Summary4 min read

NPR News Now — 10AM EST, February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update delivers the latest headlines from Washington and across the U.S., covering breaking governmental, legal, economic, and educational stories. Key topics include the sudden reversal of an FAA airspace closure, notable developments in job growth, a grand jury's decision regarding Democratic lawmakers, legal defense of journalists involved in a protest, updates on the Epstein investigation, the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, and the San Francisco teachers' strike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FAA Averts Airspace Closure Over El Paso, Texas

The FAA swiftly reversed a surprise 10-day airspace closure around El Paso. Initially attributed to security reasons, the closure ended far earlier than announced.
[00:17] Korva Coleman: “The FAA closed the airspace overnight with no warning... It’s unclear why the El Paso airspace closure has now been lifted.”

2. U.S. Job Growth Surpasses Expectations

January saw stronger job growth, especially in healthcare and construction.
Key numbers:
- January 2026: +130,000 jobs (vs. low gains in Nov-Dec).
- Sectors: Healthcare, construction, bars/restaurants (+28,000), factories (+5,000).
- Average monthly job growth in 2025, after revision: only 15,000.
- Unemployment remains low due to retiring baby boomers and decreased immigration.
[01:00] Scott Horsley: “Hiring picked up steam in January after anemic gains in November and December.”
Caution: Revised figures show 2025's job growth was “much weaker than first reported.”

3. Grand Jury Declines to Indict Democratic Lawmakers

A D.C. grand jury declined federal prosecutors’ bid to indict several Democrats who, in 2025, urged military personnel via video to refuse illegal orders.
Not clear which federal laws were considered.
[01:32] Korva Coleman: “NPR has learned that a grand jury... has rejected an effort by federal prosecutors to indict several Democratic lawmakers.”
Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, argue such actions are illegal.
- [01:56] Mike Johnson (clip): “I think that anytime you’re obstructing law enforcement... it probably is a crime.”
President Trump previously called the lawmakers' actions seditious but later backed away from suggesting capital punishment.
Memorable moment: Trump retracts prior extreme statements.

4. Legal Defense for Journalists Accused in Minnesota Church Protest

Two black journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Ford, are being defended by former Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
Accused with activists of “conspiring to violate the civil rights of worshippers” after a protest.
Charges invoke a law last used historically against the Ku Klux Klan.
Context: Recent DOJ actions and resignations over pressure to investigate cases involving law enforcement.
[02:33] Matt Sepik: “Joe Thompson, who’s on Lemon’s defense team, previously led the prosecution of social service program fraud in Minnesota... Former fraud prosecutor Matt Ebert entered private practice last year. He’s part of Ford’s defense team.”

5. Epstein Investigation: Attorney General to Testify

Attorney General Pam Bondi set to testify to the House Judiciary Committee on document releases linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Ongoing controversy about “redacted” names in released files.
[03:14] Korva Coleman: “Some lawmakers say some names of men allegedly involved with Epstein are still being redacted by the agency.”

6. Disappearance Investigation: Nancy Guthrie

A person questioned and released in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie (mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie).
FBI released images of an unidentified, armed individual outside the Guthrie home.
[03:27] Korva Coleman: “Authorities in Southern Arizona detained a person for questioning... there are unconfirmed reports that person has now been released.”

7. San Francisco Teachers’ Strike Continues

Day 3: Nearly 50,000 students without classes as teachers demand full coverage of family healthcare premiums in a high-cost city.
The district is offering 80% premium coverage but faces a $100 million deficit.
Educators and union leaders vow to strike until demands are met.
- [04:28] Natalie Horizzi (Union leader): “We walk the line until it’s 100%, and we walk the line until para-educators and certificated get the raise. We deserve to stay in our city.”
[04:13] Aya Ali Ahmad: “Thousands of educators march through the heart of the city demanding the district fully cover family health care.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

[01:00] Scott Horsley: “Hiring picked up steam in January after anemic gains in November and December.”
[01:56] Mike Johnson: “...anytime you’re obstructing law enforcement and getting in the way of these sensitive operations, it’s a very serious thing and it probably is a crime.”
[04:28] Natalie Horizzi: “We walk the line until it’s 100%, and we walk the line until para-educators and certificated get the raise. We deserve to stay in our city.”

