THE TOP NEWS STORIES THIS WEEK
2-22-26 TO 2-28-26

FROM GEMINI

The week of February 22 to February 28, 2026, has been defined by a significant escalation in global trade tensions, a flurry of activity from the Trump administration following a major Supreme Court setback, and the conclusion of the Winter Olympics.

Below are the top stories in each category for the week:

U.S. News

Tariff Crisis: Following a Supreme Court ruling striking down his previous use of emergency powers for tariffs, President Trump doubled down by invoking Section 122 to raise a global import tax to 15%.
Major Nor'easter: A powerful blizzard struck the East Coast mid-week, causing widespread travel cancellations and power outages from D.C. to Boston.
Refugee Detentions: Reports emerged of the administration detaining and questioning refugees who had already been legally admitted to the U.S.
Border Drone Incident: Lawmakers investigated reports that the U.S. military used a laser to take down a Border Protection drone.
VA Reorganization: The Department of Veterans Affairs announced its largest restructuring since the 1990s to improve oversight and community care networks.
Measles Outbreak: The CDC reported confirmed cases surpassing 1,100 for the year, with new clusters emerging in multiple states.
Jesse Jackson Tributes: Public memorials were held for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, a titan of the civil rights movement.
IRS Privacy Breach: A judge ruled the IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential information to ICE over 42,000 times.
Nebraska Sinkhole: A massive sinkhole in a residential area of Nebraska swallowed two cars, making national headlines.
Scouting America Deal: The Pentagon reached a deal to maintain ties with Scouting America after a dispute over DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies.

Politics

State of the Union Response: Political discourse was dominated by reactions to President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address delivered early in the week.
Supreme Court Defiance: The administration’s rapid move to bypass the Court’s 6-3 ruling against IEEPA-based tariffs created a constitutional debate.
Midterm Primaries Begin: The 2026 midterm election season officially kicked off with the first Tuesday primaries.
CIA Revisionism: Director John Ratcliffe ordered the revision of 19 intelligence assessments from the last decade, citing "political bias."
Huckabee Controversy: Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee regarding Israeli control over the West Bank drew strong condemnation from Arab nations.
Biden’s Commercial Flight: Former President Joe Biden made headlines after being spotted flying commercial and experiencing the same delays as regular travelers.
Epstein File Releases: New documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation led to the resignation of high-profile media and political figures.
Charlie Kirk Honors: Trump sparked debate by honoring activist Charlie Kirk and referring to him as a "martyr."
Department of Ed "Breakup": Secretary Linda McMahon announced new interagency agreements aimed at "breaking up the federal education bureaucracy."
Trump-Vietnam Meeting: Trump met with Vietnamese leader To Lam, pledging to remove Vietnam from the strategic export control list.

World Affairs

Afghanistan-Pakistan War: Border clashes escalated into what officials called "open war," with Pakistan launching airstrikes on Kabul and Afghan forces retaliating.
Iran-EU Terror Designations: In a tit-for-tat move, Iran designated the naval and air forces of all EU member states as "terrorist entities."
Gaza Truce Violations: Despite a U.S.-brokered truce, reports of Israeli drone strikes and continued fighting in Gaza persisted.
Cuban Boat Crisis: A deadly shootout occurred off the coast of Cuba between the Cuban Coast Guard and a Florida-registered speedboat.
Danish Snap Election: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for a snap election in March amid the ongoing "Greenland crisis."
North Korea Party Congress: Kim Jong Un was re-elected as General Secretary and showcased his daughter at a major military event.
Brazil Floods: The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Minas Gerais, Brazil, rose to over 54 people.
Slovak-Ukraine Energy Row: Slovakia threatened to cut emergency electricity to Ukraine unless oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline resumed.
South Sudan Massacre: Militiamen in Jonglei reportedly killed a dozen civilians after luring them with promises of humanitarian aid.
Mexico Drug War: Clashes between the National Guard and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel left at least 25 dead in Jalisco.

