NPR News: 02-20-2026 10PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 10PM EST, February 20, 2026

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Ryland Barton
Original Air Date: February 21, 2026
Episode Theme:
This fast-paced episode covers major national and world news stories in under five minutes, touching on Supreme Court decisions, US–Iran tensions, environmental policy, devastating natural disasters, cybersecurity threats, press freedom, and Olympic-level sports updates.

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1. Supreme Court Overturns Trump Tariffs; Presidential Immunity Controversy

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court ruled Trump’s tariffs unconstitutional, with Chief Justice John Roberts and two Trump appointees joining the liberal block.
• Trump, who had previously praised Roberts for granting presidential immunity for official acts, lashed out at the justices for this ruling.
• Trump revisited grievances about the 2020 election, criticizing the court.

Memorable Quotes:

• Donald Trump:
  • "They're just being fools and lapdogs for the RINOs and the radical left Democrats." (00:50)
  • [On conservative justices:] "Disloyal, unpatriotic..." (Paraphrase, 00:55)

Timestamps:

• [00:18] Segment intro
• [00:41] Nina Totenberg: Court reporting
• [00:50] Trump’s reaction

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2. U.S. Military Buildup in the Middle East Amid Iran Tensions

Key Points:

• U.S. force presence near Iran reaches "critical mass" — a second aircraft carrier and more than 50 fighter jets arrive, enabling possible sustained bombardment.
• President Trump remains indecisive on whether to strike Iran, saying a decision may be made "over the next probably 10 days."
• Iran expects a possible U.S. attack and threatens retaliation, noting its ballistic missile stockpile.

Memorable Quotes:

• President Trump:
  • "Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we're going to make a deal. You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days." (01:41)
• Greg Myre:
  • "The US now appears capable of a sustained bombing that could last weeks, if not longer." (01:20)

Timestamps:

• [01:09] Segment intro
• [01:20] Greg Myre: U.S. military readiness
• [01:41] Trump statement

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3. Trump Administration Rolls Back Mercury Emission Standards

Key Points:

• Obama-era rules achieved 90% mercury pollution reduction from coal-burning power plants.
• 2024 updates had mandated stricter cuts; the Trump administration is now exempting plants from these new standards.
• Industry claims this will avert plant closures, but environmental advocates warn it will harm public health as plants ease use of pollution controls.

Memorable Quotes:

• John Walk, NRDC:
  • "Plants do that in order to save themselves money at the expense of ordinary people." (02:41)

Timestamps:

• [02:02] Segment intro
• [02:13] Reid Frazier: Details & impact
• [02:41] John Walk’s criticism
• [02:44] EPA’s cost savings noted

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4. Cyberattack Paralyzes University of Mississippi Medical Center

Key Points:

• Ransomware attack forces clinic closures and cancelation of elective procedures for a second consecutive day.
• Ongoing investigation into the extent of the breach and whether patient data was compromised.

Timestamps:

• [02:54] Segment intro and details

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5. Deadly Avalanche in Northern California: Victims Identified

Key Points:

• Six of the eight people killed in California’s deadliest avalanche have been identified.
• Victims were "passionate, skilled skiers" fully equipped for backcountry skiing.
• Recovery hampered by hazardous conditions; victims’ bodies remain on the mountain.

Memorable Quotes:

• Governor Gavin Newsom:
  • "It's tragic. It's the most devastating avalanche. There's a loss of life we've ever experienced." (03:57)

Timestamps:

• [03:31] Victim identification and tribute
• [03:57] Governor Newsom’s statement

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6. Legal Battle Over Press Freedom: Washington Post Devices Seized

Key Points:

• Judge William Porter weighs whether federal authorities must return devices seized from a Washington Post reporter.
• Devices were confiscated during a leak investigation; the Post argues this endangers hundreds of confidential sources.

Timestamps:

• [04:12] Segment intro and summary

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7. U.S.–Canada Men's Hockey Gold Medal Showdown Set

Key Points:

• U.S. to face Canada in the Olympic gold medal match after defeating Slovakia 6-2.
• Canada earned its place by coming from behind to beat Finland.

