Trump News for Monday, February 16, 2026

Hillary Clinton accuses Trump administration of Epstein files 'cover-up' in BBC interview

BBC News

"Get the files out. They are slow-walking it," the former US secretary of state says. The White House says it has done "more for the victims than Democrats ever did".

US deploys 100 soldiers to Nigeria as attacks by armed groups surge

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

US soldiers will not have a combat role and are to operate under full command authority of Nigeria's military.

Don't fall for fake image of man in MAGA hat blocking trans person from women's restroom

Jordan Liles, Snopes.com

An image posted online in mid-February 2026 authentically shows a man wearing a MAGA hat blocking a transgender person from entering the women's restroom.

Epstein’s Amazon Order Exposed As Pam Bondi Declares ‘All’ Files Released

Analice Couto, Boredpanda.com

Epstein’s disturbing Amazon purchases, including child-coded clothing and controversial books, have surfaced as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirms all DOJ records related to the disgraced financier have been released.

Drunken Dad Describes How Daughter’s Life Ended After Fight About Trump, Dramatic Bodycam Footage Shows

Lei RV, Boredpanda.com

The father claimed the weapon simply "went off" in his hands.

Anderson Cooper Ends Tenure As ’60 Minutes’ Correspondent

Ted Johnson, Deadline

Anderson Cooper is exiting as a correspondent for 60 Minutes after nearly two decades with the CBS News newsmagazine. Cooper has reported for the show while anchoring full time on CNN, under an agreement between the network and CBS. But he decided not to rene…

Trump Blames Popular Black Democrat for Potomac River Sewage Spill

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

President Trump is blaming Maryland Governor Wes Moore for sewage pollution in the Potomac River, something Moore has no control over. “There is a massive Ecological Disaster unfolding in the Potomac River as a result of the Gross Mismanagement of Local Democ…

The Pentagon Just Sent a Terrifying Message to AI Companies

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

Donald Trump’s so-called Department of War is threatening to cut ties with Anthropic because it won’t help the Pentagon conduct mass surveillance on Americans or make fully autonomous weapons that the administration can use however it likes.A senior Trump adm…

Alleged image of Trump and blindfolded girls isn't what it seems

Laerke Christensen, Snopes.com

An image from the U.S. Department of Justice's Epstein files authentically showed President Donald Trump sitting in a room looking at a group of blindfolded girls.

George W. Bush Torches Trump in Presidents’ Day Message

Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic

Former President George W. Bush won’t defy the “code of silence” that prevents ex-U.S. leaders from publicly chastising their successors, but he’s apparently not opposed to throwing shade.In a Presidents’ Day essay published Monday by the pro-democracy instit…

Cuba’s Havana piles with trash as US chokehold halts garbage trucks

Internazionale, Internazionale.it

HAVANA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Garbage has begun to pile up on street corners in the Cuban capital of Havana, attracting hordes of flies and reeking of rotten food, in one of… Leggi

Trump Brutally Mocked on Presidents Day With Satirical Floats at German Festival

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Donald Trump might’ve been celebrating Presidents Day stateside ... but over in Germany, they were dragging him through the streets -- literally. Düsseldorf’s infamous "Rose Monday" carnival parade unleashed a brutal procession of Trump…

Kansas Mayor Who Voted for Trump as Noncitizen Faces Felony Charges

Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

A small-town Kansas mayor is in trouble for voting illegally as a noncitizen—but he has the support of his town. Joe Ceballos was recently reelected mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, by a comfortable 101-20 margin. But just hours before the results came in, Ceballo…

The U.S. ready to make up, Europe ready to break up in Munich

Rob Schmitz, NPR

Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to reassure Europe at the Munich Security Conference, but European leaders are skeptical.

WATCH: Woman surprises husband with pregnancy news during workout

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Adorable viral video shows the moment an Arizona woman surprised her husband in the middle of their workout by revealing the couple was expecting their first child.

Judge Orders Trump Admin to Restore Slavery Exhibits It Took Down

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

A judge ordered Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on Monday to restore a slavery-related exhibit at the President’s House in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. Burgum ordered the National Park Service last month to remove the Philadelphia exh…

Texas Republican Ken Paxton is stepping up his Senate bid against GOP Sen. John Cornyn

THOMAS BEAUMONT, Yahoo Entertainment

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will be in an unfamiliar setting Monday night: heading his first campaign rally since the Republican announced his...

