Thursday February 26th, 2026
- "It Is Not A Question of Who Is Right Or Wrong But What Is Right Or Wrong That Counts."
- --Geoff Metcalf
- Providing an on line Triage of the news since 1998
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World & Nation
FBI subpoena of phone records leaves Trump chief of staff 'in shock': report
Susie Wiles reportedly told associates that she was shocked by the news
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was reportedly in shock after
hearing that the FBI under former President Joe Biden subpoenaed her
and current FBI Director Kash Patel's phone records in 2022 and 2023.
Wiles — who ran President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign — reportedly
told associates, "I am in shock," Axios reported on Thursday.
Reuters first disclosed the subpoenas, which were issued during the
Biden administration, while special counsel Jack Smith was
investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his
handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
In 2023, the FBI recorded a phone call between Wiles and her attorney,
two FBI officials told Fox News. Additionally, the officials said
Wiles' attorney was aware that the call was being recorded and
consented, but the now-White House chief of staff did not.
Vance: WH Pausing Some Medicaid Funds to Minn. Over Concerns About Rampant Fraud
Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that the Trump
administration would "temporarily halt" some Medicaid funding to
Minnesota over fraud concerns, as part of what he described as an
aggressive crackdown on misuse of public funds.
Vance, who made the announcement with Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator for
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the administration
was taking the action "in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota
takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American
people's tax money."
Oz, who referred to people committing fraud as "self-serving
scoundrels," said the federal government would hold off on paying
$259.5 million to Minnesota in funding for Medicaid, the health care
safety net for low-income Americans.
"This is not a problem with the people of Minnesota, it's a problem
with the leadership of Minnesota and other states who do not take
Medicaid preservation seriously," Oz said.
Voters react to SOTU moment when Trump got standing ovation from longtime Dem nemesis
Polling dials showed Independents reacting positively after Trump slammed Nancy Pelosi for insider trading during SOTU
Polling data tracking voters' real-time reactions to President Donald
Trump's State of the Union address, showed Independents and Republicans
were highly motivated when the president urged members of Congress to
pass restrictions on congressional stock trading, but Democrats
appeared less enthused.
This moment in Trump's address was one of the few moments during the
speech when Democrats inside the House chamber, including Sen.
Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., offered standing applause.
"They stood up for that, I can't believe it. I can't believe it," Trump
quipped after calling for an end to congressional stock trading. "Think
Nancy Pelosi would stand up if she was here? Doubt it. Pass the Stop
Insider Trading Act without delay," the president continued to a
roaring applause. During one moment, a camera panned over to Warren,
who could be seen standing and clapping.
Trump WH's 'Third Country' Deportation Policy Unlawful, Judge Rules
The Trump administration's latest policy of deporting immigrants to
“third countries” to which they have no ties is unlawful and must be
set aside, a federal judge ruled Wednesday in a case that already
reached the nation's highest court.
U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts agreed to suspend
his decision for 15 days, giving the government time to appeal his
latest ruling in the case. Murphy noted that the U.S. Supreme Court
ruled in the administration’s favor last year, pausing Murphy’s
previous decision and clearing the way for a flight carrying several
migrants to complete its trip to war-torn South Sudan, where they had
no ties.
Murphy said migrants challenging the Department of Homeland Security's
policy have the right to “meaningful notice” and an opportunity to
object before they are removed to a third country. The policy
“extinguishes valid challenges to third-country removal by effecting
removal before those challenges can be raised,” the judge concluded.
Nancy Guthrie suspect's digital ‘blackout’ may be key to case, says expert who probed Kohberger phone
Forensics expert says digital breadcrumbs may lead to suspect despite DNA dead ends
Whoever abducted Nancy Guthrie may have left behind crucial digital
evidence — even if they thought they covered their tracks, according to
a forensics expert who helped solve the Idaho student murders.
Authorities have released few details about any evidence aside from DNA
samples collected so far, but Heather Barnhart, a digital forensics
expert with Cellebrite and the SANS Institute, said cell tower data,
Wi-Fi logs and other digital breadcrumbs could prove critical.
