NPR News: 02-20-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 20, 2026, 5PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode covers several key developments in U.S. and global news on February 20, 2026. Major topics include President Trump's reaction to a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, ongoing trade tensions with Canada, U.S.-Iran military posturing, updates on the U.S. economy, school cellphone bans, and an upcoming NASA mission.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariff Policy

[00:16 – 01:33]

• Main Story: The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, struck down a tariff policy imposed by President Trump under an emergency powers law.
• Trump's Response: Despite the ruling, Trump insists current national security tariffs remain in place and introduces a new initiative.
  • Quote:
    “Not the end of it immediately. All national security tariffs under section 232 and existing section 301 tariffs… remain in place, fully in place and in full force and effect. Today I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under section 122…”
    — President Donald Trump ([00:30])
• Legal Context: Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows a President to impose certain tariffs, but only up to 15% and for a limited duration (150 days).
• Refund Issue: Trump notes the Supreme Court didn't address potential refunds for over $100 billion paid in tariffs, hinting at protracted future litigation.

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2. Canada Reacts to U.S. Trade Ruling

[01:33 – 02:12]
Correspondent: Dan Karpenchuk (from Toronto)

• Canadian Response: Trade Minister Dominique LeBlanc praises the ruling as validation for Canada’s position that the tariffs were unjustified.
• Quote:
  “The ruling upholds Ottawa's stance that the tariffs are unjustified. However… more trade disruptions could be in the works.”
  — Dan Karpenchuk, paraphrasing Minister LeBlanc & experts ([01:33])
• Trade Agreement Up for Review: The U.S.-Canada-Mexico Free Trade Agreement review upcoming later this year raises further uncertainty.
• Ongoing Concerns: Canada’s Chamber of Commerce and unions caution that U.S. may pursue new ways to pressure Canadian trade, and current tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber remain unaffected.

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3. Tensions with Iran: U.S. Military Buildup

[02:12 – 02:54]
Correspondent: Greg Myre

• U.S. Forces Assembled: After a build-up, the U.S. has amassed significant air and naval power in the Middle East (second aircraft carrier, 50+ jets).
• Potential for Conflict: President Trump is non-committal on using military force, saying:
  • Quote:
    “Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You'll be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”
    — President Donald Trump ([02:46])
• Iran's Readiness: Iran openly prepares for possible U.S. strikes, vowing retaliation with its ballistic missile stockpile.

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4. Economic Update: U.S. Growth and Markets

[03:07 – 03:54]

• Stock Market: Dow Jones closes up 230 points.
• Economic Growth:
  • Q4 2025 growth was 1.4% (slower than expected, and slower than Q3's 4.4%).
  • Full-year 2025 GDP rose 2.2% (vs. 2.4% in 2024).
• Overall Tone: Growth has slowed but remains solid over the past two years.

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5. School Cellphone Bans and Student Impact

[03:54 – 04:40]
Correspondent: Sequoia Carrillo (Louisville, KY)

• Policy Trend: Over 30 states have enacted some form of cellphone ban in schools.
• Case Study: The Academy at Shawnee, a magnet school in West Louisville:
  • Administrative Perspective: Teachers appreciate the ban.
  • Student Perspective:
    • Principal Holly Smith:
      “Their phone is their lives. It’s their world.” ([04:04])
    • Student Voices: Mixed views—some believe focus has improved, others disagree.
  • Impact: Library book checkouts tripled from previous years, suggesting improved reading and focus.

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6. NASA’s Next Moon Mission

[04:40 – End]

• Announcement: NASA schedules Artemis 2, a crewed mission to orbit the moon, for launch on March 6, 2026.
• Details: Four astronauts to circle the moon and return, marking a significant step in the Artemis program.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump (on tariffs):
  “Not the end of it immediately... I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under section 122...” ([00:30])

• President Trump (on Iran):
  “Now we may have to take it a step further or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal.” ([02:46])

• Principal Holly Smith (on cellphone ban):
  “Their phone is their lives. It’s their world.” ([04:04])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:16 – Trump responds to Supreme Court tariff decision
• 01:33 – Canadian reaction and trade outlook
• 02:12 – U.S. military buildup vs. Iran
• 03:07 – Economic news: markets and GDP
• 03:54 – School cellphone bans in Kentucky
• 04:40 – NASA’s Artemis 2 lunar mission update

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This concise episode succinctly captures significant U.S. and global developments, providing listeners a rapid yet comprehensive update on the day’s most pressing stories.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's railing against The Supreme Court's 6 to 3 decision today to strike down a tariff policy he imposed under an emergency powers law. From his point of view, the ruling's

[President Donald Trump]

not the end of it immediately. All national security tariffs under section 232 and existing section 301 tariffs, they're existing, they're there. Remain in place, fully in place and in full force and effect. Today I will sign an order to impose a 10% global tariff under section 122 over and above our normal tariffs already being charged.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Section 122 of the Trade act of 1974 allows a President to impose tariffs to address trade deficits, but those tariffs are limited to 15% and only for 150 days. When a reporter asked him about refunds, Trump said the court did not address it. He noted more than $100 billion in tariffs paid are at stake and would likely be the subject of years of litigation. While the Canadian government was quick to react, Dan Carpentek telling us the Canada U.S. trade minister says the court's decision reinforces his U.S. canada Trade Minister Dominique

[Dan Karpenchuk]

LeBlanc says the ruling upholds Ottawa's stance that the tariffs are unjustified. However, LeBlanc also acknowledged that the free trade agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico is up for review later this year. Canadian experts warn that the win for Canada could be minor and that more trade disruptions could be in the works. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says the president could use new blunter mechanisms to reassert trade pressure. Canada's largest private sector union also says Canadian jobs remain at severe risk and and that workers could face more challenges. The ruling does not affect tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, autos and lumber. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenchuk in Toronto.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump says he has not yet decided whether he will use military force against Iran. But as NPR's Greg Myre explains, the US 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 campaign that could last weeks, if not longer. President Trump remains non committal about his plans.

[President 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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks ended the day higher, the Dow closing up 230 points. You're listening to NPR News. The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.4% in the final three months of last year, slowing down more than expected and slowing significantly from the 4.4% growth in the third quarter. However, growth remained solid when measured for the whole of 2025, when the nation's gross domestic product grew 2.2%. That following 2.4% growth in 2024. More than 30 states have some kind of cell phone ban for schools this year. NPR's Sequoia Carrillo visited one school in Kentucky to see 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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Their phone is their lives. 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. People know they're going to get in trouble if they keep it out. They've started to actually focus on work. I don't think that's true. 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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NASA wants to shoot for the moon March 6. Today, officials at Cape Canaveral in Florida said the space agency hope to send up four astronauts around the moon and back next month on the Artemis 2 mission. It's NPR News. Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.