TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POSTS
FEBRUARY 24, 2026
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U.S. News
- President Trump's State of the Union Address — Trump delivered his first full State of the Union of his second term on February 24, touting economic gains, defending border and immigration policies, criticizing the Supreme Court over a recent tariff ruling, and highlighting international roles (e.g., U.S. military support in hot spots like Israel). The address was notably long and partisan, with protests and a Congressman escorted out.
- Northeast Blizzard Aftermath and Ongoing Storms — Millions are digging out from a massive blizzard that dumped over three feet of snow in parts of the Northeast; new storms are forecast to bring more snow and ice from Minnesota to Maine.
- Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie — The search for missing Nancy Guthrie (mother of Savannah Guthrie) enters its fourth week, with a new $1 million family reward and concerns she may already be gone.
- Deadly Stabbing Rampage Near Seattle — At least four people killed in a stabbing incident outside a home.
Politics
- Trump's State of the Union Highlights and Backlash — Trump claimed economic success, bashed Democrats and the Supreme Court (over tariffs voided), and announced initiatives like a Big Tech pledge to offset AI data center energy costs via the "Rate Payer Protection Pledge."
- Tariff Policy Confusion and Implementation — A temporary 10% global import tariff began collection (with plans to hike to 15%), following a Supreme Court ruling striking down broader duties; companies like FedEx are suing for refunds.
- Immigration and Cartel Developments — U.S. intelligence aided Mexico in killing a top cartel leader (El Mencho-related), sparking violence; ongoing debates over federal immigration surges and policy shifts.
- Government Efficiency and DOGE Updates — Discussions around Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts continue, including federal worker responses and Cabinet involvement.
World Affairs
- Mexico Cartel Violence Escalation — Mexican army, aided by U.S. intel and prompted by Trump threats, killed a top cartel leader, leading to retaliatory attacks and Americans trapped/recounting violence.
- U.S. Military Movements — About a dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 fighter jets landed in Israel amid regional tensions.
- Ukraine War Anniversary Reflections — Marking four years since Russia's full-scale invasion, with ongoing strikes (e.g., drone attack in Dnipro killing mineworkers) and discussions on accountability.
- Tariffs and Global Trade Impact — New U.S. tariffs spark international concerns, including potential legal challenges and effects on allies/trade partners.
Education
- U.S. Department of Education Policy Shifts — Agreements to end certain partnerships (e.g., with The Ph.D. Project), urges to reduce default rates, and Title VI investigations (e.g., into Portland Public Schools); moves to transfer some programs to other agencies.
- International/National Updates — In India, reports on coaching center irregularities in paper leaks and NCERT textbooks addressing corruption; UPSC extended Civil Services Prelims 2026 application deadlines.
- Higher Ed and K-12 Focus — Investigations into overuse of seclusion/restraint in districts; principals reinventing professional development.
Economy
- Consumer Confidence Rebound — U.S. consumer confidence rose more than expected in February (to 91.2), though labor market worries persist with more viewing jobs as "hard to get."
- Tariff Implementation and Lawsuits — New 10% tariff starts amid confusion post-Supreme Court ruling; companies sue for refunds on prior duties.
- Global Growth Forecasts — S&P raised 2026 global real GDP growth to 2.9%, driven by stronger U.S. and India projections.
- Tech and Energy Cost Initiatives — Trump's Big Tech pledge to have companies cover AI data center power surges to protect ratepayers.
Technology
- Trump's Big Tech Energy Pledge — Announced in State of the Union: Major tech firms agree to absorb rising electricity costs from AI data centers via the Rate Payer Protection Pledge.
- AI and Chip Deals — AMD secures massive $60B AI chip supply deal with Meta; Anthropic announces new AI plug-ins for sectors like banking/HR.
- Tech Stock Rebound — Wall Street rises on renewed AI enthusiasm, with AMD and others surging despite prior concerns.
- Manufacturing Shifts — Apple plans to move some Mac Mini assembly to the U.S. for domestic production boost.
Health
- States Sue Over Childhood Vaccine Changes — Multiple states (including California, Arizona) sue Trump administration over CDC rollbacks on recommendations for flu, rotavirus, hepatitis, meningitis, and RSV vaccines, citing public health risks.
- Research Policy Shifts — NIH ends funding for human fetal tissue research from elective abortions; broader federal health research funding relief after pushback on cuts.
- Scientific Advances — Studies link early Alzheimer's to drops in brain blood flow; engineered bacteria to target cancer tumors; intense training potentially rewiring gut bacteria.
Sports
- MLB Spring Training Buzz — Pittsburgh Pirates' top prospect Griffin impressing early at camp.
- College Basketball Action — Ongoing games, e.g., Wake Forest at Boston College, Maryland at Nebraska.
