NPR News: 02-10-2026 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 10, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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Overview

This episode delivers succinct updates on major national and international news events, from ongoing political controversies in Washington to legal battles over tariffs, significant electoral outcomes, and some lighter cultural coverage. The episode is tightly packed, reflecting NPR’s hallmark concise, fact-driven style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick and the Epstein Controversy

[00:15 – 01:29]

• Issue: Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick faces bipartisan criticism regarding his visits to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012. He testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Context: Ludnick appears in newly released Justice Department files on Epstein, convicted of sexually abusing minors.
• Political Response: Democrats increasingly call for Ludnick’s resignation; Republican Congressman Thomas Massie also joins those urging ouster. White House continues to defend Ludnick.

Notable Exchange:

• Senator Chris Van Hollen (00:34):

  “When you visited the private island, did you see anything inappropriate during that visit?”

• Howard Ludnick (00:43):

  “The only thing I saw with my wife and my children and the other couple and their children was staff who worked for Mr. Epstein on that island.”

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2. Chinese Automaker BYD Sues Trump Administration Over Tariffs

[01:29 – 02:16]

• Issue: BYD’s U.S. subsidiaries file suit in U.S. trade court, claiming tariffs imposed under Trump are unlawful and seeking refunds.
• Broader Context: Supreme Court is set to rule on whether President Trump overstepped his authority in imposing tariffs. Lower courts have ruled against Trump.
• Financial Stakes: Over $130 billion could potentially be refunded to affected companies if Supreme Court affirms lower court rulings.

Notable Quote:

• Emily Fang, NPR Reporter (01:42):

  “Both the U.S. Court of International Trade and a U.S. federal Appeals Court have already determined President Trump overstepped his powers... Now the Supreme Court must decide whether to uphold these decisions…”

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3. New Jersey Special Democratic Primary Election

[02:16 – 03:07]

• Race Update: Former Congressman Tom Malinowski concedes to Analia Mejia in a close Democratic primary for NJ’s 11th District, after several days’ delay in vote counting. The Associated Press has not yet officially declared a winner.
• Context: Seat was vacated by Governor Mikey Sherrill.

Notable Quote:

• Mike Hayes, NYC Member Station (02:36):

  “Days later, Mejia leads Malinowski by just about 600 votes, with several thousand votes still outstanding. On Tuesday morning... Malinowski congratulated Mejia on a hard won victory.”

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4. Mardi Gras King Cake Tradition in New Orleans

[03:07 – 04:13]

• Feature: Students at the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute are embracing king cake traditions ahead of Mardi Gras, experimenting with flavors and techniques.
• Personal stories: Bakers bring personal twists (coffee liqueur and bourbon) to the classic cinnamon-filled king cake.

Standout Moments:

• Sierra Francois, Culinary Student (03:50):

  “I think we all, like, love king cake maybe, and we know how important it is to the culture and so we want to do it justice.”

• Reporter Aubrey Juhas (03:55):

  “Her finished cake comes out of the oven puffed up and golden brown, her first contribution to a rich tradition.”

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5. Winter Olympics Medals Investigation

[04:13 – 04:55]

• Issue: In Italy, several athletes report their Olympic medals broke or fell off ribbons. Breezy Johnson (US, women's downhill gold) warns fellow athletes her medal broke after jumping in it, though it was replaced quickly.
• Notable Context: Not the first medal problem; previous corrosion issues occurred after the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Memorable Caution:

• Jeanine Herbst, Host (04:17):

  “An investigation is underway after four athletes reported problems with their medals breaking and falling off the ribbons. Women's downhill gold medalist American Breezy Johnson warned her fellow athletes not to jump in them.”

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6. Market Updates

[03:07, 04:55]

• Dow is up 234 points (initial report) and 211 points (closing).
• NASDAQ is up 11, S&P 500 up 7.

