TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS
FEBRUARY 27, 2026
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U.S. News
- Trump administration's government overhaul and layoffs — Ongoing efforts to shrink federal agencies, including mass layoffs and deep cuts, face legal challenges, with the Supreme Court intervening in related cases like frozen foreign aid releases.
- Hillary Clinton testifies in Epstein investigation — Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared before a House committee probing Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, calling the hearing "partisan political theater" and denying knowledge of wrongdoing; Bill Clinton is scheduled next.
- Measles outbreak turns deadly — The largest U.S. measles outbreak has resulted in a child's death in Texas, highlighting public health concerns amid vaccination debates.
- Gene Hackman and wife found dead — Actor Gene Hackman, his wife, and their dog were discovered dead in Santa Fe, New Mexico, prompting investigations.
Politics
- Trump's first Cabinet meeting focuses on cuts and foreign policy — Discussions emphasized federal spending reductions, government restructuring, and aggressive foreign approaches, with Elon Musk involved in outlining job cuts.
- Clinton Epstein testimonies continue — Hillary Clinton's deposition concluded defiantly; Democrats call for Trump to testify on his Epstein ties.
- Trump briefed on potential Iran military options — U.S. Central Command commander presented plans amid escalating tensions and nuclear talks.
- Chinese influence operations targeting Trump and elections — A U.S. foundation reports a misinformation campaign linked to China attacking figures like Japan's new PM and influencing U.S. politics.
World Affairs
- Pakistan declares 'open war' with Afghanistan — Pakistan's defense minister states patience has run out, with airstrikes on Kabul and heavy clashes reported on both sides.
- U.S.-Iran high-stakes nuclear talks in Geneva — Negotiations proceed amid military buildups and threats; Secretary of State Rubio warns of Iran's missile capabilities.
- Ukraine-Russia peace talks progress — Meetings in Geneva and planned UAE sessions involve U.S., Ukraine, and Russia; Trump meets British PM Keir Starmer on the issue.
- Cuba speedboat incident — Cuban forces kill exiles (including a U.S. citizen) attempting infiltration amid U.S. blockade criticisms.
Education
- NCERT textbook controversy in India — Debate over a Class 8 chapter on "corruption in the judiciary"; PM Modi demands accountability for those responsible.
- Public Schools Week celebrations — U.S. schools highlight roles in community and opportunity amid funding challenges.
- Higher ed leadership debates — Vanderbilt chancellor's reforms spark division in academia.
- Cursive handwriting return — More U.S. states and schools revive cursive in elementary curricula.
Economy
- Key economic data releases — U.S. PPI, Chicago PMI, Canada Q4 GDP, and others influence inflation and rate expectations; Truflation shows low U.S. inflation at ~0.68%.
- Big Tech AI spending surge — Firms plan over $600 billion on AI infrastructure, raising market reassessment concerns.
- Market events preview — Focus on U.S. PPI, global GDP figures, and inflation data shaping forecasts.
Technology
- Mobile World Congress kicks off — AI integration in telecoms dominates, with debates on "sovereign AI" and regulation.
- Nvidia earnings and forecast — Upbeat AI sales outlook, but shares drop amid bubble worries; anticipation for GTC event.
- Apple product teases — CEO Tim Cook hints at multiple launches ahead.
Health
- Trump administration cracks down on health care fraud — Major Medicare/Medicaid initiatives aim to protect affordability and reduce waste.
- Measles outbreak deadly impact — Child death in Texas from the nation's largest outbreak raises alarms.
- Global health funding warnings — WHO cautions that aid cuts risk undermining systems worldwide.
Sports
- NFL Scouting Combine underway — On-field drills in Indianapolis; standouts include Ohio State LB Sonny Styles with explosive athleticism (e.g., 43.5-inch vertical).
- NFLPA team rankings — Miami Dolphins top player satisfaction survey; Pittsburgh Steelers rank last due to facility and coaching issues.
- NHL games — Matchups like Vegas at Washington and Anaheim Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets scheduled.
- FIFA 2026 World Cup prep — Parking price hikes announced, including for disabled fans.
These stories capture the day's major developments, with heavy focus on U.S. political shifts under Trump, international conflicts, and ongoing global events. News can evolve quickly!
A Review of My Book in the Wellesley Magazine https://dianeravitch.net/2026/02/26/a-review-of-my-book-in-the-wellesley-magazine/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Diane Ravitch, a Wellesley alumna, credits the college for shaping her critical thinking and fostering lifelong friendships.
- Ravitch’s memoir reflects on her personal experiences, including her childhood, education, and professional journey in public education.
- The book highlights her transformation from a supporter of conservative education policies to a critic, emphasizing the negative impacts of high-stakes testing and privatization on public education.
- Ravitch advocates for public schools, professional teachers, and addressing systemic issues like poverty and inequality in education.
