đ¨ Progressive Backed by Sanders and AOC Scores Upset Win in New Jersey Democratic Primary
In a special Democratic primary for New Jerseyâs 11th Congressional District, progressive organizer Analilia Mejia narrowly defeated former Representative Tom Malinowski and a field of other candidates to claim the nomination for the blue-leaning seat vacated by now-Governor Mikie Sherrill. Mejia, who previously served as national political director for Bernie Sandersâ 2020 presidential campaign, secured endorsements from Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and other left-leaning figures, overcoming Malinowskiâs establishment credentials and higher spending in a race that remained too close to call for days after the February 5, 2026, election until Malinowski conceded on February 10. The outcome highlights another notch for progressive challengers against more moderate Democrats in recent cycles, with Mejia set to face Republican Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway in the April 16 special general election.
âď¸ Labor Department Directs Attorneys to End Official Ties with American Bar Association
The Department of Laborâs Solicitor Jonathan Berry, appointed under the Trump administration, sent an email on Monday instructing the agencyâs hundreds of attorneys to halt all official engagement with the American Bar Association. This includes no use of taxpayer funds for ABA events, no participation using government job titles, and no official representation at such gatherings. Berry criticized the ABA for presenting itself as non-ideological while advancing what he called radical positions at other times, arguing that federal involvement only enhances the groupâs influence and supports its activist agenda rather than neutral professional benefits.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, Just The News
đ¨Federal Prosecutors Charge 158 Anti-ICE Protesters in Minnesota with Felonies
Federal authorities have charged 158 individuals in Minnesota with various federal crimes stemming from clashes during the Trump administrationâs Operation Metro Surge immigration enforcement push, including obstruction of federal officers, assault on law enforcement, FACE Act violations for interfering with religious activities, and related conspiracy counts, some carrying potential prison terms of up to 20 years; these actions follow protests that involved blocking agents, assaults, threats, and disruptions such as at a church service, with officials like Border Czar Tom Homan and Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasizing that crossing into violence or obstruction will bring serious consequences and more accountability.
đď¸House Committee Probes Foreign Meddling in U.S. Nonprofits Ahead of Tuesday Hearing
The House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a full committee hearing for February 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET in the Longworth House Office Building, titled âForeign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond.â Witnesses include Scott Walter from the Capital Research Center and Caitlin Sutherland from Americans for Public Trust, among others. The session aims to scrutinize how foreign actors, particularly from China, have allegedly channeled funds through tax-exempt organizations to support disruption, unrest, and propaganda aligned with hostile interests, including networks tied to figures like Neville Roy Singham and groups such as The Peopleâs Forum and CodePink. This comes amid broader concerns over NGOs potentially advancing foreign agendas under the guise of domestic activism, with the committee highlighting the need to protect the integrity of the charitable sector from such exploitation.
Sources: US House Ways & Means Committee, ZeroHedge
đ The Justice Department Grants Lawmakers Access to Unredacted Epstein Files
The Justice Department has provided members of Congress with access to unredacted versions of Jeffrey Epstein-related files, responding to bipartisan criticism over heavy redactions in publicly released documents that appeared to shield powerful figures rather than just victims. This move follows the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law late last year, which required full disclosure with limited exceptions for victim privacy, after over 3 million pages were made public in late January amid ongoing scrutiny of the DOJâs handling of the material. Lawmakers like Rep. Ro Khanna highlighted examples of questionable redactions in emails suggesting involvement of unnamed individuals with minors, while Republicans such as Rep. Thomas Massie pushed for transparency to prevent any perceived cover-up. On the same day, Ghislaine Maxwell, serving 20 years for her role in Epsteinâs crimes, appeared virtually before a House committee but invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions unless granted clemency by President Trump, drawing ire from both sides of the aisle.
Sources: NewsMax, The Wall Street Journal
âď¸ Federal Judge Halts Californiaâs ICE Mask Removal Mandate
A federal judge in Los Angeles issued a preliminary injunction on February 9, 2026, blocking enforcement of Californiaâs âNo Secret Police Actâ and related âNo Vigilantes Act,â which sought to force ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers to remove masks during immigration operations. The ruling, from U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder (a Clinton appointee), found that the laws discriminated against federal officers by exempting state police, thereby violating the Supremacy Clause, which prioritizes federal authority over conflicting state measures. This decision, stemming from a Trump administration lawsuit, preserves ICE agentsâ ability to wear masks for operational security while allowing the state to enforce visible identification requirements that apply neutrally.
Sources: The San Francisco Chronicle, FOX News
â Local Sheriffs and Officials Push Back Against Democrat Statesâ ICE Cooperation Bans
In Democrat-controlled states like New York and Maryland, where governors and legislatures are advancing measures to halt or severely limit local law enforcementâs partnerships with ICE under the 287(g) program, some conservative county executives and sheriffs are openly refusing to comply, threatening lawsuits, or devising workarounds to keep aiding federal immigration enforcement efforts aimed at removing criminal illegal aliens. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin in New York declared he will ignore Gov. Kathy Hochulâs proposed restrictions, citing risks to public safety and drawing parallels to past defiance of state overreach, while Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins in Maryland is prepared to sue if Gov. Wes Moore signs similar legislation, arguing that cooperating with ICE is no different from working with other federal agencies like the FBI or U.S. Marshals. In Colorado, Sheriff Steve Reams continues indirect cooperation through public detainee reports and honoring interview requests despite state limits, as the number of 287(g) agreements has surged dramatically in recent months, and the White House has pledged legal support for such local resistance.
