Trump News for Thursday, February 19, 2026

WATCH: What’s next for former Prince Andrew after his arrest?

ABC News, Abcnews.com

International attorney Ann Olivarius breaks down potential criminal pathways, jurisdictional hurdles and investigative next steps.

Strike over labour reforms brings Argentina’s capital to a near-standstill

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The Chamber of Deputies is weighing a labour bill that would increase work hours, cut severance pay and ease firing.

Ex-Prince Andrew’s arrest spurs Epstein accountability calls from UK to US

Ali Harb, Al Jazeera English

US lawmakers call on the Trump administration to pursue justice for victims, as UN expert urges probes across the world.

Trump Menaces Iran With Massive Armada Capable of Prolonged War

Nick Turse, The Intercept

The amount of military forces gathering near Iran dwarfs even the monthslong build-up before the U.S. coup in Venezuela. The post Trump Menaces Iran With Massive Armada Capable of Prolonged War appeared first on The Intercept.

WATCH: Trump says ‘really bad things’ will happen if Iran doesn't make deal

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Pressed by ABC News' Karen Travers, President Trump repeated Thursday that “really bad things” would happen to Iran if its leaders don’t make a nuclear deal.

WATCH: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested in London

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on Thursday follows the emergence of documents detailing communication between the former prince and the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

Minnesota judge holds federal attorney in civil contempt

Devan Cole, Tierney Sneed, CNN

A federal judge in Minnesota held a Trump administration attorney in civil contempt for “flagrant disobedience of court orders” in the case of a noncitizen swept up in the immigration crackdown there earlier this year.

JD Vance’s Comment On Eileen Gu’s Representation Sparks Fresh Backlash Against The Athlete

Analice Couto, Boredpanda.com

JD Vance has criticized Eileen Gu for competing as a Chinese athlete at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite being born in the US, sparking severe backlash against her.

Trump Claims Obama Leaked Classified Intel When He Said Aliens Are Real

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

Lara Trump recently claimed the president already has a speech prepared on UFOs.

It really looks like we’re about to bomb Iran again

Joshua Keating, Vox

The US military is in the midst of its largest build-up of forces in the Middle East in decades, in preparation for some sort of military action in Iran. Military officials say strikes could come as early as this weekend and some US personnel are being evacua…

Americans Are Exposing How F*cked Up The US Vs. The UK Is With Epstein, And It's So Embarrassing

Alexa Lisitza, Buzzfeed

"If only the Trump administration took these crimes as seriously as the U.K."View Entire Post ›

Wait, Is Trump About to Go to War With Iran?

Fred Kaplan, Slate Magazine

The president who promised an end to military misadventures in the Middle East sure looks ready to embark on a military misadventure in the Middle East.

Internal memo details cosmetic changes and facility repairs to Kennedy Center

Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR

Trump announced his plans to close the Kennedy Center entirely for two years "for Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding." The announcement came after many prominent artists canceled existing scheduled appearances.

White House pressure leads universities to cut ties with nonprofit that helps racial minorities

JOCELYN GECKER and COLLIN BINKLEY, Yahoo Entertainment

The Trump administration said Thursday its campaign to end diversity programs in higher education has led dozens of universities to cut ties with an...

Eileen Gu - the 'snow princess' who divides opinion

Katie Falkingham, BBC News

Eileen Gu is the most decorated female Olympic freestyle skier in history, and a global superstar, but continues to divide opinion.

US trade deficit swells in December as imports surge

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

The US trade deficit deteriorated even though President Trump unleashed a barrage of tariffs to close trade imbalances.

Donald Trump Jr’s Private DC Club Has Mysterious Ties to an Ex-Cop With a Controversial Past

Kate Knibbs, Wired

The Executive Branch has a reported membership list that includes Trumpworld elites like David Sacks. A WIRED review of corporate filings reveals an under-the-radar player: a notorious former DC police officer.

University of Texas limits on teaching of "unnecessary controversial subjects"

Jessica Priest, The Texas Tribune

Opponents warned the policy’s vagueness could push professors to self-censor and leave students less prepared for the workplace.

Oil prices surge ahead of possible US attack on Iran

Max Zahn, Abcnews.com

The U.S. has carried out a major military buildup in the Middle East.

Masked protesters arrested outside Trump’s Board of Peace meeting

Al Jazeera English

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in downtown Washington, DC, outside Donald Trump’s Board of Peace event.