Important Segment Timestamps

[00:17] FAA El Paso airspace closure update
[00:50] Job growth and economic analysis
[01:29] Grand jury decision on Democratic lawmakers’ video
[02:27] Legal defense for Minnesota protest journalists
[03:05] Attorney General Bondi/House Judiciary Committee—Epstein files
[03:27] Savannah Guthrie’s mother disappearance
[04:12] San Francisco teachers’ strike

This episode succinctly covers the latest, fast-moving national news with impartial reporting and direct statements from key individuals, maintaining NPR’s concise and informative style.

Loading summary

Transcript13 lines

[00:01]
A
This message comes from Carvana Finance. And buy your next vehicle with Carvana. Shop a huge selection, customize terms to fit your budget, and buy completely online. No hassle, no pressure. Get the car you love, the easy way with Carvana.
[00:15]
B
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Federal Aviation Administration has reversed course and lifted its temporary closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas. The FAA closed the airspace overnight with no warning. The agency cited security reasons. It was supposed to stay closed for 10 days. It's unclear why the El Paso airspace closure has now been lifted. Stocks opened higher this morning as the Labor Department reported stronger than expected job growth last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped about 140 points in early trading.
[00:50]
C
Hiring picked up steam in January after anemic gains in November and December. US employers added 130 jobs last month, with much of that growth coming in health care and construction. Bars and restaurants added about 28,000 jobs in January, while factories added 5,000. The positive news was tempered somewhat by an annual update showing job growth last year was much weaker than first reported. On average, employers added only about 15,000 jobs a month in 2025. But with many baby boomers retiring and fewer immigrants coming into the country, the unemployment rate has remained low. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[01:29]
B
NPR has learned that a grand jury in Washington, D.C. has rejected an effort by federal prosecutors to indict several Democratic lawmakers. It's not immediately clear on what federal charges, but last year six Democrats released a video urging members of the US Military to refuse illegal orders. Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, think the video was illegal.
[01:53]
D
I think that anytime you're obstructing law enforcement and getting in the way of these sensitive operations, it's a very serious thing and it probably is a crime.
[02:02]
B
President Trump has said that the Democratic lawmaker's actions in releasing the video were seditious. Trump later walked back his comment that it should be punished by death. 2 Former Assistant U.S. attorneys in Minnesota are now defending two independent black journalists. The journalists were charged in connection with the demonstration at a church last month in St. Paul. Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Sepik has more.
[02:28]
E
Don Lemon, formerly of CNN, and Minnesota journalist Georgia Ford are accused, along with seven activists, of conspiring to violate the civil rights of worshippers. The Justice Department charged them under a law that it historically used against the Ku Klux Klan. Joe Thompson, who's on Lemon's defense team, previously led the prosecution of social service program fraud in Minnesota. He and several others quit after the Justice Department pressured prosecutors to investigate the widow of Renee Macklin Good after an ICE agent killed Good. Former fraud prosecutor Matt Ebert entered private practice last year. He's part of Ford's defense team. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepik in Minneapolis.
[03:06]
B
On Wall street, the Dow Jones Industrials are now up about 80 points. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi will testify before the House Judiciary Committee this morning. She is expected to be questioned about the huge release of documents about late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some lawmakers say some names of men allegedly involved with Epstein are still being redacted by the agency. Authorities in Southern Arizona detained a person for questioning yesterday in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. There are unconfirmed reports that person has now been released. Separately, the FBI has released images and videos of a masked unidentified person outside Nancy Guthrie's home. That person appears to be armed. This is day three of a teachers strike in San Francisco's Unified School District. Classes are cancelled again today for nearly 50,000 students. From member station KQED, Aya Ali Ahmad reports.
[04:12]
F
Thousands of educators march through the heart of the city demanding the district fully cover family health care in one of the nation's most expensive regions. The district has offered to cover 80% of those premiums, but union leader Natalie Horizzi says that's not enough.
[04:28]
G
We walk the line until it's 100%, and we walk the line and tell para educators and certificating get the raise. We deserve to stay in our city.
[04:43]
F
The district says it currently faces a more than $100 million deficit. For NPR News, I'm Aya Ali Ahmad in San Francisco.
[04:52]
B
And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
[04:55]
H
Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR news now@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.