Month: February 2026

Per The New York Times, Bill and Hillary Clinton—who were subpoenaed in the House Oversight Committee’s Jeffrey Epstein probe—have now agreed to testify, a spokesman said, as the full House prepares a vote on criminal contempt after the panel voted to advance contempt resolutions. (vi.web-platforms-vi.nyti.nyt.net) The Clintons’ lawyers had proposed limited cooperation (a transcribed interview for Bill and a sworn declaration from Hillary), which Oversight Chairman James Comer rejected, insisting on sworn, in-person depositions. (apnews.com) If the House approves contempt referrals, they could be sent to the Justice Department for possible prosecution; public hearings are being demanded. (govinfo.gov)

X users debate a showdown between Kid Rock and Bad Bunny after the NFL tapped Bad Bunny to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX halftime show February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Conservative Turning Point USA announced an alternative All‑American halftime broadcast featuring Kid Rock and country acts, intensifying partisan backlash and online polls asking viewers to choose. The controversy includes viral claims and fact‑checks disputing alleged Kid Rock comments, while the NFL has defended its selection. Posts like the RT by @GuntherEagleman—”Kid Rock or Bad Bunny, you get to decide!” have widely amplified the debate. (nfl.com)

Turning Point USA announced an “All‑American Halftime Show” to air opposite the Super Bowl halftime on February 8, 2026, billed as a celebration of “faith, family and freedom.” Social posts circulated a flyer naming Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett as performers, but news outlets and fact‑checkers report no official lineup has been confirmed and say many viral flyers are unverified or fake. TPUSA’s announcement frames the event as counterprogramming to Bad Bunny’s NFL halftime selection; organizers have said more details—including performers, venue and broadcast partners—will be released later. Organizers urged viewers to tune in and share. (yahoo.com)

Democrat Taylor Rehmet stunned Texas politics by winning the special runoff for State Senate District 9 on January 31, 2026, defeating Republican Leigh Wambsganss roughly 57 to 43 percent in a district President Trump carried by about 17 points in 2024. (texastribune.org) Trump had posted a Truth Social endorsement for Wambsganss on January 30, 2026, urging “America First Patriots” to get out and vote for her. (thedailybeast.com) Yet on February 1 at Mar‑a‑Lago he told reporters he “didn’t know a thing” about the race and claimed no involvement, prompting critics to accuse him of dissembling or to suggest evidence of cognitive decline. (thedailybeast.com)

On February 2, 2026, after hosting the Grammy Awards, Trevor Noah joked that Trump wanted Greenland and referenced Jeffrey Epstein’s island, and he confirmed it would be his final year as host. In a Truth Social post, former president Donald Trump denied visiting Epstein’s island, called Noah “a total loser,” “poor, pathetic, talentless,” and “dope of an M.C.,” and warned Noah to retract the remark. Trump threatened legal action, saying he would send his lawyers to sue and suggested he would seek substantial damages, also criticizing CBS. The exchange ignited widespread media coverage and debate over comedy, defamation, and accountability. (apnews.com)

California Assemblywoman Anamarie Ávila Farías (D) introduced AB 1627, a bill that would disqualify people who worked for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement between September 1, 2025, and January 20, 2029, from serving as peace officers or holding jobs in California public schools and higher‑education institutions. The measure extends background checks to flag prior ICE employment and also bars hires from Alabama and Georgia corrections systems cited in DOJ probes. Ávila Farías says public servants must uphold constitutional rights; the bill follows recent controversies over federal immigration enforcement and must pass committees and the governor to become law soon. (sfchronicle.com)