🏛️ POLITICS
Story 1 of 5 (~3 min read)
Clintons Set for Back-to-Back Depositions on Epstein Ties
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify Thursday before the House Oversight Committee in a closed-door deposition regarding her past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with former President Bill Clinton scheduled to appear Friday. The depositions conclude a six-month standoff between Republican investigators and the Clintons, who have argued they are being singled out unfairly to distract from President Trump's own history with Epstein. Both have stated that Trump had a longer friendship with Epstein before breaking with him. The filmed depositions will occur at the Clintons' Chappaqua home.
How it's being covered:
Washington Examiner reports that the depositions are "capping a six-month standoff with Republican investigators probing their past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell." (link)
The Guardian reports that "Hillary Clinton will testify before congressional lawmakers investigating the ties of Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday in the first of two closed-door hearings that will also include her husband, Bill Clinton," and notes that "Both have complained that they are being singled out unfairly to distract public attention from Donald Trump, who had a long friendship with Epstein before breaking with him." (link)
Al Jazeera reports "Hillary is scheduled to testify on Thursday, February 26, followed by Bill Clinton on Friday, February 27." (link)
Fox News reports the House Oversight Committee "is grilling Hillary Clinton behind closed doors Thursday morning." (link)
Newsmax states "Hillary Clinton is to testify behind closed doors Thursday before a congressional committee investigating the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell," with "Former president Bill Clinton scheduled to answer" questions on Friday. (link)
Story 2 of 5 (~3 min read)
Harvard's Summers Resigns Amid Epstein Investigation; Academics Face Reckoning
Harvard professor and economist Larry Summers announced his resignation at the end of the academic year following the university's investigation into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The resignation comes after the release of Epstein-related documents revealed Summers' extensive correspondence with the convicted sex offender spanning from 2013 until four months before Epstein's death. Former Senator Bob Kerrey has also resigned from a startup over his relationship with Epstein. The departures signal a broader institutional reckoning across universities as recently released Epstein documents expose deep ties between the financier and prominent academics and donors.
How it's being covered:
NPR reports "Harvard professor and economist Larry Summers will resign at the end of the academic year amid the school's on-going investigation into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein." (link)
Axios reports "Former Harvard president Larry Summers announced Wednesday he will resign his positions at the university following backlash to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein," and notes "The Epstein files have effectively ended the careers of some of the world's most powerful figures." (link)
Newsmax reports that "Former Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., has resigned from a startup over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein." (link)
Daily Wire reports "Larry Summers, a former president at Harvard University who served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, resigned from his academic appointments at the Ivy League school on Wednesday." (link)
Story 3 of 5 (~3 min read)
Trump's State of the Union Sparks Partisan Divide Over Democratic Response
President Trump delivered an hour-and-47-minute State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the longest in history, during which Democrats staged protests through stone-faced silence, open heckling, and widespread refusal to applaud. More than 70 Democrats skipped the address entirely, while those attending withheld applause on multiple topics, including when Trump called on the audience to stand if they believed in protecting U.S. citizens over undocumented immigrants. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer defended Democrats' response, saying they were right to remain seated on that issue. However, Democratic Senator John Fetterman broke ranks, publicly criticizing his party colleagues for "yelling and screaming" and saying some moments deserved applause.
How it's being covered:
Fox News reports "More than 70 Democrats skipped President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address Tuesday night," and that those who attended delivered "stone-faced silence, open heckling, and a near-universal refusal to applaud anything the president said." (link)
The Guardian reports "Donald Trump continued to face scathing criticism for his State of the Union on Wednesday, with senior Democrats accusing him of failing to protect Americans. The Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said Democrats were right to remain seated when Trump called on the audience to stand if they believed in protecting US citizens over undocumented immigrants." (link)
Axios reports that "House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday went to bat for his members who protested and heckled President Trump from inside the House chamber during the State of the Union," and notes "It's a marked departure from last year, when Jeffries privately chewed out the House Democrats who disrupted Trump's speech." (link)
Zero Hedge reports "Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), however, chose to be the adult in the Democrats' response," saying the party was "yelling and screaming." (link)
🌍 WORLD
Story 4 of 5 (~3 min read)
US and Iran Begin Third Round of Nuclear Talks in Geneva
Negotiators from the United States and Iran have begun a third round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland, described by observers as a last-ditch effort to prevent escalation in the Middle East. The talks occur amid a massive U.S. military buildup in the region and come days after President Trump claimed during the State of the Union that Iran is developing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of hitting the United States. White House envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the Trump administration is demanding any future nuclear deal remain in effect indefinitely, citing the "sunset provisions" of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as a key flaw. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of Iran's missile threat ahead of the negotiations.
