NPR News: 02-11-2026 9PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 02-11-2026 9PM EST

Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton

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Episode Overview

This episode brings listeners a concise rundown of major national and international news stories, including a heated congressional hearing on the Jeffrey Epstein files, political tension over military orders, a significant energy policy reversal by the Tennessee Valley Authority, nuclear treaty uncertainty with Russia, controversy surrounding the 2028 LA Olympics, and the death of actor Bud Cort. Key voices featured include NPR reporters, lawmakers, and officials at the heart of each story.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Justice Department Under Fire for Epstein File Redactions

[00:15–01:13]

• Congressional Hearing: Attorney General Pam Bondi faces aggressive questioning on Capitol Hill regarding how the Justice Department handled sensitive information in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
  • Criticism from Lawmakers: Congressman Thomas Massie leads criticism, pointing out that an Epstein co-conspirator’s name was redacted, while victims’ names were left exposed.
    • Quote:

      "In the materials that were made public, the Justice Department redacted the name of an Epstein co-conspirator, but left unredacted a list of the names of Epstein's victims." — Ryan Lucas (relaying Massie’s statement), [00:33]

  • Survivors Impacted:
    • Quote:

      "Literally the worst thing you could do to the survivors, you did. And they're getting phone calls. A lot of these people didn't want to be known." — Pam Bondi, [00:50]

  • Political Tension: Bondi responds to criticism amid heated exchanges, with additional commentary suggesting partisan antagonism.
    • Quote:

      "This guy has Trump derangement syndrome. He needs to—you're a failed politician." — Jeanine Pirro (attributed in context), [01:01]

  • Department’s Response: Bondi said the department has tried to correct mistakes in redactions when these are identified.

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2. Democratic Lawmakers Targeted Over Military Orders Video

[01:13–02:10]

• Grand Jury Decision: Six Democratic lawmakers who posted a video urging the military to resist illegal orders are vindicated after federal prosecutors fail to indict them.
  • Context: President Trump labeled the video “treasonous,” leading to an investigation.
  • Quote:

    "The video that no one has to follow orders that violate the Constitution. Trump called the message treasonous and federal prosecutors opened an investigation." — Sam Greenglass, [01:32]

  • Senator Alyssa Slotkin’s Reaction: She applauds the grand jury:
    • Quote:

      "Yesterday, 20 anonymous Americans who we will never meet, who made up that grand jury, told us more about the values of America than Jeanine Pirro or Pam Bondi or certainly this President." — Senator Alyssa Slotkin, [01:47]

  • No Official Response: No comment from Pam Bondi or U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro.

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3. TVA Reverses Clean Energy Transition

[02:10–03:11]

• Policy Shift: Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) scraps plans to transition to renewable energy, opting to maintain coal power under a Trump-influenced board.
  • Board Shakeup: Months-long effort by President Trump to remake board membership culminates in this decision.
    • Quote:

      "The new board voted Wednesday to strip renewable energy generation from TVA’s strategic plan in favor of keeping its coal power plants, which burn millions of tons of coal each year." — Pierce Gentry, [02:23]

  • TVA Praise for Administration:
    • Quote:

      "Would not be in the position today to recommend continuing to operate over 3,000 megawatts of beautiful clean coal that will directly support energy resiliency, reliability, and low-cost power for the 10 million people we serve." — Tom Rice, TVA VP (quoted by Pam Bondi), [02:46]

  • Critics Voice Concerns: Activists allege lack of public input in the decision.

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4. International & Cultural Headlines

[03:11–04:49]

• U.S.–Russia Nuclear Arms Uncertainty:
  • Treaty Lapse: Russia pledges to adhere to limits in expiring nuclear arms agreement only if the U.S. reciprocates.
  • Context: Absence of restrictions on atomic arsenals raises fears of a nuclear arms race.
• LA Olympics & Epstein Connection:
  • Casey Wasserman Remains: Despite scrutiny over 2003 emails with Ghislaine Maxwell, Wasserman will continue to head the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
    • Impact: Several artists depart Wasserman’s agency in protest.
• In Memoriam – Bud Cort:
  • Death Announced: The “Harold and Maude” actor dies at 77.
  • Film Legacy: Known for his role as Harold, a young man learning the value of life from Maude.
    • Quote:

      "She even gets him to sing. Bud Cort grew up loving theater in New Rochelle, New York. He started off in Hollywood working with director Robert Altman in the movies M.A.S.H. and Brewster MacLeod. He performed in dozens of TV shows and movies ranging from quirky comedies to crime dramas." — Netta Ulaby, [04:23]

  • Memorable Moment:
    • Audio Clip:
      • Actor (Bud Cort’s character): "What is your name?" [04:20]
      • Ryland Barton: "Harold." [04:21]
      • Pam Bondi: "Harold Chase." [04:22]
  • Voice of Legacy:
    • Quote:

      "Over the course of the film, Maude teaches Harold to take pleasure in being alive." — Netta Ulaby, [04:23]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Literally the worst thing you could do to the survivors, you did." — Pam Bondi, [00:50]
• "The new board voted Wednesday to strip renewable energy generation from TVA’s strategic plan in favor of keeping its coal power plants..." — Pierce Gentry, [02:23]
• "Yesterday, 20 anonymous Americans...told us more about the values of America than Jeanine Pirro or Pam Bondi or certainly this President." — Senator Alyssa Slotkin, [01:47]
• "There are no restrictions on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half century, and that's fueling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race." — Ryland Barton, [03:11]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Epstein Files Hearing: [00:15–01:13]
• Democratic Lawmakers/Grand Jury: [01:13–02:10]
• TVA Coal Power Shift: [02:10–03:11]
• U.S.–Russia Nuclear Arms Context: [03:11–03:45]
• LA Olympics/Wasserman & Epstein: [03:45–04:01]
• Bud Cort Remembrance: [04:07–04:49]

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Final Notes

This rapid-fire news episode encapsulates a turbulent political climate with partisan clashes over justice and energy policy, deep divides in national security discourse, provocative international developments, and reflective cultural remembrance. Quotes and soundbites are direct and unvarnished, consistent with NPR’s straightforward reporting.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. In a combative hearing on Capitol Hill today, Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Some of the criticism from lawmakers focused on what was and was not redacted from the files. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports.

[Ryan Lucas]

Some of the strongest criticism came from Congressman Thomas Massie, who helped spearhead the push to release the Epstein files. The Kentucky Republicans said in the materials that were made public, the Justice Department redacted the name of an Epstein co conspirator, but left unredacted a list of the names of Epstein's victims.

[Pam Bondi]

Literally the worst thing you could do to the survivors, you did. And they're getting phone calls. A lot of these people didn't want to be known.

[Ryan Lucas]

Bondi responded in part to Massie by.

[Jeanine Pirro]

Saying this this guy has Trump derangement syndrome. He needs to you're a failed politician.

[Ryan Lucas]

Bondi did say the department has tried to fix certain redactions when alerted to the problems. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

Six Democratic lawmakers who participated in a video urging members of the military to refuse illegal orders say President Trump is wielding the Justice Department to attack his political enemies. That's after federal prosecutors tried and failed to secure a grand jury indictment against them. NPR's Sam Greengl, the congressmember, said in.

[Sam Greenglass]

The video that no one has to follow orders that violate the Constitution. Trump called the message treasonous and federal prosecutors opened an investigation. Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan says the grand jury upheld freedom of speech and the rule of law.

[Jeanine Pirro]

Yesterday, 20 anonymous Americans who we will never meet, who made up that grand jury, told us more about the values of America than Jeanine Pirro or Pam Bondi or certainly this President Slavkin, referring.

[Sam Greenglass]

There to Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, whose office has not commented on the attempted indictments. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

The nation's only federally owned utility, the Tennessee Valley Authority, announced today it's abandoning its plans to phase out coal power in favor of renewable energy. Pierce Gentry with member station WUT reports.

[Pierce Gentry]

The TVA's shift in strategy comes after a months long effort by President Trump to install board members loyal to his energy agenda the new board voted Wednesday to strip renewable energy generation from TVA's strategic plan in favor of keeping its coal power plants, which burn millions of tons of coal each year. TVA Vice President Tom Rice heaped praise on the Trump administration, without whom we.

[Pam Bondi]

Would not be in the position today to recommend continuing to operate over 3,000 megawatts of beautiful clean coal that will directly support energy resiliency, reliability and low cost power for the 10 million people we serve.

[Pierce Gentry]

Regional activists have accused the federal utility of rushing its decision with little to no time for input from the general public. For NPR News, I'm Pierce Gentry in Knoxville.

[Ryland Barton]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Russia's top diplomat says that Moscow will observe the limits of the last nuclear arms pact with the US that expired last week, as long as it sees that Washington does the same. There are no restrictions on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half century, and that's fueling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race. Entertainment executive Casey Wasserman is keeping his job leading the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after the board reviewed his past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. Justice Department documents show Wasserman exchanged flirtatious emails in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell. Several artists have left Wasserman's talent agency, including singer, songwriter Chapel Roan. Actor Bud Court has died. He was best known for his leading role in the 1971 movie Harold and Maude. Court died this morning after a long illness, as NPR's Netta Ulaby reports. He was 77 years old.

[Netta Ulaby]

In Harold and Maude, Bud Court played a young man with a blank expression and morbid proclivities. He meets a much, much older woman through a shared hobby, attending the funerals of strangers.

[Actor (Bud Cort's character)]

What is your name?

[Ryland Barton]

Harold.

[Pam Bondi]

Harold Chase.

[Netta Ulaby]

Over the course of the film, Maude teaches Harold to take pleasure in being alive. She even gets him to sing. Bud Court grew up loving theater in New Rochelle, New York. He started off in Hollywood working with director Robert Altman in the movies M.A.S.H. and Brewster MacLeod. He performed in dozens of TV shows and movies ranging from quirky comedies to crime dramas. Netta Ulaby, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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