Source: The Daily Economy
by Tahmineh Dehbozorgi
“ICE claims agents can enter private homes using their own paperwork — without asking a judge first. The Fourth Amendment was written for moments like this.” ()2/18/26)
https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/ices-warrant-shortcut-violates-the-constitution/
Source: Washington Monthly
by Alex Bronzini-Vender
“Depending on whom you ask, Donald Trump has either heroically or horrifyingly declared open season on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education. During his first year back in office, the Department of Education launched at least 57 investigations into campus DEI initiatives it deemed illegal—and many more universities have preemptively complied by dismantling their own versions of such practices and policies. As such, it may come as a surprise that Trump and his underlings don’t want to get rid of DEI altogether. On some campuses, they’ve worked to preserve or even expand DEI programs. What they object to isn’t DEI itself, but who it’s for — which, until now, has been the ‘wrong’ kind of student.” (02/18/26)
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/18/how-trump-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-dei/
Source: BBC News [UK State Media]
“The Metropolitan Police is carrying out ‘initial inquiries’ into allegations relating to close protection officers formerly assigned to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. It comes after an unnamed former senior Met protection officer told LBC that members of the Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) may have ‘wilfully turned a blind eye’ during visits to a private island owned by Jeffery Epstein. Multiple survivors have alleged they were trafficked to and abused on the island, known as Little St James, which Epstein purchased in 1998. In a statement, the Met said it had ‘not identified any wrongdoing’ but ‘initial enquiries into these specific allegations have begun so we can establish the facts’. Speaking to LBC on Tuesday, the former Met protection officer claimed Andrew’s protection team travelled with him to the private island on at least two occasions, including travelling on Epstein’s private jet on one of those occasions.” (02/18/26)
Source: US News & World Report
“Russian President Vladimir Putin met Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Wednesday in the Kremlin, where he said that new restrictions imposed on the communist-run island were ‘unacceptable,’ Russian state news agencies reported. A senior Russian diplomat said last week that Moscow would provide aid to Havana, including material assistance, to help navigate a U.S. attempt to starve the island of oil. ‘Now is a special period, new sanctions. You know how we feel about this,’ Putin told Rodriguez, according to the TASS news agency. ‘We do not accept anything like this.'” (02/18/26)
Source: The Dispatch
“‘Akvavit,’ ‘Zebroid,’ and ‘Haole’ | Interview: Stefan Fatsis.” (02/18/26)
https://thedispatch.com/podcast/remnant/akvavit-zebroid-and-haole-interview-stefan-fatsis/
Source: bloggingheads.tv
“The AI Apocalypse Cometh? | Robert Wright & Paul Bloom.” (02/17/26)
Source: New York Times
“Can A.I. Already Do Your Job?” (02/18/26)
Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Shana Marshall
“Traditionally, weapons expos are about putting producers in contact with buyers, and they feature large scale sites where companies set up booths to showcase hardware capabilities and include simulations and even live-fire demonstrations. In these spec-ops safe-spaces, government procurement officials and top brass could brush elbows with warlords and mercenaries to take turns shouldering JAVELINs and downing batch bourbons. But with the introduction of more Silicon Valley tech firms into the MIC, many industry gatherings feature asset managers and investors from venture capital and private equity firms who care less about the specs than the ROI. Gone are the ‘booth babes’ of yesteryear, replaced by baby-faced billionaires in Patagonia quarter zips. Spurred on by the advent of ZIRP (zero-interest rate policy), allowing investors to borrow money essentially for free, and the decline of consumer-focused tech products, investors have turned their focus to military markets.” (02/18/26)
https://responsiblestatecraft.org/defense-tech-silicon-valley/
Source: Common Sense
by Paul Jacob
“On her European junket, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.-D) elicited chuckles over her comments on the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by means of a military incursion, mistakenly identifying Venezuela as ‘below the Equator.’ The country lies entirely north of the dividing line between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Was this her ‘Aleppo moment?’ Hardly. Darlings of the major parties get away with faux pas that minor party challengers cannot escape.”
Source: The American Prospect
by Jen Kirby
“The Friday nightcap session at the Munich Security Conference focused on ‘seismic shifts’ in U.S. foreign policy, and it featured a bit of an odd grouping: Matthew Whitaker, the current United States ambassador to NATO; Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan; and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive Democratic congresswoman from New York. The panelists sat in a circle at the center of the room, surrounded on both sides by the audience, all wearing lanyards around their neck, some sipping wine, and many reaching upward to take photos. The tilt of their iPhones gave away who they were all here to see.” (02/18/26)
https://prospect.org/2026/02/18/democrats-nato-europe-new-world-order-munich-security-conference/