'Melania' producer: Request to take down music 'ridiculous'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:52 pm

“Melania” producer Marc Beckman defended the documentary’s use of music from the 2017 film "Phantom Thread," after the film’s director, Paul Thomas Anderson, and composer, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, said the documentary used the music without their approval.  “It’s a blatant lie,” Beckman told Breitbart News on Monday. “We have a legal right and permission to...

Minnesota officials face off at fiery Senate hearing over ICE: Five takeaways

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:50 pm

Senators faced off with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Thursday during a fiery hearing that brough bitter divisions over the actions of federal immigration law enforcement officials in Minnesota to Capitol Hill. Ellison defended his criticisms of Immigrations Customs Enforcement during the hearing, while GOP witnesses went on the attack against Democrats in Minnesota....

Obama, Dem leaders slam Trump for repeal of EPA climate finding

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:46 pm

Former President Obama and other influential Democratic leaders on Thursday criticized the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to repeal a landmark legal finding about climate change's danger to the public.  The Trump administration on Thursday repealed the endangerment finding, a 2009 legal rule under the Clean Air Act which found that greenhouse gas emissions pose...

Russia blocks WhatsApp

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:44 pm

Russia on Thursday moved to block the WhatsApp messaging platform owned by Meta, further restricting international communications for citizens and visitors. In 2022, Meta Russia was designated as an extremist platform by Russian authorities and access to their platforms including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has been limited ever since. “Today the Russian government attempted to...

Suspect in 2012 Benghazi consulate attack pleads not guilty to federal charges

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:36 pm

A man facing federal charges in connection with the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans has pleaded not guilty. Zubayr al-Bakoush appeared Thursday in federal court in Washington, D.C., after he was extradited to the U.S. last week to face eight charges related to murder, terrorism and arson. The suspect...

NTSB chair says FAA and Pentagon communication issues 'astounding' but 'not surprising'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:32 pm

Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), expressed concern Thursday at the lack of communication between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Defense Department, a day after the closure and subsequent reopening of airspace above southern Texas and New Mexico sparked questions from local officials and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “I don’t understand it. People can’t...

Minnesota Democrat: Claims immigration surge made state safer 'wildly untrue'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:28 pm

Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) on Thursday slammed claims that the federal immigration operations in Minnesota, which the administration said will draw down over the next week, made the state safer as "wildly untrue." "I’m glad to hear that the Admin plans to withdraw ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and CBP [Customs and Border Protection] from...

Judge rules ICE must let religious leaders into Illinois facility for Ash Wednesday 

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:22 pm

A federal judge ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow religious leaders into a detention facility in the Chicago suburbs for Ash Wednesday next week and enable them to offer communion going forward.  U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman said denying Catholic priests and sisters access to detainees violates a federal religious freedom law. “Broadview allowed plaintiffs’ religious visitation to Broadview for years...

Pro-crypto super PAC plans to spend $1.5M opposing Al Green

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 9:21 pm

A pro-crypto super PAC said Thursday that it plans to spend $1.5 million opposing Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) in the Democratic primary race. Protect Progress, which is affiliated with the industry's leading super PAC Fairshake, pointed to Green’s voting record on crypto legislation. The Texas Democrat has voted against two major crypto bills in the...

Former Army colonel sentenced to 2 years for sharing classified war plans with woman he met online

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 8:40 pm

A retired United States Army colonel has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for sending a woman he met online classified information about U.S. war plans, federal authorities announced Wednesday.  Kevin Charles Luke, 62, pleaded guilty in October 2025, admitting to abusing a position of public trust as part of his plea agreement....

Lawyers for US citizen shot by Border Patrol agent accuse Trump administration of spreading lies

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 8:34 pm

The lawyers for a Chicago woman who was shot five times by a U.S. Border Patrol agent accused the Trump administration on Wednesday of spreading lies about the shooting and of mishandling the investigation. Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen, was in her car in October when a Border Patrol agent shot her. The Department of...

Democrats launch probe into organization leading White House efforts to celebrate nation's 250th birthday

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 8:31 pm

A handful of Democratic senators on Wednesday launched a probe into a private group that is co-leading America’s 250th anniversary celebration. The Freedom 250 group is working alongside the America250 commission, which was congressionally authorized more than a decade ago to plan a nonpartisan, civic-focused commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. “Recent...

Fetterman only Senate Democrat to vote to keep Homeland Security funded

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 8:19 pm

Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democratic senator to vote to advance a full-year funding package for the Department of Homeland Security, sticking with his long-held position of opposing government shutdowns for any reason. Fetterman in a statement posted on social media noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has received $75 billion in...

CNN's Collins: Leavitt 'to her credit' pushed Saudis on attending event

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 8:18 pm

CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins credited White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt for allowing her to cover an event last year involving President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite pushback from Saudi officials. During an interview published Wednesday with Heather McMahan on the “Absolutely Not” podcast, Collins recalled when the White House press...

Lawmakers express bipartisan outrage as DOJ accused of 'spying' on members' Epstein searches

By: The Hill

Published on: February 12, 2026, 7:58 pm

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are accusing the Department of Justice (DOJ) of spying on them as they reviewed the unredacted Epstein files on DOJ computers, tracking the documents they examined. Attorney General Pam Bondi was photographed during a congressional appearance before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday flipping to a document titled “Jayapal...