NPR News: 02-11-2026 12PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 02-11-2026 12PM EST

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode provides listeners with key headlines and developments from February 11, 2026. The main stories include ongoing political and legal controversies involving the Justice Department, new labor and economic data, a major environmental policy reversal, and super bowl viewership numbers. The reporting is concise, objective, and direct, reflecting NPR’s signature newscast style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justice Department Defends Immigration Crackdown

• [00:14–00:54]
  • Lakshmi Singh introduces Attorney General Pam Bondi’s spirited defense of the DOJ’s enforcement of immigration policy, following President Trump’s stricter crackdown.
  • Pam Bondi (as paraphrased by NPR): The DOJ is accused of bypassing due process, but Bondi insists the department is targeting “the worst of the worst.”
    • Quote – Scott Horsley quoting DOJ stance: “I've seen some of the worst of the worst, worst violent criminals, violent criminals who were in this country illegally.” (00:29)
  • Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) counters Bondi’s narrative:
    • Quote: “The worst of the worst are not the immigrants. The worst of the worst, records show, are native born Americans and they are committing crimes that hurt our citizens and our cities.” (00:44)

2. DOJ Handling of Epstein-Related Documents

• [00:54-01:21]
  • Bondi also addresses criticisms regarding the DOJ’s handling of documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case, pushing back on claims that the department hasn’t met legal disclosure requirements.

3. Grand Jury Rejects Indictment of Democratic Lawmakers

• [01:21–01:59]
  • Ryan Lucas reports that a D.C. grand jury has rejected federal prosecutors’ attempt to indict six Democratic lawmakers.
  • The investigation involved a video where lawmakers advised military members to refuse illegal orders—part of a rare case where the grand jury sides against prosecutors.
    • Notable individuals under investigation include Senator Alyssa Slotkin (MI) and Senator Mark Kelly (AZ).
  • Quote – Ryan Lucas: “It is very rare for a grand jury to reject prosecutors efforts to secure an indictment, although it did happen several times during the surge of federal agents in Washington, D.C. last summer.” (01:36)

4. New Jobs Report: 2025 Hiring Weakness

• [01:59–02:50]
  • Scott Horsley covers the January jobs report:
    • 130,000 jobs added in January 2026 (higher than the previous two months).
    • Unemployment rate: Dipped to 4.3%.
    • Health care and construction led gains, while transportation and government lost jobs.
    • Notably, government revisions show 2025 hiring was much weaker than previously reported, averaging just 15,000 jobs per month.
  • Quote – Scott Horsley: “This year’s update shows hiring for all of last year was far weaker than originally reported. Employers added just 181,000 jobs in all of 2025.” (02:33)

5. Market Update & Economic Indicators

• [02:50–03:57 & 04:36–04:53]
  • US markets continued sliding:
    • Dow Jones: Down 45 points at 50,140 (later 35 points at 50,152).
    • S&P 500: Down 0.6 points to 6,935 (later at 6,939).
    • Nasdaq: Down 122 points to 22,979 (later 112 points).
  • Quote – Lakshmi Singh: “U.S. stocks continue to trade lower. This hour we see The Dow Jones industrial average now down 45 points at 50,140.” (02:50)

6. EPA to Rescind Endangerment Finding

• [02:50–03:57]
  • The White House announces the EPA will revoke the 2009 "Endangerment Finding" concerning greenhouse gases.
  • The Obama-era rule categorized CO₂ and other gases as threats to public health—rescinding it is called the “largest deregulatory action in American history” by the Trump administration.

7. Super Bowl Ratings and Halftime Impact

• [03:57–04:36]
  • Netta Ulaby reports Super Bowl viewership:
    • Estimated at 125 million, making it the 2nd most-watched in history—just behind last year’s 128 million.
    • Halftime show starring Bad Bunny drew peak viewers.
    • Notably, NYC water usage plummeted during halftime, then spiked right after—reflecting millions glued to the performance.
    • Quote – Netta Ulaby: “According to New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, water usage dropped significantly during the halftime show and then spiked across the city immediately after.” (04:28)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott Horsley (Justice Department defense):
  “I've seen some of the worst of the worst, worst violent criminals, violent criminals who were in this country illegally.” (00:29)

• Steve Cohen (Congressman, rebuttal):
  “The worst of the worst are not the immigrants. The worst of the worst, records show, are native born Americans and they are committing crimes that hurt our citizens and our cities.” (00:44)

• Ryan Lucas (on rare grand jury decision):
  “It is very rare for a grand jury to reject prosecutors efforts to secure an indictment, although it did happen several times during the surge of federal agents in Washington, D.C. last summer.” (01:36)

• Scott Horsley (job growth revision):
  “Employers added just 181,000 jobs in all of 2025. That averages out to about 15,000 jobs a month.” (02:36)

• Netta Ulaby (super bowl halftime effect):
  “According to New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, water usage dropped significantly during the halftime show and then spiked across the city immediately after.” (04:28)

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Useful Timestamps

• [00:14] – DOJ defends immigration policy.
• [00:44] – Congressman Cohen rebuts DOJ claims.
• [01:21] – Grand jury rejects indictments of lawmakers.
• [01:59] – Jobs report and labor market update.
• [02:50 / 04:36] – Market update (Dow, S&P, Nasdaq).
• [03:57] – Super Bowl ratings and halftime effect analysis.

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This summary captures the essential news and notable moments from the February 11, 2026, midday episode of NPR News Now, offering a clear view of national headlines, economic indicators, and unique data points for listeners who missed the broadcast.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Lie. From NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Attorney General Pam Bondi is staunchly defending the Justice Department against accusations that it's flouted due process in President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

[Scott Horsley]

I've seen some of the worst of the worst, worst violent criminals, violent criminals who were in this country illegally.

[Carvana Announcer]

We both know that.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen of Tennessee, disputing Bondi's conclusions.

[Steve Cohen]

The worst of the worst are not the immigrants. The worst of the worst, records show, are native born Americans and they are committing crimes that hurt our citizens and our cities.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Bondi's also defending the DOJ's handling of documents related to investigations of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Criminal critics accused the department of failing to fully disclose all documents in compliance with the law. A grand jury in Washington, D.C. has rejected an effort by federal prosecutors to indict several Democratic members of Congress. NPR's Ryan Lucas has the latest.

[Ryan Lucas]

Federal prosecutors have been investigating six Democratic lawmakers in connection with a video they released urging members of the US Military to refuse illegal orders. Among the lawmakers under investigation are Michigan Senator Alyssa Slotkin and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. It was not immediately clear what charges prosecutors were seeking against the lawmakers, but it is very rare for a grand jury to reject prosecutors efforts to secure an indictment, although it did happen several times during the surge of federal agents in Washington, D.C. last summer. There was no immediate comment from the U.S. attorney's office in D.C. ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. employers added more jobs than forecasters had expected last month. But as NPR's Scott Horsley reports, hiring in 2025 was much weaker than initially reported.

[Scott Horsley]

The Labor Department says U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January after gains of less than 50,000 in each of the two previous months. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%. Health care and construction saw some of the biggest job gains in January, while transportation and the government continued to lose jobs once a year. The government updates its jobs tally with more complete information from business tax records. This year's update shows hiring for all of last year was far weaker than originally reported. Employers added just 181,000 jobs in all of 2025. That averages out to about 15,000 jobs a month. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks continue to trade lower. This hour we see The Dow Jones industrial average now down 45 points at 50,140. The S&P has fallen.6 its at 69.35. The Nasdaq is down 122 points at 22,979, falling roughly half a percent. It's NPR News. The White House says the Environmental Protection Agency will issue a final rule tomorrow rescinding a 2009 government declaration known as the Endangerment Finding. The Obama era policy concluded carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. The Trump White House says the action, quote, will be the largest deregulatory action in American history, end quote. Nearly 125 million people watched the super bowl on Sunday. That is according to estimates from Nielsen. NPR's Netta Ulaby reports. That makes it the second most watched super bowl in history.

[Netta Ulaby]

The super bowl was first televised in 1967. Some 51 million people tuned in that year. But audiences have ballooned for one of sports biggest spectacles, 60 Minutes, to crown.

[Steve Cohen]

The 60th Super bowl champion.

[Netta Ulaby]

Last year, the estimate was closer to 128 million viewers on average during the game. That's the same number Nielsen says. Watch this year's halftime show featuring Bad Bunny. According to New York City's Department of Environmental Protection, water usage dropped significantly during the halftime show and then spiked across the city immediately after nada. Ulaby, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Dow Jones Industrial Average down 35 points at 50152s and P continues to fall. It's at 69.39. And the Nasdaq is off 112 points, roughly 0.5%. From Washington, this is NPR News.

[Steve Cohen]

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.