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 …

Peter Attia Out at CBS News After Epstein Files Correspondence Disclosures (Exclusive)  —  The longevity researcher and health influencer had been named a contributor to CBS by Bari Weiss last month.  —  Longevity guru Dr. Peter Attia is stepping aside as a contributor to CBS News …

Peter Mandelson arrested amid Epstein fallout  —  LONDON —Former U.K. ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson was arrested Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, amid scrutiny of his association with Jeffrey Epstein.  —  Metropolitan Police officers attended Mandelson's home in northwest London on Monday afternoon.

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.

Judge Cannon permanently blocks release of Jack Smith report … The Trump-appointed judge said releasing the report now would “contravene basic notions of fairness and justice” and amount to a “manifest injustice” because the case never reached a jury.  It could also risk revealing information protected …

E.U. hits the brakes on U.S. trade deal after Trump threatens 15% global tariffs  —  The pause is the latest fallout from the Supreme Court's ruling that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed emergency tariffs.  —  The European Parliament on Monday halted …

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.

Controversy Erupts After Man with Tourette Syndrome Shouts N-Word at Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo During BAFTAs  —  Controversy exploded online Sunday after a man with Tourette Syndrome shouted the N-word while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented during the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs).

U.S. Women's Hockey Team declines Trump's invitation to the State of the Union  —  President Donald Trump invited the men's and women's hockey teams after both won gold medals in overtime games against Canada.  —  The U.S. Women's Hockey Team said it is declining President Donald Trump's invitation …

Trump Gets Back at ‘supreme court’ by Revoking Capital Letters  —  The U.S. Supreme Court has angered President Trump plenty of times.  But it's rare for the Court to deliver as big a blow as it did last week, when it ruled in a 6-3 decision that Trump can't impose his sweeping tariffs under an emergency law.

Trump's top general warns of Iran strike risks  —  Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has been advising President Trump and top officials that a military campaign against Iran could carry significant risks, in particular the possibility of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict …

Major Update: Bombshell Epstein Developments as Trump Support Falls Ahead of State of the Union and FBI Director Faces Calls to Resign  —  Good morning everyone.  We are kicking off an absolutely packed and consequential week.  Major new developments in the Epstein case have emerged …

Lessons from the Minnesota's Civil Contempt Case  —  “The government's understaffing and high case load is a problem of its own making,” a federal judge observed.  —  rparloff.bsky.social  —  Meet The Authors  —  On Feb. 18, 2026, after a 90-minute hearing, U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino …

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 …

I am a 15-year-old girl.  Let me show you the vile misogyny that confronts me on social media every day  —  Anonymous  —  Objectification, hate, rape threats: the politicians debating online abuse mean well, but to truly understand, they need to see what I see

ICE whistleblower comes forward to testify before Congress  —  A whistleblower from Immigration and Customs Enforcement is expected to testify at a congressional forum Monday that the agency is “lying to Congress and the American people” about its training of new recruits.

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.

Top Noem aide entered cockpit before firing pilot over missing blanket, sources say  —  Top U.S. homeland security aide Corey Lewandowski entered the cockpit of a government jet uninvited during a flight last year, after which he fired a pilot over a misplaced blanket, two people familiar with the matter said.

Netflix CEO shrugs off Trump demands as Warner Bros. deal looms … “This is a business deal.  It's not a political deal,” Sarandos told BBC's Amol Rajan in an interview.  “[Trump] likes to do a lot of things on social media.”  —  Trump's Truth Social post about Rice is his latest in a series …