Latest News Digest - February 22, 2026

National News

Fires Set in Puerto Vallarta by the Cartels (X Post of Tyler Bowyer)

Retaliatory Violence Throughout Mexico as Cartel Leader Killed - On February 22, 2026, Mexican security forces killed Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a military raid in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The operation sparked immediate retaliatory violence, with cartel members torching vehicles, setting fires to stores, blocking highways, and clashing with authorities across multiple states, including Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima. U.S. tourists in Puerto Vallarta were stranded amid airport chaos and roadblocks, with no reported civilian casualties but widespread disruptions; the U.S. Embassy issued alerts advising people to shelter in place. - mx.usembassy.gov, usatoday.com

Tensions Escalate with Iran Amid Military Buildup: President Trump is reportedly considering a limited military strike on Iran to pressure Tehran into a new nuclear deal, with U.S. warships and fighter jets amassing in the region. Negotiations in Geneva have shown some progress, but Trump's administration remains focused on dismantling Iran's influence, raising fears of an all-out war. Officials warn that an attack could occur within days, prompting global allies to urge restraint. - reuters.com

Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Parts of Trump's Tariff Agenda: In a major ruling, the Supreme Court invalidated President Trump's use of emergency powers to impose broad tariffs, declaring them unconstitutional under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This decision affects billions of dollars in import duties, potentially leading to refunds for businesses and consumers. Trump responded by imposing temporary tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This provision allows the president to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15% on imports for up to 150 days to address a "large and serious" U.S. balance-of-payments deficit. It's a rarely used tool (never invoked before Trump) that doesn't require prior investigations but needs congressional approval for extension beyond the initial period. Trump invoked this immediately after the ruling, starting with a 10% global tariff effective February 23, 2026, which he raised to 15% the next day, with carve-outs for items like critical minerals and energy products. The White House plans to use the 150-day window to push for permanent measures through other channels. - abcnews.com; nytimes.com. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated that with the newly imposed tariffs, the U.S. expects no change in tariff income for 2026.

President Trump Announces Plans to Declassify UFO Files - In a move that has reignited public fascination with extraterrestrial mysteries, President Donald Trump announced on February 19, 2026, via his Truth Social platform that he is directing the Department of Defense, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other relevant federal agencies to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any connected information. The directive came shortly after former President Barack Obama commented in a podcast that aliens are likely "real" (though without evidence of visits to Earth), prompting Trump to accuse him of disclosing classified information and quip that declassifying files "may get [Obama] out of trouble." Trump emphasized the decision was driven by "tremendous interest" in the topic, while stating aboard Air Force One that he personally has no opinion on whether aliens exist. The order initiates a review process for potential disclosure rather than an immediate full release, building on ongoing efforts by the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) and National Archives to digitize and declassify UAP records under recent congressional mandates—though experts note that no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial visitation has ever been publicly acknowledged, and the move has sparked a mix of hope from transparency advocates and caution about what, if anything groundbreaking, might ultimately emerge. - npr.org

Gunman Shot After Breaching Security Perimeter at President Trump’s Home in Palm Beach - Early Sunday morning, February 22, 2026 (around 1:30 a.m. ET), an armed man unlawfully breached the secure perimeter of President Donald Trump's Palm Beach, Florida resort. U.S. Secret Service agents, along with a Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy, confronted the intruder near the north gate after he drove in as another vehicle was exiting. The man—identified as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin from Cameron (or Carthage area), North Carolina—was carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a fuel canister. Authorities ordered him to drop the items; he reportedly set down the gas can but raised the shotgun into a firing position, prompting law enforcement to open fire and fatally shoot him on the scene. No other injuries occurred, and the motive remains under investigation with no clear details released yet (his family had recently reported him missing). Importantly, President Trump was not at Mar-a-Lago during the incident—he was in Washington, D.C., after hosting a Governors Dinner at the White House the previous evening, and no one under Secret Service protection was present at the resort. - nbcnews.com

