By Giancarla Sambo
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News:
Entertainment
U.S. Appeals Court Overturns BMI Rate Hike on Concert Promoters, Ruling Rates Were ‘Unreasonable’
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the rates imposed on concert promoters in Judge Louis Stanton’s 2023 decision – which more than doubled the royalty rate songwriters receive from live concerts in the U.S. – were “unreasonable”, and vacated the ruling. BMI had celebrated the original decision as a “massive victory” that ended “decades of below-market rates for songwriters, composers and publishers in the live concert industry.” The ruling gave songwriters a 138% rate increase, from around 0.21% to 0.5% of concert revenue. The previous rate had been set at 0.3% for venues under 10,000 seats and 0.15% for larger venues.
However, the appeals court found that Judge Stanton erred on multiple fronts.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/us-appeals-court-overturns-bmi-rate-hike-on-concert-promoters-ruling-rates-were-unreasonable/
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/files/2026/02/BMI-doc.pdf
Ninth Circuit Says No Copyright in Tracy Anderson, Megan Roup Workout Battle
A federal appeals court ruled in Megan Roup's favor in her copyright case against Tracy Anderson, confirming that Anderson's dance-cardio routines are not eligible for copyright. The Ninth Circuit upheld the lower court’s summary judgment that routines in 19 of Anderson’s DVDs are not protectable choreographic works.
https://www.thefashionlaw.com/9th-circuit-says-no-copyright-in-tracy-anderson-megan-roup-workout-battle/
Justice Department Blasts Live Nation's 'Desperate Attempt' To Halt Anti-Monopoly Trial—Days Before It Begins
Lawyers for the DOJ criticized Live Nation days before trial, calling its delay tactics 'desperate' amid monopoly claims over live entertainment.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/02/25/justice-department-blasts-live-nations-desperate-attempt-to-halt-anti-monopoly-trial-days-before-it-begins/
The $100 Million Case Over Kevin Spacey’s Imploded ‘House of Cards’ Season Finally Hits Court
The star's testimony will reopen scrutiny of his downfall, but the real stakes are over how production companies will be able to insure their investments.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/kevin-space-house-of-cards-trial-mrc-1236514281/
Isaac Hayes Estate Settles Lawsuit Accusing Trump of Unauthorized Song Use
President Donald Trump settled a lawsuit with Isaac Hayes's estate over unauthorized use of his song “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Hayes’s family said the estate filed the lawsuit in August 2024, claiming the Trump campaign used the song 133 times in videos and appearances during 2020 and 2024 campaigns. The lawsuit alleged copyright infringement and sought damages.
https://apnews.com/article/isaac-hayes-donald-trump-lawsuit-f3b633d11c80282bc635363c47f59d27
Miley Cyrus Asks Court to Dismiss ‘Flowers’ Copyright Case, Calling Similarities to Bruno Mars Hit ‘Commonplace’ and Unprotectable
Lawyers for Miley Cyrus have filed a motion seeking to end a copyright infringement lawsuit over her 2023 hit “Flowers” before it reaches trial. The suit alleges that “Flowers” lifted protected elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 ballad “When I Was Your Man”.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/miley-cyrus-asks-court-to-dismiss-flowers-copyright-case-calling-similarities-to-bruno-mars-hit-commonplace-and-unprotectable/
The Rolling Stones vs. ‘Melania’: Rep Denies Band Authorized ‘Gimme Shelter’ for Trump Doc After a Producer Claims Mick Jagger ‘Gave His Blessing’
An unnamed source denies Mick Jagger's involvement in licensing “'Gimme Shelter” for the Melania documentary, despite producer Marc Beckman telling Variety that Jagger was involved and approved.
