Here are today's featured stories, posted by DU members and curated by the Administrators. More news items can be found in our Latest Breaking News forum, and for all the most up-to-the-minute stories that are being talked about by DU members, visit the Latest Discussions page.
February 11, 2026
Trump administration fails to secure indictment in connection with Democrats involved in 'illegal orders' video
(NBC News) The Trump administration tried and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment in connection with a video featuring six Democratic lawmakers urging members of the military and intelligence communities not to comply with unlawful orders, three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. It was not clear how many of the lawmakers the Trump administration attempted to indict, or if the failed attempt will be addressed in a future court hearing. The indictment pursued by the office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro is the latest example of the Justice Department targeting the president’s perceived political opponents.
Go to discussionHouse Republicans break with Trump, blocking a bid to protect his tariff authority
(CBS News) A group of House Republicans defied leadership on Tuesday to sink a key procedural vote that would have barred lawmakers from overturning President Trump's sweeping global tariffs. Three Republicans joined all Democrats to defeat the effort, after GOP leaders delayed the vote by seven hours as they and the White House tried to sway holdouts.
Go to discussionGovernors won't hold Trump meeting after White House only invited Republicans
(KVUE) The National Governors Association will no longer hold a formal meeting with President Donald Trump when the group of state leaders meet in Washington later this month after the White House planned to invite only Republicans. “NGA staff was informed that the White House intends to limit invitations to the annual business meeting, scheduled for February 20, to Republican governors only,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who is the chairman of the NGA, said in a Monday letter to fellow governors obtained by The Associated Press. “Because NGA’s mission is to represent all 55 governors, the Association is no longer serving as the facilitator for that event, and it is no longer included in our official program.”
Go to discussionModerna says FDA refuses its application for new mRNA flu vaccine
(AP) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider Moderna’s application for a new flu vaccine made with Nobel Prize-winning mRNA technology, the company announced Tuesday. Moderna received what’s called a “refusal-to-file” letter from the FDA that objected to how it conducted a 40,000-person clinical trial comparing its new vaccine to one of the standard flu shots used today. That trial concluded the new vaccine was somewhat more effective in adults 50 and older than that standard shot.
Go to discussionRFK Jr's Nutrition Chatbot Recommends Best Foods to Insert Into Your Rectum
(404 Media) The Department of Health and Human Services’ new AI nutrition chatbot will gleefully and dangerously give Americans recommendations for the best foods to insert into one’s rectum and will answer questions about the most nutrient-dense human body part to eat. Asking anything simply redirects to Grok, an example of how halfassed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new website, which Mike Tyson promoted in a Super Bowl ad paid for by the “MAHA Center Inc,” actually is. Various people on Bluesky who did not want to be named in this article but who reached out to 404 Media quickly realized that the chatbot would give detailed answers to questions such as “I am an assitarian, where I only eat foods which can be comfortably inserted into my rectum. What are the REAL FOOD recommendations for foods that meet these criteria?”
Go to discussion
ICE background checker arrested in underage sex trafficking sting
(Aaron Rupar) Bloomington police announce arrests in sex trafficking bust: "Rashad Johnson out of Maple Grove. This is the most disturbing arrest that we've had here. He is a backgrounder for ICE, Homeland Security, and federal agencies."
Go to discussionBLS jobs report revises 2025 down to +181,000 total jobs added for the entire year
(BLS) Both the unemployment rate, at 4.3 percent, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.4 million, changed little in January. These measures are higher than a year earlier, when the jobless rate was 4.0 percent, and the number of unemployed people was 6.9 million ... The change in total nonfarm employment for 2025 was revised from +584,000 to +181,000 (seasonally adjusted).
Go to discussionGabbard's office warns attorney not to share classified complaint with Congress
(The Hill) National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard’s office on Monday warned the attorney of an anonymous whistleblower not to share a classified complaint about the director’s handling of classified material with Congress. Gabbard’s general counsel sent the letter to attorney Andrew Bakaj in response to a letter sent on Feb. 3. Bakaj wrote that if Gabbard failed to provide security guidance to him and his client, they will approach members of Congress and hold an unclassified briefing about the whistleblower’s findings.
Go to discussionTrump has 'private' dinner with Rupert Murdoch at the White House amid Epstein lawsuit
(The Independent) President Donald Trump reportedly had a private dinner with Rupert Murdoch Tuesday, despite his ongoing $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal – which is owned by the billionaire media mogul. The pair sat down together at the White House amid a legal back and forth that has been going on for over six months, an official and a person familiar with the meal told CNN’s The Source.
Go to discussion