Donald Trump Warns Nancy Guthrie Abductors Will Face Death Penalty If She Dies

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Donald Trump is making it crystal clear ... if Nancy Guthrie’s kidnappers don’t bring her back alive, they could be staring down the ultimate punishment: the death penalty. The President told the New York Post in a phone call the abductors need…

Pentagon may sever Anthropic relationship over AI safeguards - Claude maker expresses concerns over 'hard limits around fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance'

benedict.collins@futurenet.com (Benedict Collins) , Benedict Collins, TechRadar

Anthropic is hesitant to allow the Pentagon to continue using its Claude AI model over fears the Pentagon could break its Usage Policy.

Steve Bannon, Who Called Epstein “God,” Finally Responds to Files

Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

Former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon once called Jeffrey Epstein “God” during a text message exchange, newly released government files reveal. In May 2018, the two men were having a discussion about currency trading, in which Bannon praised Epstein’s fina…

The New Global Order

Nancy Qian, Project Syndicate

As the post-Cold War era recedes, a more regional and competitive order is reasserting itself. Under these conditions, it is not surprising that larger powers would seek to shape their immediate surroundings – not only out of ambition, but also because they f…

Trump slams energy deal between California and Britain, Politico reports

Yahoo Entertainment

Hakeem Jeffries Plays Dumb on Abolish ICE: “I Don’t Understand”

Malcolm Ferguson, The New Republic

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries still refuses to engage with growing calls to abolish ICE, even as the agency is in the nadir of its popularity.The Left Hook podcast host Wajahat Ali read Jeffries a list of facts when they appeared together F…

Trump Celebrates President’s Day by Declaring Himself “the Hunter”

Edith Olmsted, The New Republic

Donald Trump’s White House is posting about President’s Day in the creepiest way possible.In honor of the holiday, the White House Monday posted a menacing picture of Trump accompanied by the quote: “I was the hunted, and now I’m the hunter.”That particular c…

Will Capping Credit-Card Interest Rates Help Ordinary Americans?

Jeffrey Frankel, Project Syndicate

The federal cap on credit-card interest rates that US President Donald Trump has proposed would, in theory, prevent issuers from gouging customers. But not everyone agrees that this would be good for Americans, especially lower-income households that are ofte…

UBS Still Neutral on East West Bank (EWBC)

Allan Tripon, Yahoo Entertainment

East West Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ:EWBC) is one of the 10 Best Bank Stocks to Buy in 2026. UBS, on February 4, marginally trimmed its target price on East West...

UBS Retained Buy Recommendation on SouthState Bank (SSB)

Allan Tripon, Yahoo Entertainment

SouthState Bank Corporation (NYSE:SSB) is one of the 10 Best Bank Stocks to Buy in 2026.. On February 4, UBS slightly increased its target price on...

Commerce Bank (CBSH) Declares Dividends of $0.2750 per Share

Allan Tripon, Yahoo Entertainment

Commerce Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:CBSH) is one of the 10 Best Bank Stocks to Buy in 2026. On February 6, the board of directors of Commerce Bancshares (CBSH) ...

James Van Der Beek's message about finding God resurfaces after death: 'I am worthy of God's love'

Andrew Chapados, TheBlaze

Actor James Van Der Beek found love from God before his passing.Since the 48-year-old "Dawson's Creek" star's death from cancer, support has poured in for his family by the millions. However, a video from Van Der Beek's journey with faith may provide an even …

The almost-presidents: 10 Americans who nearly assumed the nation's highest office

James LaForge, Business Insider

From nail-biting elections to would-be assassinations, American history is full of presidential what-ifs. Here are 10 of the most notable examples.

Could DMT Be a New Treatment for Depression? A Small Study Says Yes

Ed Cara, Gizmodo.com

People taking DMT tended to experience significant relief from their depression for up to three months, the researchers found.

Trex Company (TREX) Under Pressure as Housing Weakness Impacts Outdoor Living Demand

Attiya Zainib, Yahoo Entertainment

Wasatch Global Investors, an asset management company, released its “Small Cap Growth Strategy” Q4 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be...

