NPR News Now – February 11, 2026, 7PM EST

Host: Rylan Barton
Duration: ~5 minutes
Podcast: NPR News Now

Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of major news stories as of the evening of February 11, 2026. Reporting spans U.S. political developments, immigration and legal updates, medical innovation challenges, economic news, and a remarkable scientific archive discovery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Governors Association (NGA) Withdraws from White House Dinner

• [00:15–01:13]

  • The NGA will cease involvement with its annual White House dinner.
  • Decision followed the White House’s announcement that only Republican governors would be invited, contrary to the NGA’s bipartisan ethos.
  • NGA chair and Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt communicated this via a letter, emphasizing fair representation (“the NGA represents all governors equally”).
  • The White House, through Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, stands firm, stating President Trump will “invite whomever he wants.”

  Memorable quote:
  “The NGA represents all governors equally and that the dinner is no longer in its official program. He said the group would seek clarity about the invitations.”
  – Sarah Petrovich, recapping Governor Kevin Stitt’s letter [00:47]

2. Deportation Halted for Pro-Palestinian Tufts PhD Student

• [01:13–02:11]

  • Rameisa Ozturk, detained under Trump administration enforcement for activism, gets her deportation to Turkey blocked by an immigration judge in Annapolis.

  • Ozturk faces ongoing legal battles; her federal court proceedings on visa revocation remain.

  • Her lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabi, challenges the legality of the visa revocation:

    Quote:
    “We are arguing that the secretary of state shouldn't be able to just revoke a person's visa without having a valid basis in law. But we're celebrating this huge win and really excited to see that justice is prevailing.”
    – Mahsa Khanbabi [01:46]

  • Ozturk is also suing for the deactivation of her academic status.

3. FDA Rejects Moderna’s New mRNA Flu Vaccine

• [02:11–03:00]

  • FDA declines to review Moderna’s new mRNA-based flu shot, citing dissatisfaction with the company’s clinical comparison to standard flu vaccines.

  • The rejection occurs despite evidence showing the Moderna vaccine’s higher effectiveness.

  • Moderna claims the FDA’s actions contradict prior guidance, marking another instance of regulatory obstacles for mRNA technology development under the Trump administration.

    Quote:
    “The study showed the Moderna flu vaccine was more effective. The decision by the FDA, which Moderna said is inconsistent with the agency's previous feedback, is the latest blow the Trump administration has delivered to efforts to use mRNA technology...”
    – Sidney Lupkin [02:40]

4. Economic Update: Disappointing Consumer Spending

• [03:00–03:15]
  • December’s consumer spending unexpectedly slowed, closing a tepid holiday shopping season.
  • The Commerce Department’s report contradicts economists’ expectations for growth, reflecting mounting employment/labor concerns.

5. Maine Senate Race Heats Up

• [03:15–03:40]
  • Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) announces reelection bid.
  • Democrats—targeting Collins’ seat—are focusing critiques on her lack of dissent against Trump’s immigration policies.
  • Major Democratic challengers: Governor Janet Mills and oyster farmer Graham Platner.
  • Collins is described as a long-standing moderate and “reflection of Maine’s independent spirit.”

6. 1949 Whale Song Recording Discovered

• [03:40–04:51]

  • Archivists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found a 1949 disc labeled “fish noises.”

  • Discovered to contain the world’s earliest known recorded humpback whale song—a major find for marine bioacoustics.

    Quote:
    “And so we're going to be able to provide the scientific research community with many hours of underwater recordings from a time period from which otherwise data just doesn't exist.”
    – Archivist Ashley Jester, via Bianca Garcia’s report [04:25]

Notable Quotes & Key Moments

• “The NGA represents all governors equally and that the dinner is no longer in its official program.”
  – Sarah Petrovich [00:47]
• “We are arguing that the secretary of state shouldn't be able to just revoke a person's visa without having a valid basis in law. But we're celebrating this huge win and really excited ...”
  – Mahsa Khanbabi [01:46]
• “The study showed the Moderna flu vaccine was more effective. The decision by the FDA ... is the latest blow ... to efforts to use mRNA technology ...”
  – Sidney Lupkin [02:40]
• “And so we're going to be able to provide the scientific research community with many hours of underwater recordings from a time period from which otherwise data just doesn't exist.”
  – Ashley Jester (via Bianca Garcia) [04:25]

Segment Timestamps

• NGA dinner controversy: [00:15–01:13]
• Tufts PhD student deportation case: [01:13–02:11]
• FDA/Moderna mRNA flu vaccine: [02:11–03:00]
• Consumer spending/economy: [03:00–03:15]
• Maine Senate race: [03:15–03:40]
• Historic whale song recording discovery: [03:40–04:51]

This NPR News Now episode provides a brisk yet thorough snapshot of evolving U.S. political, legal, medical, economic, and scientific stories—balancing urgency with nuance.