NPR News Now – 02-13-2026 7AM EST

Episode Overview This episode of NPR News Now provides a concise, five-minute roundup of major national and international news stories as of the morning of February 13, 2026. The newscast, anchored by Korva Coleman, covers imminent government funding issues and immigration enforcement, a landmark social media addiction trial, a tragic mass shooting in Canada, the UN’s new AI panel, a space mission launch, and highlights from the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. DHS Partial Shutdown and Immigration Enforcement

[00:17 - 01:21]

• The Department of Homeland Security faces a partial shutdown tonight unless Congress agrees on a funding bill, which is currently stalled in the Senate.
  • Reason: Democrats demand major immigration enforcement reforms.
  • Recent incident: Federal agents shot and killed two Minneapolis protesters, further intensifying disputes over enforcement.
• Withdrawal of Federal Immigration Officers from Minnesota
  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urges residents to remain vigilant as immigration officers pull back from the state.
  • President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, claims the federal government now has “unprecedented cooperation” from state and local law enforcement, supposedly granting more access to undocumented inmates in county jails.
  • However, Estelle Timar Wilcox (Minnesota Public Radio) points out the reality is unclear:
    • “Several county sheriffs say they didn’t change any enforcement policies. So we’re yet to see if county jails really do start giving ICE that increased access, as Homan mentioned.” — Estelle Timar Wilcox [01:08]

2. Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

[01:21 - 02:20]

• Jury trial underway in Los Angeles: Parents of children who died from self-harm linked to social media use are suing Instagram and YouTube’s parent companies (Meta and Google).
  • Courtroom is filled with grieving parents, such as Ellen Roome, who flew from England after losing her 14-year-old son, Jules.
  • Key Testimony:
    • “This is massive if we can prove the product is faulty. Where children are kept on their platforms for hours, but the constant algorithms and constant continuous scroll, they’re being fed harmful material.” — Ellen Roome [01:55]
• Platforms' Defense: Meta and Google argue social media is “not clinically addictive”.
• The outcome could set a precedent for more than a thousand pending cases against social media companies.
• Mark Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify next week.

3. Canada Mass Shooting Aftermath

[02:20 - 03:14]

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cancels a security conference trip to Munich to attend a vigil in northern British Columbia after a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge.
  • Eight people, most of them children aged 11-13, were killed; shooter reportedly died by suicide.
  • Leaders of all political parties invited; opposition leader Pierre Poilievre confirms attendance.
  • The formal announcement of Ottawa’s defense industrial strategy is postponed.

4. UN Vote on Artificial Intelligence Panel

[03:14 - 03:38]

• The United Nations General Assembly has agreed to establish a scientific panel to study AI’s effects and risks.
  • The Trump administration was one of only two countries to vote against it, arguing UN should “stay out of AI regulation”.

5. International Space Station Mission Launch

[03:38 - 03:53]

• A four-person astronaut crew launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, heading to the International Space Station for a mission expected to last at least eight months.

6. Winter Olympics: Figure Skating Spotlight

[03:53 - 04:47]

• Men’s Singles Figure Skating, Italy: American skater Ilia Malinin, nicknamed “Quad God”, is favored to win gold.
  • Transformed the sport with his unprecedented athletic and technical prowess.
  • Expert Praise:
    • “Is it his limb length? Is it, you know, the perfect proportion in his body? Is it his strength? Is it his flexibility? I mean, it’s some combination of all of those things, right?” — Paul Wiley, 1992 Olympic silver medalist [04:23]
  • In his upcoming routine, Malinin is expected to attempt six to seven quadruple jumps, including a possible quadruple axel—never before landed at the Olympics.

7. Business Update

[04:47 - 04:56]

• Wall Street: Dow futures are trending lower in premarket trading.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Immigration Enforcement Cooperation:

  • “Several county sheriffs say they didn’t change any enforcement policies. So we’re yet to see if county jails really do start giving ICE that increased access, as Homan mentioned.”
    — Estelle Timar Wilcox [01:08]

• On Social Media’s Role in Child Harm:

  • “This is massive if we can prove the product is faulty. Where children are kept on their platforms for hours, but the constant algorithms and constant continuous scroll, they’re being fed harmful material.”
    — Ellen Roome, whose son died by suicide [01:55]

• On Ilia Malinin’s Historic Figure Skating:

  • “Is it his limb length? Is it, you know, the perfect proportion in his body? Is it his strength? Is it his flexibility? I mean, it’s some combination of all of those things, right?”
    — Paul Wiley [04:23]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:17] — DHS funding, immigration enforcement fight
• [01:21] — Social media addiction trial in LA
• [02:20] — Canadian mass shooting vigil and PM Carney’s schedule
• [03:14] — UN Assembly votes on AI risks panel
• [03:38] — ISS crew launches
• [03:53] — Olympics: Figure skating preview (Ilia Malinin)
• [04:47] — Wall Street premarket update

Tone and Style

This edition embodies NPR’s neutral, fact-driven tone with empathetic moments—especially in the coverage of affected families (e.g., Ellen Roome’s testimony). The language is clear, succinct, and measured, suitable for listeners seeking a rapid but comprehensive update on world events.