NPR News: 02-14-2026 9AM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now: Key Stories Summary

Episode: NPR News: 02-14-2026 9AM EST
Date: February 14, 2026
Host: Windsor Johnston

---

Overview

This concise five-minute NPR news update covers pressing international and national U.S. stories, including the U.S.–Europe alliance, DHS scrutiny over an ICE shooting, Don Lemon’s protest charges, a major paleontological discovery in Costa Rica, and groundbreaking research on ancient clothing. The tone remains factual and urgent, with a focus on the latest developments in each area.

---

Main Stories & Key Highlights

1. U.S.–Europe Relations and the Munich Security Conference

• Discussion:
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeks to reassure European partners that the Trump administration remains committed to the transatlantic alliance.
  • Rubio critiques Europe’s management of migration and climate policy but stresses shared historical ties.
  • Security, artificial intelligence, and critical mineral supply chains are identified as cooperation areas.
• Key Quotes:
  • Rubio (via Michelle Kellerman): “Our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.” (00:58)
  • Munich Security Conference organizer Wolfgang Ischinger notes a general diplomatic “sigh of relief.”
  • Rubio expresses uncertainty about Russia’s willingness to make a deal acceptable to Ukraine.
• Timestamps: [00:17–01:24]

---

2. ICE Agents Accused of Lying in Minneapolis Shooting

• Discussion:
  • DHS reveals two federal immigration agents may have lied about a shooting incident involving a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis.
  • Original ICE narrative claims officers faced an ambush; now, a DHS spokesperson concedes discrepancies after a Department of Justice review.
  • Officers have been placed on administrative leave; possible prosecution mentioned.
• Key Quotes:
  • Sergio Martinez Beltran (NPR): “This after a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice found they appear to have lied in their sworn testimonies of the incident.” (01:45)
  • DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin: Officers could be “fired or prosecuted for any violations.”
• Timestamps: [01:24–02:26]

---

3. Don Lemon Pleads Not Guilty to Protest Charges

• Discussion:
  • Former CNN host Don Lemon, journalist Georgia Fort, and activists face federal charges over a protest at a St. Paul church.
  • The church’s pastor also serves as an ICE official, prompting protestors to allege hypocrisy.
  • Legal arguments arise about the First Amendment and the “sanctity of a sanctuary.”
• Key Quotes:
  • Protest leader Nikima Levy Armstrong: “She’ll continue to speak out against what she calls the church’s hypocrisy.” (02:48)
  • Church attorney: “The First Amendment does not protect actions that violate the sanctity of a sanctuary.” (02:48)
• Timestamps: [02:26–03:08]

---

4. Landmark Fossil Discovery in Costa Rica

• Discussion:
  • Discovery of exceptionally well-preserved remains of a giant sloth and a mastodon, believed to be around 40,000 years old.
  • The find, initiated by a local spotting unusual bones, is rare due to tropical decay rates.
• Key Quotes:
  • BBC’s Olivia Noon: “It was an accident that led to the discovery of the fossils...” (03:36)
  • “When alive, [the sloth] would have stood on its hind legs, reaching heights up to 6 meters.” (03:36)
• Timestamps: [03:08–04:04]

---

5. Oldest Known Clothing Artifacts Discovered

• Discussion:
  • New research documents the oldest known pieces of clothing: animal hides stitched together, found in ultra-dry caves and preserved for over 12,000 years.
  • The findings provide rare insight into ancient textile and material use.
• Key Quotes:
  • Richie Rosenkrantz (lead author): “Confirming what raw materials... what plants and animals they use to make these things is hardly ever attainable.” (04:30)
  • Eric Newman: “The sewn items were found in caves that are exposed to so little moisture they'd been preserved for more than 12,000 years.” (04:32)
• Timestamps: [04:04–04:50]

---

Notable Moments

• Rubio’s Statement on Transatlantic Roots:
  “Our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.” – Secretary Marco Rubio, [00:58]

• DHS Admission of Agent Misconduct:
  “They appear to have lied in their sworn testimonies of the incident.” – Sergio Martinez Beltran, [01:45]

• On Rare Fossil Preservation:
  “Scientists say it's rare to find such well preserved remains in Costa Rica, where tropical conditions mean organic matter often breaks down quickly.” – Olivia Noon, [03:36]

---

Segment Timestamps Overview

• U.S.–Europe Relations: 00:17–01:24
• ICE Shooting Review: 01:24–02:26
• Don Lemon Protest Charges: 02:26–03:08
• Costa Rica Fossil Find: 03:08–04:04
• Ancient Clothing Discovery: 04:04–04:50

---

Overall Tone and Takeaway

The episode presents a rapid-fire overview of major headlines, balancing U.S. political and legal controversies with significant scientific discoveries. The reporting is measured, fact-focused, and delivers a snapshot of national and global concerns as of February 14, 2026.

