NPR News Now – February 13, 2026, 12AM EST

Host: Gael Snyder
Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode: NPR News: 02-13-2026 12AM EST
Date: February 13, 2026

Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise, five-minute roundup of major U.S. and global headlines. Coverage ranges from major policy reversals by the Trump administration to updates on financial markets, court rulings, developments in artificial intelligence, and a significant astronomical discovery. The tone is urgent, clear, and fact-focused, as is typical for NPR’s news updates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Climate Policy Overhaul by the Trump Administration

• [00:15] President Trump announces the revocation of the "endangerment finding," the scientific basis connecting greenhouse gas emissions to human health and forming the legal foundation for many U.S. climate policies.
• [00:25] President Donald Trump:
  “We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers. Prices went up incredibly for a worse product.”
• [00:44] Trump, appearing with EPA Director Lee Zeldin, also rescinds federal tailpipe pollution standards for cars and trucks. Expected legal challenges loom.

2. Changes to Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota

• [01:00] Tom Holman, Trump’s borders administrator, announces the conclusion of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.
• [01:16] Senate Democrats demand new restrictions as federal funding for Homeland Security nears expiration. The crackdown has triggered mass protests, thousands of arrests, and two fatal shootings.
• [01:25] A federal judge orders DHS to ensure immigration detainees in a Minnesota facility have access to lawyers and restricts DHS from transferring detainees out of state for 72 hours.
• [01:45] Matt Sepik (Minnesota Public Radio):
  “Judge Nancy Brazel’s temporary restraining order comes after a human rights group sued on behalf of a woman from Honduras who’d been detained without access to a lawyer. … Brazel writes that the department provided only, quote, ‘threadbare declarations’ without examples or evidence that it’s providing access to counsel.”
• The order enforces unrestricted calls and in-person access for attorneys, prohibiting retaliation against detainees or lawyers.

3. International Markets & Inflation Outlook

• [02:24] Japan’s Nikkei index falls, mirroring Wall Street’s tech-driven losses.
• [02:38] Scott Horsley (NPR): Reports on the U.S. inflation outlook ahead of the latest Labor Department release.
  • “Forecasters expect the report to show prices rose about 2.5% over the last 12 months. That would be a slightly smaller annual increase than we saw in December. Inflation is still above the Federal Reserve’s target, though, and investors think the central bank will hold interest rates steady next month.”
  • Fast food giant McDonald’s credits its McValue menu for strong sales amidst tough economic times.

4. UN General Assembly Forms Global AI Panel

• [03:16] The UN approves a 40-member scientific panel on artificial intelligence, despite U.S. objections.
• [03:22] UN Secretary General António Guterres states the panel will provide “rigorous scientific insight.”
• The U.S. opposes, stating it will not cede AI authority to international bodies potentially influenced by authoritarian regimes.

5. AI Industry Milestone: Anthropic’s Valuation Soars

• [03:42] AI firm Anthropic, creator of the chatbot Claude, hits a $380 billion valuation.
• [03:49] The leap follows a $30 billion funding round from major investors, signaling massive investor confidence in AI development.

6. Astronomical Discovery: A Disappearing Star in Andromeda

• [03:58] A star in the Andromeda galaxy has vanished, likely becoming a black hole—a first for direct observational evidence.
• [04:05] Nell Greenfield Boyce (NPR):
  • Details archival research from a NASA spacecraft that tracked millions of stars.
  • Kishaloy Day (astronomer, Columbia University & Flatiron Institute) [04:24]:
    “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.”
  • The event is believed to confirm a star’s direct transformation into a black hole—long theorized but rarely observed.

Notable Quotes

• President Trump [00:25]:
  "We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers. Prices went up incredibly for a worse product."
• Matt Sepik (Minnesota Public Radio) [01:45]:
  "Judge Nancy Brazel’s temporary restraining order comes after a human rights group sued on behalf of a woman from Honduras who’d been detained without access to a lawyer. ... Brazel writes that the department provided only, quote, 'threadbare declarations' without examples or evidence that it’s providing access to counsel."
• Scott Horsley [02:38]:
  "Forecasters expect the report to show prices rose about 2.5% over the last 12 months. That would be a slightly smaller annual increase than we saw in December. Inflation is still above the Federal Reserve’s target, though, and investors think the central bank will hold interest rates steady next month."
• Kishaloy Day [04:24]:
  "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."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:15] – Climate policy reversal by Trump administration
• [01:00] – End of Minnesota immigration crackdown
• [01:25-01:45] – Federal judge orders on detainee rights (MN)
• [02:24-02:38] – Financial market update & inflation preview
• [03:16] – UN global AI panel vote
• [03:42] – Anthropic AI valuation news
• [03:58-04:35] – Disappearing star discovery in Andromeda

Memorable Moments

• President Trump’s direct attack on past climate policy, setting up a contentious legal and political battle.
• The Minnesota federal court’s sharp reprimand of DHS for inadequate detainee legal access, with forceful judicial language.
• The combination of a plummeting star transforming into a black hole—science news bringing a cosmic sense of wonder to the day’s headlines.

This episode gives listeners a rapid yet comprehensive view of major events driving U.S. politics, law, economics, and global science, all delivered in NPR’s signature informative, impartial style.