NPR News: 02-13-2026 9AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – February 13, 2026 – 9AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Length: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A concise update on top U.S. and international news stories, including congressional negotiations over Department of Homeland Security funding, diplomatic outreach at the Munich Security Conference, antitrust developments in the Trump administration, inflation and campus violence, and the re-raising of the pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Department of Homeland Security Funding Stalemate

[00:18–01:10]

• Overview: The funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to expire at the end of the day unless Congress can reach an agreement.
• Key Issue: Disagreement between Democrats—who seek major changes to Trump-era immigration enforcement—and Republicans, who oppose some of those demands, such as the removal of masks by ICE officers.
• Bipartisan Potential: There is some consensus over measures like body cameras for officers, but compromise remains elusive.
• Notable Quote:
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune [00:48]:

    "Democrats are never going to get their full wish list. That's not the way this works. Republicans, for example, will not agree to measures that make it impossible for officers or law enforcement officers to do their jobs. But Democrats can build on the measures that Republicans have already agreed to if they actually engage in serious negotiations with the White House."

• Current Status: No spending agreement is in sight as of this report.

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2. U.S. Diplomacy at the Munich Security Conference

[01:10–02:12]

• Key Figure: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attending the Munich Security Conference, seeking to reassure European allies.
• Backdrop: European attendees are still reacting to Vice President J.D. Vance’s critical speech from the previous year, which challenged their immigration and free speech policies.
• Rubio’s Message: Calls for honest reassessment of global roles in a changing world.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Marco Rubio [01:45]:

    "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."

  • California Governor Gavin Newsom (on Rubio vs. Vance) [02:06, paraphrased by David Folkenflick]:

    "If we grade on the curve, it should be a good speech."

• Insight: Rubio is seen as more diplomatic compared to Vance’s approach.

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3. Trump Administration Antitrust Official Resigns

[02:12–03:11]

• Story Overview: Gail Slater, the top antitrust official in the Trump administration, is stepping down after a year marked by internal tensions and high-profile cases.
• Key Cases Mentioned:
  • The proposed Netflix takeover of Warner Brothers Discovery.
  • The Justice Department settled a lawsuit against HP’s $14B takeover bid after Slater’s involvement.
• Notable Quote:
  • David Folkenflick [02:32]:

    "President Trump, of course, likes to be the decider on such matters. He earlier announced he would personally examine the Netflix offer for Warner Brothers Discovery, then said he'd sit it out."

• Insight: Slater was seen as serious about corporate consolidation issues, but her effectiveness and independence faced limits.

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4. Economic and Crime Updates

[03:11–04:00]

• Inflation:
  • News: Consumer prices rose 2.4% in January year-over-year.
  • Context: This inflation rate is lower than expected, signaling moderate price increases.
• Campus Shooting in South Carolina:
  • Incident: Two killed, one wounded in a shooting at a South Carolina State University residential complex. No suspect information released yet.
  • Location: Orangeburg, about 45 miles southeast of Columbia.

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5. Pride Flag Re-Raised at Stonewall National Monument

[04:00–04:50]

• Event: Activists and local officials re-raised the rainbow pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument after its removal, which was ordered by the Trump administration as part of a policy permitting only American flags at National Park Service sites.
• Community Sentiment: The removal was viewed as symbolic of anti-LGBTQ policies.
• Notable Quote:
  • Mike Hisy, Gay Activist [04:33]:

    "They want to see us erased. They want us to be gone. The pride flag has to be flown here at this park."

• Historical Context: Stonewall is the first national monument commemorating LGBTQ civil rights.

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6. Financial Markets Brief

[04:50]

• Wall Street Update: Dow futures are higher in pre-market trading.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Thune, Senate Majority Leader [00:48]:

  "Democrats are never going to get their full wish list. That's not the way this works."

• Marco Rubio, Secretary of State [01:45]:

  "The old world is gone, frankly, the world I grew up in. And we live in a new era in geopolitics."

• Mike Hisy, Gay Activist [04:33]:

  "They want to see us erased. They want us to be gone. The pride flag has to be flown here at this park."