Team USA Breaks Records at Winter Olympics - At the conclusion of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Team USA secured a record-breaking performance with 33 total medals: 12 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze. This places the U.S. in second overall behind Norway (41 total medals, including 18 gold). Highlights include gold in men's hockey over Canada and freestyle skiing, marking the most U.S. gold medals ever at a Winter Games. - nbcnews.com

Massive Winter Storm Causes Widespread Flight Cancellations: A severe winter storm swept across the South and Northeast, leading to over 7,400 flight cancellations through Monday and disrupting travel nationwide. Heavy snow and erosion issues compounded the chaos, with airlines expecting ripple effects into mid-week. Hardest-hit airports include New York's JFK (hundreds of cancellations, with 85%+ of Monday departures scrapped in advance), LaGuardia (up to 95% of Monday cancellations), Newark, Boston Logan (92%+ of Monday departures scrapped in advance), and others from Washington, D.C., to the Northeast. Officials urged residents to stay indoors as power outages affected thousands. - msn.com

Russia Accused of Poisoning Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny: Five U.S. allies presented evidence that Russia used a rare, lethal frog toxin from a South American frog to assassinate opposition leader Alexei Navalny on February 16, 2024. The incident sparked international outrage and calls for sanctions. Investigations continue amid heightened U.S.-Russia tensions. - BBC

Epstein Files Spark Hollywood Outrage and Agency Sale: Newly released Epstein files implicated Casey Wasserman, a top Hollywood agent and 2028 Olympics Chair, prompting him to sell his talent agency amid widespread backlash. The documents have fueled demands for accountability in the entertainment industry. Celebrities and activists are pushing for further investigations into Epstein's network. - cbsnews.com

Prince Andrew Arrested After Revelations Emerge from Epstein Files - On February 19, 2026—his 66th birthday—Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England. He was detained for about 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a serious common law offense in the UK that involves the willful abuse of public position for personal gain or improper purposes (potentially carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted). The allegations stem from his time as Britain's special envoy for international trade (roughly 2001–2011), where he is accused of sharing confidential government documents, trade reports, investment plans, or other sensitive information with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Recent releases from Epstein-related files (including U.S. Justice Department documents) reportedly revealed emails and evidence suggesting Andrew forwarded such material to Epstein shortly after receiving it, possibly violating secrecy laws or the Official Secrets Act. - nytimes

NASA's Moon Mission Suffers Major Setback: A critical failure delayed NASA's Artemis program, pushing back lunar landings and affecting U.S. space ambitions. Engineers are assessing the damage, with costs expected to rise. The incident comes amid competition with China in space exploration. - msn.com

California News

Deadly Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe Claims 9 Lives: An avalanche on Castle Peak buried 15 backcountry skiers, killing 9 and leaving all bodies recovered after challenging rescue efforts amid storms and high slide risks. The incident, the deadliest in modern California history, involved experienced skiers from the North Bay area. Authorities are investigating the conditions that triggered the slide, urging caution in the Sierra Nevada region. - sacbee.com

California Democrats Convene in San Francisco for Gubernatorial Race: With no clear frontrunner, nine Democratic candidates for governor pitched visions at the state party convention, dividing between progressive and moderate approaches. Rep. Eric Swalwell led polls at 24%, amid calls to oppose Trump and retake Congress. Delegates focused on affordability crises, with little chance of a formal endorsement. - latimes.com

LA County Approves Half-Cent Healthcare Sales Tax for Ballot: Supervisors placed a half-cent sales tax on the June ballot to fund healthcare, sparking opposition from cities fearing revenue loss. The measure aims to support hospitals and clinics amid budget shortfalls. Critics argue it burdens residents during economic strain. - dailynews.com

Bernie Sanders Rallies for Proposed Billionaire Tax in LA: Sen. Bernie Sanders joined activists in Los Angeles to promote a billionaire tax initiative aimed at raising funds for social programs. The proposal targets ultra-wealthy Californians amid growing inequality. Opponents claim it could drive businesses out of state. - calmatters.org

Two Fatal Incidents at South Lake Tahoe Ski Resort: Separate accidents at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe killed two people, prompting safety reviews. One involved a collision, the other a fall. Resorts are enhancing protocols amid the busy winter season. - abc7news.com