- NBA and Other Leagues — Scheduled matchups like Oklahoma City at Detroit.
- International/Other — England cricket win over Pakistan; rugby command changes in New Zealand.
These stories reflect the dominant themes circulating today, with heavy focus on Trump's address and its ripple effects. If you'd like more details on any or sources, let me know!
#SOTU #SOTU2026
Joyce Vance: Judge Aileen Cannon "Lives in Trump's Hip Pocket" https://dianeravitch.net/2026/02/24/joyce-vance-judge-aileen-cannin-lives-in-trumps-hip-pocket/ via @dianeravitch
### Key Points
- Arizona's universal voucher program, despite public opposition, subsidizes private school tuition for students who often never attended public schools, costing nearly $1 billion annually.
- Investigations reveal widespread fraud in Arizona's voucher program, with 20% of transactions being unallowable, including purchases of non-educational items.
- The teaching profession has seen a decline in prestige and quality, as societal incentives drive talented individuals toward higher-paying, prestigious professions, leaving teaching as a less desirable career.
- The decline in teaching quality has broader implications for educational outcomes and societal development, as classrooms increasingly reflect ideological trends over academic rigor.
Trump Slashes Funding for Full-Service Community Schools. Children, Parents, and Communities Suffer. https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/trump-slashes-funding-for-full-service-community-schools-children-parents-and-communities-suffer/ via @janresseger
### Key Points
- Full-Service Community Schools provide essential services like health care, after-school programs, and social support to address educational inequality and opportunity gaps.
- Federal funding for 19 Full-Service Community Schools across 11 states and D.C. was abruptly cut, impacting salaries, services, and programs.
- The funding cuts were linked to language in grant applications about advancing racial equity and trauma-informed practices, deemed harmful by the Trump administration.
- Lawsuits have been filed to block the funding cuts, but legal proceedings are slow, leaving schools and families struggling.
- Schools like FAME and Curie High School face significant challenges, including staff layoffs and the loss of vital programs, despite efforts to secure emergency funding.
- Research from RAND Corporation highlights the effectiveness of the Community School model, including improved student outcomes and reduced absenteeism.
After a crushing defeat by Mamdani the billionaires regroup. FRED KLONSKY https://fredklonsky.substack.com/p/after-a-crushing-defeat-by-mamdani
- Mayor Z successfully managed the aftermath of a historic NYC blizzard, clearing streets within a day and gaining popularity 100 days into his term.
- Wealthy donors and political figures who opposed Mayor Z in the election are regrouping, including Phil Singer, Steven M. Cohen, and organizations like the Partnership for New York City.
- Tech companies, such as Uber and DoorDash, are strategizing to counter potential regulations from City Hall.
- The article emphasizes the resilience of power and the continuous reorganization of defeated political forces.
Teacher Tom: The Hive Mind Switch https://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/the-hive-mind-switch.html
### Key Points
- The author reflects on an experience where strangers collectively shared attention and emotions during a public event, forming an impromptu community.
- Humans are naturally inclined to think and act collectively, a trait that has helped our species thrive. This is rooted in shared attention and cooperative social interactions.
- Intrinsic motivation, derived from contributing to a group effort, is more powerful and enduring than external rewards, as seen in preschool activities like "circle time."
- Shared attention and group experiences enhance cognitive synchrony, enabling groups to think and act at a higher level than individuals alone.
- The author critiques modern education and workplaces for promoting individualism, which undermines the development of collective intelligence.
When Government Sells Fear, Kids Lose Medicaid The Administration’s organized abandonment philosophy is promoting coverage loss, churn, misinformation, and intimidation as policy. BRUCE LESLEY https://brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-government-sells-fear-kids-lose
### Key Points
- The U.S. made significant progress in reducing child uninsured rates over the past decades with programs like CHIP and Medicaid expansions, achieving historic lows by 2016.
- Since 2024, the uninsured rate for children has risen to 6%, the highest in a decade, due to systemic "organized abandonment" policies.
- The Trump Administration's policies have weakened Medicaid and CHIP coverage through legislative cuts, administrative hurdles, and fear-based governance targeting immigrant families, disproportionately harming U.S. citizen children.
- Coverage losses are compounded by failures in access to care, prevention, and protection, including provider shortages, vaccine misinformation, and environmental deregulation.
- Administrative burdens, such as renewal barriers, have been deliberately designed to increase coverage churn, causing eligible children to lose access.
- Fear-based policies, such as changes to the public charge rule, have led immigrant families to withdraw from public health programs, affecting millions of U.S. citizen children.
- The Trump Administration has used misleading rhetoric, such as claims of reducing "fraud" or increasing "efficiency," to justify policies that harm child health.
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) proposed a pro-child health system focused on stabilizing coverage, reducing inequities, and prioritizing prevention and infrastructure.
