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Friday, February 20, 2026

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2 hours ago
News

Legislators Override Dem Governor’s Attempt to Keep Men in Women’s Restrooms.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Kansas Republicans overrode Democrat Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill requiring the use of restrooms based on biological sex rather than self-proclaimed gender identity.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kansas Senate and House Republicans, Governor Laura Kelly, Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson (R), and state Representative Abi Boatman (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The Kansas Senate voted on Tuesday, and the House voted on Wednesday to override the veto during the 2026 legislative session.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Kansas Democrats are for They/Them. I will continue to fight for you, and protect women and girls across our state.” – Ty Masterson

🎯IMPACT: The bill, now law, mandates government buildings, including schools and universities, separate facilities by biological sex, with penalties for violations.

IN FULL

Republican lawmakers in Kansas have overridden Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 244, enacting a requirement that individuals use restrooms in government buildings according to their biological sex rather than gender identity. The measure cleared the Kansas Senate in a 31–9 vote and passed the Kansas House of Representatives 87–37, achieving the two-thirds majority needed to nullify the veto.

The statute applies to public facilities statewide, including schools and universities. Violations can carry a $1,000 fine, with potential criminal penalties for repeat offenses. Exceptions allow parents or guardians to accompany children under nine into opposite-sex restrooms and permit coaches to enter locker rooms as long as occupants remain clothed.

Senate President Ty Masterson hailed the override as having “restored sanity,” criticizing Kelly’s veto, which he said “would have forced our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters to share their bathrooms with biological men in government buildings.” He added, “Kansas Democrats are for They/Them. I will continue to fight for you, and protect women and girls across our state.”

Governor Kelly argued in her veto message that the bill was “poorly drafted” and warned of “numerous and significant consequences.” She suggested it could create confusion in situations such as fathers accompanying daughters at public events or siblings visiting one another in dormitories. Republican lawmakers, including State Sen. Kellie Warren and State Rep. Susan Humphries, dismissed those claims as “red herrings.”

Kansas Republicans have previously overridden Kelly’s vetoes, including a 2025 law restricting certain gender-transition medications for minors that remains under court review.

Image by Bojan Cvetanović.

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38 minutes ago
Health
News

California Sues to Make Trump Admin Recommend More Vaccines to Kids.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced plans to take legal action against the Trump administration over recent changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rob Bonta, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald J. Trump, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The CDC issued changes on January 5, 2026. California’s legal response was announced on February 17, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I like the facts. I like science. I don’t want to give any airtime to his—I mean, just conspiracy [expletive],” said Bonta regarding Kennedy’s stance on vaccines.

🎯IMPACT: The legal challenge could delay or block the CDC’s revised vaccine schedule, which already faces lawsuits from other groups.

IN FULL

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on February 17 that his office is preparing legal action against the Trump administration over sweeping revisions to the federal childhood vaccine schedule. The changes, issued January 5 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following a directive from President Donald J. Trump, scale back the number of vaccines categorized as routinely recommended for all children. Several shots, including hepatitis B and rotavirus, were shifted to a “shared clinical decision-making” model, meaning parents and physicians will determine on an individual basis whether a child receives them.

The review was backed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long argued for greater scrutiny of vaccine policy and alignment with other developed nations such as Denmark, Japan, and Germany, which tend to recommend fewer vaccines to infants and young children. The Trump administration previously questioned practices like administering the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, noting that some peer nations do not do this.

Bonta said his team is exploring jurisdictional grounds for a lawsuit. “I like the facts. I like science. I don’t want to give any airtime to his—I mean, just conspiracy [expletive],” he said, referring to Kennedy’s views on vaccines. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong (D) signaled his state may join the effort.

Meanwhile, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups have already filed suit, arguing that the CDC failed to sufficiently review data or justify the revisions. A federal judge heard arguments on February 13 and is weighing whether to block the updated schedule.

In a January 28 statement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defended the overhaul, saying the new vaccine recommendations are grounded in “gold-standard scientific evidence” instead of corporate interests. The agency maintains the updated framework promotes transparency and informed consent while continuing to support public health protections.

Image by Chhor Sokunthea / World Bank.

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1 hour ago
Crime
Immigration

Another Illegal Immigrant Truck Driver Causes Deadly Crash.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A truck driver allegedly ran a red light, causing a fatal crash in Indiana. The driver was revealed to be an illegal immigrant from India.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The driver, Singh Sukhdeep, and the victim, 64-year-old Terry Schultz.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The crash occurred in Hendricks County, Indiana, just west of Indianapolis.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These tragedies are 100 percent preventable and we pray for the family and victim.” – Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the ongoing threat to Americans’ lives from illegal aliens operating commercial vehicles without proper knowledge of traffic laws.

