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Today's Political News Compilation - Monday, February 16, 2026

Feb 16
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Below are some of the top political news stories of the day:


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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) speaks alongside Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during a joint press conference, Feb. 16, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary.
Janos Kummer/Getty

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U.S. and Hungary sign nuclear cooperation deal as Trump deepens ties with controversial leader Viktor Orbán​

By Maria Kashchenko
Updated on: February 16, 2026 / 11:10 AM EST / CBS News

The United States and Hungary signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on Monday, as the Trump administration deepened bilateral ties with a controversial ally at a politically sensitive moment for Budapest.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Budapest for meetings with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and senior members of his government, during which Rubio and Orbán signed the pact.

The deal comes two months before Hungary's next parliamentary elections, which may determine whether Orbán can maintain his two-decade grip on power.
What is in the U.S.-Hungary nuclear deal

The U.S. and Hungary signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Nuclear Energy in November 2025, launching negotiations on cooperation across civil nuclear industry, including on small modular reactors (SMRs) and spent fuel storage. ...

READ THE FULL STORY - CBS NEWS
apnews.com

Trump and Maryland governor Wes Moore battle over Potomac River sewage spill response

President Donald Trump is lashing out at Maryland Gov. Wes Moore over what he says is as a lagging response to a January pipe rupture that sent sewage flowing into the Potomac River northwest of Washington.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.cbsnews.com

FBI formally refuses to share evidence in Alex Pretti killing, Minnesota investigators say

Minnesota's top investigative agency said Monday the federal government has formally refused to hand over evidence and information in the killing of Alex Pretti.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
www.foxnews.com

Thune guarantees voter ID bill to hit the Senate despite Schumer, Dem opposition: 'We will have a vote'

SAVE America Act faces Senate filibuster hurdle despite 50 GOP backers as Republicans weigh talking filibuster option to advance voter ID requirements.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
www.bbc.com

US build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran

BBC Verify has seen US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln near Iran ahead of talks between the two countries
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
apnews.com

Rubio plugs Orbán's bid for another term in Hungary's elections

Rubio's stop in Hungary comes after visiting Slovakia following the Munich Security Conference before that.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.foxnews.com

RNC mocks 'Forget someone again??' after Dems’ Presidents Day post leaves out big name

Republicans mock Democrats over President's Day social media post that omitted Bill Clinton from composite image featuring other Democratic presidents.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
apnews.com

Obama shuts down alien buzz and says there's no evidence they've made contact

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has clarified comments he made about alien life on a podcast over the weekend.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.nbcnews.com

Agreements that allow local police to work with ICE skyrocket

There were 1,168 agencies with officers signed up to help ICE, up from 135 during the Biden administration and 150 at the end of Trump’s first term, according to an analysis of ICE data.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
apnews.com

Texas Republican Paxton steps up his Senate bid against GOP Sen. Cornyn ahead of early voting

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is stepping up his race for the U.S. Senate with early voting about to begin for the March 3 GOP primary.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.bbc.com

Hillary Clinton accuses Trump administration of Epstein files cover-up in BBC interview

"Get the files out. They are slow-walking it," the former US secretary of state says. The White House says it has done "more for the victims than Democrats ever did".
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
www.foxnews.com

GOP reaches key 50-vote threshold for Trump-backed voter ID bill as Senate fight looms

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, leads the campaign to win 50 Republican votes for a conservative voter ID bill, but Senate Democrats plan to block the SAVE America Act in Congress.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
www.usatoday.com

Will Trump get a fourth Supreme Court justice? Speculation swirls around Alito

Supreme Court watchers are trying to read the tea leaves for a possible retirement annoucement by Justice Samuel Alito.
www.usatoday.com
apnews.com

US military boards another oil tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean

The U.S. military says it's boarded another sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean. The Pentagon said in a statement Sunday that U.S. forces boarded the Veronica III after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea.
apnews.com apnews.com
www.nbcnews.com

More than 70,000 voters will stay on North Carolina voter rolls after settlement

Republicans had filed a lawsuit alleging that a quarter million voters in the battleground state had been improperly registered.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
www.yahoo.com

Trump called Newsom a 'loser.' Newsom's advisers see that as a win.

