NPR News: 02-21-2026 6PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 21, 2026, 6PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a succinct update on major national and international developments in politics, public health, weather, sports, and science, taking listeners through top stories of the day in under five minutes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Pushes Ahead With Tariffs Despite Supreme Court Setback

• [00:15–01:15]

  • President Trump is moving forward with a new 15% global tariff, despite a Supreme Court ruling limiting his authority.
  • In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the court, calling their decision, quote, "ridiculous, poorly written and extraordinarily anti American."
  • Trump has invoked the Trade Act of 1974 for the new tariffs, but they can remain in place only for 150 days unless Congress extends them.
  • Insight: The ruling is a significant blow to Trump’s economic agenda and could set up further confrontations between the executive branch and Congress.

  Kristen Wright [00:36]: "Friday's ruling is a major blow to Trump's economic policy agenda."
  Kristen Wright [00:41]: "[Trump] cited the Trade Act of 1974 as authorization, but [the tariffs] can only be in place for 150 days unless Congress acts."

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2. Ransomware Attack Shuts Down Mississippi Medical Clinics

• [01:15–02:05]

  • University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) forced to close 35 facilities due to a ransomware attack.
  • Interruptions affected procedures ranging from chemotherapy to elective surgeries.
  • Medical staff are reverting to paper documentation.
  • The extent of patient-data compromise is still unknown; law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are involved.

  Elana Wise [01:29]: "For now, medical staff were relying on paper notes to document patient statuses while electronic portals were down."

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3. Major Winter Storm to Hit the U.S. East Coast

• [02:05–03:12]

  • A severe winter storm is approaching, prompting blizzard warnings from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast, including New York City (first blizzard warning since 2016).
  • NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani emphasized the heightened danger and prioritizing care for the homeless.
  • Airlines have already canceled many flights pre-emptively.

  Mayor Zoran Mamdani [02:41]: "These have the potential to be even more hazardous conditions than we faced the last time around..."
  Mayor Zoran Mamdani [02:53]: "Our focus is going to be utilizing every tool that we have to connecting homeless New Yorkers with a safe haven, with a shelter, with a warming bus."

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4. Record-breaking Performance for U.S. at Winter Olympics

• [03:12–04:19]

  • The U.S. sets a new gold medal record at the Winter Olympics in Milan, winning its 11th gold—breaking its previous record of 10 (Salt Lake City, 2002).
  • The record-breaking gold came in freestyle skiing, mixed aerials.
  • Athlete Kayla Kuhn reflects on the team’s effort and resilience.

  Kayla Kuhn [04:00]: "To put things down when it really, truly matters, especially during the team event—it has not been easy, and we've all had our falls."

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5. Delay in NASA’s Artemis 2 Lunar Mission Launch

• [04:19–04:56]
  • Artemis 2 launch is postponed due to an interruption in the helium flow to the rocket’s upper stage.
  • Helium is essential for engine purging and pressurizing the fuel tanks.
  • This delay is unrelated to prior hydrogen-related issues; next launch window is April.

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Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Presidential Defiance:

  "A thorough, detailed and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written and extraordinarily anti American decision on tariffs."
  — Donald Trump’s post, quoted by Kristen Wright [00:37]

• Olympic Determination:

  "It has not been easy and we've all had our falls."
  — Kayla Kuhn, U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team [04:00]

• Human Impact of Weather:

  "Our focus is going to be utilizing every tool that we have to connecting homeless New Yorkers with a safe haven, with a shelter, with a warming bus."
  — Mayor Zoran Mamdani [02:53]

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:15–01:15: Trump’s global tariff announcement and legal battle
• 01:15–02:05: Ransomware impact on Mississippi healthcare system
• 02:05–03:12: Major winter storm, NYC response, and travel disruption
• 03:12–04:19: U.S. sets Winter Olympics gold record; athlete commentary
• 04:19–04:56: NASA’s Artemis 2 lunar mission faces new delay

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Summary:
This episode delivers concise yet detailed coverage of the day’s headlines — from presidential economic maneuvers and cybersecurity crises to extreme weather preparation, Olympic triumphs, and space exploration setbacks — with direct quotes and clear insight into each developing story.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

See Terms live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump is pressing ahead with tariffs despite a substantial legal setback from the Supreme Court. NPR's Kristen Wright reports he plans to raise a new on global imports to 15%.

