NPR News: 02-12-2026 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — Summary

Episode: NPR News: 02-12-2026 9PM EST
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)

The latest news in five minutes, updated hourly with major headlines spanning politics, technology, privacy, LGBTQ+ rights, international aid, financial markets, and sports.

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Main Theme & Purpose

This NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid-fire update on the day’s most pressing stories: government shutdowns and political battles in DC, legal disputes over digital rights, privacy breaches, international aid efforts, LGBTQ+ visibility, stock market developments, and a moment from NASCAR, mixed with a brief spotlight on women’s health care innovation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Imminent Partial Shutdown of Department of Homeland Security

• Context: Congress fails to pass DHS funding bill.

• Content:

  • The stalemate follows fatal police shootings by immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
  • Senate Democrats refused to support without reforms to department policies; demand legislative, not executive, action for codified policy changes.
  • Ongoing bipartisan negotiations have yet to reach agreement.

  Notable Quote:

  • “Democrats have said that any changes must be made through the legislative process, not by executive order, in order to ensure that they're codified into law.” — Barbara Sprunt, [00:43]

2. Lawsuit Over ICE-Tracking Apps and Freedom of Expression

• Background: After DOJ pressure, Apple removes ICE agent tracking apps from App Store (Oct 2025).

• Details:

  • Eyesup app developer Mark Hodges sues government officials, alleging First Amendment rights violation.
  • The case also involves Cassandra Rosado, whose Facebook page tracking ICE was disabled.
  • Both are represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

  Notable Quote:

  • “I think it's especially important when we have a government that is saying you can't believe what you see with your own eyes to have evidence that shows what's really happening.” — Mark Hodges, [01:29]

3. IRS Breach of Taxpayer Data Privacy

• Incident: IRS admits erroneous sharing of taxpayer information with DHS (as part of deportation efforts).
• Legal Concerns: Potential violation of privacy protections for taxpayer information.

4. Contentious State Department Nominations

• Details:

  • Senate committee grills two nominees:
    • One joked that Iceland should be the 52nd state.
    • Another nominee (Jeremy Carl) has a noted history of sexist and racist remarks.
  • Importance of diplomacy and restraint in international posts emphasized.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “You wrote that you want America to be a Christian nation and you continued to make anti Semitic and racist comments even after your nomination was announced last year.” — Jeanne Shaheen via Michelle Kellerman, [02:46]
  • “[Diplomats] need to restrain themselves, but says his current job at the Claremont Institute...involves advocacy.” — Jeremy Carl (summarized by Michelle Kellerman), [02:55]

5. Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Escalating Energy Crisis

• Development: Mexico sends ships with aid (food, hygiene supplies, powdered milk) to Cuba.
• Context: U.S. sanctions have worsened Cuba’s energy crisis; aid sent while US-Mexico diplomatic talks continue.

6. Restoring the Pride Flag at Stonewall National Monument

• Background: Pride flag removed due to Trump administration’s policy limiting national park flags to American only.

• Event:

  • Large crowd gathers to witness flag’s return alongside activists and faith leaders.
  • Attendees see flag removal as symbolic of broader attacks on LGBTQ+ and minority rights.

  Notable Quote:

  • “They want to see us erased. They want us to be gone. The pride flag has to be flown here at this park.” — Mike Hisy, [04:13]

7. Stock Market Downturn

• Report: All major US stock indexes fall, S&P 500 drops more than 1.5%.

8. NASCAR Driver Breaks New Rule

• Event: Noah Gragson disqualified for using his hand to alter airflow during qualifying—forgetting new rules.

• Implication: Disqualified from advancing in Daytona 500 qualifiers.

  Memorable Moment:

  • “Gragson says he completely forgot about the rule.” — Ryland Barton, [04:43]

9. Women’s Health Care and Destigmatizing Menopause (Midi Health Feature)

• Topic: Founders of Midi Health on destigmatizing perimenopause and menopause.

• Goal: Empower, educate, and support women during hormonal changes via telehealth.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “Historically, perimenopause and menopause have been very stigmatizing, so people haven’t wanted to admit that they are in perimenopause and menopause as though it was, like, embarrassing, which is insane. It's just something happening to your body.” — Joanna Strober/Dr. Kathleen Jordan, [05:07]
  • “One of the ways that women find MIDI is actually from other women, and I think it's meaningful.” — Barbara Sprunt (feature segment), [05:33]

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• ”Democrats have said that any changes must be made through the legislative process, not by executive order, in order to ensure that they're codified into law.”
  — Barbara Sprunt, [00:43]

• ”I think it’s especially important when we have a government that is saying you can’t believe what you see with your own eyes to have evidence that shows what’s really happening.”
  — Mark Hodges, [01:29]

• ”You wrote that you want America to be a Christian nation and you continued to make anti Semitic and racist comments even after your nomination was announced last year.”
  — Jeanne Shaheen (via Michelle Kellerman), [02:46]

• ”They want to see us erased. They want us to be gone. The pride flag has to be flown here at this park.”
  — Mike Hisy, [04:13]

• ”Historically, perimenopause and menopause have been very stigmatizing, so people haven’t wanted to admit that they are in perimenopause and menopause as though it was, like, embarrassing, which is insane. It's just something happening to your body.”
  — Joanna Strober/Dr. Kathleen Jordan, [05:07]

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Important Timestamps

• [00:15] — DHS shutdown imminent: funding bill fails.
• [01:10] — ICE-tracking app lawsuit over free speech rights.
• [01:54] — IRS admits to data privacy breach involving DHS.
• [02:27] — Contentious State Department nominations scrutinized.
• [03:08] — Stock market report.
• [03:40] — Pride flag raised again at Stonewall National Monument.
• [04:29] — NASCAR rule violation disqualifies driver.
• [05:07] — Midi Health discusses menopause destigmatization.

