Fox Business host Larry Kudlow questioned President Donald Trump after he claimed he could grow the economy by 15% to 20%.
"You know, I've been watching you and everybody else for years, and they say, 3% growth," Trump told Kudlow during a Tuesday interview. "We should grow 15 or 20 percent."
"We should be at 15%," he added.
"Well, 15 is a big number, sir," Kudlow pushed back.
"But Larry, you can do it," Trump insisted. "The problem is every time we used to grow at 15%. And, you know, when we were starting as a country, we were growing. Because we had spirit and we had the right incentives. Today we have a lot of socialism, a lot of communism."
"You may not agree with every number, but you have to love his optimism," Kudlow said before a commercial break.
Cheryl Hines, the wife of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., faced an awkward moment after podcast host Joe Rogan accused President Donald Trump's FBI of "gaslighting" people about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
On his Tuesday podcast, Rogan's producer pointed to a recent Associated Press headline: "FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn't running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show."
"Oh, today?" Hines asked.
"Yeah, the AP is the — AP reporting it," the producer explained. "This was like the FBI stating it today."
"That's the gaslightiest gaslighting s—t I've ever heard in my life!" Rogan exclaimed.
"Whoa," Hines replied.
"What do they think is going on?" Rogan wondered. "Just a bunch of fun, a bunch of guys hanging out. Being fellas having cocktails, talking about science?"
"They say they're still looking into it, but they don't have any evidence," the producer explained.
"Oh, look into it. Maybe you see to get Eddie Bravo in the case," Rogan quipped.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Tuesday that the Trump administration was "moving on" from the scandal surrounding the late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
At the White House press briefing, one reporter noted that the Epstein files indicated that President Donald Trump talked to authorities about the notorious sex offender in 2006.
"The president has gone on record before, and he's told reporters that he said that Jeffrey Epstein, that he had no idea about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes," the reporter said. "During this conversation with the police chief, however, he says, according to this recounting of it, that 'thank goodness you're stopping him.' He also called Ghislaine Maxwell 'evil.'"
"My two questions are, did that conversation with Palm Beach Police happen, and can you explain the discrepancy?" he asked Leavitt.
The press secretary, however, insisted that Trump "remained consistent, and that he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his club at Mar-a-Lago because, frankly, Jeffrey Epstein was a creep."
"And unlike many other people who are named in these files, President Trump cut off his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and was honest and transparent about that for years and years," she added. "And I'm sure many of you, when you read that alleged FBI report, probably thought to yourself, wow, this really cracks our narrative that we've been trying to push about this president for many years."
A former top FBI official flagged unusual details in images and video released Tuesday in the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother.
Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, told CNN that the way the armed suspect moved in the footage captured on a home security device outside Nancy Guthrie's Arizona home appears to show him "not moving with purpose" and handling a handgun in an unusual way.
"Yeah, it's a remarkable series of images. The still images are much better than I expected," McCabe said. "There's a lot of detail in the images of the clothing and the gloves and all this stuff that by themselves would not mean much. But when you put them all together might very well inspire someone who actually knows this person to say 'hey, I know who that is.' This is not, in my opinion, this is not someone, first of all who was ever trained to carry a gun."
McCabe described why the suspect's behavior appeared to be bizarre.
"No person with law enforcement or military training would ever carry a firearm in a holster like that, right? Where that is at the almost the center of his body hanging off of his belt there, it's like, not very tactically sound for a lot of reasons," McCabe said. "His approach to the house, it's not particularly furtive or concerned. He just kind of walks up with his house, with his head bent towards the ground obviously to avoid being seen. You then see him use his his hand like he is in that video right there to kind of cup over the lens of the camera to keep it from getting the close up of his, of his face, which we all which we get eventually, anyway."
The investigation has been ongoing for 10 days, and these images were the first released of a potential suspect by the FBI.
"So even here, where he turns around, he's looking for something on the floor that he can use. He doesn't seem to be in a rush. He never never looks out towards the street; he doesn't seem to be concerned that anyone sees him or what he's doing. It's really remarkable," McCabe said.
"It's kind of not what you think about when you think about an executed kidnapping, you know, usually it's more than one person that's engaged in trying to take someone out of a residence," McCabe said. "Here you have, you know, this image anyway, it's just one person. Maybe there are others we don't know, but yeah, it's just it's very odd. This person does not look like they are, you know, they're not moving with a purpose, as we say in law enforcement."
