latest news in politics
OPM Directs Agencies to End Union Contracts in Potential Defiance of Court Orders
Washington D.C., Saturday, 14 February 2026.
OPM has directed agencies to terminate union contracts covering two-thirds of the federal workforce, a move unions argue explicitly defies active court injunctions blocking the administration’s labor reforms.
SEC to Automatically Reject Corporate Filings With Fee Errors Starting March 16
Washington D.C., Saturday, 14 February 2026.
Beginning March 16, the SEC will automatically suspend filings containing fee exhibit errors rather than issuing warnings, marking a critical shift toward stricter automated validation for public companies.
Virginia Supreme Court Clears Path for Critical Redistricting Referendum
Richmond, Saturday, 14 February 2026.
The Virginia Supreme Court has authorized an April 21 referendum that could flip four congressional seats to Democrats, potentially determining U.S. House control and future economic policy before the 2026 midterms.
Epstein Files Review Triggers Shocking Warnings and Reputational Risks
Washington D.C., Saturday, 14 February 2026.
While Nancy Mace warns of “shocking” high-profile figures in unredacted Epstein files, the DOJ reveals four men named by Ro Khanna were actually innocent individuals in a police lineup.
Diverted Humanitarian Aid Funds Finance Security for Budget Director Vought
Washington D.C., Sunday, 15 February 2026.
Documents confirm that $15 million from the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been reallocated to fund a U.S. Marshals security detail for OMB Director Russell Vought. This diversion of humanitarian aid—authorized just months before the agency’s final scheduled closure in September 2026—highlights a critical lapse in standard budgetary governance. The decision to utilize residual funds from a gutted foreign aid agency to protect the official responsible for its dissolution raises sharp questions about the limits of executive discretion over congressional appropriations.
President Trump Honors Special Forces at Fort Bragg for Capture of Venezuelan Leader
Fayetteville, Friday, 13 February 2026.
On Friday, February 13, 2026, President Donald Trump and the First Lady are visiting Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to formally recognize the U.S. Special Forces units responsible for the high-profile capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. This visit highlights a significant geopolitical pivot, as the administration leverages this military success to implement the “Donroe Doctrine,” facilitating the entry of U.S. oil companies into Venezuela to rebuild its energy infrastructure. However, this projection of international strength contrasts sharply with domestic fiscal turbulence; the President’s visit occurs just hours before a potential Department of Homeland Security shutdown, triggered by a Senate stalemate over immigration reform funding due at midnight Saturday.
Mayors Mamdani and Frey Align on Urban Safety Strategies as Federal Operations Shift
New York, Friday, 13 February 2026.
Amidst the conclusion of a deadly federal enforcement surge in Minneapolis, Mayors Mamdani and Frey convened in New York to solidify a coalition protecting immigrant communities and urban stability.
Trump Administration Unveils Strategy to Revitalize American Shipbuilding Through Foreign Vessel Fees
Washington D.C., Saturday, 14 February 2026.
The White House proposes revitalizing domestic shipyards via levies on foreign vessels, a move projected to generate up to $1.5 trillion for a new Maritime Security Trust Fund.