NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-12-2026 1AM EST

Episode Date: February 12, 2026

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This is Ira Glass. On this American life, we look for stories that are surprising. And you won't hear anywhere else. Like, for example, this one astronaut who went to the moon, you know what he's not into? Space. Was it cool to float around weightless? No, no, no. This American Life, unexpected stories, wherever you get your podcast.

Live from NPR News, I'm Charles Snyder. Things got heated on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed with Democrats during a combative House Judiciary hearing. She faced questions over the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein files and allegations that the Justice Department is being used to go after President Trump's perceived enemies. Maryland's Jamie Raskin is the panel's top Democrat. You've turned the People's Department of Justice into Trump's instrument of revenge. Trump orders out prosecutions like pizza and you deliver every time. Bondi stood by the DOJ and defended President Trump. I find it interesting that she keeps going after President Trump, the greatest president

in American history, and if they could maintain their composure, this isn't a circus, this is a hearing. The hearing lasted for more than five hours. After days of back and forth between President Trump and the nation's governors, all governors are now invited to the White House next week for a meeting with President Trump. And Piers Dipas Chivaram has more. The National Governors Association says all 55 governors are invited to a meeting at the White House next week. It's an annual event that's traditionally a rare showing of bipartisanship.

But this year, Trump only wanted Republican governors to attend the meeting at the White House. The Governor's Association responded by pulling the White House meeting off its agenda. Trump then posted on social media that he'd invited all governors except for, two Democrats, Westmore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado. Now after a phone call with the head of the Governor's Association, Oklahoma Republican Kevin Stitt, the invite has been extended to all governors. Deepa Shiverham and PR News. The Republican-led House has approved legislation that would impose a new voter ID requirement ahead of the midterm elections. The bill passed Wednesday. It's called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or Save America Act. It would require Americans to present

proof of citizenship when they register to vote and to show a valid photo ID before they cast ballots in a federal election. Democrats say it will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. American ice dancers, Madison Chalk, and Evan Bates came away with Olympic silver, narrowly missing the gold. After Wednesday's final skate, Impires Rachel Treisman has more from Milan. As four-time Olympians and the reigning world champions three years running, Chalk and Bates were favored for gold. But they fell short by just over a point behind French skaters Guillem Sizeron and Laurent Sfornier-Baudry, who only teamed up last year. The French ice dancers have been dogged by controversy. Cizeroon's longtime former partner just published

a tell-all accusing him of controlling behavior, which he denies. Bo Drie's former partner was banned from the sport over sexual assault allegations, which he also denies. Rachel Treisman, NPR News, Milan. This is NPR News. In the United Kingdom's Parliament on Wednesday, Prime Minister Kier Starmour faced angry questions from opposition lawmakers over his judgment in naming a friend of Jeffrey Epstein to be ambassador to the United States. The ambassador resigned last year and some lawmakers now wants Starmor to resign as well. NPR's Lauren Freer reports from London. Prime Minister Kier-Starmer says he regrets appointing Epstein's friend Peter Mandelson as ambassador and told Parliament...

Mr. Speaker, I've accepted responsibility and apologized for the mistakes that I made. While he won backing from his cabinet this week to stay on the job, a new poll shows a majority of UK voters want Starmor to resign. US lawmakers are calling on the King's brother Andrew to testify to what he saw at his friend Epstein's properties. British prosecutors say they're in touch with police over Andrew and Mandelson, but no formal charges yet. Buckingham Palace says it's ready to cooperate. two, if asked. Lauren Freyer and Pierre News, London. The suspect in Tuesday's school shooting in Canada has been identified as an 18-year-old who had a history of police visits to her home to check on her mental health. Police say Jesse Van Rootsler first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home

before attacking the nearby school. Eight people were killed. Authorities say Rootsler was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Voters in Bangladesh going to the polls, voting open Thursday, in a parliamentary election, the first since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed in 24 after weeks of mass protests. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps. Be smart. Get Wise. Download the Wise app today or visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.