NPR News: 02-13-2026 2PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 13, 2026, 2PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This tightly-packed news update covers major U.S. policy developments, important international security moves, economic headlines, local education news, a federal investigation into university admissions, and a spirited personal perspective on ice boating. Listeners receive concise, on-the-minute reporting on both political and human interest stories from across the globe.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senate Democrats Report on Deportation Spending

• Senate Democrats allege over $40 million was spent in the past year by the Trump administration deporting migrants to over two dozen countries.
• Senator Amy Klobuchar, newly announced gubernatorial candidate, lays out the economic consequences for the U.S., especially for Minnesota.
  • Quote (00:43):

    “You look at what it was every week. One estimate is $18 million American taxpayers were paying every week. 9 million on compensation for border control and ICE, 4.5 million for the lodging. So all of that is a question of values. Is that how you want to spend your money, American taxpayers? My answer is no.”
    — Senator Amy Klobuchar

• The Trump administration defends its position, stating the enforcement targeted criminals and increased safety in U.S. communities.

2. U.S. Military Build-Up in the Middle East

• The U.S. Navy is deploying a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the region, raising tension with Iran.
• Negotiations are ongoing, aiming to avoid conflict around Iran's nuclear ambitions.
  • Quote (01:30):

    “The USS Gerald R. Ford is being sent from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean to further bolster the U.S. presence in the Middle East. Asked why he made the decision, President Trump said, quote, in case we don't make a deal.”
    — Greg Myre

3. Munich Security Conference & Europe's Defense Stance

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledges that Germany will build “the largest army in Europe.”
• Merz contrasts Russia’s GDP with the EU, challenging Europe to match its economic strength with strategic power.
  • Quote (02:37):

    “The GDP of the European Union is 10 times higher, Meirz said, and yet today Europe is not 10 times stronger than Russia. Meirz called on European leaders to flip the switch in our minds. He said that in the era of great powers, Europe’s freedom is no longer simply given, it is under threat.”
    — Rob Schmitz

4. Economic Update

• Strong day for U.S. stocks:
  • Dow: up 159 points to 49,611
  • Nasdaq: up 79 points
  • S&P 500: up 32 points
    (03:00)

5. San Francisco Teachers’ Strike Resolution

• Around 6,000 teachers in San Francisco have reached a tentative agreement over pay and health benefits, ending the strike that started Monday.
• The strike had closed all 120 of the city’s public schools and drastically affected 50,000 students.

6. Harvard University Admissions Investigation

• The Department of Justice is suing Harvard for lack of transparency regarding the role of race in its admissions following new legal requirements post-affirmative action.
• DOJ alleges Harvard has obstructed the investigation.

7. Ice Boating on the Chesapeake Bay

• Unusually cold weather has created ideal ice boating conditions.
• Veteran ice boater Ray Gauthier describes the sport’s unique thrill:
  • Quote (04:28):

    “You get in an ice boat for your first time and it goes 6 and then it goes 10 and then it goes 20, and then it goes 30 and then it goes 40. It's a life-changing experience for a sailor. It's just addictive.”
    — Ray Gauthier

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Notable Moments & Quotes

• Klobuchar on immigration spending:
  “Is that how you want to spend your money, American taxpayers? My answer is no.” (00:43)
• Greg Myre on the USS Gerald R. Ford deployment:
  “President Trump said, quote, in case we don't make a deal.” (01:30)
• Chancellor Merz’s challenge to Europe:
  “Europe’s freedom is no longer simply a given, it is under threat.” (02:37)
• Ray Gauthier’s joy in ice boating:
  “It's a life-changing experience for a sailor. It's just addictive.” (04:28)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Immigration Enforcement Spending and Klobuchar comments: 00:16–01:04
• U.S./Iran Security Tensions: 01:04–02:09
• Munich Security Conference & European Defense: 02:09–03:00
• U.S. Stock Market Update: 03:00
• San Francisco Teachers Strike Settlement: 03:00–03:45
• Harvard Admissions Investigation: 03:45–04:07
• Ice Boating Feature: 04:14–04:50

