Trump says he'll ask DOD to release files on 'UFOs,' 'alien and extraterrestrial life'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 20, 2026, 3:10 am

President Trump on Thursday said he will direct the Department of Defense and other agencies to release its files about UFOs and "alien and extraterrestrial life" to the public. "Based on the tremendous interest shown," Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to...

Eight skiers killed in California avalanche, one missing

By: The Hill

Published on: February 20, 2026, 1:58 am

Eight skiers who were caught in an avalanche Tuesday near Lake Tahoe have been found dead, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. One person is still missing, and six others were rescued.

Amazon surpasses Walmart as world's top company in sales

By: The Hill

Published on: February 20, 2026, 1:08 am

Amazon dethroned Walmart as the world's top company based on their respective sales in 2025 after 13 years of the Bentonville, Ark., company surpassing its competition. Walmart on Thursday reported its annual revenue of $713.2 billion for the most recent fiscal year, while Amazon built up $716.9 billion in revenue, according to the e-commerce giant's...

Labor secretary's husband banned from HQ after 2 staffers accuse him of sexual assault

By: The Hill

Published on: February 20, 2026, 12:03 am

The Department of Labor's (DOL) headquarters banned Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer's husband after two women employed by the department alleged that he sexually assaulted them, The New York Times reported Thursday. The staffers claimed that Dr. Shawn DeRemer touched them inappropriately inside the department building, with one of the incidents caught on security camera on...

Trump defiant on tariffs in Georgia, lambasts waiting 'forever' for Supreme Court ruling

By: The Hill

Published on: February 20, 2026, 12:00 am

President Trump on Thursday forcefully defended his administration’s implementation of tariffs while expressing frustration for how long he has been waiting for the Supreme Court to determine if the authority he used to impose the duties is lawful. Trump spoke at a steel plant in northwest Georgia, in which he touted how tariffs were benefiting...

Hogan says Maryland police will 'ignore' new law prohibiting them from working with ICE

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:44 pm

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Thursday said local police will “ignore” a new law signed by Gov. Wes Moore (D) that prevents them from working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “Yesterday in my state they just passed a bill, Gov. Moore signed an emergency bill to prohibit local law enforcement from cooperating...

5 takeaways from the arrest of Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:41 pm

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested by British police Thursday morning local time, in an investigation focused on his links with Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince was released after about 12 hours. No charges were pressed for now, but a police statement said he remained “under investigation.” Mountbatten-Windsor has always been among the most...

NGA won't facilitate White House meeting after Moore, Polis blocked from attending

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 11:33 pm

The National Governors Association (NGA) will no longer facilitate its annual meeting at the White House on Friday after President Trump rescinded invitations to Democratic Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Jared Polis of Colorado.  The White House will still host governors for a business breakfast Friday and a lavish dinner Saturday, an NGA spokesperson...

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 Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D), saying CBS would only allow the show to post...

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...