memeorandum

4:30 PM ET, February 19, 2026

Top Items:

Sean Coughlan / BBC:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested and in custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office — Summary — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office — Police say King Charles's brother is in custody and officers are carrying …

Megan Specia / New York Times:

Live Updates: U.K. Police Arrest Former Prince Andrew Over Epstein Ties — The British police on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of criminal activity linked to the Epstein files. — Here's the latest. — The police in Britain on Thursday arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor …

Julie K. Brown / The Epstein Files:

Prince Andrew's Arrest — “Today our broken hearts have lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” — Virginia Giuffre's family — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother to Britain's King Charles, has been arrested on charges of suspicion of misconduct in public office …

Discussion: All Rise News, CBS News, TMZ.com, New York Post, Byline Times, RADAR, The Daily Wire, The Hill and GB News

Reuters:

Live updates: British police arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over Epstein links — Thames Valley police said they had arrested a man in his sixties in connection with an investigation into misconduct in a public office.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Robert Reich, TMZ.com, Bloomberg and CBS News

Danica Kirka / Associated Press:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over ties to Epstein — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Bloomberg:
Former Prince Andrew Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct

Reuters:
King Charles' brother Andrew released after arrest over misconduct relating to Epstein

Discussion: NBC News, CNBC, RADAR, GB News, Daily Mail, TheJournal.ie, NewsNation, Page Six and El País

Gregory Svirnovskiy / Politico:
After former Prince Andrew's arrest due to Epstein connections, members of Congress call for more

Discussion: The Daily Beast, The Hill, NewsNation, NewsMax.com, UPI, New York Post and New Republic, more at Techmeme »

Washington Post:

Trump appears ready to attack Iran as U.S. strike force takes shape — Although the United States and ally Israel have a decisive military advantage over Iranian forces, there are ways for Tehran to make any attack painful, officials said. — The Trump administration appears ready to launch …

Discussion: Axios, New York Post and The Hill

The Times:

UK blocking Trump from using RAF bases for strikes on Iran — The disagreement over the use of British sites is behind the US president's withdrawal of support for the Chagos Islands deal, The Times understands — President Trump has withdrawn his support for Sir Keir Starmer's deal to hand …

Discussion: The War Zone, New York Post, Washington Times, Breitbart and Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Gathers the Most Air Power in the Mideast Since the 2003 Iraq Invasion

Discussion: MS NOW, Straight Arrow News, The Washington Free Beacon, HotAir, Fox News, CNN, The Guardian, Times Now, Jewish Insider, Mediaite, Politico, France 24, Semafor, Breitbart, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, New Republic and CoinDesk

Matt Gertz / Media Matters for America:
Sean Hannity is demanding regime change in Iran to stop the country's nuclear program ... which Hannity previously claimed Trump had “obliterated”

Discussion: The Hill, CNN, Bloomberg, Joe.My.God., The Maine Wire, Washington Examiner, CBS News and Israpundit

Matt Gertz / Media Matters for America:
Mark Levin's clarion call for Trump to wage war on Iran29 minutes ago

Discussion: Townhall, New York Post and Breitbart

April Rubin / Axios:
Trump touts peace while threatening war with Iran

Discussion: New York Times, CBS News, NOTUS, ABC News, Washington Times, Patterico's Pontifications, Tampa Free Press, UPI, Daily Mail, Raw Story, Vermont Daily Chronicle, Middle East Monitor and The Independent

Julia Ainsley / NBC News:

‘No expense has been spared’: Inside a luxury jet DHS wants to buy for deportations — DHS leadership says the department needs the jet for immigrant deportations and Kristi Noem's travel. A brochure given to passengers who recently flew on it with Noem highlights its …

Discussion: The Independent, Alternet.org, masslive.com and New York Times

Ben Penn / Bloomberg Law:

In-Your-Face DOJ Aide Rides Prosecutors for ‘Chief Client’ Trump — When leaders of all 93 US attorneys' offices met for their weekly video chat last month, the 33-year-old Justice Department aide who presided had a blunt message. — President Donald Trump is their “chief client” …

Alanna Durkin Richer / Associated Press:
Large banner featuring Trump's face is displayed on Justice Department headquarters25 minutes ago

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Hill, KVIA-TV, New Jersey Online and Newsweek

Associated Press: As political pressure prompts exodus of Minnesota prosecutors, some defendants catch a break10 minutes ago

New York Times:

Trump Order Aims to Boost Weedkiller Targeted in Health Lawsuits — An executive order aimed at ramping up production of glyphosate set off alarms among supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — President Trump issued an executive order late Wednesday aimed at spurring …

Discussion: The White House, The Guardian, CNBC, IJR, New York Magazine, New York Post, The New Lede, Civil Eats, Alternet.org and MS NOW

The Guardian:

Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show — Exclusive: approximately 350-acre compound planned as base for multinational force, according to records reviewed by the Guardian — The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza …

Discussion: Associated Press, Reuters, The Mahablog, Zeteo, Breitbart, Bloomberg and Raw Story

Politico:
Trump to name Jared Kushner envoy for peace

Discussion: Washington Times, New York Times, NewsMax.com and The Hill

NBC News:
Trump vows $10 billion from U.S. for his ‘Board of Peace,’ as he leans into global roleNEW!