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Summary

This episode provides a swift yet thorough overview of pressing national and international news: U.S. immigration spending and defense postures, European security anxieties, market optimism, a labor dispute’s resolution, a civil rights investigation, and a slice-of-life moment celebrating winter sports. The reporting captures urgent political debate, global military maneuvering, social upheaval, and even recreational joy—all in five minutes, in NPR’s direct and informative tone.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. U.S. senate Democrats have released a report that states the Trump administration spent more than $40 million last year to to deport hundreds of migrants to at least two dozen countries where they'd never been. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who recently announced her campaign for governor of Minnesota, describes economic ruin sustained by her state and other places in the wake of the administration's immigration enforcement operations.

[Senator Amy Klobuchar]

You look at what it was every week. One estimate is $18 million American taxpayers were paying every week 9 million on compensation for border control and ICE, 4.5 million for the lodging. So all of that is a question of values. Is that how you want to spend your money, American taxpayers? My answer is no, Senator Klobuchar.

[Lakshmi Singh]

On NPR's Morning Edition, the Trump administration defends its operation, saying they've delivered on targeting criminals in the US Illegally and made communities across the country safer. The US Navy is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle east as part of a military buildup for a possible attack on Iran. NPR's Greg Myrey reports. The U.S. and Iran are also negotiating in an attempt to avoid a conflict.

[Greg Myre]

The USS Gerald R. Ford is being sent from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean to further bolster the U.S. presence in the Middle East. Asked why he made the decision, President Trump said, quote, in case we don't make a deal. The president says he'd prefer a negotiated agreement with Iran on its nuclear program, but is also warned of a possible strike. The US And Iran held talks a week ago. More talks are expected but haven't been announced. The US Already has thousands of troops, dozens of warplanes and roughly a dozen ships, including another aircraft carrier in the region. Greg Myre, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Munich security conference kicked off today, drawing leaders from around the world. One of them, the chancellor of the host country, Germany, told attendees that his government will build the largest army in Europe. Here's NPR's Rob Schmitz.

[Rob Schmitz]

In one of the first speeches of the three day conference, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told those gathered that Russia's GDP is currently worth 2 trillion euros.

[Greg Myre]

Das de Europation union ist fast sehnmal.

[Rob Schmitz]

The GDP of the European Union is 10 times higher, Meirz said, and yet today Europe is not 10 times stronger than Russia. Meirz called on European leaders to flip the switch in our minds. He he said that in the era of great powers, Europe's freedom is no longer simply a given, it is under threat. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Munich.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks are trading higher this hour. The Dow Jones industrial Average is up 159 points at 49,611. The Nasdaq has gained 79 points, and the S&P is up 32. Its NPR a strike involving about 6,000 public school teachers in San Francisco is ending. The city's Unified School District says it has reached a tentative agreement with educators on pay and health benefits. The strike began Monday. It prompted officials to shut down all 120 schools and offer independent study to some of the district's 50,000 students. The Justice Department wants to know how race factors into Harvard University's admissions process. And it is suing the Ivy League school now for its record. In its filing today, the DOJ alleges Harvard has thwarted its investigation into whether the Massachusetts institution has ended affirmative action in admissions under the law. The recent deep freeze that gripped much of the United States has created some of the best conditions in decades for ice boating. NPR's Frank Lankvitt has more on the sport from the Chesapeake Bay.

[Frank Langvitt]

Ice boats are essentially sailboats on big metal blades. Those blades combine with smooth ice for near friction, frictionless ride. Ray Gauthier, 72, is a longtime ice boater. He says a conventional sailboat can go maybe 10 miles an hour on water.

[Ray Gauthier]

You get in an ice boat for your first time and it goes 6 and then it goes 10 and then it goes 20, and then it goes 30 and then it goes 40. It's a life changing experience for a sailor. It's just addictive.

[Frank Langvitt]

Gauthier and fellow sailors have been giving free rides to spectators, introducing them to this obscure and thrilling spot. Frank Langton, NPR News, Claiborne, Maryland.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

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