[Wednesday, February 11] US News Headlines from r/politics

2026-02-11 2431 words 12 minutes

Contents

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DAILY BRIEFING

By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare February 11, 2026

Executive Summary

DOJ in Crisis: AG Bondi faced bipartisan censure over Epstein files; the DOJ also failed to secure indictments against Democratic lawmakers, sparking “weaponization” accusations.
Immigration System Strain: Surging ICE enforcement is overwhelming courts; DHS faces scrutiny over a major data breach, surveillance contracts, and controversial personnel hires.
Economic Red Flags: The January jobs report is overshadowed by revisions revealing 2025 job growth was “overstated”; the national debt is forecast to hit $64 trillion.
El Paso Incident: Conflicting narratives surround a 10-day airspace closure, with the administration’s “cartel drone” claim being disputed by officials citing a laser test.
Major Policy Shifts: The administration is moving to repeal the EPA’s climate finding, has seen the FDA reject Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, and has reclassified SpaceX to exempt it from labor law.

1. Justice System Under Intense Scrutiny

1.1. AG Bondi’s Hearing on Epstein Files Erupts in Bipartisan Censure

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee devolved into a highly contentious event marked by bipartisan condemnation over the DOJ’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. During the hearing, Democratic Representative Ted Lieu accused Bondi of lying under oath, claiming to have evidence that contradicted her assertion that there was “no evidence” linking President Trump to crimes in the files [1]. The criticism was not confined to one party; Republican Representative Thomas Massie confronted the Attorney General directly, stating, “You are responsible” [2]. The hearing grew increasingly volatile, with Bondi facing accusations she was “running a massive Epstein cover-up” from within the DOJ, according to Representative Jamie Raskin [3]. Multiple reports described Bondi refusing to apologize to Epstein’s survivors while taunting Democratic members, calling one a “‘washed-up loser lawyer’” [4]. The fallout extended to the White House, which fielded questions on a potential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell and its continued backing of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [5].

1.2. DOJ Fails to Indict Democrats, Sparking “Weaponization” Accusations

The Department of Justice suffered a significant setback as a federal grand jury refused to indict a group of Democratic lawmakers over a video in which they urged service members to disobey what they termed “illegal Trump orders” [1]. Reports indicate military veterans were targeted in the case with “charges of seditious conspiracy” [2]. The six Democratic senators who were targeted issued a stark warning that the attempt to indict them “‘could break this institution’” [3]. Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin accused President Trump of “‘weaponizing’ the justice system” in relation to the grand jury action [4].

1.3. Federal Probes into Elections Face Criticism and State Resistance

The administration’s efforts to investigate past elections are facing legal challenges and strong resistance from state officials. Newly unsealed documents revealed that the FBI’s seizure of 2020 election ballots in Fulton County, Georgia, was initiated by a “White House referral” and driven by a “Trump appointee” using information from “2020 election deniers” [1, 2]. At the same time, West Virginia’s Republican election chief is publicly resisting a “voter roll grab” by the DOJ, arguing the federal government “doesn’t have authority to run a state’s elections” [3]. In Michigan, a federal judge dismissed a separate DOJ lawsuit that sought access to the state’s centrally-held voter roll data [4].

2. Homeland Security: Immigration Surge and Border Incidents

2.1. Escalating ICE Enforcement Overwhelms Local Systems

A dramatic expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations is reportedly causing systemic strain and severe humanitarian challenges nationwide. In Minnesota, the surge has reportedly led to ICE “crashing the US court system,” prompting teachers and school districts to sue to “evict ICE” from their communities [1]. The crackdown has reportedly been a boon for private prison operator CoreCivic, which stated the policy is “boosting sales” [2]. The human impact is drawing scrutiny, with reports of an attempt to deport a woman for a bounced $25 check from 2014 and an attorney’s claim that five-year-old twins are being held in an ICE facility where one child “is drawing disturbing images” [3, 4].

2.2. Conflicting Narratives Emerge Over El Paso Airspace Closure

The 10-day FAA-ordered closure of all airspace over El Paso, Texas, has generated a series of conflicting official narratives. The FAA initially cited “security concerns” for grounding all flights [1]. The Trump administration later stated the closure was “tied to Mexican cartel drones” [2]. However, unnamed officials cited in a subsequent report directly disputed this explanation, claiming “‘There Was Not a Threat’” and asserting the shutdown was actually related to a test of an anti-drone laser system that downed a Mylar “party balloon” [3]. The FAA has since reopened the airspace, stating there was “no threat to commercial aviation” [4].

