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⚖️ Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Colorado Climate Suit Against Oil Giants
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted certiorari in Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, deciding to review a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that allowed a lawsuit from Boulder and Boulder County to proceed in state court against oil companies including Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy. The localities claim the companies’ production and sale of fossil fuels contributed to climate harms like extreme heat, wildfires, drought, and other damages under state law, with lower courts rejecting dismissal arguments that federal law (including the Clean Air Act) preempts such claims. Oil companies, backed by the Trump administration’s Justice Department, argue that permitting states to regulate or impose liability for interstate and global emissions disrupts national energy policy and creates chaos across dozens of similar lawsuits filed since 2017 by mostly Democrat-led jurisdictions seeking compensation for infrastructure and adaptation costs. No oral argument date has been set yet, but the case could clarify whether federal law bars these state-level climate accountability efforts.
Sources: The Washington Times, SCOTUS Blog
⚖️ DOJ Swiftly Removes Judge-Appointed Interim US Attorney in Virginia
The Department of Justice under the Trump administration fired James Hundley, a veteran Virginia litigator with over 35 years of experience, just hours after federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia unanimously appointed and swore him in as interim US Attorney on Friday evening. This move followed a court ruling that ousted prior interim appointee Lindsey Halligan—a Trump loyalist—after deeming her extended service unlawful beyond the statutory 120-day limit, leading judges to exercise their authority under federal law to fill the vacancy temporarily until a Senate-confirmed nominee takes over. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the termination via a post on X, stating that judges do not select US Attorneys and that the president holds that power, in a continuation of tensions between the executive branch and judiciary over control of this high-profile office known for national security cases.
🔎 The Trump Administration Deploys Strike Team to Probe California’s Unemployment Insurance Fraud Mess
The Trump administration’s Department of Labor is dispatching a specialized “strike team” to California to investigate substantial fraud risks, improper payments, and mismanagement in the state’s Unemployment Insurance program, following audits that highlighted the Employment Development Department’s high-risk status, failure to implement proper safeguards during the pandemic, and billions in potentially fraudulent claims that remain largely unrecovered; this comes as California owes $21 billion in federal loans for its depleted UI trust fund, resulting in higher taxes on state employers, with Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stating the move ends prior inaction and aims to protect taxpayers and restore program integrity.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The New York Post
🐘 Republicans Surge in Early California Governor Primary Polling
A recent Emerson College poll from mid-February 2026 shows Republican Steve Hilton leading the crowded field for California’s 2026 gubernatorial primary with 17% support, followed closely by Democrat Eric Swalwell and Republican Chad Bianco tied at 14% each, with former Rep. Katie Porter at 10% and Tom Steyer at 9%, while 21% of likely voters remain undecided. The results highlight a fragmented Democratic side with multiple candidates splitting the vote, raising concerns among some Democrats about the jungle primary system potentially allowing both top spots to go to Republicans and advancing them to the general election, though the race remains fluid with the June primary still months away and no candidate dominating.
Sources: Emerson College Polling, Mercury News
🌨️ East Coast Nor’easter Triggers Over 7,000 Flight Cancellations
A powerful nor’easter is slamming the East Coast with heavy snow, high winds up to 70 mph, blizzard conditions, and coastal flooding risks from Maryland to Massachusetts. This has prompted widespread preemptive flight cancellations, with more than 7,000 U.S. flights disrupted across Sunday and Monday, including thousands at major hubs like JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, Boston Logan, and Philadelphia. Airlines such as JetBlue, Delta, American, United, and Southwest have waived change fees to help stranded travelers, while states declared emergencies, travel bans went into effect in places like New York City, and schools closed in anticipation of treacherous conditions that could also cause power outages from heavy, wet snow accumulation of up to 18-24 inches in some areas.
