NPR News: 02-13-2026 8AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 13, 2026, 8AM EST

Overview

This five-minute edition of NPR News Now (hosted by Korva Coleman) offers concise reporting on today’s biggest stories: a looming shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, a court ruling involving Venezuelan migrants, controversial new EPA announcements from President Trump, US participation in WHO flu discussions, inflation trends, an ongoing high-profile abduction case, and a new NASA Crew 12 launch to the International Space Station.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Department of Homeland Security Faces Shutdown

• [00:11 – 01:02]
  • The Senate failed to pass a funding bill for DHS, putting the agency on track to shut down at day’s end.
  • Barbara Sprunt reports:
    • Senate Democrats demand changes to DHS, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens by ICE officers in Minneapolis.
    • Even with a DHS shutdown, ICE will remain funded (has a separate $70 billion allocation from last summer).
    • Congress expected to be out of session next week but are “on notice” to return if a deal emerges.

2. Federal Judge Orders Return of Venezuelan Migrants

• [01:02 – 01:41]
  • A U.S. judge rules Venezuelan migrants, previously deported to El Salvador and then to Venezuela, must be allowed to return if they’re outside Venezuela and want to appeal their deportations.
  • U.S. must pay for their return or grant them entry for legal proceedings.

3. Trump Administration Overturns EPA Climate Finding

• [01:41 – 02:00]
  • President Trump announces the EPA is overturning the “endangerment finding,” which has served as the federal basis for climate action.
    • Donald Trump [01:41]:

      “We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers. Prices went up incredibly for a worse product.”

  • Environmental groups denounce the move, arguing it violates federal law and undermines U.S. climate protection commitments.

4. U.S. Participation in WHO Flu Meeting

• [02:00 – 03:10]
  • Jonathan Lambert reports:
    • Despite the U.S. officially leaving the World Health Organization earlier this year, U.S. scientists will still participate in the annual meeting to determine flu shot composition.
    • The CDC will share critical data, continuing its traditional role in international flu-prevention efforts.
    • Maria Van Kerkove, WHO official [02:55]:

      "The meeting will take place at the end of this month, and yes, the U.S. is participating."

5. Consumer Price Index and Inflation Update

• [03:10 – 03:31]
  • The Labor Department is set to release the January cost-of-living report.
  • Economists expect consumer prices to be up about 2.5% year-on-year—a slowdown from previous months, signaling cooling inflation.

6. FBI Ups Reward in Nancy Guthrie Abduction

• [03:31 – 04:09]
  • The FBI raises its reward to $100,000 for information on Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, abducted nearly two weeks prior from Tucson.
  • Authorities appeal to neighbors for security camera footage.

7. NASA’s Crew 12 Launches to the ISS

• [04:09 – 04:48]
  • NASA’s Crew 12 departed Cape Canaveral for the International Space Station.
    • Crew: Two U.S. astronauts, one French, one Russian.
    • They are traveling in a SpaceX Dragon capsule; docking is expected in about 34 hours.
    • Their mission (8 months aboard) follows a medical evacuation from the ISS, which left it short-staffed.
    • Brendan Byrne (launch moment) [04:09]:

      "Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff. Go Falcon, Go Dragon, and Godspeed Crew 12."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Donald Trump [01:41]:
  • “We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers.”
• Maria Van Kerkove, WHO official [02:55]:
  • “The meeting will take place at the end of this month, and yes, the U.S. is participating.”
• Brendan Byrne, launch commentator [04:09]:
  • “Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff. Go Falcon, Go Dragon, and Godspeed Crew 12.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• DHS Funding Crisis: 00:11 – 01:02
• Venezuelan Migrants Court Order: 01:02 – 01:41
• EPA Climate Finding Overturn: 01:41 – 02:00
• US Participates in WHO Flu Meeting: 02:00 – 03:10
• Consumer Price Index Report Preview: 03:10 – 03:31
• Nancy Guthrie Abduction Investigation: 03:31 – 04:09
• NASA Crew 12 Launch: 04:09 – 04:48

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Summary

This episode delivers swift, high-impact updates on urgent U.S. political standoffs, legal rulings on immigration, shifts in federal environmental policy, major public health collaborations, economic indicators, a developing criminal investigation, and an inspiring space launch. The reporting is direct, measured, and concise—ensuring listeners have the essential facts and critical developments as the day begins.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Department of Homeland Security is on track to shut down at the end of the day. As NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports, the Senate failed to advance a bill to provide further funding for the agency and there's no deal in sight.

[Barbara Sprunt]

Democrats say they'll only vote to fund DHS if there are significant changes to the department, specifically Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, after two US Citizens were fatally shot by officers in Minneapolis. But this shutdown wouldn't mean a shutdown of ICE itself. That agency received over $70 billion in separate funding from Congress last summer. Lawmakers in both the Senate and House are expected to be out of town next week, but they'll be on notice to return to D.C. if there's a deal. Barbara Sprent, NPR A federal judge has.

[Korva Coleman]

Ordered the US to allow the return of a group of Venezuelan migrants. The US Sent them to a notorious prison in El Salvador last year before they were moved to Venezuela. The judge ruled if the migrants are not in Venezuela and they want to challenge their deportations, the US Must pay to bring them back or US Officials must allow them to enter the country. President Trump says the Environmental Protection Agency is overturning the key finding that's been used as the basis for federal actions on climate change. That key finding is that greenhouse gases endanger people's health. Trump says this has been bad for the economy.

[President Donald Trump]

We are officially terminating the so called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers. Prices went up incredibly for a worse product.

[Korva Coleman]

Environmental groups strongly disagree. They say the EPA is now violating federal law by overturning the cornerstone of US Climate action. The US Will participate in a World Health Organization meeting about flu later this month. That's even though the Trump administration pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organization this year. NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports. U.S. scientists will help design next year's flu shot.

[Jonathan Lambert]

Twice a year, scientists from all over the world get together to study what strains of flu are circulating. At these WHO led meetings. They decide what strains to put into next year's flu shot to give the best protection. In past years, the US has played a major role by sharing CDC data and expertise. There were questions about whether that would happen this year now that the US Officially exited who. But in a press conference, WHO official Maria Van Kerkove put that question to rest.

[Maria Van Kerkove]

The meeting will take place at the end of this month, and yes, the US Is participating.

[Jonathan Lambert]

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that to npr. The move suggests that both the US And WHO are still open to collaborating, at least when it comes to flu. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News. This morning, the Labor Department will release its report on the cost of living for January. Economists think consumer prices rose about two and a half percent last month over the same time period a year ago. That would be a bit less than the report in December, and inflation would be trending down from just above 3% last September. 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 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 to help in the investigation. Four people are on their way to the International Space Station. NASA's Crew 12 mission launched this morning from Cape Canaveral in Florida. From Central Florida Public Media, Brendan Byrne reports.

[Brendan Byrne (Launch Commentator)]

Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff. Go Falcon, Go Dragon, and Godspeed Crew 12.

[Brendan Byrne]

The international crew is made up of two US astronauts, one from France and a Russian cosmonaut. The crew is making the trip in SpaceX's Dragon space capsule. It will take them about 34 hours to reach the station and dock. Once at the station, the crew is scheduled to spend eight months living and working aboard. This mission replaces a crew that left the station early. A health issue with one of the astronauts prompted the first medical evacuation of the station last month. Since then, the station has been operating with a reduced crew of three. For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne in Orlando.

[Korva Coleman]

And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

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