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Politico

February 2026

Trump launches war with Iran

Donald Trumppresident
I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,
The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties — that often happens in war,
Farnaz Fassihiiranian American journalist
In telephone and text interviews in the hours after the United States and Israel conducted a massive coordinated attack, many Iranians said they had been left to fend for themselves,
How Trump’s F.C.C. Is Reshaping TV,... An under-the-radar merger could create a broadcasting behemoth that controls local news stations across more than forty states. Why do some MAGA diehards oppose it?”
Abdi Latif Dahirjournalist
Four people were killed in Syria after an Iranian missile struck a building in the industrial zone in the southern city of Sweida, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA,
Jeff Probst Tells Mike White What 50 Seasons of Survivor Does to a Man,... As the host of Survivor, Jeff Probst has made a career out of watching people betray each other in the jungle, turning a reality show into an American institution and himself into a khaki-clad folk hero.”
‘I... I Don’t Know That I’ll Ever Be OK With Myself,... Nancy Mace opens up about her trauma, why she does what she does and Donald Trump as a ‘father figure.’
This Court will not allow federal authorities to use a new and erroneous statutory interpretation to terrorize refugees,

‘Acts of war unauthorized by Congress’: Trump’s congressional critics denounce Iran strikes

Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) rejoiced at the joint U.S.-Israel operation, calling it “necessary and long justified.”

President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,
Look, this is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people,
Lindsey Grahamsenator
The end of the largest state sponsor of terrorism is upon us,

Trump announces 'major combat operations' against Iran, urges regime change

Donald Trumppresident
For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,
Benjamin Netanyahuprime Minister
This murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,

‘Attempted corporate murder’: Trump’s threats against Anthropic chill AI industry

Donald Trumppresident
I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!"
No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons,
For years, people have said, ‘Look, it is just not realistic that we are going to have private companies develop the Machine God, and then the government is just going to sit there and say, ‘Oh, that’s interesting.’ We were always going to nationalize,
It clearly, clearly was not designed for an American company that has a contract dispute with the government,
Simply put, there is no reason to transform this situation into an all-or-nothing moment,
Pete Hegsethdefense Secretary
Our position has never wavered and will never waver: the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic’s models for every LAWFUL purpose in defense of the Republic,
This is an existential moment for this company,
Pete Hegsethdefense Secretary
Is the Trump administration punishing Anthropic because it’s refusing to help mass surveil American communities or build killer robots?”

Columbia student detention tests universities’ immigration playbook

That alleged deception — disputed by the department — may complicate already fraught negotiations to fund DHS

The problem in this case is not that Columbia didn’t comply with the law, it’s that ICE didn’t comply with the law,
Colleges and universities really have been doing as best as they can, but they can only do just as much as they can control,
Homeland Security Investigators verbally identified themselves and visibly wore badges around their necks,
It’s important to not panic,
Nobody is trying to break the law. Nobody is saying we’re not going to comply with federal agents,
Stay calm and follow the procedures that have been in place,
There is room … to expand that because I think that there are other places that also should be off limits for ICE operations,

Serious investigation or ‘clown show’? Clintons’ closed testimonies on Epstein leave room for disagreement

We have a lot of questions about anyone who spent time with Epstein post-conviction,
Maxwell Frostu.S. Representative
He’s been caught in multiple lies as it relates to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,
From all the evidence I’ve seen, he’s been exonerated for a long time,
Bill Clintonpresident
I didn’t want to do anything that jeopardized losing them,

DHS funding impasse here to stay as administration ratchets up pressure

Senators want to see changes to ICE and Border Patrol practices as the partial government shutdown shows no signs of ending

Judges question Pam Bondi’s social media posts on Minnesota arrests

The requested order would also prohibit any defense counsel from sharing that information with their client

YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP,
The government failed to respect Ms. Flores’s dignity and privacy, exposed her to a risk of doxxing, and generally thumbed its nose at the notion that defendants are innocent until proven guilty. The post also directly violated a court order sealing the case,

‘I’m not happy’

