NPR News: 02-11-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 5PM EST – February 11, 2026

Overview

This five-minute news update from NPR News Now offers a concise roundup of major headlines on February 11, 2026. Topics include combative hearings on Capitol Hill regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi, a rejected grand jury indictment against Democratic lawmakers, shifting U.S.-Venezuela oil relations, a positive U.S. jobs report, Olympic controversy involving a Ukrainian athlete, cutting-edge gene therapy for cholesterol, and Bad Bunny’s record-breaking Super Bowl aftermath.

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Key News Segments & Discussion Points

1. Capitol Hill Hearing: Attorney General Pam Bondi Faces Scrutiny

(00:15–00:54)

• Attorney General Pam Bondi confronts accusations about handling the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, with heated exchanges at a congressional hearing.
• Bondi defends herself and President Trump, redirecting attention to presidential accomplishments and transparency.
• Victims of Epstein’s abuse were present, signaling their lack of access to the Justice Department.

Pam Bondi [00:38]:
“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.”

• Notable moment: The presence of Epstein victims raising hands silently underscores ongoing frustrations about transparency and victim engagement.

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2. Grand Jury Rejects Prosecutors’ Push Against Lawmakers

(01:13–01:50)

• Federal prosecutors targeted six Democratic lawmakers for releasing a video urging US military members to refuse illegal orders.
• High-profile names include Senators Alyssa Slotkin and Mark Kelly.
• The grand jury declined to indict, which is notable given its rarity.
• No comment from the US Attorney’s Office yet.

Ryan Lucas [01:13]:
“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.”

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3. U.S.-Venezuela: Oil Diplomacy & Sanctions

(01:50–02:22)

• Energy Secretary Chris Wright visits Venezuela amid easing US sanctions.
• He meets Acting President Delsey Rodriguez and key oil executives.
• Venezuela has recently enabled private investment in oil—an overhaul the US is encouraging.

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4. U.S. Jobs Report: Surprising Gains with Caveats

(02:22–03:01)

• January saw 130,000 jobs added, surpassing recent months’ gains.
• Unemployment dipped to 4.3%.
• Biggest growth in health care and construction; losses persisted in transportation and government sectors.
• Revised numbers show 2025 job growth was much weaker than first reported—just 181,000 jobs total for the year.

Scott Horsley [02:22]:
“Employers added just 181,000 jobs in all of 2025. That averages out to about 15,000 jobs a month.”

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5. Market Update

(03:01–03:31)

• Despite strong job numbers, major US indexes slipped: S&P 500 steady, Dow and Nasdaq fractionally down.

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6. Olympic Controversy: Ukrainian Skeleton Racer’s Protest

(03:31–04:17)

• Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Karaskevich wore a helmet depicting athletes killed in the Russia-Ukraine war, in defiance of Olympic rules against political statements.
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) barred him from competing in the helmet.
• Ukrainian President Zelenskyy voiced support, describing the gesture as a global reminder.
• The IOC offered the athlete a black armband instead, but Karaskevich refused.

Vladislav Karaskevich [03:59]:
“I truly believe that AFC don’t have so much black bands to honor all the atlas who was fallen in this.”

• The Ukrainian public regards his act as a victory for their struggle, irrespective of competition outcome.

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7. Science Brief: Gene Editing for High Cholesterol

(04:17–04:45)

• Researchers are testing gene-editing as a one-time potential cure for high cholesterol.
• Trials are at an early stage, with only a few dozen participants, but initial results are promising for reducing artery-clogging cholesterol.
• Much larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm effectiveness and safety.

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8. Entertainment: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Boost

(04:45–04:57)

• Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show led to a 175% spike in streaming of his catalog in the US, following his Grammy win for Album of the Year.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Pam Bondi [00:38]: Her forceful defense of Trump, calling the accusations “ridiculous” and touting transparency.
• Ryan Lucas [01:13]: On the unusual nature of the grand jury’s rejection.
• Scott Horsley [02:22]: The sobering reappraisal of 2025’s job creation numbers.
• Vladislav Karaskevich [03:59]: His emotionally charged statement about Ukrainian athletes killed in war and the inadequacy of a simple symbol of mourning.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:15 – Attorney General Bondi’s combative testimony
• 01:13 – Grand jury dismisses charges against Democratic lawmakers
• 01:50 – US-Venezuela oil relations
• 02:22 – January jobs report and yearlong employment revision
• 03:01 – Stock market update
• 03:31 – Olympic political protest by Ukrainian skeleton racer
• 04:17 – Gene editing breakthrough for cholesterol
• 04:45 – Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl impact

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Tone & Style

The reporting remains brisk, factual, and direct, typical of NPR’s news bulletins, but the inclusion of primary quotes and on-the-ground voices (especially in the Ukraine segment) add emotional resonance and immediacy.

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Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

See Terms Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Attorney General Pam Bondi repeatedly shouted at Democrats during a combative hearing on Capitol Hill today. Bondi sought to deflect from criticism of her handling of the release of files about Jeffrey. 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. 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 more.

[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 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.

[NPR News Anchor]

U.S. energy Secretary Chris Wright is visiting Venezuela to assess the country's oil industry as the Trump administration eases sanctions and pushes a major overhaul. Wright met with Acting President Delsey Rodriguez at the Miraflores Palace. He plans a three day trip that includes meetings with officials and oil executives. Venezuela recently passed a law that opens oil to private investment. The US Unemployment rate declined slightly in January as employers added more jobs than economists had been forecasting. NPR's Scott Horsley has more.

[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 federal 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.

[NPR News Anchor]

U.S. stock indexes slipped slightly today despite that surprisingly strong jobs report. The S&P 500 held steady. The Dow and Nasdaq both dropped a fraction. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A Ukrainian skeleton racer is causing a stir at the Olympics. He trained in a helmet with images of Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia's invasion. But NPR's Polina Litvinova reports the Olympic Committee says he can't compete in it.

[Polina Litvinova]

International Olympic Committee rules expressly forbid political statements on athletes uniforms. Still, many Ukrainians are expressing solidarity with skeleton racer Vladislav Karaskevich. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media that the helmet is, quote, a reminder to the whole world of what modern Russia is. The IOC offered Herskevich to wear a black armband instead, but he says it's not enough.

[Vladislav Karaskevich]

I truly believe that AFC don't have so much black bands to honor all. The atlas who was fallen in this.

[Polina Litvinova]

War her is determined to keep his helmet even, risking to be disqualified. Ukrainians say for them he has already won. Polina Litvinova, NPR News, Kyiv.

[NPR News Anchor]

Scientists are testing whether gene editing might offer a one time fix for high cholesterol. It's a very early stage research that has been tried in only a few dozen people so far. Far. But gene editing approaches being developed by two companies show hints that switching off certain genes could dramatically reduce artery clogging cholesterol. It'll take far longer and larger studies to prove the legacy of Bad Bunny's super bowl halftime show continues. Streams of his catalog jumped 175% in the US on Monday when compared to the week before. The week before Bad Bunny won Album of the year at the Grammys. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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