NEWS - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026 - NEWS
California and three other states sued the Trump administration Wednesday over its plans to slash $600 million from programs designed to prevent and track the spread of HIV, including in the LGBTQ+ community — arguing the move is based on "political animus and disagreements about unrelated topics such as federal immigration enforcement, political protest, and clean energy." LA Times
VOA VIEW: There are no government guarantees.
Bondi's testimony on the Epstein files was mostly punctuated by dramatic clashes with lawmakers — exchanges that happened as eight Epstein survivors attended the hearing. LA Times
VOA VIEW: Bondi stood her grounds with Dems.
McDonald’s is the latest fast-food chain to jump on the GLP-1 train, testing new menu items to appeal to growing swaths of customers on the popular weight-loss drugs. New York Post
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The unlucky association of this day of days stretches back centuries to Nordic folklore. New York Post
VOA VIEW: It is what it is.
"We have to make a deal, otherwise it's going to be very traumatic, very traumatic," Trump told reporters at the White House — one day after he met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. New York Post
VOA VIEW: Don't count much from Iran.
The announcement came more than two months into an operation that has led to tense protests, thousands of arrests and three shootings in the Democratic-led state. New York Times
Judge Richard J. Leon found that attempts to discipline Mark Kelly for a video that warned against following illegal orders would violate the senator’s First Amendment rights. New York Times
Olympic officials ruled that Vladyslav Heraskevych’s helmet violated a prohibition on political speech, setting off outrage at the Winter Games in Italy. New York Times
VOA VIEW: The rules are the rules.
From the moment you take a sip, drinking starts to influence your biology. New York Times
VOA VIEW: A word to the wise.
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The state’s attorney general will examine whether emergency responders failed to adequately warn the residents of West Altadena, a Black middle-class neighborhood that was devastated in a 2025 blaze. New York Times
VOA VIEW: It will be hard to prove.
Making an appearance in Albany on Wednesday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani participated in the annual "Tin Cup Day" tradition to lobby for state funding. OANN
VOA VIEW: Income on millionaires is unconstitutional.
In what may be a significant breakthrough in the abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have discovered a single black glove along a roadside near her home. OANN
VOA VIEW: There is no proof that the glove was actually part of the abduction.
Male-born transgender students in Hawaii are expressly permitted to use female restrooms and locker rooms, and if that makes girls uncomfortable, it's up to them to find an alternative. Not the transgender students -- the girls. Washington Times
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The Major Cities Chiefs Association released its year-end crime report showing a sharp drop in violence across the country, bolstering the idea that the nation is experiencing a steep recession in killings and muggings after crime exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: Good for Trump.
The Food and Drug Administration may soon allow tobacco companies to market flavored nicotine pouches placed between the lips and gums as "safer than cigarettes." Washington Times
VOA VIEW: Neither is good for anyone.
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration likely violated the constitutional rights of 20 prisoners when it moved them to the federal government's most restrictive prison. Washington Times
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A federal judge ordered Homeland Security to release three illegal immigrants with homicide convictions on their criminal records and a fourth illegal immigrant convicted of sex crimes. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: The judge is an idiot.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta's Instagram, testified Wednesday during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms. Washington Times
VOA VIEW: He has a good point.
The Trump administration says greenhouse gases emitted from sources like cars, trucks and power plants will no longer by regulated by the federal government. CBS
VOA VIEW: It makes no sense.
The agreement with Mean Arms settles a lawsuit and covers claims from various victims' families and survivors of the 2022 attack at Tops Friendly Market. CBS
Vilma Palacios is one of thousands who have given up their immigration cases and voluntarily left the U.S. after being detained. More detainees are opting for voluntary departure than ever before. CBS
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Pentagon officials had undertaken planning to use military technology near Fort Bliss, in El Paso, to practice downing drones. CBS
VOA VIEW: This whole thing has gone crazy.
The Trump administration launched its new TrumpRx direct-to-consumer prescription drug listing site late Thursday, part of a push to offer medication at steep discounts. CBS
Republican House leaders tried, and failed, to pass a measure on Tuesday that would have blocked House disapproval votes on Trump tariffs through July. CNBC
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Your tax return could trigger an IRS audit if you're missing key tax forms, experts say. Here's a checklist of forms and when to expect them. CNBC
Trump declared coal essential to U.S. national and economic security last April. CNBC
WhatsApp on Thursday said Russia had attempted to "fully block" its service, with 100 million users affected. The Kremlin later confirmed the move. CNBC
VOA VIEW: Russia is taking some serious acts.
The comments came in response to a question about whether Russia was concerned about the Trump administration's tariff threats. CNBC
VOA VIEW: Well will see whether Russia takes Trump seriously.
Two U.S. Navy ships collided during Caribbean operation, leaving two sailors with minor injuries, military officials said. Both vessels are sailing safely. FOX News
Dramatic video shows ICE agent drawing gun after Honduran illegal alien allegedly rammed a law enforcement vehicle during an arrest attempt in New Jersey. FOX News
VOA VIEW: The alien was wrong.
Eleven people were charged in an elaborate alleged marriage fraud scheme targeting military members to help Chinese nationals gain immigration benefits and base access. FOX News
VOA VIEW: Those involved in the sham should be arrested and prosecuted.
The FBI took over a case after stolen military explosives were discovered at a home in The Village. Residents were evacuated as a bomb squad cleared the area. FOX News
San Francisco teachers strike leaves 50,000 students out of class as educators demand better wages and health benefits amid the city's high living costs. FOX News
Trump administration officials laid out additional details about a revamped food pyramid they said will "fix" chronic health conditions among American children. UPI
President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to purchase coal-fired electricity as part of his policy to boost domestic coal production. UPI
Iran topped the agenda of a meeting between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, their sixth since Trump's return to office in 2025. UPI
VOA VIEW: Any deal with Iran is moot.
The House of Representatives narrowly passed the SAVE America Act on Wednesday, but it faces a tough sell in the Senate. UPI
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At a time of tightening immigration restrictions, the Department of Homeland Security is attempting to make it easier for visa-holding religious workers to serve their U.S. congregations with less disruption. It was Obama Stupidity
DHS announced on Wednesday a regulatory change aimed at reducing visa wait times abroad for the foreign nationals many U.S. religious communities depend on to serve as pastors, priests, nuns, imams and rabbis. These religious workers face a yearslong backlog to obtain legal permanent U.S. residency, but congregations can bring them into the country on temporary visas called R-1.
DHS introduced a fix to one issue affecting clergy that advocates had requested - removing the requirement for R-1 religious workers to leave the U.S. for one year after reaching their five-year visa maximum. That visa time used to be plenty to get a green card, but in 2023 the government made a change in processing that lengthened it so much most had to leave the country. Now, they will still need to depart the U.S. but can apply to re-enter right away.
“We are taking the necessary steps to ensure religious organizations can continue delivering the services that Americans depend on,” the DHS statement said. “Pastors, priests, nuns, and rabbis are essential to the social and moral fabric of this country. We remain committed to finding ways to support and empower these organizations in their critical work.”
The DHS rule loosens an immigration restriction at a time when the Trump administration has tightened many other immigration pathways. The DHS statement emphasized a commitment to protecting religious freedom and minimizing disruptions to faith-based communities.
“It’s a huge deal,” said Lance Conklin, a Maryland immigration attorney who represents evangelical churches with R1 visa holders. “It would potentially allow people not to disrupt the organization by having someone have to leave for a year, because that’s a major imposition now.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called it a “truly significant step to support essential religious services in the United States.”