Education

Department of Ed Reform: Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Northern released a major report on reforming the Institute for Education Sciences (IES).
Accreditation Rule Change: The U.S. Department of Education issued an interpretive rule to make it easier for new, private accrediting agencies to gain recognition.
English Learner Funding: Educators warned that flat federal funding in the 2026 budget fails to meet the 30% growth in the English learner student population.
Title VI Investigation: The Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into Portland Public Schools over a Black student excellence center.
Louisiana Assessment Success: Early results from a pilot program in Louisiana showed that "knowledge-based" reading tests are narrowing the achievement gap.
The Ph.D. Project Dispute: The federal government secured 31 agreements with universities to end partnerships with The Ph.D. Project, citing civil rights concerns.
Civility Transcripts: A new program was launched allowing high school students to earn "civility credits" through moderated peer debates for college admissions.
Student Loan Default Prevention: The DOE urged colleges to adopt "best practices" as student loan default rates showed signs of ticking upward.
Georgetown Wi-Fi 7: Georgetown University completed one of the first campus-wide Wi-Fi 7 deployments for high-speed research.
Grade-Level Reporting: More school districts (notably Cincinnati) began putting actual grade-level performance data on report cards instead of just letter grades.

Economy

Global Market Volatility: U.S. stocks sank and oil prices rose due to a "triple threat" of inflation, tariff wars, and geopolitical instability.
Winter Olympics Economic Impact: A study estimated the Milano-Cortina Games (ended Feb 22) generated over $6 billion for the Italian economy.
Section 122 Invocation: The transition from IEEPA to Section 122 for tariffs caused a scramble among global trade lawyers and supply chain managers.
BEA Personal Income Data: The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported a 0.3% increase in personal income for the previous month.
Tariff Lawsuits: Major retailers and shipping companies like FedEx began facing lawsuits from customers over passed-on tariff costs.
Gold Price Surge: Gold prices continued a record climb toward the $5,000/oz milestone amid global uncertainty.
Davos Aftermath: Economic leaders departing the World Economic Forum warned that "place-based" local strategies are now more critical than national growth figures.
Business Confidence Drop: A J.P. Morgan report indicated that the sudden 15% tariff hike has caused a sharp decline in business investment planning.
Energy Prices: Heating oil and gas prices spiked across the Northern Hemisphere due to the combination of the Nor'easter and Middle East tensions.
Consumer Spending: Despite inflation, personal consumption expenditures (PCE) rose by 0.4%, indicating resilient, if strained, consumer demand.

Technology

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked: Samsung officially unveiled the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Buds4, emphasizing "Agentic AI" that can perform tasks on behalf of the user.
Anthropic vs. Pentagon: President Trump ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI models following a public dispute over safety protocols at the Pentagon.
Samsung Satellite Comms: Samsung announced it is rolling out satellite communication support to Galaxy smartphones globally.
Agentic AI Era: Industry leaders (including Cisco and Samsung) shifted focus from "chatbots" to "AI agents" that can autonomously manage workflows.
HBM4 Commercial Shipping: The industry’s first commercial HBM4 (High Bandwidth Memory) began shipping to power the next generation of AI data centers.
Cisco AI Networking: Cisco unveiled a new 100Tbps AI switch and custom silicon to compete directly with Broadcom and Nvidia.
UK Reddit Fine: The UK Information Commissioner’s Office fined Reddit £14.5 million for the unlawful use of children’s data.
Open RAN Expansion: A major partnership between Samsung and Orange Group was announced to deploy Open RAN technology across Europe.
Sovereign AI Infrastructure: European tech leaders met to discuss "sovereign clouds" to reduce dependence on U.S.-based AI hardware.
Wi-Fi 7 Adoption: The first major wave of consumer-grade Wi-Fi 7 routers and enterprise networks hit the market, promising speeds up to 46 Gbps.

Health

Measles Surge: Public health officials warned of a "national crisis" as the 2026 measles count reached its highest February level in decades.
Bird Flu in Wildlife: A massive outbreak in California elephant seals led to the cancellation of coastal tours and raised concerns about mammalian transmission.
Epilepsy Research: The NIH published new findings on "burst signals" in the brain, offering a potential pathway for non-invasive treatments.
Health Coaching for Recovery: A major study published this week showed that health coaching significantly improves post-surgical recovery times.
Chemotherapy Side Effects: Scientists announced successful trials of a new agent that reduces the impact of chemo on healthy cells.
Arsenic Exposure Study: New data linked reduced arsenic levels in public water supplies to a measurable drop in mortality rates.
Mental Health Advisory: The NIH scheduled a high-level meeting for March to address the "real-world" trauma experienced by military drone pilots.
Transgender Worker Ruling: A civil rights agency ruled against a transgender Army worker in a high-profile bathroom access case.
National Conference on Women's Health: HHS finalized the agenda for the upcoming national conference, focusing on cardiovascular health in women.
AI in Healthcare: New FDA guidelines were proposed for the use of "Agentic AI" in diagnostic tools and patient monitoring.