https://variety.com/2026/film/news/rolling-stones-vs-melania-band-denies-authorizing-gimme-shelter-1236673985/
Crispin Glover Denies Model’s Battery, Fraud Lawsuit As ‘Meritless Fabrication’
A Los Angeles lawsuit accuses Back to the Future actor Crispin Glover of choking and filing a false police report against a model. Glover's lawyer strongly denies these baseless allegations.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-02-26/crispin-glover-lawsuit-battery-fraud-jane-doe
Epstein Effort to Finance a Dick Cavett Film Undone by Background Check
Jeffrey Epstein and Dick Cavett’s wife, Martha Rogers, worked on a PBS documentary project. However, after a background check on Epstein, PBS refused to move forward.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/arts/television/epstein-dick-cavett-film.html
Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty in the Killing of His Parents
Nick Reiner, 32, was charged with two counts of murder in the first degree in the fatal stabbings at his parents’ home in LA's Brentwood neighborhood in December.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/arts/nick-reiner-plea.html
Russell Brand Pleads Not Guilty to Further Rape and Sexual Assault Charges
Russell Brand, 50, pleaded not guilty to two new charges of rape and sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court in London. The charges, authorized in December, relate to incidents in 2009 involving two women. Brand only confirmed his name and pleas during the hearing.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/movies/russell-brand-court-rape-charges.html
How a Tourette’s Outburst of a Racist Slur Caused a Backlash at the BAFTAs
A racist slur, shouted involuntarily while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award, raised questions about how the show’s host and the BBC responded.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/movies/baftas-tourettes.html
Arts
Marilyn Monroe’s Final Photo Shoot Weeks Before Her Death Sparks Legal Battle—As Auction House Makes Nearly $1M Off Negatives
Marilyn Monroe’s final photos are at the center of a legal battle after an auction house posted them online and earned nearly $1 million from allegedly stolen negatives. Bert Stern’s famous three-day photo session with Monroe, held six weeks before her death on Aug. 4, 1962, included sultry images of the star lounging topless on a white sheet with a glass of wine. Officially licensed prints are still worth thousands of dollars to Stern’s survivors. Stern died in June 2013 at age 83.
https://nypost.com/2026/02/28/us-news/marilyn-monroes-final-photo-shoot-weeks-before-her-death-sparks-legal-battleas-auction-house-makes-nearly-1m-off-negatives/
San Francisco Ballet Pulls Out of Kennedy Center Performances
The San Francisco Ballet canceled its spring performances at the Kennedy Center. A company representative said, “SF Ballet’s Board of Trustees decided that the scheduled performances at the Trump Kennedy Center, May 27-31, will no longer happen.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/arts/dance/kennedy-center-san-francisco-ballet.html
This Year, It Will Be the ‘Trump Kennedy Center Honors’
Despite plans to close the building this summer for a two-year reconstruction project, the renamed ceremony will be held elsewhere, the center’s president said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/arts/trump-kennedy-center-honors.html
Caesar Rodney Statue to Get Place of Honor in Washington
A founding father and slave owner, whose statue in Delaware was removed in 2020, will be honored in Washington D.C. by the Trump administration as part of celebrations of the nation’s 250th birthday, according to internal Interior Department documents.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/climate/caesar-rodney-statue-trump.html
Sports
U.S. Players Respond to Criticism Over Women's Team, Trump Invite: 'Should Have Reacted Differently'
As U.S. hockey players returned to their NHL teams, they faced questions about the politicization of their Olympic win and their association with Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7070799/2026/02/25/usa-hockey-olympics-trump-reaction/
Brady Tkachuk Talks 'Clearly Fake' Tiktok Shared by White House, Trump Call and Gold Medal
While "Free Bird," the goal song for Team USA, played in the background of the video, Brady Tkachuk was made to say, "They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating f---s a lesson."
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7070904/2026/02/26/tkachuk-sanderson-senators-trump-usa-olympics/
New York Sues Video Game Developer Valve, Says Its 'Loot Boxes' Are Gambling
New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses Valve of promoting 'quintessential gambling', citing addiction risks for children. The lawsuit seeks fines and restitution. Valve declined to comment.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/new-york-sues-video-game-developer-valve-says-its-loot-boxes-are-gambling-2026-02-25/
DraftKings Lawsuit Raises Questions for Share Performance and Future Promotions
DraftKings faces a Massachusetts class action over its promotional practices. A court allows most consumer claims to proceed, focusing on how DraftKings structured and disclosed high-profile offers.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/draftkings-lawsuit-raises-questions-share-121024459.html
FCC Seeks Public Comment on Live Sports Broadcasting Marketplace
The FCC seeks public input on live sports in streaming, noting that it's harder to watch teams and that sports remain mostly local, despite growing national reach.
