The Trump administration appears to be gearing up for a substantial response to Iran, Washington state allegedly spends millions on gender surgeries for inmates, and whiplash hits Moderna as the Food and Drug Administration reverses its decision not to review the company’s new flu vaccine.
It’s Thursday, February 19, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
U.S. Surrounds Iran
Amid escalating tensions over Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and the killings of thousands of protesters, the Trump administration appears to be gearing up for an armed response.
Over the last 36 hours, the Middle East has seen the largest military buildup in decades. Hundreds of cargo flights have transported weapons systems to the region, as hundreds of fighter jets, dozens of warships, and multiple aircraft carrier groups have also made their way towards Iran.
This may be a negotiating tactic by the United States to secure concessions from Tehran as diplomatic talks continue. But numerous advisers to President Donald Trump, including his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said they don’t think it’s a bluff. Trump reportedly feels emboldened by the success of his bombing raid on Iran’s nuclear facilities back in June and the operation to grab Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January.
As one former American diplomat put it to The Wall Street Journal, the president’s offer to Iran “is similar to Venezuela, surrender and we won’t attack you.”
Blue State Spends Millions On Gender Surgeon
A new investigation found that Washington state has spent millions on the services of a gender surgeon who performs surgeries on prison inmates.
The Washington State Healthcare Authority has paid more than $4.3 million since July 2019 for the services of Dr. Jeffrey Stiller.
He is a prolific transgender surgeon, and according to his website, he’s performed more than 1,000 vaginoplasties, averaging five procedures per week, describing his services as extremely sought-after.
Importantly, for this investigation, public records obtained by The Daily Wire show that Dr. Stiller’s clientele included a steady stream of inmates from Washington Department of Corrections facilities.
FDA’s Moderna Reversal
There’s whiplash at Moderna as the Food and Drug Administration reverses its decision not to review the company’s new flu vaccine.
The FDA decided it will allow Moderna to move forward with its new mRNA flu vaccine. The agency blocked it last week, but allowed it to move forward again after the pharma company agreed to additional testing.
The vaccine is expected to be brought to market in two phases: the first for people 65 and older through a process of “accelerated approval,” which will allow it to move forward with limited evidence. The vaccine for that cohort can later receive full approval with more tests. After those are completed, the vaccine will also be released for adults ages 50-64, assuming the results of those tests come back positive.
.png)
.png)
