Kremlin on claim Epstein was Russian agent: 'Let's not waste our time'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:48 pm

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday brushed aside allegations that deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a Russian agent. "I would like to joke about such versions, but let's not waste our time,” Peskov said in response to a question about Poland’s probe into potential links between Epstein and Russian intelligence, according to Reuters. The...

Frey on Homan's Minneapolis drawdown plan: 'It's not enough'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:30 pm

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) on Wednesday expressed reservations about a drawdown of federal immigration officials in his city. “Our understanding is that the drawdown is happening immediately and in the very near future. That being said, it's not enough. Bringing 700 officers off our streets and sending them back wherever they came from is,...

Congress struggles for ICE breaker compromise

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:30 pm

Congress passed a compromise deal to fund five of the six remaining appropriations bills for the rest of the fiscal year, and put the sixth on temporary life support, after limiting the Department of Homeland Security division in the bill to a Feb. 13 expiration date.

Virginia governor orders end to state agency partnerships with ICE

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:15 pm

State agencies in Virginia will no longer enter cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to an executive order from Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).  In a brief press conference Wednesday, Spanberger said the order was about maintaining “public trust” in state law enforcement.  “Here in the commonwealth, we want to make sure we’re...

Live updates: Democrats outline ‘guardrails’ for DHS; Trump speaks at prayer breakfast

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:14 pm

Democrats are walking a tightrope as they stare down fraught funding negotiations over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and attempt to balance messaging on immigration ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Late Wednesday, Democratic leaders delivered their demands for DHS reform to the GOP, calling for “ten guardrails” Congress should enact amid talks. House...

Judge limits ICE agents' use of warrantless arrests in Oregon

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:12 pm

Federal immigration officers in Oregon may not make arrests without warrants unless a person represents a flight risk, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai blocked the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) practice of arresting noncitizens in immigration sweeps without either a warrant or an individualized determination that the person was likely...

Watch live: Bessent testifies before Senate on Trump economy

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:06 pm

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will speak before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday morning about President Trump's economic agenda and the department's annual Financial Stability Oversight Council report. The hearing comes as the president's economic policies have struggled to gain traction amid mounting concerns over his tariff agenda and affordability ahead of the 2026 midterms....

Texa A&M sued by professor fired after gender identity lesson

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:01 pm

A former Texas A&M professor sued the institution Wednesday over alleged violations of her First Amendment rights after she was terminated due to a discussion regarding gender in the classroom. Melissa McCoul, a senior English department professor, was caught in a political storm when a video circulated of a student challenging her lesson regarding gender identity in children’s literature. She kicked the...

The Export-Import Bank is spending big to secure our economic future 

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 3:00 pm

Project Vault is a $12 billion investment in America's economic security that establishes a new strategic reserve for critical minerals essential to the U.S. manufacturing base, leveraging EXIM dollars and private capital to secure supply chains and safeguard the manufacturing base.

Comer: Bill Gates subpoena ‘highly likely’ if he refuses cooperation in Epstein probe

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 2:58 pm

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said it is a “pretty good bet” that his panel will seek more information from Bill Gates in its investigation of the case related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and that is “highly likely” he subpoenas the billionaire if he refuses to cooperate. “I...

Democratic senator raises ‘deep concerns’ over classified CIA activities

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 2:54 pm

Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), a senior Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to CIA Director John Ratcliffe expressing “deep concerns” about the intelligence agency’s classified activities but did not provide any details on the matter. Wyden sent a public letter to Ratcliffe revealing that he also sent another, classified letter to him...

Major law firm's chair resigns after release of Epstein emails

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 2:49 pm

The chair of Paul, Weiss resigned Wednesday after the Department of Justice (DOJ) released email exchanges between him and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein last week. The DOJ's release of documents related to Epstein show him and Brad Karp exchanging emails leading up to 2019, the year Epstein died. "Leading Paul, Weiss for the past...

Trump goes after 'moron' Massie at National Prayer Breakfast

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 2:44 pm

President Trump referred to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) as a “moron” at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday. “He’s an automatic no. No matter what,” Trump said, referencing Massie’s opposition to past legislation pushed by the president and other Republicans. “If we did welfare reform, if we did the greatest thing in the...

Washington Post editor: Bezos wants 'bigger, relevant, thriving institution'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 2:42 pm

Matt Murray, the executive editor of the Washington Post, defended a decision by the outlet's billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to make sweeping cuts to its newsroom, a move that has reduced its staff by hundreds. “He wants the Post to be a bigger, relevant, thriving institution,” Murray said of Bezos during an interview with CNN...

TikTok trend leaves 9-year-old boy with severe burns from microwaved 'NeeDoh' toy

By: The Hill

Published on: February 5, 2026, 2:32 pm

A 9-year-old boy suffered severe burns after microwaving a popular toy, the NeeDoh Nice Cube, as part of a TikTok trend, prompting Loyola Hospital's Burn Center to warn people to follow manufacturer's instructions and warnings.