Open an event to see its evidence. Attack and trait tags link to their definitions
Feb 19, 2026 Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. removed broad recommendations for six routine childhood vaccines Corroborated Power and Authority
The change shifted federal health guidance through executive control and weakened established public-health protections without legislative action.
Supporting reports
- Health Secretary RFK Jr. removes broad vaccine recommendations — Health Secretary Robert F.
Feb 19, 2026 The White House authorized ICE to detain refugees for aggressive rescreening Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The memo expanded executive detention power over legally admitted refugees and threatened due process and settled legal status.
Supporting reports
- White House grants ICE power to detain refugees for aggressive ‘rescreening’ — The Trump administration has issued a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain legal refugees in the United States indefinitely for aggressive
Feb 19, 2026 President Trump announced a $10 billion U.S. commitment to his Board of Peace and held its inaugural meeting Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The announcement claimed spending authority that belongs to Congress and concentrated diplomatic initiative in a legally disputed executive body.
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces $10 Billion Transfer to "Board of Peace" — Donald Trump announced the transfer of $10 billion from the U.S.
- Trump Announces Funding for Board of Peace — During the meeting of the Board of Peace, President Trump announced that the U.S.
- Trump Holds Meeting of Board of Peace — President Donald J.
Feb 18, 2026 The EPA rescinded the greenhouse-gas endangerment finding and related vehicle emissions standards Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The rollback changed the legal basis for major environmental regulation and shifted economic costs and benefits across industries and the public.
Supporting reports
- EPA Rescinds Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rescinded the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and repealed all related greenhouse gas emission standards for light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicles and
Feb 18, 2026 Banks and lenders pressed commercial real-estate borrowers as delinquency rates rose Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The pressure signaled financial stress in a major asset sector with possible spillover effects for local economies and public budgets.
Supporting reports
- Commercial real estate loan delinquency rates rise — Banks financing commercial real estate are requiring borrowers to repay tens of billions of dollars as delinquency rates for such loans have reached levels not seen since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Feb 18, 2026 The Congressional Budget Office projected a $1.85 trillion federal deficit for fiscal year 2026 Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The projection highlighted structural fiscal strain that shapes future public spending choices and political conflict over resources.
Supporting reports
- Congressional Budget Office projects significant budget deficit — The Congressional Budget Office projected a deficit of $1.85 trillion for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, indicating that the U.S.
Feb 18, 2026 Florida's employment law contributed to labor shortages in agriculture and construction Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The shortages showed how immigration-related labor rules can reduce workforce supply and shift economic burdens onto employers and consumers.
Supporting reports
- Florida law leads to labor shortages in agriculture and construction — A law passed by the Florida legislature in May 2023 requires employers with 25 or more employees to verify the legal status of their workers, resulting in a significant departure of foreign farmworkers and construction
Feb 18, 2026 Congress nullified a District of Columbia tax amendment and enacted the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
One law reaffirmed Congress's control over D.C. self-government, while the other used federal lawmaking to shape national historical commemoration.
Immediate effect: One law reaffirmed Congress's control over D.C.
Supporting reports
- Became Law: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the D.C. Income and Franchise Tax Conformity and Revision Temporary Amendment Act of 2025 — Congress enacted a resolution disapproving the D.C.
- Became Law: Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act — The Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act was enacted, establishing a time capsule to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Feb 18, 2026 Fifteen members of Congress demanded answers from Marco Rubio about a detained Palestinian-American teenager Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The letter used oversight to press the executive branch on protection of a U.S. citizen abroad and human-rights accountability.
Immediate effect: The letter used oversight to press the executive branch on protection of a U.S.
Supporting reports
- US Lawmakers Demand Accountability for Detained Palestinian-American Teen — Fifteen members of the US Congress have written a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding accountability for the nine-month detention of Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American teenager, by Israeli
Feb 18, 2026 Health and environmental groups sued the EPA over repeal of the greenhouse-gas endangerment finding Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The lawsuit challenged a major agency rollback and asked courts to police the legal basis of federal climate governance.
Supporting reports
- Environmental groups file lawsuit against EPA over climate finding repeal — On February 18, 2026, more than a dozen health and environmental justice organizations filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Washington DC circuit court.
Feb 18, 2026 A federal judge declared a mistrial in the Texas antifa protest case Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The mistrial exposed how courtroom management and terrorism charges can shape the state's treatment of political protest cases.
Supporting reports
- Judge declares mistrial in Texas ‘antifa’ protest case — A federal judge in Texas, Mark Pittman, declared a mistrial in a case involving protesters accused of terrorism at an ICE protest.
Feb 18, 2026 Judge Sykes enforced a prior order requiring bond-hearing access for detained noncitizens Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The order reaffirmed that the executive must obey judicial limits in immigration detention and notify detainees of their rights.
Supporting reports
- Lazaro Maldonado Bautista v. Ernesto Santacruz Jr. (C.D. Cal.) 5:25-cv-01873 — Judge Sykes granted Plaintiffs' motion to enforce judgment, finding that the government violated her prior order by continuing to detain noncitizens without a b… — Judge Sykes granted Plaintiffs' motion to enforce judgment, finding that the government violated her prior order by continuing to detain noncitizens without a bond hearing.
Feb 18, 2026 Judge Frimpong allowed California cities and Los Angeles County to continue challenging federal immigration actions Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The ruling recognized local governments' standing to contest federal conduct and preserved an institutional check through litigation.
