NPR News: 02-12-2026 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – February 12, 2026, 1AM EST

Host: Gael Snyder
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
A rapid, informative update on major U.S. and global news events, including political drama in Washington, developments at the White House, new voter ID legislation, Olympic results, controversy in UK politics, a tragic school shooting in Canada, and historic elections in Bangladesh.

---

Key Headlines and Discussion Points

---

1. Capitol Hill Tensions: DOJ Under Fire

• [00:16–01:06]
• Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Judiciary Committee, facing pointed questions from Democrats about the handling of the Epstein files and allegations of the Justice Department being used as a political tool for President Trump.
• Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) challenged Bondi, accusing her of politicizing the DOJ:
  • "You've turned the People's Department of Justice into Trump's instrument of revenge. Trump orders up prosecutions like pizza and you deliver every time." — Jamie Raskin [00:41]
• Pam Bondi defended both herself and President Trump:
  • "I find it interesting that she keeps going after President Trump, the greatest president in American history. And if they could maintain their composure, this isn't a circus. This is a hearing." — Pam Bondi [00:55]
• The combative hearing lasted more than five hours.

---

2. White House Governors' Meeting: Drama Over Invitations

• [01:06–01:58]
• After a public back-and-forth, all 55 U.S. governors are now invited to the annual White House meeting, restoring the traditional bipartisan nature of the event.
  • Originally, President Trump only wanted Republican governors; after pushback and negotiations led by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, all governors received invitations.
• Deepa Shivaram (NPR) reported the restoration follows intervention from the National Governors Association, highlighting the fraying of bipartisan norms.

---

3. New Voter ID Law Passes House

• [01:58–02:38]
• The Republican-controlled House approved the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” or Save America Act on Wednesday.
  • Requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and valid photo ID for voting in all federal elections.
• Democrats raise concerns about restricting access for millions:
  • Impact likely to be a contentious issue leading into the midterms.

---

4. Olympic Ice Dance: Narrow Miss for U.S. Team

• [02:38–03:12]
• U.S. ice dancers Madison Chalk and Evan Bates won silver, narrowly missing gold in Milan.
  • Lost out to the French team of Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Beaudry by just over a point.
• Rachel Treisman (NPR) reports controversy surrounds the French pair:
  • Cizeron’s ex-partner alleged controlling behavior (denied).
  • Beaudry’s former partner is banned from the sport due to sexual assault allegations (denied).

---

5. U.K. Political Turmoil: Epstein Ties Scrutinized

• [03:12–04:17]
• U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced calls to resign after appointing Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S.
• Lauren Frayer (NPR, London) noted:
  • Starmer expressed regret and apologized in Parliament:
    • "I've accepted responsibility and apologized for the mistakes that I made." — Keir Starmer [03:45]
  • A majority of voters want Starmer to step down per a new poll.
  • Lawmakers urge Prince Andrew to testify regarding Epstein properties. Investigations continue, and Buckingham Palace expresses willingness to cooperate.

---

6. Canada School Shooting: Suspect Identified

• [04:17–04:55]
• An 18-year-old woman, Jesse Van Ruudseller, killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking a nearby school, resulting in eight fatalities.
  • Had a history of police checks for mental health.
  • Was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound.

---

7. Bangladesh Parliamentary Election

• [04:55–end]
• Voting opens for Bangladesh’s first parliamentary election since the collapse of PM Sheikh Hasina’s government after mass protests in 2024.
  • Significant due to recent political upheaval and mass demonstrations.

---

Notable Quotes

• Jamie Raskin [00:41]:
  "You've turned the People's Department of Justice into Trump's instrument of revenge. Trump orders up prosecutions like pizza and you deliver every time."

• Pam Bondi [00:55]:
  "I find it interesting that she keeps going after President Trump, the greatest president in American history. And if they could maintain their composure, this isn't a circus. This is a hearing."

• Keir Starmer [03:45]:
  "I've accepted responsibility and apologized for the mistakes that I made."

---

Important Timestamps

• [00:16] — Capitol Hill hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi
• [01:20] — White House governors' meeting invitation controversy
• [01:58] — House approval of restrictive voter ID law
• [02:38] — Chalk & Bates’ Olympic silver, French team controversy
• [03:12] — Keir Starmer pressed on Epstein-connected ambassador
• [04:17] — Canada school shooting details
• [04:55] — Bangladesh parliamentary elections begin

---

This concise yet comprehensive episode provides listeners with the top stories shaping U.S. and world events, mixing high-stakes politics, pressing policy issues, sporting drama, and somber world news, all in the signature measured, factual tone of NPR.