Discussion: The Hill, Fox News, New Republic, CBS News, Washington Examiner, New York Times, Associated Press, NPR, New York Post, Human Events, New York Daily News, RedState, France 24, NewsNation, IJR, The European Conservative and Al Jazeera

Washington Post:

U.S. trade deficit remains high in 2025, despite Trump's tariff policy — Deficit in trade of goods hits a record. Trade shifts away from China to other Asian exporters. — The U.S. merchandise trade deficit hit a record $1.2 trillion last year, despite President Donald Trump's promise …

Discussion: CNBC, U.S. Bureau …, Reuters, Forbes, Bloomberg, Washington Times, Reason, Cafe Hayek, Council on Foreign Relations and Joe.My.God.

New York Times:
In 2025, Trade Deficit in Goods Reached Record High25 minutes ago

Discussion: Breitbart, New York Sun and Courthouse News Service

Matt Grossman / Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Trade Deficit Surged in December

Discussion: Straight Arrow News, Associated Press and Breitbart

Choe Sang-Hun / New York Times:

South Korean Ex-Leader Is Sentenced to Life in Prison — Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty of masterminding an insurrection when he imposed martial law in 2024. It was the country's biggest criminal trial in decades. — South Korea's Yoon Sentenced to Life in Prison

Discussion: Associated Press, MS NOW, New York Sun, The Korea Herald, Washington Examiner, France 24 and Fox News

Lee Seung-ku / The Korea Herald:
Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to life for leading insurrection

Chris Geidner / Law Dork:

Exclusive: Senior DHS officials double down on arresting and detaining refugees in new memo — Hours after DOJ filed the new memo in court in Minnesota, a magistrate judge denied Law Dork's request for greater public access in the case — including remote electronic docket access.

Discussion: NPR, NOTUS and Joe.My.God.

Washington Post:
New DHS memo outlines plan to detain refugees for further vetting

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Hill, New York Times, CNN, The Guardian, CBS News, Straight Arrow News, Newsweek, Reuters, WNYW-TV, Raw Story and The Independent

Washington Post:

After leaving WHO, Trump officials propose more expensive replacement to duplicate it — HHS proposes spending $2 billion a year to re-create systems the U.S. accessed through the WHO at a fraction of the cost, according to officials briefed on the matter. — After pulling out of the World …

Discussion: New Republic, The Independent and Joe.My.God.

Meg Kinnard / Associated Press:

FCC chairman says the agency is investigating ABC's ‘The View’ over equal time rule — The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC's “The View” over possible violations of the requirement that broadcast stations give equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Mediaite, RedState, The Wrap and New York Sun

Darlene Superville / Associated Press:

An arts panel made up of Trump appointees approves his White House ballroom proposal — The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a panel made up of President Donald Trump's appointees, on Thursday approved his proposal to build a ballroom larger than the White House itself where the East Wing once stood.

The Philadelphia Inquirer:

The slavery exhibits at the President's House are beginning to be restored by the National Park Service — Almost a month after abruptly dismantling exhibits about slavery from the President's House, National Park Service employees began reinstalling the panels late morning on Thursday ahead of a court-imposed deadline.

Discussion: Axios and Billy Penn at WHYY

Jason Leopold / Bloomberg:

Goldman Lawyer, Epstein Conferred on Secret Service Prostitution Scandal — In a series of 2014 emails, the wealthy financier gave advice to the former White House counsel as the Colombian incident blew up. — Kathryn Ruemmler, who resigned last week as the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. …

Discussion: Ace of Spades HQ and National Legal …

Wall Street Journal:

Pardoned Binance Founder Hobnobs With Trump Sons, Administration Officials at Mar-a-Lago Crypto Fest — Changpeng Zhao makes first return to the U.S. since his release from federal prison in 2024 — In an ornate ballroom in Palm Beach, Fla., where a golden eagle loomed over a conference stage …

more at Techmeme »

Matthew Gault / 404 Media:29 minutes ago

Man Opposing Data Center Arrested for Speaking Slightly Too Long — An Oklahoma man tried to talk about a data center coming to his community. Police arrested him when he went a few seconds over his time limit. — Police in Claremore, Oklahoma arrested a local man after he went slightly …

Greg Olear / PREVAIL:

Donald Trump is mentioned in the Epstein Files over a million times. This is an illustration of what that looks like. — A short video. — Replace every word in Anna Karenina, The Decameron, Ulysses, and Moby-Dick with the words “Donald Trump,” and you have some idea of what being mentioned over a million times looks like.

Discussion: Media Matters for America

Marc Elias / Democracy Docket:

Susan Collins hands Trump the 50th vote against free and fair elections — Maine Sen. Susan Collins made news by adding her name as the 50th Senate supporter of the SAVE America Act — a massive voter suppression bill being pushed by Donald Trump. — MAGA conservatives cheered her addition for two reasons.

Mike Masnick / Techdirt:

DOGE Bro's Grant Review Process Was Literally Just Asking ChatGPT ‘Is This DEI?’ — Federal grants that had been approved after a full application and review process were terminated by some random inexperienced DOGE bros based on whether ChatGPT could explain—in under 120 characters—that they were “related to DEI.”