The U.S. State Department issued an urgent warning on Feb. 28, 2026, telling U.S. citizens to depart immediately by commercial means amid serious, escalating safety risks across the Middle East. (travel.state.gov) Americans in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Kuwait were urged to leave or shelter in place as conditions changed, with embassy posts reporting airspace closures, missile and drone strikes and travel disruptions. (yahoo.com) The Department authorized departure of non‑emergency U.S. personnel from Mission Israel. (travel.state.gov) The U.S. Embassy in Manama warned hotels may be targeted after the Crowne Plaza was struck. (newsweek.com) Enroll in STEP and follow TravelGov updates.
Hillary Clinton testified behind closed doors this week before the House Oversight Committee in its Jeffrey Epstein inquiry. (theguardian.com) A photo of her at the deposition was leaked—reported to have been taken by Rep. Lauren Boebert and posted by influencer Benny Johnson—prompting a brief pause in proceedings. (tmz.com) Clinton later said she “answered every one” of the committee’s questions, denied knowing Epstein and described Ghislaine Maxwell as a casual acquaintance, while her request for a public hearing was denied. (theguardian.com) Viral posts claiming she screamed, stormed out, or declared “I am done” have not been substantiated by major outlets and are thus misleading. (apnews.com)
President Trump announced he is expanding his defamation lawsuit against The New York Times to challenge its Times–Siena poll, calling it the “Failing New York Times” and accusing it of publishing “fake results.” (theguardian.com) The complaint demands that the paper preserve records and explain how its poll was computed. (theguardian.com) The Times defended its methodology and noted its survey showed Mr. Trump’s approval at forty percent. (theguardian.com) Mr. Trump previously filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the paper and reporters; that filing was dismissed and later amended. (cbsnews.com) He posted the expansion on Truth Social, vowing consequences for what he calls “radical left lies.” (theguardian.com)
Texas’ State Board of Education is considering a proposal to create a single statewide required reading list that includes passages from the Bible, which supporters say provide historical and literary context and critics say would blur church‑state lines. (dallasnews.com) The Texas Education Agency’s draft lists dozens of texts, including the Twenty‑Third Psalm and the Tower of Babel, and would take effect for the 2030–2031 school year under a 2023 law. (dallasnews.com) The board delayed final action to solicit public comment. (dallasnews.com) Opponents warn of First Amendment concerns and reduced teacher autonomy. (texastribune.org) Parents may be allowed to opt students out, but testing implications remain. (dallasnews.com)
Viral social posts showed a large protest outside a Minneapolis hotel believed to be housing ICE agents, with one post claiming 1,600+ people singing in the street and urging agents to quit their jobs. (noticias.imer.mx) Local reporting identified the location as the Home2 Suites and said demonstrators gathered after recent federal operations and fatal shootings involving ICE personnel. (theguardian.com) Video and reporters described clashes that prompted law enforcement to deploy irritants and make arrests. (theguardian.com) Organizers framed the action as solidarity with immigrant communities while officials described some attendees as agitators. (foxnews.com) The episode fits into a broader wave of anti‑ICE protests in the Twin Cities. (theguardian.com)
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche alleged that recent Minneapolis anti‑ICE protests are a smokescreen for large-scale fraud tied to Minnesota benefit scandals across the state. Blanche said federal attention is shifting to alleged billions in false claims, and Justice Department officials have mobilized extra prosecutors to Minnesota. News reports describe multiple federal inquiries — civil‑rights and criminal probes — including investigations related to Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey’s rhetoric. Authorities have executed raids, arrests, and freezes on payments amid ongoing investigations. Blanche framed the unrest as a distraction from the fraud probes, which remain under active federal review.
Sources: (newsmax.com)
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)
The U.S. State Department issued an urgent warning on Feb. 28, 2026, telling U.S. citizens to depart immediately by commercial means amid serious, escalating safety risks across the Middle East. (travel.state.gov) Americans in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and Kuwait were urged to leave or shelter in place as conditions changed, with embassy posts reporting airspace closures, missile and drone strikes and travel disruptions. (yahoo.com) The Department authorized departure of non‑emergency U.S. personnel from Mission Israel. (travel.state.gov) The U.S. Embassy in Manama warned hotels may be targeted after the Crowne Plaza was struck. (newsweek.com) Enroll in STEP and follow TravelGov updates.
Hillary Clinton testified behind closed doors this week before the House Oversight Committee in its Jeffrey Epstein inquiry. (theguardian.com) A photo of her at the deposition was leaked—reported to have been taken by Rep. Lauren Boebert and posted by influencer Benny Johnson—prompting a brief pause in proceedings. (tmz.com) Clinton later said she “answered every one” of the committee’s questions, denied knowing Epstein and described Ghislaine Maxwell as a casual acquaintance, while her request for a public hearing was denied. (theguardian.com) Viral posts claiming she screamed, stormed out, or declared “I am done” have not been substantiated by major outlets and are thus misleading. (apnews.com)
Newly released satellite images from Vantor, Planet Labs and Airbus show damage to Iranian naval facilities at Konarak and at least one frigate burning pierside after U.S. and Israeli strikes, with analysts identifying multiple damaged or sunk vessels. President Trump said the U.S. destroyed nine Iranian warships and vowed to “annihilate” Iran’s navy, and U.S. officials reported strikes on naval headquarters as part of Operation Epic Fury. Imagery and open-source analysts corroborate localized damage but assessments of total losses remain preliminary amid ongoing strikes and limited independent verification; civilians and regional capitals report disruptive fires and rising geopolitical tensions nationwide. (wired.com)
