NPR News: 02-21-2026 7PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 21, 2026 – 7PM EST

Episode Theme:
This episode of NPR News Now, hosted by Jeanine Herbst, provides concise updates on major national and international stories, including a major Supreme Court decision on tariffs, rollback of air pollution regulations, a deadly incident in the West Bank, new requirements for commercial drivers, and box office trends during China’s New Year.

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1. U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Trump Tariffs

Main Segment: 00:15 – 01:06

• President Trump announces he will raise new global tariffs to 15%, reacting to the Supreme Court striking down most of his earlier tariffs.
• Trump is utilizing a different legal authority for the new tariffs, which will expire in 150 days unless Congress approves them.
• Danielle Kurtzleben explains the significance:
  • “Tariffs have just given Trump enormous power. He had claimed he had the ability to impose tariffs when he wanted, at what level he wanted. And as the head of an economic superpower that gave Trump massive leverage over other countries.” (Danielle Kurtzleben, 00:44)
  • The Supreme Court’s ruling curtails Trump’s executive authority with tariffs.
  • Some tariffs, such as those on steel, aluminum, and cars, remain in effect.
  • Debate continues over how to handle $133 billion in tariffs now ruled unlawful—an issue for courts and U.S. Customs as companies and governors demand refunds.

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2. EPA Repeals Mercury and Air Pollution Standards

Main Segment: 01:06 – 02:21

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has repealed 2024 Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, which aimed to limit pollutants from coal plants.
• Ellis Yulin reports that the Trump administration argues this policy saves utility companies money.
• Health professionals strongly disagree, citing major health risks:
  • “Repeal of these standards will result in many Americans dying needlessly from preventable causes related to air pollution.” (Dr. Rob Byron, 02:00)
• Montana’s Coalstrip plant, named as the nation’s highest toxic emitter, is central to the story.
• The rollback is expected to prompt legal challenges as part of the administration's broader deregulation efforts.

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3. Israeli Settler Shooting in the West Bank

Main Segment: 02:21 – 03:09

• The UN Secretary General condemns the killing of 19-year-old American Nasrallah Siam by Israeli settlers.
• Jane Araf reports:
  • Siam was shot outside Machmas, a village near Jerusalem, amid ongoing friction between settlers and Palestinians.
  • Video evidence appears to document armed settlers attacking and seizing livestock.
  • The local mayor reports frequent attacks: “The American Embassy called us and asked us about what happened. We told them it's all documented by videos.” (Abu Ali, 02:59)
• The U.S. State Department extends condolences to Siam’s family and calls for an investigation.

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4. New English-Proficiency Requirements for Commercial Drivers

Main Segment: 03:09 – 04:03

• All U.S. truckers and bus drivers will now be required to take their commercial driver’s license tests in English.
• The goal: Ensure drivers can read road signs and communicate effectively with law enforcement.
• Additional actions:
  • Closure of 557 driving schools that failed to meet safety standards.
  • Crackdown on states issuing licenses to unqualified immigrants, especially since a fatal crash last August.

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5. U.S. and Chinese Box Office Update

Main Segment: 04:03 – 04:50

• U.S. box office is underperforming; new comedy (“How to Make a Killing”) and the romance “Wuthering Heights” receive lackluster reviews.
• In comparison, Chinese cinemas are packed for the New Year celebrations.
• Bob Mondello reports:
  • Chinese New Year expected to generate over $800 million in ticket sales, led by the action film “Pegasus 3.”
  • “That dwarfs Hollywood’s biggest week back in 2019, when Endgame boosted American cinemas to a best-ever $536 million.” (Bob Mondello, 04:23)
  • Lower Chinese ticket prices mean a much larger number of attendees.

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Notable Quotes

• Danielle Kurtzleben (00:44): “Tariffs have just given Trump enormous power…he used that to make trade deals on pharmaceutical pricing, even for diplomacy. And now he doesn’t necessarily have that same power anymore.”
• Dr. Rob Byron (02:00): “Repeal of these standards will result in many Americans dying needlessly from preventable causes related to air pollution.”
• Abu Ali (02:59): “The American Embassy called us and asked us about what happened. We told them it's all documented by videos.”
• Bob Mondello (04:23): “That dwarfs Hollywood’s biggest week back in 2019, when Endgame boosted American cinemas to a best-ever $536 million.”

