Trump News for Wednesday, February 18, 2026
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White House says Iran would be ‘wise’ to take deal amid military buildup
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
The latest threats come amid ratcheting tensions between the US and Iran despite second round of indirect nuclear talks.
Foreign Policy & InternationalIranMiddle EastNational SecurityStatements
Feb 18, 2026, 11:44 PM

US is withdrawing all 1,000 troops from Syria: WSJ report
Elizabeth Melimopoulos · Al Jazeera English
The report says US officials expect troops to withdraw from remaining positions within two months.
Foreign Policy & InternationalMiddle EastMilitaryNational SecuritySecurity & Intelligence
Feb 18, 2026, 11:41 PM

The Trump administration is increasingly trying to criminalize observing ICE
Meg Anderson · NPR
ICE officers often tell people tracking and watching them that they are breaking federal law in doing so, but legal experts say the vast majority of observers are exercising their constitutional rights.
Free SpeechICE Controversies & ResistanceImmigrationSocial Issues & Culture
Feb 18, 2026, 11:26 PM

FCC reject claims of censorship, announces probe into US show The View
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
Federal Communications Commission faces backlash after comedian Stephen Colbert blamed its rules for scuttled interview.
CensorshipFederal AgenciesFree SpeechMedia & Communications
Feb 18, 2026, 10:27 PM

Utah Governor Pushes Back on CFTC’s Prediction Market Power Grab
Kyle Torpey · Gizmodo.com
The Trump administration is going to bat for a hands-off approach to the explosion of gambling in America.
Legal & JusticePolicy & Legislation
Feb 18, 2026, 10:10 PM

Russia’s Putin meets Cuban FM, says US restrictions ‘unacceptable’
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
Meeting comes as White House says it wants to see 'dramatic changes very soon' in Cuba, calls government 'failing'.
Foreign Policy & International
Feb 18, 2026, 10:04 PM

Trump says UK’s Starmer making ‘a big mistake’ with Chagos Islands deal
Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera English
The US president warned the military base on Diego Garcia may be needed to respond to possible attack from Iran.
Donald TrumpForeign Policy & InternationalNational SecuritySecurity & Intelligence
Feb 18, 2026, 9:40 PM

Vatican disses 'Board of Peace'...
Reuters · NBC News
The Vatican will not participate in President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace“ initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official, said on Tuesday while adding that efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nat…
Donald TrumpForeign Policy & InternationalStatements
Feb 18, 2026, 9:28 PM

Is ISIL on the verge of becoming a regional threat once again?
Al Jazeera English
The US has transferred thousands of detainees linked to the group from Syria to Iraq.
Foreign Policy & InternationalMiddle EastNational SecuritySecurity IncidentsTerrorism
Feb 18, 2026, 8:58 PM
What’s Behind the GOP’s Push to Demand Proof of Citizenship to Vote
David A. Graham · The Atlantic
The Trump administration’s support for the SAVE America Act is a ploy to help Republicans win elections.
Donald TrumpElections & PoliticsPolicy & LegislationRepublican PartyVoting Rights
Feb 18, 2026, 8:51 PM

UNSC moves Gaza meeting to avoid clash with Trump’s Board of Peace
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
UN Security Council meeting addresses Gaza 'ceasefire' and Israeli plans to expand West Bank control.
Foreign Policy & InternationalGazaInternational OrganizationsIsraelMiddle East
Feb 18, 2026, 8:49 PM

Trump Appoints CDC Critic as Temporary Agency Head
Edith Olmsted · The New Republic
Jay Bhattacharya has been tapped to run the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—after spending years criticizing its pandemic response. Bhattacharya will continue his role as the director of National Institutes of Health, as well as lead the CDC on an …
AppointmentsHealthHealthcarePersonnelPublic Health
Feb 18, 2026, 8:35 PM
California, Colorado and Washington sue Trump administration to unlock funding for clean energy projects
Reuters · Yahoo Entertainment
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 18 (Reuters) - California, Colorado and Washington are suing the federal government to force it to pay out grants approved by Congress for...
Civil LitigationClimate PolicyEnergyEnvironmentLawsuits
Feb 18, 2026, 8:05 PM

Judge Highlights Government Fuckery In Ruling Over Migrant Detainees’ Due Process Rights
Tim Cushing · Techdirt
The ICE surge in Minneapolis, Minnesota was instigated by a far-right click bait artist and encouraged by the president’s portrayal of Somali immigrants as “garbage” people from a “garbage” country. And those were some of the nicer words Trump used to describ…
Civil RightsICE Controversies & ResistanceImmigrationLegal & JusticeSocial Issues & Culture
Feb 18, 2026, 7:56 PM
The End of Reagan-Era Republicanism
David Frum · The Atlantic
Mona Charen on how Trump transformed the conservative movement and what the right got wrong. Plus: Signs of life from America’s guardrails and John Maynard Keynes’s “My Early Beliefs.”
Donald TrumpRepublican Party
Feb 18, 2026, 7:54 PM
Trump's top economic advisor says Fed researchers should be punished for their recent views on tariffs
Naomi Buchanan · Business Insider
Kevin Hassett said Fed researchers should be disciplined for their views on tariffs, sparking fresh concern from commentators about Fed independence.
BankingDonald TrumpEconomy & FinanceLeadershipTrade
Feb 18, 2026, 7:48 PM

Trump Boys Talk ‘Retribution’ as CEOs Kiss the Ring at Their Crypto Event
Matt Novak · Gizmodo.com
Donald Trump Jr. insists his father is "not involved."
Donald Trump
Feb 18, 2026, 7:25 PM

Do not give away Diego Garcia, says Trump
BBC News
The US president says "it will be a blight on our great ally" if the islands are handed over to Mauritius.
Donald TrumpForeign Policy & InternationalNational SecuritySecurity & Intelligence
Feb 18, 2026, 7:13 PM

Brendan Carr’s Abuse Of FCC ‘Equal Opportunity’ Rule Completely Blows Up In His Face
Karl Bode · Techdirt
Yesterday we noted how CBS fecklessly tried to prevent Stephen Colbert from broadcasting an interview with Texas Democratic State Representative James Talarico. Which, as you’ve probably already seen, resulted in the interview on YouTube getting way more view…
CensorshipFree SpeechMedia & CommunicationsMedia Criticism
Feb 18, 2026, 6:53 PM
'You're Kidding, Right?' Karoline Leavitt Gobsmacked After Reporter Asks for Examples of Media Falsely Calling Trump Racist
Mediaite · Yahoo Entertainment
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was visibly stunned when CBS Reporter Ed O'Keefe asked for examples of President Donald Trump being...
Donald TrumpMedia & CommunicationsMedia CriticismPress Relations
Feb 18, 2026, 6:47 PM

FCC DEMANDS TRANSCRIPT OF BAD BUNNY SUPER BOWL
David Shepardson · The-independent.com
FCC DEMANDS TRANSCRIPT OF BAD BUNNY SUPER BOWL
(Main headline, 5th story, link)
Related stories:COLBERT TORCHES CBS
FEUD PLAYS OUT ON AIR
INTERVIEW THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE
DEM RAKES IN MILLONS AFTER NIXED
Feb 18, 2026, 6:46 PM

WATCH: Late Rev. Jesse Jackson's family speaks about his life and legacy
ABC News · Abcnews.com
The family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke about his life and legacy during a news conference in Chicago.
Feb 18, 2026, 6:40 PM

WATCH: Man who helped stop Rhode Island hockey rink shooter speaks out
ABC News · Abcnews.com
A good Samaritan who helped stop a shooter at a hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, is speaking out.
Feb 18, 2026, 6:38 PM
The US Navy is pulling more and more warships into its Middle East force buildup
Jake Epstein · Business Insider
The Pentagon has dramatically reduced the number of ships it had in the Caribbean ahead of the Maduro raid, moving vessels toward the Middle East.
Foreign Policy & InternationalMiddle EastMilitaryNational SecuritySecurity & Intelligence
Feb 18, 2026, 6:36 PM