"The loudest evidence can be the lack of evidence," she told Fox News Digital.
Trump’s Iran ultimatum enters decisive stretch after State of the Union
President deploys largest US naval force to Middle East in decades
President Donald Trump announces new sanctions against Iran and
reaffirms the U.S. position on nuclear weapons. Fox News contributor
Brett Velicovich weighs in on 'The Faulkner Focus.'
President Donald Trump has drawn his line. Now the clock is running.
After publicly giving Iran roughly 10 days to 15 days to reach a
nuclear agreement, Trump used his State of the Union address to make
clear the deadline is backed by force.
"I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror … to have a nuclear weapon," he told lawmakers Tuesday night.
Clintons Face GOP Deposition in Epstein Probe
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton are set to face closed-door depositions before the
Republican-led House Oversight Committee, marking a new phase in the
long-running Jeffrey Epstein investigation and a rare moment of
bipartisan scrutiny for one of America's most powerful political
couples.
After months of resisting subpoenas and denouncing the probe as
partisan "political theater," the Clintons agreed to testify after the
committee advanced contempt proceedings that could have led to criminal
referrals.
Oversight Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said the depositions will take
place at the Clintons' home in Chappaqua, New York, with Hillary
Clinton scheduled to appear Thursday and Bill Clinton on Friday.
Cuba: People Shot Aboard Speedboat Had Terrorist Intentions
The Cuban government said Wednesday that 10 people aboard a
Florida-registered speedboat that entered Cuban waters and opened fire
on a Cuban patrol were armed with assault rifles and had "terrorist"
intentions, according to official media.
The occupants of the speedboat were Cubans who resided in the U.S.,
state-run news outlet Cubadebate reported, citing the interior ministry.
Cuba said earlier that its forces killed four people and wounded six others aboard the speedboat.
Warner Bros. Sees Paramount Bid as Possibly 'Superior'
Warner Bros. Discovery said a revised takeover offer from Paramount
valuing the company at $31 a share could reasonably be expected to lead
to a “superior proposal” to its existing $83 billion deal with Netflix,
The New York Times reports.
The media giant said it will continue talks with Paramount after the
studio raised its bid from $30 per share earlier this week, marking the
latest turn in a months-long battle over the company’s future.
In December, Warner Bros. Discovery’s board agreed to sell a large
portion of its business to Netflix, rejecting Paramount’s earlier $108
billion proposal to acquire the entire company.
Paramount later took its case directly to shareholders in a hostile bid and has now sweetened its offer.
NYPD arrests suspect in park attack on officers that Mamdani dismissed as 'snowball fight'
The New York Police Department on Thursday arrested a 27-year-old man
in connection with the alleged assault of officers earlier this week in
Manhattan's Washington Square Park.
Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was taken into custody Thursday morning, according to police.
Authorities said the charges stem from a Monday incident in which
officers responding to reports of a disorderly group in the park were
hit repeatedly with packed snow and ice. Police said the officers
suffered injuries to the head, neck and face.
The arrest comes after several days of debate over how the episode
should be characterized. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said video
circulating online appeared to show a snowball fight that "got out of
hand," and he questioned whether those involved should face assault
charges.
The Dems reveal their stance on illegal immigration — and true colors — during Trump’s State of the Union
By Miranda Devine
The Democrats showed their true colors at Tuesday evening’s State of
the Union when they failed the president’s test of allegiance to this
country.
They are so devoted to illegal migration that they walked straight into his trap.
President Trump asked every lawmaker in the chamber to stand if they
believe their primary duty is to protect American citizens rather than
illegal migrants.
That should have be a no-brainer.
Dems refused to stand during Trump’s State of the Union — because they reject American pride
By Adam B. Coleman
In Tuesday night’s State of the Union, President Trump laid out a
question, and a choice for the midterms: Are you for Americans or not?
“Tonight, I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle,” Trump said.
“If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support:
The first duty of the American government is to protect American
citizens, not illegal aliens.”
Democrats remained frozen in their chairs.