IN FULL

A truck driver arrested Wednesday in connection with a deadly crash in Hendricks County, Indiana, has been identified by federal law enforcement sources as Singh Sukhdeep, an Indian national in the United States illegally. Sukhdeep obtained his commercial driver’s license (CDL) in May 2025 after first being apprehended at the U.S. border in 2018 and later released under the Flores consent decree. The Flores policy stems from the 1993 Supreme Court case Reno v. Flores, which limited how long minors could be detained and allowed their release to family members or sponsors.

The collision took place west of Indianapolis when a Freightliner semi-truck allegedly ran a red light and struck a Chevrolet pickup. The force of the crash pushed the pickup across a median into another vehicle. The pickup’s driver, 64-year-old Terry Schultz, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sukhdeep is currently in custody with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said: “This tragedy comes less than two weeks after another illegal alien driving a semi truck killed four innocent people in Indiana. It is incredibly dangerous for illegal aliens, who often don’t know our traffic laws or even English, to be operating semi-trucks on America’s roads. These tragedies are 100 percent preventable and we pray for the family and victim.”

The incident follows several other recent deadly crashes involving illegal immigrant truck drivers. In Oregon, Indian national Rajinder Kumar was charged after a crash that killed a newlywed couple. Federal officials have also announced stepped-up enforcement of English-language proficiency standards for commercial drivers, disqualifying more than 9,500 drivers who failed required testing. In October, authorities reported the arrest of 146 illegal immigrant truck drivers during a broader enforcement operation.

Another recent Indiana case involved a truck driver from Kazakhstan who allegedly caused a crash that killed four people after entering the U.S. in 2023 and later obtaining a CDL. In a separate August case, an Indian national was charged with vehicular homicide following a fatal wreck; he had reportedly failed an English proficiency test.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
Crime
News

Mistrial Declared in Anti-ICE Antifa Sniper Ambush Case.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge declared a mistrial in a case involving nine alleged Antifa members accused of ambushing a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, defense attorney MarQuetta Clayton, nine alleged Antifa members, and federal prosecutors.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The mistrial was declared on Tuesday in the Northern District of Texas; the alleged ambush occurred on July 4, 2025, at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t know why in the world you would think that’s appropriate.” – Judge Pittman.

🎯IMPACT: A new pool of jurors will be brought in, and the defense attorney may face sanctions for her attire.

IN FULL

U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman declared a mistrial Tuesday in the Northern District of Texas in the case against nine alleged Antifa members accused of ambushing the Prairieland ICE Detention Center. The decision came before a jury was seated and followed controversy surrounding defense attorney MarQuetta Clayton’s courtroom attire.

Clayton, who represents defendant Maricela Rueda, wore a T-shirt beneath her blazer displaying civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Shirley Chisholm. The shirt also appeared to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson, who had died that same day. Judge Pittman rebuked the choice, stating, “I don’t know why in the world you would think that’s appropriate.”

Tensions also arose during jury selection after Clayton referenced constitutional protest rights and Jackson’s death. During questioning, a portion of the 75 prospective jurors voiced anti-ICE and anti-Trump views, complicating efforts to seat an impartial panel. Pittman dismissed the group and said a new pool of roughly 130 jurors would be summoned the following week.

Federal prosecutors allege the defendants participated in a July 4, 2025, attack on the detention center in Alvarado, accusing members of what they describe as a North Texas Antifa cell of launching fireworks, vandalizing property, and firing at federal officers. An Alvarado police officer responding to the scene was shot in the neck but survived. Authorities have characterized the case as the first federal prosecution treating Antifa as a domestic terrorist group.

Attorney General Pam Bondi recently directed federal law enforcement to examine people linked to Antifa for potential domestic terrorism and tax violations. Separate federal cases have also targeted self-identified Antifa activists on charges ranging from threats against immigration officers to alleged involvement in politically motivated violence.

In explaining his ruling, Pittman compared Clayton’s shirt to a prosecutor wearing overtly political imagery, such as “a prosecutor wearing an ICE pin” or “a shirt with Donald Trump riding an eagle” alongside an ICE flag. He emphasized, “Politics—as prevalent as they are, as divided as they are—don’t have any business here.”

Clayton could face sanctions over the incident as the court prepares to restart the trial with a new jury pool.

