Navarro: Democratic president may use 'selective' FCC enforcement against talk radio

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:24 pm

TV host Ana Navarro warned there could be repercussions for Republican radio programs after controversy surrounding a CBS interview with a Democratic candidate from Texas.  Stephen Colbert accused the network of blocking “The Late Show” from airing his conversation with state representative James Talarico (D-Texas), saying CBS would only allow the show to post the...

Iran holds military drills with Russia amid tensions with US

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:13 pm

Iran on Thursday held military drills with Russia amid escalating tensions with the United States, after President Trump gave the Middle Eastern country a 10-day timeline for the U.S. and Iran to strike a deal over the latter's nuclear program. Russian sailors conducted the drills with Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman and the...

FEMA travel restricted amid shutdown

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:12 pm

Presented by Panasonic {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story FEMA travel restricted amid shutdown The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is halting at least some disaster-related travel at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the Trump administration tussles with Democratic lawmakers over funding, according to an internal email reviewed by...

Allegations of affair with aide rock Tony Gonzales reelection bid

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:11 pm

Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) is facing increasing scrutiny over allegations that he had an affair with a staffer who died after lighting herself on fire last year, rocking his competitive reelection bid just weeks before his March 3 primary. Gonzales has said that the allegations are “personal smears” being used by his primary opponent to...

Christian nationalist pastor preached at Pentagon

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:11 pm

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Christian nationalist pastor preached at Pentagon The pastor delivered a sermon at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's request, sparking pushback. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Hegseth invited a controversial Christian nationalist pastor, who has argued that women should...

Pentagon feuds with Anthropic

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:00 pm

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story Anthropic on shaky ground with Pentagon amid feud Anthropic has increasingly found itself at odds with the Pentagon over how its AI model Claude can be deployed in military operations following disclosure about its use in the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last month. © Richard Drew, Associated...

GOP's Bacon says he would back a discharge petition on legislation mandating Russian sanctions

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:57 pm

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said he would back a discharge petition to force a vote on a Russian sanctions bill, arguing that President Trump has been “wrong” on Ukraine.  Bacon told The Hill in an interview Thursday that he and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) are considering bringing forth a discharge petition as early as next...

Trump quips of giving himself Congressional Medal of Honor after 2018 Iraq visit 

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:49 pm

President Trump on Thursday quipped that he wanted to give himself the Congressional Medal of Honor following a 2018 visit to Iraq in his first term. Speaking to supporters in northwest Georgia where he touted congressional candidates he’s endorsed in the Peach State, Trump told of visiting the country during a surprise visit during the...

Senate Republican: Rand Paul a 'freaking snake'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:44 pm

GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) recently told a group of voters that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is a “freaking snake.” Mullin railed against Paul as someone who frequently bucks the Republican Party on crucial votes, according to reporting by Oklahoma journalist David Arnett. The Oklahoma senator was speaking to the McGrath Breakfast Group in Tulsa,...

Live updates: DHS shutdown hits Day 6 as Trump touts economy in Georgia

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:42 pm

President Trump is in Georgia, where he delivered remarks about the economy. His visit to the battleground state comes as Capitol Hill remains at a standstill on negotiations to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Funding lapsed for the department over the weekend. The White House has taken aim at Democrats, slamming the party...

Trump says he's 'won affordability' in Georgia speech

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:38 pm

President Trump dismissed concerns about the economy in a Thursday speech, arguing that he “won” the battle against inflation and public concern about prices. “I have to listen to the fake news talk about ‘affordability, affordability,’” Trump said Thursday during remarks at a steel fabricator in Rome, Ga. “Do you notice, what word have you...

47 percent say 'racist' describes Trump: Survey

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:37 pm

Nearly half of surveyed Americans say the label “racist” describes President Trump, according to a new survey. In The Economist/YouGov poll, 47 percent of respondents said the word “racist” is an accurate label for the president. Twenty-four percent said that label “does not” fit Trump, and 29 percent had “no opinion.” Throughout his time in...

New Mexico investigating allegation of 2 bodies buried outside Epstein ranch

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:33 pm

Authorities in New Mexico have reopened an investigation into alleged illegal activity at a remote ranch previously owned by the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the New Mexico Department of Justice confirmed Thursday. An official said in a statement that New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez (D) ordered the investigation after reviewing documents contained in...

Moore on Trump: ‘I won't bow to anybody’

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:27 pm

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) in an interview Thursday with Blake Burman, the host of NewsNation's "The Hill," said he's willing to work with President Trump in the interest of his state but he "won't bow to anybody." Moore's comments come amid an emerging battle between Trump and the Maryland governor, broadly seen as a...

Rove: Neither Newsom, Pritzker can claim 'solid record of economic achievement'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 10:17 pm

Republican strategist Karl Rove wrote Thursday that California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), both possible 2028 presidential contenders, cannot claim a "solid record of economic achievement." "Mr. Newsom has great hair and Mr. Pritzker a vast fortune," Rove wrote in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal. "But neither...