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Financial Times editor and columnist Ed Luce warned President Donald Trump's being forced to confront the consequences of his actions in Iran and he's responding poorly, Luce added. When oil prices surged above $120 per barrel after the Gulf of Hormuz closed, Trump panicked and began reassuring markets the war would end soon, effectively revealing his negotiating position to Iranian leadership.

Luce characterized this as a "big reveal," explaining Iran now understands Trump expected a quick 12-day conflict and is unprepared for prolonged engagement. The analyst argued that Iran likely has greater pain tolerance than Trump and now possesses a strategic advantage without needing advanced military capabilities. Trump's public messaging about ending the war quickly undermined his negotiating strength and provided Iran crucial intelligence about his willingness to exit the conflict.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) contradicted the Trump administration Tuesday, calling the strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed approximately 175 civilians a "horrible mistake." During a CNN interview with Kasie Hunt, Kennedy refused to hide behind ongoing investigations, directly contradicting Trump's denial that the strike occurred and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's claim that the Pentagon is investigating.

A New York Times story revealed American forces likely dropped the bomb on the school. Kennedy expressed regret about the attack, stating he wished it hadn't happened and assuring it wasn't intentional, though acknowledging the investigation may prove him wrong. He emphasized that "the kids are still dead" and argued that when mistakes occur, they should be admitted rather than denied or investigated indefinitely.

The FBI issued a warning to California law enforcement that Iran could launch drone attacks against the West Coast in retaliation for American military strikes, according to an alert reviewed by ABC News.

The warning, issued late last month, stated that as of early February 2026 Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the U.S. coast, targeting an unspecified locations in California if the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran.

President Donald Trump appointed Erika Kirk, widow of late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors, the position her husband was set to hold before his September assassination. The appointment triggered significant social media backlash, with critics questioning Kirk's qualifications. Kirk has no military or educational leadership experience, prompting accusations of political favoritism. Conservative commentators used the appointment to highlight concerns about merit-based hiring, with some invoking DEI talking points. Social media users questioned why qualified candidates with lifetime military service were passed over. Some expressed concern about the timing and appropriateness of the appointment for a grieving widow with young children at home. The board oversees morale, discipline, curriculum, and fiscal affairs at the academy.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham intervened during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Tuesday after Sen. Bernie Moreno attacked Democratic witnesses and colleague Sen. Jeff Merkley without allowing him to respond. Moreno mocked the witnesses' position on immigration law and criticized their qualifications. When Merkley attempted to respond, Moreno refused to let him speak, continuing his criticism. Merkley pointed out that Moreno was both attacking witnesses and colleagues on the dais. Graham interjected forcefully, declaring "I'm in charge!" and insisting that Moreno allow Merkley to answer questions. Merkley reminded Moreno that Republicans had blocked a bipartisan immigration reform bill in 2013, suggesting they return to collaborative efforts. He advocated for ending partisan accusations and working together to produce meaningful legislation rather than continuing contentious exchanges.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered a contentious pitch to voters Tuesday at President Donald Trump's Florida resort, calling it "foolish" to vote against Republican candidates in November. This comes as an NBC News poll shows Democrats well-positioned to retake the House, with some Republicans fearing Senate losses too. Even Sen. Rand Paul predicted "disastrous" midterm results for the GOP. Johnson framed the election as a contest "between normal and crazy," claiming the Republican majority has "defied expectation and historical trends," while governing. Speaking at the Trump National Doral Miami, where membership costs $50,000 initiation plus $1,000 monthly dues, Johnson attacked Democrats as "Marxists, open socialists, the far-left insurgent politicians," pushing the party "over the edge," and leaving America behind. He vowed Republicans would defy historical odds again.

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An FBI memo from a 2020 interview documents a woman's account of her sexual assault. In the early 2000s, when she was 16 years old, Jeffrey Epstein took advantage of the then minor while on a speakerphone call with Donald Trump, the memo said. The woman, recruited by Epstein as a junior in high school, told FBI agents she visited his New York home three times. During the third visit, she was brought to an upstairs massage room where Epstein was on a call with Trump. According to the memo, the massage escalated into sexual assault, after which Epstein gave her $300. Trump and Epstein had a documented friendship from the 1980s until reportedly cutting ties around 2004, though a 2011 email suggests potential later contact. Trump faces no criminal charges related to the allegation. Many Epstein documents contain unverified allegations that do not constitute evidence of wrongdoing.

