Democrat Bruce Richardson has called for Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas to resign amid reports of an affair with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide last year. NBC News independently authenticated text messages suggesting a sexual relationship, contradicting Gonzales' initial denial. House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized allowing investigations to proceed, and so far has not called for Gonzales' resignation.
President Donald Trump continued to promote unfounded election conspiracy theories at a White House event, falsely claiming the 2020 election was rigged and suggesting it caused the deaths of loved ones through undocumented immigrants. Despite years of effort, the Justice Department has struggled to find evidence supporting voter fraud claims, with investigations yielding no results. Trump's frustration with the lack of evidence has led to public calls for election reforms he cannot implement unilaterally. Similar to previous efforts, the investigation into voter fraud has failed to produce substantive evidence.
A coalition of over 50 organizations condemned the Trump administration for allegedly obstructing an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, citing FBI interference and obstruction of evidence access. The groups criticized the administration for breaking standard practices by not cooperating with local authorities and warned that such actions could set a dangerous precedent for federal use-of-force cases. Despite the federal government's lack of cooperation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and local prosecutors are continuing their investigations, with the potential for charges against federal officers if sufficient evidence is found.
Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, along with a coalition of 15 states, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's overhaul of the childhood immunization schedule, alleging it bypassed legal procedures and removed seven essential vaccines. The lawsuit claims that the CDC's decision to demote these vaccines and replace the advisory panel with unqualified individuals was unlawful and based on unsupported science, potentially endangering children's health. The states seek to declare the new vaccine schedule and appointments unlawful and to vacate the changes.
Del Bigtree, an anti-vaccine advocate and adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., advocates for intentionally exposing children to diseases like polio, measles, and pertussis to build immunity, opposing vaccination methods he labels as harmful. He has promoted misinformation about vaccine safety and efficacy, and has downplayed the dangers of infectious diseases while emphasizing the supposed benefits of infection. Bigtree's views have contributed to anti-vaccine movements and outbreaks of preventable illnesses, and he remains closely aligned with Kennedy's efforts to weaken vaccine mandates.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic's CEO a deadline to make the company's AI technology available for unrestricted military use or risk losing its government contract. Anthropic has refused to provide its AI, including the chatbot Claude, for fully autonomous military targeting or domestic surveillance, citing ethical concerns. The Pentagon has awarded contracts to several AI companies for classified military networks, with Anthropic being the only one currently approved for such sensitive use. The controversy highlights ongoing debates over AI's role in national security and ethical considerations surrounding military applications.
UC Berkeley’s Cybersecurity Clinic and Fight for the Future released the "Securing Mutual Aid" guide in 2025 to help mutual aid organizations improve digital security amidst increasing surveillance and online threats. The guide offers best practices such as limiting personal information on accounts, diversifying technology platforms, and using privacy-centered services to enhance cybersecurity and ensure organizational longevity. It emphasizes the importance of protecting sensitive data and recommends adopting stronger security measures, including two-factor authentication and policies for data retention, to support the vital community work of grassroots aid groups.
Federal prosecutors in Washington have dropped their case against six Democratic lawmakers who released a video urging military personnel to refuse illegal orders, after failing to secure a grand jury indictment. The lawmakers, all military and intelligence veterans, argued that they were promoting lawful resistance under the Uniform Military Code of Justice, and critics viewed the investigation as an attack on free speech. The case's termination means the justice department may not pursue charges against the lawmakers in other districts.
The Supreme Court of the United States ruled 6-3 on February 20, 2026, that President Trump's tariffs imposed via executive orders under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) exceeded presidential authority, limiting executive power in trade policy. The case, Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, challenged whether IEEPA authorizes the president to impose tariffs, with the court ultimately rejecting this interpretation. The ruling emphasized that tariffs are a congressional power and not within the president's sole authority, signaling a reaffirmation of limits on executive power in trade matters.
A class-action lawsuit filed in Portland, Maine, alleges that federal immigration agents unlawfully targeted, intimidated, and retaliated against residents who observed or recorded immigration enforcement activities. The suit claims the government collected and disseminated personal and biometric data of the plaintiffs, violating their First Amendment rights to free observation and recording of public law enforcement conduct. The lawsuit seeks a ruling that these actions are unconstitutional, an injunction against future similar conduct, and the deletion of all records collected about the plaintiffs.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, limited President Trump's unilateral authority to impose tariffs, emphasizing the need for clear congressional authorization. The ruling clarified that tariffs are import taxes paid by American businesses and consumers, with studies indicating over 90% of the costs fall on Americans. Following the decision, President Trump announced new tariffs, which are likely to face legal challenges, but the Court's ruling restricts the president's ability to impose tariffs arbitrarily, reinforcing the judiciary's role in checking executive power.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, representing Louisiana’s 4th district, is set to participate in President Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, 2024. As the first person from Louisiana to hold the speaker role, Johnson, a Republican and supporter of Trump, will invite the president to speak and likely support his legislative agenda during the event. This will be Johnson’s first official State of the Union as speaker since his first was in March 2024, and he previously attended Trump's address in 2025.
