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Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Calls Grow for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Resign

The revelations about Peter Mandelson in the Epstein files have caused many previous allies to say it’s time for the Labor PM to go. Mandelson was Starmer’s U.K. ambassador to the U.S. until September last year (ABC). Fox News: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing one of the most serious crises of his premiership after a cascade of resignations, renewed scrutiny over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to Washington and mounting unrest inside the ruling Labor Party ahead of a critical meeting of members of Parliament Monday evening. On Monday, Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar became the most senior party figure to call for Starmer’s resignation, saying “the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change,” according to the Associated Press. His intervention piles fresh pressure on the prime minister. At the center of the crisis are newly publicized materials detailing Mandelson’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, revelations that have reshaped the political stakes and triggered questions about vetting at the highest levels of government (Fox News). J.K. Rowling: Add Keir Starmer’s newfound concern for victims of Peter Mandelson’s bestie to his backflip on whether women can have penises and his U-turn on the Rotherham grooming gangs enquiry. Starmer is indifferent to harm done to girls and women unless it threatens his career (Rowling).

5th Circuit Gives Trump a Major Win on Immigration Enforcement

Allowing the administration to continue deportations via administrative courts without bond hearings. AP: President Donald Trump’s administration can continue to detain immigrants without bond, marking a major legal victory for the federal immigration agenda and countering a slew of recent lower court decisions across the country that argued the practice is illegal. A panel of judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday evening that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to deny bond hearings to immigrants arrested across the country is consistent with the constitution and federal immigration law (AP). Ed Morrissey: This has major impacts, both direct and indirect. Immediately, this will end any efforts by federal judges in the Fifth Circuit to require bond hearings and habeas actions, which the court notes have exploded over the past year. It also sets up a potential circuit conflict that will force the Supreme Court to adjudicate the matter sooner rather than later, given the acute nature of immigration enforcement. This will also have an impact on the Democrats’ demands for judicial warrants, especially once it gets to the Supreme Court. The Fifth Circuit does not directly address this issue, but its ruling recognizes immigration enforcement as an administrative function rather than a strict law-enforcement function (Hot Air).

Ninth Circuit Gives Trump Administration a Win on Temporary Protected Status

Susie Moore reports for RedState: The Trump administration scored another big win at the appellate court level on Monday, when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of a lower court ruling vacating Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Multiple TPS cases are being litigated at present, and it’s a bit challenging to keep them all straight, but this one, as noted, involves TPS designations for Nepal, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Sec. Noem terminated the TPS designations for all three countries in the summer of 2025. The plaintiffs sued to block that termination, and in late December, District Judge Trina Thompson (Northern District of California) determined that Noem’s decisions violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and entered a judgment vacating the terminations. The administration appealed and, with Monday’s ruling (viewable below), the 9th Circuit not only granted a stay pending appeal but struck at the very heart of a number of related rulings: “We conclude that the government is likely to succeed on the merits of its appeal either by showing that the district court lacked jurisdiction or by prevailing on plaintiffs’ arbitrary-and-capricious APA challenge” (Red State).

Federal Judge in California Blocks California Law That Would Have Banned Masks for ICE Agents

Yet another court victory for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts: California cannot stop federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks, a federal judge said Monday. Judge Christina Snyder from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted a preliminary injunction against part of the “No Secret Police Act.” Snyder’s ruling came in a case brought by Pre sident Donald Trump’s administration. In the ruling, Snyder wrote that the new law unlawfully discriminates against federal law enforcement officers, violating the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause (KTLA).Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California explains: As we have said, states do not have the authority to regulate federal agents. @Scott_Wiener and @CAgovernor tried to mislead the public by claiming they could prevent agents from wearing masks, making it easier to dox them. That state law has now been officially blocked by a federal judge. Let this serve as a reminder that these politicians are willing to mislead you about what is actually lawful (Essayli). More from Bill Melugin: (TV News).

Texas AG Launches Investigation Into ‘Sharia City’

First, a description of the proposed project: EPIC City is a Muslim-centric 402-acre real estate development concept planned for the small town of Josephine, located near Plano. Blueprints for the theorized community, planned by North Texas’s largest mosque, the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), premiered in a since-deleted YouTube video posted by the religious organization in October of 2024. The organization planned to build 1,000 homes, a K-12 religious school, a mosque and a retail center on the acreage it purchased “EPIC City is more than just a neighborhood; it’s a way of life,” said the announcement video from the East Plano Islamic Center. “It is a meticulously designed community that brings Islam to the forefront, a community that blends with nature, crafted to elevate your living experience” (Dallas Observer). Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton yesterday: “There will be no ‘sharia city’ in Texas under my watch,” said Attorney General Paxton. “While you’re on American soil, you will obey America’s laws. I have launched this investigation to determine the nature of this development in Kaufman County and will be thoroughly investigating this matter for any unlawful actions” (TexasAG).