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Tone & Style

Direct, urgent, and concise—mirroring the NPR News Now delivery. The episode balances hard news with moments of advocacy and human interest, spotlighting both national debates and individual voices. It prioritizes clarity, objectivity, and a sense of immediacy, offering listeners a fast overview of the day’s major developments while capturing the passionate, personal stakes behind the headlines.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab / Midi Health 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.

[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security is imminent, as NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports, Congress failed to pass a bill to fund DHS through the end of September.

[Barbara Sprunt]

The failed vote was expected after Senate Democrats pledged not to support it without major changes to department policies in the wake of two fatal shootings by immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Both parties have been negotiating on a series of proposals for the department, but no consensus has been reached. Democrats have said that any changes must be made through the legislative process, not by executive order, in order to ensure that they're codified into law. Barbara Sprent, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

Last October, under pressure from the Department of Justice, Apple removed several ICE agent tracking programs from the App Store. The developer of one of these apps is now suing the federal government for member station wfiu. Ethan Sandweiss reports.

[Ethan Sandweiss]

Eyesup verifies and shares videos of confrontations with ice. It's still active on Android, but its founder, Mark Hodges, says the user base hasn't recovered since Apple took it down, saying it posed a safety risk to law enforcement. He has now filed suit against Pam Bondi and Kristi Noem, saying that by pressuring Apple, they're violating the First Amendment.

[Mark Hodges / Mike Hisy / Other Activists]

I think it's especially important when we have a government that is saying you can't believe what you see with your own eyes to have evidence that shows what's really happening.

[Ethan Sandweiss]

Hodges is filing jointly with Cassandra Rosado, a Chicago resident whose Facebook page tracking ICE sightings was disabled by that platform. They're represented by the foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. For NPR News, I'm Ethan Sandweiss.

[Ryland Barton]

The IRS says it erroneously shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security. According to a new court filing, it was part of the agency's agreement to share information to identify and deport people illegally in the US the move potentially violates privacy rules to protect taxpayer data. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held nomination hearings for several top State Department posts today. Nominees include a man who joked that Iceland should be part of the US and another who has a record of sexist and racist comments. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, former Congressman.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Billy Long says he apologized for his quip that Iceland should become the 52nd state. The ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, says what diplomats say matters. She also questioned Jeremy Carlsvitness to be assistant secretary of state for international organizations in 2024.

[Mark Hodges / Mike Hisy / Other Activists]

You wrote that you want America to be a Christian nation and you continued to make anti semitic and racist comments even after your nomination was announced last year.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Carl says he knows diplomats need to restrain themselves, but says his current job at the Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank, involves advocacy. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Ryland Barton]

U.S. stock indexes fell sharply today. The S&P 500 sank more than one and a half percent. It's NPR. Mexico sent two ships with humanitarian aid to Cuba as sanctions from the US Worsened the island's energy crisis. The ships carried food, hygiene supplies and powdered milk. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico is providing aid while talks with the US Continue. The pride flag was raised once again at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City after the administration took it down. NPR's Sarah Ventry has more.

[Sarah Ventry]

A large crowd packed tightly into Christopher park in Greenwich Village, where activists and faith leaders spoke before a small group of elected officials hoisted the rainbow pride flag right next to the American one. The Trump administration has directed that only American flags can fly at National Park Service sites. But for many in attendance here, the decision to take down the pride flag was symbolic of the administration's policies towards LGBTQ plus and other minorities. Mike Hisy says he's been a gay activist for 45 years.

[Mark Hodges / Mike Hisy / Other Activists]

They want to see us erased. They want us to be gone. The pride flag has to be flown here at this park.

[Sarah Ventry]

The Stonewall Monument is the first national monument marking the fight for LGBTQ civil rights. Sarah Ventri, NPR news, New York.

[Ryland Barton]

NASCAR's Noah Gragson is the first to break a new rule that bans drivers from sticking their hands out the window, cracking. Gragson's time in a qualifying race was thrown out because he used his hand to deflect air and gain an advantage on the track. Gragson says he completely forgot about the rule. The 27 year old won't advance to the second round of qualifying for this weekend's Daytona 500. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Charles Schwab / Midi Health Announcer]

This message comes from Midi Health. Co founders Joanna Strober and Dr. Kathleen Jordan discuss why they started a virtual care platform to empower and educate women in perimenopause and menopause.

[Joanna Strober or Dr. Kathleen Jordan]

Historically, perimenopause and menopause have been very stigmatizing, so people haven't wanted to admit that they are in perimenopause and menopause as though it was, like, embarrassing, which is insane. It's just something happening to your body. So one of the things that we're trying to do is destigmatize these topics. Perimenopause and menopause are just women's health. So we try to educate women all the time. Maybe it's your hormones and we would like to help people.

[Ryland Barton]

You.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Yeah. And I find women actually want to talk about it. It's one of the things they always comment at MIDI is that they finally feel heard. One of the ways that women find MIDI is actually from other women, and I think it's meaningful.

[Charles Schwab / Midi Health Announcer]

Midi Health committed to helping women in midlife with perimenopause and menopause care Accessible via telehealth [e-mail].