- A pro-child system would eliminate coverage drop-offs, simplify renewal processes, and prioritize full coverage for children as a national goal.
- The article calls for every health policy decision to be judged by whether it improves children's health and well-being, emphasizing that no child should lose coverage due to systemic barriers or fear.
Paulo Freire: "The Importance of the Act of Reading" "Reading the world always precedes reading the word, and reading the word implies continually reading the world." Freire, 1983 PAUL THOMAS https://paulthomas701128.substack.com/p/paulo-freire-the-importance-of-the
### Key Points
- Paulo Freire's philosophy on teaching and learning emerged from his commitment to teaching adults to read and write.
- The "reading crisis" in the U.S. is often addressed with overly simplistic solutions that fail to tackle the root causes of illiteracy.
- The "science of reading" movement promotes the simple view of reading (SVR), which is criticized as overly reductive and misinformed.
- Freire asserts that teaching reading is a political act, emphasizing the connection between reading and understanding societal power dynamics.
- Freire argues that reading involves more than decoding text; it requires understanding the context and lived experiences of individuals.
- Addressing societal issues like poverty, food insecurity, and housing insecurity is essential for effective literacy policies.
- Freire emphasizes the importance of transitioning from "reading the world" to "reading the word," highlighting the interplay between personal experiences and text comprehension.
- Freire critiques mechanical, rote approaches to reading instruction, advocating for creative and critical engagement with texts.
- Teaching and literacy are inherently political and should empower individuals, fostering autonomy and critical thinking.
glen brown: Four Years of Violence, Terror, and Fear https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/02/four-years-of-violence-terror-and-fear.html
- The article discusses the philosophical perspective of writers like Ambrose Bierce and Albert Camus, emphasizing the writer's role in resisting oppression and maintaining independence from societal norms.
- It highlights the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, describing it as a crime against humanity, with no justifiable cause for the aggression. The article condemns the atrocities committed by Russia and Putin's threats of nuclear warfare.
- Various societal and political issues are mentioned, including U.S. politics, Trump administration policies, social justice, pensions, healthcare, climate change, and systemic racism.
- The article references multiple global issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Venezuela, and the United Nations, as well as domestic concerns like education reform, censorship, and union rights.
- It critiques Trump’s policies, including attacks on the First Amendment, environmental deregulation, and voter suppression, while also addressing his administration’s handling of social justice and human rights issues.
- The blog reflects on cultural topics like poetry, music, and sports, along with personal reflections and tributes to significant figures.
glen brown: Russia Invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/02/russia-invaded-ukraine-on-february-24.html
### Key Points
- The Russia-Ukraine conflict is rooted in historical struggles over identity, colonial domination, and geopolitical tensions, with the 2022 invasion marking a continuation of these disputes.
- The blog critiques Donald Trump’s administration on multiple fronts, including its stance on climate change, social justice, and alleged corruption.
- Reflections on the role of writers and intellectuals in resisting oppression and embracing isolation, with references to Ambrose Bierce and Albert Camus.
- Discussion of broader social and political issues, including pensions, healthcare, education reform, and systemic racism in the U.S.
- Mention of various cultural and historical topics such as the Beatles, World War II, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Personal anecdotes and tributes, including reflections on family and the passing of public figures like Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr.
glen brown: "Europe’s deadliest war since World War II drags on" https://teacherpoetmusicianglenbrown.blogspot.com/2026/02/ukraine-has-borne-immense-costs-of.html
### Key Points
- The Russia-Ukraine war, which began in 2022, has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, with significant civilian casualties, displacement, and economic devastation.
- Ukrainian forces have made some territorial gains recently, despite the slow pace of the conflict and significant casualties on both sides.
- The blog discusses various global and domestic issues, including social justice, pensions, healthcare, climate change, and U.S. politics, with a critical focus on the Trump administration and its policies.
- The article reflects on the role of writers in addressing oppression and political issues, drawing on quotes from Ambrose Bierce and Albert Camus.
Janresseger: Trump Administration Awards Grants to Promote Patriotic Education https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/trump-grants
The article discusses the Trump administration's efforts to promote "patriotic education" through initiatives like the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, federal grants, and executive orders. These efforts aim to shape American history education by emphasizing the nation's founding principles and achievements while downplaying its historical injustices. Critics argue that such initiatives risk imposing ideological narratives, violating federal laws on local curriculum control, and narrowing the teaching of history. The article also highlights debates among historians about how American history should be taught, ranging from progressive critiques to conservative "hyper-American" narratives and a middle-ground "mainstream" approach.
### Key Points
- The Trump administration launched the America 250 Civics Education Coalition to promote patriotic civics education, emphasizing America's founding principles.
- Critics warn that these initiatives could impose ideological narratives and violate federal laws prohibiting interference with local curriculum control.