Transcript

[Announcer]

This message comes from Charles Schwab. When it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices like full service, wealth management and advice when you need it. You can also invest on your own and trade on think or swim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Gael Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Gael Snyder. Things got heated on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed with Democrats during a combative House Judiciary hearing. She faced questions over the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files and allegations that the Justice Department is being used to go after President Trump's perceived enemies. Maryland's Jamie Raskin is the panel's top Democrat.

[Jamie Raskin]

You've turned the People's Department of Justice into Trump's instrument of revenge. Trump orders up prosecutions like pizza and you deliver every time.

[Gael Snyder]

Bondi stood by the DOJ and defended President Trump.

[Pam Bondi]

I find it interesting that she keeps going after President Trump, the greatest president in American history. And if they could maintain their composure, this isn't a circus. This is a hearing.

[Gael Snyder]

The hearing lasted for more than five hours. After days of back and forth between President Trump and the nation's governors, all governors are now invited to the White House next week for a meeting with President Trump. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The National Governors association says all 55 governors are invited to a meeting at the White House next week. It's an annual event that's traditionally a rare showing of bipartisanship. But this year Trump only wanted Republican governors to attend the meeting at the White House. The governors association responded by pulling the White House meeting off its agenda. Trump then posted on social media that he'd invited all governors except for two Democrats, Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado. Now, after a phone call with the head of the Governor's Association, Oklahoma Republican Kevin Stitt, the invite has been extended to all governors. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Gael Snyder]

The Republican led House has approved legislation that would impose a new voter ID requirement ahead of the midterm elections. The bill passed Wednesday. It's called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or Save America Act. It would require Americans to present proof of citizenship when they register to vote and to show a valid photo ID before they cast ballots in a federal election. To Democrats say it will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. American ice dancers Madison Chalk and Evan Bates came away with Olympic silver, narrowly missing the gold after Wednesday's final skate. NPR's Rachel Treisman has more from Milan.

[Rachel Treisman]

As four time Olympians and the reigning world champions three years running chalk and Bates were favored for gold, but they fell short by just over a point behind French skaters Guillaume Cizeron and Laurence Fournier Baudry, who only teamed up last year. The French ice dancers have been dogged by controversy. Cizeron's longtime former partner just published a tell all accusing him of controlling behavior, which he denies. Beaudry's former partner was banned from the sport over sexual assault allegations, which he also denies. Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan.

[Gael Snyder]

This is NPR News. In the United Kingdom's Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced angry questions from opposition lawmakers over his judgment in naming a friend of Jeffrey Epstein to be ambassador to the United States. The ambassador resigned last year, and some lawmakers now want Starmer to resign as well. NPR's Lauren Frayer reports from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he regrets appointing Epstein's friend Peter Mandelson as ambassador.

[Gael Snyder]

And told Parliament, Mr. Speaker, I've accepted.

[Jamie Raskin]

Responsibility and apologized for the mistakes that I made.

[Lauren Frayer]

While he won backing from his cabinet this week to stay on the job, a new poll shows a majority of UK Voters want Starmer to resign. US Lawmakers are calling on the king's brother Andrew to testify to what he saw at his friend Epstein's properties. British prosecutors say they're in touch with police over Andrew and Mandelson, but no formal charges yet. Buckingham palace says it's ready to cooperate, too, if asked. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.

[Gael Snyder]

The suspect in Tuesday's school shooting in Canada has been identified as an 18 year old who had a history of police visits to her home to to check on her mental health. Police say Jesse Van Ruudseller first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before attacking the nearby school. Eight people were killed. Authorities say Ruetzler was found dead from an apparent self inflicted wound. Voters in Bangladesh going to the polls. Voting opened Thursday in a parliamentary election, the first since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed in 2024 after weeks of mass protests. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

[Announcer]

This message comes from Midi Health, a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause. CEO Joanna Strober shares the mission behind working with women in midlife.

[Joanna Strober]

It's not just about hormones. It's not just about weight loss medications. We are very much a holistic care platform and our job is to figure out whatever medications are appropriate for you and offer you those medications.

[Announcer]

Midi Health committed to helping women in midlife with perimenopause and menopause care accessible via telehealth visits at joinmidi. Com.