NPR News: 02-22-2026 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 22, 2026, 11AM EST

Host: Amy Held, NPR
Episode Overview
This five-minute NPR News Now update, anchored by Amy Held, presents the latest headlines, including a fatal security breach at Mar-A-Lago, fallout from a Supreme Court tariff ruling, a major blizzard threatening the East Coast, the U.S. men's hockey team's Olympic gold, the passing of civil rights activist Joanne Bland, and the tragic outcome of an avalanche near Lake Tahoe.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mar-A-Lago Security Breach and Shooting

[00:17–01:13]

• Early this morning, U.S. Secret Service agents shot and killed an armed man who entered the grounds of President Trump’s private club, Mar-A-Lago.
• The suspect was in his early 20s, carrying a shotgun and a fuel can.
• Secret Service and a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy confronted the man, who raised his weapon and was fatally shot at the scene.
• Key Points:
  • Trump was in Washington at the time, not Florida.
  • No Secret Service protectees or law enforcement were injured.
  • The man’s identity is undisclosed; the FBI is leading the investigation.

“Officials said the man raised his gun in a shooting position. Agents and officers then shot and killed him. He died at the scene.” — Luke Garrett, [00:51]

2. Supreme Court Tariff Refund Dilemma

[01:13–02:15]

• The Supreme Court ruled about half of the Trump-era tariffs were collected illegally; however, it did not clarify a process for refunds.
• Over $200 billion was collected in tariffs; American businesses, especially small ones, are now wondering how to reclaim their losses.
• Notable Quote:

  “Ask anyone who sells anything in the US what's on their mind and they'll probably say tariff refunds.” — Alina Selyuk, [01:32]

• Small business owner Sarah Wells expresses concern about a complex process:

  “We not only need the money back, but we need a process to get the money back.” — Sarah Wells, [02:02]

3. Historic Blizzard Hits the East Coast

[02:15–03:14]

• A severe nor’easter is forecasted, with blizzard warnings across the Mid-Atlantic to New England.
• Anticipated impacts include travel disruptions, mass flight cancellations, and declared states of emergency in New York and New Jersey.
• Governor Hochul urges residents to “take the storm seriously.”
• Key Details:
  • Up to two feet of snow expected in some areas.
  • The storm’s worst effects in D.C. expected from Sunday night into Monday.

4. Men’s Ice Hockey Olympic Gold

[03:14–03:41]

• The U.S. won Olympic gold in men’s hockey for the first time since 1980, defeating Canada 2–1 in overtime.
• Jack Hughes scored the winning goal.

5. Passing of Civil Rights Leader Joanne Bland

[03:41–04:28]

• Joanne Bland, a pivotal figure in Alabama’s civil rights movement, has died at 72.
• She marched during “Bloody Sunday” at age 11 and co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum.
• Reflections & Quotes:

  “Like a tree with branches. If you cut off one branch don't mean the damn tree gonna die. It's just gonna grow another branch. We need to find the root of all this.” — Joanne Bland (2019), [04:07]

• Bland’s passing comes the same week as Rev. Jesse Jackson’s.

6. Lake Tahoe Avalanche Tragedy

[04:28–04:56]

• After an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, all 9 missing skiers have been found deceased.
• Rescue efforts were hampered by continuing avalanche risks.
• Group had set out despite a high-level blizzard and avalanche warning.
• Authorities are investigating possible criminal negligence; a vigil is scheduled in Truckee, CA.

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Notable Moments & Quotes

• Luke Garrett on Mar-A-Lago breach:
  “Officials said the man raised his gun in a shooting position. Agents and officers then shot and killed him. He died at the scene.” ([00:51])
• Alina Selyuk on tariff refunds:
  “Ask anyone who sells anything in the US what's on their mind and they'll probably say tariff refunds.” ([01:32])
• Sarah Wells on refund process:
  “We not only need the money back, but we need a process to get the money back.” ([02:02])
• Joanne Bland on civil rights activism:
  “Like a tree with branches. If you cut off one branch don't mean the damn tree gonna die. It's just gonna grow another branch. We need to find the root of all this.” ([04:07])

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Timeline of Important Segments

• [00:17] — Mar-A-Lago shooting coverage begins
• [01:13] — Supreme Court tariff decision and business reactions
• [02:15] — Blizzard warnings and preparedness
• [03:14] — U.S. men’s hockey gold win
• [03:41] — Remembering Joanne Bland
• [04:28] — Lake Tahoe avalanche update

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Tone:
The episode maintains NPR’s clear, concise, and composed news style, prioritizing factual reporting while including brief personal perspectives and historical context.