[Kristen Wright]

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said his decision to impose a new 15% tariff on goods from around the world is based on, quote, a thorough, detailed and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written and extraordinarily anti American decision on tariffs. The Supreme Court struck down the president's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers act to impose certain tariffs. Friday's ruling is a major blow to Trump's economic policy agenda. Initially, the president signed a proclamation hours after the ruling imposing a new 10% tariff on global imports to revive his tariffs. He cited the Trade act of 1974 as authorization, but they can only be in place for 150 days unless Congress acts. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A ransomware attack on the University of Mississippi Medical center has forced it to close all of its clinics. NPRZolana Wiser reports. That's nearly three dozen across the state.

[Elana Wise]

The attack on their systems was launched on Thursday, forcing the closure of 35 UMMC facilities. Those shutdowns included disrupting procedures ranging from chemotherapy to elective surgeries. Officials said it was unclear how long the system outage would last. For now, medical staff were relying on paper notes to document patient statuses while electronic portals were down. UMMC said it did not yet know to what extent patient information may or may not have been compromised, but they are working with law enforcement, including the FBI, to resolve the issue. Elana Wise, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A major winter storm is set to hit the east coast starting tomorrow with heavy snow, gusty winds and coastal flooding. Possible power outages are also possible. The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for parts of several states from the Mid Atlantic to the Northeast, including New York City, which is getting its blizzard warning for the first time since 2016. Steve Kastenbaum says the city is preparing for its second major snowstorm in less than a month.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

The soot covered piles of snow had finally melted away, and now they could be replaced by close to a foot and a half of snow by Monday. Mayor ZORAN mamdani these have the potential

[Mayor Zoran Mamdani]

to be even more hazardous conditions than we faced the last time around, at

[Steve Kastenbaum]

least 19 people died on the streets of the city during January's cold snap. The mayor said caring for the homeless will be a priority in the days ahead.

[Mayor Zoran Mamdani]

Our focus is going to be utilizing every tool that we have to connecting homeless New Yorkers with a safe haven, with a shelter, with a warming bus.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

The storm will have a major impact on air travel in the Northeast. Many airlines preemptively canceled hundreds of flights. For NPR News, I'm Steve Kastenbaum in New York.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. It's been the most successful Winter Olympics ever for American athletes. The United States has now won 11 gold medals, more than any US squad at any previous Winter Games. Steve Futterman has more from Milan.

[Steve Futterman]

Before Milan Cortino, the best U.S. winter Olympics as far as gold medals was the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. There, the US had 10 first place finishes at every subsequent Winter Games in Torino, Vancouver, Sochi, Pyeongchang and Beijing. Americans came away with nine on Saturday. The record breaking 11th gold came in freestyle skiing, mixed aerials. Kayla Kuhn of the US Team says the American squad fought hard for us

[Kayla Kuhn]

to put things down when it really, truly matters, especially during the team event. It has not been easy and we've all had our falls.

[Steve Futterman]

The US still has a chance to increase its record haul. The final event is the gold medal match in men's hockey. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NASA's attempt to launch the Artemis 2 lunar mission has been pushed back once again, this after another setback when the flow of helium to the rocket's upper stage was interrupted. A solid helium flow is crucial to purge the engines and pressurize the fuel tanks. Officials say this latest problem isn't related to the hydrogen leaks that forced the space agency to scrap a dress rehearsal earlier this month. NASA's next opportunity to launch four astronauts on a lunar mission now moves to April. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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