Image by Tim Sheerman-Chase.

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3 hours ago
Lawfare

Fine Arts Commission Approves Trump’s White House Ballroom.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved design plans for President Donald J. Trump’s proposed White House ballroom.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The East Wing of the White House was demolished in October 2025; the commission approved the project during a February 2026 meeting in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We have to protect the country and the country’s guests, and this is a facility that is definitely needed for over 150 years,” said U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Chairman Rodney Mims Cook Jr.

🎯IMPACT: The project has sparked Democrat lawfare challenging its compliance with historic preservation laws.

IN FULL

The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts has granted approval for President Donald J. Trump‘s planned addition of a ballroom to the East Wing of the White House. This approval comes after architects addressed a handful of concerns raised by the panel and will put an end to several lawsuits attempting to stop the ballroom addition.

“We have to protect the country and the country’s guests, and this is a facility that is definitely needed for over 150 years,” the commission’s chairman, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., stated. The East Wing was demolished last October, and the ballroom underwent several subsequent redesigns, expanding its original capacity from 500 to 1,350 guests.

Notably, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has attempted to sue to block the construction, claiming that “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever.” However, The National Pulse reported last December that U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon—a George W. Bush appointee—found that the National Trust for Historic Preservation failed to demonstrate that “great and certain” harm would occur if construction proceeded.

Construction has been allowed to continue pending approval by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. With the former granting said approval, the legal cases against President Trump’s ballroom have lost a critical legal justification.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Immigration
Lawfare

Biden Judge BLOCKS Mass Deportation Powers.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge in California overturned an immigration court ruling that supported the Trump administration’s broad detention powers over illegal immigrants.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Sunshine Sykes, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The ruling was issued on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “‘Worst of the worst’ is an inaccurate description of most of those affected by DHS and ICE’s operations.” — Judge Sykes

🎯IMPACT: The ruling could block mass deportations and guarantee bond hearings for many non-criminal illegal immigrant detainees, though the Department of Justice (DOJ) is likely to appeal.

IN FULL

On Thursday, a federal judge in California overturned a previous immigration court ruling that supported the Trump administration’s illegal immigrant detention policies. U.S. District Court Judge Sunshine Sykes, a Joe Biden appointee, criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for their characterization of detainees as the “worst of the worst.”

“‘Worst of the worst’ is an inaccurate description of most of those affected by DHS and ICE’s operations,” Judge Sykes ruled. She argued that the administration’s language was designed to justify the scale of its actions against illegal immigrants.

“Even though these press releases might contain an inkling of truth, they ignore a greater, more dire reality,” she claimed, adding: “Beyond its terror against noncitizens, the executive branch has extended its violence on its own citizens, killing two American citizens—Renée Good and Alex Pretti—in Minnesota,” Sykes wrote in her decision, adding, “The threats posed by the executive branch cannot be viewed in isolation.”

The ruling, if upheld, could block mass deportations and ensure bond hearings for many non-convicted illegal immigrant detainees. Previously, DHS had denied bond hearings to migrants arrested by federal immigration authorities, even if they had been in the United States for years. Those who recently illegally crossed the border were also not guaranteed immediate bond hearings under the policy.

While the New Orleans-based federal appeals court recently upheld the administration’s detention and bond policy in its jurisdiction, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to appeal Sykes’s ruling and request that it be stayed during ongoing litigation.

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By Popular Demand.
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4 hours ago
Education
News

Public School Pushes Anti-ICE Propaganda.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Minnesota middle school told eighth graders that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses “tricky and violent tactics,” according to instructional materials shared by a parent and published by Defending Education.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hermantown Middle School, ICE, Defending Education, Hermantown Community Schools superintendent Wayne Whitwam, and school students.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Hermantown Middle School in northern Minnesota; controversy surfaced in 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It’s bad enough that this biased lesson is replete with falsehoods—but [for] the school principal to defend such garbage truly adds insult to injury.” – Nicole Neily, founder of Defending Education.

🎯IMPACT: The incident has sparked debate about political propaganda in classrooms and the role of educators in presenting balanced perspectives.

IN FULL

A middle school in Hermantown, Minnesota, is facing criticism after an eighth-grade geography lesson pushed allegations of misconduct against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Materials obtained by a parent and published by Defending Education show a PowerPoint presentation asking students, “In what ways do people think the ICE agents have ‘gone too far?’” Under a slide labeled “tricky & violent tactics,” examples included incomplete paperwork, agents wearing masks, and deaths in custody. Other slides referenced arrests, detention conditions, and videos about ICE operations, some offered for extra credit.

