NPR News Now – 5AM EST, February 12, 2026

Host: Dave Mattingly
Summary:
In this concise five-minute news update, NPR covers top U.S. and international headlines, including U.S.-Israel-Iran tensions, EPA policy changes, foreign money in American universities, federal deficit projections, and highlights from the Winter Olympics. The episode distills complex stories into key facts and notable soundbites, capturing early morning news developments with clarity and urgency.

1. U.S.-Israel-Iran Tensions and Human Rights in Iran

• [00:15-01:28] President Trump met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for about three hours.
  • Trump insists on allowing continued negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
  • Netanyahu's demands focus on limiting Iranian missiles and ending Iranian support for groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
• Casualty Reports from Iran
  • U.S.-based human rights activists claim more than 7,000 protesters killed in Iran’s crackdown, with fears of even higher numbers.
  • Three weeks prior, Iran had acknowledged at least 3,100 deaths.

Notable Quote

“President Trump says he's urging Israel to support continued U.S. efforts to convince Iran to give up its nuclear program.”
— Dave Mattingly [00:16]

2. EPA Policy Rollbacks & Legal Challenges

• [01:28-02:08] The Trump administration is set to announce the largest deregulatory efforts in U.S. history by rolling back climate change policies.
• EPA's Endangerment Finding
  • The EPA intends to rescind the 2009 “endangerment finding” that enabled regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Jill Tauber (Earthjustice) vows legal action to defend the current science-backed standards.

Notable Quotes

“We've defended the endangerment finding before, and we will do it again, so we will see the Trump administration in court.”
— Jill Tauber [01:51]

“Tauber says the 2009 endangerment finding was based on scientific evidence that's even more robust now.”
— Jeff Brady [02:00]

3. Transparency in Foreign Influence at U.S. Colleges

• [02:08-03:02] New Department of Education data show U.S. colleges received over $5 billion in foreign gifts and contracts last year.
  • Part of an administration push for transparency about foreign influence.
  • Law requires schools to report single gifts/contracts of $250,000+.
  • Data reveal significant funding from countries of concern (China, Russia, Iran), with Harvard, MIT, and NYU topping the recipient lists.

Notable Quote

“The data provided unprecedented visibility into funding from countries that threaten America’s national security.”
— Education Secretary Linda McMahon (quoted by Alyssa Nadworny) [02:36]

4. Economy: Jobs, Stocks, and National Debt

• [03:02-03:51]
  • Wall Street ended lower despite U.S. job growth exceeding forecasts for January.
  • Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects rising federal deficits and debt, with an additional $1.4 trillion expected from 2026–2035 due to Social Security and Medicare spending.

Notable Quote

“The CBO is revising upward by $1.4 trillion its projection for the federal deficit from this year through 2035.”
— Dave Mattingly [03:30]

5. Winter Olympics Updates:

• [03:51-04:23]
  • Ice Dancing: Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates win silver, narrowly missing gold to French skaters. French team surrounded by controversy:
    • Guillaume Cizeron’s ex-partner publicly accuses him of controlling behavior.
    • Laurence Fournier Beaudry’s former partner banned for sexual assault allegations.
  • Medal Count: Milan, Norway, and Italy lead with 13 medals each. U.S. has 12.
  • Lindsey Vonn Injury Update: Lindsey Vonn undergoes a third surgery after her downhill ski crash; reports surgery as successful.

Notable Quotes

“Chock 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.”
— Rachel Treisman [03:55]

“Vonn wiped out 13 seconds into that race.”
— Dave Mattingly [04:47]

6. Closing & Headline Roundup

• [04:23-04:53] Host Dave Mattingly recaps the U.S. medal count and Lindsey Vonn’s update, then closes the bulletin before the next sponsor break.

Episode Highlights by Timestamp:

• [00:16] Trump and Netanyahu meet on Iran negotiations
• [01:51] Jill Tauber promises courtroom battle over EPA deregulation
• [02:36] U.S. reports record foreign money to top colleges
• [03:30] CBO deficit warning
• [03:55] U.S. silver in Olympic ice dancing / French team controversy
• [04:47] Update on Lindsey Vonn’s recovery

Tone: Direct, factual, and fast-paced, in typical NPR newscast style—delivering context with concise clarity.

For Listeners:
This five-minute bullet-pointed episode covers major U.S. political moves, legal environmental battles, college financial transparency, big economic forecasts, and top Olympic stories. It’s a rapid yet thorough primer for anyone starting their day with the world’s latest headlines.