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5755188-fcc-seeks-comment-sports-streaming/
Attorneys For Driver Accused of Killing Gaudreau Brothers Seek to Dismiss Charges
Attorneys for the man accused of killing NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, in a 2024 car crash made another bid this week to have charges against their client dismissed.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7068872/2026/02/24/johnny-matthew-gaudreau-case-lawyer-seeks-dismissal-charges/
Newsletter, Image, Likeness Vol. 173: The Selective Outrage of College Sports' Most Powerful
The Big Ten and SEC told Congress that sports don't need rules, claiming market forces and innovation improve media rights. However, they've spent millions lobbying to limit athletes’ earnings, block athletes’ employee status, override state NIL laws, and support groups that colluded to suppress athletes’ pay.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/newsletter-image-likeness-vol-173-selective-outrage-college-heitner-xcvae/
Detroit Lions Throw Flag on ‘Motor City Muscle’ Trademark Lawsuit
The Detroit Lions argue that a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by the Motor City Muscle Festival organizers, who held the festival in Detroit eight years ago, should be dismissed. The Lions filed a motion to dismiss in a Michigan federal court against U.S. Events, a Michigan-based media and entertainment company that sued them a few months ago.
https://www.sportico.com/law/analysis/2026/detroit-lions-motor-city-muscle-trademark-lawsuit-1234885508/
NASCAR Driver Gets Sued by Team Toyota Hours After JGR Lawsuit Proceedings in Court
Stock car racing disputes have kept courts busy: NASCAR vs. Michael Jordan and Front Row Motorsports, Joe Gibbs accusing his former competition director of leaking information to Spire Motorsports, and another restriction order pending judgment.
https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nascar-arca-series-nascar-driver-gets-sued-by-team-toyota-hours-after-jgr-lawsuit-proceedings-in-court-nitro-motorsports-leland/
The robot umps are here: What to watch for with ABS this MLB spring training
Starting in 2026, players can appeal strike-zone calls via the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, powered by T-Mobile, instead of arguing. It ensures accurate calls and adds a strategic dimension.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7064808/2026/02/23/mlb-abs-spring-training/
Boston's World Cup Games Hang in Balance Amid Finger Pointing Over a Missing $7.8m
Foxboro estimates $7.8 million for police and safety costs during the tournament, but no one has committed to cover the full amount. The select board will not issue a license until then.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7070419/2026/02/26/world-cup-boston-foxborough-fifa-license/
Technology/Media
Paramount Revises Its Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix Backs Out
Warner Bros. Discovery announced a December deal to sell part of its business to Netflix for $83 billion, rejecting Paramount Skydance's $108 billion offer to buy the whole company. Paramount countered and Netflix said that it is backing away from its deal, a stunning development that essentially paves the way for a takeover by Paramount.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/paramount-warner-bros-discovery.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/business/warner-bros-discovery-deems-paramounts-111-billion-bid-superior.html
Trump Orders Government to Stop Using Anthropic After Pentagon Standoff
Trump ordered federal agencies to cease using Anthropic's AI, potentially hindering intelligence and defense efforts. He criticized Anthropic on Truth Social as a “radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/anthropic-military-ai.html
Silicon Valley Rallies Behind Anthropic in A.I. Clash with Trump
Silicon Valley backed A.I. startup Anthropic, which is involved in a dispute with Trump and the Pentagon over military use. CEO Dario Amodei stated he opposes using their A.I. for surveillance or autonomous weapons, fearing it could undermine democratic values.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/technology/anthropic-trump-pentagon-silicon-valley.html
OpenAI Reaches A.I. Agreement with Defense Dept. After Anthropic Clash
OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said it had reached an agreement with the Pentagon to provide its A.I. technologies for classified systems, hours after Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using A.I. technology made by rival Anthropic.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/technology/openai-agreement-pentagon-ai.html
Pentagon Standoff Is a Decisive Moment for How A.I. Will Be Used in War
The Pentagon’s contract dispute with Anthropic is part of a wider clash about the use of artificial intelligence for national security and who decides on any safeguards.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/technology/defense-department-anthropic-ai-safety.html