Bill Gerberproducer
It’s horrifying that any president would put his finger on the scale for one company over another,
If they want to make those dramatic reforms that open the space for both economic and eventually political freedom for the people of Cuba, obviously the United States would love to see that. We’d be helpful,
I know there’s a lot of curiosity about President Trump,
Democrats need to make a move to end the shutdown before more Americans are harmed by a lack of funding for critical services like disaster relief,
Cuba’s fundamental problem is that it has no economy,
Donald Trumppresident
They’re in a big deal of trouble, they have no money, they have no anything right now,
Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available,
Donald Trumppresident
It’d be wonderful if they negotiate in good faith, but they are not getting there,

Solar gets some MAGA shine

As part of the campaign, ACP is working with a series of conservative influencers to secure opinion media placements authored by conservative columnists, former Republican lawmakers, and other credible Republican voices in conservative outlets,
That’s where solar has its hand up, saying ‘We’re ready to go right now,’
Chris Wrightenergy Secretary
It sends a message — more supply is coming. The more supply comes, prices get pushed down. It makes it tougher for people in that business. But markets will fix that,
I do not have a paid partnership with them,
This week, FEMA released over $5 billion in recovery funding for projects, some of which date back to disasters that happened more than 15 years ago,

Mamdani did Trump a solid by keeping their White House meeting under wraps

With the president tantalized by the notion of the biggest federal housing investment in five decades, Mamdani’s pitch for a massive Queens real estate project is setting up a scenario where a legacy-defining accomplishment would be yoked to perhaps the most loathed figure in New York City

We put forward a proposal to build more housing in a single project than the city has seen since 1973. More housing than you would get combining Hudson Yards and Battery Park City together. And not just housing, but also parks, also child care, also hospitals — an entire new neighborhood,

Hochul’s climate law conundrum

Kathy Hochuloffice of Governor
Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority, and the threats we face are more complex and interconnected than ever before, which is why we need to be aggressive, innovative and adaptive in the way we combat new threats and adversaries,
Until we cash that check — because there’s been a lot of lawsuits still happening, Second Avenue subway line for instance is another one — I’ll hold my breath.”
Voters across New York see online scams and frauds as a big problem, and they want the government to take action and for big tech companies and social media platforms to take accountability on this issue,
Zohran Mamdania Mayor
The president was interested in the idea, and I look forward to the ensuing conversations about how to build more housing in a city that doesn’t have enough of it,
Julie Woncouncil Member
One day after President Trump’s State of the Union, where he attacked and degraded our immigrants and trans communities, the mayor opted to meet with the President re-proposing a failed housing project in my district,
Julie Tighenew York League of Conservation Voters President
What we should be debating right now is how strong the affordability protections are, how quickly rebates get into people’s hands, and how we maximize benefits for working families,
Zohran Mamdania Mayor
I also said on that same campaign trail that I would be willing to work with anyone, no matter disagreements, so long as it was to the benefit of the city that we love,
It’s not the first, it won’t be the last,
The NY Liberty have no stadium, and to my knowledge, I don’t think there’s any women’s stadium — standalone sports stadium — in the country. And I thought that this could be one of those opportunities,
Politics makes strange bedfellows, but if our mayor can get something done for Queens county, we’re not going to turn it down, we’ll help shape whatever that looks like in the near future,

NATO’s Ukraine lifeline hits a production wall

Antti Häkkänendefense Minister
Now the challenge for the defense industry is how to build with speed and in a cost effective way,
Zabihullah Mujahidafghan government spokesperson
We have targeted important military targets in Pakistan, sending a message that our hands can reach their throats and that we will respond to every evil act of Pakistan,
That’s everyone’s frustration. It does not bode well for the U.S. in a macro sense that we cannot seem to do this. We’ve got to wake up,
Chuck Schumersenate Minority Leader
They’re just trying to pass paper back and forth with no real changes,
We have long believed that AI should not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons, and that humans should remain in the loop for high-stakes automated decisions. These are our main red lines.”
Democrats need to make a move to end the shutdown before more Americans are harmed by a lack of funding for critical services like disaster relief,
They have no money. They have no anything right now,

The tiny islands that could change the world

The British Indian Ocean Territory encompasses the collection of about 60 islands, most of which are tiny and uninhabited specks of coral peeking out through the waves