WORLD Radio News - WORLD Radio News: 2-13-26 (1/3)

Episode Date: February 13, 2026

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With World Radio News, I'm Kent Covington. The federal government could shut down tonight for the third time in just four and a half months. Funding will expire at midnight for the Department of Homeland Security if Republicans and Democrats can't strike a deal before then. Senate Democrats shot down a funding bill on Thursday aimed at funding DHS, minority leader Chuck Schumer. This vote today asked a simple question. Will you reign in ICE's abuses or will you vote to extend the chaos? Republicans chose chaos, and the Democrats, we refused. Democrats are withholding funding as they demand changes to immigration enforcement. But GOP Majority Leader John Thune said the bill included much of what Democrats had asked for.

It was a bipartisan bill. It had reforms in it. It had body cameras in it. It had de-escalation training in it. It had more oversight of ICE activities in it. These are reforms that the Democrats had requested, agreed to, and then walked away from. He says GOP lawmakers are on board with some changes. but not a one-sided Democratic wish list.

Republicans argue that some of the demands would endanger federal officers, such as barring ICE agents from wearing masks. They argue that would open them to personal targeting and violent attacks. The House of Representatives passed a bill this week aimed at verifying that voters in federal elections are eligible to vote,

but it faces long odds in the Senate. World Harrison Waters has more from Washington. Democrats in the upper chamber say they will not help to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to bring the SAVE Act to the floor for a full vote, and a handful of Republicans are joining them. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says she plans to vote no, fearing the bill will scramble preparations for this year's midterm elections.

The SAVE Act would require states to launch systems to verify citizenship of voters before November, though requiring photo ID at polling locations would not apply until next year. Utah Senator Mike Lee is pushing for a rule change to end the 16th. vote threshold to bring the bill up for a vote. But Senate leaders so far are wary of changing the filibuster rule. Reporting for World, I'm Harrison Waters in Washington. The head of NATO says he's confident that the vital flow of U.S. equipment to Ukraine will

continue. He also credited the United States for jump-starting the peace process between Russia and Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta. President Trump broke the deadlock in the peace negotiations with President Putin in February last year. That was crucial. And since then, he has been consistently driving the peace process through Marco Rubio and Jerk Kushner and Steve Whitkoff. Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine are eyeing the next round of those talks. Officials in Kiev have already agreed to take part and are still awaiting official word from Moscow.

For World Radio, I'm Kent Covington. For more sound journalism grounded in facts in biblical truth, visit worldradiotn.new. Additional support comes from Medeshire, where Christians, are saving money on their health care with biblical wellness and community. Medeshire.com slash world.