NPR News: 02-20-2026 11PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 20, 2026, 11PM EST

Overview

This episode delivers the latest headlines from the U.S. and around the world, covering breaking political news, the ongoing measles outbreak, Olympic hockey updates, classroom technology policy, a high-profile investigation in the UK, and a conservation milestone in the Galapagos. Presented in a brisk, five-minute format, it offers key updates with direct reporting and voices from the field.

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Main News Stories & Key Points

1. Supreme Court Ruling Against Trump’s Tariffs

• Summary: The Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against President Trump's sweeping tariffs, delivering his biggest legal defeat since his return to office.
• Reporting: [00:17] Dale Willman introduced the story, followed by details from Franco Ordonez.
• Trump’s Reaction:
  • Expressed being "absolutely ashamed" of the justices for their decision.
  • Claimed foreign countries are "dancing in the streets" but warned, "they won't be dancing for long, that I can assure you." ([00:39], attributed to Dale Willman reading Trump’s statement.)
• Response Plan: Trump plans to sign an executive order to continue tariffs under new legal grounds and is considering a 10% global tariff, which after 150 days would require Congressional approval—a challenging prospect near elections. ([00:52] Franco Ordonez)

Notable Quote:

“Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic... But they won't be dancing for long, that I can assure you.”
—President Trump, as quoted by Dale Willman [00:39]

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2. South Carolina’s Unprecedented Measles Outbreak

• Summary: South Carolina is managing 973 measles cases—an outbreak called "unprecedented" by officials.
• Update: The rate of new cases has slowed, credited to increased vaccinations.
  • Only 23 new cases this week vs. 2,248 new cases in a single week last month. ([01:37] Maria Godoy)
• Community Response:
  • At mobile vaccine clinics, parents are responding. Tracey Hobbs brought her twins to be vaccinated:

    “They just got their measles, mumps, rubella for the first time today. The measles aren't really something to play with.”
    —Tracey Hobbs [02:06]

• Public Health: Officials emphasize more vaccinations are needed to prevent a resurgence. ([02:11] Maria Godoy)

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3. U.S. Men’s Hockey Advances to Olympic Gold Medal Match

• Summary: The U.S. men’s hockey team beat Slovakia 6-2 in the Olympic semifinals and will face Canada for gold.
• Game Highlights:
  • Dylan Larkin scored early, with numerous Americans contributing to the win. ([02:32] Becky Sullivan)
• Canada’s Route: Canada narrowly defeated Finland after overcoming a 2-0 deficit.
• Anticipation: The much-anticipated U.S. vs. Canada final is set for Sunday.
  • U.S. winger Matthew Tkachuk called it “the pinnacle to sport.” ([03:00] Perez Franco Ordonez)
  • Dale Willman echoed: “This is as good as it gets.” ([03:03])
• Details: Puck drop at 2:10pm local time (8:10am Eastern) Sunday. ([03:05] Becky Sullivan)

Notable Quotes:

“This is the pinnacle to sport.”
—Matthew Tkachuk, U.S. Team, as reported by Perez Franco Ordonez [03:00]

“This is as good as it gets.”
—Dale Willman [03:03]

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4. School Cell Phone Ban: Kentucky’s Experience

• Summary: Over 30 states have enacted school cell phone bans. NPR visits a Kentucky school to observe the policy’s effects after one semester.
• On-the-Ground Report:
  • At the Academy at Shawnee in Louisville, phones must be locked in secure pouches all day.
  • Principal Holly Smith:

    “The teachers love the ban, but the students, I think they absolutely hate it.” ([03:28] Sequoia Carrillo)

  • Student perspectives are mixed, but there’s notable improvement in focus and productivity:

    “People know they’re going to get in trouble if they keep it out. They’ve started to actually focus on work.”
    —Joseph Jolly, junior [03:52] (via Becky Sullivan’s voice)

  • A librarian notes positive side-effects:
    • Book checkouts tripled compared to last year ([04:00] Sequoia Carrillo).

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5. Former British Prince Investigated over Epstein Ties

• Summary: Police searched the former home of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) after his detention on suspicion of misconduct in office relating to ties with Jeffrey Epstein. [[04:14] Dale Willman]
• Now released, he’s staying at King Charles III's private retreat.

