Trump claims US trade deficit decreased by 78 percent due to tariffs

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 3:53 am

President Trump on Wednesday claimed that the U.S. trade deficit has fallen by 78 percent because of tariffs. “THE UNITED STATES TRADE DEFICIT HAS BEEN REDUCED BY 78% BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS BEING CHARGED TO OTHER COMPANIES AND COUNTRIES,” the president said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “IT WILL GO INTO POSITIVE...

FCC chair: Colbert sees the 'limelight is fading'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 3:15 am

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr said that late-night host Stephen Colbert, who has been at the center of a controversy surrounding an interview he did with Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico, sees that " the limelight is fading.” “But look, I get it, it's tough to be Colbert. He's had what he probably...

Former Israeli leader calls Tucker Carlson 'chickens---' over airport claims

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 1:20 am

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called conservative media personality Tucker Carlson “chickens---" over claims he made about what happened to him and his team at an airport in Israel. “Tucker Carlson is a chickens---. The guy who’s been spouting lies about Israel for the past two years, landed today at Ben Gurion airport, took...

Hegseth takes military culture war to civilian universities

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 12:56 am

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Hegseth takes military culture war to civilian universities Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expanding his culture war into academia, threatening to pull service members’ tuition assistance at potentially dozens of top colleges and universities he views...

US preparing for pullout of all troops from Syria 

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 12:18 am

The U.S. is preparing for a pullout of all troops stationed in Syria, readying to end its military presence deployed to fight against ISIS in the country, two U.S. officials told The Hill on Wednesday. The move comes as the U.S. military has withdrawn service members from the al-Shaddadi base in northeast Syria and from...

Craig responds after Renee Good memorial damaged in fire: 'This is unacceptable'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 19, 2026, 12:01 am

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig (D) spoke out after a memorial dedicated to Renee Good was set ablaze Tuesday evening.  “Renee’s family and the Minneapolis community deserve the chance to mourn her,” Craig wrote on the social platform X on Wednesday. “This is unacceptable and we must hold anyone involved in this hateful incident accountable.” Minneapolis...

FCC chief dismisses Colbert backlash

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 11:47 pm

{beacon} Technology Technology   The Big Story FCC's Carr brushes off CBS-Talarico interview drama Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr downplayed controversy around an interview “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert conducted with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico (D) that was allegedly blocked from airing on CBS, dismissing it as a "hoax." © AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana Colbert kicked off...

Hassett calls for consquences

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 11:36 pm

Welcome to The Hill's Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy   The Big Story Hassett lashes out at Fed researchers for tariff analysis President Trump's top economic adviser wants researchers punished for analyzing tariffs in a way felt was insufficient. © AP In a Thursday interview, National Economic Council Director...

Castro knocks ICE for deporting 2-month-old, family: 'Heinous'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 11:04 pm

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) slammed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deporting a 2-month-old and his family. On Tuesday afternoon, Castro wrote on the social platform X that 2-month-old Juan Nicolás and his mother were detained at Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas. “Juan has bronchitis—according to his mom—and at some point in the...

RNC sues to stop Virginia redistricting referendum

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 11:01 pm

The Republican National Committee (RNC) sued Wednesday in the hopes of stopping Virginia Democrats from moving forward with their new congressional map. The new lawsuit seeks to block an April referendum, when voters could pave the way for lawmakers to approve the new design that would hand Democrats four pickup opportunities.  “Emergency relief is needed to prevent the transmission of a defective proposal...

DOJ accused of flouting law in Epstein name dump

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 10:57 pm

The Department of Justice's (DOJ) latest disclosure under the Epstein Files Transparency Act — a long list of names as disparate as Janis Joplin, Julian Assange and former Vice President Dick Cheney — has sparked an outcry on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are accusing the DOJ of failing to comply with its final obligation under...

Here are the Democrats who plan to skip Trump’s State of the Union address

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 10:56 pm

President Trump will deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term on Feb. 24, but several House and Senate Democrats plan to skip the high-profile address in favor of counter-rallies and other forms of protest. Trump’s speech comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is shut down amid a standoff...

Move to ax endangerment finding faces challenge

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 10:50 pm

Presented by Panasonic {beacon} Energy & Environment Energy & Environment The Big Story Move to ax endangerment finding faces challenge A coalition of health and environmental organizations sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over its decision to repeal a landmark legal finding that climate change poses a threat to the public. © Evan Vucci, Associated Press...

Cornyn warns of 'massacre' if Paxton beats him in Texas GOP primary

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 10:42 pm

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) warned Lone Star State Republicans against nominating state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in the Texas Senate GOP primary. “If Ken Paxton is the nominee, we could well experience a massacre, and the first Democrat elected since 1994 in the state of Texas,” Cornyn told supporters in Fort Worth, Texas, according...

Graham taunts Iranian leader: 'I forgot, you don’t have movies'

By: The Hill

Published on: February 18, 2026, 10:40 pm

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) countered a threat from Iran’s supreme leader against American warships with a famous movie quote on Wednesday. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened to sink U.S. vessels amid nuclear talks between the two countries this week.  “The Americans constantly say that they’ve sent a warship toward Iran,” Khamenei said. “Of...