Trump News for Friday, February 20, 2026

Open Letter To Tech Companies: Protect Your Users From Lawless DHS Subpoenas

Mario Trujillo, Techdirt

We are calling on technology companies like Meta and Google to stand up for their users by resisting the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) lawless administrative subpoenas for user data.  In the past year, DHS has consistently targeted people engaged in…

Conan O’Brien Breaks Silence on Rob Reiner’s Murder After Director Attended His Holiday Party: ‘I Was In Shock’

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone

The comedian was at the center of the tragedy when news broke that the couple attended his holiday party the night before they were killed

US envoy suggests it would be ‘fine’ if Israel expands across Middle East

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

'It would be fine if they took it all,' Mike Huckabee says when asked about expanding Israel from Nile to Euphrates.

Trump’s Tariffs Aren’t As Dead As You Think They Are

Nitish Pahwa, Slate Magazine

If you’re hoping for grocery prices to go down, I’ve got some bad news.

Trump Says He’ll Impose New 10% Global Tariff After SCOTUS Defeat

Matt Novak, Gizmodo.com

The president insisted he'll find other ways to make the tariffs that have rocked the tech industry happen.

Trump Fires Court-Appointed US Attorney Hours After It Replaces His Illegally-Appointed Former Campaign Lawyer

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

It’s all well and good that we have a system of laws and rules in place. For the most part, the bumpers on the bowling lane help keep a lot of stuff on the field of play (to mix metaphors), even if powerful politicians would rather have the rules apply to eve…

Can Trump still impose tariffs after the Supreme Court ruling?

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

The case is the first major challenge to Trump’s agenda, but he still has other avenues to pursue trade restrictions.

The Supreme Court just blew up Trump’s foreign policy

Joshua Keating, Vox

President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy so far has been to speak loudly and carry a big stick. On Friday, the Supreme Court took away his favorite stick. From Cuba, to China, to Greenland, it’s not an exaggeration to say that tariffs are the defau…

Trump Announces 10% Global Tariffs Hours After Supreme Court Ruled Against Him

Jeremy Gray, PetaPixel

Just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump's global reciprocal tariffs as illegal in a 6-3 ruling, the president announced a new 10% global tariff for 150 days. [Read More]

They Bet Against Trump's Tariffs. Now They Stand to Make Millions

Joel Khalili, Wired

After the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, investment firms are in line for a whopping return on a niche trade.

Tariff refunds could take years amid US Supreme Court ruling, experts warn

Andy Hirschfeld, Al Jazeera English

At least 1,000 companies have already sued the administration of United States President Donald Trump.

US President Trump promises new tariffs, slams Supreme Court decision

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Supreme Court blocks Trump's emergency tariffs, but he plans to invoke other laws to maintain and raise tariffs.

Trump’s tariff defeat, 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: Donald Trump’s tariffs are unlawful, the Supreme Court…

America is at risk of becoming an automotive backwater

Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge

For decades, America's auto industry was the envy of the world, driven by mass production, the rise of Detroit's Big Three automakers, and the iconic stylings of the 1950s and '60s. Then, through a series of blunders and missteps, things started to unravel. T…

Trump suggests he won’t refund tariffs after Supreme Court ruling

Al Jazeera English

President Donald Trump suggested he doesn’t plan to refund tariff fees already collected by the US government.

All truckers and bus drivers will be required to take commercial driver's license tests in English

JOSH FUNK, Yahoo Entertainment

All truckers and bus drivers will have to take their commercial driver’s license tests in English as the Trump administration expands its aggressive campaign...

Trump ‘considering’ limited strikes on Iran

Al Jazeera English

US President Trump says he is “considering” limited strikes on Iran as negotiations continue over its nuclear program.

Trump: Supreme Court’s rejection of tariffs ‘deeply disappointing’

Al Jazeera English

US President Trump called several Supreme Court justices a “disgrace” after they struck down tariffs he issued in 2025.

Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies passes controversial labour reform bill

Josefina Salomon, Patricio A Cabezas, Al Jazeera English

Unions have slammed the reforms as an effort under libertarian President Javier Milei to erode protections for workers.

WATCH: President Trump addresses the media after SCOTUS tariff decision

ABC News, Abcnews.com

A Friday SCOTUS decision invalidated most of President Trump's global tariffs, a cornerstone of his economic policy in his second term.

Supreme Court’s tariff ruling could be good news for device pricing

Ryan McNeal, Android Authority

SCOTUS pulls the plug on most of Trump's tariffs.

Trump Bashes ‘Disloyal’ Supreme Court for Not Letting Him Defy Constitution

nikkimccannramirez, Rolling Stone

President Donald Trump accused the Supreme Court of being "disloyal" after the justices ruled against his authority to unilaterally implement tariffs.

Trump outlines new plan for tariffs after 'deeply disappointing' Supreme Court ruling

Alexandra Hutzler, Abcnews.com

Trump laid out alternative ways to impose his tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down most of the levies as illegal, a decision he called "deeply disappointing."

Trump Says He’s Just Going To Make Some Shit Up To Justify Nationalizing The Election Process

Tim Cushing, Techdirt

Trump couldn’t accept the fact that he lost the 2020 election. So he stood idly by (if you believe his narrative) or urged on (if you believe your own eyes and ears) his supporters to raid the Capitol building to seize the election from the electorate. If tha…

Werder Bremen cancel US trip over ICE shooting concerns

BBC Sport, BBC News

German club Werder Bremen cancel a trip to the USA, citing concerns over "unrest" after a government immigration crackdown that left two people dead.

Trump lashes out at Supreme Court justices who struck down his tariffs: 'Fools and lapdogs'

bgriffiths@insider.com (Brent D. Griffiths), Business Insider

A 6-3 majority struck down one of President Donald Trump's favored methods to impose tariffs.

President Donald Trump Claims Melania Is A Box Office Success – The Facts Say Otherwise

staff@slashfilm.com (Ryan Scott), /FILM

Donald Trump has boasted that Melania, the documentary about his wife, is a success, but the box office numbers and other objective metrics say otherwise.

Who made the cut on Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ and what they want

Al Jazeera English

The Board of Peace takes Washington.

Majority of Americans disapprove of how Trump handling tariffs: ABC/Post/Ipsos poll

Emily Guskin, Abcnews.com

The poll was conducted just days before a SCOTUS decision invalidating tariffs.

Kavanaugh in dissent: Bad policy or not, Trump's tariffs were 'clearly lawful'

Natalie Musumeci,Laura Italiano, Business Insider

Justices Kavanaugh, Alito, and Thomas argued that Trump's tariffs were lawful and that reversing them could get messy.

WATCH: New bodycam video shows alleged hazing incident at University of Iowa fraternity

ABC News, Abcnews.com

The video shows what officers found during a 2024 alleged hazing incident at the University of Iowa's Alpha Delta Phi fraternity. Now three fraternities are under suspension.

Trump administration slashes mercury regulations from coal plants

Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American

Mercury pollution from coal plants has been tied to serious neurological problems, especially in children and babies

Newsmax Didn’t Like Its NewsGuard Rating, So The FTC Attacked NewsGuard, And Now NewsGuard Is Suing

Mike Masnick, Techdirt

We’ve written a few times now about how the GOP’s “free speech warriors” have been waging an absolutely absurd campaign against NewsGuard, a company whose entire business model is… expressing opinions about the reliability of news sources. You know, speech. T…

WATCH: Supreme Court invalidates most of Trump's tariffs in major ruling

ABC News, Abcnews.com

SCOTUS has invalidated most of President Donald Trump's tariffs, a cornerstone of his economic policy in his second term. ABC News' Mary Bruce reports.

