NPR News: 02-12-2026 10AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 12, 2026, 10AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Episode Overview:
This episode delivers a concise summary of the latest national and international news, covering developments in federal immigration enforcement, legislative action on voting requirements, the housing and stock markets, President Trump’s support among white Christians, and an Olympics controversy involving a Ukrainian athlete.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Federal Immigration Surge Drawdown in Minnesota

[00:13–00:41]

• Announcement: President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, states that the federal immigration surge operation in Minnesota is coming to an end.
• Rationale: Cites successful arrests of public safety threats, unprecedented coordination with state and local law enforcement, and the belief that the surge has accomplished its main goals.
• Notable Quote:

  "With that and success that has been made arresting public safety threats and other priorities since this surge operation began, as well as the unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude."
  — Tom Homan, [00:23]

• Context: The drawdown follows recent incidents, including the fatal shooting of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis the previous month.
• Next Steps: Immigration enforcement will continue in Minnesota, and Governor Tim Walz is expected to address the situation in a press conference later the hour.

2. Homeland Security Funding Uncertainty

[00:41–01:31]

• Impending Shutdown: The Department of Homeland Security faces a possible partial shutdown unless Congress acts on a spending bill.
• Senate Hearing: Three top immigration officials are set to testify before a Senate committee regarding the agency’s operations.

3. Voting Requirements Legislation: The Save America Act

[01:31–02:13]

• House Passage: The House has passed the Save America Act, a Republican-backed bill to tighten requirements on voting and voter registration.
• Provisions:
  • Citizens must present proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or passport) when registering to vote.
  • Voters must show photo ID when casting a ballot.
• Supporters’ Argument: Intended to prevent illegal voting by non-citizens, though evidence shows such cases are very rare.
• Opponents’ Concerns: Voting rights groups fear the bill could disenfranchise eligible voters; surveys indicate about 1 in 10 adult U.S. citizens lack immediate access to the required documents.
• Senate Prospects: The bill is unlikely to clear the Senate.
• Notable Quote:

  "Supporters of the bill say they are trying to prevent illegal voting by non US Citizens, which is incredibly rare. But voting rights groups are concerned that the bill, if enacted, would make it harder for many eligible voters to vote."
  — Hansi Lo Wang, [01:44]

4. U.S. Stock Market & Housing Market Update

[02:13–03:08]

• Stocks: Mixed opening; Dow up roughly 260 points early on and settling at +250 points shortly after.
• Housing: Existing home sales dropped over 8% in January compared to December; down 4% year-over-year. Average home price is just under $397,000, only a slight increase from a year prior.
• Market Factors: While falling interest rates are helping affordability, overall sales remain sluggish.
• Corporate News:
  • McDonald’s stock up due to strong sales (+7% in the U.S.), with promotions like the “Grinch meal” cited.
  • Unemployment benefit applications saw a slight decline.
• Notable Quote:

  "Sales dropped more than 8% from December and were down more than 4% from June January of last year. The average sales price last month was just under $397,000."
  — Scott Horsley, [02:29]

5. Shifts in President Trump’s Support Among White Christians

[03:08–04:02]

• Survey Findings: Pew Research reports Trump’s approval among white Christians fell to 57% from 66%. The drop is pronounced among white evangelicals, though the majority still back him.
• Ethics Concern: Less than half of white evangelicals (40%) are confident in Trump’s ethical judgment.
• Still Majority Support: Despite the dip, white Christians remain Trump’s most supportive demographic.
• Notable Quote:

  "More than half of white evangelicals still support President Trump's policies, but just 40% are confident that he behaves ethically as president, according to the survey."
  — Bob Smetana, [03:42]

6. Olympics Controversy: Ukrainian Athlete Disqualified

[04:02–04:45]

• Reason: Skeleton racer Vladislav Karaskevich disqualified after refusing to comply with IOC rules on political expression. He wanted to wear a helmet honoring Ukrainians killed by Russia, was told to wear a black armband instead but declined.
• IOC Statement: The ban was due to “political expression,” aiming to keep the Olympics neutral.
• Athlete’s Response:

