News of the Week for February 8th, 2026
- Abortion
- Gun Rights
- Hide the Decline
- Socialized Medicine
- War & Terror
- National News
- Economy & Taxes
- International News
- Opinion
Abortion
Court Cases & Legislation
Judge strikes down Arizona abortion laws after 2024 ballot measure
About a dozen Arizona abortion restrictions are unconstitutional under a voter-approved ballot measure passed in 2024, a judge has ruled in a case that challenged what advocates called the most egregious barriers to abortion access in the state.
Gun Rights
Y’all Need to Shut Up
Politics is not hard. The odds may be against you in certain election years. But politics is about finding a message that persuades a majority of undecided, unaffiliated voters to join your side for the majority. Sometimes, the headwinds are so strong against you that you cannot do it. Sometimes, it works.
Kyle Rittenhouse Calls for Pirro to be Fired
Kyle Rittenhouse made a name for himself by defending himself from a mob that was clearly bent on murdering him. He fired four shots, killed two convicted felons, and injured a third who was pointing a gun at him. Not a bad night’s work.
Democrats Reintroduce ‘Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act’
House Democrats have introduced H.R. 7166, a bill that would effectively end direct-to-consumer online ammunition sales nationwide by forcing so-called “face-to-face” identity verification for internet purchases.
Following Minnesota, MAGA Must Hold Trump Accountable on Second Amendment
Trump’s pledge to restore and enhance immigration enforcement would never be easy. For decades, corrupt political interests have depended on open borders, mass immigration (legal and illegal), and a commitment to corrupt government largesse for migrants versus the rule of law.
The Trump Administration Has a Conflicted Relationship with the Second Amendment
The right to bear arms is inherently anti-authoritarian at a time when Trump wields authority.
California Sues 2A Activists For ‘Unlawfully Distributing Computer Code’
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed suit against Gatalog Foundation, CTRLPew, and several individual 2A activists for “unlawfully distributing computer code for 3D printing firearms and prohibited firearm accessories and for promoting and facilitating the unlawful manufacture of 3D printed firearms and firearm accessories” under California laws that prohibit the distribution of computer code for printing gun parts to those without a license and “knowingly, willfully, or recklessly aid, abet, promote, or facilitate the ‘unlawful manufacture of firearms,’ which includes the manufacture of a firearm using a 3D printer by an unlicensed person.
Hide the Decline
Environment &“Green Energy”
CO2 Border Tariff? Don’t Even Think About It, DOE!
“We are deeply concerned about the implications of this directive [for DOE to quantify the CO2-intensity of domestic versus foreign goods]. While framed as a study, the structure and scope closely mirror the foundational work required to implement a U.S. carbon tax. Given your well-known opposition to carbon taxes and related schemes, we wanted to ensure you were fully aware of this provision and its potential trajectory.”
Vermont Cold-Weather Shock
Rumor has it that Vermont can get a bit chilly in the winter, but central planners don’t worry about little things like that.
Socialized Medicine
Government in Healthcare
Barcelona hospital carries out world’s first face transplant with a donor who was euthanized
Doctors highlight “extraordinary generosity of donor” in operation that required 100 medical professionals
War & Terror
Now the Trump Administration Wants to Talk with Iran?
Now, perhaps all the reports of forthcoming U.S. negotiations with Iran over a nuclear program are a ruse, meant to lull the Iranians into a false sense of security as some sort of U.S. “help” — airstrikes, cyber-warfare, covert operations — is prepared. But if they aren’t, one wonders just what there is to negotiate about, as the Iranian nuclear program has been set back considerably.
Classified Whistleblower Complaint About Tulsi Gabbard Stalls Within Her Agency
Congress hasn’t seen the complaint, which was filed eight months ago with U.S. intelligence community’s watchdog office
Las Vegas bio lab raid possibly tied to California case, federal Chinese investigation
A suspected biological laboratory raided by Metro police and the FBI may be connected to a similar incident in California, where officials found infectious agents such as HIV and malaria, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.
Start Spreading the Nukes
The Financial Times has run a good piece on the possibility that a fraying American security guarantee will lead some of the countries that once sheltered under Uncle Sam’s nuclear umbrella to start developing their own nuclear weapons. The article’s authors quote Denis Healey, a significant (Labour) British politician for much of the second half of the 20th century, who was, at different times, defense minister and chancellor of the exchequer (finance minister). He had other roles besides.
Start Spreading the Nukes, Part 2
A credible nuclear deterrent is the best way to avoid nuclear war, but credibility is achieved when a potential aggressor believes that the other side will press the button — and quickly. Could “Europe” devise a system where that would be a believable possibility?
