Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas is facing mounting pressure to resign after he was accused of having an extramarital affair with a staffer before she committed suicide last year.
Reps. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky have all made public calls for Gonzales to immediately step down. Texas Republican Reps. Chip Roy and Brandon Gill, meanwhile, have urged Gonzales to end his re-election bid.
Gonzales, a 45-year-old husband and father of six children, has denied allegations of an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, his former staffer, who committed suicide last September by dousing herself in accelerant and setting herself on fire at her Uvalde, Texas, home. Santos-Aviles, who was 35 at the time of her death, left behind a young son.
The latest revelations in the scandal came last week when the <a href="https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/tony-gonzales-santos-aviles-affair-husband-21360950.php">San Antonio Express-News</a> published messages that Santos-Aviles&#8217; husband said were sent between Gonzales and his former staffer. Screenshots of the messages show Gonzales allegedly making sexual requests of Santos-Aviles, including asking her to send him a &#8220;sexy&#8221; photo of herself and asking what her &#8220;favorite position&#8221; is.
One message shows the congressman allegedly telling Santos-Aviles about his sexual fantasy before the staffer replies, &#8220;This is too far, Tony.&#8221; In another message, she wrote, &#8220;This is going too far boss. So how long have you thought I was this hot?&#8221;
Santos-Aviles&#8217; husband, Adrian Aviles, told the Express-News, “I said the truth would come to light when it’s time, and the time is now. Tony abused his power. He should have held himself to a higher standard as a congressional leader.”
Gonzales remained defiant on Tuesday, <a href="https://x.com/i/status/2026369580382163169">telling</a> CNN, &#8220;I am not going to resign. I work every day for the people of Texas &#8230; and there will be an opportunity for all the details and all the facts to come out. What you&#8217;ve seen is not all the facts.&#8221;
Gonzales did not answer when asked by CNN whether the text messages reported by the Express-News were real. Last week, the Republican congressman said he would &#8220;NOT BE BLACKMAILED&#8221; and added that it was &#8220;disgusting to see people profit politically and financially off a tragic death.&#8221;
Adrian Aviles said he wanted to release the text messages to push back on Gonzales&#8217; claim that he is being &#8220;blackmailed.&#8221;
“I’m releasing them now because I don’t want to be called a liar and don’t want her to be called a liar,” Aviles added. “I also want to show proof to everybody the type of person that he is. He’s a predator. He took advantage of a very vulnerable woman.”
The Daily Wire reached out to Gonzales&#8217; office for comment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that Republicans should &#8220;wait for more of the facts to come out&#8221; before calling for Gonzales&#8217; resignation. A Gonzales resignation would further endanger the House Republicans&#8217; majority as the party holds on tightly to a four-seat lead over the Democrats. Some Republicans have seen enough, and are voicing their disgust with Gonzales over the allegations.
&#8220;The entire Texas delegation, as well as every single other Member of Congress, should be condemning a sitting Member of Congress asking for explicit photos of their staff,&#8221; Luna <a href="https://x.com/RepLuna/status/2026010250382610570">said</a> on Monday. &#8220;As a woman, this is really disgusting to see. Not to mention, it brings dishonor on the House of Representatives. I am so sick of people not calling this crap out. Again, like I’ve said before, this is not the only case of this crap up here. @RepTonyGonzales, shame on you.&#8221;
Congressman Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, <a href="https://x.com/emilybrooksnews/status/2026312050637517217">said</a> that Gonzales should end his re-election campaign &#8220;for the good of the country&#8221; and the &#8220;good of the party.&#8221; Roy previously endorsed Gonzales&#8217; Republican primary challenger, Brandon Herrera.
Herrera called Gonzales a &#8220;sexual predator&#8221; who &#8220;wrecked a family.&#8221;
&#8220;I have now seen some of the text messages between Tony Gonzales and his late aide, Regina Santos-Aviles. It is now clear to me Tony Gonzales is a sexual predator, who abused his position of power and wrecked a family,&#8221; Herrera said on Sunday. &#8220;I also now know this is not the only case. He must resign.&#8221;
A recent <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/23/us-news/most-voters-have-unfavorable-view-of-rep-tony-gonzales-internal-poll/">poll</a> from Political Intelligence shows Gonzales trailing Herrera by over 20 points ahead of the Republican primary. Gonzales was also underwater by 30 percentage points in approval rating, with 54% of those surveyed holding an unfavorable opinion of the third-term representative.

