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Thursday, February 26, 2026

Category: Politics
6 hours ago
Crime
Politics

Ilhan Omar’s Guest Was Arrested at Trump’s State of the Union, Here’s Why:

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A guest of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was arrested by Capitol Police during President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening for unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Ilhan Omar, her guest Aliya Rahman, Capitol Police, and President Trump.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: During the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the Congressional Buildings.” – Capitol Police statement.

🎯IMPACT: Rahman was previously arrested last month after refusing lawful orders from federal immigration agents to move her vehicle in an apparent attempt to interfere with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.

IN FULL

Aliya Rahman, a guest of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), was arrested by Capitol Police during President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening for alleged unlawful conduct and disruption of Congress. Rahman, a Minneapolis, Minnesota resident, had been invited by Omar following her detention last month after refusing lawful orders from federal immigration agents to move her vehicle, in an apparent attempt to interfere with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.

At the time, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Rahman “ignored multiple commands by an officer to move her vehicle away from the scene.” She was arrested along with six other alleged anti-ICE agitators, though Rahman insists she was actually en route to a medical appointment.

During the State of the Union address, Rahman was standing silently when officers asked her to sit down, which she refused, according to police. The Capitol Police stated, “The guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders. It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the Congressional Buildings.” Rahman was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct. She was later taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment after allegedly sustaining injuries during the arrest.

Following her arrest on Tuesday, Rahman claimed she was not demonstrating but merely standing silently. “No buttons, no facial expressions, no gestures, no signs, not one sound,” she said. She added that she stood up when President Trump made remarks she described as “some of the most racist things I have heard come out of any leader’s mouth about the people of my city.”

Rep. Omar has called for an investigation into the arrest, stating that Rahman was “forcibly removed” despite warning officers about her injured shoulders. Omar said, “The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy.” However, the Capitol Police emphasized that all State of the Union tickets explicitly prohibit demonstrations, and Rahman’s actions were considered a violation of those rules.

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February 24, 2026
News
Politics

Congressman Refuses to Resign Amid Allegations of Affair With Staffer Who Burned Herself Alive.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) is facing accusations of an affair with an aide who later died by suicide. Despite the release of explicit text messages allegedly exchanged between the two, the GOP lawmaker is refusing calls to resign.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Tony Gonzales, former aide Regina Aviles, and several GOP lawmakers, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), and Nancy Mace (R-SC).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Aviles died by suicide in September 2025, with the rumored affair exposed a month later. The allegations have become a central issue in the Texas Republican primary, which began early voting on February 17, 2026.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I will not resign. I work every day for the people of Texas. And there will be an opportunity for all the details and facts that come out.” – Tony Gonzales

🎯IMPACT: The scandal has intensified scrutiny on Gonzales ahead of his primary election and prompted calls for his resignation from fellow GOP lawmakers.

IN FULL

Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) declared on Tuesday that he will not resign amid allegations of an affair with his former aide, Regina Aviles, who died by suicide in September 2025. Gonzales, who is married with six children, has faced mounting pressure from fellow Republican lawmakers to step down, following the release of explicit text messages allegedly exchanged between him and Aviles.

“I will not resign. I work every day for the people of Texas. And there will be an opportunity for all the details and facts that come out. What you’ve seen is not all the facts,” Gonzales said on Capitol Hill after being turned away by staff in House Speaker Mike Johnson‘s (R-LA) office.

The alleged affair reportedly began in 2024, with text messages showing Gonzales pressuring Aviles for explicit photos and making sexual comments. In one exchange, Gonzales asked Aviles for a “sexy pic” and later inquired about her favorite sexual positions. Aviles, who had been his regional district director in Uvalde since 2021, reportedly confided in a friend about the affair, sharing text messages and expressing concern that her husband would discover the relationship.

Subsequently, Aviles’s husband reportedly discovered the affair in July 2025, leading to their separation and her subsequent depression. Aviles took her own life in September 2025 after dousing herself with gasoline and setting herself on fire. Her death was ruled a suicide, with an autopsy revealing she was intoxicated at the time.

Meanwhile, Gonzales has denied the allegations, calling earlier reports “untruthful,” but has not directly addressed the newly surfaced text messages—fellow GOP lawmakers, including Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) have publicly called for Gonzales to step down. The revelations have cast a shadow over Gonzales’s re-election campaign, as he faces a primary challenge from Second Amendment activist and firearm manufacturer Brandon Herrera. Early voting for the Republican primary in Texas began on February 17, with the primary election set for March 3.

