PBS News Hour full episode, Feb. 12, 2026

White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced the conclusion of the 'surge operation' in Minnesota, which followed widespread protests and the killing of two U.S. citizens by federal officers. Despite the drawdown, a small footprint of personnel remains, and Homan reiterated President Trump's promise of 'mass deportation.' Local residents and state officials expressed skepticism about the true extent of the withdrawal and highlighted 'deep damage' and 'generational trauma' left behind.

Tom Homan stated, 'this surge operation conclude' and 'President Trump made a promise of mass deportation, and that's what this country's going to get.' Minnesota Governor Tim Walz noted, 'they left us with deep damage, generational trauma.'

DHS is facing a shutdown after Democrats refused to budge on a funding bill, and lawmakers left Washington for a 10-day recess. The deadlock stems from disagreements over ICE reform and DHS funding, with Democrats arguing the White House hasn't offered enough for serious talks. Republicans, however, claimed significant movement from the administration, but no deal was reached.

Geoff Bennett reported, 'The Department of Homeland Security is barreling toward a shutdown after Democrats refused to budge on a funding bill.' Senator John Thune stated, 'I have seen significant movement on the part of the administration on some of the key issues.'

The Trump administration's EPA repealed its 2009 Obama-era Endangerment Finding, which had been the legal basis for federal climate regulations on greenhouse gases. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin claimed this action would save American taxpayers $1.3 trillion and lower prices, while environmental groups warned of worsened public health and a major blow to climate efforts. Experts disputed the administration's cost-saving figures, citing misleading assumptions.

Amna Nawaz reported, 'The Environmental Protection Agency has repealed its own landmark Obama era assessment that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare.' Lee Zeldin stated, 'The 2009 Obama EPA Endangerment Finding is now eliminated. This action will save American taxpayers over $1.3 trillion.' Maxine Joselow noted, 'The experts that I talk to... said that the agency relied on some false and misleading assumptions to reach that $2,400 figure.'

Following U.S. efforts to annex Greenland, NATO defense ministers met to address strained transatlantic relations. U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby advocated for a '3.0 NATO' based on partnership rather than dependency, with Europe taking on the 'preponderance of forces' for conventional defense. This shift has led to a new 'Arctic Century' plan to boost surveillance near Greenland and across the Arctic, and sparked a fundamental question among Europeans about U.S. reliability as an ally.

Wolfgang Ischinger stated, 'I think the Greenland episode has created this question... Are we still on the same team?' Elbridge Colby said, 'Europe should feel the preponderance of the forces required to deter and if necessary defeat conventional aggression in Europe.'

A month-long scientific campaign in Antarctica, a partnership between KOPRI, University of Texas, and Montana State University, conducted research on the Thwaites Glacier despite a drilling failure. The expedition used helicopters with powerful radar to survey ice thickness, ice coring to measure firn density, and a RIFT-OX device to sample water in ice canyons, confirming subglacial discharge. This data is crucial for understanding and predicting the glacier's rapid retreat.

Miles O'Brien reported on the 'valiant effort to bore through it and install a suite of sensors in the ocean beneath reached an unceremonious dead end.' Chris Pierce discussed 'more than 1,800 miles of straight lines... surveying with a powerful radar.' Jamin Greenbaum confirmed, 'in area three we see direct evidence of subglacial discharge.'

In Kharkiv, Ukraine, the 50-year-old Theater Timur provides a space for children to learn theater amidst constant bombardment and power blackouts. Director Anton Zhiliakov emphasizes the theater's role in resilience, identity, and offering escapism and emotional release, with rehearsals often interrupted by air raid warnings. The basement shelter doubles as a space where children can create happy memories despite the war.

Maria Gorkavtseva stated, 'I knew that if anything happened, they would save me because there was a shelter here.' Anton Zhiliakov said, 'Many people tell us that, at your performances, we cried out our pain and it becomes easier for us to live.'