đ¨ BREAKING: Israelis Confirm Iranâs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in U.S.-Israeli Strikes
Iranâs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 86-year-old hardline ruler who has dominated the Islamic Republic since 1989, was reportedly killed in massive joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran early Saturday. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, cited growing signs of his death after strikes destroyed his compound, with some reports claiming his body was found and multiple senior leaders eliminated. U.S. President Donald Trump stated he believes the reports are accurate and described it as a major blow to the regime, urging Iranians to rise up. Iranian officials, including the Foreign Ministry spokesperson and Foreign Minister, denied the claims, insisting Khamenei is safe, sound, and in command from a secure location. The conflicting accounts leave his fate unconfirmed by Tehran, amid ongoing strikes and potential regime instability.
Sources: The Washington Times, Reuters
đĽ Israel and US Launch Pre-Emptive Strike on Iran Amid Escalating Tensions
Israel, joined by the United States, has initiated a major pre-emptive military operation against Iran, targeting key military sites, defense systems, and leadership elements to neutralize threats from Tehranâs nuclear and missile programs. Explosions rocked Tehran and other areas as strikes hit across the country, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf region, including Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Reports indicate significant casualties in Iran, with claims of over 200 killed and hundreds injured, alongside Iranian assertions of civilian losses including at a primary school; Israeli officials suggest senior Iranian figures, possibly including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may have been eliminated, though confirmation remains pending. President Trump described the action as âmajor combat operationsâ aimed at preventing Iran from threatening American interests, urging Iranians to overthrow their regime, while Israeli leaders framed it as necessary defense following prior exchanges and ongoing regional provocations.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Reuters
đ¨ FBI Elevates Counterterrorism Alert Nationwide After US-Israel Strikes on Iran
The FBI has placed its counterterrorism and counterintelligence teams on elevated alert status across the United States following the coordinated US and Israel military strikes on Iran. FBI Director Kash Patel directed the move last night to mobilize resources and ensure Joint Terrorism Task Forces operate around the clock to monitor and disrupt any potential domestic threats. This precautionary step comes amid concerns that Iran or its proxies could retaliate through terrorism, cyber operations, or activation of sleeper cells targeting the homeland, though no specific credible threats have been identified so far. The heightened posture reflects standard protocol for such escalations, with the agency emphasizing vigilance while the military handles overseas force protection.
âď¸ Susie Wilesâ Lawyer Rejects FBI Claim of Consent for Recorded Phone Call
The lawyer who represented White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during a 2023 phone call with her has firmly denied FBI officialsâ assertion that he consented to the Bureau recording the conversation without Wilesâ knowledge. This denial follows reports that the Biden-era FBI recorded the call as part of investigations into former President Donald Trump, including probes by Special Counsel Jack Smith into election matters and classified documents. The attorney, who remains unnamed publicly, stated he would risk his law license over such an action and expressed shock matching Wilesâ own reaction. Wiles reportedly believes her former lawyer and suspects the FBI may have misrepresented the consent issue, potentially raising serious questions about attorney-client privilege protections and the legality of any warrantless recording in this context.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, FOX News
âď¸ The Department of Justice Indicts 30 More in Minnesota Church Disruption Case
The Justice Department unsealed a superseding indictment on February 27, 2026, charging 30 additional individuals for their alleged roles in storming Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during a January anti-ICE protest that disrupted worship services. This brings the total to 39 defendants, including prior arrests like former CNN anchor Don Lemon, with most facing violations of the FACE Act for interfering with religious freedom. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that federal agents had already arrested 25 of the new defendants, with more arrests expected, emphasizing that attacks on houses of worship will be pursued aggressively and that the DOJ stands for Christians and people of faith.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, FOX News
âď¸ Holdovers from Obama and Biden Era Cling to Key Spots in Trumpâs CMS
Dozens of senior staffers at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continue to hold leadership roles in influential divisions under the current Trump administration, many first appointed or advanced during the Obama and Biden years or with backgrounds tied to Democratic political work and left-leaning groups. A review of public profiles and the agencyâs organizational chart shows roughly four dozen such individuals at director levels or similar, including both the director and deputy director of the oversight group as well as the director and deputy director of the Division of Enrollment Policy & Operations, which handles provider enrollment rules and scrutiny. This continuity in key areas like oversight, enrollment, program integrity, data analytics, and regulatory affairs could pose challenges to the administrationâs stated push against fraud in Medicare and Medicaid programs, though career civil servants remaining across presidencies remains a standard feature of government bureaucracy.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, The Next News Network
đ˘ CCP-Linked Nonprofits Jump the Gun on Anti-War Protests as Trump Announces Iran Strikes
Nonprofits funded by Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based American tech tycoon with documented ties to the Chinese Communist Party, mobilized coordinated anti-US protests supporting Iranâs regime just 10 minutes before President Trump announced US and Israeli military operations against Iran at 2:44 a.m. ET on February 28, 2026. Groups, including the ANSWER Coalition, issued emergency calls for nationwide action at 2:34 a.m. ET, denouncing the strikes as âunprovokedâ and âillegalâ while linking them to broader claims of US-Israeli aggression and âgenocide in Palestine.â These organizations, which share messaging, personnel, and funding networks that echo rhetoric from China, Russia, and Tehran, quickly organized demonstrations in at least 16 US cities with uniform signage and social media amplification even as initial bombs fell, raising questions about pre-coordination and foreign influence in domestic activism.
