NPR News: 02-11-2026 10PM EST

Summary

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

Overview

This concise NPR News Now update, anchored by Rylan Barton, covers key political, legal, sporting, business, and international developments as of February 11, 2026. Highlights include Congressional action against Trump-era tariffs, a controversial voter ID bill, heated testimony over the Epstein case, ice dancing drama at the Winter Olympics, NATO’s new Arctic initiative, a corporate pivot from Kraft Heinz, and a unique Olympic pin-collecting tradition in Milan.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. House Votes Against Trump’s Emergency Tariffs

• [00:17–01:10]
  • Story by NPR's Scott Horsley
  • The House voted to strike down emergency tariffs on Canadian goods authorized under President Trump’s emergency declaration.
  • The measure passed with some GOP support but fell short of the two-thirds needed to override a presidential veto—rendering it largely symbolic.
  • Signals rising GOP discomfort with “costly import taxes” and House Speaker Mike Johnson’s “limits” in preventing these votes.
  • Supreme Court Watch: The Court is “weighing a challenge to Trump’s taxes on imports from around the world under a statute that never uses the word tariff.”
  • Notable Quote:
    • Scott Horsley:
      “It does signal some GOP resistance to Trump's costly import taxes as well as the limits of House Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to head off such votes.” (00:44)

2. New Voter ID Bill and Contentious Senate Response

• [01:10–01:49]
  • The House passed a bill imposing stricter voter ID requirements: proof of citizenship to register and valid photo ID to vote.
  • Democrats warn this will disenfranchise “millions of Americans,” while experts reaffirm that “voter fraud is extremely rare.”
  • The Senate is expected to strongly oppose the bill.
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi faced criticism during Capitol Hill hearings over her release of files about Jeffrey Epstein.

3. Pam Bondi Deflects in Combative Hearing on Epstein

• [01:49–02:05]
  • Bondi responded combatively to Democratic questioning about whether Donald Trump attended parties with Epstein and underage girls.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Pam Bondi:
      “This is so ridiculous... There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that this has been the most transparent presidency.” (01:49)
  • Bondi also praised Trump’s leadership on the stock market.
  • Epstein victims present indicated they’d been unable to meet with the Justice Department.

4. Winter Olympics: Ice Dancing Showdown

• [02:05–03:10]
  • Report from Steve Futterman in Milan
  • US pair Evan Bates & Madison Chock performed excellently, temporarily taking first place.
  • Ultimately, French pair Laurence Fournier Beaudry & Guillaume Cizeron bested them by a narrow 1.43 points to win gold.
  • The French team has only skated together since the previous March, marking a meteoric rise.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Steve Futterman:
      “They were next to last to take the ice and dancing to the song Paint It Black came through with an excellent performance. It put them in first place. However, not for long... they won the gold by 1.43 points.” (02:37)

5. U.S. Economy and NATO’s Arctic Shift

• [03:10–03:54]
  • Slight decline in US stock indexes, despite a stronger-than-expected jobs report.
  • NATO announces new military effort “Arctic Sentry”—a move framed as a response to both Trump’s “threatened” plans for Greenland and the enduring Russian threat in Ukraine.
  • UK plans to double troop presence in Norway; France and Germany to participate.

6. Kraft Heinz Calls Off Corporate Split

• [03:54–04:36]
  • Report by Alina Selyuk
  • Kraft Heinz’s new CEO Steve Kalain halts previously announced plan to divide the company, opting to “try resuscitating Kraft Heinz first.”
  • Company will increase investment in brands, with $600 million planned for marketing/R&D, shifting to healthier and more affordable options.
  • Warren Buffett, a key investor, had opposed the split.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Alina Selyuk:
      “Kraft Heinz is reporting another quarter of declining sales for more than two years now. And it's now budgeting $600 million for marketing and research and development...” (04:19)

7. Olympic Pin Collecting Craze in Milan

• [04:36–04:57]
  • Pin trading returns as a lively tradition at the Milan Olympics, with just 250 limited-edition pins distributed daily.
  • Collectors highlight the social and “fun” nature of the competition.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Scott Horsley on House GOP and tariffs:
  “It does signal some GOP resistance to Trump's costly import taxes as well as the limits of House Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to head off such votes.” (00:44)

• Pam Bondi defending Trump:
  “There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that this has been the most transparent presidency.” (01:49)

• Steve Futterman on Olympic drama:
  “They were next to last to take the ice... It put them in first place. However, not for long. The French team... won the gold by 1.43 points.” (02:37)

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Additional Notes

• Timestamps are provided for all key stories.
• Tone: Kept informative, concise, and consistent with NPR’s neutral delivery.
• Ads, intros, and outros were omitted for clarity.