- The memoir also touches on her personal losses, such as the death of her son and the end of her first marriage, and her new beginnings with her wife, Mary Butz.
Julian Vasquez-Heilig: When AI Becomes Your Boss https://dianeravitch.net/2026/02/26/julian-vasquez-heilig-when-ai-becomes-your-boss/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Julian Vasquez-Heilig envisions a future where AI not only replaces human tasks but also hires humans for tasks it cannot perform, creating a "rent-a-human" economy.
- AI systems are increasingly managing tasks, pricing labor, and making hiring decisions, shifting from being tools to becoming autonomous management systems.
- This AI-driven gig economy extends beyond transportation and delivery services, encompassing manual, creative, and even political tasks.
- AI bases its hiring decisions on data trails, reliability, and responsiveness, creating a system where work is assigned and monitored by automated processes.
- Workers may need to subscribe to platforms to access tasks, further embedding themselves in this AI-managed gig economy.
Pennsylvania: Teenagers Arrested During Anti-ICE Protest Face Jail Time https://dianeravitch.net/2026/02/26/191495/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- High school students in Quakertown protested against ICE, but the protest turned violent when the police chief, dressed in plain clothes, physically confronted the students.
- Five teenagers were arrested and charged with aggravated assault, with one student placed on house arrest. The charges could lead to detention for up to five years.
- Witnesses claim the police chief escalated the situation by intervening aggressively without identifying himself, leading to confusion and self-defense actions by the students.
- Community members have rallied in support of the students, raising over $106,000 for their legal defense and calling for the resignation of the police chief.
### Key Points
- The Trump administration, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon, aims to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education by transferring its responsibilities to other federal agencies.
- Temporary interagency agreements have been used to shift programs such as Title I, special education, and civil rights enforcement to other departments like Labor, Health and Human Services, and Justice.
- Critics argue that these transfers fragment responsibilities, create inefficiencies, and weaken federal support for vulnerable students.
- Legal challenges have been filed against these actions, with lawsuits claiming the agreements are unlawful and harmful to education systems.
- Democratic lawmakers have requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the legality of these agreements.
- McMahon’s strategy involves proving that the temporary agreements are effective to gain Congressional approval for a permanent restructuring of the Department.
- Funding cuts and program disruptions, such as the cancellation of Community Schools grants, have further fueled opposition to these efforts.
glen brown: Trump Administration’s New Healthcare Plans Could Slap Families With $31,000 Deductibles https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/02/trump-administrations-new-healthcare.html
### Key Points
- Russia violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum by invading Ukraine in 2014 after Ukrainians ousted a Russia-backed oligarch.
- Vladimir Putin launched a "special military operation" against Ukraine in 2022, claiming to protect people from persecution and genocide.
- Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion was strong, with President Zelensky refusing offers to evacuate and rallying the nation to defend its independence.
- Under President Biden, the U.S. strengthened NATO and international alliances, providing significant military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
- Extraordinary economic sanctions, such as excluding Russian banks from SWIFT, isolated Russia's economy.
- Ukraine's society transformed, with civilians and soldiers uniting to defend their country, and it became a leader in drone technology.
- Trump weakened NATO during his presidency and later supported Russia, causing shifts in U.S. foreign policy that favored Russia.
- Trump loyalists in Congress delayed Ukraine funding, aiding Russia's position in the war.
- Trump and his administration undermined Ukraine by negotiating with Russia and attempting to pressure Ukrainian leaders into concessions.
- European countries and the United Nations continue to support Ukraine and vow to stand firm against Russian aggression.
- The U.S. abstained from a UN resolution supporting Ukraine, signaling a shift in its global stance.
- Europe is working toward self-sufficiency in defense and technology due to the U.S.'s withdrawal of support for Ukraine.
- Russia faces internal challenges due to mismanagement of the war, economic strain, and a lack of support for continued aggression.
- Ukrainian civilian casualties have increased significantly since Trump returned to the White House.
- Ukrainians remain resilient and committed to defending their land despite the ongoing war.
- The article concludes that Ukrainians are making sacrifices to protect democracy worldwide, without expecting gratitude in return.
Play nicely: Children who are not friends connect better through play when given a goal Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/
### Key Points
- Children who are not friends communicate and collaborate better during goal-directed play compared to free play, highlighting the importance of shared goals in fostering connectedness among non-friend peers.
- A new tool developed by MCRI researchers identifies children at risk of speech disorders, reducing unnecessary treatments for developmental speech errors that often resolve naturally.
- Adolescents experiencing loneliness or family conflict are more likely to exhibit aggression or become victims of aggression, with social health during adolescence linked to long-term mental well-being.
- Joint evaluation of faculty promotion candidates significantly reduces racial disparities, improving promotion chances for Black and Hispanic faculty members by 16.2% and enhancing equity in academia.
