NPR News Now – 8AM EST Edition, February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise five-minute roundup of major global and national headlines for the morning of February 10, 2026. The show covers breaking developments involving high-profile political scandals, an immigration policy showdown in the U.S., legal battles facing social media giants, and key events at the Winter Olympics. Each news item is presented with factual clarity, quotes from involved parties, and essential context for ongoing stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jeffrey Epstein Investigation & Political Fallout

• Demands for Justice Department Transparency

  • Lawmakers Ro Khanna (D) and Thomas Massie (R) are urging the Justice Department to release the names of six men still redacted in the Epstein case files.
  • This follows bipartisan review of unredacted Epstein documents, underscoring persistent transparency concerns.
  • Quote: “They say some material has been redacted.” (Korva Coleman, 00:27)

• British Political Repercussions

  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces demands to step down after appointing a friend of Epstein as British ambassador to the US.
  • Starmer met with Labour Party members, showing resilience amid the crisis.
  • Quote: “It was strong, it was determined, it was reflective, it was apologetic. But let me tell you this, that was not a man who is on his knees.” (MP Carl Turner, 01:13)
  • Cabinet members now support Starmer, but the party’s Scotland leader calls for his ouster.
  • King Charles pledges cooperation in inquiries about his brother Andrew’s alleged trade secrets leak to Epstein.

2. U.S. Immigration Policy in Crisis

• Congressional Hearings & DHS Funding Stalemate

  • Top officials from three immigration agencies testify before the House as Democrats scrutinize Trump-era immigration operations.
  • Tensions are heightened by the recent killing of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents.
  • Democrats threaten to block Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding unless major agency reforms are included, risking a DHS shutdown.

• Legal Battle Over California's 'No Secret Police Act'

  • A federal judge blocks a California law requiring ICE agents to remove face coverings, due to discriminatory application excluding state police.
  • State Senator Scott Weiner introduces a revised bill to fix the flaw.
  • Quote: “Here we have a federal judge ruling that face masks are not part of law enforcement. Face masks have never been part of law enforcement.” (Podcast Sponsor Voice, 02:53)
  • Judge upholds a requirement for federal officers to clearly identify themselves.

3. Social Media and Youth Safety Litigation

• Ongoing Trial in Los Angeles
  • Plaintiffs allege social media giants (Meta’s Facebook/Instagram, Alphabet’s YouTube) intentionally design addictive platforms that harm children.
  • Meta counters by questioning the mental health of a plaintiff, signaling a contentious legal battle.

4. 2026 Winter Olympics Highlights

• Mikaela Shiffrin’s Expected Performance

  • Shiffrin competes in the Alpine women's team combined, dominating slalom events with seven wins out of eight World Cup races this season.
  • Breezy Johnson, fresh from gold in the individual downhill, joins Shiffrin; the U.S. fields another strong pair of competitors as well.
  • Quote: “Shiffrin will race the slalom as her teammate, Breezy Johnson, takes the downhill just two days after winning the gold medal in the individual downhill race.” (Becky Sullivan, 03:56)

• Other Notable Olympic Events

  • U.S. expected to medal for the first time in curling mixed doubles.
  • Anticipation builds around Ilya Malinin potentially landing the first Olympic quadruple Axel in men’s figure skating.
  • The U.S. and Canada women’s hockey teams face off in a high-stakes match.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Starmer’s Response to Resignation Calls:
  “It was strong, it was determined, it was reflective, it was apologetic. But let me tell you this, that was not a man who is on his knees.”
  — MP Carl Turner [01:13]

• On Mask-wearing by Enforcement:
  “Here we have a federal judge ruling that face masks are not part of law enforcement. Face masks have never been part of law enforcement.”
  — Podcast Sponsor Voice [02:53]

• On Shiffrin’s Olympic Performance:
  “Shiffrin will race the slalom as her teammate, Breezy Johnson, takes the downhill just two days after winning the gold medal in the individual downhill race.”
  — Becky Sullivan [03:56]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:20 — Headlines: Epstein file secrecy; Starmer’s political crisis
• 01:02 — Starmer’s Labour Party meeting & reaction
• 01:45 — Immigration hearings, DHS funding, and California's law on ICE agent masks
• 02:27 — Explanation of the 'No Secret Police Act' court ruling
• 03:10 — Overview of pre-market trading; social media youth safety trial
• 03:56 — Mikaela Shiffrin’s Olympic race preview and Team USA combinations
• 04:30 — Other Olympic events to watch (curling, figure skating, women’s hockey)

Recap

This NPR News Now segment swiftly covers weighty developments in U.S. and U.K. politics, the intersection of immigration and civil rights law, the growing legal challenges against social media companies for youth harm, and emerging narratives at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The concise yet detailed coverage enables listeners to grasp both headline news and underlying issues shaping today's events.