Anthropic Accuses 3 Chinese Companies of Harvesting Its Data
The San Francisco start-up claimed that DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax used approximately 24,000 fraudulent accounts to train their chatbots.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/technology/anthropic-chinese-startups-distillation.html
In Landmark Trial, Plaintiff Says Social Media Harm Started at Age 6
The plaintiff, a 20-year-old identified only as K.G.M., took the stand to testify against Meta and Instagram in a bellwether case over tech addiction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/technology/social-media-addiction-testimony.html
Court Rules Against Justice Dept. Search of Reporter's Computers
The judge said the court itself would search the devices, which were seized from a Washington Post reporter’s home last month.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/media/washington-post-reporter-search-ruling.html
Youtuber Sues Runway AI In Latest Copyright Class Action Over AI Training
Runway AI faces a class action lawsuit in California for allegedly misusing YouTube content to train its platform. YouTube creator David Gardner claimed that Runway bypassed copyright protections to illegally download videos for AI training.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/youtuber-sues-runway-ai-latest-copyright-class-action-over-ai-training-2026-02-24/
IRS Tactics Against Meta Open a New Front in the Corporate Tax Fight
A multibillion-dollar dispute between Meta and the IRS signals a shift in how the agency targets tax avoidance by large companies pushing profits offshore.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/irs-meta-corporate-taxes.html
Peter Attia Leaves CBS News Amid Epstein Files Fallout
Longevity influencer Peter Attia resigned from CBS News after backlash over revealing his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including emails showing he provided medical advice to Epstein.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/well/peter-attia-cbs-epstein.html
Binance Employees Find That $1.7 Billion in Crypto Was Sent to Iranian Entities
Binance investigators found Iranians accessed over 1,500 accounts last year. About $1.7 billion moved from two Binance accounts to Iranian terror-linked entities, possibly violating sanctions. One account belonged to a Binance vendor.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/technology/binance-employees-iran-firings.html
A.I. Literacy' Is the New Drivers' Ed at This Newark School
Teachers say they want to equip high school students to drive artificial intelligence rather than be mere passengers steered by chatbots.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/technology/ai-literacy-newark-school-chatbots.html
Can A.I. Detection Tools Really Spot Fake Images and Videos?
As A.I.-generated media becomes indistinguishable from real, detectors can help verify authenticity. We conducted over 1,000 tests, revealing strengths and weaknesses.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/technology/ai-detection-generated-photos-video.html
Racing to Catch Up with Nvidia, AMD Signs Chips-for-Stock Deal with Meta
The multibillion-dollar deal is AMD’s latest move to catch up to Nvidia in the lucrative world of selling artificial intelligence chips.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/meta-amd-chips-ai.html
Canada Presses OpenAI for Answers on Mass Shooter's Chatbot Use
Canadian officials summoned OpenAI after discovering it didn't notify authorities about a user whose account was suspended months before she carried out mass murder in British Columbia. AI Minister Evan Solomon planned to meet OpenAI safety officials in Ottawa to discuss safety protocols and police notifications.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/world/canada/canada-shooting-openai.html
The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored
If China invades Taiwan and cuts off Taiwan's chip exports to American companies, the tech industry and the U.S. economy would be crippled.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/technology/taiwan-china-chips-silicon-valley-tsmc.html
General News
U.S. and Israel Attack Iran
The strikes targeted nuclear, missile, and military sites in Tehran and aimed to kill top officials. Trump urged Iranians to take control, warning IRGC to lay down arms. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israel and U.S. bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE. Iranian media reported casualties and explosions, and damage at the Supreme Leader's compound was confirmed by satellite. Trump and Netanyahu justified the attack to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and eliminate the regime threat.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/health/cdc-ralph-abraham.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/world/middleeast/iran-retaliatory-strikes-region.html
Iran Says Supreme Leader Killed in U.S.-Israeli Strikes
