NPR News Now – Episode Summary

Podcast: NPR News Now
Host: Korva Coleman
Date: February 13, 2026, 11AM EST
Length: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of the top national and international headlines as of mid-morning on February 13, 2026. Major stories include a potential shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), US diplomatic activity in Europe amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine, US Justice Department action against Harvard, a fresh SpaceX mission to the International Space Station, and the cultural phenomenon of horror movie releases on Friday the 13th.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DHS Funding Deadline & Political Standoff

[00:15–01:02]

• Impasse in Congress: The Department of Homeland Security is set to shut down at midnight as the Senate fails to advance a funding bill.
• Democratic Conditions: Democrats demand changes, especially to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a high-profile fatal incident in Minneapolis.
• ICE Exempt from Shutdown: ICE operations will continue, as it has separate funding.
• Uncertainty & Timing: Lawmakers plan to leave D.C. but are on standby for any breakthrough deal.

Notable Quote:

• “[Democrats] will only vote to fund DHS if there are significant changes to the department, specifically Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, after two US citizens were fatally shot by officers in Minneapolis.” – Barbara Sprunt [00:30]

2. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Diplomatic Tour

[01:02–01:50]

• Munich Security Conference: Rubio’s trip is highlighted, with reference to the sharply critical speech delivered by Vice President J.D. Vance the previous year.
• Rubio’s Tone: Rubio signals moderation and emphasizes alliance and dialogue with European partners.
• Itinerary: He is set to visit Slovakia and Hungary, countries noted for Russian ties and energy dependence.

Notable Quote:

• “The world is changing very fast right in front of us. The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in... It’s going to require all of us to sort of re-examine what that looks like and what our role is going to be.” – Secretary of State Marco Rubio [01:24]

3. Ukraine: Ongoing Russian Attacks & Stalled Peace Process

[01:50–03:06]

• Continued Hostilities: Russia sustains its barrage of missiles and drones against Ukrainian targets, despite claims of peace overtures.
• Ukrainian Perspective: President Zelenskyy says Russia refuses serious talks; opposition MP Inna Sovsun claims Putin is manipulating diplomatic channels for time and advantage.
• US Mediation Stalled: Russia is unyielding on its demands, and Putin avoids direct talks with Zelenskyy.

Notable Quotes:

• “[Putin] has no real plan to stop this war. And he basically tricked Trump into a situation where Trump can claim that he can continue the negotiations. Yet at the same time, as we have seen, nothing real came out of those talks.” – Inna Sovsun, Ukrainian MP [02:39]
• “So far, Russia has not budged from its maximalist demands...” – Eleanor Beardsley [02:54]

4. Domestic Headlines: Markets, Education, and Space

[03:06–03:42]

• Stock Market: Dow Jones is up over 100 points.
• Harvard Lawsuit: The Justice Department sues Harvard, alleging non-compliance with an inquiry into admissions and withholding documents. They’re probing whether Harvard respects the Supreme Court ban on race-conscious admissions.
• SpaceX Launch: Four astronauts launch toward the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Memorable Moment:

• “Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff. Go Falcon, Go Dragon. And Godspeed Crew 12.” – SpaceX Mission Control [03:48]

5. Friday the 13th & Horror Movie Releases

[04:10–04:51]

• Cultural Tie-In: Several horror movies premiere, tapping into the Friday the 13th brand.
• Industry Insight: Analyst Stephen Follows notes that the superstition is more marketing than box office magic.
• Sneak Preview: Clip from “Undertone,” a forthcoming horror flick about a haunted podcast.

Notable Quotes:

• “This is a dead time of year in movie theaters, and that’s good for horror movie fans.” – Netta Ulaby [04:10]
• “So the Friday the 13th thing is cute and it’s fun and it might help provide a spine to the marketing, but it’s not going to radically transform the numbers.” – Stephen Follows, Film Data Analyst [04:35]

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “The world is changing very fast right in front of us... We need to continue to have those conversations.”
  — Marco Rubio, Secretary of State [01:24]

• “He has no real plan to stop this war... nothing real came out of those talks.”
  — Inna Sovsun, Ukrainian MP [02:39]

• “Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff. Go Falcon, Go Dragon. And Godspeed Crew 12.”
  — SpaceX Mission Control [03:48]

• “The Friday the 13th thing is cute and it’s fun and it might help provide a spine to the marketing, but it’s not going to radically transform the numbers.”
  — Stephen Follows, Film Data Analyst [04:35]

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:15–01:02 — DHS shutdown standoff
• 01:02–01:50 — Secretary Rubio’s European trip and comments
• 01:50–03:06 — Ukraine war update, Russian attacks, diplomacy
• 03:06–03:42 — Markets, DOJ sues Harvard, SpaceX launch
• 04:10–04:51 — Friday the 13th horror movies, box office insights

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates urgent domestic politics, pivotal international developments, and light cultural fare, offering listeners a pithy and informative news update in under five minutes.