It’s a Gorgeous Day to Stream a 19th-Century Suffragist Banger

Lauren Tousignant, Jezebel

The 1882 song set to “Auld Lang Syne” roasts terrible men, and still, unfortunately, slaps.

Trump’s legacy reflected in war over his portrait

CK Smith, Salon

A battle over brushstrokes and biography puts Trump’s legacy and national museums back in the spotlight

Bondi Blasted After Adding Elvis and Marilyn Monroe to Epstein List

Hafiz Rashid, The New Republic

Attorney General Pam Bondi tried to pacify critics of the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files by sending Congress a letter Saturday with a list of 130 names—which for some reason, included dead celebrities.The list contains some absurd …

FBI Told Minnesota It Will Share Zero Evidence on Alex Pretti Shooting, Even as ICE Admits its Lies

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Even as the FBI continues to refuse to share evidence, the DOJ is investigating two ICE agents in Minnesota for lying.

Survey: More Americans Believe Bad Bunny “Better Represents” U.S. Than Trump

Scoop Harrison, Consequence.net

42% of surveyed adults chose the Puerto Rican musician, compared to 39% who picked Trump. Survey: More Americans Believe Bad Bunny “Better Represents” U.S. Than Trump Scoop Harrison

Should You Sell Your Stake in Titan Machinery (TITN)?

Soumya Eswaran, Yahoo Entertainment

Aristotle Capital Boston, LLC, an investment advisor, released its fourth-quarter investor letter for “Small Cap Equity Fund”. A copy of the letter can be...

Bitcoin could fall to $10,000 as U.S. recession risk builds, Mike McGlone Says

Olivier Acuna, CoinDesk

McGlone argues collapsing crypto and stretched equity metrics could end the “buy the dip” era, while Jason Fernandes says only a credit shock would justify a move toward $10,000.

Why Is ICE Still Jailing Leqaa Kordia? Palestinian Protester Suffers Seizure After 11 Months Locked Up

webdev@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!), Democracy Now!

Thirty-three-year-old Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia will soon mark one year trapped in ICE detention. Kordia, who was born in East Jerusalem, first came to police attention when she was arrested during the 2024 Gaza solidarity protests at Columbia Univers…

The Founders Would Have Opposed ‘Nationalizing’ Elections

Jeffrey Rosen, The Atlantic

The writers of the Constitution sought an approach the balanced control between the states and the federal government.

BOMBSHELL: FBI Interview With Epstein Victim Also Accused Trump

Susie Madrak, Crooksandliars.com

The FBI did speak to a victim of Jeffrey Epstein who also accused Donald Trump of sexually and violently assaulting her, according to records in the Justice Department’s own Epstein database and discovered by investigative journalist Roger Sollenberger. The d…

America Needs ‘Self-Evident’ Truths

Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic

The public reaction to the violence in Minneapolis suggests that we have held on to our sense of universal morality.

‘Tutu’ Director Sam Pollard On Archbishop Who Helped End Apartheid, And What Tutu Would Think Of Trump’s Claims Of White South African “Genocide” – Berlin

Matthew Carey, Deadline

South Africa’s racist system of Apartheid endured for generations and, so brutally was it maintained, appeared impregnable. One of those who played a vital role in its unlikely demise was Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the religious leader and theologian. He did it…

DA Davidson Gives Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) a Buy Rating, BofA Stays Bullish

Ali Ahmed, Yahoo Entertainment

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is one of the 15 AI Stocks That Are Skyrocketing. On February 12, DA Davidson initiated...

Analysts Raise Applied Digital (APLD) Price Targets After Q2 Results

Ali Ahmed, Yahoo Entertainment

Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:APLD) is one of the 15 AI Stocks That Are Skyrocketing. On January 28, Northland increased its price target on Applied...

Analysts Raise Price Targets on Bloom Energy (BE) After Q4 Results

Ali Ahmed, Yahoo Entertainment

Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) is one of the 15 AI Stocks That Are Skyrocketing. On February 6, BTIG increased its price target on Bloom Energy...

The Epstein files cover-up: Botched or calculated?

Al Jazeera English

Have the Epstein files shifted US politics beyond news hype?

