First Lady Melania Trump gave a lengthy spoken statement today: "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility and respect."

Line that stood out the most for me from SCOTUS today: Justice John Roberts, responding to Solicitor General D. John Sauer with, "It's a new world. It's the same Constitution." www.thedailybeast.com/humiliated-t...

Not great for an admin still blaming Biden harvardharrispoll.com/wp-content/u...

Rep. Ro Khanna is calling for King Charles to meet with Epstein survivors during his U.S. visit next month www.thedailybeast.com/rep-dares-ki...

A Democrat just flipped the Florida House district that includes Mar-a-Lago in a blow to Pres. Donald Trump, who endorsed the GOP candidate and voted in the special election (by mail): www.thedailybeast.com/democrats-fl...

Trump asked by Japanese reporter why he did not tell allies like Japan about attacking Iran in advance: Trump: "You don't want to signal too much... We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?"

As the Pentagon asks for $200B as the Iran war rages, do not forget, Trump's tax law last year gave the Defense Department an additional $150B+ on top of its annual budget.

Rep. Garcia: we opened up what was supposed to be a briefing by asking AG Bondi multiple times if she would commit to follow the subpoena that compels her to answer questions, that’s under oath, transcribed and she refused on multiple occasions to commit to following the subpoena

The plot thickens... Dem Shawn Harris & Trump-backed Clay Fuller advance to runoff in crowded race to replace MTG... Republicans will need to consolidate their field, but Harris is ahead in tonight's race in a GA district MTG won by nearly 30 pts in 2024 www.thedailybeast.com/democrat-com...

Q: Tomahawk missile likely destroyed Iranian girls' school. Will US accept any responsibility? Trump: I will say the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around is used by, you know is sold and used by other countries... whether it's Iran, who also has some...

Trump on Iran: "The result will be lower oil prices, oil and gas prices for American families. We've done that. We've done it. We brought it very low. This was just an excursion into something that had to be done. Were getting very close to finishing that too."

New Texas Public Opinion Research Poll: GOP Texas Senate Primary runoff: Paxton 49% Cornyn 41% Undecided 11% If Trump endorses Cornyn: Paxton 44% Cornyn 43% If Trump endorses Paxton: Paxton 58% Cornyn 32% Hunt voters: 48% now back Paxton 31% for Cornyn

Trump: "No other president could do some of this shit I'm doing. The things I'm doing, nobody else is going to do it." (he was talking about drug prices, but...)

Trump on the Save America Act, which does not have the 60 necessary votes to pass in the Senate to avoid the filibuster: “I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed.”

Trump just now on Iran: "We're doing very well on the war front, to put it mildly. Somebody said, 'on a scale of 10, where would you rate it?' I said 'about a 15.'"

After telling Americans yesterday to get out of the region on commercial flights (after airspace already closed and flights were canceled), the State Department is now chartering flights out from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan for U.S. citizens:

Trump to Daily Mail on Iran war: “It's always been a four week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It's always been about a four week process so - as strong as it is, it's a big country, it'll take four weeks - or less.”

Today is the 2nd in a row where it’s not clear if Trump will speak publicly after starting a war in Iran. It has now been reported three U.S. service members were killed. Notably, no top Trump officials went on the Sunday shows to talk about the war or legal rationale.

The House Oversight Committee said it was working to get Hillary Clinton’s deposition video in the Epstein probe out on Friday. It still hasn’t been released….

End of Trump’s post: “The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”

I wrote about how last month Sec. Rubio testified before the Senate that “no one knows” who takes over in Iran if its leader is taken out: www.thedailybeast.com/rubio-admits...

The pin members of Democratic Women's Caucus, Epstein survivors and some male Democratic lawmakers are wearing today for Trump's SOTU:

Pres. Trump responding to former Prince Andrew's arrest: "I think it's a shame. I think it's very sad. I think it's so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad. To me, it’s a very sad thing."

Sen. Wyden with this cryptic two-line letter to the CIA director:

Inbox: Former President Clinton will appear for a deposition on February 27 and former Secretary Clinton will appear for a deposition on February 26 in the House Oversight Cmte Epstein investigation.

Creating a new position to prosecute fraud and report directly to the White House destroys 40 years of post Watergate reforms to protect DOJ independence. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

Smith in response to Trump attacks: The statements are meant to intimidate me. I will not be intimidated. I think these statements are also made as a warning to others what will happen if they stand up.

Jack Smith opening: I love my country and believe deeply in the core principles upon which it was founded... I am not a politician and have no partisan loyalties. My career has been dedicated to serving our country by upholding the rule of law...

INBOX from Sen. Mark Kelly: "I filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of Defense because there are few things as important as standing up for the rights of the very Americans who fought to defend our freedoms.”

🚨The Indiana Senate just rejected the new congressional maps despite Donald Trump making threats and calling GOP lawmakers directly in the red state. Republicans who defied him said they refused to be intimidated

Trump last week on the video of the Sept 2 boat strikes: "Whatever they have, we'd certainly release, no problem.” Trump today on releasing the video: "I didn't say that... Whatever Hegseth wants to do is ok with me."

This was a Trump +22 district last year… Speaker Johnson campaigned there yesterday. Trump urged GOP voters to get out. Today, it is looking , well… #TN07

Trump says in a post he's sending Witkoff to meet with Putin in Moscow and Driscoll to meet with the Ukrainians "I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages."

Trump is going off on Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray today, but the state GOP lawmaker is not up for reelection until 2028.

Speaker Mike Johnson refused to take questions at his press conference on Day 40 of the shutdown as the Senate moves toward a deal Reporters shouted about whether the House would hold a vote on the health care bill that's part of the Senate compromise as he walked away

Emboldened Democratic leaders Jeffries and Schumer, fresh off a good night for their party, demand a meeting with Trump to address the shutdown and health care. "Thank you for your attention to this matter." Letter: www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/do...

BREAKING: Virginia flips blue with Abigail Spanberger elected governor She's making history as the first woman elected governor of the state. Democrats are also currently leading in the AG and Lt. Gov races More: www.thedailybeast.com/trump-suffer...

OK

Rep. Jeffries throwing in some Jay-Z lyrics on the U.S. Capitol steps: "This year they've done nothing! Zip, zero, stingy with dinero. Nothing to lower the high cost of living."

Polling Roundup! Who to blame for the gov't shutdown? Washington Post 23% Both 30% Democrats 47% Trump/Republicans NPR/PBS 31% Both 27% Democrats 38% Republicans NYT/Siena 33% Both 19% Democrats 26% Trump/Republicans Morning Consult 32% Democrats 45% Republicans

A bipartisan group of senators huddled on the Senate floor discussing possible path. According to Rounds who was in talks, a 45-day extension is on the table to let them work on issue they’re divided on (health care). Asked if a shorter CR was too, he said it’s up to leadership

BREAKING: The U.S. government is headed toward a shutdown after both votes in the Senate failed tonight: www.thedailybeast.com/votes-to-avo...

Trump Stuns World Leaders With Bizarre Lecture on Climate Change ‘Con Job’ www.thedailybeast.com//trump-stuns...

Top Dems Target Border Czar Homan Over Bribery Probe www.thedailybeast.com//top-dems-ta...

Trump Accuses Dems of Blackmail in Wild Government Shutdown Tirade www.thedailybeast.com//trumps-wild...

Insiders Spill Embarrassing Truth About Trump’s UN Pratfalls www.thedailybeast.com//white-house...