John Roberts’ Rebuke of Trump’s Tariffs Is Withering, Confident, and Genuinely Encouraging

Mark Joseph Stern, Slate Magazine

In truth, Trump’s tariffs were always on shaky legal ground

The Supreme Court’s tariff decision could save you $1,000

Eric Levitz, Vox

The Supreme Court just upended President Donald Trump’s trade war. In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled on Friday that the bulk of Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutionally enacted.   Trump had rested his trade agenda on a peculiar interpretation of the Internati…

US Supreme Court strike down majority of Trump's tariffs, so hopefully that's one less hardware buying headache to worry about

Mark Warren, Rock Paper Shotgun

For once, I bring what should hopefully be good news for folks looking to buy or upgrade their PC hardware without having to factor in a bunch of inconveniences they can do nothing about. The RAM crisis is still in full swing, but the US Supreme Court have st…

Winners & Losers of SCOTUS Decision Striking Down Tariffs

Barry Ritholtz, Ritholtz.com

SCOTUS:  Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution specifies that “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises.” The Framers recognized the unique importance of this taxing power—a power which “very clear[ly]” includes …

‘I Bought This Before Elon Went Crazy’ Bumper Stickers Won’t Work on the New $60,000 Cybertruck

Bruce Gil, Gizmodo.com

Tesla introduced its cheapest Cybertruck model this week amid struggling sales.

Iran says US military build-up ‘unnecessary and unhelpful’, deal achievable

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Top Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi says US 'has not asked' for zero uranium enrichment in nuclear talks.

Why a Republican Supreme Court struck down Trump’s tariffs

Ian Millhiser, Vox

The Supreme Court handed down its long-awaited decision in Learning Resources v. Trump on Friday, with a total of six justices concluding that a wide range of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are illegal. Chief Justice John Roberts, a Republican, wro…

Texas Republican denies affair with staffer who died by suicide

John Parkinson, Jay O'Brien, Diana Paulsen, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Abcnews.com

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales has called for the release of a police report.

Why SCOTUS' rejection of Biden's student-loan forgiveness plays a big role in its Trump tariff decision

Ayelet Sheffey, Business Insider

The Supreme Court said its rationale for overturning most of Trump's tariffs was the same one it used to strike down Biden's student-loan forgiveness.

Tariffs ruling is major blow to Trump's second-term agenda

BBC News

The Supreme Court has weakened Trump's hand in dealing with other nations, writes Anthony Zurcher.

Supreme Court Shocks World by Correctly Declaring Trump’s Global Tariffs Unconstitutional

Justin Caffier, Gizmodo.com

The landmark 6-3 ruling knocks down a load-bearing beam of Trump's economic agenda.

Splinter: Trump Said He 'Wants to Be a Good Boy' in Extremely Normal and Not at All Unhinged Tariff Press Conference

Jacob Weindling, Jezebel

The big boy was big mad about the Supreme Court repealing his tariffs.

US Supreme Court Rules Trump’s Tariffs Are Illegal

Jeremy Gray, PetaPixel

The United States Supreme Court has struck down President Trump's controversial global tariffs in a 6-3 ruling. [Read More]

Trump tariffs live: US Supreme Court rules against sweeping global tariffs

Brian Osgood, Fiona Kelliher, Al Jazeera English

Supreme Court says Trump did not have authority to enact tariffs under law meant for national emergencies.

The Big Story: Signalgate, One Year Later

The Atlantic

Jeffrey Goldberg and Adrienne LaFrance discuss reporting on national security and the political fallout after the Signal story.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs That Hiked Prices On Switch, Xbox, And PS5

Zack Zwiezen, Kotaku

The court ruled 6-3 that the President couldn't use a 1977 law to enact the tariffs against over 50 countries

In Gaza, Trump’s Board of Peace met with deep scepticism, little hope

Maram Humaid, Al Jazeera English

In war-ravaged Gaza, residents question whether Trump's Board of Peace will deliver real security.