Sources: The Washington Times, CBS News Austin
𤥠Portland Anti-ICE Activist Reported to Police After Firing BB Gun at Pro-Trump Streamers
A 28-year-old Portland woman and anti-ICE activist named Isis Symone Irving has been reported to police following an incident on February 6 outside a local ICE facility. Video evidence captured her allegedly discharging an airsoft pistol resembling a real handgun from a moving vehicle toward a group of pro-Trump live streamers, striking one multiple times with BB pellets after earlier confrontations involving insults, thrown objects, and physical contact that prompted pepper spray use. The streamers described the weapon as unmarked and dangerous, with one expressing relief that eyewear prevented facial injury; Irving later posted a video denying any attack and claiming she was the victim of racism and vehicle damage. Portland police assigned the case to their Major Crimes Unit after the report came in the following morning.
Sources: The Post Millennial, Andy Ngo on X
â ď¸ Washington Democrats Stall Bill to Tighten Sex Offender Housing Rules in Neighborhoods
Washington Senate Democrats have effectively killed a Republican-backed measure aimed at adding accountability to community placements of sexually violent predators, leaving residents in Kennewick facing a proposed transition home for high-risk offenders near family areas with little legislative recourse for now. Senate Bill 6339, which would have required that less restrictive alternative housing for these individuals be owned and operated by the same entity handling their supervision and treatment to prevent divided responsibilities, received a committee hearing but was not advanced by the Democratic chair, who cited the need for more discussion; this came as part of a larger package of eight bills responding to community outrage over a potential site for up to five Level 3 sex offenders, yet none progressed past key deadlines in the current session.
Sources: Tri-City Herald, The Post Millennial
đ¸French Wealth Tax Falls Short, Raising Red Flags for Californiaâs Billionaire Levy
Franceâs 2025 high-income contribution tax, meant to target the wealthy, has delivered far less revenue than expectedâaround 400 million euros in its first year against projections nearing 2 billionâdue to timing delays, taxpayer optimizations likećĺ dividend payouts, and behavioral adjustments by those with mobility or advisors. Experts warn this underscores the challenges governments face in reliably extracting big money from the rich without prompting avoidance or relocation, a cautionary tale as California eyes a November 2026 ballot measure for a one-time 5% tax on net worth over roughly $1 billion to plug budget holes in areas like Medi-Cal.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Fortune
đ¨Venezuela Opposition Leader Guanipa Seized Hours After Prison Release
Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa, a close ally of Nobel Peace Prize winner MarĂa Corina Machado and leader of the center-right Justice First party, was taken by heavily armed men in civilian clothes who arrived in four vehicles and forcibly removed him in the Los Chorros area of Caracas. This occurred mere hours after his release from over eight months in prison on politically charged accusations. Opposition figures, including Machado and Guanipaâs son RamĂłn, described the incident as a kidnapping and demanded his immediate release, while the interim governmentâs prosecutor later stated Guanipa had violated release terms and would be placed under house arrest. The event unfolded amid ongoing prisoner releases following the U.S. capture of former leader NicolĂĄs Maduro last month and the fragile transition under acting leader Delcy RodrĂguez, with the opposition framing it as continued repression despite shifts in power.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, FOX News
𧧠Xi Jinping Holds Rare Same-Day Calls with Trump and Putin
Chinese leader Xi Jinping conducted separate high-level discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the same day, covering trade, Taiwan, Iran, and Ukraine, while Beijing navigates its ongoing military leadership shakeup. Xi emphasized mutual respect in relations with Washington, urged caution on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and pledged deeper strategic ties with Moscow amid global tensions. Trump described the exchange as long and thorough, highlighting potential increases in Chinese purchases of U.S. energy and agricultural goods, while the Putin call reinforced the no-limits partnership between China and Russia. Analysts note the timing as a calculated diplomatic play to project stability from Beijing, even as Xi consolidates control through purges in the Peopleâs Liberation Army.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Deutsche Welle
đď¸ Russia Vows All Possible Assistance to Cuba Amid U.S. Energy Squeeze
Russiaâs Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on February 9, 2026, that the situation in Cuba is critical due to U.S. sanctions and pressure creating a stranglehold on the islandâs energy supplies, particularly after Venezuela cut off oil following U.S. actions against Maduro. Peskov noted ongoing discussions with Cuban counterparts to explore ways to provide all possible assistance, as Cuba grapples with severe fuel shortages, blackouts, and suspended jet fuel for airlines, worsening daily life for residents who face power outages and resort to alternative cooking methods.
đ IDF Raids Nab Senior Jihadist, Take Out Hezbollah Artillery Chief in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces conducted a targeted overnight raid in southern Lebanon, capturing Atwi Atwi, a senior operative from the al-Jamaâa al-Islamiyya terror group allied with Hezbollah, in the Mount Dov area for intelligence purposes after weapons were also seized; separately, the IDF eliminated Ahmad Ali Salami, Hezbollahâs head of artillery in the Yanouh area, who had directed attacks on Israel during the war and was rebuilding capabilities in violation of the ceasefire, while another Hezbollah operative involved in intelligence gathering and infrastructure rehab was killed in the Ayta al-Shaab area, all amid ongoing efforts to curb terrorist rebuilding post-ceasefire.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, The Times of Israel
đ Pakistanâs President Warns Taliban-Run Afghanistan Mirrors or Exceeds Pre-9/11 Terror Risks
Pakistanâs President Asif Ali Zardari has sharply criticized the Taliban government in Afghanistan, stating it has fostered conditions similar to or worse than those before the September 11, 2001 attacks, where terrorist groups posed major threats to global peace. This comes after a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad killed 31 people and injured over 160, with Pakistani officials claiming the attacker was trained by the Islamic State in Afghanistan. Zardari emphasized that terrorism requires collective action rather than isolated efforts by any single nation, while also pointing fingers at certain neighbors for enabling militants targeting Pakistan.