Transcript

[Capital One/Shopify Announcer]

This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's IN your wallet? Terms apply [e-mail].

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reassuring partners in Europe that the Trump administration does not want to abandon the transatlantic alliance. But he says the US Europe made mistakes in recent years and should work together to fix them. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports from Munich.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Secretary Rubio did have some harsh words criticizing Europeans for allowing mass migration and what he calls a climate cult. But he says ties are deep and historic, and the Trump administration wants to work together on security, AI and critical mineral supply chains because for us Americans.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The organizer of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ishinger, says diplomats were breathing a sigh of relief. He also asked Rubio about Ukraine, saying Russia seems to be playing for time. Rubio says he's not sure if Russia is ready to agree to a deal that will be acceptable to Ukraine. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Munich.

[Windsor Johnston]

Two federal immigration agents involved in the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis last month appear to have lied about the details of the incident. That's according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security. Npr. Sergio Martinez Beltran has more on this rare acknowledgment of potential missteps by ICE agents.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

It happened on January 14th in Minneapolis. DHS initially said an officer fired a shot to save his life. The agency said he was being ambushed and attacked by three immigrants with a snow shovel and a broom handle during a targeted traffic stop. Julio Cesar Sosa Celis, the subject of the traffic stop, was shot in the leg. But now DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin says the federal agents involved have been placed on administrative leave. This after a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice found they appear to have lied in their sworn testimonies of the incident. McLaughlin says the officers could be fired or prosecuted for any violations. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Former CNN host Don Lemon entered a not guilty plea Friday to federal charges of disrupting services at a church in Minnesota. Lemon is among several people indicted in connection with a protest at a Church in St. Paul where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor. Matt Sepik of Minnesota Public Radio reports.

[Eric Newman]

DON lemon, journalist, Georgia Fort and a group of activists are facing civil rights charges for a Jan. 18 demonstration at San City's church in St. Paul. Protest leader Nikima Levy Armstrong says she'll continue to speak out against what she calls the church's hypocrisy. A city's church attorney says the First Amendment does not protect actions that violate the sanctity of a sanctuary.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's Matt Sepik with Minnesota Public Radio reporting. This is NPR News in Washington. Researchers in Costa Rica say they've unearthed one of the most notable fossil finds in decades after the discovery of the remains of a giant sloth and elephant like mastodon. The BBC's Olivia Noon reports it's believed the animals could have roamed the Central American country as long as 40,000 years ago.

[Richie Rosenkrantz]

It was an accident that led to the discovery of the fossils after a local resident spotted unusual bones on private land, some of which belonged to a giant sloth, which, when alive, would have stood on its hind legs, reaching heights of up to 6 meters. They also found the bones of an elephant like Mastodon, believed to be from the late Ice Age. Scientists say it's rare to find such well preserved remains in Costa Rica, where tropical conditions mean organic matter often breaks down quickly.

[Windsor Johnston]

The BBC's Olivia Noon. New research suggests pieces of what's believed to be the oldest known clothing has been found in some caves. Eric Newman from Oregon Public Broadcasting has more.

[Eric Newman]

The collection of artifacts includes two pieces of animal hide stitched together with cord. Richie Rosenkrantz is the lead author on a new paper about the artifacts in the journal Science. Science advances. Being able to get a glimpse of what those things were really like and.

[Richie Rosenkrantz]

Confirming what raw materials, you know, what.

[Eric Newman]

Plants and animals they use to make these things is hardly ever attainable. Usually, organic materials like these decay. The sown items were found in caves that are exposed to so little moisture they'd been preserved for more than 12,000 years. For NPR News, I'm Eric Newman in Portland.

[Windsor Johnston]

I'm Windsor Johnston. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Capital One/Shopify Announcer]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify. No idea where to sell? Shopify puts you in control of every sales channel. It is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur or IPO ready, Shopify is the only tool you need to start, run and grow your business without the struggle. Once you've reached your audience, Shopify has the Internet's best converting checkout to help you turn them from browsers to buyers. Go to Shopify.com NPR to take your business to the next level Today.