memeorandum: Presidents and prince in hot water as elite face global reckoning (Josephine Walker/Axios)

6:10 PM ET, February 19, 2026

Top Items:

Sean Coughlan / BBC:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office — Summary — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office — Police say King Charles's brother is in custody and officers are carrying …

Discussion: The Hill, The Guardian, Mediaite, Telegraph, The Daily Beast, NewsNation, Daily Mail, Breitbart, KVIA-TV, Associated Press, Extra, Page Six, RADAR, Forbes, The Wrap, Townhall, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, HotAir, New York Magazine, UPI, GB News, JURISTnews, Fox News, The Gateway Pundit, Human Events and InTouch Weekly

Megan Specia / New York Times:

Live Updates: U.K. Police Arrest Former Prince Andrew Over Epstein Ties — The British police on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of criminal activity linked to the Epstein files. — Here's the latest. — The police in Britain on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor …

Discussion: Robert Reich, The Parnas Perspective, NPR, Wonkette, The Hill, France 24, CBS News, Zeteo, TMZ.com, MS NOW, HuffPost, The Independent, New York Post, RADAR, National Police Chiefs …, Salon, GB News, 77 WABC, Washington Examiner, Raw Story, Daily Mail and Axios

Julie K. Brown / The Epstein Files:

Prince Andrew's Arrest — “Today our broken hearts have lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” — Virginia Giuffre's family — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother to Britain's King Charles, has been arrested on charges of suspicion of misconduct in public office …

Discussion: Axios, NewsMax.com, All Rise News, Mediaite, TMZ.com, New York Post, Byline Times, RADAR, The Daily Wire, The Hill and GB News

Reuters:

Live updates: British police arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over Epstein links — Thames Valley police said they had arrested a man in his sixties in connection with an investigation into misconduct in a public office.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, TMZ.com and France 24

Danica Kirka / Associated Press:
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over ties to Epstein

Reuters:
King Charles' brother Andrew released after arrest over misconduct relating to Epstein

Discussion: NBC News, KVIA-TV, CNBC, The Guardian, Megyn Kelly, RADAR, GB News, Daily Mail, NewsNation and Page Six

Bloomberg:
Former Prince Andrew Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct

Constance Grady / Vox:
What the arrest of former Prince Andrew can teach us about power and abuse

Discussion: Mediaite, CBS News, The New World and NewsNation

Gregory Svirnovskiy / Politico:
After former Prince Andrew's arrest due to Epstein connections, members of Congress call for more

Discussion: The Daily Beast, Washington Examiner, Fortune, The Hill, Raw Story, NewsMax.com, New York Post, UPI and NewsNation, more at Techmeme »

Washington Post:

Trump appears ready to attack Iran as U.S. strike force takes shape — Although the United States and ally Israel have a decisive military advantage over Iranian forces, there are ways for Tehran to make any attack painful, officials said. — The Trump administration appears ready to launch …

Discussion: Axios, Slate, New Republic, Townhall and New York Post

The Times:

UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran — The disagreement over the use of British sites is behind the US president's withdrawal of support for the Chagos Islands deal, The Times understands — President Trump has withdrawn his support for Sir Keir Starmer's deal to hand …

Discussion: Fox News, HotAir, Telegraph, The War Zone, New York Post, Washington Times, Breitbart and Bloomberg

Matt Gertz / Media Matters for America:

Sean Hannity is demanding regime change in Iran to stop the country's nuclear program ... which Hannity previously claimed Trump had “obliterated” — Fox News host Sean Hannity is justifying U.S. military strikes to force regime change in Iran because its leaders refuse “to give up their nuclear program …

Discussion: CNN, Wall Street Journal, Joe.My.God., The Maine Wire, Washington Examiner, Bloomberg and CBS News

Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Gathers the Most Air Power in the Mideast Since the 2003 Iraq Invasion

