Trump News for Wednesday, February 11, 2026

NYC officials vow to fly Pride flag at Stonewall, after Trump admin takes it down

Catalina Gonella, Alec Hamilton, Verónica Del Valle, Gothamist

A pride flag outside Stonewall National Monument during the New York City Pride Parade in 2022 LGBTQ+ groups say it's the latest effort to "whitewash" the only national monument to queer history. [ more › ]

Howard Lutnick’s Epstein Story Doesn’t Make Any Sense

David A. Graham, The Atlantic

The commerce secretary has no answer for his misleading statements about his dealings with the sex offender.

Gallup To End Tracking Of Presidential Job Approval

Ted Johnson, Deadline

The Gallup Organization will no longer track presidential approval numbers, ending a gathering of data that goes back to Franklin Roosevelt. Gallup’s most recent presidential approval rating for Donald Trump, measured from Dec. 1-15, put the president at 36% …

Trump’s failed attempt to indict Democratic lawmakers, briefly explained

Cameron Peters, Vox

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration’s latest attempt to go after …

Protesters in multiple states press Target to oppose the immigration crackdown in Minnesota

ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, Yahoo Entertainment

Activists planned protests at more than two dozen Target stores around the United States on Wednesday to pressure the discount retailer into taking a public ...

Trump Secretly Yanks National Guard Out of Three Blue Cities

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

In a humiliating defeat for Donald Trump’s administration, all federalized National Guard troops have been pulled out of American cities that never wanted them there after failing to accomplish what the president asked them to do. Hundreds of servicemembers d…

RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaxx Nonsense Has Helped Spread Measles to Mexico

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

The measles situation in the U.S. is so bad that the disease is spreading south of the border.Answering a question from a reporter Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed that the sudden resurgence of measles in Mexico had originated from the …

Elon Musk Is Winning His War on Government Oversight

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

The National Labor Relations Board dropped a case against SpaceX... and washed its hands of all future cases.

Struggling to get by: Behind the US underemployment crisis

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

Trump's tariffs, heightened healthcare and housing costs, and a stagnating jobs market leaves more workers struggling.

Beyond pressure: What is the Trump administration’s endgame in Cuba?

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

As US actions fuel a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, is US President Trump seeking a deal, or to topple the government?

The airspace around El Paso is open again. Why it closed is in dispute

Joel Rose, NPR

The Federal Aviation Administration abruptly closed the airspace around El Paso, only to reopen it hours later. The bizarre episode pointed to a lack of coordination between the FAA and the Pentagon.

NonFarm Payrolls, Confirmation Bias edition

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

Today’s (belated) nonfarm payroll report had a little something for everyone. Whether you are bullish or bearish, recession or expansion, MAGA or Never Trump, there were nuggets of data in the report for you. My charge is to put this into a broader context mi…

CBO: US Federal deficits and debt to worsen over next decade

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

'One Big Beautiful Bill Act', higher tariffs and immigration crackdown are factored into the report.

Governors group says Trump will welcome Democrats and Republicans to White House

STEVEN SLOAN and JOEY CAPPELLETTI, Yahoo Entertainment

The National Governors Association said governors from both parties would be able to meet with President Donald Trump later this month after the White House ...

US lawmakers slam Pam Bondi over administration’s handling of Epstein files

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US attorney general was hammered over heavy redactions to Epstein-related documents, prosecution of political rivals.

Bondi Calls Jewish Rep. Antisemitic for Asking About Trump and Epstein

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

Attorney General Pam Bondi stomped and raged her way through her hearing before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, but her refusal to answer one particularly heated line of questioning inspired Bondi to accuse a Jewish lawmaker of antisemitism in an app…

Vir Das, India’s Premier Standup Comedian, To Launch U.S. Tour This Month

Matthew Carey, Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: International Emmy Award winner Vir Das, India’s top standup comic, is about to embark on a U.S. and international tour. His Hey Stranger tour kicks off February 27 at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago and includes stops in Washington DC, Boston, Dall…

Casey Wasserman Survives Epstein Scandal For Now With LA28 Board Backing; “Mr. Wasserman Should Continue To Lead LA28 & Deliver A Safe & Successful Games”

Dominic Patten, Deadline

Casey Wasserman will remain as the head of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, says the LA28 Board. After a quickly called emergency meeting Wednesday over Wasserman’s recently revealed relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and the pedophile’s inner circle, leaders of…

Officials Dispute Trump Explanation of El Paso Airspace Closure. “There Was Not a Threat.”

Nick Turse, The Intercept

Sources said the closure was connected to new counter-drone laser technology and miscommunication or misunderstanding by FAA. The post Officials Dispute Trump Explanation of El Paso Airspace Closure. “There Was Not a Threat.” appeared first on The Intercept.