How it's being covered:
BBC reports "The indirect negotiations in Geneva are seen as a last-ditch effort, but the chances of a nuclear agreement are unclear." (link)
Al Jazeera reports "Negotiators from Iran and the United States are holding a third round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland," and notes that "Rubio warns of Iran's missile threat ahead of US-Iran talks." (link)
NY Post reports "A convoy believed to be carrying Iranian diplomats arrived on Thursday at the Omani residence in Geneva for indirect nuclear talks with the United States." (link)
Axios reports "White House envoy Steve Witkoff told a private gathering on Tuesday that the Trump administration is demanding that Iran agree any future nuclear deal will remain in effect indefinitely." (link)
Story 5 of 5 (~2 min read)
Cuba Kills Four on U.S.-Flagged Speedboat; Secretary Rubio Announces Investigation
Cuban border forces killed four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat near the Villa Clara coast on Wednesday, claiming the vessel had opened fire on their military forces during an attempted "armed infiltration." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard would investigate the incident. The speedboat's owner reportedly told the FBI the vessel had been stolen. Florida Republican Representative Carlos Gimenez called for the Cuban regime to be "relegated to the dustbin of history," while the Trump administration has signaled openness to regime change in Cuba.
How it's being covered:
BBC reports "The passengers were Cuban nationals living in the US, the Cuban government says," and that "Cuba says group shot on US-registered speedboat planned 'armed infiltration.'" (link)
Bloomberg reports "US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard would be looking into an incident where Cuban forces killed four people." (link)
NY Post reports "The Florida-registered speedboat shot at by Cuban border guards had been reported stolen by its owner — and he has been quizzed by the FBI." (link)
Axios reports "The Trump administration has already signaled an openness to regime change in Cuba, and the incident that Cuban officials claim was 'intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes' risks another escalation between Washington and Havana." (link)
Fox News reports "Florida launches investigation after Cuban government claimed it killed several people aboard U.S.-flagged speedboat." (link)
📈 MARKET SIGNALS
Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Emergency Tariffs; Refund Process Murky
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Trump's emergency tariff authority is unconstitutional, invalidating tariffs that generated over $100 billion in revenue. The ruling split even Trump's own appointees, which Trump called "disappointing" and "very unfortunate." Democrats are pushing for refunds of the tariff revenue, but experts say the refund process will be messy and likely go to businesses before consumers. The decision creates complications for Trump's planned tariff agenda and raises questions about how remaining tariffs will be implemented legally.
(Sources: NPR, Washington Post, Bloomberg, BBC, Fox News)
⚡ QUICK HITS
⚡ Minnesota Medicaid Funding Halted Over Fraud Concerns — Vice President JD Vance announced the Trump administration would temporarily halt $259 million in Medicaid funding to Minnesota over alleged fraud, giving the state 60 days to address the issue as part of the administration's "war on fraud." (link) (link) (link)
⚡ FBI Fires Agents from Trump Classified Documents Investigation — The FBI has fired additional agents who worked on investigations into President Trump, this time targeting employees who participated in the classified documents probe at Mar-a-Lago, as part of Director Kash Patel's broader personnel purge. (link) (link) (link)
⚡ Pentagon Shifts Toward Maintaining Ties with Scouting America — Months after NPR reported the Pentagon was severing ties with Scouting America, new momentum has emerged to maintain the partnership under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (link)
⚡ Judge Rules Trump's Third-Country Deportation Policy Unlawful — A federal judge appointed by former President Biden ruled that the Trump administration cannot deport undocumented immigrants to countries other than their nation of origin, striking down a key element of the mass deportation effort. (link) (link)
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