Month: February 2026

In a speech that set a new personal record at 1 hour and 48 minutes, President Donald Trump painted a triumphant picture of the country during his first official State of the Union address of his second term. Speaking under the banner “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected,” he declared, “Our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before. After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages.”

The address came as public polling shows slipping support for the president on key issues, particularly the economy, with midterm elections less than nine months away. Trump devoted much of the night to economic themes, insisting, “The roaring economy is roaring like never before,” and pointing to what he described as lower gas prices, a surging stock market and oil shipments from Venezuela.

He also defended his tariff policies, despite a recent 6-3 ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States that found he overstepped his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Calling the decision “unfortunate,” Trump maintained the tariffs “took in hundreds of billions of dollars to make great deals for our country,” adding that they caused “no inflation” and spurred “tremendous growth.”

Democrats quickly disputed those claims. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, “Higher costs, tariff taxes, higher healthcare premiums — how is this making life more affordable for Americans?” Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked, “Donald Trump called this the ‘golden age of America.’ For who?” Rep. Brendan Boyle criticized the tariffs as a “national sales tax.”

Trump also announced a plan requiring major tech companies to generate their own power to offset rising electricity demand from AI data centers, promising household rates would not increase and could even fall.

On immigration, Trump sharply rebuked Democrats, accusing them of enabling what he called a “border invasion.” He blamed them for a partial shutdown that has stalled funding for the Department of Homeland Security, where lawmakers are seeking new guardrails for masked agents conducting immigration enforcement operations.

Challenging Democrats to stand if they believed “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” Trump chastised those who remained seated: “You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.” The remark triggered jeers from several lawmakers, including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Norma Torres, amid controversy over deaths linked to enforcement actions.

Turning abroad, Trump said his “preference” is diplomacy with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions, while pledging he would “never” allow the country to acquire a nuclear weapon. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain — I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”

During the speech, Trump honored Olympic gold medalists from the U.S. men’s hockey team, fresh off their victory over Canada in Milan — the program’s first gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” He announced that several players, including Jack and Quinn Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck, would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In addition, Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to retired Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams and Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover, joking afterward about giving the decoration to himself.

Closing on a sweeping historical note, Trump said, “These first 250 years were just the beginning,” adding that the “golden age of America is now upon us.” He declared, “The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the hearts of every American patriot.”

He did not address the ongoing controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, though several survivors and their families attended as guests of Democratic lawmakers.

In the official Democratic response, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger argued that “we did not hear the truth from our president,” focusing her remarks on affordability and accusing the administration of creating instability. Her rebuttal underscored Democrats’ broader campaign message heading into the midterms: that everyday costs, not rhetoric, remain voters’ top concern.

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More than three weeks after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, her daughter Savannah Guthrie is making a heartfelt appeal to the public — and backing it with a substantial reward. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing after she failed to appear at a friend’s home to watch a livestreamed church service. In the weeks since, the family has posted updates online, at times addressing individuals who sent a ransom note to a local TV station demanding bitcoin.

In an emotional video shared Tuesday, the “Today” co-anchor announced that her family is offering up to $1 million for information that leads to the recovery of her 84-year-old mother, who investigators say was abducted from her Tucson home in the early hours of Feb. 1.

Guthrie said through tears: “It is Day 24 since our mom was taken in the dark of night from her bed, and every hour and minute and second and every long night has been agony since then of worrying about her and fearing for her and aching for her and most of all just missing her.” While the family continues to hold onto hope, she acknowledged the painful uncertainty surrounding the case. “We still believe in a miracle,” she said. “We also know she may be lost. She may be gone.” At one point, Guthrie reflected that her mother may have “already gone home to the Lord that she loves and is dancing in heaven with her mom and her dad and with her beloved brother Pierce and with our daddy. If this is what is to be, then we will accept it. But we need to know where she is.”

The newly announced family reward, combined with a previously offered $100,000 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, brings the total potential reward to $1.2 million. According to sources familiar with the decision, the family had been prepared to fund the reward earlier but initially followed advice to wait.  Investigators have released doorbell camera images showing a masked individual wearing gloves outside Nancy Guthrie’s home and appearing to tamper with a security camera. A glove recovered near the property contained unknown DNA that did not match profiles in a federal database. Authorities are now exploring genetic genealogy as a possible avenue for identifying a suspect. Law enforcement officials have also confirmed that Guthrie’s siblings and their spouses have been cleared.

The Guthries are also seeking to support others facing similar heartbreak, with the family announcing a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “We know there are millions of families that have suffered with this kind of uncertainty,” Guthrie said, expressing hope that the attention surrounding her mother’s disappearance will shine a light on other missing persons cases. As she closed her message, Guthrie made one final plea: “Somebody know. And we are begging you to come forward now. Tell what you know and help us bring our beloved mom home so we can either celebrate the glorious, miraculous homecoming or celebrate the beautiful, brave and courageous and noble life that she has lived. Please be the light in the dark.”

The FBI in Phoenix said in a statement on Tuesday, “If you have firsthand knowledge of Nancy’s whereabouts or any information about where she may be located, please contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). To help keep the tip line available for actionable investigative law enforcement leads, please submit only serious and detailed fact-based information – no well-wishes or case theories. The tip line is not for personal messages to the Guthrie family.”

Anyone with information is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.

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Nick Reiner has entered a not guilty plea in the fatal stabbings of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, during a brief arraignment in Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 23.

The 32-year-old appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court wearing a brown jail-issued jumpsuit, his head closely shaved. Aside from confirming his pleas and waiving his right to a speedy trial, he did not address the court. Judge Theresa McGonigle scheduled a preliminary hearing for April 29, when a judge will determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to move the case to trial. Reiner remains jailed without bail.

Prosecutors have charged him with two counts of first-degree murder, including special circumstances alleging multiple murders and personal use of a knife. If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office is weighing whether to pursue capital punishment and has invited the defense to present arguments for consideration.

Authorities allege the couple was attacked inside their Brentwood home in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2025. Paramedics were dispatched to the residence around 3:30 p.m., but both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be multiple sharp force injuries and ruled the case a homicide. Death records state the injuries were inflicted with a knife and that the couple died within minutes.

Their Reiners’ daughter, Romy Reiner, discovered her father’s body that afternoon and later learned her mother had also been killed. Reiner was arrested that evening in the Exposition Park neighborhood, roughly 15 miles from the family home, and has remained in custody since. He was formally charged on Dec. 16.

The arraignment followed earlier delays, including the withdrawal of Reiner’s original defense attorney Alan Jackson in January, citing circumstances that made it impossible to continue. Although he declined to elaborate, Jackson said his team believed “pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.” Public defender Kimberly Greene later assumed the case.

A possible motive has not been disclosed. In the days after the killings, reports surfaced describing an intense argument between Reiner and his father at a holiday gathering hosted by Conan O’Brien the night before the deaths, with guests reportedly finding his behavior ‘unsettling.’  Reiner had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had undergone changes to his prescribed medication before the incident. Court records also show he was placed under a mental health conservatorship from 2020-2021.

Rob and Michele Reiner, married since 1989, were also parents to son Jake. Rob was previously married to Penny Marshall and adopted her daughter, Tracy, during that marriage.

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