The System Of Checks And Balances Doesn’t Work When One Branch Refuses To Play By The Rules

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Technically — TECHNICALLY! — we still have a system that relies on three co-equal branches to ensure that any single branch can’t steamroll the rest of the system (along with the nation it’s supposed to serve) to seize an unequal amount of power. Technically.…

US reopens airspace over El Paso after claim of cartel drone infiltration

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration's swift reversal has provoked questions about the legitimacy of the foreign drone claims.

Moderna Has a Promising New Flu mRNA Vaccine. Trump’s FDA Wants Nothing to Do With It

Ed Cara, Gizmodo.com

Senior FDA official Vinay Prasad reportedly overrode his staff in deciding to reject Moderna's application for a new seasonal flu shot.

I cancelled my flight after hearing El Paso airspace would close for 10 days. It reopened hours later, but I'd spent the night feeling helpless.

Roya Shahidi, Business Insider

Kiva Lucero cancelled his work flight to Dallas and spent nearly $100 on a 12-hour bus when he found out El Paso's airspace would close for 10 days. He didn't feel relieved when it reopened.

EPA Boss Lee Zeldin Hints the U.S. Government Plans to Axe Stop-Start Systems This Week

Lucas Bell, RoadandTrack.com

Trump administration Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin posted on Twitter, aka X, hinting that the government may work to get rid of...

Russia says it will stick to limits of expired nuclear treaty if US does

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not say why he believed the US would respect the limits set out in New START.

One Mexican Cartel ‘Drone’ Near El Paso Airspace Actually Party Balloon: Report

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

DOD initially ordered the closure of airspace over El Paso for 10 days before backtracking.

Did Pam Bondi Just Lie Under Oath About Trump and Epstein?

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

Representative Ted Lieu accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of lying under oath Wednesday, catching the Trump official in a bind after she claimed no evidence existed of young girls at parties attended by the president.The California lawmaker highlighted that,…

Iran says missile programme non-negotiable as Tehran, Washington eye talks

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Eyeing second round of US talks, Iranian officials say willing to talk nuclear, but draw red line on ballistic missiles.

WATCH: Bondi calls Rep. Raskin 'washed up, loser lawyer' in tense hearing

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Attorney General Pam Bondi was being questioned by Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler when she sparred with his Democratic colleague.

Pam Bondi Falls Apart at the Seams After Tough Epstein Question

Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

Attorney General Pam Bondi crashed out during a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, and began ranting about how great the stock market is doing in order to try and deflect questions over whether she was investigating any of convicted sex off…

Trump Tanked Job Growth in 2025 to Basically Nothing

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

It’s official: the jobless boom of Donald Trump’s first year back in office was even worse than we originally thought. A jobs report published Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics contained significant downward revisions for the already weak job growth…

Trump Administration Says Sudden Closure of Texas Air Space Was to 'Neutralize' a 'Cartel Drone Incursion' as Flight Ban Is Lifted

Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE

The FAA announced it was completely closing airspace around El Paso for 10 days on Tuesday, Feb. 10, due to an unspecified security concern

What we know about the mysterious closure and reopening of the El Paso airport

Joshua Keating, Vox

The El Paso International Airport will apparently not be closed for 10 days, despite an earlier announcement that set off an overnight panic. But the reasons why the closure was announced in the first place are still not quite clear, nor is whether this was a…

The Jobs Data Is Good, Bad and Trending Towards Recession. Got It? Me Neither

Jacob Weindling, Jezebel

Job growth in 2025 was already very bad, and it got worse in a good January jobs report.

We Still Have No Idea Who the U.S. Military Is Killing in Pacific Ocean Boat Strikes

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

The U.S. military continues killing people in Pacific Ocean boat strikes, without bothering to tell us who we're executing.

Bondi faces lawmaker grilling over Epstein files, targeting of Trump foes

Luke Barr, Abcnews.com

In a rare appearance on Capitol Hill, Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies Wednesday amid multiple controversies before the House Judiciary Committee.

Trump says he raised Swiss tariffs after leader’s call: ‘I didn’t really like the way she talked’

Ryan Mancini, The Hill

President Trump said Tuesday he raised tariffs on Switzerland after a phone call with the country’s former president, saying he did not approve of “the way...

Ford Saw Recession-Level Losses To End 2025

staff@jalopnik.com (Amber DaSilva), Jalopnik

We're looking at Ford's inauspicious end to 2025, as well as Ferrari's better numbers and Hyundai shareholders' demand for robots, plus more.

Ilhan Omar Seems to Reference Trump as 'Pedophile Protection Party' Leader

TMZ Staff, TMZ

President Donald Trump and his party might hate Somalia ... but, at least Somalia executes pedophiles there instead of electing them -- so says Rep. Ilhan Omar. The Democratic Congresswoman from Minnesota took to social media, apparently to express…

Is This the Real Reason Trump Threatened Bridge to Canada?

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

Donald Trump’s outrageous threat to close a new bridge between Michigan and Canada appears to have been at the behest of a billionaire who operates another bridge between the two countries. Just hours before Trump published a scattered tirade Monday night aga…

What Is Kari Lake Trying to Achieve?

Anne Applebaum, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, The Atlantic

The Arizona politician has wasted millions of dollars while blocking U.S. efforts to bring reliable news to repressive countries.

U.S. unexpectedly adds 130,000 jobs in January after a weak 2025

Scott Horsley, NPR

U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January as the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3% from 4.4% in December. Annual revisions show that job growth last year was far weaker than initially reported.

Take a look inside Greenland's only fully operational mine, where miners live half the year and brave Arctic conditions

tlakritz@businessinsider.com (Talia Lakritz,Sarah Andersen), Business Insider

Greenland is believed to hold significant deposits of rare-earth elements. Mining them, however, is another story.

Texas “Antifa Cell” Terror Trial Takes on Tough Questions About Guns at Protests Against ICE

Matt Sledge, The Intercept

After a cop got shot, Prairieland ICE protesters face terrorism charges. Will Alex Pretti’s killing sway the jury? The post Texas “Antifa Cell” Terror Trial Takes on Tough Questions About Guns at Protests Against ICE appeared first on The Intercept.

Trump DOJ Launches Bunk Investigation Of Netflix Merger As a Favor To Larry Ellison

Karl Bode, Techdirt

We told you this was coming months ago. The Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) says it has initiated a broad investigation of Netflix’s business practices and it’s planned $82.7 billion merger with Warner Brothers. The Trump DOJ’s pretense is that they’re just…

Six men named in US Congress: Why is so much redacted in the Epstein files?

Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera English

US congressman names six men whose names were redacted in the Epstein files, including a US billionaire and Dubai CEO.

What the Hell is the U.S. Government Doing in El Paso?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

An odd number of government news stories are centered around El Paso, Texas, even before the FAA suddenly closed its airspace on Tuesday.

Protest Concerts Are an American Tradition. The Gaza Ones Have Been Rather Quiet.

Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic

Music history is full of united actions against war and humanitarian crises. So what’s changed?

Iran’s leaders rail against US, ‘sedition’ in 1979 revolution celebrations

Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera English

A significant part of Iranian society is infuriated and grieving the killings of thousands during recent protests.

Dad unlawfully killed daughter in Texas shooting, coroner rules

BBC News

Lucy Harrison had earlier argued with her father about Donald Trump, an inquest into her death heard.

On Ukraine, ‘liberal’ war hawks make the far right look like peacemakers

Leonid Ragozin, Al Jazeera English

The louder the West talks about defeating Russia, the further peace in Ukraine moves out of reach.

Evangelicals won’t dump Trump over his racist Obama video

Amanda Marcotte, Salon

A few spoke out, but most right-wing Christians quietly support the president's ugly views

Person detained in Nancy Guthrie case is released. And, Bondi testifies before House

Suzanne Nuyen, NPR

Police have released a person taken in for questioning in connection with Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. And, AG Pam Bondi will testify before the House Judiciary Committee.

Furious Kennedy Center Staff Tear Into Boss Over ‘Stupid and Cruel’ Plot

Leigh Kimmins, Daily Beast

Kennedy Center staffers have been blindsided by a vague note from the boss of President Trump’s MAGAfied performing arts hub that has left their jobs...

MAGA blame game shows Trump in retreat

Sophia Tesfaye, Salon

Trump and Vance back down and blame unnamed staffers for controversial posts

10 Wednesday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My mid-week morning train WFH reads: • Andreessen Horowitz’s Rising Influence Over Trump-Era AI Policy: The VC giant is shaping how Washington thinks about artificial intelligence — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. (Bloomberg free) • “Everything is gambling…

Kash Patel Wants You to Know He’s on the Nancy Guthrie Case

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Patel is already doing what he does best: rushing to tweet and potentially bungling the investigation in the process.

WATCH: Grandson pilots 88-year-old grandmother's 1st flight

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Frances Dahlke took to the skies for her first ever flight with a special person piloting the plane -- her grandson.

The USS Honduras sets sail again

Belén Fernández, Al Jazeera English

Honduras is slipping back into Washington’s imperial orbit.

Moms vs. culture wars: How suburban women flipped school boards

Nadra Nittle, Salon

In conservative and swing states, teachers, moms and women candidates are taking back local education.