Sources: The Epoch Times, FOX Weather
🤡 Schumer Decries Trump’s ‘Berating’ of Supreme Court Justices, Despite His Own 2020 Threats to Justices
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared on MSNBC this week to celebrate the Supreme Court’s recent decision invalidating much of President Trump’s global tariff regime, framing it as a win for American consumers by halting trade disruptions that he said hurt families, farmers, and small businesses. In the same interview, Schumer ridiculed Trump’s response to the ruling as childish, likening the president to a 10-year-old throwing a tantrum through name-calling, foot-stomping, and berating Supreme Court justices like a baby. This scolding over presidential criticism of the judiciary looks particularly rich given Schumer’s own March 2020 remarks at a pro-abortion rally steps from the Supreme Court, where he singled out Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, declaring they had “released the whirlwind” and warning that they “will pay the price” and “won’t know what hit you” if they voted to uphold certain abortion restrictions—statements that prompted a rare public rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts as inflammatory and threatening from a senior elected official, even though Schumer later insisted he only meant electoral consequences and regretted his word choice. Notably, the Court’s ruling left Trump with alternative legal avenues to pursue tariffs if he chooses to do so.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, FOX News
🤡 Gavin Newsom’s Awkward Attempt to Relate to Atlanta Crowd Backfires
California Governor Gavin Newsom, while promoting his memoir “Young Man in a Hurry” at an event in Atlanta moderated by Mayor Andre Dickens, tried to connect with a predominantly Black audience by sharing his personal struggles with dyslexia. He stated he was “like you” and “no better than you,” noted his SAT score of 960, joked about not offending anyone with a lower score like 940, and admitted he cannot read a speech off the page, explaining that he has lived with dyslexia rather than overcome it. The comments, intended to highlight shared challenges, quickly drew widespread criticism online and in media for coming across as patronizing or implying a stereotype about the audience’s academic abilities.
Sources: The Post Millennial, The Grio
👮🏼♂️ NYPD Officers Face Harassment and Doxxing from Social Media Agitators in Mamdani’s NYC
In New York City, under socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani—who has previously labeled the NYPD as racist, anti-queer, and a threat to public safety—left-wing agitators are filming on-duty police officers, taunting them with insults, and posting videos online that include the officers’ names, photos, precinct details, and records of complaints or lawsuits. This mirrors tactics used against ICE agents and has prompted frustration from law enforcement sources who argue it harasses officers, interferes with their work, and goes beyond First Amendment protections, with some videos even monetized through ads; officers describe the behavior as disgusting and random, while the Detectives Endowment Association pushes for laws requiring agitators to stay at least 25 feet away and barring inclusion of home addresses, blaming the uptick on a City Hall perceived as sympathetic to such actions rather than law and order.
Sources: The Post Millennial, The New York Post
📢 Anti-ICE Walkout at Kansas High School Turns Violent Against Pro-Trump Students
At Olathe Northwest High School in Kansas, a student-led walkout protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) escalated when participants assaulted two classmates who were counter-protesting by holding Trump flags. A viral video captured the incident, showing the victims being chased, pinned, and struck while trying to escape, with school staff reportedly observing without intervening. The father of one victim noted that the students ended up bruised but did not require hospital care, and the vehicle of one was later vandalized. The school’s principal locked his social media account amid backlash, and the district emphasized its commitment to a safe environment for all students.
Sources: The Inquisitr, Newsbreak
🏫 Upstate New York Teacher Placed on Leave After Advising TPUSA Student Club
A Spanish teacher at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York—a Syracuse suburb—was placed on paid administrative leave on January 30 after agreeing to serve as faculty advisor for a new student chapter of Turning Point USA’s high school program, known as Club America. Supporters, including students and a petition with over 2,100 signatures, claim the move stems from political bias against conservative views, with one student leader calling it an attack on civil discourse. The Baldwinsville Central School District stated the leave is pending review of an unspecified matter and declined further comment, while some community voices have raised safety concerns about the club itself.
