⚠️ House GOP Clings to One-Vote Majority After Texas Democrat Sworn In
House Republicans now hold a precarious 218-214 edge in the chamber following the Monday night swearing-in of Democrat Christian Menefee from Texas, who filled a long-vacant Houston seat previously held by the late Rep. Sylvester Turner. This slim margin means Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose only one GOP vote on party-line matters assuming full attendance, leaving the majority vulnerable to defections like those from Rep. Thomas Massie or further unexpected absences due to health issues or resignations. Recent setbacks include the January 2026 resignation of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa, while three vacancies persist in Georgia, New Jersey, and California; leadership is pressing members to show up for key votes amid an ongoing partial government shutdown and efforts to pass funding legislation. Such a fragile hold raises the remote but real prospect of Democrats gaining control mid-term if additional Republican losses occur, an unprecedented scenario in U.S. history, though upcoming special elections in solidly red Georgia and blue New Jersey could provide some breathing room.
Sources: The Independent Journal Review, FOX News
🏛️ Government Shutdown Ends After Trump Signs Funding Package, Calls It a Victory
Congress wrapped up a brief partial government shutdown over the weekend by passing and sending to President Trump a roughly $1.2 trillion spending package that funds most federal agencies through September while extending Department of Homeland Security operations for just two weeks amid ongoing disputes over immigration enforcement. Trump signed the legislation on February 3, 2026, in the Oval Office, describing it as a “great victory for the American people” that avoided bloated spending and supported essential programs for safety and security without special interest giveaways. The House approved the measure narrowly at 217-214 with some Democratic support after Senate passage, following negotiations where Democrats secured separation of DHS funding to push for potential restrictions on ICE tactics, though the core package advanced without those changes. This averted a longer closure but left another funding deadline looming soon for homeland security matters.
Sources: The Daily Wire, FOX News
🚨 Third Georgia Democrat Lawmaker Faces Federal Charges in Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Case
Georgia state Rep. Dexter Sharper, a Democrat from Valdosta, has been charged with making false statements to fraudulently obtain $13,825 in emergency pandemic unemployment benefits between April 2020 and May 2021. Prosecutors allege that while certifying in 38 weekly filings that he was unemployed and seeking work, Sharper continued earning income from his role in the Georgia General Assembly, his party rental business, and as a musician. This marks the third such case involving a Democratic member of the Georgia House, following similar charges against Reps. Karen Bennett (who resigned and pleaded guilty) and Sharon Henderson (who was suspended). Officials, including the U.S. Attorney and Georgia State Inspector General, condemned the alleged actions as a betrayal of public trust and an abuse of funds meant for those truly impacted by job losses during the COVID-19 crisis.
Sources: ZeroHedge, US Dept of Justice
🧪 Second Illegal California Biolab Linked To Chinese Citizen Sparks Biosecurity Concerns
A second illegal biolab connected to a Chinese national has reportedly been discovered in California, again raising alarms about U.S. biosecurity oversight and federal enforcement lapses. The revelation follows the earlier Reedley, California case, in which authorities found genetically engineered pathogens and improperly stored infectious materials tied to Chinese-linked entities operating without appropriate permits. Lawmakers and watchdogs are demanding explanations from federal agencies about how such facilities could exist undetected, questioning whether critical gaps in state and federal monitoring systems are leaving the nation vulnerable to potential bioterrorism, espionage, or accidental outbreaks. The incident reignites bipartisan calls for deeper scrutiny of foreign nationals engaged in unregulated biomedical activity on U.S. soil.