“The more Trump takes the bait, the more attention you get in return,” a Newsom adviser said.
www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com
www.aljazeera.com

Iran FM in Geneva for US talks, as IRGC holds drills in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's top diplomat says he hopes to achieve 'fair and equitable deal' in high-stakes second round of talks on Tuesday.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
www.yahoo.com

Epstein ranch in New Mexico bought by family of ‘Trump Republican’ candidate

Property where abuse took place purchased for $13.4m in 2023 by Texas businessman Donald Huffines’ family
www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com
apnews.com

NAACP asks judge to protect against 'misuse' of voter data seized by FBI in Georgia's Fulton County

The NAACP and allied groups are asking a judge to limit how the federal government uses voter data seized in an FBI raid near Atlanta.
apnews.com apnews.com
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Latest Political News Feed

Schumer, Dems' goal is to 'tie people down' so they can't campaign, Thune says

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 0
Senate Republicans say they’ve struggled to get out on the campaign trail ahead of the midterm elections — and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., argues Democrats are to blame.

"Their whole goal, and everything is to, you know, force us to stay around, force us to try and get members to take hard votes and just to tie people down so that they can't be back campaigning," Thune told Fox News Digital.

Thune had just left a local furniture store in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he touted the economic benefits of the bill, which largely extended...
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Judge orders migrant deported in 'error' free from ICE custody with criminal case looming

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 0
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from re-arresting Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia into federal immigration custody — an update that comes just days before he is slated to appear in Nashville for a key court date in a separate criminal case.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis agreed to convert her previous emergency order blocking ICE from immediately re-detaining Abrego Garcia into a longer-term form of injunctive relief sought by his lawyers.

She said Tuesday that the Trump administration failed to provide the...
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Hunt files police report against Cornyn campaign staffer over alleged family 'doxxing' incident

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 0
FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Wesley Hunt, who is running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Texas, filed a police report on Tuesday after a senior campaign staffer for one of his GOP opponents posted a 2016 provisional ballot that included personal information about Hunt and his family.

The document included the last four digits of Hunt's Social Security number, his driver's license ID number and a home address.

Matt Mackowiak, who serves as the communications director for Sen. John Cornyn's re-election campaign for U.S. Senate, posted the...
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Trump won’t let Dem sewage 'failures' slide as Moore faces heat over infrastructure grade

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 0
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is stepping in to fix the sewage leak rocking the Potomac River, with the White House vowing the president will not allow local lawmakers' infrastructure "failures" to slide on his watch.

"President Trump will not allow the failures of local and state Democrats to diminish the quality of life for millions of Americans," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital Tuesday.

"In line with the President’s promise to make Washington, D.C. safe and beautiful, President Trump is fixing the disaster...
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US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson dies aged 84

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 0
Tributes poured in from politicians who described Jackson as an agent of change and transformative leader.
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No DNA matches on glove found in Nancy Guthrie case, police say

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 0
It's been two weeks since the 84 year old's disappearance and authorities say there have not been any arrests
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Police arrest man running toward Capitol with shotgun, wearing tactical vest

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 1
Washington — An 18-year-old man allegedly carrying a shotgun and running toward the Capitol was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Tuesday, the head of the police force said.

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the man parked a white Mercedes SUV near the Capitol just after noon and exited the vehicle with the shotgun. He then began running toward the West Front of the Capitol, the side that is adjacent to the National Mall.

"This individual was challenged by United States Capitol Police officers in order to drop the weapon, which he...
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U.S. Air Force VIP fleet being repainted in Trump's preferred palette, sources say

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
The Kennedy-era paint colors on the exterior of aircraft in the U.S. Air Force presidential and VIP fleet are being replaced with a new design in President Trump's preferred palette. The new colors will appear on planes including the donated Qatari jet and two planes Boeing is converting to serve as Air Force One, sources told CBS News.

Some of the blue and white aircraft are already being repainted in dark navy blue, deep red and gold as they come in for scheduled due repairs and maintenance, the officials said.

