Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev participated in the inaugural session of the US-led Peace Board in Washington on February 19, with both nations accepting President Donald Trump's invitation. The board, initially focused on Gaza, now aims to promote peace and best practices globally. Trump highlighted his role in mediating the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, asserting that the countries are now friends.
The upcoming State of the Union speech by President Donald Trump is seen as potentially destabilizing for financial markets due to ongoing volatility and uncertainty, with investors wary of policy announcements on trade, Iran, affordability, and stimulus measures. While historically such speeches have limited market impact, concerns persist that Trump could introduce policies or statements that could significantly impact sectors such as crude oil, bonds, and the dollar. Market participants are particularly attentive to discussions on inflation, mortgage affordability, and deficit-related policies ahead of the midterm elections.
Despite a resilient economy with low unemployment and slowing inflation, many Americans remain concerned about high prices for essentials such as food, housing, and healthcare. Food prices have continued to rise, with staples like ground beef and coffee experiencing significant increases, while housing affordability remains a challenge due to a housing shortage. Healthcare costs have also increased, especially after the expiration of ACA subsidies, leading some Americans to skip coverage, despite efforts to reduce drug prices.
Following the US men's hockey team's gold-medal victory, President Donald Trump congratulated the team via a speakerphone call with FBI Director Kash Patel, who invited them to attend the State of the Union. Trump made a controversial comment suggesting that the women's team should also be invited, implying he might face impeachment if he did not. The US women's hockey team stated they would be unable to visit Washington due to prior commitments, and most of the men's team members visited the White House, with some expected to attend the speech.
President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address, scheduled for later tonight, is expected to focus on domestic issues and serve as a message to voters ahead of the November elections, amid polls showing public distrust in his administration and recent Supreme Court rulings against his policies. Notable guests include a young AI advocate, Olympic hockey players, and survivors of abuse and immigration enforcement protests, with several Democratic leaders boycotting or planning to attend alternative events. The address will also highlight Trump's military actions, economic policies, and efforts to shape public opinion, while also marking the nation's 250th anniversary.
In 2025, President Donald Trump received near-unanimous support from Republicans in Congress, with 96% of Senate Republicans and 95% of House Republicans voting in line with him on key votes, resulting in a record-breaking success rate of 95.1% on known votes. Conversely, Senate Democrats opposed Trump on 88% of votes, setting a record, while House Democrats opposed him at an 88% rate. The year also saw a high volume of nominations confirmed swiftly, with 170 out of 171 Senate confirmations occurring in record time, and Trump actively engaged in legislative votes, securing significant victories including his signature tax and spending packages.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe will brief congressional leaders, including the "Gang of Eight," on Iran tensions before President Trump's State of the Union address. The briefing comes amid resumed nuclear talks with Iran and reports of escalating U.S. military presence in the Middle East. The timing suggests an effort to inform lawmakers of the administration’s Iran strategy prior to the president's speech.
President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address, with Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and California Sen. Alex Padilla providing the Democratic responses in English and Spanish, respectively. The speech focused on issues including domestic policy, military strength, immigration, and opposition to recent court rulings. Several notable guests and guests representing diverse backgrounds, including survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and space explorers, attended the event, while some lawmakers used their invitations to protest Trump’s immigration policies.
Don Lemon criticized Donald Trump's approval ratings, citing a Washington Post poll indicating that 60% of people disapprove of Trump ahead of his State of the Union address, and suggesting that support for MAGA is less widespread than perceived. He claimed that MAGA is "not as big as you think" and characterized its support as loud but not substantial. Recent polls show Trump's approval ratings are at historic lows for a two-term president, with significant disapproval among independents.
President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address is seen as a campaign message ahead of November elections, focusing on domestic issues, economic policies, and foreign threats, notably Iran. The speech is accompanied by Democratic responses from Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Sen. Alex Padilla, who will deliver a Spanish-language rebuttal. The address also includes attendance by Olympic hockey team members and highlights topics such as the DHS shutdown, immigration policies, and increased electricity costs for AI data centers.
On February 24, the Supreme Court reflected on the anniversary of its 1803 ruling in Marbury v. Madison, establishing judicial review. The article also provides guidance for attending oral arguments, including the lottery and line system for seats, security procedures, prohibited items, dress codes, and departure protocols, emphasizing the limited availability of seats and security restrictions for in-person spectators.
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.