Supporting reports
- Pedro Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem et al (C.D. Cal.) 2:25-cv-05605 — Judge Frimpong denied the government's motion to dismiss a complaint filed by multiple California cities and the county of Los Angeles as intervenors in the law… — Judge Frimpong denied the government's motion to dismiss a complaint filed by multiple California cities and the county of Los Angeles as intervenors in the lawsuit.
- Pedro Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem et al (C.D. Cal.) 2:25-cv-05605 — Judge Frimpong denied the government's motion to dismiss on nearly all claims, finding that the government's assertions were false and that the Supreme Court ha… — Judge Frimpong denied the government's motion to dismiss on nearly all claims, finding that the government's assertions were false and that the Supreme Court had not yet resolved the matter.
Feb 18, 2026 Thirteen states sued DOE and OMB over canceled energy and infrastructure funding Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The complaint challenged executive termination of congressionally mandated funds and defended legislative control over appropriations.
Supporting reports
- State of California v. Wright (N.D. Cal.) 3:26-cv-01417 — Case filed — Case filed Coming soon.
Feb 18, 2026 Judge Young dismissed State of New York v. Department of Education without prejudice after the administration withdrew its appeal Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The dismissal reflected how executive retreat in one case can reshape the institutional need for parallel litigation.
Supporting reports
- State of New York v. Department of Education (D. Mass.) 1:25-cv-11116 — Judge Young granted parties' joint motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice after the administration withdrew its appeal in American Federation of Teac… — Judge Young granted parties' joint motion to dismiss the complaint without prejudice after the administration withdrew its appeal in American Federation of Teachers v.
Feb 18, 2026 Judge Tunheim stayed consideration of a contempt motion for seven days in U.H.A. v. Bondi Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The stay delayed a possible judicial sanction and showed courts managing the pace of accountability disputes with the executive.
Supporting reports
- U.H.A. et al v. Bondi et al (D. Minn.) 0:26-cv-00417 — Judge Tunheim granted the motion to stay consideration of Plaintiffs' contempt motion for seven days. — Judge Tunheim granted the motion to stay consideration of Plaintiffs' contempt motion for seven days.
Feb 18, 2026 President Trump deployed FEMA to lead the Potomac sewage spill response Corroborated Power and Authority
The move asserted federal command during a shutdown dispute and sharpened tensions over executive control in state-federal emergencies.
Supporting reports
- Trump deploys FEMA to coordinate Potomac River sewage spill response — President Donald Trump announced the deployment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate the response to a massive sewage spill in the Potomac River.
Feb 18, 2026 President Trump issued an order to increase domestic glyphosate and phosphorus supply Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used emergency-style executive power to direct industrial production and shield favored producers from legal risk.
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Issues Executive Order to Increase Glyphosate Production — The Trump administration issued an executive order to boost domestic production of glyphosate, a controversial weedkiller linked to health lawsuits.
- Executive Order on National Defense Supply of Phosphorus and Herbicides — On February 18, 2026, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to ensure an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, citing their critical role in national defense and
- Trump Issues Executive Order on Glyphosate Production — An executive order issued by Donald Trump is expected to provide legal protections for chemical manufacturers of glyphosate-based products, increasing production of the chemical found in weed killers.
Feb 17, 2026 Arizona Senate Republicans advanced legislation to place ICE agents at voting locations Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The proposal risked voter intimidation by bringing immigration enforcement into the act of voting, especially for minority communities.
Supporting reports
- ICE at the Polls? — Senate Republicans in Arizona advanced legislation to require ICE agents at voting locations, a move that could violate federal law.
Feb 17, 2026 Donald Trump issued a statement on Jesse Jackson's death centered on his own grievances Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The statement weakened norms of civic respect around a major civil-rights figure and shaped public discourse through personal grievance.
Supporting reports
- Trump Issues Statement on Jesse Jackson's Death — Following the death of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, Donald Trump issued a statement that focused on his own grievances and attacked former President Barack Obama.
Feb 17, 2026 An immigration judge blocked the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The ruling protected a lawful resident from a deportation effort that his lawyers said retaliated against political speech.
Supporting reports
- US judge blocks deportation of Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi — An immigration judge has blocked the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University student, who was arrested during a US citizenship interview.
Feb 17, 2026 The FCC adopted new VoIP numbering rules and related compliance requirements Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The rules expanded regulatory oversight of communications providers and affected market access, public safety, and consumer protection.
Supporting reports
- FCC Adopts New Rules for VoIP Numbering — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules requiring VoIP service providers to comply with updated certifications and disclosures related to robocalls, public safety, and national security.
Feb 17, 2026 The FCC changed the channel allotment for a Kansas PBS station Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The rule change affected public broadcasting infrastructure and access to educational television service.
Supporting reports
- FCC Amends TV Allotments for Hutchinson, Kansas — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has amended its rules to substitute channel *33 for channel *8 in Hutchinson, Kansas, for the noncommercial educational PBS member station KPTS(TV).
Feb 17, 2026 The FCC launched matching programs with Pennsylvania and Indiana agencies to verify Lifeline and ACP eligibility Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The programs tightened administrative screening for public benefits and expanded data-sharing in access to communications subsidies.
Supporting reports
- FCC Announces New Computer Matching Program — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a new computer matching program with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to verify eligibility for the Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
- FCC Announces New Matching Program for Lifeline and ACP — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a new computer matching program with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Family Resources.
Feb 17, 2026 The TSA restored the term "alien" in its regulations Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The rule changed official regulatory language in immigration-related administration and signaled a harder federal posture toward noncitizens.
Supporting reports
- TSA Restores Use of "Alien" in Regulations — The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a final rule restoring the use of the term "alien" in its regulations, replacing "non-U.S.