đď¸ Nebraska Republican Breaks Ranks to Back Democrat Push Limiting Trumpâs Pardon Power
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska became the first House Republican to co-sponsor a Democrat-led constitutional amendment aimed at curbing presidential pardon authority amid concerns over recent uses by President Trump. The measure, introduced by Rep. Johnny Olszewski of Maryland and dubbed the Pardon Integrity Act, would create a congressional review process where 20 House members and five senators could trigger a vote to nullify a pardon, requiring a two-thirds majority in both chambers for approval and barring re-issuance of the same pardon. Bacon, a retiring moderate who has occasionally diverged from party lines, cited abuse of the pardon power across administrations and weakened congressional oversight as reasons for support, though he avoided directly naming Trump. Olszewski highlighted Trumpâs pardons of five former NFL players convicted of serious crimes as part of a pattern favoring the well-connected. The proposal seeks to add accountability without eliminating the pardon power entirely.
đ˘ Florida Teachers Union Sparks Backlash by Calling Student Protests Against ICE âRequiredâ
The Florida Education Association hosted a press conference where Zander Moricz of the Social Equity and Education Alliance defended student walkouts protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, describing such responses as rational, reasonable, and required in the face of perceived injustices like family separations during raids. He emphasized that students retain First Amendment rights on campus and do not shed them at the schoolhouse door. Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas condemned the union for using children as pawns in a radical political agenda, noting that superintendents reported forthcoming discipline for dozens of participating students, which could affect their educational records, and questioned the unionâs continued existence amid accusations of prioritizing politics over student welfare. These events unfolded amid broader student walkouts in Florida and nationwide tied to immigration enforcement concerns in early February 2026.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The Florida Voice News
â Homan Confirms Small ICE Presence Will Remain in Minnesota After Surge Wraps Up
Border Czar Tom Homan announced that Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota is concluding after achieving its objectives of arresting public safety threats and locating thousands of missing unaccompanied alien children. A significant drawdown of federal agents is already underway, with most personnel redeploying over the coming weeks to support nationwide priorities like mass deportations. A small contingent will stay temporarily to handle transition tasks and maintain coordination with cooperative local law enforcement, ensuring continued enforcement without the large-scale presence required during the peak operation. Homan credited successful jail-to-ICE transfers and local cooperation for the ability to scale back safely and efficiently.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, The Washington Examiner
đłď¸ Maricopa County Recorder Unearths 137 Illegal Voters in Latest Election Scrutiny
Maricopa Countyâs Recorder has identified 137 individuals who cast ballots in the 2024 election despite lacking U.S. citizenship or proper registration, prompting fresh questions about voter-roll accuracy in the stateâs largest county. The probe, detailed in an official report, cross-referenced state records with federal databases and found discrepancies, including non-citizens who mistakenly or intentionally registered using expired documents or false information. Officials emphasize that while the number represents a tiny fraction of total votes, it underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in Arizonaâs election system that conservatives have long flagged. The findings were released on February 14, 2026, and no widespread fraud has been alleged, though local GOP figures are already calling for tighter ID checks and faster cleanup of inactive registrations to prevent repeats.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, FOX News
đ° EPA Audit Exposes Lax Oversight of Billions in State Revolving Funds Under Biden
An EPA Office of Inspector General audit released on January 29, 2026, found that the agency failed to properly identify, document, or report improper and unknown payments during its annual reviews of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, which provides loans to states for clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The EPA reviewed 751 payments in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 but underreported risks due to inconsistent practices, such as accepting unapproved or unsigned invoices and misclassifying transactions. This led to underreporting of approximately $54.4 million in unknown and improper payments for FY 2022 and $8.8 million for FY 2023 in the sampled transactions, even though federal rules require treating payments with insufficient documentation as improper. The issues stemmed from not following standard procedures, weak tracking, and permissive management, preventing reliable assessment of program effectiveness and controls.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, US Environmental Protection Agency
đ˘ Los Angeles Activists Install Warning Sirens for ICE Sightings
Residents and community organizers in Los Angelesâ Highland Park neighborhood have begun placing small, app-activated sirens on private properties to alert locals when federal immigration agents appear nearby. The grassroots initiative, which has deployed at least 20 devices so far without city permits, aims to give families time to seek safety amid recent enforcement operations. Activists describe the effort as a response to community fear, with sirens audible up to half a mile and flyers instructing people to take cover if activated. Authorities note potential violations of local noise rules, while critics call it an attempt to hinder federal law enforcement.
âď¸ Colorado Democrats Push Bill to Fully Decriminalize Prostitution Statewide
Summary
A group of Democratic lawmakers in Colorado introduced Senate Bill 26-097 in mid-February 2026 to decriminalize commercial sexual activity among consenting adults. The measure repeals state criminal offenses including prostitution, soliciting for prostitution, patronizing a prostitute, keeping a place of prostitution, and related displays. It preempts local ordinances or regulations that criminalize such acts, declaring the issue a matter of statewide concern. Sponsors argue that current laws endanger participants by discouraging crime reporting and client vetting. Pimping remains a felony. If passed and signed, the bill takes effect July 1, 2026, potentially making Colorado the first state to fully remove all criminal penalties for adult consensual prostitution, unlike regulated systems in Nevada or Maine.
Sources: FOX8 News Boulder, Complete Colorado
đłď¸âđ Schumer Pushes to Elevate Pride Flag to Congressionally Authorized Status
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced plans to introduce legislation designating the Pride flag as a congressionally authorized symbol, granting it protections similar to those for the U.S. flag, military flags, and others recognized by federal law. This move follows the Trump administrationâs removal of a rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City, a federal site commemorating the 1969 riots that sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement, based on guidelines restricting non-agency flags on National Park Service property. Schumer described the removal as an outrageous action and part of a broader assault on the LGBTQ community, vowing to ensure the flagâs permanent display at Stonewall and potentially elsewhere. Local officials and activists had defiantly re-raised the flag in response, and the proposed bill, to be sponsored in the House by Rep. Dan Goldman, aims to prevent future removals by making it a protected federal symbol.
