NPR News: 02-13-2026 5AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: February 13, 2026 | 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly
Date: February 13, 2026
Main Theme:
This five-minute NPR News Now update covers overnight developments in U.S. government funding, major legal actions involving prominent political and media figures, a campus shooting, Olympic hockey results, and presidential pardons.

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1. Congress Faces Deadline on Department of Homeland Security Funding

[00:16–01:14]

• Congress is up against a midnight deadline to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded.
• Key points:
  • The Senate failed to pass a long-term funding bill, falling eight votes short.
  • Democrats are demanding reforms to immigration enforcement as part of any new funding.
  • With both chambers set for a recess next week, no negotiations are underway.

Quote:

• “A bill to fund the department through September failed in the Senate yesterday, falling eight votes shy of the 60 needed for passage.” — Dave Mattingly [00:32]

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2. Judge Blocks Pentagon from Demoting Senator Mark Kelly

[01:14–01:50]

• A federal judge has halted Pentagon efforts to potentially demote Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a former NASA astronaut and US Navy captain.
• Background:
  • Kelly and several Democrats appeared in a video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders, sparking a backlash from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
  • The Pentagon reviewed Kelly’s retirement status, potentially threatening his pension.
  • Judge Richard Leon found the Pentagon actions infringed on Kelly’s First Amendment rights.

Notable Quote:

• “Judge Richard Leon argued that Hegseth had, quote, trampled on the senator's First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional rights of millions of military retirees.” — Elena Moore [01:34]

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3. Trump Accuses Kelly and Others of Sedition; Naval Assets Move

[01:50–02:24]

• President Trump accused Senator Kelly and others in the video of "seditious behavior."
• Media outlets report President Trump is redeploying the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
• The move is intended to pressure Iran over its nuclear program.

Quote:

• “The president has been building up American naval assets in the region to pressure Iran into giving up its nuclear program.” — Dave Mattingly [02:10]

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4. Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against BBC Moves Forward

[02:24–03:10]

• President Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC, alleging defamation and unfair trade practices (totaling $10 billion), will proceed to trial.
• Details:
  • The lawsuit claims the BBC edited his January 6, 2021 speech for a documentary prior to the 2024 election, omitting his call for peaceful protest.
  • BBC has admitted error but denies intent to defame.
  • A Florida judge has set a trial date for February 2027.

Notable Quote:

• “Trump has sued the BBC for $5 billion for alleged def and another 5 billion for unfair trade practices. ... A Florida judge has now set a date for February 2027.” — Lauren Frayer [02:42]

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5. Deadly Shooting at South Carolina State University

[03:10–03:48]

• Two people were killed and another injured in a shooting at a residential complex at South Carolina State University.
• The campus went into lockdown and classes were cancelled.
• No arrests have been announced.

Quote:

• “School officials in Orangeburg say two people were killed by gunfire and another was wounded.” — Dave Mattingly [03:15]

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6. Winter Olympics: US Men’s Hockey Opens with Victory

[03:48–04:29]

• The US Men’s Hockey team beat Latvia 5-1 in their opening game in Italy.
• NHL players are participating for the first time since 2014.
• Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche) scored twice; Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) also scored.
• Two US goals were overturned after Latvian challenges.
• US and Canada are early favorites for the gold.
  • Canada also won their opener against Czechia 5-0.

Quote:

• “The US squad was led by Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche. He scored twice. Team captain Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs also had a goal.” — Steve Futterman [03:53]

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7. Presidential Pardons: Five Former NFL Players

[04:29–04:55]

• President Trump issued pardons to five former NFL players convicted of crimes including drug trafficking and perjury.
• Joe Kleko (Pro Football Hall of Fame, former New York Jets) was among those pardoned.