Jill Zarin Fired from 'RHONY' Reunion After Racist & Stupid Bad Bunny Halftime Rant

Lauren Tousignant, Jezebel

She used her free will to say the "NFL sold out" and that there were "literally no white people in the entire thing."

Russian drone strikes undermining 'all diplomatic efforts,' Zelenskyy says

DAVID BRENNAN, Abcnews.com

Several people were killed by Russian strikes on Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Trump's EPA plans to end a key climate pollution regulation

Jeff Brady, NPR

The Environmental Protection Agency is eliminating a Clean Air Act finding from 2009 that is the basis for much of the federal government's actions to rein in climate change.

Why a bridge over the Detroit River is the latest flare-up in the US-Canada trade spat

Henry Chandonnet, Business Insider

Trade tensions between the US and Canada escalate as Donald Trump threatens to delay the Gordie Howe International Bridge, challenging Mark Carney.

Pezeshkian calls for unity as Iran marks 1979 Revolution anniversary

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Iran's president also says his country does not seek a nuclear weapon, and apologises for his government's shortcomings.

'He's Totally Gone': Jimmy Kimmel Spots The Moment Trump's Brain Went Bust

Ed Mazza, HuffPost

The president made a claim that was wild even by his standards.

Annual governors' gathering with White House unraveling after Trump excludes Democrats

The Associated Press, NPR

An annual meeting of the nation's governors that has long served as a rare bipartisan gathering is unraveling after President Donald Trump excluded Democratic governors from White House events.

'It's time to get aggressive', Border Patrol agent says in Chicago shooting video

By Renee Hickman, Yahoo Entertainment

By Renee Hickman Feb 10 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors have released bodycam footage in the case of a Chicago woman who survived being shot multiple times...

LIVE: Israeli attacks target Gaza, West Bank as Trump, Netanyahu to meet

Urooba Jamal, Nils Adler, Al Jazeera English

Israeli raids and attacks across Gaza and the occupied West Bank have continued as Trump and Netanyahu prepare to meet.

As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused

RYAN J. FOLEY, Yahoo Entertainment

Investigators said one immigration enforcement official got away with physically assaulting his girlfriend for years. A third is charged with taking bribes ...

Three House Republicans cross party lines to block effort to shield Trump from challenges to his tariffs

Veronica Stracqualursi, Alison Main, CNN, CNN

Speaker Mike Johnson failed to reinstate a ban on lawmakers’ ability to challenge President Donald Trump’s tariffs when three Republicans crossed party lines...

DOJ fails to secure indictments for Democrats in military video case

Luke Barr, Abcnews.com

The DOJ failed to secure indictments for Democratic members of Congress who participated in a video telling the military they could disobey illegal orders.

US sanctions officials from Marshall Islands and Palau, citing China fears

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Trump administration has accused Hokkons Baules of Palau and Anderson Jibas of the Marshall Islands of corruption.

Trump Humiliated After Push to Punish His Enemies Fails

Yahoo Entertainment

Ford Had Its Biggest Net Loss Since the Recession Due To EV Troubles

Ece Yildirim, Gizmodo.com

Now, Ford CEO is looking to see how China will "change the game."

Trump Says He Punished World Leader with Steeper Tariffs Because He Didn't Like Her Tone

Mediaite, Yahoo Entertainment

President Donald Trump recalled punishing a world leader with steeper tariffs after being dissatisfied with her tone during a phone conversation.

FAA says air traffic control overhaul management contract worth $1.5 billion

By David Shepardson, Yahoo Entertainment

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday its contract with national security firm Peraton, the ...

ICE officer fired gun in Morris County, NJ attorney general says

Giulia Heyward, Gothamist

Close-up detail of a law enforcement agent. New Jersey officials say they’re investigating after an ICE officer discharged a firearm in Roxbury Township. [ more › ]

The FBI seizure of Georgia 2020 election ballots relies on debunked claims

Stephen Fowler, NPR

An FBI investigation of the 2020 election in Fulton County, Ga., was initiated by a lawyer who aided President Trump's unsuccessful efforts to overturn that election, an unsealed affidavit says.

US family demands pro-Palestine protester’s release after hospitalisation

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Loved ones say they were 'stonewalled' by immigration agents as Leqaa Kordia rushed to hospital from detention centre.

Epstein files: Questions swirl over redacted 2009 email with subject line 'Trump'

James Hill, John Parkinson, Jay O'Brien, Abcnews.com

Rep. Jamie Raskin says the unredacted version of an email regarding President Trump "seems to be at odds" with some of the things Trump has said about Jeffrey Epstein.

What drugs are safe during pregnancy? There’s a shocking lack of data

Giorgia Guglielmi, Nature.com

Drug trials have typically excluded pregnant people for safety reasons. But that’s now starting to change.