McCabe also pointed out the suspect's knit ski mask, backpack, and dark jacket with reflective material, which could help someone who knows the suspect help identify who they are to law enforcement.
"You don't even see those things out skiing anymore," he added.
New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver (D) butted heads with the chair of the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday after she asked the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement whether he expects to "go to hell" over what is happening under his watch.
Given her five minutes to question acting director Todd Lyons as Democratic lawmakers tried to get straight answers from Department of Homeland Security officials, McIver set up the Donald Trump official with, “So, Mr. Lyons, I've heard my colleagues ask many questions over and over again, and you cannot answer them. So let me ask you some questions that you may be able to answer: Mr. Lyons, do you consider yourself a religious man?”
“Yes, ma'am,” he replied.
“Okay. Well, how do you think Judgment Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?” she pressed, which led the startled Lyon’s to fire back, “I'm not going to entertain that question.”
“Okay, of course not,” she quickly replied. “Do you think you're going to hell, Mr. Lyons?”
‘I'm not going to answer — “ Lyons attempted as she talked over him with, “Of course not. How many government —.”
“Gentle lady will suspend. The gentle lady will suspend,” acting Chair Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) exclaimed as he brought down his gavel.
As she protested, he spoke over her and stated, “The issues we're debating here are important to ones that members feel deeply about. While vigorous disagreement is part of the legislative process, members are reminded that we must adhere to established standards of decorum and debate. The witnesses are here voluntarily, and I will continue to remind, continue to remind members that while oversight is important, aggressively attacking those witnesses personally is inappropriate and not in keeping with the traditions of our committee.”
"Mr. Chairman, I'm just asking a question,” McIver innocently responded. “You all, you guys are always talking about religion here in the Bible. I mean, it's okay for me to ask a question, right? But let me continue on ––I got your note.”
After getting a tongue-lashing from a Democratic lawmaker on Tuesday, the acting director of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency made no effort to endorse the stewardship of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem when given an opportunity.
Appearing at a House Oversight Committee hearing that was nationally televised, Todd Lyons was grilled by Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) about the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of DHS agents, which then led the Democratic lawmaker to state, “In America, we shouldn't have secret police. We shouldn't have masked government agents executing citizens in the streets. The Constitution does not give your agency the right to hide their faces while they kill Americans.”
“Will you commit yes or no to immediately unmasking every agent, conducting immigration enforcement and requiring them to wear standard uniforms with identifiable badges?” he pressed.
Well, that's a sad response,” Kennedy lectured. “Your answer is completely unacceptable. People who are proud of what they do aren't hiding their identity. We're a nation of laws. And you, your boss, Secretary Noem and Donald Trump are not above the law.”
Pressing the ICE official further, Kennedy asked, “The American people are angry, and they're demanding accountability and justice from those giving the orders. Mr. Lyons, yes or no? Do you believe that Secretary Noem should resign?”‘
I'm not going to comment on that, sir,” Lyons replied.
"Sir, you're going to look the families of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in the eye and tell them Secretary Noem should keep her job after their loved ones were killed?” the lawmaker insisted.
Lyons refused to endorse the embattled Noem and instead offered, ”Sir, the loss of any life is unacceptable. And the heart, my heart, prayers and thoughts go out to anyone who tragically loses his life, especially a child since I suffered personal loss in my life. But I'm not going to comment on an on-going investigation.”
"Well, Mr. Lyons, the American people are watching your unwillingness to demand accountability from your own leadership speaks volumes to American citizens,” Kennedy replied as his time ran out.
CNN's Harry Enten was gobsmacked by "bonkers" findings in new polls on President Donald Trump and the job market.
The White House and Trump administration officials started out the week tempering public expectations for the coming jobs report — expected to be released Wednesday — and Enten told "CNN News Central" the public has seriously soured on the president's handling of the economy.
"Donald Trump took abeautiful swan and turned itinto an ugly duckling, as far asthe American people areconcerned," Enten said, looking at poll results.
"Because thesenumbers ... [are] absolutely crazy in howthe American people have totallyturned on Donald Trump. Take alook here: Trump's net approvalrating on jobs and employment in January 2025, look at that,overall plus-nine points. Hey,that's pretty good. But down hegoes – minus-13 points overall."
"But youthink that's nuts, take a lookat the independents," he added. "They gofrom plus-seven way, way, way down, off thescreen, to minus-30 points.That's a 37-point drop in the net approval for Donald Trump among independents on the issue of jobs andemployment."
That change in public opinion in the past year has been staggering, he said.
"This next chart isactually the one that thatreally blew my mind," Enten said. "It's aboutpeople's views of the jobmarket in general over a similarperiod of time. Yeah, okay, if youthink these numbers are crazy,this next one these are bonkers,okay. What are we talking abouthere? Americans rate the jobmarket as bad or good, February2025, equal shares say fair orsay bad or good, 42-42. Look atthis now, over just a year'stime. Now the clear majority,52 percent, up like a rocket, rated itbad compared to just 33 percent, down tothe basement, who rated as good."
"So what we've seen is Americansrating the job market, it was aneven split a year ago, and nowthe clear majority, by a 19-pointmargin rated as bad rather thangood," Enten added, "and that goes a long wayto explain why Donald Trump'snumbers on jobs and unemploymenthave fallen to the floor."
A lawmaker Tuesday warned Department of Homeland Security leaders that they would face justice following the deaths of American citizens and unlawful behavior by federal agents.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) had a serious message for the heads of the agencies responsible for carrying out the Trump administration's harsh immigration tactics and mass deportation policy during a hearing where leaders were testifying ahead of a looming DHS funding deadline.
"My mother, a Guatemalan immigrant and an American, taught me that I have a responsibility to look evil in the eye and to fight it," Ramirez said.
She called out ICE Director Todd Lyons, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, speaking directly to the three men testifying before congressional leaders.
"You have used your power to perpetrate great evil. And it's about time you answer to this committee for the lawlessness that you've empowered and defended in your testimony," Ramirez said.
Ramirez described the methods ICE has used against immigrants and citizens, including extreme violence, detaining children, using children as bait, violating court orders, creating traps at immigration court, entering homes without warrants. She focused on CBP and its roving patrols, intimidation, plate-switching, using chemical agents against people — after a judge ordered for it to stop — shooting people, including the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
"I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were immoral then and criminal, and so are yours," Ramirez said.
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours." pic.twitter.com/xeXMgRf3FO — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2026
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) forced Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to admit that his agency uses the same tactics as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
During a Tuesday House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Goldman pointed out that ICE agents were "asking people walking on the streets of America to show proof of citizenship."
"Do you know what other regimes in the 20th century required similar proof of citizenship?" the lawmaker wondered.
"Sir, there were various nefarious regimes that did that," Lyons said.
"Is Nazi Germany one?" Goldman asked.
"Yes," Lyons stated.
"Is the Soviet Union one?" Goldman pressed.
"Yes, sir, but I totally — This is the wrong type of question!" Lyons exclaimed.
"You said in your opening statement that references to ICE as the Gestapo or the secret police encourage threats against ICE agents," the New York Democrat noted. "The problem is you have it backwards, sir. People are simply making valid observations about your tactics, which are un-American and outright fascist."
"If you don't want to be called a fascist regime or secret police, then stop acting like one," he added. "But people are simply just observing what they are seeing. And that's why people are making those comments."
Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), refused to apologize for the deaths of Minnesota protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Tuesday, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) noted that Lyons had described President Donald Trump's deportation operations as "Amazon Prime, but with human beings."
"Mr. Lyons, how many times has Amazon Prime shot a mom three times in the face?" the lawmaker wondered, referring to Good.
"None, sir," Lyons admitted.
"Well, speaking of human beings, how many times has Amazon Prime shot a nurse 10 times in the back?" Swalwell asked of Pretti.
"None," Lyons replied.
"How many ICE agents have been fired for their conduct under your leadership?" the congressman wondered.
"I'm not going to speak about personnel actions, but I'll get to that data," the deportations chief remarked.
"Mr. Lyons, will you apologize to the family of Renee Good for being called a domestic terrorist by the president and his leadership?" Swalwell asked.
"No, sir," Lyons stated. "Sir, I welcome the opportunity to speak to the family in private, but I'm not going to comment on any active investigation."
"Will you apologize to the family of Alex Pretti for also being called a domestic terrorist?" Swalwell pressed.
"Sir, again, I'm not going to speak to any ongoing investigation," Lyons remarked.
Swalwell pointed out that Lyons had made the decision not to leave the Department of Homeland Security despite the deaths caused by his agents.