Italy says it stands ready to train police in Gaza

Internazionale, Internazionale.it

ROME, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Italy stands ready to help train police forces in Gaza and elsewhere in the Palestinian territories, its foreign minister said on Monday, as Rome… Leggi

Bajillionth Horseman of the Apocalypse? George Bush Is on Substack

Danielle Han, Jezebel

Bush doesn’t name Trump in his first essay, but since his successor continues to openly drool over staying past his two-term limit, it’s pretty obvious what he’s actually trying to say.

Trump committed to Hungarian PM Orban’s success, says Rubio

Internazionale, Internazionale.it

By Humeyra Pamuk and Anita KomuvesBUDAPEST, Feb 16 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is committed to the success of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban because his lea… Leggi

Why Young Voters Are Turning on Trump

Sarah Longwell, The Atlantic

Americans under 30 swung to the right in 2024, but they’re not getting what they voted for.

Teen Social Media Bans Are Surging Across Europe, but Can They Even Work?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

In a move that already has Elon Musk calling people "traitors," the U.K., Spain and Greece are moving ahead on teen social media bans.

MAGA loves bad dads

Amanda Marcotte, Salon

Raising kids should be about quality, not quantity

Trump Blows Billions In Canadian Bucks For U.S. Military Manufacturers

Susie Madrak, Crooksandliars.com

Some breakups, you can just see coming. In this case, the Canadian government plans to divert billions of dollars in military spending to U.S. defense companies and direct it instead to their own manufacturers. Duh! What else are they supposed to do? Sure, Ma…

Ukraine team heads for Geneva talks as Moscow, Kyiv build military pressure

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Representatives of Ukraine, Russia and US to meet for third round of trilateral negotiations to end the four-year war.

10 Presidents Day Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My three-day weekend reads: • Why a ‘K-Shaped’ Economy Means More Risk for Stock Investors: The wealthy are propping up consumer spending thanks to a multi-year bull run, while lower earners pinch pennies. That creates a fragile circular dynamic — if stocks s…

Republicans’ Charlie Kirk holiday push exposes a hollow platform

Russell Payne, Salon

In Florida, Kansas and West Virginia, the celebration stands in for an agenda — and no one gets the day off

The El Paso No-Fly Debacle Is Just the Beginning of a Drone Defense Mess

Lily Hay Newman, Wired

Fears over a drug cartel drone over Texas sparked a recent airspace shutdown in El Paso and New Mexico, highlighting just how tricky it can be to deploy anti-drone weapons near cities.

Trump rejects climate science, winter goes haywire, and ‘Penisgate’ rumors arise at the Olympics

Kendra Pierre-Louis, Andrea Thompson, Sushmita Pathak, Alex Sugiura, Scientific American

We take a look at President Trump’s decision to reject a landmark climate finding, the cause of an unusual winter in the U.S. and the physics behind a bizarre ski jumping scandal

Prison-Style Free Speech Censorship Is Coming for the Rest of Us

Jeremy Busby, The Intercept

The government wants to make it illegal to possess literature it deems dangerous — a familiar tactic to this incarcerated writer. The post Prison-Style Free Speech Censorship Is Coming for the Rest of Us appeared first on The Intercept.

Taiwan parliament to tackle defence spending review after Lunar New Year holiday

Internazionale, Internazionale.it

TAIPEI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Taiwan’s parliament will prioritise the review of a $40 billion special defence budget when it resumes work after the week-long Lunar New Year … Leggi

The career rise of OpenAI's billionaire CEO, Sam Altman

Jordan Hart,Lakshmi Varanasi,Britney Nguyen,Brent D. Griffiths, Business Insider

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman helped usher in the AI age. Now, he's doing everything he can to keep OpenAI ahead.

Worst personal bankruptcy ever — the yearslong hell that happens when a billionaire says he's worth $3,850

Laura Italiano,Natalie Musumeci, Business Insider

Welcome to the personal bankruptcy from hell. How billionaire Miles Guo hijacked the court system, creating years of chaos for creditors.