Several fall ‘deathly ill’ from Las Vegas bio lab; tip leads FBI, police to garage that smelled like ‘hospital’
Several people became sick from an illegal bio lab running out of a Las Vegas home that also served as an Airbnb, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained Tuesday.
Regarding Talks with Iran… What Are We Doing Here?
None of this clarifies A) what kind of deal about the future of the Iranian nuclear program would be acceptable to both the Iranian mullahs and U.S. national security interests B) what, if anything, the president is willing to do after pledging to the Iranian protesters “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” and C) why anyone would trust an Iranian regime that has broken almost every treaty it has ever signed.
A Wargame Shows Just How Vulnerable Europe Is to a Russian Attack
With America disengaging, Russia might be ready for new war much sooner than previously estimated
‘There’ll Be Consequences’: Trump WH Warns Defense Contractors
One afternoon in January, President Trump sent the stocks of the military-industrial complex stumbling when he complained that defense contractors were paying dividends too generously, buying back their own stock too aggressively, and compensating executives too lavishly.
One Battle for the Virginia Military Institute After Another
Following last month’s elections, Virginia now has a newly elected general assembly. The state’s off-cycle election was brutal for the incumbent president’s party, holding to historic custom. Democrats swept into power, with former Representative Abigail Spanberger elected governor by a comfortable double-digit margin.
Preparing for That Rainy Day
In itself, building a stockpile of rare earths and other critical minerals is not going to remedy the dangerously dominant position that China holds in this area, but it is a sensible precautionary step, and, to the extent that (at least to a degree) it brings another buyer into the market may offer some underpinning to efforts to increase U.S. production of these resources.
What’s Going on with That Secret Biolab in Las Vegas Connected to China
Yes, today’s newsletter is about the Chinese government, a biolab, and reckless handling of dangerous pathogens, but it is not a rerun from 2020. You are going to want to read this one all the way to the end.
‘Banned’ Russia Is Still Competing in the Cyberattack Olympics
The Winter Olympics opening ceremony will air on NBC today. On paper, Russia and Belarus are not competing in this year’s games and have been banned for four years, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I say “on paper,” because 13 athletes from Russia and seven from Belarus will partake in the Milan Cortina Games, competing as “Individual Neutral Athletes.” At least we know whom to root against.
US accuses China of secret nuclear testing
The United States accused Beijing on Friday of conducting a secret nuclear test in 2020 as it called for a new, broader arms control treaty that would bring in China as well as Russia.
Nevada judge releases property manager tied to Las Vegas bio lab
A federal judge ordered the release Friday of the property manager connected to a suspected bio lab, who prosecutors charged with unlawfully possessing guns.
National
Greene: MAGA ‘was all a lie’
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said President Trump’s Make American Great Again slogan was a “lie,” saying his first year back in office was focused on obliging wealthy supporters.
Judge Temporarily Blocks DHS Rules for Congressional Visits to Detention Centers
This motion concerns the January 8 memo from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, which required members of Congress to provide notice to bypass Cobb’s order blocking her June 2025 memo.
Are books trendy again? Gen Z is buying more paperbacks, starting campus reading clubs
Amid concerns about a decline in student literacy, some universities are holding on tight to book culture with professors and student groups emphasizing the value of pleasure reading and hard copies.
Epstein Files of the Rich and Famous
Well, it’s Groundhog Day, again. Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter weather, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s time for a counterstrike against that little critter using former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Speaking of winter weather, the mayors of the Big Apple and the District of Columbia are getting poor reviews for their cities’ response to recent snow and ice storms. Meanwhile, the “Epstein list” — as in 3 million of the U.S. Department of Justice’s files and documents related to the infamous sex trafficker — is finally published. Plus, a very special offer you won’t want to miss.
DOJ’s Ethics Complaint Against Judge Boasberg Flops
Back in July, the Department of Justice escalated its public attacks on James Boasberg, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by filing an ethics complaint against him. DOJ’s complaint charged that Judge Boasberg had made “improper public comments about President Donald J. Trump to the Chief Justice of the United States and other federal judges that have undermined the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.” The complaint charged specifically that at a March 2025 session of the Judicial Conference of the United States Judge Boasberg “attempted to improperly influence Chief Justice Roberts and roughly two dozen other federal judges by straying from the traditional topics to express his belief that the Trump Administration would ‘disregard rulings of federal courts’ and trigger ‘a constitutional crisis.'”
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon
In October, a retiree emailed a DHS attorney to urge mercy for an asylum seeker. Then DHS subpoenaed his Google account and sent investigators to his home.