2.3. DHS Scrutinized for Data Privacy, Surveillance, and Personnel

The Department of Homeland Security is at the center of a funding battle with Congress amid mounting controversies. The IRS was found to have improperly disclosed confidential immigrant tax data to DHS [1]. Simultaneously, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) finalized a contract with Clearview AI to deploy its facial recognition technology for “tactical targeting” [2]. These developments come as DHS faces criticism for hiring a social media aide whose previous posts reportedly “echoed white supremacist messaging,” and as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces impeachment demands from over 50 organizations [3, 4].

3. Economic Outlook and Trade Policy Fractures

3.1. Jobs Report Masks Deeper Stagnation as National Debt Projections Worsen

While the January jobs report showed an addition of 130,000 payrolls, this headline number is being severely re-contextualized by dramatic downward revisions to prior data [1]. According to analyses, previous job growth throughout 2025 was so significantly “overstated” that the U.S. “barely gained any” jobs during the entire last year [2, 3]. This grim re-assessment coincides with new projections that the U.S. national debt is on a path to hit $64 trillion within a decade, a trend explicitly linked to administration policies [4]. The Congressional Budget Office has also warned that federal debt will “Hit Record Levels” [5]. Former primary challenger Nikki Haley criticized the administration, stating there has been “No talk of ‘fiscal conservatism’” [6].

3.2. GOP Rebels Rebuke Trump on Tariffs as USMCA Future Questioned

President Trump’s trade agenda is facing a significant rebellion from within his own party. Three House Republicans crossed party lines to block a procedural measure, delivering a “rebuke of Trump and Johnson” and preventing the administration from shielding new tariffs from snap congressional repeal votes [1]. This intra-party conflict is occurring as President Trump is reportedly “privately weighs quitting USMCA,” the signature trade pact he negotiated to replace NAFTA [2]. The administration’s aggressive trade posture is also creating bilateral friction, with a presidential “threat” over the Gordie Howe International Bridge prompting a sharp public rebuke from Canadian officials [3].

4. Executive Branch, Congress, and Electoral Battles

4.1. Administration Drives Major Regulatory and Policy Reversals

The administration is moving to enact significant policy shifts across key federal agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency is taking steps to repeal its own 2009 “endangerment finding,” a conclusion that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare [1]. In a related move, a manual for federal judges has reportedly been altered to erase a chapter on climate change [2]. In public health, the FDA has refused to review Moderna’s application for its new mRNA-based flu vaccine, a decision that follows sharp public criticism of the technology from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [3]. In a separate development, federal regulators reclassified SpaceX as being ’like an airline,’ a move exempting it from the National Labor Relations Act [4].

4.2. Intensifying Fights Over Federal and State Election Laws

A multi-front battle is escalating over the administration of American elections. The U.S. House is preparing a final vote on the “SAVE America Act,” a major voter ID bill strongly backed by President Trump, which critics allege is being promoted with false claims about non-citizen voting [1, 2]. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski has publicly stated her opposition to the bill [3]. At the state level, policies are diverging sharply. The Virginia Senate passed a bill to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, while in contrast, Kansas is considering a constitutional amendment to create a state-level electoral college for its own statewide elections [4, 5].

4.3. White House Confronts Controversies Over Pardons and Messaging

The executive branch is managing several distinct political controversies. A January 6 rioter who was pardoned by President Trump has since been convicted on separate charges of child sexual abuse, drawing sharp criticism [1]. The White House also dealt with a “firestorm” over a social media video depicting the Obamas “as apes;” a situation Vice President JD Vance later dismissed as “’not a real controversy’” [2]. On the polling front, a recent NBC poll shows President Trump’s ratings on immigration have “tumble[d],” while in a separate development, Gallup announced it will cease measuring presidential approval after 88 years, ending a long-standing political benchmark [3, 4].

5.1. Clashes Over LGBTQ+ Rights and Cultural Expression

Multiple conflicts over LGBTQ+ rights and cultural expression have escalated to the national political stage. The administration took action to remove the LGBTQ+ Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument, prompting New York politicians to vow defiance [1]. In Ohio, a bill has been proposed that would overturn local bans on conversion therapy, while in Indiana, the BMV has banned transgender people from correcting the gender marker on their driver’s licenses [2, 3]. Separately, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show has prompted demands from a Tennessee Republican for an FCC probe into what he termed “‘gay pornography’” and “‘gay sexual acts’” [4].