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Memorable Moments and Notable Insights

• The contentious issue of refunding $133 billion in unlawful tariffs—underscoring the ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s decision.
• Sharp criticism from health professionals over the EPA’s environmental rollback, highlighting tensions between deregulation and public health.
• Documentation and international outcry around the West Bank shooting, signaling ongoing tensions and the demand for accountability.
• Aggressive new federal push to enforce language proficiency and safety standards in commercial transportation.
• A snapshot of movie habits: U.S. box office struggles, while the Chinese New Year marks a massive surge in local cinema attendance.

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This comprehensive episode provides quick, essential updates on politics, policy, international affairs, public safety, and pop culture—offering listeners a snapshot of the most pressing news stories as of February 21, 2026.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

See Terms Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says he's raising his new global tariffs from 10% to 15%. This after the Supreme Court yesterday struck down most of his earlier tariffs against the U.S. he's using a different authority for these new tariffs, but they expire in 150 days without congressional approval. Imperial's Danielle Kurtzleben says the court's ruling is a blow to his presidential power.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Tariffs have just given Trump enormous power. He had claimed he had the ability to impose tariffs when he wanted, at what level he wanted. And as the head of an economic superpower that gave Trump massive leverage over other countries. And he used that to make trade deals on pharmaceutical pricing, even for diplomacy. And now he doesn't necessarily have that same power anymore.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben. Some of the tariffs Trump had imposed under different sections of the trade act, including on steel, aluminum and cars, will stay. But what happens to the $133 billion in now unlawful tariffs collected is a thorny issue for courts and U.S. customs as companies and Democratic governors demand refunds. Federal environmental regulators have repealed standards for limiting mercury and other air pollution from coal plants. Montana is home to the country's biggest emitter, Ellis Yulin. Yulin Rather from Montana Public radio reports

[Ellis Yulin]

the U.S. environmental Protection Agency finalized its repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air toxic standards. The policy would have required power plants to install filtration systems to capture pollutants like mercury, arsenic and lead. The Trump administration says the move will save utility companies money, but health professionals say the costs outweigh any savings. Rob Byron is an internist in rural Montana.

[Rob Byron]

Repeal of these standards will result in many Americans dying needlessly from preventable causes related to air pollution.

[Ellis Yulin]

Montana's largest coal fired power plant, coal strip, is the highest emitter of these air toxins in the country. This Rollback is the EPA's latest deregulation. It is expected to draw legal challenges. For NPR News, I'm Ellis Julin in Missoula, Montana.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The UN Secretary general is condemning the killing of a young American by Israeli settlers in the occupied west bank and is calling for a swift investigation. NPR's Jane Araf has more.

[Jane Araf]

Nasrallah Siam 19 was shot Wednesday by Israeli settlers who attacked the village of Machmas near Jerusalem. According to witnesses, the Israeli military told the Associated Press that unnamed suspects shot at Palestinians. Video shows a group of settlers, some of them armed, taking sheep from the village. Mayor said. Abu Ali tells NPR that settlers routinely attack Makhmas.

[Abu Ali]

The American Embassy called us and asked us about what happened. We told them it's all documented by videos.

[Jane Araf]

Jane Araf, NPR News. Aman.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And a State Department official tells NPR it extends condolences to the family. You're listening to NPR News. The Trump administration says all truckers and bus drivers will be required to take commercial driver's license tests in English to ensure that drivers understand English well enough to read road signs and communicate with law enforcement officers. Earlier this week, the Transportation Department said 557 driving schools should close because they failed to meet basic safety standards. And the department has been aggressively going after states that handed out commercial driver's licenses to immigrants who shouldn't have qualified for them. They say since a fatal crash in August, Hollywood's box office numbers will be modest this weekend. But there is one place where movie theaters are packed. NPR's Bob Mondello has the details with lackluster reviews.

[Bob Mondello]

The comedy how to Make a Killing will not be making a killing this weekend. And the steamy romance Wuthering Heights is losing steam, so North American cinemas will have seats available. Not so in China, where Chinese New Year celebrations have been in full swing since Tuesday. The film business news site Deadline Hollywood reports that Chinese films, led by the race car action flick Pegasus 3, are expected to pull in more than $800 million between Tuesday and Sunday. That dwarfs Hollywood's biggest week back in 2019, when Endgame boosted American cinemas to a best ever $536 million with lower ticket prices in China. It also represents many more moviegoers. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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