NPR News: 02-13-2026 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 13, 2026, 6AM EST – Episode Summary

Main Theme:
This five-minute NPR News Now episode offers a concise update on key national and international headlines, focusing on imminent U.S. government action, developments in global security, financial and crime news, scientific achievement, and ongoing criminal investigations.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Imminent Department of Homeland Security Shutdown

[00:15 - 00:57]

• Partial Funding Crisis: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faces a likely partial shutdown as funding is set to expire later today.

• Senate Deadlock: Senate failed to pass a funding bill due to deadlock, driven by disagreements on department policies following two recent fatal shootings by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis.

• Democratic Position: Democrats insist that any policy changes must occur via the legislative process to be codified into law, rejecting executive actions as a substitute.

  Notable Quote:

  • "Democrats have said that any changes must be made through the legislative process, not by executive order in order to ensure that they're codified into law."
    – Barbara Sprunt [00:41]

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2. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Trip to Europe & Munich Security Conference

[00:57 - 01:45]

• Rubio’s Travel Agenda: Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Munich for the security conference, with scheduled stops in Slovakia and Hungary. His tone is described as “moderate,” contrasting last year’s aggressive speech by Vice President Vance.

• Key Issues: His appearance will be closely monitored, given past U.S. criticisms of European migration policies.

• Rubio’s Message: Emphasizes the necessity for allies to reconsider their roles in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and highlights continued private communications.

  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. And we live in a new era in geopolitics."
    – Marco Rubio [01:18]
  • "We need to continue to have those conversations. And I think Saturday, hopefully, and the meetings we'll have there will move us in that direction."
    – Marco Rubio [01:38]

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3. Israeli Arrests Over Insider Betting on Polymarket

[01:45 - 02:56]

• Insider Trading Allegations: Israeli authorities arrest and charge two individuals—including a military reservist—for allegedly using classified information to bet on online prediction market Polymarket.

• Broader Concerns: The case raises fears that online platforms may enable military personnel and others with access to sensitive data to profit unlawfully, a concern for militaries worldwide.

• Past Incidents: Reference to a recent large Polymarket win involving predictions about Venezuelan leadership; such cases are prompting legal and regulatory scrutiny, but jurisdiction issues persist.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "It's a situation where people seeking to line their own pockets are willing to put at risk the militaries to whom they have pledged oaths of loyalty."
    – Joe Grundfest, former SEC commissioner, via Jeff Brady [02:31]
  • "Polymarket operates an overseas exchange outside the reach of American regul."
    – Bobby Allen [02:48]

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4. U.S. Economic Outlook: Cost of Living & Consumer Prices

[02:56 - 03:26]

• January Inflation Report: Labor Department set to release new consumer price report; economists anticipate a 2.5% year-over-year increase, slightly below December figures.

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5. SpaceX Crew 12 Launch

[03:26 - 03:29]

• New Mission to ISS: Four astronauts have successfully launched from Cape Canaveral aboard SpaceX Dragon (Crew 12), en route to the International Space Station.

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6. Trump Administration Repeals Climate Change Endangerment Finding

[03:29 - 04:27]

• Policy Reversal: The administration is repealing the 2009 EPA "endangerment finding" that deemed greenhouse gases a threat to public health.

• Implications: The move severely limits the federal government's ability to regulate emissions from vehicles, power plants, and oil companies.

• Legal & Political Fallout: Experts expect lengthy court battles, with legal analysts noting that using legislative channels for new climate action will now be required—a tough sell, given past failures.

  Notable Quotes:

  • "It really neutralizes the Clean Air act as a powerful tool, and now you're left with needing new legislation from Congress."
    – Jody Freeman, Harvard Law professor [04:14]
  • "Previous efforts to pass such climate legislation have failed."
    – Jeff Brady [04:22]

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7. Ongoing Investigation: Missing Nancy Guthrie

[04:27 - 04:53]

• FBI Increases Reward: Reward grows to $100,000 for leads in the abduction case of Nancy Guthrie, mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie. She has been missing for nearly two weeks from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
• Community Appeal: FBI requests home security video from neighboring residents to assist the investigation.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• Barbara Sprunt on legislative requirements for DHS policy changes [00:41]
• Marco Rubio on the new geopolitical era [01:18], [01:38]
• Joe Grundfest on the risk to militaries from insider betting [02:31]
• Jody Freeman on the fate of the Clean Air Act [04:14]