References

Section 1.1
[1] Rep. Ted Lieu accuses Pam Bondi of lying under oath during House Judiciary hearing: Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed there was “no evidence” Donald Trump has committed crimes in the Epstein files., https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/politics/2026/02/11/rep-ted-lieu-accuses-pam-bondi-of-lying-under-oath-during-hearing/88626904007/
[2] ‘You are responsible,’ GOP Rep. Massie tells Bondi on Epstein files, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-you-are-responsible-gop-rep-massie-tells-bondi-on-epstein-files
[3] Raskin slams Bondi: ‘You’re running a massive Epstein cover-up right out of the DOJ’, https://www.ms.now/ms-now/watch/raskin-slams-bondi-you-re-running-a-massive-epstein-cover-up-right-out-of-the-doj-2486613571782
[4] ‘You’re a washed-up loser lawyer’: Pam Bondi taunts Democrats over Epstein, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/11/pam-bondi-democrats-epstein-hearing
[5] White House quizzed on Epstein fallout, from potential Maxwell pardon to backing Secretary Lutnick, https://apnews.com/video/white-house-quizzed-on-epstein-fallout-from-potential-maxwell-pardon-to-backing-secretary-lutnick-cd526ce80c5b4f35a485656cfba3696d

Section 1.2
[1] Grand jury fails to indict democratic lawmakers who urged service members to disobey illegal Trump orders, https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/10/politics/lawmakers-indicted-illegal-orders-video?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit
[2] Dems enraged after Trump’s DOJ targeted veterans with charges of seditious conspiracy, https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/dems-enraged-after-trumps-doj-targeted-veterans-with-charges-of-seditious-conspiracy
[3] Democratic senators decry indictment attempt, warning it ‘could break this institution’, https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-orders-democrats-video-e00334773f858d04f8d907a29a052b98
[4] Slotkin says Trump ‘weaponizing’ justice system after grand jury fails to indict her, others, https://www.mlive.com/politics/2026/02/slotkin-says-trump-weaponizing-justice-system-after-grand-jury-fails-to-indict-her-others.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=redditsocial&utm_campaign=redditor

Section 1.3
[1] Federal probe of 2020 Georgia ballots began with White House referral, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/10/fbi-raid-fulton-county-2020-election-ballots-affidavit/88599034007/
[2] FBI raid of Georgia election hub was driven by Trump appointee, court docs show, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/fbi-raided-georgia-election-hub-search-evidence-2020-voter-fraud-court-rcna258344
[3] ‘DOJ doesn’t have authority to run a state’s elections’: West Virginia’s GOP election chief pushes back on voter roll grab, https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/doj-doesnt-have-authority-to-run-a-states-elections-west-virginias-gop-election-chief-pushes-back-on-voter-roll-grab/
[4] Judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking Michigan’s voter roll data, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/judge-dismisses-doj-lawsuit-seeking-michigan-voter-roll-data-rcna258465

Section 2.1
[1] ICE Is Crashing the US Court System in Minnesota, https://www.wired.com/story/ice-crashing-us-court-system-minnesota/
[2] Prison Operator CoreCivic Says ICE Crackdown is Boosting Sales, https://www.wsj.com/business/earnings/corecivic-says-ice-crackdown-is-boosting-sales-62c5b110?st=8znQy3&mod=wsjreddit
[3] She bounced a $25 check in 2014. ICE tried to deport her., https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/02/11/ice-deports-lawful-residents/
[4] Lawyer Says 5-Year-Old Twins Are Stuck In ICE Jail: ‘One Is Drawing Disturbing Images’, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/children-dilley-immigration-jail_n_698c9cd5e4b04325c3fde06a

Section 2.2
[1] FAA grounds all flights to and from El Paso until Feb. 20, https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/faa-grounds-all-flights-to-and-from-el-paso-until-feb-20
[2] Trump administration says El Paso airspace closure was tied to Mexican cartel drones, https://apnews.com/article/faa-el-paso-texas-air-space-closed-1f774bdfd46f5986ff0e7003df709caa
[3] Officials Dispute Trump Explanation of El Paso Airspace Closure. “There Was Not a Threat.” Shutdown Said to be Connected to Anti-Drone Laser that Shot Down Mylar Party Balloon, https://theintercept.com/2026/02/11/el-paso-airspace-closure-dispute/
[4] US FAA reopens El Paso airspace, says no threat to commercial aviation, https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-faa-reopens-el-paso-airspace-says-no-threat-commercial-aviation-2026-02-11/

Section 2.3
[1] IRS improperly disclosed confidential immigrant tax data to DHS, https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/02/11/immigrants-irs-dhs-tax-data/
[2] CBP Signs Clearview AI Deal to Use Face Recognition for ‘Tactical Targeting’, https://www.wired.com/story/cbp-signs-clearview-ai-deal-to-use-face-recognition-for-tactical-targeting/
[3] Homeland Security Hires Labor Dept. Aide Whose Posts Raised Alarms: A young aide behind social posts that echoed white supremacist messaging will help run social media for the much larger Homeland Security Department., https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/politics/trump-administration-social-media-homeland-security.html
[4] Kristi Noem impeachment demanded by more than 50 organizations, https://www.newsweek.com/kristi-noem-impeachment-calls-dhs-11502781