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This summary captures the full breadth of the top national stories aired on NPR News Now at 11AM EST, February 22, 2026, centering on breaking news, landmark events, and the voices of those at the heart of the day's events.

Transcript

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[Amy Held]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. U.S. secret Service agents shot and killed a man entering the grounds of President Trump's private club in Palm Beach, Florida, early this morning. A police officials say the man breached the secured perimeter of Mar A Lago armed with a shotgun. Trump was not in Florida, but in Washington at the time. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

U.S. secret Service said a man in his early 20s unlawfully entered the secure perimeter at Mar A Lago. Official said the man was carrying a shotgun and a fuel can. Secret Service agents and a deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office confronted the man and asked him to drop his weapons. Officials said the man raised his gun in a shooting position. Agents and officers then shot and killed him. He died at the scene. No agents or officers were injured, and officials said no Secret Service protectees were present at the shooting. The identity of the man shot and killed has not been released. The FBI is leading the investigation. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Amy Held]

American businesses are puzzling over how they might get their money back for the tariffs they paid over the past year. The Supreme Court ruled Friday that about half of President Trump's tariffs were collected illegally, but the high court did not set out a way for that Money to be. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports.

[Alina Selyuk]

Ask anyone who sells anything in the US what's on their mind and they'll probably say tariff refunds. The US government has collected more than $200 billion in tariffs imposed by President Trump, but now the Supreme Court has struck down about half of them. Anyone who paid those tariffs should get their money back, and that anyone is often small business owners like Sarah Wells in Virginia. She sells backpacks and other products for new moms for breastfeeding. They're made overseas and we not only

[Marie Andrusevich]

need the money back, but we need a process to get the money back,

[Alina Selyuk]

which she hopes will not require hiring lawyers or brokers, extensive paperwork or years long litigation. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[Amy Held]

A high impact nor' easter is bearing down on the Mid Atlantic through New England Starting today, the National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for tens of millions of people, with some areas expected to get up to two feet of snow. NPR's Marie Andrusevich reports. The storm is expected to bring travel to a standstill along much of the East Coast.

[Marie Andrusevich]

The National Weather Service predicts a heavy snowfall combined with strong winds will result in blizzard conditions in coastal areas from Delaware through southern New England. In D.C. the brunt of the storm will hit tonight into Monday with morning work, commutes and school schedules likely disrupted at major airports. Thousands of flights were canceled ahead of the storm, with airlines waiving change in cancellation fees. The governors of New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency. Governor Hochul is warning residents to take the storm seriously. Marie Andrusevich, NPR News, Washington.

[Amy Held]

This is NPR News. In this final event of the 2026 Winter Games in men's ice hockey, the U.S. beat Canada for the Olympic gold, their first since 1980. The final score was 2 to 1, the winning goal scored by Jack Hughes in overtime. A civil rights activist who was well known in Alabama's civil rights movement has died. From Troy Public Radio and Kenda has more.

[Ann Kenda]

Joanne Bland was just 11 years old when she took part in the Bloody Sunday march for voting rights in selma, Alabama, in 1965. She went on to help found the National Voting Rights Museum and a touring company that illuminated Selma's civil rights history. In 2019, she was in the first episode of NPR's White Lies podcast.

[Joanne Bland (quoted)]

Like a tree with branches. If you cut off one branch don't mean the damn tree gonna die. It's just gonna grow another branch. We need to find the root of all this.

[Ann Kenda]

Joanne Bland was 72. She died the same week as the Reverend Jesse Jackson. For NPR News, I'm Ann Kenda in Troy, Alabama.

[Amy Held]

Several days after an avalanche buried skiers near Lake Tahoe. Rescue crews have recovered all nine bodies. This weekend, crews were delayed by the risk of another avalanche. A vigil is set for tonight in Truckee, Calif. The group of skiers organized by a backcountry tour company set out with a blizzard forecast and the avalanche risk level high. Authorities are weighing the possibility of criminal negligence. This is NPR News.

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