memeorandum: Why Winter in the U.S. Is Crazy This Year, in Five Charts (Wall Street Journal)

6:40 AM ET, February 16, 2026

Top Items:

Chris Geidner / Law Dork:

The Trump admin argument that masks “are for officer safety reasons” is actually an admission — Tom Homan highlights how secrecy aims to block accountability, the immoral lawlessness at the core of the Trump administration. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs. — ∙ Paid

Discussion: CBS News, Daily Caller News Foundation, Newsweek and Breitbart

CBS News:
Transcript: Tom Homan on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Feb. 15, 2026

Discussion: NPR and NewsMax.com

France 24:

Iranian Foreign Minister heads to Geneva for renewed talks with US — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left for Geneva on Sunday, where talks between Iran and the United States are set to continue, his ministry said in a statement. According to the Foreign Ministry, these “indirect” …

Discussion: Associated Press and Washington Examiner

Margaret Brennan / CBS News:

Trump told Netanyahu he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program, sources say — Add CBS News on Google — President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in December that the president would support Israeli strikes …

Discussion: Washington Examiner

Addy Bink / NewsNation:

Obama says aliens are ‘real,’ but aren't in Area 51 in new interview — (NEXSTAR) - In a wide-ranging interview published Saturday, former President Barack Obama confirmed what many have been waiting for: aliens are, in fact, real. They're aren't being kept in Nevada's Area 51, however.

Discussion: Politico, HuffPost, The Independent, Tampa Free Press, The Daily Caller, RedState, Washington Examiner, twitchy.com, RADAR, Breitbart, The Post Millennial, New York Post, Fox News, Mediaite and Just Jared

Alexandra Marquez / NBC News:
Obama derides social media ‘clown show’ in first comments since Trump's racist video post

Discussion: The Guardian, The Hill, Straight Arrow News, NPR, HuffPost, Al Jazeera, Agence France-Presse, CNN and NewsNation

Ali Watkins / New York Times:
In First Public Comments Since Trump's Racist Video, Obama Laments Lost Decorum

Discussion: Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Washington Examiner, Salon, Staten Island Advance, ABC News, The Gateway Pundit, TMZ.com, The Hollywood Reporter, New York Daily News, MS NOW and Variety

Alex Thompson / Axios:

Pelosi's new campaign: Boost Newsom for 2028 — Nancy Pelosi is retiring from Congress, but she has more campaigns in mind. Among them: Boost Gavin Newsom as a potential contender for the White House in 2028. … She's been a key validator for Newsom as he's emerged on the national stage …

Discussion: Breitbart

New York Times:

What to Know About the Homeland Security Shutdown — Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on Saturday amid a standoff over restrictions that Democrats have demanded for federal immigration agents. But much of its work continues. — The Department of Homeland Security's funding …

Discussion: Politico, Military and Veteran … and Straight Arrow News

Axios:

Moore wrestles with Md. lawmakers as national profile grows — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's national star is on the rise, but his relationships with fellow Democrats in his backyard are fraying. … - Several Maryland Democrats told Axios that Moore is talented, but he's struggled because of a lack …

Discussion: CBS News

Max Rego / The Hill:

Here's how the DHS shutdown is impacting air travel, TSA — As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains without funding, air travel nationwide has been impacted. — Employees of the Transportation Security Agency (TSA), which is housed within DHS, are working without pay …

Discussion: NewsMax.com and FOX 32 Chicago

Lauren Gardner / Politico:

RFK Jr.'s allies are trying to free anti-vaccine doctors to speak their minds … “This is a part of a judicial assault on science and public health that basically weaponizes the Covid-19 pandemic for political and ideological benefit,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health lawyer at Georgetown University.

Discussion: The Bulwark

Isabel Kershner / New York Times:

Trump's Stinging Attack on Israel's President Touches a Nerve — President Trump called President Isaac Herzog of Israel “disgraceful” because he has not yet pardoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption trial. — President Trump's public excoriation of Israel's president …

Discussion: NewsMax.com and Middle East Monitor

Cheyanne M. Daniels / Politico:

Democrats' struggles could be partly because they're just too old, says Obama … Former President Joe Biden, who was Obama's vice president, was the oldest man to assume the presidency at the age of 78 in 2021. His decision to seek reelection in 2024 repeatedly drew concerns from voters …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars and Mediaite

The Guardian:

The key to defeating Trump? Mass non-cooperation — Our studies in civil resistance offer insight into the level of popular organizing needed to repel assaults on democracy — In the wake of two horrifying killings of legal observers in Minnesota, on top of the abduction …

Politico:

RFK Jr.'s battle with the public health establishment has turned to trench warfare … Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spent the spring of 2025 repeating the campaign message he'd delivered over and over in 2024, before he dropped out of the presidential race and joined forces with Donald Trump …

Discussion: Axios

G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:

The backlash against Trump is showing up in hard data, not just polls — Here's your weekly roundup of new political data published over the last seven days. It is free to read. If you find it useful, the best way to support my work is to share it with a friend.