Sports

Winter Olympics Closing: The Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games officially concluded on February 22 with a closing ceremony in Verona.
College Basketball Heat: The Big Ten race intensified with major upsets; Wisconsin fell to Oregon before preparing for a historic trip to Washington.
College Baseball Kickoff: Early-season tournaments (like the ECU and CofC series) saw several "walk-off" wins as the road to the College World Series begins.
Medal of Freedom: President Trump announced he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Team USA hockey goalie following an Olympic performance.
NBA Trade Deadline Fallout: Teams began integrating new rosters as the "buyout market" heated up following the February deadline.
Spring Training Starts: MLB spring training games officially began in Florida and Arizona, with high interest in new "smart ball" tracking technology.
Vince McMahon Accident: Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon was involved in a high-speed car crash in Connecticut; police video was released this week.
Premier League Title Race: A crucial weekend of matches in England saw the top three teams separated by only two points.
The "Sneaker Squeak" Study: In a viral science-meets-sports story, researchers finally used friction tests (inspired by a Celtics game) to pin down exactly what causes sneaker squeaks.
Global Sports Economy: The World Economic Forum released a report predicting the global sports industry will be worth $8.8 trillion by 2050.

FROM GROK

The week of February 22–28, 2026, featured several major developments across various domains, dominated by U.S. domestic and foreign policy tensions under the second Trump administration, severe weather, international conflicts, and ongoing diplomatic efforts.

U.S. News

This category saw a mix of severe weather impacts, security incidents, and domestic policy fallout:

A major nor'easter/blizzard hammered the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, affecting up to 70 million people with blizzard warnings, flight cancellations, coastal flooding risks, and widespread disruptions.
A 21-year-old armed suspect breached Mar-a-Lago's perimeter, pointed a gun at officers, and was fatally shot by Secret Service, prompting an urgent investigation.
Violence and cartel-related unrest in Mexico spilled over, with U.S. warnings for Americans to shelter in place after the killing of CJNG leader "El Mencho."
A fatal shooting or security incident tied to Epstein-related obsessions (from reports on the Mar-a-Lago gunman).
Ongoing partial government shutdown effects, including delays in economic data releases and TSA/Global Entry disruptions.
Cuba's military destroyed a speedboat entering its waters, killing four in what it called a foiled infiltration.
Recovery efforts from the blizzard and related storms continued into late week.
Broader domestic incidents, like landfill collapses or other localized disasters.
Public disapproval polling showing majority disapproval of President Trump's performance.
Medical emergency evacuations (e.g., from a U.S. submarine off Greenland).

Politics

Politics centered on the Trump administration's agenda, legal setbacks, and midterm positioning:

President Trump's record-length (107-minute) State of the Union address, touting economic strength, energy independence, tax cuts, anti-corruption efforts, and criticizing Democrats.
Supreme Court struck down Trump's use of emergency powers for broad tariffs, leading to refunds chaos and uncertainty.
Trump responded by imposing new 15% global tariffs under alternative authority, pressing ahead despite court and public opinion.
Democrats held firm on DHS funding, demanding ICE reforms amid shutdown threats.
VP JD Vance halted hundreds of millions in Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns, escalating "war on fraud."
Ongoing U.S.-Iran indirect talks in Geneva showed "significant progress" but no breakthrough, with Trump hinting at tough decisions.
Damage control after U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee's comments on Israel's land entitlements.
Democratic responses criticizing Trump as out of touch on affordability and immigration.
Trump's road tour post-SOTU to push midterm messaging.
Broader fallout, including editorials scrutinizing Trump's policies.

World Affairs

Global tensions focused on the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia:

Escalating U.S.-Iran nuclear talks amid U.S. military buildup (e.g., F-22 jets to Israel), with Trump weighing strikes.
Killing of cartel leader "El Mencho" in Mexico sparked violence and U.S. travel warnings.
Cuba's military action killing four in a speedboat incident labeled as infiltration.
Pakistan declared full-scale war and launched airstrikes on Afghanistan/Taliban targets.
Ongoing Sudan conflict with RSF assaults in Darfur killing dozens.
Israel warnings to Lebanon over Hezbollah involvement in any U.S.-Iran conflict.
U.S. deploying assets and indirect talks progress, but risks of deadlier action.
Cuba blockade and related tensions.
Broader Middle East protests and regime pressures in Iran.
EU concerns over security from Syrian camp escapes.

Education

Education news was relatively subdued, focusing on policy and awareness:

Proclamation of February 2026 as National Career and Technical Education Month by Education and Labor Secretaries.
Ongoing debates over education freedom programs, with some state-level defenses and setbacks (e.g., Mississippi ESA bill stalled).
U.S. Education Under Secretary vowing accountability for institutions on accreditation and policies.
Changes to timelines for recognizing new accreditors.
Broader discussions on higher ed funding, DEI injunctions, and student experiences.