Sources: The Post Millennial, The New York Post
⚠️ Mexican Cartel Chaos Erupts After El Mencho’s Death in Military Raid
Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel descended into violent retaliation across multiple states on February 22, 2026, after government forces killed its longtime leader, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, during a security operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The military raid wounded El Mencho, who died while being airlifted to Mexico City, along with several other cartel members killed in the clash. In response, suspected CJNG gunmen set up roadblocks with burning vehicles, torched buildings, and disrupted public order in states including Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacan, and others, while an armed group stormed Guadalajara International Airport, firing shots that sent passengers fleeing in panic and prompted lockdowns, flight suspensions to areas like Puerto Vallarta, and U.S. shelter-in-place advisories for affected regions.
Sources: Breitbart, The Daily Star
💶 Trump Trade Chief: No Nations Bolting from Tariff Agreements Post-Court Ruling
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated on February 22, 2026, during a CBS “Face the Nation” interview that none of the trading partners who reached tariff-related deals with the Trump administration have signaled any intention to withdraw. This comes after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump’s earlier tariffs the previous week. Greer emphasized that these agreements stand independently of the litigation outcome, noting recent conversations with counterparts, including from the European Union and other countries, where partners affirmed commitment to the deals. He stressed expectations for mutual adherence, framing the arrangements as beneficial despite the legal setback and the administration’s pivot to a new global tariff approach.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Bloomberg
🕋 Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei Quietly Sets Up Contingency Plans Amid Assassination Fears
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued directives to prepare for potential assassination or removal through U.S. or Israeli strikes, amid heightened tensions, nationwide protests, and military threats. He has elevated close ally Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council and a former Revolutionary Guards figure, to effectively manage key state affairs, sidelining elected President Masoud Pezeshkian in the process. Larijani now oversees protest crackdowns, alliances with Russia and regional players, nuclear talks, and wartime planning. Khamenei has established four layers of succession for military and government roles he appoints, requiring officials to name multiple replacements, and delegated emergency decision-making to a small trusted circle if communications fail or he is killed. While Larijani handles crisis management, he lacks the clerical qualifications for supreme leader, with other figures like Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf mentioned as possibilities. Iran’s forces remain on high alert with missile deployments and exercises, reflecting expectations of possible American action.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The Times of Israel
💀 U.S. Embassy Warns of Al-Qaeda-Linked Terror Risks in Ivory Coast Vacation Spots
The U.S. Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire reissued a Level 2 travel advisory urging Americans to exercise increased caution throughout the country due to risks of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health concerns, and piracy in nearby waters. Specific focus falls on the northern border regions, including Savanes and Zanzan districts and Comoé National Park, where officials advise against all travel because of terrorist violence threats from Al-Qaeda-linked groups like Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has crossed from Burkina Faso and Mali to target security forces and occasionally civilians in the past. While no recent violent extremism incidents have occurred, the advisory notes ongoing risks in the northeast, with potential attacks on tourist areas, nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, and places of worship. Broader concerns include carjackings, robberies, inadequate medical facilities, and Gulf of Guinea piracy, reminding travelers that local police response to serious crimes can be limited.
Sources: US State Dept, FOX News
🧧 China Pulls Back Sharply on African Lending as Beijing Turns Cautious
Chinese lending to Africa dropped significantly in 2024, falling to $2.1 billion according to Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center database, a nearly 50 percent decline from the prior year and a steep slide from the 2016 peak of around $28 billion. This marks a continued retreat from massive infrastructure loans toward smaller, selective projects often in yuan, with only six initiatives funded across five countries, such as Angola, Kenya, and others. The shift reflects Beijing’s lower appetite for risk amid economic pressures at home, African debt burdens, and a pivot to trade and direct investment over big-ticket Belt and Road-style financing, though the exact 85 percent cut cited in some opinion pieces appears overstated compared to tracked data showing reductions closer to 90 percent from historical highs but about half year-over-year.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Semafor