Discussion: Media Matters for America, MS NOW, Straight Arrow News, The Times of Israel, Talking Points Memo, Salon, Atlantic Council, The Washington Free Beacon, Fox News, CNN, The Guardian, Mediaite, HotAir, Times Now, Semafor, Jewish Insider, Breitbart and Politico

Joshua Keating / Vox:
It really looks like we're about to bomb Iran again

Discussion: The Hill, The Times, KVIA-TV, The Nation, Washington Times, Mondoweiss, Patterico's Pontifications, The Daily Signal and CNN

April Rubin / Axios:
Trump touts peace while threatening war with Iran

Discussion: Rolling Stone, New York Times, Bloomberg, CBS News, CNBC, One America News Network, ABC News, Mediaite, Washington Times, Tampa Free Press, NOTUS, UPI, Daily Mail, Raw Story and Vermont Daily Chronicle

Ben Penn / Bloomberg Law:

In-Your-Face DOJ Aide Rides Prosecutors for ‘Chief Client’ Trump — When leaders of all 93 US attorneys' offices met for their weekly video chat last month, the 33-year-old Justice Department aide who presided had a blunt message. — President Donald Trump is their “chief client” …

Alanna Durkin Richer / Associated Press:

Large banner featuring Trump's face is displayed on Justice Department headquarters — A large banner featuring Donald Trump's face was hung on the exterior of Justice Department headquarters on Thursday in a physical display of the Republican president's efforts to exert power …

Discussion: NBC News, Washington Examiner, The Hill, Raw Story, MS NOW, New Jersey Online, Mediaite, KVIA-TV and Newsweek

Associated Press:
As political pressure prompts exodus of Minnesota prosecutors, some defendants catch a break

Discussion: Chicago Sun Times

Julia Ainsley / NBC News:

‘No expense has been spared’: Inside a luxury jet DHS wants to buy for deportations — DHS leadership says the department needs the jet for immigrant deportations and Kristi Noem's travel. A brochure given to passengers who recently flew on it with Noem highlights its …

Discussion: The Independent, Daily Mail, Raw Story and Alternet.org

New York Times:

Labor Secretary's Husband Barred From the Department After Sexual Assault Reports — At least two female staff members said Dr. Shawn DeRemer had touched them inappropriately at the agency in Washington. — The husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has been barred …

New York Times:

Trump Order Aims to Boost Weedkiller Targeted in Health Lawsuits — An executive order aimed at ramping up production of glyphosate set off alarms among supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — President Trump issued an executive order late Wednesday aimed at spurring …

Discussion: The White House, The New Lede, Truthout, The Guardian, CNBC, The Maine Wire, IJR, New York Magazine, New York Post, Civil Eats, Alternet.org and MS NOW

Washington Post:

New DHS memo outlines plan to detain refugees for further vetting — Resettlement organizations said the updated guidance represents a dramatic shift in how refugees are treated after being legally permitted to enter the United States. — The Department of Homeland Security issued …

Discussion: CBS News, The Guardian, CNN, Bloomberg, The Hill, New York Times, Washington Times, Straight Arrow News, Reuters, WNYW-TV, Raw Story and Newsweek

Chris Geidner / Law Dork:
Exclusive: Senior DHS officials double down on arresting and detaining refugees in new memo

Discussion: Axios, UPI, NOTUS, Joe.My.God. and Raw Story

Ximena Bustillo / NPR:
Refugees in the U.S. could be arrested under a new immigration memo

Discussion: Tampa Free Press, RedState and The Independent

Choe Sang-Hun / New York Times:

South Korean Ex-Leader Is Sentenced to Life in Prison — Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty of masterminding an insurrection when he imposed martial law in 2024. It was the country's biggest criminal trial in decades. — South Korea's Yoon Sentenced to Life in Prison

Discussion: Associated Press and New York Sun

Josephine Walker / Axios:
Presidents and prince in hot water as elite face global reckoning

Discussion: Associated Press and The Daily Caller

Lee Seung-ku / The Korea Herald:
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life for leading insurrection