Sources: Legal Insurrection, FOX News
🤡 Nadler Claims Citizens Justified in Shooting Masked ICE Agents
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) described masked federal ICE agents as “hoodlums” committing fascism in the streets and suggested that if Americans were attacked by masked individuals, they might reasonably believe they were being kidnapped and would be justified in shooting to protect themselves. He cited examples of alleged ICE misconduct, including breaking into homes without warrants and incidents where citizens were harmed or killed during enforcement actions, framing these as the major problem facing the country rather than threats against agents. The remarks came amid heightened tensions over immigration enforcement operations.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, NewsMax
🏛️ Clintons Agree to Epstein Depositions After Contempt Threat
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced that former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to appear for transcribed and filmed depositions in the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes. This follows months of resistance, skipped appearances in January 2026, and a bipartisan committee vote to advance contempt of Congress proceedings against them. The Clintons had defied subpoenas issued in 2025, leading to a deadline on February 3, 2026, after which Comer stated they “completely caved” to avoid a full House contempt vote. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify on February 26, 2026, with Bill Clinton following on February 27. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing in Epstein’s activities, though Bill Clinton’s past associations with the financier have drawn scrutiny; the depositions aim to provide transparency for survivors and the public.
Sources: The New York Post,
⚖️ Federal Judge Halts Trump Effort to End TPS for Haitians
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., issued a last-minute ruling on February 2, 2026, blocking the Trump administration from terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 350,000 Haitians, which was set to expire the following day. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, a Biden appointee, granted a stay in an ongoing lawsuit, declaring the termination “null, void, and of no legal effect” pending further review. In her 83-page opinion, Reyes found that plaintiffs were likely to succeed on claims that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem failed to follow proper procedures, ignored economic contributions of TPS holders already in the U.S., and appeared motivated by hostility toward nonwhite immigrants. The decision preserves deportation protections and work authorizations for affected Haitians amid ongoing violence and instability in Haiti, though the administration has signaled plans to appeal, possibly to the Supreme Court.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Examiner
🎓 Trump Administration Escalates Demand for $1 Billion from Harvard in Ongoing Federal Probes
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that his administration is now seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University to settle multiple federal investigations into the school’s handling of campus policies. These include alleged failures to address antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests related to Israel’s war in Gaza, along with scrutiny over diversity initiatives and transgender policies. The demand follows months of negotiations, during which Trump previously referenced a potential $500 million payment, and comes after he dismissed a New York Times report suggesting the cash demand had been dropped. Other universities like Columbia and Brown have reached settlements involving payments and policy changes to resolve similar probes and preserve federal funding, but Harvard has resisted direct payments, sued successfully to restore frozen research grants in prior rulings, and no final deal has been reached. Trump stated his administration wants no future involvement with the university.
Sources: The Globe & Mail, Reuters
⚕️ The American Society of Plastic Surgeons Opposes Gender Transition Surgeries for Minors
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), representing over 11,000 plastic surgeons and 92% of board-certified ones in the U.S., has released a position statement recommending that surgeons delay gender-related breast/chest, genital, and facial surgeries until patients reach at least age 19. Citing low-certainty evidence from reviews like the 2024 Cass Review and a 2025 HHS report, the group concludes there is insufficient proof of a favorable risk-benefit ratio for these irreversible interventions in children and adolescents, who remain developmentally vulnerable and where some gender dysphoria may resolve naturally without medical steps. The ASPS stresses ethical care balancing compassion with scientific rigor, supports patient dignity and professional judgment, but opposes criminalizing such care in favor of self-regulation.
Sources: PlasticSurgery.org, The Hill
⚖️ Seattle Jury Holds City Liable for $30 Million in CHOP Zone Teen Shooting Death
A King County jury found the City of Seattle negligent in its emergency response to the June 29, 2020, fatal shooting of 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. inside the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone, a protest area that formed after police abandoned the East Precinct amid unrest following George Floyd’s death. The jury determined this negligence contributed to Mays Jr.’s death, as delays in medical aid—exacerbated by restricted access to the zone—played a role, despite city arguments that the head wound made survival unlikely and no shooter has been charged years later. The award totals over $30 million, with $4 million to the teen’s estate and $26 million to his father, Antonio Mays Sr., who traveled from San Diego after his son left home to join the protests.
