Day: February 17, 2026

On February 16, 2026 a Dallas judge declared a mistrial in the county’s first capital-murder prosecution tied to Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua after jurors reported they were still deadlocked. Defendant Carlos Zambrano Bolivar, accused of taking part in the August 2024 abduction of Nilzuhly Petit and the victim’s two relatives from a Dallas apartment, faced charges after Petit was shot and left on a Farmers Branch roadway. Prosecutors said Bolivar helped coordinate the kidnapping and stayed on the phone with a gang boss; his defense said he acted under duress and had been sex-trafficked. Retrial is expected this year. (nbcdfw.com)

Breaking: Stephen Miller, a senior Trump adviser, is pushing to exclude undocumented immigrants from census figures used for congressional apportionment, a move that would strip House seats and Electoral College votes from populous Blue states like California and New York. (thedailybeast.com) Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and other Republicans have filed lawsuits and pushed legislation to omit noncitizens; immigrant-rights groups are seeking to block those suits. (apnews.com) Critics and some courts say such exclusions violate the Constitution and could be costly, requiring retroactive recounts; proponents argue only citizens should determine apportionment. Legal battles are underway; expect protracted litigation and national debate. (courthousenews.com)

At the Munich Security Conference (Feb 13–15, 2026), Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful address defending Western heritage, urging renewed transatlantic leadership and drawing a strong response from the podium. From Air Force One, former President Trump praised Rubio’s performance and criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Hillary Clinton for what he called embarrassing or incompetent appearances abroad. Critics at the conference challenged Democratic remarks on foreign policy and accused some U.S. figures of undermining American standing. The exchanges underscored widening partisan divides as U.S. officials and politicians debated strategy and messaging on the global stage. (americanrhetoric.com)

On February 16, 2026 President Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Munich speech, writing “Marco was fantastic in Munich!” on Truth Social. (trumpstruth.org) He condemned Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Hillary Clinton as an “embarrassment,” “incompetent” and “Trump deranged,” saying they “made fools of themselves” and were “really bad representatives” of the United States, and reiterated the remarks during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One. (malaysia.news.yahoo.com) The comments followed Democratic criticism of his foreign policy at the Munich Security Conference and prompted responses from aides and European officials. (theguardian.com) The post and press gaggle were widely reported elsewhere. (thedailybeast.com)

On February 15, 2026, Rep. Thomas Massie told ABC’s This Week that President Donald Trump remains “in with the Epstein class,” calling the White House “the Epstein administration” amid a fight over Jeffrey Epstein files. Massie, a co‑sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi for refusing clear answers about redactions and the Justice Department’s partial release of documents. He accused powerful figures named in the files of mounting political attacks to suppress disclosure and said Trump’s allies have targeted him in retaliation. Massie framed his campaign for fuller transparency as the reason for the feud. (realclearpolitics.com)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned President Trump that while an aircraft carrier is a dangerous tool, “more dangerous than the aircraft carrier is the weapon that can send this warship to the bottom of the sea.” (aa.com.tr) He made the threat on February 17 addressing supporters in East Azerbaijan province as indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington resumed in Geneva. (presstv.ir) The comments came amid an expanded U.S. naval presence, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and reports the USS Gerald R. Ford could deploy, (washingtonpost.com) and after Iran launched live missiles and briefly closed the Strait of Hormuz for drills. (apnews.com)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said President Donald Trump “will not succeed” in destroying the Islamic Republic, delivering the warning as indirect U.S.–Iran nuclear talks began in Geneva. Khamenei framed the remark as a response to recent U.S. threats and blunt presidential statements, rejecting pressure and vowing resistance. His comments coincided with Iranian live-fire missile drills that temporarily closed the Strait of Hormuz and a heightened U.S. military presence in the region. Geneva meetings, mediated by Oman, involve Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoys as both sides probe whether diplomacy can avert further escalation and avoid war. (moneycontrol.com)

Speaking Feb. 17, 2026 as indirect nuclear talks opened in Geneva, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned President Donald Trump that the United States “will not succeed” in destroying Iran, dismissing U.S. military threats and saying weapons could send U.S. warships “to the bottom of the sea.” The remarks coincided with Iranian live-fire missile drills in the Strait of Hormuz and a rising U.S. military buildup in the region, including carrier deployments. Iranian state media said the Geneva talks would focus only on nuclear issues; Tehran insists on sovereignty and rejects predetermining outcomes as negotiators met via Omani mediation. (apnews.com)

President Trump, asked aboard Air Force One about reports that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her top aide Corey Lewandowski are in a romantic relationship, said, “I don’t know about that. I mean, I haven’t heard that. I’ll find out about it, but I have not heard.” The alleged affair — which both deny — has been described as the “worst-kept secret” in Washington. Reporting says the pair frequently traveled together on government aircraft and provoked internal DHS disputes over staffing and resource use. A department spokesperson called the coverage “salacious, baseless gossip.” Media accounts include pilot and travel anecdotes reported by news outlets. (rollcall.com)

On February 17, 2026, President Donald Trump said he did not believe Iran wanted to “deal with the consequences of not getting a deal,” signaling pressure ahead of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva. Trump said he would be indirectly involved while envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff attend negotiations mediated by Oman. He stressed a preference for diplomacy but ordered a U.S. military buildup in the region, warning of “steep” consequences if talks fail. Iranian officials describe willingness to negotiate conditioned on sanctions relief. The comments came amid heightened tensions, recent naval incidents and resumed IAEA engagement with Tehran. (axios.com)