The Iranian government said that U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran had killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s long-time supreme leader and fierce opponent of Israel and the U.S. Trump had announced his death hours earlier, urging Iranians to seize control. The Iranian news agency confirmed the death as the war continued with new attacks.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/28/world/iran-strikes-trump
Here’s What Members of Congress Are Saying About the Attacks on Iran
As explosions rocked Tehran, Republicans largely voiced support, while Democrats warned of a costly and unauthorized conflict.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/world/middleeast/congress-iran-attacks-reaction.html
6 Takeaways from Trump's State of the Union
Trump delivered his State of the Union address to Congress. Key takeaways include his comments on tariffs, lower consumer prices, and AI driving up energy costs. It was the longest speech in the country's recent history.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/trump-state-of-the-union-takeaways.html
Fact-Checking Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address
Trump made a series of exaggerated and false claims as he touted his administration's work on the economy, crime, immigration, and more.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/25/us/fact-check-state-of-the-union-trump
Abigail Spanberger, in Democratic Response, asks if Trump Is Working for Americans
Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia summarized the Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union with three questions: Is he making life more affordable? Keeping Americans safe? Working for Americans? "We all know the answer is no,” she said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/spanberger-democratic-response-trump-sotu.html
Supreme Court Sides with Couple in Case Involving Baby Food Sold at Whole Foods
The Supreme Court cleared the way for a Texas couple who alleged that tainted baby food had sickened their son to proceed with a lawsuit against Whole Foods.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/politics/supreme-court-whole-foods.html
Supreme Court to Weigh Oil-Industry Effort to End a Major Climate Suit
A major climate lawsuit against the fossil-fuel industry approaches a crucial Supreme Court decision that could reshape corporate accountability for environmental harm and influence future climate cases nationwide. Governments accuse oil companies of contributing to climate change and misleading the public. Industry groups claim these cases overreach and should be dismissed or handled at the federal level.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/climate/supreme-court-boulder-climate-lawsuit.html
Supreme Court Hears Case That Could Decide Fate of Great Lakes Pipeline
The Supreme Court heard arguments in a dispute over an oil and gas pipeline in the Great Lakes. Michigan officials sued a Canadian company operating Line 5, which runs under the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan’s Peninsulas.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/politics/supreme-court-great-lakes-pipeline.html
Judge Vows to End Trump Administration's Noncompliance 'One Way or Another'
Minnesota's chief federal judge accused officials of disobeying and misrepresenting immigration orders. Judge Patrick Schiltz threatened contempt charges if the pattern continued, asserting ICE must comply. He noted that such judicial threats are rare in US history, highlighting it's unusual for a federal court to have to threaten contempt repeatedly to enforce compliance.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/minnesota-judge-ice-immigration.html
Judge Approves $345 Million Verdict Against Greenpeace in Dakota Access Pipeline Suit
A judge on Friday approved a $345 million verdict against Greenpeace in a Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit that could push the group to bankruptcy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/climate/greenpeace-energy-transfer-verdict-dakota-access.html
Judge Declines to Halt Construction on Trump’s East Wing Ballroom Project
A federal judge ruled that a lawsuit challenging the project needed to be revised before he could consider the larger questions it presented.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/politics/judge-white-house-ballroom-trump.html
Henrietta Lacks's Family Settles Suit with Novartis Over Use of Her Cells
Henrietta Lacks's family settled with Novartis, after it accused the company of profiting from her cells used in major research. A poor Black woman, Lack’s cells were taken without consent in 1951, and are the most used cells in research.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/novartis-settlement-henrietta-lacks-stolen-cells.html
Justice Thomas Bemoans Incivility as Security Prompts Cancellation of In-Person Speech
