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Republicans, Braced for Losses, Push More Voting Restrictions in Congress

(NY Times) The strict voter identification measure that Republicans have pushed through the House is just their opening salvo in a broader legislative effort aimed at keeping control of Congress this fall and helping to amplify the president’s false claims of mass voter fraud in the event that they lose. The G.O.P.’s relentless focus on the bill and an even more restrictive measure making its way through the House — both of which face a steep uphill path to becoming law — is aimed chiefly at intensifying pressure within their own ranks to muscle through new voting restrictions and seek to reshape the electorate in their favor.

RandySF

ICE at the polls: Arizona Republicans push plan to require agents at all polling places

(AZ Mirror) Polling shows that Americans want to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the murders of two American citizens in Minnesota amid a violent surge to round up immigrants as part of President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda, but Arizona Republicans want to require ICE officers to be stationed at polling places this year. This week, the Arizona Senate will take up a proposal to force all 15 of the state’s counties to sign an agreement with ICE “to provide for a federal immigration law enforcement presence at each location within this state where ballots are cast or deposited.” Even if it passes, the proposal by Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, seems to directly run afoul of federal law, which bars “any troops or armed men” who are part of “the civil, military, or naval service of the United States” from being deployed to polling locations.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

Epstein Survivors Will Attend Trump's State of the Union Address Next Week

(Lincoln Square) Jess Michaels attended Pam Bondi’s hearing on Capitol Hill last week where she was asked about the administration’s handling of the Epstein files. The Attorney General, who demanded people talk about how amazing the stock market was doing, had three chances to look Epstein survivors in the eyes and apologize. Bondi refused. But while the administration says it’s time to move on, survivors like Jess are still fighting for justice. And she told Lincoln Square exclusively that they’re coming back to Washington next week to attend Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24.

demmiblue

Paris prosecutors open 2 Epstein-linked probes and call on victims to come forward

(AP) Paris prosecutors opened on Wednesday two new investigations into potential sex abuse crimes and financial wrongdoings linked to Jeffrey Epstein following the release of millions of files of the millionaire financier and convicted sex offender, and called on possible victims to come forward. Paris prosecutor Laurence Beccuau said the investigations are seeking to use the files released by the U.S. administration, media reports and new complaints that are being filed.

demmiblue

UK examining Epstein's use of airport for trafficking

(Reuters) British police are assessing whether Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women through a London airport on private flights, part of a now nationally coordinated effort to investigate the late sex offender's ties to Britain. Essex Police said on Wednesday they were looking at information that had emerged about private flights into and out of Stansted Airport, to the northeast of London, following the publication by the U.S. government of millions of documents on Epstein at the end of January.

KS Toronado

Wednesday's Condensed News Cartoons

BumRushDaShow

California preparing lawsuit over Trump administration vaccine changes

(Reuters) The state of California is preparing a lawsuit challenging recent federal changes to U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations made by the Trump administration, the state's attorney general said in an interview on Tuesday. Rob Bonta, the attorney general of the most populous U.S. state, also said he would "maybe" be open to working with the Trump administration and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to limit broad federal immunity for drug companies over alleged vaccine injuries.

BumRushDaShow

Trump administration appeals judge's ruling over President's House slavery exhibits

(Philadelphia Inquirer) The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge’s order requiring that the National Park Service restore all the slavery-related exhibits it abruptly removed last month from the President’s House Site in Center City. The U.S. attorneys representing the federal government argued previously that the White House has full discretion over the exhibits in national parks, an argument U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe called “dangerous” and “horrifying” during last month’s hearing.

lostincalifornia

FDA reverses course, agrees to review Moderna's flu vaccine

(Statnews) The Food and Drug Administration reversed course and told Moderna it would review its application for a new flu vaccine, the company announced Wednesday. The agency told Moderna earlier this month that it would not review the submission because of a dispute over the design of a clinical trial, sparking an industry backlash and raising questions about broader decision-making at the FDA. The decision was made by top agency official Vinay Prasad, who STAT previously reported had overruled career scientists in the vaccine center.

LilElf70

Air Force One jets to be repainted in Trump's preferred colors

(The Hill) Air Force One jets are expected to receive a new paint job in President Trump’s preferred colors of red, white, gold and dark blue, The Hill’s sister network NewsNation has confirmed. Both the luxury jet donated by Qatar and new VC-25B Boeing jets will feature the new colors, an Air Force spokesperson told NewsNation. The Air Force One title is given to any aircraft carrying the president.

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Dems call Wexner's claim of ignorance to Epstein's crimes 'not credible'

18 min ago - Feb. 18, 2026, 3:24 PM EST Democrats accused Ohio billionaire Les Wexner — who featured prominently in the Epstein files — of not being truthful Wednesday during a closed-door deposition before a House Committee about his association with t ... (MS NOW News)

Eight backcountry skiers found dead and 1 still missing after California avalanche

32 min ago - By BROOKE HESS-HOMEIER, JULIE WATSON and JOHN SEEWER Updated 2:07 PM CST, February 18, 2026 Leer en español NEVADA CITY, Calif. (AP) — Crews found the bodies of eight backcountry skiers and are searching for one more who remains missing ... (AP)

Colbert blasts CBS for denying it shut down Talarico interview

52 min ago - Updated Feb. 18, 2026, 9:21 a.m. ET With just three months left before "The Late Show" ends, Stephen Colbert is giving CBS a piece of his mind. The comedian slammed the network on Tuesday for releasing a statement denying that he was prohibited from ... (USA Today)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to face jury in landmark social media addiction trial