Violence in Italy Disrupts Winter Olympics

Prime Minister Meloni is increasing police presence to regain control. Reuters: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned anti-Olympics protesters as “enemies of Italy” after violence on the fringes of a demonstration in Milan on Saturday night and sabotage attacks on the national rail network. The International Olympic Committee also joined in the criticism, saying violence had no place at the Games. The incidents happened on the first full day of competition in the Winter Games that Milan, Italy’s financial capital, is hosting with the Alpine town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Meloni praised the thousands of Italians who were working to make the Games run smoothly and present a positive face of Italy. “Then there are those who are enemies of Italy and Italians, demonstrating ‘against the Olympics’ and ensuring that these images are broadcast on television screens around the world. After others cut the railway cables to prevent trains from departing,” she wrote on Instagram on Sunday (Reuters). Mario Nawfal: After riots in Turin left 108 officers injured, Meloni’s government isn’t messing around. A hardline security decree is moving ahead, giving police more power to stop unrest before it spirals, including preventive detention and stronger legal protections. Street violence won’t be tolerated, and the state isn’t playing defense anymore (Nawfal).

Trump Administration to Repeal Obama-Era Decision on Greenhouse Gases

A much need reset towards climate realism. Wall Street Journal: The Trump administration is planning this week to repeal the Obama-era scientific finding that serves as the legal basis for federal greenhouse-gas regulation, according to U.S. officials, in the most far-reaching rollback of U.S. climate policy to date. The reversal targets the 2009 “endangerment finding,” which concluded that six greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare. The finding provided the legal underpinning for the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate rules, which limited emissions from power plants and tightened fuel-economy standards for vehicles under the Clean Air Act. “This amounts to the largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in an interview…. The rollback of the endangerment finding is one of several energy- and climate-related announcements the administration is planning to make this week as part of a campaign to address high energy costs. Public polling shows that voters view the high cost of living—including electricity prices—as a primary concern heading into this year’s midterm elections. “More energy drives human flourishing,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in an interview. “Energy abundance is the thing that we have to focus on, not regulating certain forms of energy out.” Trump is set to hold an event Wednesday at the White House with Zeldin and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to announce a new executive order that directs the Defense Department to enter into agreements to buy electricity from coal-fired power plants (Wall Street Journal).

With Military Assets in Gulf Region, Has US Forfeited Strategic Advantage With Iran?

The nation—and Iran—has watched the U.S. assemble an impressive armada in the Persian Gulf. Have we eliminated the possibility of surprise? Are our troops vulnerable? Hugh Hewitt turned to Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, United States Navy (Ret.): First of all, I’m glad they’ve had a couple weeks in theater to stabilize after a transit from the Western Pacific, from the South China Sea. They’ve been able to now operate in the area for a couple weeks. That’s critical. And in fact, at this point now, the benefit, the advantage goes to the US forces here is: They get very comfortable operating. I’m sure the Iranian—what’s left of the air defense forces—are going up and down, responding to every presumed or possible aircraft contact. And so for the next three months or so, we’re going to be in a groove. I think after about three months, we get a little tired out at sea, but we’re in a nice groove here for about three months. So I feel really good. And I feel they can protect themselves. We just watched 22 months of unremitting drone cruise missile and hypersonic missile attacks on our forces in the Red Sea where we shot down several hundred of those type missiles and drones and of all types at the cost of a couple billion dollars, but still very successful. So I feel comfortable that we can handle that mission, that our ships are safe (Hughniverse).

Virginian Democrats Going After the Guns

Elections have consequences. Eight gun control bills were approved by the House of Delegates last week. Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms: … including a ban on the manufacture, sale, and possession of “assault firearms” and ammunition magazines that can hold more than ten rounds. Bills banning the sale of commonly owned arms, expanding “gun-free zones,” and imposing storage requirements that will make it nearly impossible to easily access a firearm for self-defense aren’t common sense, nor are they about saving lives. These bills are designed to make it more expensive, more difficult, and more legally dangerous to exercise a fundamental right. The gun and magazine bill passed by the House is substantially different than the current Senate version, though, which means the bills could end up in a conference committee if the Senate doesn’t further amend SB 749 to mirror HB 217 (Bearing Arms). Gun owners are upset. Small gun shops may be out of business. Washington Times: Firearms dealers at a Northern Virginia gun show said a slew of proposed state gun laws could force them out of business, while attendees and event organizers accused lawmakers of trying to trample their Second Amendment rights. The Virginia General Assembly’s Democrats are advancing the proposals, which the House of Delegates passed last week and now go to the Senate. If Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs the legislation, the mom-and-pop vendors at the gun show would face an uncertain future. “It could very possibly put a bunch of these small gun shops out of business,” said Annette Elliot, president of Showmasters Gun Shows, which ran the three-day event at the Manassas Mall. Paul Voska, owner of Black Widow Firearms based in Mount Sidney, said every handgun he had on display would fall under the proposed legal description of an “assault weapon” (Washington Times).

10.

Elon Musk Shift Focus From Mars to the Moon

Musk on Sunday: For those unaware, SpaceX has already shifted focus to building a self-growing city on the Moon, as we can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years. The mission of SpaceX remains the same: extend consciousness and life as we know it to the stars. It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time), whereas we can launch to the Moon every 10 days (2 day trip time). This means we can iterate much faster to complete a Moon city than a Mars city (Musk).Scientific American: The pivot signals a shift in focus for SpaceX, which Musk has long claimed will help establish human civilization on Mars using the company’s still in development megarocket Starship. This is far from the first time Musk has changed SpaceX’s time line for a Mars mission—in 2016, for instance, he suggested a landing could be achieved by 2018, and he later pushed a potential touchdown to 2022…. In his X post on Sunday, Musk said that SpaceX would resume working toward Mars in the next five to seven years. But he pointed out that establishing a base on the moon would be more efficient. “The overriding priority is securing the future of civilization and the Moon is faster,” he wrote (Scientific American).

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