Timestamps:

• [04:30] Game outcomes
• [04:50] U.S. and Canada set to face off

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Tone:

• Matter-of-fact, concise, urgent—typical for fast-paced NPR newscasts.

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Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Last year, President Trump warmly shook hands with Chief Justice John Roberts, thanking him for the opinion Roberts authored granting Trump and presidents in the future immunity for their official acts after leaving office. But earlier today, after the Supreme Court invalidated President Trump's tariffs, Trump was singing a very different song. As NPR's Nina Totenberg reports, an agitated

[Nina Totenberg]

Trump railed against Roberts and two Trump appointed justices who joined with the court's three liberals to strike down the Trump tariffs as unconstitutional.

[Donald Trump]

They're just being fools and lapdogs for the RINOs and the radical left Democrats.

[Nina Totenberg]

And that was hardly all. Trump called the three conservatives disloyal, unpatriotic and at one point launched into a rant about how the court should have invalidated the election results in 2020. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

President Trump says he hasn't yet decided whether he'll use military force against Iran. But as NPR's Greg Myhrey reports, the U.S. has now assembled a formidable air and naval presence in the region.

[Greg Myre]

After a month long buildup, US Forces in the Middle east have reached a critical mass. A second aircraft carrier and 50 or more fighter jets have just arrived or will be in place soon. The US now appears capable of a sustained bombing that could last weeks, if not longer. President Trump remains non committal about his plans.

[Donald Trump]

Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we're going to make a deal. You're going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.

[Greg Myre]

Media reports in Iran say the country is expecting a US Strike. Iran's leaders say they will retaliate if attacked, and they have a stockpile of ballistic missiles. Greg Myre, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

The Trump administration announced it's rolling back a rule on power plant emissions of the neurotoxin mercury. Reid Fraser reports it mainly affects pollution from plants that burn coal.

[Reid Frazier]

The rules were created by the Obama administration and cut mercury pollution 90%. A 2024 update mandated even more cuts. The Trump administration's rollback exempts plants from the newest standards, and the industry says the action will prevent more plant closures. But John Walk of the Natural Resources Defense Council says plants will run pollution controls less, so there will be more emissions.

[Ryland Barton]

Plants do that in order to save

[Greg Mechek]

themselves money at the expense of ordinary people.

[Reid Frazier]

The EPA says the rollback saves utilities $78 million a year, but won't lower electricity prices. For NPR News, I'm Reid Frazier in Pittsburgh.

[Ryland Barton]

A ransomware attack has forced the University of Mississippi Medical center to close clinics and cancel elective procedures for a second day. University officials warned the shutdown could continue for days as they tried to evaluate the extent of the attack and restore network systems that they took down as a precaution. Are trying to determine if patients private information was compromised. It's npr. Families have identified six of the victims of Tuesday's deadly avalanche in Northern California. Eight people are confirmed dead and one more is still missing and presumed dead. Governor Gavin Newsom called it the most devastating avalanche in California history. Cap Radio's Greg Mechek reports.

[Greg Mechek]

They were Kerry Atkin of the Truckeetahoe area, Liz Clabaugh of Boise, Idaho, Carolyn Sechar of San Francisco and Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse and Kate Vitt of Marin County. The family said the eight close friends were passionate, skilled skiers who loved the outdoors and were prepared for the backcountry equipped with avalanche safety equipment. Governor Gavin Newsom says some of the victims were family friends.

[Donald Trump]

It's tragic. It's the most devastating avalanche. There's a loss of life we've ever experienced.

[Greg Mechek]

The Nevada County Sheriff's Department says all the victims remain on the mountain as adverse weather and ongoing avalanche danger has hindered the recovery process. For NPR News, I'm Greg Mejek.

[Ryland Barton]

A judge is weighing the Washington Post's demand for federal authorities to return electronic devices seized from a reporter's home last month. US Magistrate Judge William Porter had authorized the search by FBI agents investigating allegations that a Pentagon contractor illegally leaked classified information. The newspaper's attorney says the information contained on the reporter's devices could expose hundreds of confidential sources. The US Men's hockey team will face off against Canada in the gold medal game on Sunday. The US skated into the final round by routing Slovakia 62 today. And Canada, the top seed, rallied to beat Finland earlier in the day. This is NPR News from Washington.

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