Sources: ZeroHedge, KOMO-TV Seattle
🚢 Iranian Gunboats Attempt to Halt U.S.-Flagged Tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps gunboats, accompanied by a Mohajer drone in one account, approached the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Imperative in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, ordering it to stop engines and prepare for boarding. The tanker ignored the demands, increased speed, stayed in international waters without entering Iranian territory, and continued its voyage to Bahrain under escort from the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul with defensive air support. U.S. Central Command described the actions as harassment and threats to seize the vessel, while Iranian sources claimed the ship had briefly entered their waters illegally and was warned to leave. No shots were fired, no damage occurred, and the incident de-escalated quickly amid broader U.S.-Iran tensions, including a separate drone shootdown near a U.S. carrier.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters
🛑 Israel Terminates Doctors Without Borders Operations in Gaza Over Staff List Refusal
Israel has decided to end Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, or Doctors Without Borders) humanitarian activities in Gaza after the medical charity declined to provide a list of its Palestinian staff to Israeli authorities, with the ban taking effect by February 28, 2026. The Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism cited MSF’s failure to comply with registration requirements applicable to humanitarian groups operating in the region, including prior allegations—denied by MSF—of links between some employees and groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. MSF reversed an earlier tentative agreement to share limited staff details as an exceptional measure, stating that Israeli officials provided no sufficient guarantees for employee safety, data protection, or operational independence amid a conflict where 15 MSF workers have been killed since October 2023 and over 1,700 Palestinian health workers overall. The charity described the move as a pretext to hinder aid delivery in Gaza, where MSF runs 20 health clinics and supplies a significant portion of medical care, warning that the suspension will prove catastrophic for civilians already facing dire shortages.
Sources: The Japan Times, BBC News
🚨 Two Shipyard Workers Arrested for Alleged Sabotage of German Navy Warships in Hamburg
Two foreign workers—a 37-year-old Romanian and a 54-year-old Greek—were arrested on February 3, 2026, following a multi-country probe coordinated by Eurojust. The men, who had access to vessels at the Port of Hamburg shipyard during 2025, stand accused of multiple acts of attempted sabotage on corvettes intended for the German navy, including dumping over 20 kilograms of abrasive gravel into an engine block, puncturing fresh water supply lines, removing fuel tank caps, and disabling electronic safety switches. These actions, which could have caused major damage or operational delays if undetected, came to light during routine pre-departure checks on the corvette Emden ahead of its journey to Kiel. Authorities searched residences in Hamburg, Romania, and Greece as part of the investigation, which continues to explore potential clients or motives behind the tampering.
Sources: The Gateway Pundit, AP News
🥐 French Far-Left Leader Mélenchon Embraces ‘Great Replacement’ Term in Campaign Speech
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of the radical left La France Insoumise party, openly used the phrase “great replacement” during a January 2026 municipal campaign event in Toulouse while supporting a local candidate. He acknowledged the concept exists, responding to critics like Éric Zemmour and François Bayrou by stating there is a “great replacement” of one generation by another that will never resemble the previous one, a process he described as natural and ongoing since ancient times. Mélenchon framed this demographic shift positively, urging his party’s lists to embody the “new France” of this replacement to demonstrate political consciousness in diversity during upcoming municipal elections. He tied the idea to generational change rather than solely immigration, while critics on the right accused him of endorsing population transformation for electoral gain in immigrant-heavy areas.
Sources: Le Figaro, Le Parisien
💰 Former Chicago Hospital Executive Arrested in Serbia for $300 Million COVID Fraud Scheme
A former chief financial officer of Loretto Hospital in Chicago, Anosh Ahmed, was taken into custody in Serbia on November 30, 2025, following a Red Notice issued by U.S. authorities. Federal prosecutors accuse him of fleeing the country after being charged in two separate schemes: embezzling over $15 million from the taxpayer-funded hospital through phony invoices and bribery, and participating in a larger fraud that used stolen patient data to submit nearly $900 million in bogus COVID-19 testing claims to the federal government, ultimately pocketing about $293 million. Ahmed remains in Serbian custody as the United States pursues extradition to face multiple counts of wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and related offenses.
Sources: CBS News, BlockClubChicago.org