Judge permanently blocks release of Jack Smith's report on Trump classified documents case  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  Washington — A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked the Justice Department from releasing the portion of former special counsel Jack Smith's report that details …

Texts From Late Staffer's Phone Show Rep. Gonzales Made Explicit Sexual Requests  —  Support independent journalism, $5/month, $50/year.  —  Embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) made explicit sexual requests to his late congressional staffer who repeatedly resisted, according …

US to stop collecting tariffs deemed illegal by Supreme Court on Tuesday  —  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said it will halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday, more than three days …

25 Mexican National Guard troops left dead during an operation that killed cartel leader ‘El Mencho’  —  Mexico Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said Monday 25 members of the National Guard were left dead in Jalisco in six separate attacks after the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes.

Trump Considers Targeted Strike Against Iran, Followed by Larger Attack  —  The top negotiators plan to meet in Geneva on Thursday for last-ditch talks, debating a new proposal that could create an off-ramp as two carrier groups massed within striking distance of Iran.

FBI's “Stand Down” Directive to NYPD on Jeffrey Epstein Investigations, and More  —  Just five days after Jeffrey Epstein's arrest in the summer of 2019, federal authorities “directed” the New York Police Department to “stand down” its investigations related to Epstein, new documents released by the Department of Justice show.

Armed Man Shot Dead at Mar-a-Lago Was Fixated on Epstein Files, Text Shows  —  The armed man shot and killed by Secret Service agents outside President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property Sunday had grown increasingly obsessed with the Epstein files and was also a vocal supporter of Trump ... TMZ has learned.

Europe hits back at ‘pure tariff chaos’ from the U.S., warning trade deals are at risk … Europe has warned that trade deals struck with the U.S. could now be at risk after President Donald Trump unveiled a new global 15% tariff on all imports at the weekend.

BBC and host apologize after racial slur shouted during BAFTA awards by guest with Tourette's  —  Britain's film academy and the BBC apologized to viewers after an audience member with Tourette syndrome shouted a racial slur during the British Academy Film Awards.

The Trump Administration Is Ending Aid That It Says Saves Lives  —  The State Department will let lifesaving projects expire because “there is no strong nexus between the humanitarian response and U.S. national interests,” according to an internal email.  —  A year after the Trump administration began …

Gov. Wes Moore's redistricting plan is poised to die.  He's still fighting.  —  Tuesday's candidate filing deadline marks the unofficial end of the window to redistrict Maryland ahead of the 2026 midterms.  Moore, a potential 2028 White House contender, refuses to concede defeat.

Peru's New President Taps Prominent Economist as Prime Minister  —  Peru's new president has named prominent pro-market economist Hernando de Soto as prime minister, tapping the former central banker to head an interim government that will lead the Andean nation through April general elections.

Trump's approval rating with independents hits a new low ahead of the State of the Union  —  When President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union address Tuesday, he will face a public that increasingly questions his priorities and expresses broad doubts about whether his proposed policies …

February 22, 2026  —  On February 6, four direct descendants of President Theodore Roosevelt wrote to United States senators to ask them to vote against a measure that opens up the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Minnesota to the Chilean mining giant Antofagasta Plc and its subsidiary Twin Metals Minnesota.

Biden, aides project optimism in cancer fight, but some close friends worry  —  The former president announced last year he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer.  He and his aides say he's doing well and has upcoming public appearances.  —  Longtime friends and allies of Joe Biden …

Judges Grow Angry Over Trump Administration Violating Their Orders  —  At least 35 times since August, federal judges have ordered the administration to explain why it should not be punished for violating their orders in immigration cases.  —  The judge was angry.

The tariffs ruling is the right result from a terrible process  —  PN is supported by paid subscribers.  Become one ⬇️  —  🏛️ Subscribe to PN 🏛️  —  If you're trying to make sense of the Supreme Court's decision last Friday in Learning Resources v. Trump, well, good luck.

Days after $5M donation, Trump administration backs Crypto.com in lawsuit  —  In a document quietly filed with the Federal Election Commission on Friday night, MAGA Inc., the primary Super PAC supporting President Trump, revealed that it received a $5 million donation from Crypto.com on January 23, 2026.

The Epstein Files Should Never Have Been Released  —  Every day seems to bring new reports of financiers, academics, politicians and royalty (among others) who cozied up to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose predation took a horrendous toll on innocent lives.

Supreme Court takes up oil companies' plea to end climate change lawsuits  —  The court will hear an appeal brought by Suncor and Exxon Mobil asking it to throw out a lawsuit in Colorado seeking damages for harm caused by the use of fossil fuels.  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed …

At the Spot Where Alex Pretti Was Killed  —  We don't know about you, but we've found it a little trickier than usual to summon a spirit of uncomplicated, leave-it-all-on-the-dance-floor, red-white-and-blue patriotism these days.  But after a magical few days for America to close out the Winter Olympics …

New education loan limits favor RFK Jr.'s enemies … The affected schools argue students won't be able to attend under the proposed loan caps.  “Naturopathic medicine, at a time when we should be shining, is potentially fighting for our existence,” said JoAnn Yánez …

Scoop: Dems working on secret report found Gaza cost Harris votes  —  Top Democratic officials who worked on the party's still-secret autopsy of the 2024 election concluded that Kamala Harris lost significant support because of the Biden administration's approach to the war in Gaza, Axios has learned.

Nicki Minaj's social media propped up by thousands of bots, analysis finds … Nicki Minaj spent the past year transforming herself from a polarizing rap superstar into a high-profile conservative provocateur, lobbing viral attacks at Democratic leaders, boosting MAGA talking points …

Why Tariffs Aren't Shrinking the U.S. Trade Deficit  —  Trump is doubling down on the levies, which have prompted many trade partners to boost support for their own exporters  —  STUTTGART, Germany—President Trump is doubling down on his tariffs, even though they have so far failed to achieve …