Let Them Fly First Class: Kristi Noem's DHS Luxury Jet Scandal  —  For daily news updates and analysis, be sure to follow us on Instagram.  If you are able to support independent journalism, please make a tax-deductible donation to News Not Noise here.  —  Today, we lead with something sure …

Cooper's Final Minutes … On Monday evening, as the media class wrapped up its three-day Presidents' Day weekend, a bombshell development sent shockwaves across the industry.  Anderson Cooper, Lachlan Cartwright reported, had declined to sign a new agreement with CBS News …

Federal judge orders Trump administration to restore slavery exhibits to the President's House  —  A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump's administration to restore the slavery exhibits that the National Park Service removed from the President's House last month.

ICE Barbie's Alleged Lover Slammed by His Colleagues Over Cringey Side Hustle  —  ZERO STARS  —  Corey Lewandowski has been hawking personalized videos while wielding power inside DHS.  —  Officials in the Trump administration are reportedly furious at Kristi Noem's alleged lover after learning about his toe-curling side hustle.

Vaccine Makers Curtail Research and Cut Jobs  —  Federal policies under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that are hostile to vaccines have “sent a chill through the entire industry,” one scientist said.  —  In Massachusetts, Moderna is pulling back on vaccine studies.

Statement from BCA Superintendent Drew Evans on Alex Pretti shooting investigation … The FBI formally notified the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) on Feb. 13 that it will not provide the BCA with access to any information or evidence that it has collected in the Jan. 24 shooting death of Alex Pretti.

Tom Pritzker, Citing Epstein Connection, Steps Down as Hyatt's Executive Chairman  —  The member of a prominent and wealthy family, Mr. Pritzker was in regular contact with the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  —  Thomas J. Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune …

New Mexico approves comprehensive probe of Epstein's Zorro Ranch  —  New Mexico lawmakers on Monday passed legislation to launch what they said was the first full investigation into what happened at Zorro Ranch, where the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is accused of trafficking and sexually assaulting girls and women.

Savannah teacher killed in crash by man fleeing from ICE  —  CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - According to the Chatham County Police Department, Monday morning's fatal crash was the result of a chase between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a suspect.

Push for Congress to block Trump pardons draws GOP backing  —  A proposed Constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to block presidential pardons gained its first House Republican co-sponsor on Monday. … - The president began his second term by pardoning thousands of Jan. 6 defendants …

In First Month as Governor, Abigail Spanberger Kicks Up Heat From the Right … Abigail Spanberger ran for governor of Virginia on her record as one of the most bipartisan members of the House and as a mother of three who worked undercover for the C.I.A. It was the disciplined campaign of a centrist Democrat in a purple state.

Multiple people shot at Rhode Island ice rink in domestic violence-related murder-suicide  —  A source told Fox News that the gunman killed his wife and shot his children during a domestic violence incident  —  A shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink on Monday left three people dead …

Bill Kristol: The Administration's Stupid Ethnonationalism  —  The white Anglo-Saxon supremacy in Trumpland is so over the top that even child-of-Cuban-immigrants Marco Rubio claims America's common cultural heritage is European.  But then with a schizophrenic touch, our secretary of state went …

Robert Duvall, Star of ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Great Santini,’ Dies at 95  —  Robert Duvall, who won an Oscar for “Tender Mercies” and was nominated for his roles in films including “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “The Great Santini,” has died.  He was 95.

Minnesota family says ICE agents faked car trouble to lure man out of home  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  On the same day that federal officials announced the end of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, a nightmare began for a family in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights.

Steve Bannon Is in Trouble—and It Has Nothing to Do With Epstein  —  PERPETUAL TRUMPWORLD FIGURE Steve Bannon is taking a lot of heat this month as newly released Jeffrey Epstein files show he maintained close ties with the notorious sex trafficker, even after many of Epstein's worst crimes were exposed.

Bari Weiss's CBS News Welcomes Contributor With Epstein Ties  —  Bari Weiss's variant of CBS News has opted to keep Peter Attia on as a network contributor, despite his recently revealed ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.  —  Attia was named as an on-air contributor in January …

Trump slams Maryland governor, launches federal effort to protect Potomac after historic sewage spill  —  Moore spokesman blasts Trump, saying he ‘has his facts wrong, again’  —  President Donald Trump ordered an all-of-government effort to protect the District of Columbia's water supply …

Trump threatens kidnappers with death penalty if Nancy Guthrie isn't returned alive in call with The Post  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post Monday that those responsible for kidnapping Nancy Guthrie must release her unharmed or they will face the “most severe” federal penalties.

Columbia Punishes 2 Who Helped Epstein's Girlfriend Enter Dental College  —  The release of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein has sent ripples through the worlds of business, politics and academia, including at Columbia, where he helped his girlfriend gain entry.

George Washington by George W. Bush  —  As America begins to celebrate our 250th anniversary, I'm pleased to have been asked to write about George Washington's leadership.  As president, I found great comfort and inspiration in reading about my predecessors and the qualities they embodied.

The Case for Keeping ICE and CBP Defunded  —  Senate Democrats, somewhat to my surprise, have held the line and refused to support funding the Department of Homeland Security in budget negotiations, and so funding ran out on Friday.  As my colleague Robert Kuttner reports …

Thomas Pritzker, Named in Epstein Files, Retires as Hyatt Executive Chairman  —  Hotelier communicated with both Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell  —  Hotel magnate Thomas Pritzker is retiring as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels, saying he wanted to protect the company after new documents …

Minnesota's False Spring  —  It's false spring here in Minnesota.  —  The sun is shining, the temps are rising above freezing, most of the snow is melting, and it feels like winter could one day—some day!—transition into warmer days ahead.  —  But as Minnesotans enjoy the moment …

Hillary Clinton accuses Trump administration of Epstein files ‘cover-up’ in BBC interview  —  Hillary Clinton has accused President Donald Trump's administration of a “cover-up” over its handling of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  —  “Get the files out.

Hillary Clinton gets in testy exchange with European leader over Trump  —  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sparred with Czech Deputy Prime Minister Petr Macinka on Monday at the Munich Security Conference over their views on President Trump's policies.

US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of high-stakes talks  —  The Middle East Donald Trump National security  —  The US military is continuing a significant buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East ahead of planned talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday.