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

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Length: 5 minutes
Summary Prepared for: Listeners seeking a comprehensive recap of the latest NPR news update

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now segment provides a concise roundup of the hour’s biggest stories: the end of a controversial federal immigration surge in Minnesota, new climate policy rollbacks by the EPA, rare reunions at the Gaza-Egypt border crossing, a legal battle involving Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and a look ahead to the U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey debut in Milan. Each story includes timely reactions from prominent voices and reporters on the ground.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immigration Raids in Minnesota Wind Down

[00:17 – 01:39]

• Story: The Trump administration announces it is ending a six-week immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, following controversial raids and mass protests.
• Local Impact: Democratic Governor Tim Waltz expresses the community’s lingering trauma and the enduring economic fallout:
  • Quote (Gov. Tim Waltz, 00:49): “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin. In some cases, they left us with many unanswered questions. Where are our children? Where? And what is the process of the investigations into those that were responsible for the deaths of Renee and Alex?”
• Backdrop: The deaths of Renee Macklin and Alex Preddy during federal agent encounters have sparked national outrage and calls for investigation.

2. EPA Plans Major Climate Policy Rollbacks

[01:39 – 02:19]

• Story: The Environmental Protection Agency under President Trump seeks to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, which underpinned regulation of greenhouse gases.
• Key Details:
  • Quote (Jeff Brady, 01:39): “But now the Trump EPA says that’s illegal and wants to rescind what’s called the endangerment finding.”
  • Quote (Jill Tauber, Earthjustice Attorney, 02:01): “We’ve defended the endangerment finding before, and we will do it again. So we will see the Trump administration in court.”
• Significance: Earthjustice and other groups vow legal challenges, arguing that the scientific evidence supporting the dangers of greenhouse gases is even stronger today.

3. Celebrations and Reunions at Gaza-Egypt Border Crossing

[02:19 – 03:12]

• Story: For the first time in a year, families in Gaza are allowed brief reunions with relatives at the Egyptian border, under tight Israeli restrictions.
• On the Ground:
  • Quote (Anas Baba, 02:33): “Celebratory music rises in the air. Hassan Zanoun is 28. He has waited three years to see his bride again. Nearby, a father wraps his arms around his wife and the five kids he hasn’t held in two years.”
• Context: The scale of relief is limited; only 150 medical patients are allowed to leave daily, and just a quarter make it out. The impact is deeply felt in broken families.
  • Quote (Anas Baba, 03:02): “Al Trafah policy is calculated in figures. For families here, it’s counted in years apart.”

4. Legal Battle: Senator Mark Kelly vs. Defense Secretary Hegseth

[03:12 – 04:07]

• Story: Senator Mark Kelly wins a preliminary injunction in his lawsuit against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, after being censured and facing demotion for urging service members not to follow illegal orders.
• Key Points:
  • Kelly asserts that his free speech rights were violated when classified as “seditious” by Secretary Hegseth, who sought to strip his rank and pension.
  • The case tests military discipline against the rights of retired officers to speak out on lawful orders.

5. Olympics: U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey Team Debuts in Milan

[04:07 – 04:52]

• Story: Anticipation builds as the U.S. men’s team faces Latvia in its first Winter Olympic match, with NHL talent on the ice for the first time in 12 years.
  • Quote (Auston Matthews, Team Captain, 04:27): “I think all of us feel the same way. I mean, I think we feel like we’re up there and we should be competing for gold. You want to be obviously the best country in the world.”
• Rivalry: U.S. and Canada are heavy favorites. The women’s team is already undefeated in four games.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Gov. Tim Waltz on the toll of immigration raids:
  “They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin. In some cases, they left us with many unanswered questions.” (00:49)
• Jill Tauber (Earthjustice) on challenging EPA rollbacks:
  “We’ve defended the endangerment finding before, and we will do it again. So we will see the Trump administration in court.” (02:01)
• Gazan reunions under hardship:
  “A father wraps his arms around his wife and the five kids he hasn’t held in two years. But these reunions are few and far between.” (02:33)
• Hockey captain Auston Matthews on Olympic hopes:
  “You want to be obviously the best country in the world.” (04:27)

Important Timestamps

• 00:17 – Minnesota reacts to end of federal immigration surge
• 00:49 – Gov. Tim Waltz addresses the community’s trauma, calls for investigations
• 01:39 – EPA announces move to rescind greenhouse gas regulations
• 02:01 – Earthjustice vows legal challenge (Jill Tauber)
• 02:19 – Reunions take place at Gaza-Egypt border
• 03:12 – Senator Mark Kelly wins preliminary injunction in Pentagon case
• 04:07 – U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Olympic preview

Tone and Style

Staying true to NPR’s sober, informative, and empathetic reporting style, this episode weaves hard news with the human moments—displaying both the gravity of policy changes and the joy or pain of those affected.

For listeners:

This update offers a brief, well-rounded digest of key national and international developments, spotlighting government actions, legal challenges, dramatic reunions, and Olympic dreams—all within a tightly packed five minutes.