55 min ago - Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to be grilled on Wednesday by lawyers who say social media services like Instagram were intentionally designed as "digital casinos" to hook young people, fueling a teen mental health crisis. Zuckerberg's appearance bef ... (NPR)

Trump officials limit FEMA travel to disaster areas amid funding lapse, emails show

1 hr ago - February 18, 2026 at 1:37 p.m. EST The Department of Homeland Security has halted almost all travel amid the ongoing standoff over its funding, restricting the ability of some Federal Emergency Management Agency staff to move in and out of disaster-a ... (Washington Post)

Dem lawmakers plan unprecedented 'break with tradition' in response to major Trump address

2 hrs ago - February 18, 2026 9:28AM ET Last year, President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address since retaking the White House was met with vocal opposition from Democratic lawmakers, but next week on Tuesday, Democrats have a new plan to push ... (Raw Story)

Jeanine Pirro 'Abruptly Instructed' Federal Prosecutors to Pursue Indictment Against 6 Democratic Lawmakers: NYT

2 hrs ago - United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro shocked her own prosecutors when she instructed them to seek indictments of six lawmakers, according to a new report. The New York Times published on Wednesday new details about Pirro& ... (Mediaite)

Gov. JB Pritzker to propose suspending tax incentives for data centers in Illinois

2 hrs ago - Feb. 18, 2026, 4:00 AM EST Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is expected Wednesday to call for a two-year suspension of tax incentives offered to develop data centers amid growing scrutiny over their rapid expansion and impact on communities. Pritzker plans ... (NBC News)

New Jersey Catholic diocese agrees to $180 million settlement of clergy sexual abuse allegations

3 hrs ago - By MIKE CATALINI Updated 10:27 AM CST, February 18, 2026 TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey Catholic diocese this week agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve allegations of clergy sexual abuse, a figure far exceeding agreements in some la ... (AP)

US and Japan unveil $36bn of oil, gas and critical minerals projects in challenge to China

3 hrs ago - Wed 18 Feb 2026 01.02 EST Last modified on Wed 18 Feb 2026 01.04 EST Japan has drawn up plans for investments in US oil, gas and critical mineral projects worth about $36bn under the first wave of a deal with Donald Trump. The US president and Sanae ... (The Guardian)

UC graduate workers, staff union authorize strike, citing unfair labor practices

4 hrs ago - by Hillary Ojeda 5 hours ago The union representing more than 40,000 University of California graduate student workers and some staff voted Friday to authorize a strike and accused the university system of committing unfair labor practices. Units wi ... (Lookout)

Judges reject Trump admin's deportation cases against 2 pro-Palestinian college students

5 hrs ago - February 18, 2026, 12:29 AM For the second time in a little more than a week, attorneys have announced that an immigration court has terminated deportation proceedings against a pro-Palestinian student after Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the ... (ABC News)

Vatican says it will not participate in Trump's 'Board of Peace'

6 hrs ago - February 17, 2026 11:39 PM EST Updated 7 hours ago WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - The Vatican will not participate in U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomatic official, ... (Reuters)

FDA reverses course, agrees to review Moderna's flu vaccine

6 hrs ago - WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration reversed course and told Moderna it would review its application for a new flu vaccine, the company announced Wednesday. The agency told Moderna earlier this month that it would not review the submi ... (Statnews)

Air Force One and other US military aircraft being repainted in Trump's preferred palette: reports

7 hrs ago - Wednesday 18 February 2026 06:14 EST Air Force One jets are being repainted to match President Donald Trump’s preferred color palette, according to new reports. Aircraft in the presidential and VIP fleet will be repainted in red, white and blue, ... (The Independent)

Trump Family Business Files For Trademark Rights On Any Airports Using The President's Name

7 hrs ago - Feb 18, 2026, 12:04 AM EST NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump family company has filed to trademark the use of the president’s name on airports but says it doesn’t plan on charging a fee — at least for a proposed renaming of one near his F ... (Huff Post/AP)

Radio Free Asia says it resumes broadcasts to China

8 hrs ago - Feb. 17, 2026, 11:54 PM EST WASHINGTON — Radio Free Asia has resumed broadcasts to people in China, its CEO said Tuesday, after Trump administration cuts last year largely forced the U.S.-funded outlet to cease operations. RFA and its sister out ... (NBC News/Reuters)

UK examining Epstein's use of airport for trafficking

8 hrs ago - LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - British police are assessing whether Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women through a London airport on private flights, part of a now nationally coordinated effort to investigate the late sex offender's ties to Britain. Essex Po ... (Reuters)

Paris prosecutors open 2 Epstein-linked probes and call on victims to come forward

8 hrs ago - PARIS (AP) — Paris prosecutors opened on Wednesday two new investigations into potential sex abuse crimes and financial wrongdoings linked to Jeffrey Epstein following the release of millions of files of the millionaire financier and convicted s ... (AP)

Trump administration appeals judge's ruling over President's House slavery exhibits

9 hrs ago - Updated Feb. 17, 2026, 7:16 p.m. ET Published Feb. 17, 2026, 4:40 p.m. ET The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge's order requiring that the National Park Service restore all the slavery-related exhibits it abruptly removed last month ... (Philadelphia Inquirer)