Podcast Summary: The Morning Meeting

Episode: FBI Doubles Reward in Search for Savannah Guthrie's Mother, Flags Suspicious Black Backpack
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Mark Halperin
Co-hosts: Larry, Kevin

Overview

In this episode of "The Morning Meeting," the team delves into the major storylines dominating the news cycle: the escalating search for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother, the doubling of the FBI reward and emergence of a mysterious black backpack as a lead, as well as wide-ranging political analysis, media shake-ups, international security conferences, economic indicators, and lively audience participation. Mark, Larry, and Kevin offer their characteristic blend of insider perspectives, humor, and sharp commentary, while engaging directly with listeners' questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Program Expansion Announcement

• Mark shares significant news: Starting next Tuesday (February 17), the program will expand to two hours, with the second hour airing on Sirius XM's Megyn Kelly Channel 111 at 10am EST. The first hour's format and accessibility remain unchanged.
  • "A second hour of the Morning Meeting starting February 17th, Tuesday, 10 o'clock." - Mark [02:02]
• Hosts humorously discuss their enthusiasm for '80s music channels and the impact of broader distribution.

Economic Update: Inflation & Everyday Costs

• Inflation Numbers: Latest figures ("2.4, less than expected") spark debate on whether economic health is reflected in daily life.
• Consumer Outrage: Mark laments high costs of simple goods ("$2.50 falafel balls"), sparking relatable anecdotes about inflation's tangible impact.
  • "All I care about is until the falafel balls in my...neighborhood are less than 2.50 a falafel ball, the economy's out of whack." – Mark [05:19]
• Listener Perspective: Melissa from Florida details $500 grocery bills for a family of three, sparking host reflection on how policies translate (or fail) into relief for households.
  • "We got groceries the other day and it was $500...for three." - Melissa [46:33]
  • "That's going to be the key challenge...to relate to people who aren’t feeling it yet..." – Larry [47:15]

Inside Media & Power:

Epstein Fallout at Goldman Sachs:

• Kathy Rumler (Goldman Sachs counsel) resigns after connections with Jeffrey Epstein are uncovered.
  • "Do you really think she’s going to make it till June?" – Mark [12:25]
  • "I believe no." – Larry [12:45]
• Hosts highlight lack of media reporting beyond the documents, calling for more investigative journalism.
  • "Pick up the phone, folks, call some people, find out more." – Mark [13:15]
• Discussion draws in other figures: Bill Gates, Steve Bannon, Howard Lutnick, and points out Rumler’s past as Obama White House counsel.
• The group underscores how many attempted to minimize or deny relationships with Epstein and predicts more fallout.
  • "Everybody who thought they could lie their way through their affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein...face a very tough road ahead." – Mark [40:55]

Main Story: Savannah Guthrie’s Missing Mother

• FBI Doubles Reward to $100,000 and highlights a suspect with a black 25L Ozark Trail hiker backpack.
  • "The suspect’s described as a male, approximately 5’9” or 5’10”...wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail hiker backpack." – Mark [15:42]
• No significant developments; much speculation about whether it's an inside job or a stranger.
  • "My instinct is still it's an inside thing...odds are that it is someone who knew her or may have been a family member." – Larry [17:06]
• Criticism of law enforcement’s pace and priorities, especially regarding evidence collection and video canvassing.
  • "The fact they're just now looking at video...time is of the essence in any kidnapping like this." – Mark [17:40]
• Some discuss the "media circus" and tasteless betting on Polymarket about whether the suspect will be caught by the end of the month.
  • "Will the kidnapper be arrested by the 28th? 42% chance...surprised at this number." – Mark [18:25]
  • "The trend line went way down..." – Kevin [18:36]

Washington Daybook & Politics

• Presidential Schedule & Speeches: President travels to North Carolina to meet military families tied to Venezuela deployments; later a private Mar-a-Lago dinner. Vice President and Secretary of State Rubio attend the high-profile Munich Security Conference.
  • "Secretary Rubio is at this conference...a very big conference every year of security people." – Mark [09:20]
  • "Most eyes on Governor Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez..." – Mark [10:32]
• Congress & ICE/DHS: Possible partial government shutdown looming, linked to failed ICE funding negotiations. Detailed discussion on how public opinion splits over Democratic vs. GOP provisions (body cams, warrants, sanctuary cities).
  • "The polling data is so in the Democrats’ favor..." – Mark [18:50]
  • "Democrats continue to be morally outraged by the two deaths..." – Mark [19:24]
  • "Congress takes the temperature...what states are we talking about?" – Larry [20:34]

Foreign Affairs & The Munich Security Conference

• Ukraine/Russia: Zelensky tours drone factories in Germany, calls for European security independence while Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
  • “Europe needs an independent and strong defense...” – Mark quoting Zelensky [24:13]
• US-European Relations: Secretary of State Rubio is viewed as “good cop” compared to VP Vance’s “blistering” 2025 speech. Debate about whether this is a real shift or “softer touch.”
  • "The old world is gone, frankly. The world I grew up in...we live in a new era in geopolitics." – Rubio [25:43]
  • "He just might be the softer touch." – Larry [26:54]
• Will There Be a Ukraine Peace Deal? Polymarket has only a 31% chance by 2027.
  • "That seems a little pessimistic." – Mark [28:42]