US says that it will review Moderna flu vaccine it previously declined
Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera English
The pharmaceutical giant expressed optimism that its new flu shot would be available this year, after approval concerns.
HealthHealth & ScienceMedical ResearchPublic Health
Feb 18, 2026, 6:04 PM

FCC Chairman Confirms “Enforcement Action” Underway Against ABC’s ‘The View,’ Calls Stephen Colbert-James Talarico Incident A “Hoax”
Ted Johnson · Deadline
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said that the agency “has an enforcement action underway on ABC’s The View after the show featured James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, as a guest. “We’re taking a look at it,” Carr told reporters on Wednesday, but…
Federal AgenciesMedia & CommunicationsMedia Criticism
Feb 18, 2026, 5:47 PM

The ‘Most Massive Attack On Free Speech’ Is Happening Right Now, And The Twitter Files Crew Is Mighty Quiet
Mike Masnick · Techdirt
For the last five years, we had to endure an endless, breathless parade of hyperbole regarding the so-called “censorship industrial complex.” We were told, repeatedly and at high volume, that the Biden administration flagging content for review by social medi…
CensorshipFree SpeechSocial Media
Feb 18, 2026, 5:28 PM

The FCC (probably) didn’t censor Stephen Colbert
Christian Paz · Vox
For the 12 of us who woke up Tuesday morning wondering what we had missed on Monday’s late-night shows, CBS greeted us with a concerning development. Overnight, Stephen Colbert had laid into his network, dedicating time at the top of The Late Show to claim th…
Free Speech
Feb 18, 2026, 5:08 PM

Trump would like the government he leads to pay him billions
Carrie Johnson · NPR
President Trump is asking the federal government for billions of dollars in damages, putting his own Justice Department on the spot and creating an unprecedented ethical morass.
Donald TrumpEthicsLawsuitsLegal & Justice
Feb 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
The political fight over prediction markets is heating up
bmetzger@insider.com (Bryan Metzger) · Business Insider
The Trump administration is coming down hard on the side of prediction markets as scrutiny of Kalshi and Polymarket pick up.
Feb 18, 2026, 4:56 PM
Student-loan borrowers are now getting checks in the mail through a $100 million settlement with a major lender
Ayelet Sheffey · Business Insider
The checks are from a 2024 settlement with private lender Navient over claims that it "cheated" student-loan borrowers out of lower monthly payments.
Civil LitigationConsumer ProtectionEconomy & FinanceLawsuitsLegal & Justice
Feb 18, 2026, 4:31 PM

WATCH: Pitbull hopes to set world record during concert
ABC News · Abcnews.com
Mr. 305 wants to set a Guiness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps during his show at BST Hyde Park in London on July 10.
Feb 18, 2026, 4:20 PM

Notorious Drug Trafficker Got Five-Star Treatment After Trump Pardon
Finn Hartnett · The New Republic
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was given special treatment and provided with a room in a luxury hotel after Donald Trump pardoned him in December, ProPublica reported Wednesday.Hernández, a member of Honduras’s right-wing National Party, was…
Donald TrumpLegal & JusticePardons
Feb 18, 2026, 4:01 PM

The Feds Reportedly Want Discord, Reddit, And Others To Doxx Users Who Criticize ICE
Ethan Gach · Kotaku
Companies are being subpoenaed for personal info
Federal AgenciesLaw EnforcementLegal & JusticeSocial Issues & CultureTechnology Regulation
Feb 18, 2026, 3:50 PM

EPA faces lawsuits over climate endangerment finding withdrawal
Dan Vergano · Scientific American
Medical and environmental groups are challenging the EPA’s decision to break with the long-standing scientific evidence that climate change endangers human health
Civil LitigationClimate PolicyEnvironmentFederal AgenciesLawsuits
Feb 18, 2026, 3:00 PM