Justice Clarence Thomas expressed concerns about increasing polarization, incivility, and security threats facing the Supreme Court. He told a crowd at American University that he had hoped to attend in person, but was forced to appear remotely due to security risks.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/supreme-court-thomas-security.html
Environmental Protection Agency Weakens Limits on Mercury from Coal Plants
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin reversed the 2024 pollution rules, returning to 2012 standards and reopening a loophole for facilities burning "lignite," a dirty coal used by high-polluting plants like North Dakota's Coal Creek Station.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/climate/epa-mercury-coal-plants.html
A Judge Bars the Release of Jack Smith’s Report on Trump’s Mishandling of Documents
A federal judge appointed by Trump barred the Justice Department from releasing Jack Smith’s report on the president’s mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. U.S. district judge Aileen Cannon's ruling aims to keep the report from reaching Congress or the public. Cannon criticized Smith for a “brazen stratagem” of compiling the report after dismissing the case on unlawful appointment grounds, defying precedent.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/23/us/trump-news#trump-jack-smith-classified-documents-aileen-cannon
ICE Whistle-Blower Calls Training for New Agents 'Deficient' and 'Broken'
A former ICE lawyer resigned, criticizing agency training as "deficient, defective, and broken," saying cadets lacked proper tactics or legal knowledge.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/23/us/trump-news#ice-training-whistle-blower
Trump's Justice Department Sues New Jersey Governor Over ICE Enforcement
The Trump administration has escalated its legal battle against "sanctuary" jurisdictions, officially suing New Jersey and Governor Mikie Sherrill over a recent executive order that bars federal agents from using state property for immigration arrests.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/nyregion/doj-sues-new-jersey-ice-sherrill.html
Federal Judge Finds Third-Country Deportations Unlawful
A Boston federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's policy of deporting immigrants to third countries is unlawful, repudiating a key Homeland Security Department policy.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/25/us/trump-news#senate-democrats-dhs-funding-ice
Judge Dismisses Minnesota Gun Case as Prosecutors Struggle with Resignations
A judge took the unusual step of dropping the case over a speedy trial violation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota, which has been flooded with immigration-related cases.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/us/minnesota-gun-case-dismissed.html
Judge Axes Exxon's Defamation Suit Against Environmentalists
A Texas federal judge dismissed Exxon Mobil’s defamation lawsuit accusing environmental groups of sabotaging its recycling business with an Australian mining magnate. However, the judge allowed a parallel case against California’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, to proceed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/climate/exxon-defamation-lawsuit-bonta-california-andrew-forrest-recycling.html
15 States Sue H.H.S. Over Revisions to Vaccine Schedule
The plaintiffs in the new lawsuit include the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, as well as the governor of Pennsylvania.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/health/vaccine-schedule-california-lawsuit.html
Casey Means, Surgeon General Nominee, Sidesteps Questions on Vaccines at Senate Hearing
Surgeon General Nominee Dr. Casey Means, who is a wellness influencer, author, and supporter of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said that “anti-vaccine rhetoric has never been part” of her message.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/surgeon-general-casey-means-senate-hearing.html
Billions in Climate Grants, Frozen for a Year, Are Back in Court
A year after the Trump administration blocked money that had been awarded by Congress for clean energy projects, the legal fight over the funds rages on.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/climate/billions-in-climate-grants-frozen-for-a-year-are-back-in-court.html
Patel Ousts F.B.I. Personnel Tied to Inquiry into Trump’s Retained Classified Records
The firings are part of a rolling barrage of retribution aimed at those who worked on the two federal prosecutions of Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/patel-fbi-firings-trump-classified-records.html
Pentagon to Curb Ties with Top Universities and Think Tanks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Yale, Princeton, Brown, and other elite colleges and think tanks of indoctrinating service members with liberal ideologies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/politics/pentagon-universities-think-tanks.html
The U.S. Released the Epstein Files. The Arrests Are Overseas.