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February 24, 2026
Politics
World

France Denies U.S. Ambassador Government Access Following Summons No-Show.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: France summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner over comments made by the Trump administration regarding the murder of conservative Catholic student Quentin DĂ©ranque, which France found objectionable. Kushner did not attend the meeting, and his government access has now been restricted.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and the Trump administration.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Events unfolded in Paris, France, with a summons issued Monday evening and responses on Tuesday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “It will, naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country.” – Jean-NoĂ«l Barrot

🎯IMPACT: Kushner’s access to French officials has been suspended until he complies with the summons.

IN FULL

France’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador Charles Kushner on Monday evening over comments made by the Trump administration regarding the murder of conservative Catholic student Quentin DĂ©ranque. French officials stated that Kushner did not attend the meeting, leading to criticism from French Foreign Minister Jean-NoĂ«l Barrot.

Barrot described Kushner’s absence as “a surprise” and said it violated diplomatic protocol. “It will, naturally, affect his capacity to exercise his mission in our country,” Barrot stated. He emphasized that an ambassador must have access to government officials to effectively perform their duties.

The U.S. Embassy in Paris has not commented on the matter despite requests from the media. Kushner’s access to French government officials will remain suspended until he complies with the summons, according to Barrot. “When these explanations have taken place, then the U.S. ambassador in France will, naturally, regain access to members of the French government,” he added.

The summons was prompted by a statement from the U.S. State Department‘s Counterterrorism Bureau, which highlighted the role of “violent radical leftism” in Deranque’s killing. “Reports, corroborated by the French Minister of the Interior, that Quentin Deranque was killed by left-wing militants, should concern us all. Violent radical leftism is on the rise and its role in Quentin Deranque’s death demonstrates the threat it poses to public safety. We will continue to monitor the situation and expect to see the perpetrators of violence brought to justice,” it said.

The U.S. Embassy in Paris posted the same statement in French, drawing objections from French officials who viewed it as interference in domestic matters. “We don’t accept that foreign countries can come and interfere, invite themselves, into the national political debate,” Barrot complained.

Déranque was providing informal protection for a protest organized by the right-wing feminist group Collectif Némésis outside Sciences Po Lyon, where a lecture by far-left Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Rima Hassan of La France Insoumise (France Unbowed/LFI) was taking place. The National Pulse reported earlier this month that French authorities had arrested four people in connection with the killing of Déranque, who died after suffering severe brain injuries.

According to local reporting, those detained include Jacques-Élie Favrot, a parliamentary assistant to radical leftist legislator Raphaël Arnault, and Adrian Besseyre, a former intern for Arnault.

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February 24, 2026
Politics

At Least Three Dozen Democrats Plan to Skip Trump’s State of the Union Address.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Dozens of Democrats are boycotting the State of the Union, opting for counter-programming instead of direct protests.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democrat lawmakers including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and others, as well as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The State of the Union address on Tuesday, with counter-programming events taking place on the National Mall and at the National Press Club.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “If Trump will not honor the American people, then the people should turn off his remarks and turn toward each other—toward their neighbors, their communities, and the real power of this country,” said Sen. Ed Markey.

🎯IMPACT: The move, while framed by congressional Democrats as an embrace of so-called counter-programming events, appears to be an effort to prevent more radical lawmakers from engaging in performative protests that could alienate voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

IN FULL

Around three dozen Democrats have announced plans to boycott the State of the Union on Tuesday. The move, while framed by congressional Democrats as an embrace of so-called counter-programming events, appears to be an effort to prevent more radical lawmakers from engaging in performative protests that could alienate voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Last year, Representative Al Green (D-TX) was removed from a joint session of Congress and later censured by the House for heckling President Donald J. Trump during an address to lawmakers.

“The two options that are in front of us in our House is to either attend with silent defiance or to not attend, and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said during a news conference last week. Notably, a number of Democrat lawmakers are promoting an event dubbed “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall—hosted by tthe highly controversial MeidasTouch organization and MoveOn—which will feature Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), as well as Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Greg Casar (D-TX).

Democrats hope to use their counter-programming events to draw media attention away from President Trump’s State of the Union address. According to Sen. Markey, “If Trump will not honor the American people, then the people should turn off his remarks and turn toward each other – toward their neighbors, their communities, and the real power of this country.”