‘Playing Checkers’: Trump’s Bid to Revive Coal Is Nonsensical
Ryan Bort · Rolling Stone
Donald Trump ordered the Department of Defense to purchase coal energy. Experts say the move doesn't make sense, economically or otherwise.
Donald TrumpEnergyEnvironmentPolicy & Legislation
Feb 18, 2026, 3:00 PM

FDA agrees to review Moderna mRNA flu vaccine in dramatic reversal
Claire Cameron · Scientific American
After initially rejecting Moderna’s application for review, the FDA will now consider the company’s mRNA flu shot
Federal AgenciesHealthHealth & ScienceMedical ResearchPublic Health
Feb 18, 2026, 2:50 PM

Federal ban on TP-Link routers shelved, but Texas fights on
Ben Lovejoy · 9to5Mac
Badged versions of TP-Link routers are supplied to US customers by more than 300 ISPs, making them the most widely used Wi-Fi routers in the country, found in millions of US homes.
It therefore caused grave concern when security researchers at Microsoft fo…
CybersecurityPolicy & Legislation
Feb 18, 2026, 2:06 PM

Why is the US targeting Cuba’s global medical missions?
Sarah Shamim · Al Jazeera English
Amid Cuba’s deepening fuel crisis, countries are bowing to US pressure and winding down their Cuban medical programmes.
Foreign Policy & International
Feb 18, 2026, 2:06 PM
Jen Psaki and Jasmine Crockett Bust Out Laughing at Trump Over Riff On Senate Race
Yahoo Entertainment
Feb 18, 2026, 1:58 PM

“Doctors Did A Great Job”: Ivanka Trump’s Transformation Scrutinized After Lunar New Year’s Post
Gabija Saveiskyte · Boredpanda.com
Ivanka's Lunar New Year post sparked debate about her image, business ventures, and political ambitions.
Feb 18, 2026, 1:36 PM

Trump’s Board of Peace meets: Who’s in, who’s out, what’s on the agenda?
Yashraj Sharma · Al Jazeera English
Asian and Middle Eastern partners line up in Washington, while Europe tries to keep a distance.
Donald TrumpForeign Policy & International
Feb 18, 2026, 1:06 PM
Gorsuch’s ‘told you so’ moment on Trump’s tariffs
Ella Lee · The Hill
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is having an ‘I told you so’ moment when it comes to President Trump’s tariffs. At November’s blockbuster arguments...
Donald TrumpEconomy & FinanceLegal & JusticeSupreme CourtTrade
Feb 18, 2026, 1:00 PM

Mark Zuckerberg faces a jury today. And, the top DHS spokesperson resigns her post
Brittney Melton · NPR
Mark Zuckerberg takes the stand today in a trial over whether social media companies are fueling the teen mental health crisis. And, Tricia McLaughlin is leaving the Department of Homeland Security.
Feb 18, 2026, 12:42 PM

Kristi Noem’s law-and-order pitch is collapsing
Amanda Marcotte · Salon
The DHS secretary and her semi-official aide Corey Lewandowski are to blame for the shutdown
CabinetGovernment & AdministrationLeadershipPersonnel
Feb 18, 2026, 11:45 AM

Trump using immigration to subvert the election, official says
Nicholas Liu · Salon
False election fraud claims are nothing new, but the federal immigration crackdown has increased pressure
Donald TrumpElections & Politics
Feb 18, 2026, 11:30 AM
Restless Trump, 79, Fires Off Ominous Late-Night Election Post
Will Neal · Daily Beast
Donald Trump has issued a warning as vague as it is sinister about this year’s battle for control of the House and Senate. “Crooked Elections cannot be...
Donald TrumpElections & Politics
Feb 18, 2026, 11:11 AM

Leaked meetings reveal key clues about FBI seizure of Georgia election records
Doug Bock Clark, Jeremy Kohler · Salon
Thomas Albus, the federal prosecutor investigating the 2020 Georgia vote, meet with Trump admin lawyers last fall.
Criminal CasesElections & PoliticsFederal AgenciesLaw EnforcementVoting Rights
Feb 18, 2026, 11:00 AM