District leaders insisted the lesson aligns with state geography standards that require students to explore current events and political and social systems shaping different regions. Nicole Neily, founder of Defending Education, sharply criticized the lesson, calling it biased and inaccurate. “It’s bad enough that this biased lesson is replete with falsehoods—but [for] the school principal to defend such garbage truly adds insult to injury,” she said.

The controversy comes amid heightened attention to ICE operations in Minnesota. The state has seen large-scale arrests of migrants accused or convicted of serious crimes, including homicide, sexual offenses, and drug trafficking, although operations are being wound down following violent protests over the shooting deaths of two anti-ICE activists.

Supporters of ICE have highlighted the agency’s recovery of thousands of missing migrant children during its enforcement surge in Minnesota.

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5 hours ago
Immigration

ICE Has Resumed Deportations to Cuba.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Cuba’s communist regime accepted a deportation flight containing at least six Cuban nationals convicted of serious crimes, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cuba’s communist regime, ICE, and Cuban nationals convicted of crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The first Cuba-bound deportation flight of 2026 occurred on February 9, with deportees arriving in Cuba.

🎯IMPACT: The deportation flight signals a potential shift in immigration cooperation between the United States and Cuba.

IN FULL

Cuba’s communist government has accepted a United States-originating deportation flight with at least six Cuban nationals who had previously been convicted of violent crimes, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Wednesday, the Trump administration revealed that the first Cuban-bound deportation flight had taken place on February 9, with 170 Cuban nationals being repatriated to the communist Caribbean island. The six violent offenders noted by ICE were among those deported.

For decades, the Castro regime in Cuba rejected U.S. attempts to deport Cubans to the island, though with the communist government transitioning away from the Castro family, this policy appears to be changing. The move is most likely an attempt by the communist government to curry favor with the Trump administration, which has effectively reinstituted a blockade of the island. Cuba is believed to currently be without key resources, including oil and water, for around nine days.

Also of concern to the Trump administration is the possibility of litigation. Because of the ongoing oil shortage and the U.S. pushing Venezuela and Mexico to cut off petroleum to the island, the situation in Cuba has deteriorated, which could be used by federal judges to block deportations.

Among those deported was Yondeivis Wong Den-Hernandez, convicted of second-degree murder in Florida and aiding improper entry by an alien in Texas. Another deportee, Raul Duquenzne-Batista, a Los Habaneros gang member, was convicted of multiple violent crimes, including aggravated assault, rape, and kidnapping in Kansas, and had previously served 20 years in a Cuban prison for robbery. ICE also identified Alexander Padron-Marten, convicted of controlled substance trafficking, and Orlando Sanchez-Sarria, who faced convictions for grand theft, drug trafficking, and firearm-related offenses.

Other deportees included Miguel Ramon Caveda-Perez, convicted of rape and possessing an altered driver’s license, and Gaully Quintana Martinez, convicted of aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.

The Cuban state media acknowledged the arrival of the February 9 flight but omitted details about the criminal convictions of the deportees. Instead, it reported that 170 individuals were deported, including 153 men and 17 women, with three being investigated for alleged crimes committed prior to leaving Cuba. Approximately 42,000 Cubans with final deportation orders remain in the United States due to Cuba’s historical refusal to accept them.

Image by Damiano Cecchelin.

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By Popular Demand.
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5 hours ago
Immigration
News

Feds Catch Illegal Who Worked as Corrections Officer, Guardsman in Walz’s Minnesota.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Liberian national, Morris Brown, was arrested for allegedly committing immigration fraud and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to secure employment and military service.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Morris Brown, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Brown was apprehended on January 15, with investigations spanning multiple years in Minnesota and Pennsylvania.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This alien tried every trick in the book to remain in the United States after losing legal status. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure he faces justice for his many violations of the law.” – USCIS Director Joseph Edlow

🎯IMPACT: The arrest highlights ongoing federal efforts to combat immigration fraud and prevent illegal immigrants from holding sensitive positions in law enforcement and corrections.

IN FULL

The Trump administration has arrested Morris Brown, a 45-year-old Liberian national, on multiple immigration-fraud charges after investigators determined he had falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to secure employment as a corrections officer in Minnesota. Brown entered the United States in 2014 on a student visa, but his status was terminated the following year when he failed to maintain a full course of study, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Despite lacking lawful status, Brown enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 2014. He later went absent without leave in 2015 and was ultimately apprehended and discharged under other than honorable conditions in 2022. In 2020, he applied for lawful permanent residence under the Liberian Refugee Fairness program, but officials denied the request after uncovering misrepresentations, including his failure to disclose prior military service and a false claim of U.S. citizenship.

