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

Host: Ryland Barton
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: A concise, up-to-the-minute summary of top national and international news; major political developments; government actions; technology and entertainment controversies.

Overview

This evening’s news update highlights the looming expiration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security amid partisan clashes over immigration, major shifts in U.S. environmental and education policy under President Trump, efforts at renewed peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, legal challenges to new AI-generated media, and a pop-culture-driven surge in sports ticket sales.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looming Homeland Security Shutdown and Immigration Policy Standoff

• [00:15-00:55]

  • DHS funding set to expire, risking disruptions to some critical services.
  • Lawmakers remain deadlocked as Democrats and Republicans struggle to agree on new immigration enforcement restrictions.
  • White House issued a late counteroffer, but content remains undisclosed.
  • Some Democratic demands—like requiring judicial warrants for enforcement operations and banning masking by officers—are non-starters for Republicans.
  • Services like airport screening could be affected if a shutdown is prolonged; ICE operations will continue, already funded.

  “We know that the White House produced a counteroffer Wednesday night...but no one has really been willing to say what was in that offer.”
  — Sam Greenglass (00:33)

2. Trump Administration Moves Second Aircraft Carrier Near Iran

• [00:55-01:15]

  • President Trump deploys a second carrier group to the Middle East, escalating pressure on Iran amid nuclear negotiations.
  • Trump signals preparedness for failed negotiations.

  “In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it.”
  — President Trump, summarized by Ryland Barton (00:55)

3. EPA Rolls Back Greenhouse Gas Regulations

• [01:15-02:21]

  • EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, speaking in Charlotte, NC, formally rolls back regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Cites Hurricane Helene (2024) as context but claims no mandate to impose costly new regulatory actions on climate.
  • Emphasizes help for rebuilding rather than new regulation.

  “What I’m not going to do is grant myself new powers that are not authorized in federal statute to take actions that amount to trillions of dollars of new regulation.”
  — EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (02:04)

4. Trump Administration Sues Harvard on Admissions Data

• [02:25-03:11]

  • DOJ sues Harvard, demanding additional documents related to admissions in light of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against race-conscious admissions.
  • Lawsuit doesn’t allege discrimination or seek damages/funding cuts, only compliance information.
  • Harvard has not responded.

  “In the complaint, lawyers said that the United States was not accusing Harvard of any discriminatory conduct and was not seeking monetary damages or the cancellation of federal funding.”
  — Alyssa Nadworny (02:33)

5. Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Resume

• [03:11-03:36]
  • New US-brokered round of Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled in Geneva.
  • Fighting continues as previous peace efforts in Abu Dhabi failed to resolve key disputes, particularly over occupied Ukrainian territories.

6. Hollywood vs. AI: Video Generation Platform Controversy

• [03:36-04:27]

  • Motion Picture Association confronts ByteDance (TikTok’s parent) for alleged IP infringement by its new AI video tool, Seed Dance 2.0.
  • Viral AI-generated video featured fake fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, raising alarm in Hollywood.
  • Filmmaker Rory Robinson calls the tech a potential existential threat to the industry.

  “It only took a two line prompt to create his star studded fight video. He added that Hollywood might be, quote, cooked as a result of the technological advances.”
  — Reported by Chloe Veltman (03:46)

7. Taylor Swift Rumor Drives Golf Ticket Surge

• [04:27-04:54]
  • Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce plays at Pebble Beach golf tournament; rumors of Taylor Swift’s attendance trigger $60,000 in ticket sales within 12 hours.
  • Swift was not present; “Swifties” (fans) settled for watching golf.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “We know that the White House produced a counteroffer Wednesday night...but no one has really been willing to say what was in that offer.”
  — Sam Greenglass (00:33)

• “What I’m not going to do is grant myself new powers that are not authorized in federal statute to take actions that amount to trillions of dollars of new regulation.”
  — EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (02:04)

• “He added that Hollywood might be, quote, cooked as a result of the technological advances.”
  — Rory Robinson via Chloe Veltman (03:46)

Key Segment Timestamps

• DHS/Immigration Funding Standoff – 00:15-00:55
• Carrier Movement/Iran Diplomacy – 00:55-01:15
• EPA Rollback Announcement – 01:15-02:21
• Harvard Lawsuit on Admissions – 02:25-03:11
• Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks – 03:11-03:36
• AI Deepfake Video Controversy – 03:36-04:27
• Taylor Swift Rumor at Golf Tourney – 04:27-04:54

Tone

The reporting is brisk, factual, and to-the-point, with straightforward delivery and occasional infusion of industry or cultural voice—especially when quoting those affected by technological disruption or reacting to pop-culture events.