Year: 2026

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)

Oakland officials say a city-owned Ford Expedition used to shuttle Mayor Barbara Lee was stolen after someone allegedly removed the keys from her City Hall office. Security footage and reports indicate the office door was tampered with over the Presidents Day period, and the SUV was driven out of the garage. Police recovered the vehicle hours later in Vallejo and have identified a suspect for whom a warrant is active; the Oakland Police Department is investigating. Mayor Lee issued a brief statement stressing public safety and saying authorities cannot comment further while the probe continues, and city officials promised reviews. (cbsnews.com)

On Feb. 17–18, 2026 the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto to enact House Substitute for Senate Bill 244. (kslegislature.gov) The law requires people in government buildings, schools and universities to use single-sex multiple-occupancy spaces matching their sex assigned at birth, defines “gender” as biological sex at birth, directs agencies to invalidate and reissue driver’s licenses and birth certificates to reflect birth sex, and allows civil suits. (kslegislature.gov) The Senate overrode the veto 31–9, (kslegislature.gov) and the House followed (about 87–37) to make the measure law despite Kelly’s veto, which she publicly called “poorly drafted” and warned of unintended consequences. (kmbc.com)

President Trump has discussed a timeline for possible strikes on Iran — including “as soon as this weekend” — but has not made a final decision, according to U.S. national security officials. The Pentagon has positioned strike assets in the Middle East and has temporarily relocated some personnel from the region as it prepares for potential action. Officials described discussions as fluid while the White House says diplomacy remains the president’s first option. U.S. coordination with Israeli leaders is ongoing amid heightened regional tensions, and anonymous sources cautioned that repositioning forces does not necessarily mean an imminent attack or retaliation. (cbsnews.com)

FBI Director Kash Patel told The Dan Bongino Show that investigators have uncovered significant funding streams backing antifa-linked activity and predicted more revelations “in the next month or two.” Patel said the bureau’s financial probes — using counterterrorism-style intelligence and “following the money” — have identified donors and mechanisms, including scrutiny of U.S.-based nonprofits and possible foreign sources, though he did not name individuals. He emphasized investigators target funds linked to violence, not lawful protest, and said the FBI has created a dedicated program and noted prior prosecutions tied to antifa-related violence. Officials promise additional public updates as investigations continue. (washingtonexaminer.com)

Viral social posts claim the Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks have turned down President Donald Trump’s invitation to the White House and that no one from the team will go. Fact‑checking and sports outlets report those posts are unsourced and unverified: neither the Seahawks nor the White House has confirmed an invitation or a formal team refusal. Multiple fact‑checks characterize the story as a rumor amplified online. The customary post‑championship visit often takes weeks to arrange, and reporters say any definitive answer will require an official statement from the Seahawks or a White House readout — as of Feb. 19, 2026. (thesportsrush.com)

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band announced a surprise, politically charged Land of Hope and Dreams American tour, saying they’ll “rock your town in celebration and in defense of America” as democracy faces threats from “our wannabe king” and his “rogue government.” The 20‑date run begins March 31 in Minneapolis and concludes May 27 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Springsteen tied the announcement to his recent protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” urged unity under a “United Free Republic of E Street Nation,” and posted a video to social media. Tickets go on sale February 20–21. Get ready now. (people.com)

The U.S. Supreme Court on December 4, 2025, issued a 6–3 order allowing Texas’s newly drawn congressional map to be used in the 2026 midterms, staying a lower‑court injunction. The plan, passed by the Republican‑controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, is projected to add five GOP‑leaning seats. A three‑judge federal panel had ruled the map an illegal racial gerrymander, but the Supreme Court said the district court erred and emphasized timing and presumption‑of‑good‑faith doctrines. The redraw shifts Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Al Green out of their districts, threatening their incumbency and boosting Republican chances in Texas in 2026. (democracydocket.com)

Hundreds of Asheville High School students bolted from classrooms and poured into a busy downtown intersection on Feb. 2, 2026, in a large walkout protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, local reports say. (ca.news.yahoo.com) Videos circulating on social media show students waving foreign flags, carrying professionally printed signs and chanting “Fuck ICE” and “Fuck Trump” as they blocked traffic, and the footage prompted questions about teacher supervision. (amgreatness.com) At least one city council member was reported among supporters, and the action was described as part of a nationwide wave of student anti‑ICE protests. (ca.news.yahoo.com) The demonstration echoed nationwide student protests against ICE in January. (ca.news.yahoo.com)