Quote:

• “The five include Pro Football hall of Famer Joe Kleko, who played for the New York Jets. He pleaded guilty to lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud.” — Dave Mattingly [04:37]

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The episode maintains NPR’s signature concise but authoritative tone, moving swiftly through major headlines with brief context and expert field reporting.
• The appearance of high-profile legal news (Kelly’s and Trump’s cases) underscores a charged political landscape.
• The mention of NHL players returning to the Olympics signals excitement among sports fans.
• Quotes and attributions are factual, measured, and free of embellishment.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Congress DHS Funding Crisis — [00:16–01:14]
• Senator Mark Kelly Demotion Blocked — [01:14–01:50]
• Trump Accuses Seditious Behavior / Military Moves — [01:50–02:24]
• Trump’s BBC Lawsuit Moves Forward — [02:24–03:10]
• South Carolina State Shooting — [03:10–03:48]
• US Men’s Hockey Olympic Win — [03:48–04:29]
• Trump Pardons Ex-NFL Players — [04:29–04:55]

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This summary captures the top headlines and essential takeaways for listeners seeking a rapid but thorough rundown of the day’s news at the national and international level.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Congress has until late tonight to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security. A short term DHS funding bill is hours away from expiring. A bill to fund the department through September failed in the Senate yesterday, falling eight votes shy of the 60 needed for passage. Democratic lawmakers are demanding changes to how federal officers enforce immigration laws before they'll approve a long term spending bill for dhs. The House and Senate are scheduled to be off next week and currently no direct talks or negotiations are on the table. A federal judge has approved a request from Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona to block the Pentagon from demoting him. The former NASA astronaut and US Navy captain filed the lawsuit accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of punishing him for political speech. Here's NPR's Elena Moore.

[Elena Moore]

Senator Kelly, an outspoken Trump critic, was one of several Democrats who participated in a video posted online last fall urging American service members to refuse illegal orders. It sparked intense backlash from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who later announced a review of Kelly's retirement grade, which could lead to a demotion and decrease in the senator's retirement pay, but that's now on hold. In granting Kelly's request, Judge Richard Leon argued that Hegseth had, quote, trampled on the senator's First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional rights of millions of military retirees. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

President Trump had accused Kelly and the five others who appeared in that video of seditious behavior. The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal are among media outlets reporting President Trump has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to move from the Caribbean to the Middle East. The president has been building up American naval assets in the region to pressure Iran into giving up its nuclear program. A federal Judge says President Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC can move forward. NPR's Lauren Frayer has more from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

President Trump sued the British public broadcaster over the way it edited a speech he gave on January 6, 2021, splicing together quotes of Trump urging supporters to March on the U.S. capitol and, quote, fight like hell, and omitting the part where he said they should demonstrate peacefully. The BBC apologized but denies trying to defame the president or sway voters. This was part of a BBC documentary that aired just before the 2024 election. Trump has sued the BBC for $5 billion for alleged def and another 5 billion for unfair trade practices. The BBC sought to delay a trial, but a Florida judge has now set a date for February 2027. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.

[Dave Mattingly]

This is NPR News from Washington. It's unclear if any arrests have been made following a deadly shooting at South Carolina State University. School officials in Orangeburg say two people were killed by gunfire and another was wounded. They say the shooting occurred last night at a residential complex. The campus was put on lockdown. Classes have been canceled for today. At the Winter Olympic Games In Italy, the US men's hockey team won its first game, defeating Latvia 5 to 1. As Steve Futterman reports, the US is one of the favorites to win the gold medal.

[Steve Futterman]

The US Squad was led by Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche. He scored twice. Team captain Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs also had a goal. The score could have been even more one sided, but the US had two goals disallowed following a pair of challenges by Latvia, one for offsides, the other for goaltender interference. This is the first time since 2014 that NHL players have been allowed to compete at the Winter Games. The US And Canada are the two favorites. Many expect them to meet in the gold medal match. The Canadian men won their first game here five to nothing over Czechia. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Milan.

[Dave Mattingly]

The White House isn't commenting on President Trump's decision to pardon five former NFL players for crimes ranging from drug trafficking to perjury. The five include Pro Football hall of Famer Joe Kleko, who played for the New York Jets. He pleaded guilty to lying to a federal grand jury investigating insurance fraud. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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