NPR News Now – February 12, 2026, 6PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Duration: 5 minutes
Summary Prepared By: [Your Name]

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the latest national and international headlines, focusing on major political, scientific, and human-interest stories. Key topics include the Trump administration’s rollback of climate regulations, contentious Senate immigration hearings, a New Jersey congressional primary upset, U.S. jobless claims data, Switzerland’s upcoming referendum on population limits, a possible birth of a black hole in the Andromeda galaxy, and a feel-good story about a lost prosthetic leg reunited with its owner.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Climate Policy Rollback by Trump Administration (00:15–01:14)

• Main Point:
  The Trump administration announces the elimination of a cornerstone climate regulation—the "endangerment finding"—which allowed the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases from fossil fuels.

• Details & Insights:

  • The EPA will no longer officially recognize greenhouse gases as a public health threat, reversing an Obama-era policy.
  • President Trump calls it "the single largest deregulatory action in American history."
    • Quote (Trump, paraphrased by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin):
      "I'm pleased to be joined today by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who you all know and to announce the single largest deregulatory action in American history." (00:50)
  • Environmental groups vow to challenge the decision in court, maintaining the scientific consensus supporting the original regulation's necessity.

2. Senate Hearings on Immigration Enforcement (01:14–02:07)

• Main Point:
  Top immigration officials testify before the Senate about controversial enforcement tactics.

• Details & Insights:

  • Focus on the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy by federal agents in Minneapolis.
  • Senator Rand Paul presents video evidence to highlight concerns about the justification for the shooting.
    • Quote (Sen. Rand Paul):
      "I see nothing here. I mean, not even a hint of something that was aggressive on his part. Everything was retreat." (01:42)
  • CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott clarifies that neither he nor anyone in his agency characterized Preddy’s actions as terrorism, contrary to earlier statements by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

3. Political Upset in New Jersey Congressional Primary (02:07–03:02)

• Main Point:
  Lilia Mejia defeats former Congressman Tom Malinowski in an unexpected win during the special Democratic primary.

• Details & Insights:

  • Mejia, a community organizer and immigrant’s daughter, aligns herself with progressive groups and leaders such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
  • Her campaign emphasized progressive stances, notably the abolition of ICE due to recent enforcement incidents.
  • She will now face Republican Joe Hathaway, the Randolph Township mayor, in the special election.
  • Contextual Note:
    The win is notable given Malinowski's former incumbency and fundraising advantages.

4. U.S. Unemployment Claims Remain Low (03:02–03:17)

• Main Point:
  New unemployment claims fell last week, consistent with a strong job market.

• Details & Insights:

  • Filings remain within a “historically healthy range,” suggesting ongoing labor market stability.

5. Switzerland to Vote on Population Cap (03:17–03:48)

• Main Point:
  Switzerland plans a referendum on capping its population at 10 million.

• Details & Insights:

  • Current population is around 9.1 million.
  • Supporters cite strains on resources, infrastructure, and the social safety net.
  • Critics caution that limiting population growth could harm international commitments and the economy, which benefits from foreign labor.

6. Astronomers Witness Star Disappear – Possible Black Hole Birth (03:48–04:36)

• Main Point:
  Astronomers may have observed a massive star collapsing directly into a black hole in the Andromeda galaxy.

• Details & Insights:

  • Researchers tracking brightness of stars found one that briefly brightened and then vanished around 2015–2016.
  • Quote (Dr. Keisha Loy Day, Columbia University):
    "What we found was that somewhere around 2015, 2016 or so, it actually brightened in infrared light for about a year before it essentially plummeted and disappeared." (04:08)
  • The event, reported in Science, may be the first observational evidence of a star collapsing directly into a black hole without a supernova.

7. Human-Interest: Lost Prosthetic Leg Returned (04:36–04:56)

• Main Point:
  A swimmer in England is reunited with her prosthetic leg after 10 months.

• Details & Insights:

  • Brenda Ogden lost her titanium leg to a wave in April.
  • A beachcomber, finding it 15 miles away, used social media to return it to Ogden.
  • Memorable Moment:
    The heartwarming outcome underscores the power of community and connectivity.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Trump’s Deregulatory Move:
  "I'm pleased to be joined today by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who you all know and to announce the single largest deregulatory action in American history." – EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (00:50)

• Sen. Rand Paul on Preddy Shooting Video:
  "I see nothing here. I mean, not even a hint of something that was aggressive on his part. Everything was retreat." – Rand Paul (01:42)

• Scientific Insight on Vanishing Star:
  "What we found was that somewhere around 2015, 2016 or so, it actually brightened in infrared light for about a year before it essentially plummeted and disappeared." – Dr. Keisha Loy Day (04:08)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:15 – Climate change regulation rollback announced
• 01:14 – Immigration hearings on Senate floor
• 02:07 – New Jersey special election primary upset
• 03:02 – U.S. unemployment claims
• 03:17 – Switzerland’s population cap referendum
• 03:48 – Star collapse, possible black hole in Andromeda
• 04:36 – Prosthetic leg lost and found story

End of Summary