Sources: FOX News, The Washington Times
đŤ Democrats Accuse Own Party Committee of Rigging 2026 Primaries Through Early Endorsements
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced its first round of endorsements for the 2026 cycle via the âRed to Blueâ program, selecting 12 candidates in competitive districts to receive resources like fundraising help, staff, and training. Seventeen snubbed Democratic candidates in those races issued a joint statement criticizing the move as premature interference that biases the primary process by influencing fundraising, viability perceptions, and voter choices before ballots are cast. They argue this undermines democratic legitimacy, contradicts the partyâs frequent claims that democracy is at stake, and repeats past mistakes by limiting open competition; DCCC chair Rep. Suzan DelBene defended the picks as strong general-election contenders. The dust-up highlights ongoing intra-party tension over how much the establishment should shape nominations early on.
Sources: ZeroHedge, News From The States
â Maryland Sheriffs Rally Against Democrat Immigration Limits in Annapolis
Maryland sheriffs from multiple counties gathered in Annapolis on February 25, 2026, to publicly denounce recent and pending state legislation that curbs local law enforcementâs ability to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This pushback follows Democratic Gov. Wes Mooreâs signing of a law banning formal 287(g) agreements, which allowed jails to hold individuals for ICE pickup; nine sheriffs have vowed to find workarounds or ignore aspects of the restriction to maintain public safety. Led by figures like Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis, who blasted the measures as putting politics ahead of safety and urged lawmakers to end the âridiculousness,â and Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, who highlighted risks of street-level ICE apprehensions and potential court challenges, the sheriffs argue these Democrat-backed billsâsuch as the Community Trust Act limiting detentions without judicial warrantsâhamstring officers and prioritize illegal immigrants over Maryland residents.
đ NYC Sanitation Leaders Join Mayor in Islamic Prayer Ritual Before Meal
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the cityâs first Muslim mayor, participated in a pre-dawn suhoor gathering with Department of Sanitation (DSNY) workers during Ramadan, where a supplication to Allah occurred before the meal amid a winter storm. Video footage shows DSNY officials, some in uniform, raising hands in dua prayer and performing the traditional face-wiping gesture per Islamic practice, leading critics to call it coercive and part of a broader push toward religious influence in public roles. The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued a warning to the mayor about potential constitutional issues with officials engaging in religious exercises in official capacity, while supporters view it as a gesture of community solidarity with Muslim municipal workers during the holy month.
Sources: Freedom From Religion Foundation, ZeroHedge
đ§đźââď¸ Lee County, Florida Schools Discipline Nearly 2,500 Students Over Anti-ICE Walkouts
In deep-red Lee County, Florida, the school district has handed out disciplinary measures to 2,480 students who participated in walkout protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies from February 4 to 6, 2026. Officials identified violations of the Student Code of Conduct, including 2,037 cases of skipping class or tardiness, 393 safety violations, and 50 instances of insubordination or disrespect. Consequences varied by offense severity and student history, ranging from 2,037 warnings or assignment zeroes, to 208 Level III interventions like behavior contracts or loss of privileges, 43 student conferences, 7 parent meetings, 40 in-school suspensions, 134 out-of-school suspensions, and 11 recommendations for reassignment to Success Academy. Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin emphasized school safety as the top priority, noting that 96% of students stayed in class and followed rules during the events.
