David Lauter

President Trump spent five minutes of his Cabinet meeting boasting of his thrift with a story about negotiating for $5 personalized Sharpies. The company that makes the permanent markers said the exchange never happened. wapo.st/4bLTOWd

During a Cabinet meeting, President Trump spent five minutes talking about a pen he was holding. He claimed the company gave him a deal to make Sharpies look more official. Sharpie maker Newell Brands said the conversation as Trump related it did not happen. wapo.st/4bLTOWd

Breaking news: A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a landmark trial, awarding $3 million in compensation to a young woman who alleged she became addicted to the companies’ platforms as a child. wapo.st/4lRxjUA

Always worth asking for the transcript of court hearings. Washington Post did and found this: washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

Breaking news: Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey have taken the lead in efforts to broker a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran, serving as intermediaries in talks between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to officials. wapo.st/4dcOaPv

Four doses of an experimental vaccine to protect against Lyme disease reduced the number of tick-borne infections by more than 70 percent, according to Pfizer and Valneva. If successful, it could become the only Lyme disease vaccine available for people. wapo.st/4t7RzDY

President Trump, who is in the midst of pressuring senators to curb the use of mail-in voting, voted by mail ballot in Tuesday’s special election in Palm Beach County, Florida. wapo.st/47fVUwf

He was Rubio’s friend and roommate. Now Rubio will testify against him. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Trump has choked off Cuba’s oil supply. China is stepping in with solar. washingtonpost.com/world/2026/02/…

SCOOP: Senior Israeli officials tell U.S. diplomats Iranian protesters “will get slaughtered” if they take to the streets, though Israel is still angling for a popular uprising, per a State Department cable from Embassy Jerusalem 🧵

President Trump’s appointees to the federal planning commission that controls the fate of his White House ballroom project are not legally qualified to serve, critics say — raising the possibility of a court challenge. wapo.st/4smPgwQ

Why China could emerge a winner from Trump’s global energy shock wapo.st/46YCqft

U.S. intelligence assessments predict Iran’s regime will remain intact and perhaps be emboldened, believing it stood up to President Trump and survived, according to two people familiar with the assessments. wapo.st/40AqHjz

Exclusive: A government IG is investigating a whistleblower complaint alleging that a former DOGE member claims to have taken private Social Security data on a thumb drive to his new private employer. By @MerylKornfield @lizzadwoskin@FedGirlWaPo washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

Congress has steadily surrendered its powers to President Trump. @lizcgoodwin masterfully chronicles how and why. washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/…

New: Democrats asked a federal court to block Trump's 250-ft arch Under law, Congress must approve certain monuments in DC “This is a straightforward issue of who’s in charge,” @SenAngusKing said They also mocked the "vanity" project “This is not Pyongyang,” @RepHuffman said

FBI Director Kash Patel fired roughly a dozen agents and staff members who once had ties to an investigation into Donald Trump, including agents who specialized in Iran and its proxies. Three days after the firings began, the U.S. was bombarding Iran. wapo.st/40gb3cX

Breaking news: The Army abruptly canceled a major training exercise, officials said, fueling speculation within the Defense Department that soldiers specializing in ground combat and a range of other missions may be sent to the Middle East. wapo.st/40NZFFn

EXCLUSIVE: Justice Dep't has formed group to examine possible charges against Cuban officials. Could lay grounds for a Maduro-style effort there. Comes as Trump says Cuba is next target. from @PerryStein @jeremyroebuck washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

Exclusive: Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack American forces in the Middle East, the first indication that another major U.S. adversary is participating — even indirectly — in the war. wapo.st/4sxlWTW