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Summary Table of Key Segments (with Timestamps)

| Segment | Start | Topic | |---------|-------|---------------------------------------------------| | 1 | 00:15 | DHS shutdown & Senate deadlock | | 2 | 00:57 | Rubio at Munich Security Conference | | 3 | 01:45 | Israeli Polymarket insider betting arrests | | 4 | 02:56 | January consumer price report preview | | 5 | 03:26 | SpaceX Crew 12 launch to ISS | | 6 | 03:29 | Trump admin repeals climate "endangerment finding"| | 7 | 04:27 | FBI reward in Nancy Guthrie abduction |

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Tone:
Factual, concise, and sober reporting—NPR maintains its signature straightforward news delivery, punctuated by brief, direct quotes from officials, experts, and newsmakers.

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This comprehensive summary captures the rapid-fire, news-focused nature of this NPR News Now segment—providing an engaging and standalone update for anyone who missed the episode.

Transcript

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This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security appears imminent. DHS funding is set to expire late today. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports that yesterday the Senate failed to pass a bill to fund the agency.

[Barbara Sprunt]

The failed vote was expected after Senate Democrats pledged not to support it without major changes to department policies in the wake of two fatal shootings by immigration enforcement In Minneapolis, both parties have been negotiating on a series of proposals for the department, but no consensus has been reached. Democrats have said that any changes must be made through the legislative process, not by executive order in order to ensure that they're codified into law. Barbara Sprint and Peer News Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going to Germany for the Munich security Conference. His remarks will be closely watched. Vice President Vance went last year and delivered an aggressive speech to European allies. He blamed them for letting immigrants ruin Western civilization. Before leaving Washington, Rubio seemed to strike a moderate tone.

[Marco Rubio]

The world is changing very fast right in front of us. The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in. And we live in a new era in geopolitics. And 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. And we've had many of these conversations in private with many of our allies and they are our allies, and we need to continue to have those conversations. And I think Saturday, hopefully, and the meetings we'll have there will move us in that direction.

[Korva Coleman]

Rubio will also visit Slovakia and Hungary on his trip. Both European Union countries lean toward Russia and depend on Russian energy. Israeli authorities have arrested several people and charged two of them because they're suspected of using classified information to bet on the online platform Polymarket. The action comes as there are growing concerns about insider trading showing up online in prediction market sites. NPR's Bobby Allen has more.

[Bobby Allen]

Israeli officials say a military reservist and a civilian have been indicted on charges of bribery and obstruction of justice. Authorities didn't reveal what the bets were exactly or how much the individuals allegedly made. Former securities and Exchange Commissioner Joe Grundfest says the incident has likely put militaries around the world on edge.

[Jeff Brady]

It's a situation where people seeking to.

[NPR Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

Line their own pockets are willing to.

[Jeff Brady]

Put at risk the militaries to whom they have pledged oaths of loyalty.

[Bobby Allen]

Last month, a Polymarket Trader made $400,000 for predicting Venezuela leader Nicolas Maduro would be toppled. It did not trigger criminal charges. Polymarket operates an overseas exchange outside the reach of American regul. Polymarket didn't return a request for comment. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

This morning the Labor Department will release its report on the cost of living for January. Economists think consumer prices rose about 2.5% last month over the same time period a year ago. That would be a bit less than December's report. This is npr. A crew of four astronauts blasted off last hour from Cape Canaveral, Florida, in a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff.

[NPR Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

Go Falcon.

[Korva Coleman]

Go Dragon.

[NPR Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

And Godspeed.

[Korva Coleman]

Crew 12. Crew 12 is headed for the International Space Station. The Trump administration says it is repealing the basis for all federal actions on climate change. The decision is expected to lead to lengthy court battles. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. These will likely end up before the Supreme Court.

[Jeff Brady]

At Trump's request, the Environmental Protection agency repealed the 2009 finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health. Darren Bakst of the Competitive Enterprise Institute says the Obama era finding was illegal. It is basically an excuse to regulate the economy and to reshape entire industries. But without the endangerment finding, the government cannot limit climate pollution from cars, power plants and the oil industry, says Harvard Law professor Jody Freeman.

[Korva Coleman]

It really neutralizes the Clean Air act as a powerful tool, and now you're left with needing new legislation from Congress.

[Jeff Brady]

Previous efforts to pass such climate legislation have failed. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The FBI says it has now increased its reward to $100,000. For any information on Nancy Guthrie. It's been nearly two weeks since the mother of today's show host, Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Authorities are also asking Nancy Guthrie's neighbors for their home security videos in order to help in the investigation. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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