Wednesday, February 18, 2026 The U.N. Security Council scheduled a high-level meeting Wednesday on the Gaza ceasefire deal and Israel’s efforts to expand control in the West Bank, ahead of world leaders convening in Washington for the inaugural gathering of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. Originally set for Thursday,…

By Mark Swanson | Wednesday, 18 February 2026 11:35 AM EST Congressional Republicans are charging ahead with a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s election system, pushing stricter voter ID standards and proof-of-citizenship requirements. However, they are proceeding more carefully when it comes to President Donald Trump’s call to sharply limit…

Representative Russell Fry, Republican from South Carolina, has called for increased parental involvement in shaping policies addressing teen social media use during a recent interview. Fry argued that technology is moving faster than current regulations, leaving parents struggling to keep pace. He introduced his proposed “Kids Internet Safety Partnership” legislation,…

By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 18 February 2026 10:51 AM EST Several years before the 2016 presidential election, then-President Barack Obama and his team never fathomed Donald Trump could become a serious candidate to win the White House, according to newly released oral history interviews. The interviews, compiled by Columbia…

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton expressed confidence Wednesday he is leading a competitive primary field after a new Emerson College poll showed him at 17% in the race for governor. The poll, released with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, places Hilton ahead of…

In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary declared that most medications should be available over the counter unless they are unsafe, addictive, or require medical monitoring. Makary outlined plans for the agency to pursue regulatory changes this year to allow more prescription medicines…

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is entering the final stretch of the March 3 Republican U.S. Senate primary as the apparent front-runner, despite more than $60 million spent by GOP-aligned groups to boost Sen. John Cornyn and derail Paxton’s bid. A University of Houston survey of 550 likely Republican primary…

FBI Director Kash Patel revealed Wednesday that investigators have uncovered substantial funding networks linked to antifa during an appearance on “The Dan Bongino Show.” The revelation signals potential new enforcement actions as the bureau intensifies scrutiny of left-wing violence. Patel stated that these organizations do not operate in isolation but…