NPR News: 02-13-2026 4AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — February 13, 2026, 4AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Length: 5 minutes

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Main Theme

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of major national developments: the end of a high-profile immigration crackdown in Minnesota, reversals in climate policy, significant news in antitrust and media mergers, housing market shifts, a court-ordered improvement in detention facility medical care, and updates on the President’s schedule and sports headlines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. End of Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota

• [00:15] Trump administration announces that the controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota is ending.
• Governor Tim Walz expresses "cautious optimism," noting personal assurances from Border Czar Tom Homan that agents will depart immediately.
• The governor describes the operation’s severe impact:
  • "The operation caused an economic crisis here similar to Covid and left the state with generational trauma."
  • Demands federal compensation for damage.
  • Urges state lawmakers to pass a small business aid package.

Governor Tim Walz [00:42]:
"The feds need to pay for what they broke, but for now, he's urging state lawmakers to approve an aid package for small businesses."

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2. Climate Policy Reversal

• [01:00] The EPA rescinds the pivotal 2009 "endangerment finding" – a scientific determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health.
• Move likely to prompt legal action from environmental groups.
• Context: The decision comes amid Democratic efforts to curb immigration enforcement.

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3. Antitrust Official Departure Amid Media Merger Battles

• [01:12] Top Trump administration antitrust official Gail Slater resigns, following tensions over major merger cases.
• High-profile developments:
  • Debate over Netflix's proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. President Trump first indicated he would oversee the decision but then recused himself.
  • Warner has rejected rival bids from Paramount, whose CEO David Ellison recently visited Trump.
• Slater, seen as a serious regulator, leaves following DOJ settlement of another major merger case.

David Folkenflik [01:44]:
"President Trump, of course, likes to be the decider on such matters. He earlier announced he would personally examine the Netflix offer for Warner Brothers Discovery, then said he'd sit it out."

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4. Housing Market Downturn

• [02:20] January saw a sharp, almost 8.5% drop in existing home sales, reversing strong figures from late 2025.
• Possible causes include bad weather and consumer pessimism about the economy.
• Median sale price: About $397,000, a small year-over-year uptick.
• Housing affordability is at its best in four years due to faster wage growth, but buyers compare unfavorably to the much lower mortgage rates of 2021.
• Reluctance to move persists, as homeowners are unwilling to give up locked-in low rates.

Stephen Saha [02:55]:
"Homeowners and would-be buyers are not looking back four years, but five, back when mortgage rates were half what they are today."

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5. Medical Care Ordered Improved at Immigration Detention Facility

• [03:13] A federal judge mandates that ICE swiftly improve medical care at the California City detention facility, Mojave Desert, following a lawsuit detailing insufficient treatment of detainees with severe health conditions.
• An independent monitor will ensure compliance.
• Judge also mandates:
  • Full access to attorneys
  • Daily time outdoors
  • Provision of warm clothing

Margo Mendelsohn, Prison Law Office [04:03]:
"This is critical interim relief to make sure that people are not subject to horrific, unconscionable conditions."

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6. Other Brief Headlines

• [04:22] President Trump is set to visit Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to praise special forces involved in the capture of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro.
• U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team: Dominant opening win over Latvia, 5-1, featuring top NHL talent.

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Notable Quotes

• Governor Tim Walz on Minnesota’s trauma:
  "The operation caused an economic crisis here similar to Covid and left the state with generational trauma." ([00:42])

• David Folkenflik on presidential involvement in mergers:
  "President Trump ... announced he would personally examine the Netflix offer ... then said he'd sit it out." ([01:44])

• Stephen Saha on housing market malaise:
  "Homeowners are still reluctant to move and give up their old lower rate." ([03:08])

• Margo Mendelsohn on judge’s order for detention conditions:
  "...make sure that people are not subject to horrific, unconscionable conditions." ([04:03])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• End of MN Immigration Crackdown: 00:15 – 01:00
• EPA Climate Policy Action: 01:00 – 01:12
• Antitrust and Media Mergers: 01:12 – 02:20
• Housing Market Report: 02:20 – 03:13
• Detention Facility Court Order: 03:13 – 04:22
• Trump’s NC Visit & Olympics Results: 04:22 – 04:55

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Episode Tone

Brief, factual, and urgent—providing listeners with essential news updates in a neutral and concise NPR style.