Everything you need to know about Trump's White House plans

Ben Dreith, Dezeen

Four months after the demolition of the East Wing, US president Donald Trump has continued his plans to build a ballroom at the White House. We explain everything you need to know about the controversial architectural project. Read more

Supreme Court strikes down swath of Trump's tariffs

Jacob Shamsian, Business Insider

The Supreme Court fast-tracked a case over whether President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs.

Supreme Court invalidates most of Trump's tariffs

Devin Dwyer, Peter Charalambous, Abcnews.com

The Supreme Court on Friday invalidated most of President Donald Trump's tariffs, a cornerstone of his economic policy in his second term.

The Trump regime is still deporting people to wherever...

Jason Kottke, kottke.org

The Trump regime is still deporting people to wherever they want, facilitated by a corrupt Supreme Court.

Trump tariffs live updates: Supreme Court slaps down Trump's authority to impose his most sweeping tariffs

Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Entertainment

The court heard arguments last year on whether Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) when imposing...

Tariff ruling live coverage: Trump attacks Supreme Court after tariffs truck down

Yahoo Entertainment

The AI-Panic Cycle—And What’s Actually Different Now

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic

Are we in another acceleration phase for AI?

Democrats Are Divorcing Bill Clinton

Ryan Bort, Rolling Stone

Democrats are finally divorcing Bill Clinton, with party lawmakers voting to force his testimony as part of the GOP's farcical Epstein investigation.

Department Of Education Forced To Back Off Illegal Plan To Be Racist, Sexist Assholes

Karl Bode, Techdirt

One recurring theme of this era: folks who actually choose to stand up to this bumbling kakistocracy of hateful failsons usually tend to win if they stick together. Those that prematurely bend the knee in abject cowardice (like say, CBS, countless law firms, …

Ukraine’s patience with US peace push wears thin as Russia skirts pressure

John T Psaropoulos, Al Jazeera English

The US is putting too much pressure on Kyiv and not enough on Moscow, says Ukraine’s Zelenskyy after more failed talks.

MAHA Moms Are Mad That RFK Jr. Now Supports Big Poison

Danielle Han, Jezebel

“Women feel like they were lied to, that MAHA movement is a sham,” one MAHA mom told the New York Times.

No joy, no respite during Ramadan for families in Gaza City destroyed by Israel .

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

Nisreen Nassar and her family, like many other Palestinians, continue to live in schools and makeshift shelters.

The Entire Trump Tariff Scheme Just Suffered a Supreme Collapse. Refunds, Anybody?

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

As the Supreme Court strikes down Trump's "emergency" tariffs, hundreds of U.S. companies are already clamoring for tariff refunds.

ICE Killed Another American Citizen Last Year, but No One Reported It

Jim Vorel, Jezebel

It was never revealed until now that the shooters of Ruben Ray Martinez were agents of ICE. Like Renee Good, he died at the wheel of his car.

Americans oppose tactics ICE is using to enforce immigration laws by 2:1 margin: Poll

Emily Guskin, Abcnews.com

Over half of Americans say they're angry or upset over immigration enforcement.

What Does Trump Want With Cuba?

The Intercept Briefing, The Intercept

The Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign is pushing Cuba into a deeper humanitarian crisis. The post What Does Trump Want With Cuba? appeared first on The Intercept.

Scientists worry about lasting damage from Potomac sewage spill

Michael Copley, NPR

Drinking water around the District of Columbia hasn't been contaminated. But scientists say the environmental damage could be severe.

'We're just going to get worse': 3 reasons Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz thinks the US economy will keep weakening

Jennifer Sor, Business Insider

Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz pointed to several concerns he had about the US economy, like the decline in blue-collar jobs & uncertainty over rates.

The Olympics and Politics Are More Intertwined Than Ever. Maybe That’s a Good Thing

Angela Watercutter, Wired

The Olympics often provide a moment of unity and celebration during times of geopolitical uncertainty. But blind nationalism didn’t win at the 2026 Winter Games.

