Congress locks in a DHS shutdown

Plus, Minneapolis Mayor Frey reacts to Homan's plan to end ICE surge |

VIEW IN BROWSER MS NOW DAILY Understand today's news Friday, Feb. 13, 2026   THE LATEST Pete Hegseth's campaign against Mark Kelly is extraordinary. And this federal judge noticed. By Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham, (ret.) Pete Hegseth's campaign against Mark Kelly is extraordinary. And this federal judge noticed. By Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham (ret.) I'm a military retiree who has used my platform as a tenured professor and military law expert to push the Pentagon to improve — often through public criticism of its policies. I was greatly relieved, then, that a federal judge expressed Thursday just how dangerous the Trump administration's witch hunt against Sen. Mark Kelly is. It is a threat to all military retirees' freedom of speech and our unique ability to contribute to U.S. national security through that exercise. In a fiery opinion that quoted Bob Dylan, Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia thwarted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's attempt to retaliate against Kelly — and abuse military law — over the senator's speech. Leon temporarily enjoined the Pentagon from trying to reduce Sen. Kelly's military rank because he had publicly criticized the Trump administration. Hegseth's speech-suppressive campaign against Kelly is extraordinary, and Judge Leon met the moment by clearly outlining its breathtaking consequences.   This is a preview of the latest column by Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham,(ret.). Read the full column here. TOP STORIES JACK FITZPATRICK Congress locks in a DHS shutdown as lawmakers leave Washington Negotiators are "very far apart" on an ICE overhaul, Sen. Chuck Schumer said. A DHS shutdown begins Saturday. Read more. KEVIN FREY New report from Democrats: 'TrumpRx' drugs could cost thousands more than generics Democrats looked at the cost of the the name-brand drugs on TrumpRx. Turns out, Americans could save thousands per year on many prescriptions by just purchasing generics. Read more. DUNCAN LEVIN What Pam Bondi's performance in the Epstein hearing obscured The issue is whether the Justice Department exercised the kind of judgment that sensitive disclosures demand, not the number of pages it released. Read more. HAYES BROWN ICE's warehouse detention centers run up against NIMBYism A surprising number of Republican communities are coming out against the idea of ICE deportation facilities in their backyards. Read more. TOP VIDEOS ALL IN WITH CHRIS HAYES 'This did not go well for them': Mayor Frey reacts as Minneapolis ICE surge ends WATCH NOW MORNING JOE I have never seen numbers like that: Joe reacts to Trump's cratering poll numbers WATCH NOW THE BEAT WITH ARI MELBER FBI increases reward to $100K in Nancy Guthrie case WATCH NOW KATY TUR 'Why are we listening to her?': Epstein survivor calls Bondi hearing 'retraumatizing' WATCH NOW MORE FROM MS NOW Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels are analyzing how culture and politics collide in their new original podcast, "MS NOW Presents: Clock It." In episode one, they discuss how the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show was a love letter to all the Americas, and the latest coming out of the Texas Senate race. Plus, actors Tony Goldwyn and Myles Frost talk about their new play, "Chez Joey," and why artists need to be having hard conversations right now.  Listen now and subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening and bonus content. In the latest episode of "Main Justice," MS NOW Legal Analysts Andrew Weissmann and Mary McCord discuss the Department of Justice's appeal to the Supreme Court to toss out Steve Bannon's contempt conviction. Plus, they examine the stress on the system caused by an increased immigration caseload and the latest regarding the Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell's congressional deposition. Listen now, and subscribe to MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening and bonus content. 229 West 43rd St. New York, NY 10036 PRIVACY | CONTACT | UNSUBSCRIBE