Nigerian troops repel coordinated Islamist attacks in Borno, military says

Internazionale, Internazionale.it

By Camillus EbohABUJA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Nigerian troops have repelled simultaneous assaults by Islamist militants on two military bases in Borno state, leaving an unspe… Leggi

MAGA Senator Called Out for Bonkers Response to Trump’s Revenge Plot

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

A MAGA senator was called out after he tied himself in knots over Donald Trump’s efforts to imprison two of his Senate colleagues for a video in which they...

Makers Are Building Back Against ICE

Boone Ashworth, Wired

In hacker spaces and at their homes, creative protesters are laser-cutting and 3D-printing tools to resist an occupation.

Kremlin says main Ukraine issues will be discussed in Geneva talks, including territory

Internazionale, Internazionale.it

MOSCOW, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that what it called the “main issues”, including sensitive questions of territory, would be discussed in peace talks… Leggi

Children are being kept in immigration custody longer than allowed, advocates say

Laura Romero, Abcnews.com

Immigration advocates say the Trump administration, as part of its immigration crackdown, is keeping minors detained for longer than the permitted by law.

Marco Rubio wants to build a ‘new Western century’. Will Europe join?

Sarah Shamim, Yashraj Sharma, Al Jazeera English

Europe is facing a great dilemma: continue with liberalist values or embrace Trump's defence of 'Western civilisation'?

The millionaires and billionaires pledging to fund Trump accounts

Bryan Metzger, Business Insider

It's not just the government and private companies. Some wealthy individuals are pledging to give money to American children's' Trump Accounts.

Violent crime in U.S. cities is way down, and Trump is taking credit

CBC News

Fresh statistics show violent crime in major U.S. cities dropped sharply in 2025 from the previous year, and U.S. President Donald Trump is claiming that his get-tough policies are the reason. The inconvenient truth for this Trump administration is that viole…

Japan’s fragile Q4 economic recovery poses early test for Takaichi

By Makiko Yamazaki and Chang-Ran Kim, Yahoo Entertainment

By Makiko Yamazaki and Chang-Ran Kim TOKYO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Japan's economy limped back to meagre growth in the fourth quarter, significantly missing...

Iran’s Araghchi arrives in Geneva for second round of nuclear talks with US

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Iran's top diplomat says he will meet with IAEA director before the high-stakes talks with US are held on Tuesday.

WATCH: 4 astronauts arrive at the ISS to replace NASA's evacuated crew

ABC News, Abcnews.com

The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who left the ISS early because of health concerns.

Concerns over autocracy in the U.S. continue to grow

Frank Langfitt, NPR

Is America still a democracy? Scholars tell NPR that after the last year under President Trump, the country has slid closer to autocracy or may already be there.

Indonesia’s Gaza gamble

Ronny P Sasmita, Al Jazeera English

Indonesia’s plan to send troops to Gaza could test its longstanding foreign policy independence.

US forces board tanker in Indian Ocean that fled Trump’s Venezuela blockade

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Panamanian-flagged Veronica III left Venezuela on the same day as the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January.

Netanyahu calls for dismantling Iran’s nuclear programme in any US deal

Zaid Sabah, Al Jazeera English

Israeli prime minister details demands on Iran as US prepares to hold second round of nuclear talks in Geneva.

Gold prices dip on firmer U.S. dollar

Reuters, The Times of India

Monday brought a small drop in gold prices, a contrast to the robust gains of the previous trading day. The latest inflation report from the U.S. was softer than expected, raising expectations for interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Team Compares ICE Detention Centers To Concentration Camps, Talks Importance Of Body Cam Footage In Holding Truth To Power — Independent Spirit Awards

Destiny Jackson, Deadline

The truth is always more powerful than fiction. The Perfect Neighbor team made up of director Geeta Gandbhir and producers Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu and Sam Bisbee took home the award for Best Documentary at the 2026 Independent Spirit Awards on Sunday.  Spea…

Barack Obama Comes Up With Loose Ball While Courtside at NBA All-Star Game

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Former President Barack Obama came up clutch at the NBA All-star game Sunday ... he snagged a loose ball that came barreling straight for him on the sidelines! Watch the video ... Barack is just hanging out with his wife, former First Lady Michelle…

Debunking chart that falsely suggests transgender people are more likely to commit mass shootings

Emery Winter, Snopes.com

The data repeatedly shows that transgender people aren't more likely to commit mass shootings than any other groups of people in the U.S.