Day: February 20, 2026

On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that President Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose sweeping emergency tariffs, invalidating broad tariffs he enacted last year. (time.com) Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson, Gorsuch and Barrett. (theguardian.com) The decision immediately halts collection of many duties, risks refund claims for billions already collected (roughly $130 billion reported), and constrains unilateral presidential trade power. (time.com) The court relied on the major‑questions doctrine to limit executive tariff authority. (theguardian.com) President Trump called the ruling a “disgrace,” vowed alternate tariffs and promised appeals. (people.com)

Senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller has pushed the administration’s plan to exclude undocumented immigrants from census counts used for congressional apportionment, arguing their inclusion inflates House seats in Democratic strongholds like California and New York. (thedailybeast.com) The proposal, tied to broader Republican efforts and a Missouri lawsuit seeking to bar noncitizens from apportionment, would shift seats and Electoral College votes if implemented. (yahoo.com) Legal experts note the Constitution requires counting “the whole number of persons,” and courts have repeatedly blocked similar 2020 attempts. (en.wikipedia.org) Fact-checkers and studies say excluding undocumented immigrants would likely produce only modest, possibly offsetting, seat changes. Debate remains heated. (politifact.com)

On February 18, 2026, a student-led protest against ICE in North College Hill spilled into the local Kroger, where roughly fifty students rushed the store, hurled cans and bottles, smashed shelves and damaged ceiling tiles, and chased shoppers into aisles. Video shows students chanting about ICE while tossing alcohol and striking at least one customer, prompting employees and police to evacuate and restore order. Two juveniles were later arrested, and North College Hill City Schools said Superintendent Dr. Eugene Blalock Jr. will work with police to identify and hold involved students accountable. Officials called the footage disturbing and urged accountability. (fox19.com)

At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington on Feb. 19, 2026, President Donald Trump veered off-script, complimenting Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña as “young, handsome” and adding, “I don’t like young, handsome men. Women, I like,” drawing nervous laughter and widespread reaction. The session, billed as a Gaza reconstruction effort, featured Trump pledging a $10 billion U.S. contribution and members pledging roughly $7 billion, and outlined plans for international stabilization forces and infrastructure projects. Critics questioned the board’s transparency and its relationship with the United Nations as leaders weighed support and concern. (investing.com)

Wilson High School principal Daniel Weber stopped an anti-ICE student walkout in West Lawn, Pennsylvania, by ordering students to return to class and warning that those who remained would be suspended. A video of Weber’s remarks — in which he says organizers canceled the event, students left without permission and “your rights do not supersede the school” — circulated on TikTok and X. The district says the demonstration had been discussed but canceled and that any consequences are for policy violations, not viewpoints. About 60 students walked out; Weber’s firm enforcement drew national attention and praise on social media platforms. (dailycallernewsfoundation.org)

On Feb. 18, 2026, roughly 200 students at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville staged an “ICE Out” walkout, leaving classes around 11 a.m. to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (yahoo.com) Video shared by Matt Van Swol shows students bolting from campus and running into a busy four‑lane highway with no teachers visible, prompting safety concerns. (thegatewaypundit.com) Buncombe County Schools said the action was not school‑organized, affirmed students’ right to peaceful expression, and noted school resource officers and law enforcement assisted to keep students safe. (thegatewaypundit.com) The footage has reignited debate over supervision and protest safety on school grounds and parent concerns.

On February 19, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would contribute $10 billion to the newly formed “Board of Peace” at its inaugural meeting in Washington, D.C. The board—created under Trump’s 20‑point Gaza plan and described by some reports as chaired by him “for life”—also drew roughly $7 billion in pledges from other nations. Administration officials have not specified the funding source or whether Congress will approve the transfer; critics warn the body’s legal structure, Trump’s enduring control, and scant transparency could create conflicts of interest and raise questions about oversight and where taxpayer dollars would flow. (cbsnews.com)

President Trump announced that the United States will contribute $10 billion to the newly formed “Board of Peace,” which he chairs, pledging the funds at its inaugural meeting to support Gaza reconstruction. He did not specify where the money would come from or whether Congress would approve the transfer. Around two dozen countries attended and pledged roughly $6.5–7 billion more, with the World Bank named as trustee for pooled donations. Organizers presented a reconstruction plan but offered few details on disarming Hamas or oversight. Critics called the unilateral pledge a potential slush fund and widely questioned its legality and transparency. (washingtonpost.com)