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This episode offers a vivid snapshot of pressing U.S. political, legal, economic, and cultural developments as of February 13, 2026.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab 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.

[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. The Trump administration says the immigration crackdown in Minnesota is coming to an end. Border czar Tom Holman made the announcement Thursday, saying the Homeland Security Department has accomplished its goal. Minnesota Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Sepik has a reaction from Minnesota's Democratic governor.

[Governor Tim Wall]

Governor Tim Wall says he is cautiously optimistic that Trump will keep his word. The Democratic governor says Homan personally assured him that agents are leaving immediately. Now Wall says the operation caused an economic crisis here similar to Covid and left the state with generational trauma. The governor says the feds need to pay for what they broke, but for now, he's urging state lawmakers to approve an aid package for small businesses.

[Giles Snyder]

The announcement came a day before the home set to run out of money as Senate Democrats demand new restrictions on immigration enforcement operations. Trump administration revoking the scientific finding the government uses for federal actions on climate change. The EPA Thursday rescinded the 2009 declaration that Greenhouse gases endanger public health. Environmental groups likely to take court action. A top antitrust official in the Trump administration, Gail Slater, is leaving after a year on the job. Her her departure comes amid internal tensions over some big cases, including high profile deals like the proposed Netflix takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery. NPR's David Folkenflick President Trump, of course.

[David Folkenflick]

Likes to be the decider on such matters. He earlier announced he would personally examine the Netflix offer for Warner Brothers Discovery, then said he'd sit it out. Warner has repeatedly rejected Paramount's rival bids. Paramount CEO David Ellison, a political ally of the president, the visited with Trump last week, according to cnn. As an assistant US Attorney general, Gail Slater was seen as a regulator who took questions of corporate consolidation seriously. But the Justice Department settled a lawsuit she had filed against HP's $14 billion bid to take over a competitor, and the deal ultimately went through. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Existing home sales fell sharply in January, according to the national association of Realtors, and it's a reversal from strong sales figures at the end of 2025. As NPR's Stephen Saha reports, existing home.

[Stephen Saha]

Sales fell almost 8.5% compared with December. Some of that could be blamed on bad weather, but also on consumers feeling down about the economy, making them less likely to move. The median sales price was about $397,000, up just a bit less than a percent compared with a year ago. The good news is wages have grown faster, and the national association of Realtors says housing affordability is the best it's been in about four years. But homeowners and will be buyers are not looking back four years, but five, back when mortgage rates were half what they are today. They have declined a bit over the last year, but homeowners are still reluctant to move and give up their old lower rate. Stephen Messaha, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

This is npr. A federal judge in San Francisco is ordering immigration officials to swiftly improve medical care at a remote detention facility in the Mojave Desert. This after detainees sued over claims of inadequate treatment. From member station KQED in San Francisco, tyche Hendricks reports.

[Tyche Hendricks]

U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement says it provides adequate medical care to the thousand plus people at the California City detention facility. But after hearing that people with cancer symptoms and diabetic ulcers are not getting treatment, U.S. district Judge Maxine Chesney ordered an independent monitor to ensure that care meets constitutional requirements. Margo Mendelsohn with the Prison Law Office represents detainees.

[Margo Mendelsohn]

This is critical interim relief to make sure that people are not subject to horrific, unconscionable conditions.

[Tyche Hendricks]

The judge also ordered ICE to allow people full access to attorneys, daily time outdoors and warm clothing. For NPR News, I'm Tyche Hendricks in San Francisco.

[Giles Snyder]

President Trump is scheduled to travel to North Carolina today, set to visit Fort Bragg to pray special forces involved in the capture of Venezuela's former leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump was last at Fort Bragg in June at an event celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. army. U.S. men's Hockey Team opened Olympic competition with a victory Thursday. The U.S. with some of the best NHL players on the team, roll past Latvia five goals to one. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.

[Charles Schwab 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 thinkorswim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.