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Quick Reference Timestamps

• Epstein/Ludnick Hearing: 00:15 – 01:29
• Tariffs Lawsuit (BYD/Trump): 01:29 – 02:16
• NJ-11 Democratic Primary: 02:16 – 03:07
• Mardi Gras King Cake Culture: 03:07 – 04:13
• Olympics Medal Issues: 04:13 – 04:55
• Market Updates: 03:07, 04:55

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Summary

This NPR News Now episode swiftly traverses headline politics (Epstein fallout, tariff litigation), democracy in action (tight NJ primary), rich local culture (New Orleans baking tradition), and the Olympics’ logistical surprises—delivering a five-minute snapshot of America and the world on February 10, 2026.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick is defending his visits to Jeffrey Epstein's island in 2012 in testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee today. Here he is in an exchange with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen.

[Senator Chris Van Hollen]

When you visited the private island, did you see anything inappropriate during that visit?

[Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick]

The only thing I saw with my wife and my children and the other couple and their children was staff who worked for Mr. Epstein on that island.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The commerce secretary is facing bipartisan criticism over his ties to Epstein, who who had been convicted of sexually abusing minors. Ludnick appears in the most recent release of the Justice Department files on Epstein, and a growing number of Democrats are calling on him to resign. And Republican Congressman Thomas Massie also called for his ouster, but the White House has defended him. Chinese company BYD is suing the Trump administration over tariffs. NPR's Emily Fang reports. The automaker is asking for a refund of tariffs paid since last spring.

[Emily Fang]

Byds US Subsidiaries have sued the Trump administration and federal US Trade court, saying the tariffs it and other US Based companies have had to pay on imported goods are unlawful. This is all in the run up to a high stakes Supreme Court case that could be decided this month. Both the U.S. court of International Trade and a U.S. federal Appeals Court have already determined President Trump overstepped his powers and using US Legislation to impose tariffs on dozens of countries. Now the Supreme Court must decide whether to uphold these decisions and if it affirms them, companies like China's BYD could very well reclaim a good chunk of the more than $130 billion in U.S. customs collected since last April. Emily Feng, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Former Congressman Tom Malinowski conceded today to challenger Analia Mejia in the closely watched special election Democratic primary to fill the congressional seat vacated by New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill. From member station nyc, Mike Hayes has more.

[Mike Hayes]

The race was too close to call last Thursday night and Election day ended with two of the 11 candidates in the Democratic primary in NJ's 11th district locked in a tight race at the top. Days later, Mejia leads Malinowski by just about 600 votes, with several thousand votes still outstanding. On Tuesday morning, however, Malinowski congratulated Mejia on a hard won victory. The Associated Press has not yet officially declared a winner of the race. For NPR News, I'm Mike Hayes in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall Street's trading higher at this hour. The dow is up 234 points. You're listening to NPR News. The carnival season is underway in New Orleans. Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is a week from today. It's a tradition that includes what's known as king cake as Avar Yuhas with member station WWNO reports, students at New.

[Aubrey Juhas]

Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute are setting up for a four hour King Cake class, hauling stand mixers to their workstations. Some people in today's class already work in the restaurant industry, but their baking experience is limited. Like Sierra Francois, I think we all.

[Sierra Francois]

Like, love king cake maybe, and we know how important it is to the culture and so we want to do it justice.

[Aubrey Juhas]

And they aren't afraid to experiment. To her classic cinnamon filling, Francoise adds coffee liqueur and bourbon. Her finished cake comes out of the oven puffed up and golden brown, her first contribution to a rich tradition. For NPR News, I'm Aubrey Juhas in New Orleans.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the Winter Olympics in Italy, an investigation is underway after four athletes reported problems with their medals breaking and falling off the ribbons. Women's downhill gold medalist American Breezy Johnson warned her fellow athletes not to jump in them. Hers broke when she did, although it was quickly replaced. It's not the first time the Olympic medals have come under scrutiny. After the 2024 Olympics in Paris, some had to be replaced because they were starting to corrode again. On Wall street, the dow is up 211 points, the NASDAQ is up 11, and the S&P 500 is up 7. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.