Another group of Democrat lawmakers are slated to host a “State of the Swamp” event earlier in the evening on Tuesday at the National Press Club, which will feature Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Dan Goldman (D-NY). Other prominent leftist lawmakers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are opting to skip the State of the Union without appearing at any of the Democratic Party’s counter-programming events.

President Trump is expected to focus his address on his administration’s headway in tackling the inflation crisis caused by the former Biden government, as well as plummeting violent crime, policies addressing affordability, and efforts to remove illegal immigrants from the United States.

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February 23, 2026
Politics

Newsom Tells Black Mayor ‘I’m Like You’ Because He Can’t Read and Got a Low SAT Score.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is facing backlash after attempting to relate to a black mayor by claiming he cannot read and only scored a 960 on his SAT.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Governor Newsom, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (D), and rapper Nicki Minaj.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The remarks were made during a Sunday night appearance in Georgia to promote Newsom’s forthcoming memoir, Young Man in a Hurry.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I’m like you. I’m not better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy… I cannot read a speech.” – Gavin Newsom

🎯IMPACT: Newsom’s comments were criticized as racially patronizing and portraying black Americans as uneducated and illiterate.

IN FULL

California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is under fire after making comments during an event promoting his new memoir in Georgia on Sunday that critics have described as racially insensitive. Speaking to Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (D), Newsom sought to connect with the predominantly black audience by referencing his own academic struggles, saying, “I’m like you. I’m not better than you. I’m a 960 SAT guy.”

The remark drew immediate criticism for what many perceived as an assumption that academic underperformance is relatable to black Americans. Newsom, aware of the potential backlash, said, “I’m not trying to offend anyone,” before adding, “You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech.”

Hip-hop and rap superstar Nicki Minaj accused Newsom of deliberately talking down to a black audience. “His way of bonding with black ppl is to tell them how stupid he is & that he can’t read,” Minaj wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Minaj has emerged as a staunch proponent of President Donald J. Trump, even appearing at an event earlier this year promoting Trump Accounts for newborn American children.

Newsom, widely considered a frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s 2028 presidential nomination, has faced a series of political setbacks in recent months. The National Pulse reported in November of last year that the California governor’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with public corruption. The charges, part of a federal indictment, accuse Williamson and her co-conspirators of engaging in a scheme involving wire and bank fraud.

Meanwhile, a scheduled appearance by Newsom at the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland, in January this year, was canceled, with his team alleging interference from the Trump administration. Speaking with reporters, Newsom said, “I can’t take this complicity of people rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders. I mean, handing out crowns, the Nobel prizes that are being given away. It’s just pathetic.”

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February 20, 2026
William Upton
Politics
SCOTUS

GOP Lawmaker Demands Congress Codify Trump Tariffs, Reverse SCOTUS Decision.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is demanding that Congress immediately take up a new reconciliation bill to codify the tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sen. Moreno, President Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court, and Congressional Republicans and Democrats.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday, February 20, 2026.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This betrayal must be reversed and Republicans must get to work immediately on a reconciliation bill to codify the tariffs that had made our country the hottest country on earth!” — Sen. Moreno

🎯IMPACT: Earlier on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Trump’s authority under the IEEPA to enact tariffs, finding that Congress’s legislative intent did not extend taxation power to the executive branch under the law’s regulatory provisions.

IN FULL

U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is demanding that Congress immediately take up a new reconciliation bill to codify the tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Earlier on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s authority under the IEEPA to enact tariffs, finding that Congress’s legislative intent did not extend taxation power to the executive branch under the law’s regulatory provisions.

“SCOTUS’s outrageous ruling handcuffs our fight against unfair trade that has devastated American workers for decades. These tariffs protected jobs, revived manufacturing, and forced cheaters like China to pay up,” Sen. Moreno wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the high court’s decision. “Now globalists win, factories investments may reverse, and American workers lose again. This betrayal must be reversed and Republicans must get to work immediately on a reconciliation bill to codify the tariffs that had made our country the hottest country on earth!”

A reconciliation bill could be a viable avenue to effectively reverse the Supreme Court‘s ruling. This type of legislation only requires a simple 51-vote majority in the Senate and is not subject to a filibuster. Additionally, reconciliation bills—though limited by the number of times the legislative vehicle can be used—must pertain to spending, revenue, and debt limit changes, including tariffs.