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6. Conservation: Giant Tortoises Return to Galapagos

• Summary: 158 juvenile hybrid tortoises have been released on Floriana Island to help restore the ecosystem.
• Goal: Eventually, 700 tortoises to be introduced once they’re large enough to survive predation.
• Significance: Positive step in restoring Galapagos biodiversity. ([04:14] Dale Willman)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They just got their measles, mumps, rubella for the first time today. The measles aren't really something to play with.”
  —Tracey Hobbs (Spartanburg County, SC) [02:06]
• “This is the pinnacle to sport.” —Matthew Tkachuk [03:00]
• “People know they're going to get in trouble if they keep it out. They've started to actually focus on work.”
  —Joseph Jolly, student, Shawnee Academy [03:52]
• “Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic… But they won't be dancing for long, that I can assure you.”
  —President Trump (via Dale Willman) [00:39]

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Timestamps for Segments

• [00:17] Supreme Court tariffs ruling & Trump response
• [01:22] Measles outbreak update in South Carolina
• [02:19] U.S. men’s hockey advances to Olympic gold medal match
• [03:12] School cell phone ban results in Kentucky
• [04:14] Andrew Mountbatten Windsor investigation & Galapagos tortoise conservation

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The episode provides a concise yet rich digest of major national and global events, featuring direct reporting, key voices, and real-world impact.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says the U.S. supreme Court's ruling against his sweeping tariffs is deeply disappointing. And Perez Franco Ordonez reports on the president's first response to his biggest legal defeat since returning to office.

[Perez Franco Ordonez]

President Trump said he was absolutely ashamed of the justices who ruled against him in the 6 to 3 decision.

[Dale Willman]

Foreign countries that have been ripping us off for years are ecstatic. They're so happy and they're dancing in the streets. But they won't be dancing for long, that I can assure you.

[Perez Franco Ordonez]

The ruling threatens to upend one of Trump's favorite tools for his economic agenda. And in response, he says he'll go an even stronger direction, though it may take a little longer. He says he'll sign an executive order to continue certain tariffs under different laws, including adding a 10% global tariff. But after 150 days, that would need approval from Congress, which might be difficult with an election approaching. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, South Carolina is

[Dale Willman]

reporting 973 measles cases and what officials there are calling an unprecedented outbreak. But as NPR's Maria Godoy reports, officials say the rise in new cases has slowed in the biggest outbreak the US has seen in decades.

[Maria Godoy]

South Carolina reported just 23 new cases this week. That's a far cry from where things stood a month ago when officials reported a whopping 2, 248 new cases in a single week. Public health officials credit the slowdown in new case reports to an uptick in the number of people getting vaccinated against measles, one of the most contagious diseases known. At a recent mobile vaccine clinic in Spartanburg county, the epicenter of the outbreak, Tracey Hobbs showed up to get her five year old twins vaccinated.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

They just got their measles, mumps, rubella for the first time today. The measles aren't really something to play with.

[Maria Godoy]

Officials say more people will need to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of a new surge in cases. Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The U.S. men's hockey team will have their chance at Olympic gold. In a semifinal game today. The Americans beat Slovakia 6 to 2. Now they'll face Canada for the gold medal on Sunday. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports from Milan.

[Becky Sullivan]

It was an onslaught from the get go forward Dylan Larkin found the goal just over four minutes into the game, the first in a long line of Americans to score. Taj Thompson, Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachu, Slovakia had few answers and the outcome was never in doubt. For Canada, it was another nail biter, this time against finland. They fell behind 2 0, then had to score three straight goals to escape with the win. Canada versus The US Was the gold medal matchup that many had hoped for. As US Winger Matthew Tkachuk acknowledged after

[Perez Franco Ordonez]

the game, this is the pinnacle to sport.

[Dale Willman]

This is as good as it gets.

[Becky Sullivan]

Puck drops at 2:10pm local time. That's 8:10am Eastern time on Sunday. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Milan.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. More than 30 states have some kind of cell phone ban for schools this year. NPR Sequoia Carrillo visited one school in Kentucky to see just how things are going after the first semester of the band.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

The Academy at Shawnee is a magnet school in West Louisville where principal Holly Smith says the teachers love the ban, but the students, I think they absolutely hate it.

[Dale Willman]

Their phone is their lives.

[Commercial Announcer]

It's their world.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

Students have to lock their phones in a yonder pouch, a locked bag that they carry with them and unlock as they exit after school. NPR spoke with junior Joseph Jolly and senior Kwane Lanier to get their side of things.

[Becky Sullivan]

People know they're going to get in trouble if they keep it out. They've started to actually focus on work.

[Maria Godoy]

I don't think that should work.

[Sequoia Carrillo]

But by at least one measure, the ban is helping students unplug. According to the school's librarian, they're reading more. Checkouts from the first semester were triple what they were in the last year. Sequoia Carrillo, NPR News, Louisville.

[Dale Willman]

Police have searched the former home of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The search comes one day after the former British prince was detained on suspicion of misconduct in office. The charges are related to his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He's now back at his new home on King Charles III's private retreat. Giant tortoises have returned to Floriana island in Ecuador's Galapagos archipelago. Conservationists released 158 juvenile hybrids on Friday. Conservationists hope the tortoises will help to restore the island's ecosystem. Officials say they plan to eventually release some 700 tortoises once they're big enough to fend off non native rats and cats. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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