Discussion: NBC News, The Guardian, CNN, BBC, The Chosun Daily, Breitbart, GV Wire, Wall Street Journal, France 24, Washington Times and Courthouse News Service

NBC News:

Trump vows $10 billion from U.S. for his ‘Board of Peace,’ as he leans into global role — President Donald Trump expressed optimism for Gaza during Thursday's first meeting of the Board of Peace, which focused on the next steps in the fragile ceasefire. — ADD NBC NEWS TO GOOGLE

Politico:
Trump to name Jared Kushner envoy for peace

Discussion: Washington Times, New York Times and NewsMax.com

Tyche Hendricks / KQED:

California Democrats Ask Kristi Noem Not to Reopen FCI Dublin as an Immigration Jail — Three California Democrats are speaking out against the idea that the Trump administration could turn a shuttered women's prison in Alameda County into a new immigration detention facility.

Discussion: Gothamist, New Jersey Globe and Roll Call

The Texas Tribune: Six deaths in six weeks: What to know about ICE detentions in Texas

Washington Post:

After leaving WHO, Trump officials propose more expensive replacement to duplicate it — HHS proposes spending $2 billion a year to re-create systems the U.S. accessed through the WHO at a fraction of the cost, according to officials briefed on the matter. — After pulling out of the World …

Discussion: New Republic, The Independent and Joe.My.God.

Wall Street Journal:

Pardoned Binance Founder Hobnobs With Trump Sons, Administration Officials at Mar-a-Lago Crypto Fest — Changpeng Zhao makes first return to the U.S. since his release from federal prison in 2024 — In an ornate ballroom in Palm Beach, Fla., where a golden eagle loomed over a conference stage …

more at Techmeme »

The Philadelphia Inquirer:

The slavery exhibits at the President's House are beginning to be restored by the National Park Service — Almost a month after abruptly dismantling exhibits about slavery from the President's House, National Park Service employees began reinstalling the panels late morning on Thursday ahead of a court-imposed deadline.

Discussion: Axios and Billy Penn at WHYY

Jessica Priest / The Texas Tribune:

University of Texas regents approve limits on teaching “unnecessary controversial subjects” — Opponents warned the policy's vagueness could push professors to self-censor and leave students less prepared for the workplace. — TAKE OUR CONTENT — PLEASE!

Discussion: FOX 26 Houston and Houston Public Media

Darlene Superville / Associated Press:

An arts panel made up of Trump appointees approves his White House ballroom proposal — The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a panel made up of President Donald Trump's appointees, on Thursday approved his proposal to build a ballroom larger than the White House itself where the East Wing once stood.

Jason Leopold / Bloomberg:

Goldman Lawyer, Epstein Conferred on Secret Service Prostitution Scandal — In a series of 2014 emails, the wealthy financier gave advice to the former White House counsel as the Colombian incident blew up. — Kathryn Ruemmler, who resigned last week as the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. …

Discussion: New Republic, Ace of Spades HQ and National Legal …

Marc Elias / Democracy Docket:

Susan Collins hands Trump the 50th vote against free and fair elections — Maine Sen. Susan Collins made news by adding her name as the 50th Senate supporter of the SAVE America Act — a massive voter suppression bill being pushed by Donald Trump. — MAGA conservatives cheered her addition for two reasons.

Meg Kinnard / Associated Press:

FCC chairman says the agency is investigating ABC's ‘The View’ over equal time rule — The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC's “The View” over possible violations of the requirement that broadcast stations give equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air …

Discussion: Washington Post, Raw Story, New York Daily News, Washington Examiner, Mediaite and RedState, more at Mediagazer »

Matthew Gault / 404 Media:

Man Opposing Data Center Arrested for Speaking Slightly Too Long — Police in Claremore, Oklahoma arrested a local man after he went slightly over his time giving public remarks during a city council meeting opposing a proposed data center. Darren Blanchard showed up at a Claremore City Council meeting …