"Will you stand with the kids who you're supposed to protect, or will you side with the killers bringing terror to our streets? Mr. Lyons, will you resign from ICE?" the California Democrat asked.
An animated Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) took to the House floor Tuesday to publicly reveal the names of six “powerful men” alleged to be co-conspirators of Jeffrey Epstein, reading their names as a matter of public record.
“There were six wealthy, powerful men that the DOJ hid for no apparent reason!” said Khanna, who alongside Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) had filed the bill that ultimately forced the DOJ to release its files on Epstein. “When Congressman Massie and I pointed this out to the DOJ, they acknowledged their mistake, and now they have revealed the identity of these six powerful men.”
Both Khanna and Massie alleged on Monday that the DOJ was actively protecting the identities of the aforementioned six men, who were identified in a DOJ document as potential co-conspirators of Epstein’s. Their pressure on the DOJ, Khanna said, ultimately forced the agency to un-redact the alleged co-conspirators’ identities, prompting even more questions from the California lawmaker.
“My question is, why did it take Thomas Massie and I going to the Justice Department to get these six men's identities to become public?” Khanna said. “And if we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files!”
The names Khanna gave are Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze, Leonic Leonov, Nicola Caputo, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and billionaire businessman Leslie Wexner.
Rep. @RoKhanna names the six alleged Epstein co-conspirators on the House floor that the DOJ has been accused of trying to protect pic.twitter.com/hL03IXDdJC — Alexander Willis (@ReporterWillis) February 10, 2026
A lawmaker had a scathing opening statement about Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a hearing where heads of immigration agencies were testifying ahead of a looming funding deadline for the Department of Homeland Security.
Ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) called out Noem and President Donald Trump directly, delivering his remarks before the testimony from DHS officials. He questioned Noem's leadership and the conduct of ICE and border patrol agents responsible for carrying out the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies and tactics, including the killing of two citizens in Minnesota last month.
"Bystander videos from Minneapolis and cities around the country, show ICE and CPD personnel behaving like unprofessional goons, cursing at bystanders and mooning people from their hotel rooms," Thompson said. "News reports have a Border Patrol agent who was found passed out, drunk, and covered in vomit in a vehicle and an ICE personnel apparently stole a child's phone and sold it for cash.
"It's an embarrassment and DHS is so-called leadership should be ashamed — if only they had any shame."
He specifically addressed Noem, who had appeared briefly before the committee last year and then said she had to leave for another meeting — but that meeting never happened.
"Secretary Noem's Department of Homeland Security has the blood of American citizens on its hands, but she takes no responsibility for anything," Thompson said. "To the contrary, Secretary Noem was last seen in this committee room hiding behind her family in a desperate attempt to distract from her department's failures and abuses. Then she ran from our questions, leaving early under the guise of needing to attend a meeting that it turns out, didn't even exist."
Thompson described what he thinks Noem should do next.
'She's always been more concerned with photo ops and wardrobe changes than following the law and fulfilling the mission of her department. Since being sworn in, Secretary Noem has has enriched herself, abused the power of her office, obstructed congressional oversight and violated her oath to the Constitution.
"Donald Trump and Kristi Noem are doing real damage to this country and to the department that was stood up 25 years ago in the wake of 9/11 to protect American citizens from future attacks. Secretary Noem is a liar with no concern for Americans killed by the department she runs. She must go."
Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) reported that President Donald Trump "yelled" at her and said his "friends" would be hurt if sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's acquaintances were revealed by the Department of Justice.
"The reality is the Trump administration is not releasing the information," Greene told the Redacted podcast Tuesday. "And I got yelled at by the president over this. This is why he called me a traitor. He called me a traitor because I would not take my name off the discharge petition because I stood firmly and said, no, we are going to release the Epstein files."
"I'm standing with women who were raped as teenagers," she continued. "I'm not standing with the government. I don't support the cover-up of all of this stuff, whatever it may be. And the president got mad at me and he's told me, and I've said this multiple times. He told me his friends would get hurt. And that's what he told me."
"And then we're seeing a continue slow walk and cover up of a lot of this information. And I know that is why. I firmly believe that that's why it is being covered up."
Greene argued that criticism was wrongly directed at Attorney General Pam Bondi and others in the government.
"She works at the pleasure and approval of the President of the United States," she noted. "So when you're, when everyone's getting mad at Pam Bondi or everyone's getting, you can name anybody you want. The man at the top is Donald Trump. He's the president. And he's the one that was completely against releasing the files."