Leading US Research Lab Appears to Be Squeezing Out Foreign Scientists

Paresh Dave, Wired

House Democrats are demanding answers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and urging it to halt rumored changes they say could undermine its mission.

Tracking the rapid US military build-up near Iran

Elizabeth Melimopoulos, Al Jazeera English

As tensions between the US and Iran rise, we examine the military assets Washington has deployed to the Middle East.

Bolivia’s ex-leader Morales reappears in stronghold after 7-week absence

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

The public appearance ends rumours that Morales fled the country following the abduction of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

Trump gives Iran 10-15 days to make deal, warns ‘bad things will happen’

Al Jazeera English

Donald Trump has warned Iran it has 10 to 15 days to reach a deal over its nuclear program, or “bad things” will happen.

Venezuela grants amnesty that could release hundreds of political detainees

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

More than 600 people may be in custody for political reasons, one Venezuelan rights group estimates.

Trump says he doesn't know if aliens are real but directs government to release files on UFOs

The Associated Press, NPR

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he's directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of "tremendous interest."

Trump orders Pentagon, federal agencies to release files on UFOs and aliens

Zaid Sabah, Al Jazeera English

US president's announcement comes amid a surge of interest following comments on aliens by ex-President Barack Obama.

Trump Directs US Government To Prepare Release of Files on Aliens and UFOs

msmash, Slashdot.org

US President Donald Trump says he will direct US agencies, including the defence department, to "begin the process of identifying and releasing" government files on aliens and extraterrestrial life. From a report: Trump made the declaration in a post on Truth…

Trump Wants An Airport Renamed After Him While His Company Trademarks Those Same Names

Timothy Geigner, Techdirt

Remember how Donald Trump was going to “drain the swamp” as president? The idea, spilling out from his first campaign for president, was that Washington was horribly corrupt, that politicians and unelected government stooges were making money from their posit…

Leslie Wexner says Epstein makes 'Bernie Madoff look like a Boy Scout': Deposition

John Parkinson, Peter Charalambous, Jay O'Brien, Tierra Cunningham, Isabel Danzis, Ely Brown, Ford McCracken, Abcnews.com

In a deposition, billionaire Leslie Wexner offered few new details about his interactions with Jeffrey Epstein and sought to distance himself from the sex offender.

US pays about $160m towards nearly $4bn in UN dues

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

President Trump has slashed foreign aid and repeatedly criticised the United Nations for failing to meet its goals.

The Buzz in Kristi Noem’s Home State

Michael Scherer, The Atlantic

South Dakota Republicans worry that she might return.

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un launches key party congress held every 5 years

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Kim focuses on improving economic activity in opening speech at Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Tesla unveils cheaper Cybertruck variant, cuts Cyberbeast price to drive demand

Akanksha Khushi, Yahoo Entertainment

Tesla unveiled a cheaper Cybertruck variant in the U.S. late on Thursday and slashed the price of its most-expensive model, Cyberbeast, ‌as the electric...

Trump considering initial limited strike against Iran, source says

Martha Raddatz, Anne Flaherty, Luis Martinez, Abcnews.com

Trump says "bad things" will happen if deal isn’t reached.

New Mexico reopens criminal probe related to Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch

Al Jazeera Staff, Al Jazeera English

State officials say the information in unsealed FBI files 'warrant further examination' of a case closed in 2019.

Draft-Dodging Trump Thirsts Over Awarding Himself Military Medal

The Daily Beast, Daily Beast

Donald Trump has suggested changing the law so he can give himself the Congressional Medal of Honor, bragging about his bravery in the same breath he mused...

IMF warns Venezuela’s economy and humanitarian situation is ‘quite fragile’

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera English

Figures show Venezuela's public debt sits at roughly 180 percent of its GDP as the country struggles with tumult.