversy over new White House construction plans.

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Key News Highlights

New Trump Administration Immigration Policy

[00:15–01:14]

• Topic: Refugees in the U.S. may face detention if lacking green cards within a year.

• Report by: Jimena Bus (NPR)

• Details:

  • Homeland Security announced refugees arriving in the U.S. must obtain their green card within one year.
  • Non-compliance could result in detention during application review and possible deportation.
  • Refugee resettlement groups warn “thousands could be affected, mostly those who entered under the Biden administration.”
  • Last year, the Trump administration cut funding to resettlement organizations aiding in green card applications.

• Notable Quote:

  “This new policy makes not having the green card a reason for deportation and states that refugees may be placed in detention while their applications are being reviewed.”
  — Jimena Bus [00:41]

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Trump Campaigns in Georgia and Endorses Clay Fuller

[01:14–02:10]

• Topic: Trump campaigns for economic issues and endorses Clay Fuller in a high-profile Congressional race.
• Report by: Sarah Kalis (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
• Context:
  • Trump visited NW Georgia, supporting Clay Fuller for former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat.
  • Voters weigh Trump’s endorsement, but it’s not the only factor in their decision.
• Vox Pop:
  • Local voter Clay Cooper shares his view:

    “I don’t just kind of blindly follow what he says.”
    — Clay Cooper [01:47]

• Insight:
  • The race is seen as a test of Trump’s ability to maintain his MAGA coalition after Greene’s public split.
  • Special election runs through March 10.

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President Trump Nominates Former Lawyer to Appeals Court

[02:10–03:06]

• Topic: Judicial nomination of Justin Smith, Trump’s former personal attorney, for the U.S. Court of Appeals (8th Circuit).

• Report by: Nina Totenberg (NPR)

• Highlights:

  • Smith represented Trump in challenging a $5 million sexual assault verdict (E. Jean Carroll case); now appealing to the Supreme Court.
  • Smith credited with playing “a major role in persuading the supreme court to grant Trump substantial immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office.”
  • Smith’s Missouri law firm founded by Trump’s current solicitor general, D. Jon Sauer.

• Notable Quote:

  “…the nominee had also played a major role in persuading the supreme court to grant Trump substantial immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office.”
  — Nina Totenberg [02:39]

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Markets & Business Recap

[03:06–03:21]

• Market Update:
  • Dow down 267 points; Nasdaq fell 70.
• Auto Recall:
  • Nissan recalls over 500,000 turbocharged Rogue SUVs due to engine and transmission defects that may lead to sudden issues.

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Broadway: Marvel Stars Tackle Shakespeare

[03:21–04:30]

• Topic: Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell headline “Much Ado About Nothing” on Broadway.

• Report by: Jeff London (NPR)

• Highlights:

  • Both are acclaimed stage actors; their London performance received rave reviews and sold out.
  • Directed by Tony Award winner Jamie Lloyd, known for “Sunset Boulevard.”
  • No specific Broadway theater or opening date announced yet.
  • High-profile casts have driven previous Shakespeare revivals (e.g., Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Othello”).

• Notable Quote:

  “Shakespeare with big stars has proven a good draw on Broadway.”
  — Jeff London [04:09]

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White House Ballroom Expansion Approved

[04:30–04:57]

• Topic: Federal panel approves a new ballroom on the site of the former White House East Wing.
• Highlights:
  • Commission of Fine Arts, filled with Trump appointees, signs off on the plan.
  • East Wing was demolished under Trump.
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued in federal court to block the construction.

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• [00:41] — Jimena Bus details new grounds for refugee detention: “...not having the green card a reason for deportation...”
• [01:47] — Clay Cooper voices nuanced view of Trump endorsements: “I don’t just kind of blindly follow what he says.”
• [02:39] — Nina Totenberg on nominee Justin Smith’s pivotal legal role for Trump.
• [04:09] — Jeff London on the Broadway box office power of star-studded Shakespeare.

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For Reference

• Special election for Greene’s former seat: Voting through March 10.
• No announced date/venue for “Much Ado About Nothing” on Broadway.

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Tone:
Straightforward, factual, with brief moments of local color and expert analysis.

End of Summary

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

See Terms Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Refugees living in the United States legally could soon face immigration detention if they have not received their green cards. NPR's Jimena Bus reports on the new policy issued by the Trump administration.

[Jimena Bus]

The new policy from the Homeland Security Department says immigrants who came to the US as refugees could be detained if they do not have their green cards within a year of arriving. Refugees are already required to apply for green cards, but this new policy makes not having the green card a reason for deportation and states that refugees may be placed in detention while their applications are being reviewed. Refugee resettlement groups estimate thousands could be affected, mostly those who entered under the Biden administration. Last year. The Trump administration cut off key funding to organizations that assist refugees, including with services that help with green card applications. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Trump made a stop in northwest Georgia today to talk about the economy. During his visit, he also threw his support behind a candidate to replace former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Sarah Kalis from Georgia Public Broadcasting reports

[Sarah Kalis]

Trump gave his full endorsement to Clay Fuller, a northwest Georgia district attorney running to fill Greene's seat. Clay Cooper lives in Rome, Georgia. He says he still hasn't decided who will get his vote yet. And while Trump's endorsement matters, it's not the only thing he's looking at.

[Clay Cooper]

I don't just kind of blindly follow what he says.

[Sarah Kalis]

This race puts a spotlight on the challenge that Trump faces to keep his MAGA coalition intact. Marjorie Taylor Greene was famously a Trump ally until a very public split last year. Trump has a stake in ensuring that her successor will be a loyalist. The special election runs through March 10. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Kallas in Rome.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Trump is nominating his former personal lawyer for a seat on the U.S. court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports. Justin Smith has played a major role in several of Trump's key legal disputes.

[Nina Totenberg]

In 2023, Smith represented Trump in his unsuccessful efforts to overturn a 5 million-dol jury verdict, finding him liable for sexually assaulting writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump is now appealing his losses in that case to the Supreme Court. In announcing Smith's nomination on Truth Social, Trump said that the nominee had also played a major role in persuading the supreme court to grant Trump substantial immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office. Smith is an attorney in a boutique law practice in Missouri that was started by Trump's current solicitor general, D. Jon Sauer. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks traded lower today on Wall Street. The dow was down 267 points. The Nasdaq fell 70. This is NPR News. Nissan is issuing two major recalls involving one of its most popular crossover SUVs. The company is recalling more than half a million turbocharged rogue vehicles over engine and transmission defects that could cause a sudden. A pair of stars from the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be headlining a production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing next fall on Broadway. Jeff London reports.

[Jeff London]

While Tom Hiddleston and Hayley Atwell may be best known for their film roles, both are veteran stage actors and they played the witty bickering lovers in London last year to rave reviews and a sold out theater. The modern dress production will again be directed by Tony Award winner Jamie Lloyd, whose reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard was named best musical revival last season. Shakespeare with big stars has proven a good draw on Broadway. Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal led a record breaking revival of Othello recently. No theater or opening date has been announced for Much Ado About Nothing. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Windsor Johnston]

A federal panel of President Trump's appointees has approved plans to build a large ballroom on the site of the former White House East Wing. The US Commission of Fine Arts signed off on the design. The project would replace the East Wing, which Trump had demolished. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit in federal court to block construction. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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