PBS News Hour full episode, Feb. 13, 2026

At the Munich Security Conference, European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, expressed significant doubts about the U.S. as a dependable ally. Merz admitted Europe's 'immaturity' in its excessive dependence on the U.S., while Macron called for Europe to become a geopolitical power, accelerating its capabilities in defense, technology, and 'de-risking' from major powers, a term previously reserved for China but now applied to the U.S. This shift includes discussions about France extending its nuclear protection to all of Europe.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated, 'No one forced us into the excessive dependence on the United States that we have found ourselves in recently. This immaturity was our own fault. But we are now leaving this situation behind us, and sooner, rather than later.' French President Emmanuel Macron added, 'Europe has to become a geopolitical power... in defense, in technology, and in the de-risking vis-a-vis all the big powers in order to be much more independent.'

Multiple U.S. citizens, including a combat veteran and an autistic woman, shared accounts of violent arrests, contradictory orders, and detention without communication by ICE and CBP. Their testimonies and available video evidence often directly contradict official agency statements, which claim arrests are due to obstruction or assault, even when no charges are filed. This pattern of alleged abuse and lack of accountability has fueled calls for DHS reforms.

Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen, recounted being told 'Move. I will break your effing window,' pulled from her car, and falling twice. George Retes, a U.S. combat veteran, stated agents knelt on his back and neck, ignoring his pleas of 'I couldn't breathe.' Gina Christ described an agent breaking her window, pulling her out, and using gas, flashbangs, and pepper spray. DHS statements claimed Rahman was an 'agitator' and Retes 'refused to move his car,' which Lisa Desjardins noted was 'contrary to the evidence that we have seen.'

A specific federal statute limits the ability of U.S. citizens to sue federal officers for civil rights violations, unlike those acting under state or territorial law. This legal distinction creates a 'narrow lane' for seeking redress against federal agents, contributing to a perceived lack of accountability within agencies like DHS, even when video evidence contradicts official narratives.

Lisa Desjardins explained that federal code allows suing 'those acting under color of statute or ordinance' if the government 'is a state or territory,' but 'it does not say the United States itself.' Mike Fox from the Cato Institute emphasized the importance of Congress adding a component that allows suing for constitutional violations and precludes government agents from benefiting from immunity.

The civil war in Sudan has escalated into the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with the UN accusing the Rapid Support Forces of war crimes and potential crimes against humanity. Over 13.6 million people are displaced, and acute famine affects more than 50% of children in some areas. Despite the immense need, humanitarian funding, especially from the United States, has been severely cut, leading to increased suffering and inadequate shelter for survivors.

Ann Curry reported from a transit center in South Sudan, designed for 3,000 people, now housing 9,000, with many sleeping outside. She noted a 'massive gap... between the need, the desperation here and the humanitarian tearing funding cuts, especially from the United States.' The UN reported over 6,000 killed in El Fasher in three days.

The stories of 27 Tuskegee Airmen who disappeared during WWII remain largely unresolved, with families receiving no official answers for decades. This oversight highlights how their service and sacrifices were 'forgotten' despite their resilience in overcoming systemic racism to serve. The psychological toll of having to be 'perfect' simply to exist and fight for a country that discriminated against them was profound and haunted them throughout their lives.

Author Cheryl W. Thompson stated, 'I just think they were forgotten... so many people who disappeared in that war.' She noted families 'suffered in silence' for almost 80 years. Thompson added, 'They were treated badly because of the era. It was Jim Crow South, and they weren't wanted... they had to rise above it, because their goal was really to serve this country.'