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For Further Information

Listen to the full five-minute news round-up at NPR News Now for the latest hourly updates.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. In a rare rebuke to President Trump, House lawmakers voted to strike down emergency tariffs on Goods from Canada. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The moves largely symbolic.

[Scott Horsley]

Half a dozen House members join nearly all Democrats in voting to suspend President Trump's emergency declaration that provides the foundation for double digit tariffs on goods from Canada. The vote has little practical effect since it was short of the two thirds majority needed to override a likely presidential veto. But it does signal some GOP resistance to Trump's costly import taxes as well as the limits of House Speaker Mike Johnson's ability to head off such votes. A more serious threat to Trump's tariffs could come from the Supreme Court, which is weighing a challenge to Trump's taxes on imports from around the world under a statute that never uses the word tariff. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

And the House passed a bill to impose strict new voter ID requirements ahead of the midterm elections, but it faces blowback in the Senate. The bill requires Americans to present proof of citizenship when they register to vote and to show a valid photo identification before they cast ballots. Democrats warn it will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Experts say voter fraud is extremely rare. Attorney General Pam Bondi shouted at Democrats during a combative hearing on Capitol Hill today. She sought to deflect from criticism of her handling of the release of files about Jeffrey Epstein. Here she responded to a question about if President Trump had attended parties with Epstein and underage girls.

[Pam Bondi]

This is so ridiculous and that they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done. There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that this has been the most transparent presidency.

[NPR News Anchor]

She also praised Trump over the performance of the stock market. Several victims of Epstein's abuse were in the hearing room. They raised their hands to indicate they had been unable to meet with the Department of Justice. It was a battle in ice dancing at the Winter Olympics today. Steve Futterman reports from Milan. The French team edged out the US's top duo.

[Steve Futterman]

The American team of Evan Bates and Madison and Chalk began competing together in 2011. Despite winning three world championships, they had never won an Olympic medal in ice dance. This time they had a chance not just for a medal, but a gold medal. They were next to last to take the ice and dancing to the song Paint It Black came through with an excellent performance. It put them in first place. However, not for long. The French team of Laurence Fournier Baudry and Guillaume Cesaron were just a tiny bit better. They won the gold by 1.43 points. For the French duo, it was a remarkable rise to the top. The two began competing together only last March. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.

[NPR News Anchor]

U.S. stock indexes slipped slightly today despite a surprisingly strong jobs report. This is NPR News. NATO has launched a new military effort called Arctic Sentry. It comes after President Trump threatened to take control of Greenland. But also the alliance hopes Arctic Century will help shift focus back to Europe's main security concern, Russia's war on Ukraine. The United Kingdom plans to double its troop deployment to Norway over three years. France and Germany also plan to participate. Food giant Kraft Heinz was slated to split into two companies, but has decided to stay together for now. The company's new CEO says he's pausing the breakup after finding that many company challenges were fixable. NPR's Alina Selyuk reports.

[Alina Selyuk]

Kraft Heinz in September said it would split into faster growing sauces and condiments versus slower growing groceries. That would have undone a mega merger staged by billionaire investor Warren Buffett a decade before. Considered one of his big missteps. Buffett was really against the split. Now new CEO Steve Kalain says he wants to try resuscitating Kraft Heinz first. He took over in January, saying the food giant lost its footing because it underinvested in its brands. Kraft Heinz is reporting another quarter of declining sales for more than two years now. And it's now budgeting $600 million for marketing and research and development, aiming for healthier, more convenient options with some lower prices. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

Olympic pin collectors in Milan turn each morning into a sprint for a small prize. Only 250 limited edition pins go out each day. Collectors say the hunt feels social and fun, even if it looks extreme. Milan is the first Olympics to offer an official pin trading center since Pyongyang in 2018. This NPR News.

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