Other Political & Policy Topics

• ICE Leadership Drama: Wall Street Journal stories about Secretary Noem and Corey Lewandowski spark predictions about their fate. Consensus: Trump’s loyalty and preference not to yield to “the libs” may keep them in place.
  • "There's a lot of loyalty. That goes a long way." – Kevin [30:54]
• HHS Reorganization: An attempt to rein in Secretary RFK Jr., who's famous for colorful, sometimes controversial remarks.
  • "He said, I’m not scared of germs. I used to store cocaine off of toilet seats." – Mark [33:34]
  • "That's not very Maha." – Larry [34:03]
• Campaign Finance: When will the president spend his massive war chest to help fellow Republicans? Most say "the fall" to maximize impact.
  • "The most effective use of it is to define your opponent. They got to know who the opponent is." – Larry [34:51]

Democratic 2028 Prospects: Munich as a Showcase

• Gavin Newsom, AOC, and Gina Raimondo all appear in Munich, seeking the national security spotlight.
• Gina Raimondo’s Appeal: Moderates love her; home state (RI) less so.
  • "She’s not actually really well liked in Rhode Island...but she’s well-liked to the center-left." – Kevin [37:30]
  • "She could be that person [moderate backup] without the baggage." – Larry [37:49]

Audience Q&A Highlights

Melissa (Florida, grocery costs):

• Asks about persistently high prices and what's to be done.
• Hosts acknowledge it's the toughest challenge for both the administration and politicians to connect the dots between economic stats and actual relief.

Nicole (Tennessee, shutdowns):

• Expresses frustration over recurring government shutdowns and wonders about their duration and real-world impact.
• Kevin and Larry discuss the political incentives and suggest real pressure only comes when voters penalize politicians at the polls. Larry forthrightly blames Democrats for the current impasse.

Mallory (regulatory overreach):

• Questions about the president's executive order on the EPA and the broader trend of executive overreach.
• Larry explains the context (“undoing Obama-era regulations on greenhouse gases”) and Kevin notes the risk of "imperial presidency" behavior.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats." – Mark quoting RFK Jr. [33:34]
• "If the Trump presidency accomplishes nothing more...getting rid of the auto off switch on cars..." – Larry [38:43]
• "That’s going to be the key challenge for the [Trump] administration: to be able to relate to people who aren’t feeling it yet..." – Larry [47:15]
• "Everybody who thought they could lie their way through their affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein...they were intimate and consistent..." – Mark [40:55]
• "The fact they're just now looking at video...the fact that they're just now doing certain things is crazy, because time is of the essence in any kidnapping..." – Mark [17:40]
• "A second hour of the Morning Meeting starting February 17th, Tuesday, 10 o'clock." – Mark [02:02]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:02] - Program expansion announcement (second hour on Sirius XM)
• [04:42] - Inflation numbers and economic discussion
• [11:50] - Lead story: Kathy Rumler resigns from Goldman Sachs (Epstein fallout)
• [15:07] - Savannah Guthrie’s mother: FBI reward, suspect description, speculation on the case
• [18:50] - ICE/DHS shutdown and public opinion on policy provisions
• [24:13] - Zelensky’s remarks from Munich Security Conference
• [25:43] - Secretary of State Rubio on changing world politics
• [33:34] - RFK Jr. wild "cocaine off a toilet" podcast story
• [46:33] - Melissa from Florida on skyrocketing grocery costs
• [53:10] - Nicole from Tennessee on government shutdowns and how to effect change

Winners & Losers of the Week (Fun Segment)

• Winners:

  • Automobile drivers in America (ending "auto off" switch) – Larry
  • Roy Cooper (strong NC Senate campaign) – Kevin
  • The Morning Meeting team (show expansion) – Mark

• Losers:

  • Virginia residents (catastrophic sewage spill) – Larry
  • International Olympic Committee (banning Ukrainian athlete’s helmet) – Kevin
  • Everyone who tried to lie about their ties to Jeffrey Epstein – Mark

Tone & Style

The episode blends serious analysis with humor, inside-baseball commentary, and active engagement with listeners. Mark and his co-hosts maintain an energetic, conversational, and irreverent style while parsing out complex news stories and sharing personal reflections. The audience is treated not just as listeners but as active participants, with real-life concerns (like food prices) brought onto a stage usually reserved for “the executives” of news.

Conclusion

This edition of The Morning Meeting offers a dense, fast-moving tour of the news cycle—crossing everything from true crime and high finance scandals to global security conferences and Beltway intrigue. The expansion to Sirius XM signals the show’s growing influence, while the blend of light banter, pointed critique, and audience interaction continues to set it apart as a unique daily “meeting” for news obsessives and casual listeners alike.