Writers From ‘The Daily Show’, ‘Last Week Tonight’, ‘SNL’ & More Try To Solve A Riddle: Is Donald Trump Actually Funny?

Dade Hayes, Deadline

Six nominees for WGA Awards in the Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch category grappled Wednesday night with one of the great riddles of our age: Is Donald Trump actually funny? Opinions on the topic – one of many covered in a multi-faceted, 90-minute dis…

Decades of international failure on Palestine

Al Jazeera English

"Board of Peace" convenes after decades of inaction on Palestinian demands to end the Israeli occupation.

“Who Is This?”: Nicki Minaj’s Dramatic New Look Triggers Explosive Reactions

Rocio Corsi, Boredpanda.com

Nicki Minaj’s striking new look at a Trump-backed forum has set social media abuzz, drawing strong reactions from fans and critics alike.

Spending watchdog tells National Science Foundation CIO to up game on tech procurement

Joe Fay, Theregister.com

Wants SLAs, revamped contracts for cloud ops The US Congress’ spending watchdog, the Government Accountability Office, has pressed the National Science Foundation’s CIO to improve how the agency plans, manages, and procures technology.…

Trump announces billions of dollars in Gaza aid at Board of Peace meeting

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US President Donald Trump announces pledges to a Gaza reconstruction fund during first meeting of his Board of Peace.

It Looks Like The FBI Straight Up Lied To A Judge To Get Permission To Seize Georgia Voting Records

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Earlier this month, the FBI decided it was going to help Donald Trump steal back the election he’s claimed for half-a-decade was stolen from him. The state whose Secretary of State was asked directly by the outgoing president in January 2021 to “find 11,780 v…

Netflix's co-CEO says Trump has one big question about the Warner Bros. sale

James Faris, Business Insider

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos says President Donald Trump has spoken about wanting to bring jobs back to Hollywood after years of lower production.

Trump White House Reacts to ‘Loser’ Springsteen Tour Announcement With So Many Bad Puns

Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone

"When this loser Springsteen comes back home to his own City of Ruins in his head, he’ll realize his Glory Days are behind him," spokesperson Steven Cheung insisted

WATCH: Proposed billionaire tax divides Democrats

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A proposed one-time 5% tax on billionaires in California is causing division between prominent national Democratic Party figures as the party seeks a unifying message ahead of the 2026 midterms.

WATCH: President Trump says Iran 'can't have a nuclear weapon'

ABC News, Abcnews.com

Trump on Thursday said "bad things will happen" to Iran if the country does not make a deal regarding nuclear enrichment at the inaugural meeting for the Board of Peace.

WATCH: King Charles arrives at London Fashion Week show after arrest of his brother

ABC News, Abcnews.com

King Charles III attended a show at London Fashion Week after his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

More U.S. Troops Are Headed to Nigeria

Nick Turse, The Intercept

The Trump administration is sending more troops to a region where U.S. military presence has coincided with increased violence. The post More U.S. Troops Are Headed to Nigeria appeared first on The Intercept.

WATCH: Sec. Rubio delivers remarks at President Trump's Board of Peace

ABC News, Abcnews.com

"We have to get this right. There is no 'Plan B' for Gaza," the secretary of state said.

The US Is Working on a Site to Help Europeans Bypass Content Bans on Hate Speech: Report

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

The online portal is set be hosted at Freedom.gov.

Trump suggests Iran has 10 days to reach agreement with US

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

US president says at inaugural Board of Peace summit that Washington and Tehran should make a 'meaningful deal'.

Trump praises ‘magnificent’ B-2 bombers that struck Iran in 2025

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump praised the “magnificent” B-2 bombers that “totally decimated the nuclear potential” of Iran.

Trump’s “Cringe” Comment About Nicki Minaj’s Skin Sparks Backlash During Black History Month

Lei RV, Boredpanda.com

Donald Trump revisited his January compliment to Nicki Minaj during Black History Month event on Wednesday, leading netizens to call him cringe.

You Know What Else Could Help Families in Need, Usha???

Danielle Han, Jezebel

The Second Lady asked that instead of sending baby gifts, people donate diapers to needy families. If only we had a government that could pass policies to assist families in need...

Reservations No Longer Needed at Three of America’s Most Popular National Parks

Jeremy Gray, PetaPixel

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that visitors to three of the most popular national parks in the United States will no longer need to make reservations to enter in 2026. The move is a dramatic shift in how the NPS handles over-visitation and ove…

Refugees in the U.S. could be arrested under new immigration memo

Ximena Bustillo, NPR

The move is another Trump administration effort to limit legal pathways to migration or resettlement, after already curbing the number of admitted refugees and re-reviewing those admitted under the Biden administration.