Economy

Economic coverage highlighted mixed signals and policy impacts:

Slower-than-expected Q4 2025 GDP growth (1.4% vs. prior 4.4%), amid shutdown effects and inflation surprises.
Trump's SOTU emphasis on strong economy, but concerns over lower-income households lagging.
Supreme Court tariff ruling creating refund uncertainty and market "now what?" sentiment.
Modest improvement in consumer confidence after January drop.
Producer Price Index and import/export price trends showing inflation pressures.
Global growth forecasts holding steady around 2.9%.
Trump's anti-corruption and tax policy focus in SOTU.
Ongoing tariff hikes' ripple effects on trade.
Factory orders and other data releases delayed by shutdown.
Broader resilience despite geopolitical uncertainty.

Technology

Tech was marked by AI sector drama and advancements:

Major feud: Trump ordered federal agencies to phase out Anthropic's AI tech; Pentagon labeled it a "supply chain risk."
Anthropic refusing Pentagon demands on safeguards, threatening court challenge.
OpenAI raising $110B at $730B valuation, backed by Amazon and Nvidia.
Meta renting Google's TPUs for AI training.
Samsung Galaxy S26 launch with expanded AI and privacy features.
Broader AI trends like hyperscale data centers and neuromorphic chips.
Retail AI integrations (e.g., Burger King voice assistant).
HR tech trends reshaping work with AI risks and "digital doppelgangers."
Elon Musk's Grok gaining market share amid controversies.
Breakthrough tech lists for 2026 (e.g., salt batteries, smaller nuclear).

Sports

Sports highlights included Olympic-level achievements and league action:

Team USA winning men's hockey gold in a dramatic finish (first in 46 years, from Milan events).
NBA action, including Knicks road trip previews and matchups.
Ongoing basketball playoffs and All-Star buzz.
NFL combine questions on veterans.
Hardest coaching jobs rankings (e.g., Real Madrid, Tottenham).
LaMelo Ball leading in 3-pointers for 2026 season.
Broader events like UEFA Champions League knockout stage prep.
Premier League blockbuster fixtures.
Other league previews (e.g., Knicks vs. Bulls/Cavaliers).
Potential Olympic-related decisions (e.g., Sidney Crosby injury).

This summary draws from major broadcasts, reports, and headlines during the week—let me know if you'd like deeper dives into any category!

THIS WEEK'S DAILY TOP NEWS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2026

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 22, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/02/morning-news-update-february-22-2026.html

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/02/morning-news-update-february-23-2026.html

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/02/morning-news-update-february-24-2026.html

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/02/morning-news-update-february-25-2026.html

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 26, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/02/morning-news-update-february-26-2026.html

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2026

Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: FEBRUARY 27, 2026 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2026/02/morning-news-update-february-27-2026.html

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2026

EDUCATION SPECIAL
TOP US EDUCATION NEWS AND TOP WORLD EDUCATION THIS WEEK

2-22-26 TO 2-28-26

The final week of February 2026 has been dominated by a high-stakes State of the Union address, escalating tensions in the Middle East, and a landmark Supreme Court ruling on trade.

Here are the top stories for the week of February 22 – February 28, 2026:

U.S. News

State of the Union Address: President Trump delivered a marathon State of the Union address, the first of his second term, focusing on "anti-Americanism," immigration, and his "war on fraud."
DHS Shutdown Standoff: The partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) entered its 11th day, with the White House suspending Global Entry as a negotiating tactic.
Potomac River Sewage Crisis: A federal emergency was declared for a major sewer main break north of D.C., threatening summer 250th-anniversary celebrations.
Nancy Guthrie Abduction: The FBI returned the Guthrie home to her family one month after her disappearance in Arizona; a $100,000 private reward has been issued for information.
Severe Winter Storms: A major winter system hit the Northeast, causing significant travel disruptions from Washington D.C. to New York City.

Politics

Supreme Court Tariff Defeat: In a major blow to the administration, the Supreme Court struck down "emergency" tariffs, leading the White House to scramble for a new legal avenue for its 15% global tax.
Hillary Clinton Testimony: The former Secretary of State testified before the House Oversight Committee regarding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, calling the hearing "partisan political theater."
Ninth Circuit Union Ruling: The Ninth Circuit vacated an injunction, allowing the President to exclude certain federal agencies (State, Justice, VA) from collective bargaining on national security grounds.
Draft Executive Order Leak: Pro-Trump attorneys are reportedly circulating a draft EO that would declare a national emergency over "foreign interference" in the 2020 election to grant the President sweeping voting powers.
Abigail Spanberger's Response: The newly elected Virginia Governor delivered the Democratic response to the SOTU, focusing on affordability and the 1.4% GDP slowdown.