- Most state standards for proficient performance in reading and mathematics for grades 4 and 8 align with the NAEP Basic achievement level, showing some progress in standardization since 2013.
- The Mathematics Intervention Toolkit provides educators with resources and strategies to support struggling students in grades 3–6, improving learning outcomes in mathematics.
- Teacher certification exams disproportionately impact underrepresented minority candidates, delaying their entry into teaching without improving teaching quality or student outcomes.
Is Teacher Quality Portable? PETER GREENE https://curmudgucation.substack.com/p/is-teacher-quality-portable
Is Teacher Quality Portable?
### Key Points
- The Democratic Party has historically supported public schools but shifted toward reforms like charter schools and high-stakes testing, which redirected funds away from public education.
- Policies like No Child Left Behind and subsequent reforms under President Obama focused on test-driven accountability, often criticized for unfairly targeting low-income schools.
- The New Democrat Coalition, formed in 1997, has proposed a Workforce and Education Agenda emphasizing investments in public schools, non-college career paths, and teacher development programs.
The State of the Union: Leaving Children and Families Behind Parents listened for a plan, but what they heard was cuts, bureaucracy, xenophobia, and culture wars. BRUCE LESLEY https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/the-state-of-the-union-leaving-children
### Key Points
- The State of the Union failed to address critical issues affecting children and families, offering no concrete plans for health care, child care, or poverty alleviation.
- The administration boasted about removing people from food assistance programs, which negatively impacts children’s nutrition and family well-being.
- The focus on combating “fraud” in assistance programs often creates bureaucratic barriers that harm eligible families and children.
- The Child Tax Credit is structured in a way that excludes 19 million children from receiving adequate support, disproportionately affecting low-income families.
- Initiatives like “Trump Accounts” are long-term savings plans that fail to address immediate needs such as child care or health coverage.
- The speech included attacks on immigrant and LGBTQ children, signaling a lack of commitment to improving the lives of all children.
- A pro-child agenda would include measurable commitments like continuous health coverage, affordable child care, nutrition assistance, paid leave, and reducing homelessness.
- The upcoming FY 2027 budget will reveal the administration’s priorities regarding funding essential programs for children.
Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Another AI Side Effect: Erosion of Student-Teacher Trust (Greg Toppo) (Guest Post by Greg Toppo) | National Education Policy Center https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/erosion
### Key Points
- AI is increasingly being used by students as a tool for completing assignments, which is eroding trust between students and teachers.
- Teachers are relying on AI-detection software, but these tools are often unreliable and biased, leading to further mistrust.
- Generative AI is making education more transactional, with students focusing on completing assignments rather than engaging in deeper learning.
- Researchers suggest that AI is reshaping how teachers approach assessments and relationships with students.
- Transparency around AI use is a significant issue, as students feel that teachers do not adhere to the same standards they impose.
- Educators are encouraged to focus on intrinsic motivation, low-stakes assignments, and ethical discussions to reduce the temptation to cheat using AI.
- Teachers are adopting traditional methods like handwritten assignments and oral exams to counter AI misuse.
- The broader educational community emphasizes the importance of trust and relational learning in combating the negative impacts of AI.
Teacher Tom: The Boy Told Me, "There's Going to Be a Lot of Fighting This Year" https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-boy-told-me-theres-going-to-be-lot.html
### Key Points
- A preschooler, previously non-violent, became fascinated with knights and engaged in play fighting to explore the concept.
- The boy's interest in knights was an intellectual pursuit, where he tested his understanding and interactions through play.
- Another child explored his interests in animals by embodying their movements, showcasing how children learn through physical engagement.
- Traditional education systems often fail to allow children to learn through self-directed and physical exploration, focusing instead on control.
- The article emphasizes the value of play-based learning environments and offers resources for educators and parents.
The Great AI-in-Education Paradox "Google has scored another chance to get its products into schools in the form of a 'sizable investment' in AI training." Peter Greene PAUL THOMAS https://paulthomas701128.substack.com/p/the-great-ai-in-education-paradox
### Key Points
- The relationship between education and technology has often prioritized market interests over the needs of teachers and students, with AI being the latest controversial advancement.
- The author argues that students should not use AI in their learning process to develop the critical skills needed to use AI ethically and appropriately in the future.
- Concerns are raised about the environmental impact of AI and the issue of "AI slop," such as hallucinated citations in academic work.
- The article highlights the enduring problem of plagiarism and how AI tools exacerbate this issue by allowing students to pass off AI-generated work as their own.
- The author critiques the reliance on AI tools like Grammarly and Turnitin.com, which are often ineffective and provide poor-quality assistance.
- Writing is emphasized as a process that requires active effort from students, with AI's role limited to surface-level editing rather than composing.
