Headlines

February 13, 2026

Axios

Miss Me?

New polls from outlets including Harvard CAPS/Harris and YouGov/Economist show voters now say Joe Biden did a better job as president than Donald Trump, underscoring Trump’s slipping approval ratings one year into his term and growing political vulnerability ahead of the midterms.
Read Full Story
shumer.dev

There's Something Happening Here

An AI startup founder warns that the rapid, self-accelerating advances from labs like OpenAI and Anthropic have already made cutting-edge systems capable of replacing much of his own work—and argues that the same disruption is coming for most white-collar jobs far sooner than people realize.
Read Full Story
Axios

ICE Folds Tent in Minnesota

White House border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the 10-week ICE “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota, saying thousands of federal agents will be withdrawn after more than 4,000 arrests amid mounting political backlash and controversy.
Read Full Story
USA Today

Homeland Security Shutdown Looms

The Department of Homeland Security faces a potential shutdown due to budget disputes in Congress over border security and immigration funding, raising concerns about impacts on national security operations.
Read Full Story
New York Post

Chilling New Guthrie Ransom Note

As the search for Nancy Guthrie enters its 13th day, investigators pursue thousands of tips, new forensic clues and a chilling ransom note, while the father of murdered teen Polly Klaas warns of eerie similarities to his daughter’s abduction.
Read Full Story
CBS News

Record Voluntary Departures

A record share of detained immigrants are abandoning their court fights and choosing voluntary departure as bond approvals and asylum grants decline under the Trump administration’s expanded crackdown, leaving many feeling exhausted and hopeless about their chances of release or relief.
Read Full Story
NBC News

EPA Shifts Climate Policy

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reversed its previous endangerment finding on climate change, marking a significant change in its approach to environmental policies and regulations, which could have major implications for future U.S. climate policy.
Read Full Story
Military

Judge Shields Senator Kelly

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a temporary injunction preventing the Pentagon from penalizing Senator Mark Kelly for his involvement in a video encouraging military personnel to resist unlawful orders, emphasizing that Kelly's actions are protected by the First Amendment.
Read Full Story
The Telegraph

Epstein: Russian Spy Theories

Newly released emails reveal Jeffrey Epstein’s repeated trips to Russia, efforts to meet Vladimir Putin, ties to Kremlin-linked figures, and references to hidden cameras and “kompromat,” raising fresh questions about whether the disgraced financier may have been entangled with Moscow’s intelligence orbit.
Read Full Story
The Independent

Swiss Vote on Population Cap

Switzerland will hold a June 14 national vote on a proposal backed by the Swiss People's Party to cap the population at 10 million by 2050, with supporters arguing it would protect resources and infrastructure while critics warn it could strain ties with European neighbors and hurt the economy.
Read Full Story
The New York Times

Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity

In a landmark decision Henry McGowan was found not guilty by reason of insanity in an Irish murder case, prompting discussions on the insanity defense and mental health treatment in the legal system.
Read Full Story
The Wall Street Journal

Dragnet Era of Home Cameras

Home security cameras can help deter crime and capture incidents, but they also raise significant privacy concerns because companies often store and control the footage, leaving homeowners with limited say over how it may be accessed, shared, or used.
Read Full Story
Politico

NATO Allies Lose Faith in U.S.

A recent Siena College poll reveals that while a significant portion of New Yorkers express concern about crime, opinions on building new nuclear power plants are divided, with 42% in support and 50% opposed.
Read Full Story
KOMO News

Thornton Debunks Blood Rumor

Billy Bob Thornton clarifies that he and Angelina Jolie wore vials of each other's blood as a symbolic gesture, dismissing the media's portrayal of actual blood-drinking during their marriage.
Read Full Story
NPR

Ukranian Banned for his Helmet

The International Olympic Committee banned Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Winter Olympics for displaying a 'No War in Ukraine' sign, igniting debate over athletes' roles in political discourse and the balance between free expression and the apolitical nature of the Games.
Read Full Story
Mediaite

Trump Defends Controversial Video

President Donald Trump defended his posting of a controversial video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, asserting it was a 'strong piece on voter fraud' despite criticism over its content.
Read Full Story
The Hill

Fetterman Only Dem for Funding

Sen. John Fetterman broke with every other Senate Democrat to vote for advancing full-year funding for the Department of Homeland Security, arguing that shutting it down would harm agencies like FEMA and TSA without affecting ICE’s already-approved budget.
Read Full Story
Mediaite

Snorted Cocaine Off Toilet Seat

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed on Theo Von’s podcast his fearless attitude towards germs, humorously noting his past experiences with substance abuse recovery and his regular commitment to attending meetings, while also mentioning his connection with Kid Rock.
Read Full Story
CNBC

Epstein Fallout Claims Goldman Lawyer

Kathryn Ruemmler, Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer and former White House counsel, will step down in June following renewed scrutiny over newly released emails detailing her past relationship and communications with Jeffrey Epstein.
Read Full Story

Looking for previous newsletters?

Independent doesn’t mean indecisive.

Join our community of over 140K independent minds

Subscribe to the FREE Smerconish.com Daily Newsletter

The most important news of the day, delivered right to your inbox.

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Mailchimp.

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber