The Gov Hub Newsletter: February 17, 2026

The Virginia state Supreme Court ruled that VA can go ahead with a special redistricting referendum on April 21, 2026 that could hand the Dems four additional Congressional seats. Despite the fact that Dems will still have to defend their proposed map in court, the ruling ensures that the ongoing legal challenge will not stop voters from being able to weigh in. That said, uncertainty isn’t off the table, as the court could technically overturn the referendum results if it later rules against the plan – albeit an unlikely outcome according to Democracy Docket.

The Trump Admin’s move to take over and redevelop D.C.’s public golf courses isn’t exactly a hole-in-one with the area’s golf pros, and has resulted in a lawsuit, brought on by Alex Dickson and Dave Roberts. The two are suing with the argument that ending the lease with the National Links Trust violates innumerable federal laws, including environmental and historic preservation protections.

A mega-sized Confederate flag [you did a double take didn’t you??], that had been flying over Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina since ‘22, has been taken down following a court order or rather, not put back up. Pre-empting that removal, was the local Sons of Confederate Veterans chapter taking the flag down ahead of an ice storm. That good news comes with a foul lining however, as the group is continuing to fight the case in the SC Court of Appeals with the goal of being able to put the flag back up.

A federal judge – U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe — has ordered the National Park Service to restore an exhibit that highlighted enslaved people who’d lived at Philly’s former presidential mansion, flagging that the Trump Admin had likely acted unlawfully in removing them. In her rebuke of the move, Rufe connected the dots between the novel 1984 and the dangers of re-writing history.

Nebraska’s Secretary of State, Republican Bob Evnen is hitting send on sensitive voter data with the address for delivery being Trump’s DOJ. The release of the info requested by Trump’s DOJ had been on hold while org Common Cause pursued a lawsuit to block it. However, Nebraska’s highest court rejected the case or rather they dismissed it.

The Trump Admin is axing $600M in CDC grants for programs that support both HIV prevention and HIV surveillance, marking at least the second time in the last 12 months that the Admin has canceled funding for HIV-related research and prevention measures.

The man in charge of health in the US of A, RFK Jr. told podcaster Theo Vonn that he’s “not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.” Yes, he said that verbatim.

Despite study after study finding climate change to be a danger to public health, the Trump Admin ‘revoked’ that finding – one that’s stood for more than 15 years.

Minnesota has become the home of the largest known outbreak of sexually transmitted ringworm [30 cases], a fungal-based disease that’s treatable with oral anti-fungals. 

A new report from Wired has found that workers at the Social Security Administration have apparently been instructed to share details about certain in-person appointments with ICE. For context, most SSA appointments these days are by phone [tysm dodge cuts], but some people must go IRL regardless, including those that are deaf, those that need a sign language interpreter, and more – the more including noncitizens [ex: foreign students] who have to go IRL in order to review continued eligibility benefits and noncitizen parents of citizen children. It’s giving dangerously toxic collab.

The Washington Post reports that ICE has more plans for depravity, with a budget of $38.3 billion to spend to convert warehouses into a nationwide network of ICE detention centers. ICE’s proposal includes creating 16 “processing sites” and 8 “large facilities” to house 10,000 people – again – house people in warehouses. Interestingly, communities with warehouses that are being approached about purchase, are pushing back and finding success in their strategies.

A horrifying video has gone viral, showing kids running in fear while waiting for their school bus in Camden County, NJ when ICE agents appeared in their apartment complex. According to NJ.com, the bus driver then circled as many times as possible trying to pick-up the kids that were scattered across the area, followed by the school district bringing in bilingual support staff to help process the trauma.

Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old Chicagoan died following a fight with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Torres had been fighting for her father’s release from ICE, who was picked up during the Trump Admin’s “Operation Midway Blitz.” Congressman Mike Quickly [D-IL] shared his thoughts on the tragedy here.

ICE is planning to expand its big brother, creepy crawly surveillance network online, going after people who criticize ICE online, which it’s already busy doing via a $5.5M contract with a company called Barbaricum. Since that contract is set to expire, ICE is seeing what other creeps could handle the job, looking specifically to bring on a company that “can scour social media, open-source online databases, the web” using ”geolocation, psychological profiles, and facial recognition tech.”

In San Francisco, CA, a 66-year-old nanny was taken by unidentified men who claimed to be ICE outside of her employer's home, who tried to intervene. The woman, who is originally from Russia, was released 12 hours later after an all-hands-on-deck effort by lawyers and an intervention of a federal judge.

A Ukrainian refugee, who entered the U.S. legally through the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole program in 2023 with his family, was held in ICE detention for over two-months after being taken by ICE at a Walmart where he was picking up an order. Disturbingly, in explaining to the ICE agents that his family had fled war in Ukraine, one of the ICE agents told the 39-year-old father that “he was pro-Russia” and “wanted Russia to win the war.”

The DHS shutdown is here, with the White House and its band of congressional GOP’ers refusing to budge on requiring new limitations on federal immigration operations. The shutdown is not a full gov shutdown, but does apply to the agencies under DHS’s umbrella like TSA and FEMA. To note, given that Trump’s “big beautiful bill” handed $75B to ICE and $65B to Customs & Border Protection, it’s unlikely that ICE or CBP will be slowed down during the shutdown.

Rumor has it [not according to Adele, but instead the Wall Street Journal] that Kristi Noem’s alleged boytoy, Corey Lewandowski, who she’s long been alleged to be smooching [outside of her marriage] fired a Coast Guard pilot for leaving Noem’s blanket on a plane. The plot however thickened when Lewandowski apparently realized they had no other way home and had to re-hire the pilot. Mind you, Lewandowski is an unpaid “special government employee” who can technically only work a certain number of days a year but also isn’t required to disclose his finances. 

Three new polls show something that will likely put the current president into a tizzy – voters overwhelmingly think that Biden was doing a better job than Trump is doing one-year into his second term. On the same topic of polls, the latest from YouGov/The Economist show that the Gen-Z support that won Trump the White House is sinking faster than the Titanic.

In the “Live free or die” state, which for any non-New Englanders, that’s New Hampshire – GOP state Rep. Travis Corcoran proved his lack of media training by saying his truth with this – “the point of Republican legislation in New Hampshire is not just to change the laws, it’s to demoralize the left…to encourage them to leave.”

Project 2025’er turned White House office chief, Russell Vought, reportedly is using what’s left of USAID’s funds, an agency he gutted, to pay for security. Translation: Vought is using $15M in taxpayer money for security, instead of using it for its original soft power purpose.

D.C.’s Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed a negligence lawsuit against her Westchester hometown and a power utility on the basis that she tripped and fell while out on a walk. She’s asking for $250K while Bravo Andy is in the comments with this.

The New Mexico state leg is set to hold a Truth Commission today [February 17, 2026] to investigate Epstein-related crimes that have occurred in the state, including at Zorro Ranch. The Commission is being led by state Rep. Andrea Romero and state Rep. Marianna Anaya. 

Amongst the records shared in the latest files drop, is an invitation sent to Dr. Oz [current head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] and his wife for an event on Epstein’s Island for Valentine’s Day. The Paperless Post invite notably was sent in an era where Epstein was already publicly known as a pedo, having served 13 months behind bars for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury [D-NM] shared the names of Trump Admin officials that she’s seen mentioned in the files [hint: it’s basically the whole damn crew].

A number of Ohio elected officials are under fire for having taken campaign contributions over the years from Epstein Files frequent flier, Lex Wexner. The recipients are from both sides of the aisle, and so far, all have beat around the bush on whether they’re concerned about having taken Wexner’s money.

Citing his exposed associations with Epstein, Tom Pritzker, the now former executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corp, has resigned.

Kentucky’s first couple, Gov. Andy Beshear [D] and Britainy Beshear dropped this sitcom meets wholesome highlight Reel for Valentine’s Day of behind the scenes moments. 

Arizona’s Secretary of State Adrian Fontes [D] took to the mic to say that he will not – under any circumstances – hand voter info over to the Trump Admin, citing the Privacy Act of 1974.

Virginia Delegate Joshua Cole [D], threw a fit – specifically one to protect repro, housing for all Virginians, and support public education.

Delegate Joe Vogel paired up with the Maryland Dem entities with this Parks & Rec-style vid to inspire running for office.

AG Pam Bondi tried to come for Culver City – this was Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager Dove [D-CA]’s response.

The housing market continues to throw up red flags of concern, with new numbers out about January 2026 sales. According to the National Association of Realtors, January 2026 sales of pre-owned homes sank 8.4% from December 2025. 

Per Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, ICE’s operations in the city have resulted in an estimated 76K+ residents now experiencing food insecurity, a loss of $81M in revenue for local businesses and restaurants, and a loss of $47M in lost wages.

According to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Trump’s tariffs have largely impacted businesses and consumers – not foreign entities as Trump marketed. Specifically, the report shares that business and consumers have taken on 90% of the increased costs resulting from the tariffs.

The head of the Wasatch County [Utah] GOP, David Nephi Johnson has been charged with first-degree aggravated child abuse after local police say he waterboarded his teenage daughter for not cleaning her bedroom to his standard. The county GOP shared they had held an emergency meeting in response, appointing its vice chair as the acting leader, but were also awaiting for more “facts” and “evidence.”

A prominent figure in Texas Republican politics – Bo French – who is running for the statewide office of railroad commissioner, pulled out of a bipartisan event because it was being held at an Islamic Center. Given that he posted on Twitter last June a poll asking “if Jews or Muslims were a bigger threat to America,” the move surprises… no one. 

Congressman Andy Ogles [R-TN]’s reaction to the Super Bowl halftime show is to request a formal inquiry into Bad Bunny’s performance, alleging that it was sexually explicit and thus a violation of FCC guidelines. Meanwhile, a straight couple got married on stage, but mmkay.

Elon continues to be #obsessed with being white, posting – according to a new report from The Guardian – about race on Twitter, almost every single day of January 2026. Amongst his Twitter finger posts, are comments riddled in anti-immigrant sentiments and claims that “whites are a rapidly dying minority.”

Congressman Randy Fine [R-FL] has yet again said something heinously on-brand, sharing on Twitter that if he had to choose between Muslims and dogs, he’d pick dogs.

Marie Claire: Is Jennifer Siebel Newsom the Most Underestimated Woman in American Politics

Playboy: Four Men Share How Abortion Changed Their Lives

Politico: Fees, fines and ordinances: Cities push back against Trump’s immigration enforcement

Vanity Fair: Something’s Rotten in the Norwegian Royal Family