The classic robin's egg blue color...
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Police assessing Stansted Airport private flights over Epstein ties

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Essex Police says it is assessing information in relation to private flights into and out of the airport.
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France releases suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker after fine paid

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the vessel was departing Marseille after a payment of "several million euros".
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Police identify suspect in Rhode Island ice rink shooting

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Two people were killed and three others were injured at a shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket.
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Hillary Clinton alleges Epstein files "cover-up" by Trump administration

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 7
Washington — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused the Trump administration of a "continuing cover-up" over its handling of the release of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"There's something about this administration's attitude toward this, which I think really leads us to conclude they have something to hide," Hillary Clinton told the BBC in an interview released Tuesday. "We don't. We have been willing to say whatever we know. We've even done it under oath."

Hillary Clinton is set to appear before...
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Obama dragged for 'headache'-inducing presidential center update that has visitors squinting

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
Former President Barack Obama's presidential center in Chicago is again coming under scrutiny for its architectural design — this time leaving locals scratching their heads over confusing text wrapped around the top of the building.

"I'm outside the Obama Center museum tower right now," Chicago Sun-Times architecture critic Lee Bay posted to X Monday, sparking a deluge of mockery from locals and conservatives.

"The new letters -- an excerpt from Obama's Selma speech -- are tough read to me, giving off the lorem ipsum vibes," he added, referring...
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Minnesota Democrats demand reparations from ICE after losing $18 billion to Somali fraud

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Top Minnesota Democrats are demanding the federal government "pay for what they broke" following weeks of DHS’ immigration enforcement surge — a demand that comes after fraudsters stole as much as $18 billion from taxpayers who funded the state’s social services programs under their watch.

Embattled Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey both made public overtures to the feds for reimbursement for usage of state and city resources and recouping of other alleged damages.

"The federal government needs to pay for what they...
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Eleven killed in multiple strikes on alleged drug boats, US military says

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 7
More than 130 people have been killed in these alleged "narco-trafficking operations" carried out by the US since September.
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How the tide turned against the leader of South Africa's second-biggest party

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
John Steenhuisen will not seek re-election as DA leader, leaving the race wide open for a successor.
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Third round of Russia-Ukraine talks starts in Geneva as strikes continue

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
Expectations for a breakthrough are low as negotiators meet at a US-brokered talks to try end the war.
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Family of Zambia's ex-President Lungu dismiss poisoning allegation - lawyers

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
It is the latest twist over the fate of Lungu's body, which remains in a South African morgue since his death.
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US kills 11 in 3 strikes on alleged drug-running boats

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on three vessels it says were operated by "designated terrorist organizations" and were engaged in narco-trafficking, U.S. Southern Command announced Tuesday.

"Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations...
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Iran signals nuclear progress in Geneva as Trump calls for full dismantlement

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 4
Negotiations between the United States and Iran advanced Tuesday toward what Tehran described as the beginning of a potential framework, but sharp public divisions between the two sides underscored how far apart they remain.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the two sides reached a "general agreement on a number of guiding principles" and agreed to begin drafting text for a possible agreement, with plans to exchange drafts and schedule a third round of talks.

"Good progress was made compared to the previous meeting," he said, adding...
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DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin to leave Trump admin, source confirms

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 4
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin is leaving the Trump administration, Fox News has confirmed.

McLaughlin, one of the administration's most vocal defenders of President Trump's immigration enforcement policies, is set to leave the administration next week.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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Jesse Jackson: A life in pictures

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 7
A look back at the remarkable life of the US civil rights activist, who died on Tuesday aged 84.
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Hillary Clinton accuses Trump administration of Epstein files 'cover-up' in BBC interview

  • News source: BBC News - World
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 5
"Get the files out. They are slow-walking it," the former US secretary of state says. The White House says it has done "more for the victims than Democrats ever did".
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Tricia McLaughlin, top Homeland Security spokeswoman, leaving her post

  • News source: Politics - CBSNews.com
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security's top spokeswoman, is leaving her post next week, two U.S. officials familiar with her plans told CBS News on Tuesday.

As the chief spokesperson of the federal agency spearheading President Trump's mass deportation campaign, McLaughlin has been prolific on social media and in the press defending the Trump administration's immigration policies.

A source familiar with McLaughlin's plans said her departure was planned in December, and that she delayed it following the fatal shooting of two U.S...
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Trump withholds endorsement in fiery GOP Senate primary as early voting begins in Texas

  • News source: FOX News
  • Replies: 0
  • Views: 6
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