Sources: Gulf Coast News Now, FOX4 Southwest Florida
đĽ Gulf States Slam Iranâs Missile Barrage on Their Soil After U.S.-Israeli Strikes
Arab Gulf nations including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan have sharply condemned Iranâs retaliatory missile attacks on their territories and U.S. military assets hosted there, following joint American and Israeli operations that targeted Iranian leadership and nuclear-related sites. Iran launched strikes hitting multiple locations across the region, with defenses intercepting many projectiles; Qatar reported thwarting attacks with no major damage, the UAE noted one civilian fatality from debris despite successful interceptions, and explosions occurred near sites in Bahrain and elsewhere, though no widespread casualties at U.S. bases were immediately confirmed. These states reserved their right to self-defense and response, expressing solidarity against what they called violations of sovereignty and threats to regional stability, while Oman took a different tone by regretting the initial U.S.-Israeli actions and calling for de-escalation.
Sources: FOX News, The New York Post
đď¸ Trump Floats Friendly Takeover of Cuba Amid Islandâs Dire Shortages
President Trump remarked to reporters on the White House South Lawn that a âfriendly takeoverâ of Cuba by the United States could happen, citing the communist islandâs severe crisis with no money, no oil, and no food. He described Cuba as in big trouble and noted high-level talks involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying the Cuban government is engaging because they want help. The comments follow U.S. economic pressure, including fuel restrictions tied to actions against Venezuela, leaving the regime scrambling as shortages worsen.
Sources: The Epoch Times, Reuters
đž Japanâs Defense Minister Fires Back at Chinaâs Propaganda Amid Escalating Pressure
Japanâs Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pushed back hard against Beijingâs accusations of Japanese militarism during a February 27, 2026, press conference in Tokyo, calling out what he described as a Chinese propaganda effort to paint Japan as aggressive while ignoring its own massive arms exports. Koizumi stressed the need for Japan to build independent defense capabilities without over-relying on any single supplier, especially after Chinaâs recent bans on dual-use exports to Japanese defense-linked entities. This comes as Beijing ramps up economic and media pressure on Tokyo, including trade restrictions and criticism over Japanâs military upgrades and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichiâs earlier statements framing a Taiwan conflict as an existential threat to Japan. Koizumi highlighted Chinaâs hypocrisy as the worldâs fourth-largest weapons exporter, while Japan focuses on self-reliance, drone systems, and counterstrike capabilities in response to regional threats.
Sources: The Washington Times, Kyodo News
âď¸ Colombia Nabs Tren de Aragua Bigwig âCucarachoâ with US Backup
Colombian authorities hauled in Jorge Luis PĂĄez Cordero, better known as âCucaracho,â a top international honcho in the Venezuelan-rooted Tren de Aragua gang, during a raid in upscale Santa Marta this week. The bust, part of a joint effort that snagged seven TdA figures overall, featured U.S. law enforcement muscle, including the DEA, and came after months of tracking. âCucarachoâ was a close ally of the groupâs boss, âNiĂąo Guerrero,â and handled massive cocaine shipments from Colombia and Venezuela to spots like Central America, the U.S., and Europe, plus rackets in extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and arms dealing. He sported an Interpol Red Notice and was nabbed in a luxury spot with a woman, yielding phones and a tablet in the sweep. The U.S. State Departmentâs counterterrorism folks hailed the takedown as proof of the Trump teamâs push to smash transnational terror outfits like TdA, which Washington has branded a foreign terrorist group tied to Maduroâs crew and slammed with sanctions.
Sources: The Washington Examiner, The Peopleâs Gazette
đ UN Human Rights Council Silences Critic of Sanctioned Official
The United Nations Human Rights Council, during an interactive dialogue session in Geneva on February 27, 2026, interrupted and cut off a 90-second video statement from Anne Bayefsky, director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and president of Human Rights Voices. The only American NGO speaker slotted that day, Bayefsky began naming UN officialsâincluding US-sanctioned Special Rapporteur Francesca Albaneseâaccusing them of covering up issues like Palestinian use of rape as a weapon of war and antisemitism. Council President Ambassador Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro halted the playback, deeming the language insulting, inflammatory, and beyond limits of tolerance and respect. Bayefsky later called it proof that free speech doesnât exist at the UNHRC, noting contrasts with unhindered accusations against Israel elsewhere in the session. A council media officer explained the decision followed standard practices to ensure dignity in discussions, with no member state objections raised.
Sources: FOX News, Human Rights Voices