Still, the path of a reconciliation measure would be uncertain. It is not clear if there are 51 votes in the Senate in favor of tariffs, with at least three Republican lawmakers in the upper chamber—Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)—all opposed to the trade levies. Additionally, the narrow majority in the House could complicate passage as well.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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February 19, 2026
Media
Politics

FCC Chairman Declares Talk Shows Are Not Real News.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has clarified that most talk shows, such as The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, no longer qualify for regulatory exemptions allowing them to feature political candidates without meeting equal time requirements.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: FCC Chair Brendan Carr, various network talk shows, and political candidates, including Texas state Representative James Talarico (D).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Announced during an FCC meeting on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Congress passed the equal time provision for a very specific reason. They did not want the media leads in Hollywood and in New York to put their thumbs on the scale and pick their winners and losers in primaries and general elections. That’s the point.” – Brendan Carr

🎯IMPACT: Television networks can apply for exemptions from the Equal Time Rule, but according to Chairman Carr, “The ones we have seen have yet to establish that they qualify for the bona fide news exception.”

IN FULL

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) held an open meeting on Wednesday, where the agency determined that daytime and late-night talk shows will no longer qualify for the news exemption from the Equal Time Rule (Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934) granted to most news programming. Previously, talk shows like The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live! could host political candidates for public office without having to give equal time to the other candidates in the race.

“The general rule is equal time applies,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr explained regarding the provision. He added, “There’s narrow exceptions you have to fit in.” Notably, this isn’t the first time the Equal Time Rule has impacted late-night television. During the 2024 presidential election, NBC granted the Trump campaign a 90-second ad spot amid allegations that Kamala Harris’s surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL) violated the Equal Time Rule. Harris’s appearance on SNL was for one minute and 30 seconds, allowing other presidential campaigns to receive equal airtime—about 90 seconds—per FCC regulations.

“Congress passed the equal time provision for a very specific reason,” Carr said, adding, “They did not want the media leads in Hollywood and in New York to put their thumbs on the scale and pick their winners and losers in primaries and general elections. That’s the point.”

The status change for daytime and late-night talk shows comes amid a stunt pulled by Texas state Representative James Talarico (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate. Talarico was slated to appear on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; however, attorneys with CBS appear to have raised concerns about potential Equal Time violations, leading to the interview being posted only to social media and not aired on television. Colbert and Talarico both attempted to claim the segment as quashed by the FCC, which has consequently boosted the Texas Democrat’s campaign fundraising.

Despite what Colbert and Talarico claim, the Equal Time Rule has impacted non-traditional “news” programming in the past. In 2003, CBS canceled a segment on The Late Late Show featuring images of California recall election candidates to avoid having to show all 135 candidates. Even still, television networks can apply for exemptions from the Equal Time Rule, but according to Chairman Carr, “The ones we have seen have yet to establish that they qualify for the bona fide news exception.”

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February 18, 2026
News
Politics

Republican Candidate Steve Hilton Now Leads Race for California Governor.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Republican Steve Hilton has taken the lead in the California governor’s race, according to a new poll.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Steve Hilton, Governor Gavin Newsom (D), Representative Eric Swalwell (D), Sheriff Chad Bianco (R), former Rep. Katie Porter (D), and billionaire Tom Steyer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The poll was conducted from February 13–14 in California, ahead of the June 2 primary election.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The Republican electorate in California is split between Steve Hilton (38%) and Chad Bianco (37%), while Hilton also picks up a plurality of independent voter support at 22%,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

🎯IMPACT: If Hilton wins, he would be the first Republican governor of California in two decades.

IN FULL

Republican Steve Hilton has emerged as the early front-runner in the race for governor of California, according to a new survey from Emerson College Polling. The former adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron leads the crowded field with 17 percent support, up five points since December, while 21 percent of voters remain undecided.

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell and Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco are tied for second at 14 percent each. Controversial former Rep. Katie Porter follows with 10 percent, while billionaire Tom Steyer trails closely behind. Among Republican voters, Hilton holds a narrow edge over Bianco, and he captures 22 percent support from independents.

“The Republican electorate in California is split between Steve Hilton (38 percent) and Chad Bianco (37 percent), while Hilton also picks up a plurality of independent voter support at 22 percent,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

The poll, conducted February 13–14 among 1,000 likely voters, has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. California’s last Republican governor was Arnold Schwarzenegger, reelected in 2006. The state’s top-two primary system advances the two highest vote-getters, regardless of party, from the June 2 primary to the November 5 general election.

Hilton has raised nearly $6 million, second only to Steyer, who is largely self-funding. His campaign centers on housing affordability and economic concerns. According to the survey, 53 percent of voters say they have considered leaving California due to the high cost of living. Hilton has opposed proposals such as a billionaire tax and a mileage-based tax, and he has criticized Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Mayor Karen Bass (D) over their response to the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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February 18, 2026
Media
Politics

FCC Targets ‘The View’ for Enforcement, Dismisses Colbert-Talarico Hoax.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating ABC’s The View for potential violations of the Equal Time Rule after featuring Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Texas State Representative James Talarico (D), ABC’s The View, and CBS’s Stephen Colbert.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The investigation was confirmed on Wednesday, February 18, 2026; the events involve ABC, CBS, and FCC guidance issued last month.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We’re taking a look at it.” — Brendan Carr

🎯IMPACT: The investigation will examine political bias in media, while raising questions about the application of the Equal Time Rule.

IN FULL

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr confirmed that the agency is investigating ABC’s The View for a potential violation of the Equal Time Rule after the show featured Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico. “We’re taking a look at it,” Carr said on Wednesday.

The Equal Time Rule requires broadcasters to provide airtime to rival candidates if requested. ABC has not commented. The View has previously hosted Representative Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), one of Talarico’s primary opponents, as a guest. CBS’s Stephen Colbert also faced scrutiny after his show declined to air an interview with Talarico, citing legal guidance that it could trigger the FCC rule.

Carr criticized media coverage of the Colbert situation, calling it a “perfect encapsulation of why the American people have more trust in gas station sushi than they do in the national news media.” He noted that Colbert’s actions appeared to be a deliberate effort to raise money for Talarico and generate attention for his bid as early voting began, with the Texas Democrat’s campaign reporting $2.5 million raised since the Colbert interview was posted on YouTube.

In its guidance last month, the FCC clarified that talk shows cannot assume automatic exemption from the Equal Time Rule when featuring political candidates. Carr suggested that factors like a host’s political donations could be considered in determining whether a show’s coverage is partisan. Colbert and other hosts have been involved in fundraising for Democrat candidates.

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February 17, 2026
Immigration
Politics

Senate Democrats Want These Restrictions on ICE to End Their Latest Shutdown:

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats have sent a counteroffer to the White House and Republicans regarding immigration enforcement restrictions amid ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding negotiations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), President Donald J. Trump, Senate Democrats, and DHS agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Negotiations are ongoing as of Monday, with lawmakers currently on recess and funding for DHS having lapsed on Saturday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We’re going to protect law enforcement. We’re going to protect ICE.” — President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: DHS funding remains in limbo, affecting agencies such as TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA, whose employees are working without pay.

IN FULL

Senate Democrats have sent a counteroffer to the White House and Republicans on their desired immigration enforcement restrictions as part of ongoing negotiations over how to end the Democrat-initiated partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Funding for DHS, which oversees U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), lapsed on Saturday.

However, both federal immigration agencies were already almost entirely funded through President Donald J. Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ enacted last summer. The current DHS shutdown impacts almost exclusively key subagencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard. Concerningly, TSA agents will soon begin missing paychecks, and without a resolution, absences at the agency could start to impact Spring Break travel, which usually kicks off at the end of February and stretches into March.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), facing intense pressure from his party’s radical base, confirmed that he sent his caucus’s counteroffer to the White House on Monday evening. However, the specifics of the offer remain unclear—though it is believed the Democrats are continuing to call for the end of roving ICE patrols, barring agents from certain areas, implementing a use-of-force code, and requiring agents to wear body cameras instead of masks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress remains in recess as the negotiations continue, but lawmakers have been told to be ready to be called back into session at a moment’s notice. President Donald J. Trump, on Monday, just prior to receiving the latest counteroffer, signalled an openness to reaching a deal with Democrats, but emphasized, “We’re going to protect law enforcement. We’re going to protect ICE.”

On Tuesday, February 24, the President will deliver the State of the Union address. The speech could provide the America First leader with a bully pulpit to use against Senate Democrats, with Trump stating that he intends to deliver his address even if the funding lapse remains in limbo, “It wouldn’t bother me.”

Image via Jewish Democratic Council of America.

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