While the latest tranche of documents about the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has exposed a deeply American scandal, it is Europe where the aggressive enforcement is taking place.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/world/europe/epstein-files-arrests-europe-uk.html
Justice Department Exposed Cooperating Witnesses in Epstein Files
The disclosure exemplifies how the rush to release Jeffrey Epstein files caused the Justice Department to reveal information it usually would keep confidential, potentially endangering people.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/nyregion/epstein-cooperating-witnesses-redaction-error.html
Epstein Files Are Missing Records About Woman Who Made Claim Against Trump
The Justice Department withheld key Epstein files about a woman who accused Trump of unverified sexual assault. In 2019, she claimed she was assaulted by Trump and Epstein as a minor decades earlier.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/politics/trump-epstein-files.html
World Economic Forum Chief Resigns Over Epstein Ties
WEF president and CEO Børge Brende resigned after over eight years following both internal and external reviews of his links to Epstein. Files revealed Brende attended three dinners with Epstein and exchanged about 120 emails and texts in 2018-2019, despite previous denials.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/business/world-economic-forum-davos-epstein-brende.html
Lawrence Summers Will Resign from Harvard After Epstein Revelations
Summers, former school president, stepped down after documents revealed a closer relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. He will leave at year's end.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/larry-summers-resignation-harvard-epstein.html
In A Tense Deposition, Hillary Clinton Denied Knowing Epstein or His Crimes
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified for hours in a closed-door deposition near her home in Chappaqua, New York, in front of the House Oversight Committee. She denied ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein or knowing about his crimes.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/26/us/trump-iran-epstein -clinton#section-88344609
Bill Clinton Is Questioned for Hours About Epstein
Former President Bill Clinton faced nearly six hours of House Oversight questioning, which Democrats cited as a precedent for forcing Trump to testify. The Republican chairman said Clinton claimed he had no evidence of Trump’s involvement with Epstein, but the top Democrat disputed this.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02/27/us/trump-bill-clinton-epstein
Elite Doctors Served Jeffrey Epstein While Treating His 'Girls'
A group of doctors Epstein hired for himself and the women around him bent or broke ethical rules, with Epstein rewarding some with fees, gifts, and donations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/jeffrey-epstein-doctors.html
U.K. Police Release Ex-Ambassador to U.S. After Arrest Amid Epstein Accusations
Ex-Ambassador Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of “misconduct in public office” related to his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, shortly after former-Prince Andrew was taken into custody for the same reason. Both men are suspected of passing British government information to the disgraced financier.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/world/europe/peter-mandelson-epstein-uk.html
France Summons U.S. Ambassador Over Comments on Activist's Killing
Charles Kushner, Trump’s envoy to Paris, was called in after the State Department cited “violent radical leftism” in the beating death of Quentin Deranque, 23.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/world/europe/france-us-ambassador-kushner-activist-killing.html
Scouts Will Abandon D.E.I. Policies Under Agreement with Pentagon, Hegseth Says
Scouting America said it had staved off a demand from the Pentagon to ban girls from the organization and change its name back to Boy Scouts of America.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/scouting-america-dei-pentagon-hegseth.html
Near the White House, Hundreds of High School Students Protest ICE
Hundreds of students from Washington high schools rallied in front of the Lincoln Memorial as part of a national wave of protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement action.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/washington-student-ice-protests.html
How Wesley Hunt of Texas Is Working in Plain Sight with Outside Groups
Two anonymous X accounts, possibly linked to the Republican Senate campaign of Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas, have spent months sharing strategic information, potentially to bypass campaign-finance laws.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/politics/wesley-hunt-texas-senate-race-campaign-finance.html
Mamdani Meets Again with Trump, Emerging with Two Unexpected Victories
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he and Trump discussed building housing in New York City and he appeared to secure the release of a Columbia student detained by ICE.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/nyregion/mamdani-trump-meeting.html
Denver Mayor Bars ICE From City Property and Orders Protection for Protesters
Mayor Mike Johnston’s order signals a shift from his cautious stance, risking attention to Greater Denver after Trump’s campaign promise of a “bloody story” there.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/denver-mayor-ice-defiance.html
In the Northwest, Polyamory Finds Something New: Legal Protection
From big cities like Seattle and Portland, Ore., to small ones like Astoria, Ore., proponents of “nontraditional” romantic relationships are making headway in getting legal recognition.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/28/us/pacific-northwest-polyamory-legal-protection.html
Transgender Kansas Residents Sue After Driver’s Licenses Are Invalidated
Two transgender Kansans asked a state judge to strike down a law that invalidated their driver's licenses. The law requires the gender marker to match birth sex.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/transgender-kansas-drivers-licenses-lawsuit.html
Family of U.N. Expert Critical of Israel Sues Trump Over Sanctions
Francesca Albanese's family sued the Trump administration, challenging U.S. sanctions over her criticism of Israel's Gaza war.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/us/francesca-albanese-lawsuit-trump-sanctions-israel-gaza.html
Mexico Killed ‘El Mencho.’ What’s Next for the Drug Cartel He Led?
A major drug lord, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aka “El Mencho" and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed by Mexican forces, causing chaos in Guadalajara and nationwide violence as the cartel retaliated.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/world/americas/el-mencho-killed-mexico-cartel.html