NPR News: 02-20-2026 1PM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.
What recent Supreme Court ruling did President Trump criticize?
President Trump is blasting the ruling from the conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court that strikes down his tariffs policy under an emergency powers law as unconstitutional. A source not authorized to speak publicly tells NPR Trump called the decision a disgrace. Trump was behind closed doors meeting with a bipartisan group of governors when the ruling came down. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on Chief Justice John Roberts' opinion today in a ruling viewed as a major setback for the Trump administration.
He referred to the revolution and the start of the United States of America, saying much of that revolution was based on an objection to being taxed and therefore the framers put in the Constitution. The powers of Congress were to tax and that imports and exports have taxes and that therefore If a president wants to impose a tax, a big tariff, Congress has to expressly authorize it.
NPR's Zena Totenberg reporting President Trump is expected to remark shortly on the Supreme Court ruling. Trump says he has not yet decided whether he will use military force against Iran, but as NPR's Greg Myrie tells us, the U.S. has now assembled a formidable air and naval presence in the region.
After a month-long buildup, U.S. 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 U.S. now appears capable of a sustained bombing campaign that could last weeks, if not longer. President Trump remains noncommittal about his plans.
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.
Media reports in Iran say the country is expecting a U.S. strike. Iran's leaders say they will retaliate if attacked and they have a stockpile of ballistic missiles. Greg Myhre, NPR News, Washington.
The president continues to antagonize Maryland Governor Westmore over disputed responsibilities for cleaning up a burst sewer pipe that has spilled millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River. Here's WAMU's Jackson Sinnenberg.
In a post on social media, Trump said it was Moore's responsibility to address the break in the Potomac Interceptor sewage line. He also said if Moore cannot, he should ask Trump nicely to help, like the mayor of Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested federal funds this week to fully reimburse D.C. 's work on fixing the pipeline. Moore responded earlier in the week to similar comments from Trump, calling them politically motivated and asinine, and says that since the pipe break happened on federal park land, Trump should be responsible for the fix. For NPR News, I'm Jackson Sinnenberg in Washington.
At last check on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 26 points. You're listening to NPR News. Hundreds of political prisoners held in Venezuela could be released following passage of a new amnesty law. Coming just weeks after the U.S. removed President Nicolás Maduro, the new law is a major reversal for the interim leaders who have long declared that no prisoners are being held in the country for political reasons. Here's NPR's Carrie Conn.
The amnesty law grants a pardon for certain crimes committed since 1999 when socialist leader Hugo Chavez came into power. Interim leader Delce Rodriguez said the bill shows the government is, quote, "...letting go of a little intolerance and opening new avenues for politics in Venezuela." While hundreds could be released, human rights advocates say the amnesty doesn't go far enough, includes too many exemptions, and its judicial process is flawed. Judges of Venezuela's court system, run by Maduro loyalists, would have to approve any amnesty. Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, held under conditional release since being freed earlier this month, says he has been totally freed since the signing of the bill.
Carrie Conn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.
Grey's Anatomy actor Eric Dane, an advocate for ALS awareness, died yesterday at the age of 53.
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