Section 3.1
[1] US added 130,000 jobs in January, surpassing expectations as 2025 growth is slashed, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/feb/11/delayed-us-january-jobs-report
[2] Job Growth Was Overstated, New Data Shows, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/business/economy/january-jobs-report-revisions.html
[3] US adds 130K jobs in January, but barely gained any in 2025, https://thehill.com/business/5732904-us-jobs-report-january/
[4] US debt forecast to hit $64T in a decade as Trump policies widen deficit, https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/11/us-debt-forecast-to-hit-64t-in-a-decade-as-trump-policies-widen-deficit-00775726
[5] Federal Debt to Hit Record Levels, Budget Office Warns, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/business/federal-debt-record-levels-budget-office.html
[6] Haley: No talk of ‘fiscal conservatism’ from Trump White House, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5733614-haley-fiscal-conservatism-jobs/

Section 3.2
[1] House rejects tariff restrictions in rebuke of Trump and Johnson, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/11/house-vote-trump-tariffs/
[2] Trump Privately Weighs Quitting USMCA Trade Pact He Negotiated, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/trump-privately-weighs-quitting-usmca-trade-pact-he-negotiated
[3] Ontario Premier Doug Ford responds to Trump’s threat on new bridge: “He doesn’t have the facts”, https://www.cbsnews.com/video/ontario-premier-doug-ford-responds-trump-threat-new-bridge-doesnt-have-facts/?ftag=CNM-00-10aac3a

Section 4.1
[1] EPA to repeal its own conclusion that greenhouse gases warm the planet and threaten health, https://www.nbcnews.com/science/climate-change/epa-to-repeal-endangerment-finding-climate-change-emissions-rcna258250
[2] Climate Change Is Erased From a Manual for Federal Judges, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/climate/judge-manual-climate-change-chapter.html
[3] FDA won’t review Moderna application for first mRNA-based flu vaccine, https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/02/10/fda-rejects-moderna-mrna-flu-vaccine/
[4] US decides SpaceX is like an airline, exempting it from Labor Relations Act, https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/victory-for-elon-musk-us-labor-board-abandons-authority-over-spacex/

Section 4.2
[1] ‘They want illegals to vote’: GOP uses lies in push for SAVE America Act as House prepares final vote, https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-uses-lies-in-push-for-save-america-act-as-house-prepares-vote/
[2] How the SAVE America Act could make major changes to voting, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-the-save-america-act-would-make-major-changes-to-voting
[3] Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks out out against Trump election bill, https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5733165-murkowski-trump-election-bill-save-act/
[4] Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Join National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, https://truthout.org/articles/virginia-senate-passes-bill-to-join-national-popular-vote-interstate-compact/
[5] Proposed amendment would establish Kansas electoral college, https://www.kwch.com/2026/02/10/proposed-amendment-would-establish-kansas-electoral-college/

Section 4.3
[1] A Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump was convicted of sexually abusing children, https://www.npr.org/2026/02/11/nx-s1-5711294/trump-jan-6-pardons-child-sex-abuse
[2] Vance says video of obamas as apes ’not a real controversy’, https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/11/jd-vance-comments-trump-video-obamas-apes/88622243007/
[3] Poll: Trump’s ratings on immigration tumble as Americans lose confidence in his top issue, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/poll-trumps-ratings-on-immigration-tumble-americans-lose-confidence-top-i-rcna258159
[4] Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years, https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5733236-gallup-stops-presidential-approval-ratings-polls/amp/

Section 5.1
[1] Trump administration removes LGBTQ+ Pride flag from Stonewall national monument, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/lgbtq-pride-flag-stonewall-trump-removal
[2] Ohio bill would overturn conversion therapy bans, limit LGBTQ+ support in schools, https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/politics/ohio-politics/ohio-bill-would-overturn-conversion-therapy-bans-limit-lgbtq-support-in-schools
[3] Indiana BMV bans trans people from correcting drivers licenses, https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/indiana-bmv-bans-trans-people-from-correcting-drivers-licenses/
[4] GOP lawmaker demands congressional investigation into Bad Bunny’s “gay sexual acts”. The Republican said that the Super Bowl Halftime Show “openly glorified sodomy” while displaying “gay pornography” and now wants an official investigation., https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/02/gop-lawmaker-demands-congressional-investigation-into-bad-bunnys-gay-acts/