• David Folkenflick, NPR [02:32]:

  "President Trump, of course, likes to be the decider on such matters."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• DHS Funding Deadline: 00:18–01:10
• Munich Security Conference & U.S.–Europe Relations: 01:10–02:12
• Antitrust Chief Departure / Tech Mergers: 02:12–03:11
• Inflation Report / SC State Shooting: 03:11–04:00
• Pride Flag at Stonewall: 04:00–04:50
• Wall Street Update: 04:50

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This episode provides a precise yet thorough news briefing, capturing the current U.S. political climate, diplomatic efforts abroad, key legal and economic turns, and symbolic moments resonating with American civil rights history.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is going to run out at the end of the day today unless Congress can agree on a funding bill. So far, they can't. Democrats want significant changes to how the Trump administration conducts immigration enforcement. There is some bipartisan agreement over body cameras for officers, but some Republicans oppose other Democratic demands, such as requiring ICE officers to take off their masks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune Democrats are.

[John Thune]

Never going to get their full wish list. That's not the way this works. Republicans, for example, will not agree to measures that make it impossible for officers or law enforcement officers to do their jobs. But Democrats can build on the measures that Republicans have already agreed to if they actually engage in serious negotiations with the White House.

[Korva Coleman]

There's no DHS spending agreement yet in sight in Congress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at the Munich Security conference in Germany. He says he thinks Europeans will like what he has to say in his speech tomorrow. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that Europeans are still reeling from last year's lecture from Vice President J.D. vance.

[Michelle Kellerman]

When Vance was here, he criticized allies for their immigration and free speech policies, warning that they're putting Western civilization at risk. Secretary Rubio, speaking on the tarmac before flying to Munich, says Europeans want honesty.

[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.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Speaking from outside the conference, California Governor Gavin Newsom says Rubio is more of a diplomat than Vance.

[David Folkenflick]

If we grade on the curve, it should be a good speech.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Munich.

[Korva Coleman]

The top antitrust official in the Trump administration is leaving after a year on the job. Gail Slater's departure comes amid internal tensions over some big cases. That includes high profile deals such as the proposed Netflix takeover of Warner Brothers discovery. NPR's David Folkenflick has more.

[David Folkenflick]

President Trump, of course, likes to be the decider on such matters. He earlier announced he would personally examine the Netflix offer for Warner Brothers Discovery, then said he'd sit it out. Warner has repeatedly rejected Paramount's rival bids. Paramount CEO David Ellison A political ally of the president visited with Trump last week, according to cnn. As an assistant US Attorney general, Gail Slater was seen as a regulator who took questions of corporate consolidation seriously. But the Justice Department settled a lawsuit she had filed against HP's $14 billion bid to take over a competitor, and the deal ultimately went through. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News from from Washington. The Labor Department says consumer prices rose 2.4% in January over what they were a year ago. The rate of consumer inflation is slower than what economists were expecting and shows that inflation continues to moderate. Officials at South Carolina State University say two people were killed in a shooting in a campus residential complex last night. A third person was wounded. There has been no word from authorities about a possible suspect. The college is In Orangeburg, about 45 miles southeast of the state capital. Columbia. Activists in New York City have again raised the pride flag at the STONEWALL National Monument. NPR's Sarah Ventri reports. The Trump administration had taken it down this week.

[Sarah Ventri]

A large crowd packed tightly into Christopher park in Greenwich Village, where activists and faith leaders spoke before a small group of elected officials.

[Korva Coleman]

Raise our flag.

[Sarah Ventri]

Raise our FL hoisted the rainbow pride flag right next to the American one. The Trump administration has directed that only American flags can fly at National Park Service sites. But for many in attendance here, the decision to take down the pride flag was symbolic of the administration's policies towards LGBTQ people and other minorities. Mike Hisy says he's been a gay activist for 45 years.

[John Thune]

They want to see us erased. They want us to be gone. The pride flag has to be flown here at this park.

[Sarah Ventri]

The Stonewall Monument is the first national monument marking the fight for LGBTQ civil rights. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in pre market trading, Dow futures are higher. This is npr.

[David Folkenflick]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news [e-mail] that's plus.n PR. Org.