  "Posting on Instagram after he was banned from competition, Haraskiewicz said this is the price of our dignity."
  — Brian Mann, [04:39]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------------|-------| | 00:23 | Tom Homan | "With that and success that has been made arresting public safety threats and other priorities since this surge operation began, as well as the unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude." | | 01:44 | Hansi Lo Wang | "Supporters of the bill say they are trying to prevent illegal voting by non US Citizens, which is incredibly rare. But voting rights groups are concerned that the bill, if enacted, would make it harder for many eligible voters to vote." | | 02:29 | Scott Horsley | "Sales dropped more than 8% from December and were down more than 4% from June January of last year. The average sales price last month was just under $397,000." | | 03:42 | Bob Smetana | "More than half of white evangelicals still support President Trump's policies, but just 40% are confident that he behaves ethically as president, according to the survey." | | 04:39 | Brian Mann | "Posting on Instagram after he was banned from competition, Haraskiewicz said this is the price of our dignity." |

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:13] — Immigration surge drawdown announcement (Tom Homan)
• [01:31] — Voting requirements bill coverage (Hansi Lo Wang)
• [02:13] — Economic & stock market update (Scott Horsley)
• [03:08] — Trump support among white Christians (Bob Smetana)
• [04:02] — Olympic disqualification controversy (Brian Mann)

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This episode delivers a brisk and informative roundup with direct reporting and succinct analysis of key developments, maintaining NPR’s customary balanced and factual tone.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump's border czar Tom Homan says the federal immigration surge in Minnesota is going to come to an end.

[Tom Homan]

With that and success that has been made arresting public safety threats and other priorities since this surge operation began, as well as the unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude.

[Korva Coleman]

Homan says a significant drawdown of federal officers is already underway this week in Minnesota and will continue next week. But he says immigration enforcement will continue in the state. The action comes after federal agents shot and killed two protesters in Minneapolis last month. Miami Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to hold a press conference later this hour. The Department of Homeland Security could partially shut down late tomorrow unless Congress passes a spending bill for the agency this morning. Three top officials who oversee immigration operations are testifying before a Senate committee. The House has passed a Republican effort to create more requirements for voting and for registering to vote in federal elections. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports. The measure faces tough odds in the Senate.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

The bill is known as the Save America act, and it's the second major effort by House Republicans since last year to require US Citizens to show their birth or naturalization certificate, passport or another document proving their citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. The bill would also require showing a photo ID when casting a ballot. Supporters of the bill say they are trying to prevent illegal voting by non US Citizens, which is incredibly rare. But voting rights groups are concerned that the bill, if enacted, would make it harder for many eligible voters to vote. Surveys suggest 1 in 10 adult US citizens do not have their citizenship documents or cannot quickly find one to show the next day. While a bill has passed the House, it's not clear there are enough votes for it to pass in the Senate. Han Zila Wang, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Stocks opened mixed this morning as the national association of Realtors reports a drop in home sales last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped about 260 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Sales of existing homes slumped in January. Sales dropped more than 8% from December and were down more than 4% from June January of last year. The average sales price last month was just under $397,000. That's up less than 1% from a year ago. The Realtors say falling interest rates have made home buying a little more affordable. Over the last year, McDonald's stock opened higher after the fast food chain reported better than expected sales and profits for the most recent quarter, sales in the US jumped nearly 7%, thanks in part to discounts aimed at cost conscious diners and a Christmas themed Grinch meal. New applications for unemployment benefits were slightly lower last Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the Dow is now up 250 points. This is NPR. A new survey finds that President Trump's support among white Christians is declining, but most still support him. Bob Smetana of Religion News Service prepared this report.

[Bob Smetana]

White Christians played a key role in both President Trump's elections, but a new survey by the non partisan Pew Research center found their support is waning. Trump's approval rating among white Christians dropped to 57% from 66%. That includes a loss in support among white evangelicals, usually his most ardent backers. More than half of white evangelicals still support President Trump's policies, but just 40% are confident that he behaves ethically as president, according to the survey. Still, white Christians support Trump more than any other Americans. For NPR News, I'm Bob Smetana.

[Korva Coleman]

The International Olympic Committee has disqualified an athlete from Ukraine. He was to compete in the skeleton sliding race. Vladislav Karaskevich had wanted to wear a helmet with the faces of Ukrainians killed by Russia's attacks in Ukraine. NPR's Brian Mann reports he'd refused the IOC's suggestion that he wear a black armband instead.

[Brian Mann]

The IOC said it amounted to political expression, banning rules designed to make the Olympics neutral. The decision, the IOC said in a statement, followed his refusal to comply with the IOC's guidelines on athlete expression. Posting on Instagram after he was banned from competition, Haraskiewicz said this is the price of our dignity.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Brian Mann reporting from Italy. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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