- The article concludes that using AI to perform tasks essential for learning undermines education, equating it to traditional forms of academic dishonesty.
Gifted and Talented, Redux Some things never change... NANCY FLANAGAN https://flanagann.substack.com/p/gifted-and-talented-redux
### Key Points
- The author reflects on their experience as a music teacher and their pursuit of understanding and challenging gifted students.
- The concept of giftedness is subjective, often influenced by perceived effort, and varies across domains.
- Parents of gifted children often worry about their kids being overlooked or insufficiently challenged in schools.
- The author criticizes testing kindergarteners for giftedness, arguing it perpetuates inequality and limits opportunities for disadvantaged children.
- There is a need for a new, more inclusive definition of giftedness and talent that values diverse contributions to society.
- The rise of AI tools like chatbots makes it harder to distinguish genuinely brilliant work from artificial outputs, emphasizing the need for original creativity.
Resolution for an AI Moratorium in NYC Schools | Class Size Matters | A clearinghouse for information on class size & the proven benefits of smaller classes https://classsizematters.org/resolution-for-an-ai-moratorium-for-nyc-schools/
### Key Points
- A resolution proposes a moratorium on AI use in NYC schools until safeguards are in place to protect students and the environment.
- Concerns include the violation of student privacy laws, as AI programs often data-mine sensitive student information.
- Studies indicate that AI use in education can harm learning outcomes, critical thinking, creativity, and social development.
- AI tools are linked to potential biases, misinformation, and risks to mental health, including suicide.
- AI's increasing use has raised concerns about plagiarism, loss of essential skills, and environmental impacts like higher energy consumption and carbon emissions.
- The NYC Department of Education has been criticized for a lack of transparency and ignoring concerns about AI implementation.
- The resolution calls for expanding the AI Working Group, holding public forums, and developing strict guidelines to mitigate risks.
Federal Voucher Program Myths - Network For Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/federal-voucher-program-myths/
### Key Points
- The article focuses on the mission to support and enhance public education for all generations.
- It critiques the federal voucher program in the "Big Beautiful Bill," highlighting discrepancies between claims and research findings.
- A fact sheet from the Department of Education is analyzed for containing six myths about the voucher program.
- A video is available to address and debunk these six myths one by one.
Choosing Democracy: ICE Out Rally. Feb.27. Sacramento https://choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com/2026/02/ice-out-rally-feb27-sacramento.html
TRUMP IN THE NEWS TODAY
As of today, February 26, 2026, the Trump administration is dominating the headlines with significant legal battles over executive authority, a major freeze on state funding, and high-stakes diplomatic maneuvers regarding Iran.
Here are the top stories:
⚖️ Legal & Judicial Battles
Supreme Court & Immigration: The administration has officially asked the Supreme Court to freeze a lower court ruling that blocked the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrians.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the courts are "impermissibly usurping" the authority of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Labor Victory: In a win for the White House, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a block on President Trump’s executive order that limits collective bargaining rights for federal workers. The court ruled that the order was rooted in national security rather than illegal retaliation against unions.
Tariff Refunds: Following the Supreme Court's recent decision striking down certain emergency tariffs, Senate Democrats introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026.
This bill aims to force the immediate refund of an estimated $175 billion collected by the administration. Meanwhile, FedEx announced today it will pass any refunds it receives back to its customers.
🏥 Domestic Policy & "Retribution" Claims
Minnesota Funding Freeze: Vice President JD Vance announced a freeze on over $250 million in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, citing concerns over fraud.
Governor Tim Walz has denounced the move as "targeted retribution" against a blue state, while simultaneously unveiling his own anti-fraud legislative package. Independent Contractors: The Department of Labor released a new proposed rule today designed to make it easier for businesses to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees—a move widely cheered by gig-economy platforms and small business groups.
New York Housing: In a surprise meeting at the White House, President Trump hosted NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The Mayor reportedly used a "mock newspaper" tactic to pitch the President on massive federal housing investments for the city, an approach Trump allegedly found "enthusiastic."
🌍 Foreign Policy & Global Leadership
Iran Nuclear Crisis: Tensions remain at a boiling point as indirect talks begin in Geneva.
Trump’s decision on whether to launch airstrikes against Iran reportedly hinges on assessments from special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff regarding Tehran's nuclear progress. Melania Trump at the UN: The White House announced that First Lady Melania Trump will preside over a UN Security Council session next week.
This is a historic first for a sitting First Lady and comes as the U.S. assumes the body's rotating presidency.
🛡️ Security
Mar-a-Lago Intrusion: New details have emerged regarding the fatal shooting of an armed man at Mar-a-Lago last Sunday.
The FBI is investigating the 21-year-old’s motives, which reportedly involved an obsession with the "Epstein files."