Sources: FOX News, The Center Square
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Big Tech Quietly Handed DHS User Data on Anti-ICE Activists
Reddit, Meta, and Google voluntarily turned over user informationâincluding IP addresses, account details, and activity logsâto the Department of Homeland Security in response to federal requests tied to anti-ICE protests and related online activity, according to a new report. The disclosures occurred without warrants in many cases, often under broad emergency or law-enforcement assistance requests, raising fresh concerns about how platforms cooperate with government surveillance of political speech and activism. The report notes that these companies provided data on users who posted about or participated in protests against ICE operations, including some that involved the disruption of federal facilities.
đ Detroit Police Chief Probes Officers Suspected of Aiding ICE
Detroit Police Chief James White has initiated an internal affairs investigation into several officers accused of coordinating with federal ICE agents during recent immigration enforcement actions in the city. The probe focuses on claims that some DPD personnel shared information or assisted ICE in identifying undocumented individuals, actions that allegedly violate Detroitâs non-cooperation stance and the chiefâs directives against voluntary participation in federal immigration enforcement. White has stressed that officers must adhere to city policy and not act independently in ways that undermine local priorities, with potential discipline including suspension or termination if the allegations hold up. The move reflects ongoing friction between local law enforcement and federal immigration priorities under the current administration.
Sources: ZeroHedge, The Detroit News
â ď¸ Indonesia Readies Up to 8,000 Troops for Potential Gaza Peacekeeping Role
Indonesia is preparing to deploy as many as 8,000 troops for a possible United Nations peacekeeping mission in Gaza if President Trumpâs proposed plan for the region moves forward, according to statements from Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The contingent would be drawn from the countryâs elite rapid-deployment forces and would require UN Security Council approval, with Jakarta insisting on a formal mandate and clear rules of engagement before any commitment. This comes as Trump has repeatedly floated ideas for U.S.-led or multinational stabilization forces in Gaza following a ceasefire, though no concrete agreement exists yet and Indonesia has historically supported Palestinian statehood while maintaining a non-aligned foreign policy. Officials emphasized the deployment would only occur under strict conditions to avoid entanglement in ongoing conflict.
Sources: Breitbart, The Straits Times
đš CIA Drops Recruitment Video Targeting Chinese Military Officers Amid Xiâs Purge
The CIA released a Mandarin-language video on February 15, 2026, directly appealing to disillusioned Chinese military officers to become informants, portraying the Peopleâs Liberation Army as corrupt under Xi Jinpingâs leadership and promising protection, financial rewards, and safe extraction for those willing to provide intelligence. The short clip, narrated in Mandarin with English subtitles, highlights recent high-level purges of top generals and defense industry executives, framing Xiâs anti-corruption drive as a sign of internal weakness and paranoia rather than strength. It positions the United States as a reliable partner for those facing political danger, marking one of the most direct public recruitment efforts aimed at Chinaâs military elite in recent years.
Sources: The Epoch Times, The South China Morning Post
đ˘ Iran Stages Naval Drill to Threaten Oil Transit Through Strait of Hormuz
Iranâs Navy and Revolutionary Guard conducted a joint âsmart controlâ exercise in the Strait of Hormuz on February 14, 2026, simulating rapid seizure and control of commercial vessels transiting the narrow chokepoint that carries roughly 20% of global oil supply. The drill included fast-attack boats, helicopters, and coastal missile units practicing boarding operations, electronic warfare, and disruption of shipping lanes while emphasizing Iranâs capability to impose asymmetric threats. Officials framed it as a defensive response to perceived U.S. and Israeli pressure, though analysts view it as a signal of willingness to weaponize the strait amid stalled nuclear talks and ongoing U.S. sanctions enforcement. The exercise coincided with heightened regional tensions and recent U.S. boardings of sanctioned tankers.
𤥠AOC Draws Mockery for Geographical Gaffe and Hesitant Taiwan Response at Munich Security Conference
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participated in panels at the Munich Security Conference in mid-February 2026, discussing U.S. foreign policy shifts and the rise of populism while criticizing the Trump administrationâs approach to transatlantic relations and authoritarianism. During her remarks, she incorrectly stated that Venezuela is âbelow the equatorâ in reference to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and U.S. actions, prompting widespread social media ridicule since Venezuela lies entirely north of the equator. When asked directly whether the U.S. should commit troops to defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion, she delivered a lengthy, hesitant response filled with filler words and no clear commitment, leading to online criticism comparing it to evasive or unprepared answers. Conservative outlets and social media users highlighted these moments as evidence of inexperience on the world stage, though some coverage noted her emphasis on working-class issues in foreign policy.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller
đ Hindu Mobs Demolish Christian Homes in India After Families Refuse to Renounce Faith
In Midapalli village, Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra state, a mob of about 20 villagers confronted six Christian families totaling around 25 people on January 11, 2026, issuing an ultimatum to renounce Christianity or face death. When the families refused, the mob returned the next day, January 12, and demolished the homes of four families amid ongoing threats and violence. The affected believers, now homeless in winter conditions, sought police help but received threats instead, with officers questioning their faith as tribal members and warning of canceled identity cards and ration supplies. On January 14, authorities barred a local pastor from visiting households, escalating fears with additional death threats. Christian Solidarity Worldwide condemned the assault, police inaction, and called for protection, compensation, and accountability. This incident fits into broader reports of escalating Hindu nationalist attacks on Christians in India during early 2026.
Sources: US Commission on International Religious Freedom, CBN.com