February 19, 2026
US thwarted near-catastrophic prison break of 6,000 ISIS fighters in Syria
: This was the kind of prison break officials say could have changed the region, and perhaps even the world, overnight. Nearly 6,000 ISIS detainees, described by a senior U.S. intelligence official as ‘the worst of the worst,’ were being held in northern Syria as clashes and instability threatened the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the […]
February 19, 2026
CFTC chief sides with prediction markets over state regulators in a high-stakes court case
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is stepping in to stop what it calls an “onslaught” of state-level regulation of prediction markets. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig said Tuesday in a video posted on X that the agency has filed a “friend of the court brief” in support of Crypto.com in its escalating legal battle with […]
February 19, 2026
Trump convenes first ‘Board of Peace’ meeting as Gaza rebuild hinges on Hamas disarmament
President Donald Trump’s newly created Board of Peace is set to hold its first meeting Thursday, with administration officials and participating countries framing the gathering as a step toward implementing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction effort rather than a moment likely to deliver an immediate breakthrough. At least 20 countries are […]
February 19, 2026
Trump marks Black History Month, announces Medal of Freedom for Carson and praises Nicki Minaj
President Donald Trump announced that former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House event marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, as attendees at one point broke into chants of ‘four more years.’ ‘Ben’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom,’ Trump said. […]
February 19, 2026
Rubio holding secret talks with Raul Castro’s grandson over Cuba’s future: report
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly been holding secret talks with the grandson of Raul Castro, the former President of Cuba. The talks between Rubio and Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro are bypassing official Cuban government channels, Axios reported. ‘Our position — the U.S. government’s position — is the regime has to go,’ a senior […]
February 19, 2026
Trump lauds ‘piece of work’ Jesse Jackson at ‘sold-out’ Black History Month event
President Donald Trump praised civil rights activist Jesse Jackson as a ‘real hero’ during a White House Black History Month event Wednesday, just a day after Jackson’s death. ‘I wanted to begin by expressing a sadness that the passing of a person who was. I knew very well Jesse was a piece of work. He […]
February 19, 2026
Florida execs sentenced in $233M Obamacare fraud that targeted homeless, hurricane victims
The president of a Florida insurance brokerage firm and the CEO of a marketing company were sentenced Wednesday to 20 years each in prison for leading a sprawling, $233 million Affordable Care Act fraud scheme that preyed on Florida’s most vulnerable residents — including homeless and jobless individuals and newly displaced hurricane victims — to […]
February 19, 2026
Missile defense race shifts to space; experts say real battle is in first minutes after launch
The debate over U.S. missile defense is increasingly focused on space, and defense experts argue that stopping threats in the earliest moments after launch could determine whether the homeland remains protected against Russia and China’s expanding arsenals. At a policy discussion marking roughly a year since the rollout of the ‘Golden Dome’ homeland defense initiative, […]
February 18, 2026
House Republicans threaten to force Russia sanctions vote after giving leadership ‘one last chance’
A pair of House Republicans could soon mount an effort to force a chamber-wide vote on sanctioning Russia for its war in Ukraine after months of back-and-forth between the House, Senate and White House yielded little movement on the issue. ‘This coming week, Brian Fitzpatrick’s sanctions bill…ripens, so we can actually submit it as a […]
February 18, 2026
Leavitt scoffs at reporter who questioned when Trump has been ‘falsely called racist’: ‘You’re kidding?’
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday pushed back on a reporter who asked for examples of when the president had been ‘falsely called racist.’ ‘Yesterday, in his statement about Jesse Jackson, the president said ‘despite the fact that I’m falsely and consistently called a racist by the scoundrels and lunatics and the radical […]
February 18, 2026
Rubio announces designation for Nicaraguan prison official tied to alleged human rights violations
The U.S. took aim at Nicaragua’s regime over alleged human rights violations, announcing a designation against a prison official. ‘Today I’m designating Nicaraguan Prison Director Roberto Clemente Guevara Gómez for his involvement in gross violations of human rights,’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on X. ‘We continue to call for accountability […]
February 18, 2026
Warner Bros. Discovery reopens talks with Paramount
Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday that it was reopening talks with Paramount Skydance, giving the studio a week to rival Netflix in its bid to take over the streaming and cable giant. In a statement, Warner Bros. Discovery said it had rejected the latest $30-a-share offer from Paramount but would give the company until Monday […]