Trump’s Backlash to Black History

Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic

The efforts to whitewash history call for a new approach to memorializing Black history.

Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ convenes for first time

Al Jazeera English

Led by US President Donald Trump, the “Board of Peace” convened for its first meeting to discuss Gaza reconstruction.

IRS lost 40% of IT staff, 80% of tech leaders in DOGE shakeup

Joe Fay, Theregister.com

CIO says sweeping reorg followed deep cuts as agency pushes cross-functional teams and AI Job cuts at the IRS's tech arm have gone faster and farther than expected, with 40 percent of IT staff and four-fifths of tech leaders gone, the agency's CIO revealed ye…

2nd US carrier group heads toward Middle East amid Iran tensions

Luis Martinez, David Brennan, Abcnews.com

A second American aircraft carrier -- the USS Gerald R. Ford -- is heading toward the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran, accompanied by destroyers and aircraft.

US tech giants open their wallets for AI-friendly politicians

Dan Robinson, Theregister.com

Rush is on to influence candidates from both parties ahead of midterms Meta is among tech giants reportedly funding US politicians friendly to the AI industry, as concerns mount over a huge expansion in datacenter building and the effects of AI on everyday li…

U.S. "Search and Rescue" Operations for Boat Strike Survivors Are a Macabre Joke

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

Rescue planes have taken almost two days to reach the site of a boat strike, making survivors a near impossibility. It's likely intentional.

It’s MAGA v Broligarch in the battle over prediction markets

Tina Nguyen, The Verge

Hello and welcome to Regulator, a newsletter for Verge subscribers about the love-hate (but mostly hate) relationship between Silicon Valley and Washington. I hope everyone got to celebrate George Washington's birthday in their preferred manner: skiing, stayc…

CBS Decides That NOT Airing Associates Of Sex-Trafficking Pedophiles Would Be Woke

Karl Bode, Techdirt

We’ve noted how Bari Weiss’ tenure at CBS (or what’s left of it) isn’t really going very well. Hired by Trump-allied billionaire Larry Ellison to turn what’s left of CBS into a right wing extraction class-friendly agitprop mill, Weiss has been accosted on all…

Trump’s Board of Peace live: Representatives converge for inaugural meeting

Adam Muro, Al Jazeera English

US President Trump will host the inaugural meeting of his so-called 'Board of Peace' in Washington, DC today.

Why We Can’t ‘Nudge’ Our Problems Away

Rob Wolfe, The Atlantic

A new book buries the Obama-era idea that small shifts in personal behavior can greatly improve the world.

Poisonous Objects

Carolina A. Miranda, The New York Review of Books

Two exhibitions in Los Angeles respond to the racist monuments to Confederate soldiers that have been erected all over the United States.

A Real Live Socialist

Thomas Powers, The New York Review of Books

What Bernie Sanders brought to the job of mayor of Burlington and what he did with it help explain what matters to him and how he fits into American political argument.

‘We Think They’ll Kill Someone’

Anjan Sundaram, The New York Review of Books

Indigenous communities in Mexico who oppose the construction of megaprojects on their lands do so at great risk.

As Kennedy Went

Linda Greenhouse, The New York Review of Books

Justice Anthony Kennedy often confounded Supreme Court observers with his seemingly unpredictable opinions, but during the years when a majority could be achieved only through some measure of compromise, he wielded enormous power over the Constitution’s conte…

Canadian travellers have not gotten over their beef with Trump, and snowbird destinations could feel the pinch

Katherine Li, Business Insider

Canadians are staying away from their usual snowbird destinations, with many opting for domestic trips, or looking towards Mexico, and the Caribbean.

I lost my job at 58 when DOGE dismantled USAID. A year on, I've landed on my feet but still feel survivor's guilt.

jzitser@businessinsider.com (Joshua Nelken-Zitser), Business Insider

A year on from the federal layoffs, Jay Gulledge, 59, said that while he has landed on his feet, he feels for other USAID workers who haven't.

Trump tariffs add costs amid 'growing disaster,' some Iowa farmers say

Yahoo Entertainment

Black History Month Is Radical Now

Adam Harris, The Atlantic

A nation that wants to forget its past must be reminded of all of it.

10 Thursday AM Reads

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

My morning train WFH reads: • The grift economy is going mainstream Scams and grift have evolved from fringe activity into normalized economic behavior, marking a fundamental shift in how cons operate in plain sight. (Your Brain on Money) • Detroit Automakers…

A New PAC Wants to Counter Israel’s Influence. It Also Welcomes Hitler Apologists.

Jonah Valdez, The Intercept

AZAPAC's Michael Rectenwald wants to fight pro-Israel interests in politics. To do that, he's courted Nick Fuentes and endorsed white nationalist candidates. The post A New PAC Wants to Counter Israel’s Influence. It Also Welcomes Hitler Apologists. appeared …

Former Prince Andrew Arrested After Release of Epstein Files

TMZ Staff, TMZ

Former Prince Andrew is under arrest by police in England following news of his longtime friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The disgraced ex-Royal, who now goes by the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was apprehended by Thames…

Can Europe reduce its dependence on the US and at what cost?

Al Jazeera English

Trump's tariffs, Greenland and defence spending are testing US-Europe alliance.

One Guy from the Epstein Files Down. Hundreds to Go.

Lauren Tousignant, Jezebel

The former Prince Andrew was arrested on Thursday in connection with his ties to Epstein. Imagine that!

Iran builds concrete shield at military site amid acute US tensions

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Satellite images reveal Iran fortifying its Parchin military complex against aerial strikes.

From US threats to ‘holding hands’: Did Nigeria disarm Trump on security?

Sumayya Ismail, Al Jazeera English

Trump and Nigeria appeared headed for a clash over bogus claims of a Christian massacre. Now the US is helping Nigeria.

Iran and the U.S. lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in balance

The Associated Press, NPR

Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast.

Trump gathers members of Board of Peace for first meeting, with some U.S. allies wary

The Associated Press, NPR

President Donald Trump will gather Thursday with representatives from more than two dozen countries that have joined his Board of Peace, for a meeting that will focus on the reconstruction of Gaza.

‘Proof of concept’? What Trump can achieve in first Board of Peace meeting

Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera English

Analysts say Trump will seek to show Gaza progress at controversial board meet, but pressure on Israel needed for gains.

N Korea’s Kim unveils 50 rocket launchers ahead of key congress

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Kim hails nuclear-capable weapons as 'wonderful' and 'attractive' as N Korea gears up for a once-in-five-year congress.

Activist group Extinction Rebellion says it is under FBI investigation

Lyndal Rowlands, Al Jazeera English

Environmental group says FBI is visiting activists' homes as Trump administration rolls back pollution protections.

Vinay Prasad: The One Man Roadblocking An mRNA Flu Vaccine

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

Dr. Vinay Prasad is currently the FDA’s top vaccine regulator. He’s also one of many medical goons hand-picked by RFK Jr. to help lead his decidedly anti-vaxxer movement. In fact, the last time we discussed Prasad, it was over his selective censorship attempt…

Here’s the Proof Trump Knows He’s Doomed: Rothkopf

The Daily Beast Podcast, William Vaillancourt, Daily Beast

Donald Trump is trying to chip away at the integrity of the voting process ahead of the November midterms because he knows Republicans will not fare well...

Venezuela’s Rodriguez, Colombia’s Petro say they will meet ‘soon’

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

Petro said he had invited Rodriguez to meet in the border city of Cucuta to discuss energy cooperation.

Advocacy groups sue Trump administration over endangerment finding’s repeal

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The US Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the climate change finding as part of a push to slash regulation.

US to withdraw troops from Syria as tensions mount with Iran

BBC News

The decision came as US President Donald Trump ramps up military presence in the Middle East as tensions mount with Iran.

Judge Pares Down DOJ’s Antitrust Claims Against Live Nation, But Lawsuit Can Proceed To Trial

Ted Johnson, Deadline

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed portions of the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, but will allow other claims to proceed to trial next month. The Justice Department and 39 states sued Live Nation in 2024, with claims that comp…

60 Minutes, CBS Sports, Inside Edition to Leave Longtime New York Offices in Real Estate Shuffle

Brian Steinberg, Variety

The correspondents and producers who work at CBS News’ “60 Minutes” will soon leave the newsmagazine’s longtime New York offices as part of a consolidation of real estate occupied by some of Paramount Skydance’s best-known properties. “60 Minutes,” CBS Sports…

Biotech investor set to lead US National Science Foundation

Dan Garisto, Max Kozlov, Nature.com

If confirmed by the US Senate, Jim O'Neill would be the first non-scientist or engineer to lead the agency, a big funder of US basic research.