World Affairs

U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks: High-stakes negotiations took place in Geneva. While Iran claimed they were "moving closer" to an agreement, U.S. envoys expressed disappointment in Tehran's initial positions.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: Pakistan launched airstrikes in Kabul and Kandahar; Afghanistan retaliated with strikes on Pakistani military border installations.
British Air Base Denial: Prime Minister Keir Starmer blocked a U.S. request to use RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia for potential strikes on Iran, citing international law.
Ukraine IMF Loan: The IMF approved an $8.1 billion loan for Ukraine to support the war-torn economy, with an immediate $1.5 billion disbursement.
Prince Andrew Investigation: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released from UK police custody but remains under investigation for suspected misconduct in public office related to the Epstein case.

Economy

GDP Slowdown: New data showed the U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.4% in Q4 2025, a sharp drop from the previous quarter's 4.4%.
Business Refund Demands: Following the SCOTUS tariff ruling, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce demanded the return of an estimated $133 billion in collected levies.
Labor Market "Deferred Resignations": Reports surfaced that 17.3% of the Department of Labor workforce left in early 2025 as part of a "deferred resignation" program, impacting current enforcement.
Antitrust & Labor: The Department of Labor signaled a new focus on firms with "outsized market power" that dominate local labor markets to the detriment of workers.
Real Estate Trends: Despite high taxes, mixed-use commercial properties in high-end markets like Greenwich continue to fetch multi-million dollar prices (e.g., Sound Beach Ave sale).

Technology

Artemis II Delay: NASA rolled back the Artemis II rocket for repairs after a helium flow issue, pushing the lunar mission launch to no earlier than April.
AI Data Center Regulation: The Florida Senate moved to impose state regulations on large-scale AI data centers, citing energy and infrastructure concerns.
Israel-India Tech Partnership: The two nations elevated bilateral ties to establish a "Critical and Emerging Technology" partnership.
Military Drone Mental Health Study: The FY2026 defense budget now mandates a study on the unique combat trauma faced by unmanned aircraft pilots.
Netflix-WBD Bid: Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos met with White House officials regarding the company's bid to purchase portions of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Education

FBI Raid on LAUSD: Federal agents raided the Los Angeles School District headquarters and the superintendent's home as part of an ongoing investigation.
Florida Degree Consolidation: Florida A&M University announced the consolidation of several degree programs, including African American Studies, amid state crackdowns on DEI.
Student Teacher Pay: Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill to allow student teachers to earn pay, benefits, and tuition reduction to combat teacher shortages.
NIL in High School: A debate is intensifying in Ohio over a bill that would reverse the allowance of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for high school athletes.
Higher Ed Reviews: A national trend of state-mandated reviews of university degree programs is expanding, with Florida serving as the primary testing ground.

Health

EPA Mercury Standards: The EPA finalized the repeal of Biden-era standards on mercury and air toxins from coal plants, allowing for higher emissions of heavy metals.
"America First" Global Health Strategy: The State Department launched new health initiatives in Niger, the Dominican Republic, and the DRC focused on "health sovereignty."
Opioid Settlement Funding: New funding was approved for pediatric services in the Ohio Valley to assist families affected by the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Cholesterol Research: A new study released this week suggests specific whole-food diets can significantly reduce "bad" cholesterol in older adults without medication.
Mental Health in Combat: The Pentagon is facing increased pressure to address "moral injury" in drone operators, distinct from traditional PTSD.

Sports

Winter Olympics Preparation: In Bormio, Italy, alpine skiing events are being closely monitored as climate change impacts the viability of traditional snow tracks.
Esports World Cup 2026: Details for the $75 million prize pool event were released, with EVOS Divine (Indonesia) being the first team to secure a seat.
Medal of Freedom for Hockey Star: A member of the U.S. Men’s Hockey team received the Presidential Medal of Freedom this week.
Hockey Team Controversy: Members of the U.S. Men's Hockey team expressed regret over a joke made by President Trump regarding the Women's team during a recent ceremony.
NIL Rights Battle: The struggle over whether high schoolers should be "professionals" continues to split state legislatures and athletic associations across the Midwest.

Saturday, February 28, 2026