- Historians debate three narratives of American history: progressive "post-American," conservative "hyper-American," and "mainstream" approaches.
- Federal grants prioritize teaching founding documents and a unifying narrative of American history, but concerns exist about bias and historical accuracy.
- Programs like Bowling Green State University's CIVICS 250 Scholars aim to train teachers in civics and history education with federal funding, raising questions about political independence.
- Critics argue that the focus on "patriotic education" may suppress critical perspectives and diverse interpretations of American history.
U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the Summer Food Service Program 2026 reimbursement rates for breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks. The rates are effective from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sfspreimbursementrates.asp
### Key Points
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued the 2026 SFSP reimbursement rates for meals and snacks, effective from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026.
- The rates can be reviewed on the California Department of Education 2026–27 Child Nutrition Program Reimbursement Rates web page.
- Contact details for inquiries about the SFSP are provided, including an email and phone number.
- The article mentions administrative and operational guidance for Summer Meal Program operators, particularly in rural areas.
- Additional trending topics in nutrition include universal meals, income eligibility scales for the 2025–26 school year, and temperature controls for hazardous food.
- Recent updates include a webinar for School Nutrition Town Hall, CNP reimbursement rates for 2026–27, and a recall of ground beef due to possible E. Coli contamination.
- A webinar on honoring cultural preferences in school nutrition is highlighted, focusing on incorporating diverse food preferences and promoting equity.
- The California Department of Education provides various resources, including standards, curriculum resources, and educational funding information.
Implementing Effective Mathematics Intervention Practices for Elementary Students Education Research Report https://educationresearchreport.blogspot.com/
### Key Points
- The Mathematics Intervention Toolkit was released to help educators implement evidence-based practices for students struggling with math in grades 3–6. It includes professional learning modules, facilitator resources, and tools for district leaders.
- Teacher certification exams in Texas disproportionately affect underrepresented minority (URM) candidates, causing economic losses and delays in teaching careers without improving teaching quality or student outcomes.
- A national report from the University of Ottawa categorizes Canadian schools as hazardous workplaces due to high levels of violence and harassment against education workers, with many reporting PTSD-like symptoms and mental health struggles. Recommendations include improved safety planning and mental health support.
- A study published in JAMA Health Forum links adolescent cannabis use to a doubled risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders, emphasizing the need for public health strategies to limit youth exposure and address cannabis use as a health issue.
- Research on physical activity participation among autistic youth highlights the importance of creating predictable routines, safe spaces, and enjoyable activities. A strengths-based approach can build confidence and social connections.
- Excessive social media use among college students is associated with increased loneliness. Students using social media for more than 16 hours per week are significantly more likely to feel lonely. Educational institutions are encouraged to promote awareness and limit social media use while fostering offline social connections.
- A national poll reveals gaps in community preparedness for teen cardiac emergencies, with limited awareness of AED availability and training. Parents and teens strongly support broader CPR and AED training to improve emergency response.
TRUMP IN THE NEWS TODAY
Today, February 24, 2026, the dominant news story is President Trump’s State of the Union address, scheduled for tonight at 9 p.m. ET.
1. State of the Union Tonight
President Trump is expected to use his address to Congress to defend his first year in office and outline a "Road to Prosperity."
Immigration: Championing his recent crackdowns and enforcement surges.
Economic Goals: Addressing "affordability concerns" as polls show high public dissatisfaction with the economy.
National Anniversary: Highlighting the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.
Democratic Response: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is set to deliver the Democratic rebuttal, focusing on centrist critiques of the administration.
2. The Tariff Turmoil
The administration is in a standoff with the judiciary after the Supreme Court struck down the President’s sweeping tariffs last week, ruling he exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
New 10% Surcharge: In defiance of the ruling, the President signed a new proclamation effective today (Feb 24) imposing a "temporary 10% import surcharge" using different legal authorities.
Refund Demands: New York Governor Kathy Hochul and several Senate Democrats are publicly demanding that the administration refund billions in tariff payments collected over the past year.
3. Escalating Iran Tensions
Reports indicate the President is weighing military options against Iran following threats to its nuclear program.
4. Domestic Policy & Personnel Updates
Coast Guard Reinstatements: The Department of Homeland Security announced the reinstatement (with back pay) of 56 Coast Guard members who were dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccines during the previous administration.
CDC Leadership Shakeup: Acting CDC Director Jim O'Neill is departing to lead the National Science Foundation; NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya has been named the new acting director of the CDC.
5. Latest Polling Data
New polls released today reflect a challenging political environment for the White House:
Approval Rating: A CNN poll shows the President’s approval at 32%, with a record low of 26% among independents.
Priorities: Only about a third of Americans believe the administration has the "right priorities" heading into the midterms.