The Four Ways Trump Plans to Delegitimize this Fall’s Elections
Harry Litman · The New Republic
Even as diversionary battles flare across the political landscape—immigration raids, diplomatic blunders, legal losses in court, and the lingering Epstein fallout—Donald Trump is making his move where it matters most: elections.The administration is pressing …
2024 PresidentialDonald TrumpElections & PoliticsVoting Rights
Feb 18, 2026, 11:00 AM

Whoopi Goldberg addresses her mention in Epstein files on The View
Drew Gillis · Jezebel
Since 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.
Feb 18, 2026, 10:39 AM
Student-loan borrowers in public service are in a growing debt relief bind
Ayelet Sheffey · Business Insider
Student-loan borrowers pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness are facing worse delays in paperwork processing and looming limits to debt relief.
Social Issues & Culture
Feb 18, 2026, 10:08 AM
Gold price below $5,000 as investors wait on Fed guidance for clues
Pedro Goncalves · Yahoo Entertainment
Markets currently expect the Fed to cut rates in June
Economy & Finance
Feb 18, 2026, 9:32 AM

Trump administration is erasing history and science at national parks, lawsuit argues
The Associated Press · NPR
Conservation and historical organizations sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over National Park Service policies that the groups say erase history and science from America's national parks.
Civil LitigationDonald TrumpLawsuitsLegal & JusticePolicy & Legislation
Feb 18, 2026, 7:09 AM

Judges reject Trump admin's bid to deport 2 pro-Palestinian college students
Armando Garcia · Abcnews.com
Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed Columbia's Mohsen Mahdawi and Tufts University's Rümeysa Öztürk posed a threat to foreign policy.
ICE Controversies & ResistanceImmigrationLegal & Justice
Feb 18, 2026, 5:45 AM

Washington appoints new US envoy on Tibetan human rights
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
China has previously criticised the role, accusing the US of interfering in China’s internal affairs.
AppointmentsForeign Policy & InternationalGovernment & AdministrationPersonnelStatements
Feb 18, 2026, 5:05 AM

‘Tug of war’: Democrats push Trump to release New York City tunnel funds
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the $77m released Tuesday falls short of the amount owed for the transport project.
Donald TrumpTransportation
Feb 18, 2026, 2:48 AM

Man with shotgun running towards US Capitol building arrested by police
Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera English
The suspect, identified as Carter Camacho from the US state of Georgia, was wearing a tactical vest and gloves.
Criminal CasesLaw EnforcementSecurity Incidents
Feb 18, 2026, 2:26 AM

Stephen Colbert says CBS barred interview with Texas Democratic candidate
Al Jazeera Staff · Al Jazeera English
US late-night show host says CBS pulled interview from Monday's broadcast over fears it could violate new FCC guidance.
CensorshipElections & PoliticsFree SpeechInterviewsMedia & Communications
Feb 18, 2026, 1:51 AM
Nevada sues Kalshi as federal regulators say back off
Jack Newsham · Business Insider
Nevada officials sued Kalshi, calling it an illegal betting website. The same day, a top Trump finance regulator said states should butt out.
Civil LitigationLawsuitsLegal & JusticeRegional & State
Feb 18, 2026, 1:17 AM

Under pressure from Trump, Venezuela's new president has aces up her sleeve
BBC News
Delcy Rodriguez knows its in America's interests for her to be a success
Foreign Policy & International
Feb 18, 2026, 12:48 AM

What To Know About The FCC Rule At The Center Of Trump Administration Efforts To Crack Down On Stephen Colbert And Other Late-Night Hosts
Ted Johnson · Deadline
When Stephen Colbert announced that CBS restricted him from airing an interview with a Democratic candidate, it set off a range of reactions: Some argued that it reflected Trump’s efforts to censor late-night content; others that it was merely enforcement of …
CensorshipFree SpeechMedia & Communications
Feb 18, 2026, 12:21 AM