New Mexico warns against consuming raw milk after newborn dies from listeria
While the New Mexico Department of Health said it cannot pinpoint the baby’s exact cause of death, officials believe it could have been linked to the mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy.
Republicans fear Trump backlash could cost them Senate control
Senate Republicans are concerned that public backlash to President Trump’s handling of the economy and his aggressive deportation policies could give rise to a Democratic wave that not only sweeps away the House Republican majority, but also threatens their own three-seat majority in the upper chamber.
Copyright Law Doesn’t Bar Release of Covenant Shooter Manifesto
Following the 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, in which the shooter was killed by responding police officers, the shooter’s parents inherited the shooter’s copyright interest in various writings (including the shooter’s manifesto). They then assigned it “to a trust to be held for the benefit of the Covenant Parents’ children,” and the Covenant Parents argued that this should keep the writings from being released.
Tennessee Appeals Court Rejects Argument That Covenant Shooter Manifesto Must Remain Concealed to Avoid Copycats
The trial court concluded this information was exempt from disclosure, but the Court of Appeals largely disagreed.
Trump Wants Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station Renamed After Him
The president of the United States is withholding congressionally appropriated federal funding for a major infrastructure project, in violation of the law, because he wants existing transportation hubs to be renamed after him.
Trump Posts, Then Deletes Video Depicting Obamas as Apes
Sen. Tim Scott calls it ‘the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House’
GOP’s new fear: Losing the Senate in November
Top Republicans are increasingly worried about private polling that paints a dire picture of the midterms — and it’s not just the House they’re afraid of losing, it’s also the Senate.
Bannon: ‘We’re going to have ICE surround the polls’
Former White House strategist and podcaster Steve Bannon suggested Tuesday that he wants to see Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers “surround the polls” during November’s midterm elections.
Polish prime minister chides US ambassador in Trump Nobel Peace Prize squabble
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday chided U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose after the diplomat said Polish parliamentary Speaker Wlodzimierz Czarzasty would be blacklisted over his opposition to nominating President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Border Patrol boss Gregory Bovino tossed from Las Vegas bar
Former U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino was reportedly asked to leave a Las Vegas bar out of safety concerns for the venue’s customers.
Short Circuit: An inexhaustive weekly compendium of rulings from the federal courts of appeal
Arkansas tooth picks, selective schools, and inconsistent travel plans.
Bioethicist: Government Whole Milk Push Is Racist
From “Is the Recent Effort to Glorify Whole Milk Tainted by Racism?” published in Bioethics Today: As a student of and writer on the history of science and public health under fascist regimes, I am suspicious. Milk drinking is political. Drinking whole white milk has played a big role in racist and far-right thinking.
Rising Progressive Star Shakes Up Race for Los Angeles Mayor
Nithya Raman, who has been compared to Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York, presents a significant challenge to the incumbent, Mayor Karen Bass.
The Sordid Story of Trump, the Trump–Witkoff Family Business, and the UAE
Even if crypto makes your head hurt, you’re going to be hearing a lot about this in the months to come.
“It’s the Primaries, Stupid”
That’s a quote by conservative super-strategist Richard Viguerie, known affectionately as the “Funding Father” of the conservative movement thanks to his pioneering use of direct mail dating way back to the 1960s.
Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez wins Louisiana state House special seat in district Trump won
Louisiana Democrat Chasity Verret Martinez defeated her Republican opponent by double digits in the special election Saturday night for a state House seat in a district President Trump won by 13 points in 2024.
ICE mobile app scans protester’s face, revokes her TSA PreCheck status
In this week’s air travel news, United Airlines is developing new premium-heavy “Coastliner” Airbus jets to deploy on high-revenue transcontinental routes out of California; a federal appeals court knocks down a Transportation Department rule that would have required airlines to be more transparent in displaying their ancillary fees to passengers before booking; a Minnesota resident who was stopped by immigration enforcement officers said her Global Entry and TSA PreCheck trusted traveler memberships were revoked a few days later; San Francisco International is set to get a new nonstop route to Central American this summer; American says it will be the first U.S. carrier to operate flights to Venezuela; a new study finds four of the eight busiest U.S. air routes involve California airports; and Capital One and American Express tighten up entry rules for their airport lounges.
Economy & Taxes
‘We’re not in a bubble yet’ because only 3 out of 4 conditions are met, top economist says. Cue the OpenAI IPO
“Part of the reason I think there’s not a bubble is I don’t see the smart money as acting like there’s a bubble,” he told Fortune. “Maybe I should say there’s not a bubble yet.”
U.S. Manufacturing Is in Retreat and Trump’s Tariffs Aren’t Helping
Levies on imports were supposed to bring back a golden age of U.S. manufacturing. They haven’t worked, so far.