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended President Trump's Iran military decision during a Tuesday briefing after CBS correspondent Nancy Cordes questioned the rationale. Cordes noted that Trump initially claimed Iran would strike U.S. targets within seven days, later reducing that estimate to three days. She asked where Trump was obtaining this information. Leavitt insisted Trump was "not making anything up" and stated his decision was based on intelligence and negotiations with Iran over the past year. She emphasized that Trump would not allow the Iranian regime to threaten or attack the United States. When Cordes asked if Trump was fabricating justifications for war, Leavitt pushed back firmly, insisting the president acted on facts and intelligence. She concluded by stating Iran "chose this path to death and destruction."

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The District of Columbia Bar filed ethics charges against DOJ pardon attorney Ed Martin for sending a threatening letter to Georgetown University Law Center while serving as interim U.S. attorney. Martin questioned the school's diversity and inclusion policies, and the court filing alleges he used coercion to punish disfavored viewpoints and suppress DEI teaching. Before Georgetown could respond to his inquiries, Martin notified the school that his office would no longer employ its students as fellows, interns, or employees. D.C. Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton Fox argues these actions violated the First and Fifth Amendments by restricting the law school's free speech and religious rights. The DOJ responded by accusing the bar of partisanship. Martin, who represented January 6 rioters, previously headed the DOJ's weaponization working group before losing that position.

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The Trump administration subpoenaed records from Maricopa County, Arizona, continuing efforts to revisit the 2020 election despite no evidence of fraud. The move follows a January raid on Fulton County, Georgia election offices where 2020 ballots were seized. Trump has long maintained the conspiracy theory that the election was "rigged" against him. Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson stated he complied with the federal grand jury subpoena for records related to the 2020 audit. Legal experts and commentators responded with alarm on social media. Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General Harry Litman criticized Peterson for handing over records. A GOP-led 2021 audit by Cyber Ninjas actually found Biden won Maricopa County by 360 more votes than originally believed. Critics argue Trump's continued election litigation represents an abuse of federal power to undermine democratic processes.

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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday she will not appeal a judge's dismissal of charges against 16 individuals involved in the false electors scheme to overturn the 2020 election. In a sweeping 110-page report, Nessel acknowledged believing the defendants committed crimes but concluded the resource-intensive prosecution was unlikely to succeed. She called continued prosecution "fundamentally unjust," arguing lower-level participants were following Trump's direction. The report explicitly states: "This was indeed Trump's criminal conspiracy." Judge Kristen Simmons dismissed charges in September, citing insufficient evidence of criminal intent. Legal experts note it's rare for an AG to publish such a detailed report declining prosecution. Trump issued federal pardons for dozens involved in 2020 election overturn efforts, though his pardon power doesn't extend to state charges. The case mirrors similar dismissals in Nevada, Wisconsin, and New Mexico.

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Supreme Court Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Brett Kavanaugh engaged in a rare public debate Monday over the court's expanded use of emergency rulings, known as the "shadow docket," to advance Trump administration policies. Jackson criticized the conservative majority's willingness to intervene early in legal challenges, calling the uptick "a real unfortunate problem" that creates "a warped kind of proceeding." She warned the practice signals lower courts how the Supreme Court might ultimately rule and "is not serving the court or this country well," remarks that drew applause from a packed audience including lower court judges. Kavanaugh defended the court's actions, arguing justices must respond to government emergency applications and noting similar requests came from prior administrations. The public exchange marked a rare moment of justices debating internal court business openly, moving beyond written opinion disagreements.

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Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman criticized the Trump administration for failing to anticipate the economic consequences of striking Iran, particularly soaring oil prices. Krugman wrote that decision-makers "should have seen this coming," but evidence suggests they didn't prepare for the resulting crisis. Despite U.S. oil self-sufficiency, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused American gasoline, diesel, and heating oil prices to surge because oil trades on global markets at roughly uniform prices worldwide. Krugman explained that U.S. oil exports and imports don't insulate the economy from Middle East disruptions. He contrasted this with 1970s price controls that temporarily shielded consumers but created shortages. Krugman argued modern political conditions make such protections unlikely, leaving Americans vulnerable to global oil market volatility triggered by geopolitical conflict.

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