Federal authorities say additional evidence of fraud surfaced during their review of Brown’s 2024 naturalization application. Investigators allegedly identified marriage fraud and repeated false claims of citizenship in official filings. Records also show Brown worked for the Minnesota Department of Corrections from May 2023 through October 2025. After USCIS alerted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Brown was placed in removal proceedings and now faces potential prosecution.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said, “This alien tried every trick in the book to remain in the United States after losing legal status. We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure he faces justice for his many violations of the law.” The Minnesota Department of Corrections confirmed his employment and stated it followed federal document-verification requirements during the hiring process. Commissioner Paul Schnell added, “If these federal allegations are accurate, this individual engaged in sophisticated efforts to misrepresent their identity, extending well beyond Minnesota.”

The case aligns with a broader push by the Trump administration to pursue immigration and citizenship fraud. USCIS has expanded denaturalization referrals for individuals accused of lying or concealing material facts during the naturalization process, significantly increasing the number of cases sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Recent ICE arrests have targeted illegal immigrants serving in other sensitive public-trust roles, including armed law enforcement positions.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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6 hours ago
War
World

Trump Appointing Jared Kushner as ‘Envoy of Peace.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced that Jared Kushner would receive an “envoy of peace” designation, alongside Steve Witkoff.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Thursday, February 19, 2026, during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re making Jared an envoy also, envoy of peace. They’re both envoys of peace.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: Kushner’s new designation formalizes his ongoing role in international diplomacy, including his work on the Abraham Accords.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump on Thursday announced that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, would receive an “envoy of peace” designation, placing him on par with Steve Witkoff, with whom he has worked closely in international diplomacy on behalf of the White House. “We’re making Jared an envoy also, envoy of peace. They’re both envoys of peace,” President Trump said while addressing the inaugural Board of Peace meeting, referring to Kushner and Witkoff.

Kushner’s elevation appears unlikely to change the dynamics of international diplomacy, as he has already worked closely with Witkoff, including on Middle Eastern peace agreements, though the President did credit Kushner with being integral to the Abraham Accords and other key negotiations. Meanwhile, Witkoff earned acclaim as the architect of a short-term initial ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during the presidential transition.

Both men were in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier this week for indirect talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the cessation of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. While Iran’s foreign minister has claimed a preliminary understanding was reached, Kushner and Witkoff have declined to say as much.

Meanwhile, during his speech at the Board of Peace, President Trump continued to turn up the pressure on the Iranian regime, giving it ten days to reach a deal with the United States. In recent days, the U.S. military has conducted a buildup in the Middle East not seen since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, providing the Trump administration with a host of strike options should the talks fail.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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7 hours ago
William Upton
War
World

Trump Gives Iran 10-Day Ultimatum to Reach Nuclear Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump warned that the U.S. could strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached within the next ten days.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, world leaders attending the Board of Peace meeting, and Iranian officials involved in nuclear negotiations.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 19, 2026, during the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, DC.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We may have to take it a step further, or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next probably ten days.” — President Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. military has mobilized assets in the Middle East, as nuclear negotiations with Iran remain ongoing.

IN FULL

U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a deadline on Thursday for Iranian government negotiators to reach an agreement with his administration to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Speaking at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., President Trump gave the Iranian regime ten days to reach a deal as the U.S. military continues its build-up around the Middle East, with the airpower presence alone rivaling that on the eve of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

“We may have to take it a step further, or we may not. Maybe we’re going to make a deal. You’re going to be finding out over the next probably ten days,” Trump said.


Notably, the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group left the Caribbean earlier in February for redeployment in the eastern Mediterranean and is expected to arrive within days. The Ford‘s arrival will bring the U.S. aircraft carrier presence near Iran to a total of two, while the U.S. Air Force has moved a significant number of assets into the region in recent days.

While Iranian officials claim they’ve reached a preliminary understanding with the United States, the Trump administration appears to be less confident in the negotiations. Held in Geneva, Switzerland, the second round of indirect negotiations saw both delegations depart following the talks, although Iranian negotiators reportedly expressed a willingness to remain in Switzerland for extended periods if necessary to finalize a deal.

Image via Fars Media Corporation.

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