Trump’s target was Canada, but Michigan takes the hit
The collateral damage of tariffs
Taiwan passes Germany to become US’ 4th largest trading partner
Taiwan’s total trade with US exceeded reached US$1.12 trillion last year
The Tax Code Hasn’t Gotten More Pro-Family
A recent Politico story on pro-life criticisms of the Trump administration included this response: “Aides also point to Trump’s pardons of activists convicted of breaking into or blocking abortion clinics, the expansion of the child tax credit, and the creation of so-called ‘Trump accounts’ for children as examples of the administration’s ‘pro-family’ focus.”
SEIU Faces Steep Declines in Membership and Revenue
SEIU Local 99’s massive strike in LA Unified ended with union leaders bragging that the strike showcased the union’s strength. But the reality is more stark for the union: SEIU is facing steep declines in membership and revenue, and the strike appears more like an act of desperation.
Layoffs in January were the highest to start a year since 2009, Challenger says
U.S. employers announced 108,435 layoffs for the month, up 118% from the same period a year ago and 205% from December 2025. The total marked the highest for any January since 2009. At the same time, companies announced just 5,306 new hires, also the lowest January since 2009, which is when Challenger, Gray & Christmas began tracking such data. Also, job openings fell sharply in December to 6.54 million, to their lowest since September 2020. Available jobs are down by more than 900,000 just since October.
Nevada’s legal cannabis sales fell nearly 9 percent in 2025. Is tourism slump to blame?
The decrease caused a dip in the cannabis industry’s contribution to the State Education Fund. Regulators also plan to look at the state’s tax structure.
International
Conservative populist Laura Fernández wins Costa Rican presidency, preliminary results show
Conservative populist Laura Fernández won Costa Rica’s presidency, promising to continue the aggressive reorienting of the Central American nation’s politics started by her political sponsor, outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves.
Hospital evacuated after 8-inch WWI artillery shell discovered in patient’s butt
A hospital in France was evacuated after a male patient arrived with a WWI artillery shell lodged in his backside. According to the bum-shell report, the unnamed 24-year-old had been rushed to the Rangueil Accident and Emergency unit in Toulouse late Saturday night, the Daily Mail reported. The poor fellow was “in a state of extreme discomfort, having inserted a large object up his rectum,” an insider source said.
X offices raided in France as prosecutors investigate child abuse images and deepfakes
French prosecutors raided the offices of social media platform X on Tuesday as part of a preliminary investigation into allegations including spreading child sexual abuse images and deepfakes. They have also summoned billionaire owner Elon Musk for questioning.
North Korea ‘executes schoolchildren for watching Squid Game’
Amnesty International has revealed the brutal punishments meted out to North Koreans who consume foreign media, after 25 interviews with escapees.
Opinion
Nancy Mace Is Not Okay
“Something’s broken. The motherboard’s fried. We’re short-circuiting somewhere.”
Where Does Ron DeSantis Go Next?
If Casey DeSantis passes on the Florida governor’s race, the incumbent will find himself at a crossroads.
What Is Border Patrol Doing in American Cities?
Amid the chaos in Minneapolis, our attention tends to flit from incident to incident. We have all seen and debated the video of Alex Pretti being shot and killed in a tragic encounter with six Customs and Border Protection agents. The relevant questions of this shooting’s justice and legality have been litigated thoroughly in the public sphere and will be investigated by the proper authorities.
Do Conservatives Read Good?
“Conservatives don’t like to read,” the ever-confident Substacker Matt Yglesias declared on Monday.
Is Sociology Salvageable?
A plea to return to the sociological tradition.
The Most Erratic President in the World
This is one of those newsletters that I know is going to irk a lot of people, but I absolutely loved writing it. While you can read this edition of the newsletter, it is probably best read out loud in the style of the narrator in the Dos Equis commercials, preferably with some upbeat Latin jazz in the background.
Let’s Return to Teaching Students How to Argue
Civil debate is not impossible with proper training.
Nationalizing Elections Is a Very Bad Idea, as It Was When Democrats Tried It
When Joe Biden entered office with Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress in 2021, the Democrats insisted that their first priority would be to nationalize American election administration.
The kids are alt-right
Young men are turning to fascism. I don’t use that word lightly. Hypochondriac leftists apply it to everything they dislike, from farmers’ markets to air travel. Still, when I see the combination of antisemitism, white nationalism, hostility to markets, and apologias for actual, literal Nazism (notably through the elevation of Adolf Hitler’s legal apologist, Carl Schmitt), I don’t know what other word to use.
