Maddow Monday! ...Plus, Kristi Noem generates another mess, says DHS is ensuring ‘the right leaders’ get elected

"This is Trump's idea of democracy: Leaders get to select their voters instead of the other way around," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.

Monday, February 16, 2026 TODAY'S TOP MADDOWBLOG POSTS Kristi Noem generates another mess, says DHS is ensuring 'the right leaders' get elected Kristi Noem generates another mess, says DHS is ensuring 'the right leaders' get elected "This is Trump's idea of democracy: Leaders get to select their voters instead of the other way around," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said. MORE The Trump administration faces a credibility crisis of its own making The Department of Homeland Security has effectively set its credibility on fire — but the larger problem goes well beyond DHS. MORE The Trump administration faces a credibility crisis of its own making The Department of Homeland Security has effectively set its credibility on fire — but the larger problem goes well beyond DHS. MORE Trump struggles to explain the point of his team's nuclear talks with Iran "You said that the Iranian nuclear sites have been totally obliterated," a reporter told the president. "What's left to go after?" His answer fell short. MORE Trump struggles to explain the point of his team's nuclear talks with Iran "You said that the Iranian nuclear sites have been totally obliterated," a reporter told the president. "What's left to go after?" His answer fell short. MORE On Epstein files surveillance, Jim Jordan struggles with the basics of hypocrisy The only person who's guilty of hypocrisy in this story is the GOP lawmaker levying accusations of hypocrisy. MORE On Epstein files surveillance, Jim Jordan struggles with the basics of hypocrisy The only person who's guilty of hypocrisy in this story is the GOP lawmaker levying accusations of hypocrisy. MORE MORE FROM THE MADDOWBLOG For Trump, rapid-fire policy gimmicks come and go at breakneck speeds Trump falsely claims that the U.S. is 'the only country that has mail-in ballots' After a judge sided with Mark Kelly, what happens to Pete Hegseth's crusade? Ignoring reality, Trump eyes elections changes 'whether approved by Congress or not' Trump's efforts to politicize the U.S. military become even more brazen and radical Those waiting for the end of the DHS shutdown will likely be waiting for a while WHAT'S ON RACHEL'S BLUESKY RADAR? Henderson, Nevada Henderson group holds protest against federal agents' actions (News 3 LV) Batavia NY: Protesters gather at the Batavia ICE detention center on Sunday (WHEC News 10) Tennessee "No details about the size, scope, purchase price or street address of the facility in Lebanon, about 30 miles east of Nashville, were immediately made available Friday, and news of the purchase took state and local officials by surprise..." (Tennessee Lookout) "In Pennsylvania, the Shapiro administration is warning federal officials that it will not issue required state permits for two planned immigration detention centers..." (Spotlight PA) Romulus, Michigan "Romulus Mayor Robert A. McCraight said he was telling lawmakers 'at all levels' that a detention center is not permitted and will be opposed by the city..." (CBS News) "The Baltimore County Council will convene an emergency session Tuesday to consider legislation to ban private persons, corporations, property owners or third-party contractors from gaining permits to operate detention centers in the county...." (WBAL TV) "Official ICE policy says 'ICE should not detain, arrest, or take into custody for an administrative violation of the immigration laws individuals known to be pregnant, postpartum, or nursing" except in exceptional circumstances." ... "But the many reports of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing people in custody suggest ICE is routinely departing from this policy. According to first-hand accounts from detainees, here's what's happening to pregnant, nursing, and postpartum people in ICE detention centers. They're miscarrying. Women in ICE custody are losing their pregnancies." (Center for Reproductive Rights) "One mother and father from Russia, who have been at Dilley since October, said in a sworn declaration and in an interview that when they arrived, their 11-year-old daughter had an earache, but the medical staff did a cursory examination and dismissed them. They returned repeatedly as their daughter developed a fever of 104 degrees, only to be told her problems were caused by allergies, they said. She was eventually given ear drops and antibiotics, but she lost some of her hearing and was still in pain as her family noticed pus coming from her ear. As of last week, her hearing had still not fully returned, they said." (New York Times) lol "you could get whatever the dust is down there..." stirring words from the commander in chief "Q: You said the Iranian nuclear sites have been 'totally obliterated.' What's left to go after? TRUMP: You could get whatever the dust is down there. If we do it, that's really the least of we mission. But we'd probably grab whatever is left." (Rachel shares Trump video from Aaron Rupar) Breaking: Ash Wednesday Mass will lift up immigrants' resilience (Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership) Chicago teen whose father was detained by ICE while she fought cancer dies (Chicago Tribune) Broken bones, burning eyes: How Trump's DHS deploys 'less lethal' weapons on protesters (NBC News) "Trump doesn't believe in anything except himself... When that resistance and those protests actually made his policies tremendously unpopular, he relented. And I think it's a lesson that we should apply elsewhere when he engages in outrageous activities..." Trump's Minnesota Retreat Points to the Power of Public Anger (New York Times) Enraging that this took a court order: "Catholic nuns and clergy had visited the facility for years, offering prayer services and holy communion to detainees during visitor hours. Trump Administration immigration authorities rolled back that access in September..." (New York Times) The text on the center flyer reads:  ICE goons:  You will face justice in this life and the next.  You will rot in jail, and burn in hell.  Resign. Repent. Repay. The other fliers simply say ICE OUT with a flower. (New York Times) "The tech companies can choose whether or not to provide the information... "Google, Meta and Reddit complied with some of the requests..." Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts (New York Times) "I am too scared to drive my 5-year-old daughter to school in my husband's car. I'm terrified ICE will detain me and our daughter will end up alone," she said. "This is just as scary as the war in Ukraine, except now we don't have Dmytro with us..." Laughing ICE Goons Seize Dad Who Fled Ukraine War at Walmart (The Daily Beast) Nine and ten year olds, fleeing in fear. Elementary students run from bus stop during ICE operation at NJ apartment (NBC10Philadelphia) ?? also: !! "🚨 President Trump's Claim of an "Irrefutable" Argument Supporting His Right to Unilaterally Impose Voter ID and Election Rules May Be Based on Insane Claim that Marriott Hotel Manager Found Secret Text in the Shadows of a Microfilm Copy of the U.S. Constitution"  (Rachel reacts and shares Rick Hasen and Election Law Blog) "He said he expects this weekend's Shabbat service will have a larger attendance than its usual crowd of 60 or 70. "We will not cower in fear. We are proud of who we are. We stand up for the sign that says 'Hate has no home here' and we firmly believe that." 'We will not cower,' rabbi says after antisemitic vandalism of Md. synagogue (Washington Post) "The next steps, including possible notifications to victims, are not yet clear, though one question is hanging overhead: Donald Trump recently filed a federal lawsuit, insisting that he's entitled to $10 billion in taxpayer money because someone at the IRS improperly disclosed information about him. The question for the White House seems rather straightforward: Does the president think the victims of this apparent disclosure are also entitled to $10 billion?" IRS reportedly disclosed confidential tax data to the Dept. of Homeland Security (MaddowBlog) Follow Rachel Maddow on Bluesky here. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up to follow it yourself or send this sign-up link to someone you know would appreciate it. NEWS TIPS? SEND IT TO RACHEL MADDOWSHOW ON THREADS RACHEL MADDOW ON BLUESKY  229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY | CONTACT | VIEW IN BROWSER