Today's Top Stories from NBC News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026

In today's newsletter: Trump orders a new 10% global levy after his Supreme Court setback. Record-breaking Jordan Stolz has one more chance to add to his Olympic medal haul. And Britain considers removing former Prince Andrew from the royal line of succession.

Here's what to know today.

▼ The Lead

Trump orders new tariffs after Supreme Court rules against him

(Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images)

President Donald Trump said he signed a new 10% global levy after the Supreme Court struck down most of his previous tariffs. It will take effect Tuesday and last for 150 days, according to a White House document.

The announcement followed a significant blow to his trade agenda. In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping tariffs using a law reserved for a national emergency.

The ruling invalidates tariffs implemented using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the 25% levy on Canada, China and Mexico. But it does not affect the president's ability to impose tariffs using other laws, such as the one cited in his latest order.

Trump responded to the decision with a vitriolic attack on the justices who ruled against him, including two he appointed. He described the group as a "disgrace to our nation" and "very unpatriotic and disloyal to the Constitution."

Read the full story here.

More on the tariff ruling:

Pulling no punches: Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who was part of the majority, suggested in a 46-page opinion that some of his colleagues were applying the same precedent differently under Trump than they did under Biden.

Money-back guarantee?: About $130 billion has been collected from Trump's tariffs. Will businesses — and maybe even consumers — be refunded? Here's what to know.

Small business burden: The decision came as a relief to business owners struggling under the weight of higher prices. But for many, it will be hard to reverse the effects of the levies.

✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Rebecca Keegan on the casting director getting her due

Francine Maisler, who worked on "Sinners," is up for the Oscars' first Best Casting award. Our senior Hollywood reporter spoke to her about the historic nomination.

Become an NBC News subscriber to access this exclusive video briefing →

There are just two days left in the Winter Olympics, but this weekend is still packed with action.

Jordan Stolz has one more chance to add to his medal collection with the men's speedskating mass start today. Eileen Gu will go for gold in the women's freeski halfpipe. Plus, three U.S. teams will compete for the podium in the two-woman bobsled, where we'll see veterans Elana Meyers Taylor and Kaillie Humphries.

Tomorrow, the U.S. men's hockey team faces Canada and will attempt to win its first gold since the famed "Miracle on Ice" team in 1980. In the semifinals, Team USA had a decisive 6-2 victory over Slovakia while the Canadians narrowly beat Finland — with captain Sidney Crosby out injured.

And it'll all wrap up with Sunday's closing ceremony, where Italy will hand the Olympic flag to France for the 2030 Games. Hockey captain Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates will be the American flag bearers.

We're covering it all in our liveblog.

What's next for former Prince Andrew?

The British government is considering formally removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the royal line of succession once the police investigation into allegations of misconduct in public office has concluded, a source told NBC News.

A poll by YouGov found 82% of Britons agree with the move. Despite being stripped of his remaining royal titles last year, Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne.

Any action would require an act of Parliament, a lengthy and politically uncertain process that would also likely have to be approved by other Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, where the British monarch is the head of state.

The removal is just one aspect of what may become a long legal saga for Mountbatten-Windsor. He could be brought back in for further questioning or "rearrested" if police deem that necessary.

The former prince being released "under investigation would indicate that this is going to be a long term process," said Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent with London's Metropolitan Police.

Here's what else we know.

Tensions between the Pentagon and AI giant Anthropic reach a boiling point

A Pentagon spokesperson told NBC News that it is reviewing its relationship with AI giant Anthropic, as tensions between the two groups reach a boiling point.

Anthropic, an AI company with a defense contract worth up to $200 million, has built its brand around the promotion of AI safety, touting red lines it says it won't cross.

Hints of a possible rift intensified after some news outlets reported the use of Anthropic's Claude chatbot system in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. A spokesperson for the company would neither confirm nor deny the usage.

The core tension appears to be rooted in a broader clash over the military's future. Anthropic wants to maintain guardrails on its products, saying it won't allow its AI systems to be directly used in lethal autonomous weapons or for domestic surveillance. The Defense Department wants to eliminate such constraints and has applied increasing pressure to the company.

Read the full story here.

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▼ Quiz Time

Mozzarella sticks
Potato skins
Boneless wings
Pigs in a blanket

Find out the answer and test your knowledge of this week's most-read stories. (The answer to the question is also at the bottom of this newsletter.)

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▼ Read All About It

Officials are investigating a possible terrorism-related incident after a man crashed into a power facility in Nevada in a car filled with explosives.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, the 38-year-old "Jersey Shore" star, has been diagnosed with Stage 1 cervical cancer.

A Louisiana law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom can stand, an appeals court ruled.

The 911 communications center fielding Nancy Guthrie tips says it's been swamped by calls from people who want to share theories, premonitions and opinions.

▼ Staff Pick

Staff Pick: Why does women's pain last longer than men's? A new study offers an answer

Historically, some doctors have dismissed chronic pain differences across sexes as women exaggerating their pain or being unable to tolerate the same discomfort as men. But studies have repeatedly found that women are more likely to experience chronic pain in general and that their pain lasts longer, on average.

A new study offers a clue as to why: Men's immune systems may have a better mechanism for shutting off pain. Scientists examined both human and rodent subjects, and found that the testosterone levels in men and male mice led to higher levels of a molecule called interleukin-10, which switches off pain signals to the brain. Women and female mice had fewer interleukin-10 and showed much slower signs of their pain resolving.

Although sex differences aren't black and white, these findings could be used to develop new treatments for chronic pain in women. Current options for chronic pain have concerning side effects and don't fully alleviate symptoms. Reporter Aria Bendix looks into the medical nuances surrounding women and men, using a biological basis to encourage more inclusive and forward-thinking options for women's pain.

— Rufina Chow, platforms intern

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Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Kayla Hayempour, with contributions from Rufina Chow. The answer to the quiz question above is C) Boneless wings.

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