US Congress Delegation Visit Kyiv

Salacious Texts Ignite Capitol Hill Scandal After Staffer’s Death

Congress

House Republicans

Love Affair

Politics

Texas

In a viral video, a 12-year-old Texas boy took a stand for religious neutrality after his local school district allowed a Muslim outreach group with alleged ties to anti-Christian ideology to distribute Islamic materials — including head coverings and Sharia law pamphlets — to students during school hours.
Leland Saunders, a resident of Farmersville, delivered a blistering rebuke to the Wylie Independent School District board following a February 2 incident at Wylie East High School. The controversy erupted after an outside organization called &#8220;Why Islam&#8221; was permitted to set up a massive promotional booth during the lunch period to celebrate &#8220;World Hijab Day.&#8221;
According to reports, the group handed out copies of the Quran and hijabs to female students. Most concerning to parents, however, was the distribution of literature advocating for Sharia law. The &#8220;Why Islam&#8221; organization is owned by the Islamic Circle of North America, a group whose website reportedly openly attacks &#8220;Pauline theology&#8221; and denies the divinity of Jesus Christ. &#8220;
According to a review by <a href="https://www.christianpost.com/news/school-blames-procedural-breakdown-for-group-passing-out-qurans.html">The Christian Post</a>, &#8220;the Why Islam website promotes anti-Christian ideology that includes statements <a href="https://www.whyislam.org/jesus-pbuh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declaring  </a>Jesus is &#8216;not the Son of God&#8217; and an <a href="https://www.whyislam.org/pauline-theology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entire page</a> devoted to criticism of New Testament teaching, or what the website terms &#8216;Pauline theology.'&#8221;
While the district scrambled to frame the incident as a mere &#8220;procedural breakdown,&#8221; young Leland Saunders wasn&#8217;t buying the bureaucratic excuses.
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A 12-year-old from Farmersville, Texas, pushes back after Muslims handed out “hijabs, Qurans and Sharia law pamphlets” at his public school.
&#8220;Even if participation was voluntary, handing out religious texts during school hours crosses the line&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/7oiXRG0DPt">pic.twitter.com/7oiXRG0DPt</a>
— Chaya’s Clan (@ChayasClan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChayasClan/status/2024764129848815647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Public schools serve students from many different religious backgrounds, and students who have no religious beliefs at all,&#8221; Saunders said. &#8220;Because of that, I believe our schools must remain neutral when it comes to religious promotion during the school day.&#8221;
The 12-year-old highlighted the double standard often found in modern public education, questioning whether the same platform would be afforded to other faith groups.
&#8220;If one religious organization is allowed to distribute materials, would every religious or ideological group be allowed to be given the same opportunity?&#8221; Saunders asked. &#8220;If so, how will that be managed fairly? If not, how is that even equal treatment?&#8221;
The incident first gained national attention after a viral video posted by Marco Hunter-Lopez, president of the school’s Republican Club, exposed the outreach effort, the Christian Post reported. Hunter-Lopez noted that while colleges and secular clubs are common fixtures at the school, he had never seen a Christian church allowed to hand out Bibles in the cafeteria. &#8220;They were giving out hijabs to girls throughout the high school, and they were giving our Qurans, and they also had pamphlets about Sharia law,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/wylie-isd-investigates-how-why-islam-group-set-up-on-campus-without-approval/">said</a>.
Wylie ISD officials have since admitted that &#8220;district protocols for guest speakers and student club interactions were not followed.&#8221; A staff member was briefly placed on leave but has since returned to work. While Board President Bill Howard issued an apology, promising to &#8220;earn your trust back,&#8221; the district’s &#8220;Wylie Way&#8221; values are under intense scrutiny by families who say the school crossed the line from education into religious indoctrination.
For Leland Saunders, the mission was simple: to protect the boundary between the classroom and religion. &#8220;This is about maintaining neutrality, fairness, and a religious boundary from education and religion,&#8221; he concluded.

Islamic Sharia law and legal system concept

WATCH: 12-Year-Old Shreds School Board After Sharia Pamphlets Handed Out

Sharia Law

Texas is suing a “radical gender” doctor whom the state alleges perpetrated medical fraud and attempted to subvert state law pertaining to gender treatments for minors.
Children&#8217;s Health System of Texas and <a href="https://utswmed.org/doctors/jason-jarin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dr. Jason Jarin</a> <a href="https://www.childrens.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unlawfully</a> provided minors sex-rejecting medications, including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, defrauded state insurance programs, and skirted state law, according to allegations in a <a href="https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/Petition_9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawsuit</a> filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“I will use every legal tool available to ensure radical gender activists like Jarin face justice for hurting our kids,” Paxton told The Daily Wire. “This criminal extremist not only permanently harmed children, but he also then defrauded Medicaid and stuck Texas taxpayers with the bill for this insanity. Experimental ‘transition’ procedures on minors are illegal, unethical, and will not be tolerated in Texas.”
In June 2023, Texas passed <a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB14/id/2756089" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senate Bill 14</a>, which banned sex-rejecting interventions for minors. Dr. Jarin, a Division Director at Children&#8217;s Health System of Texas and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, continued to provide children cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers after the law went into effect on September 1, 2023, the lawsuit alleges.
Dr. Jarin billed males for birth control medications that were intended to serve as cross-sex estrogen, fraudulently used diagnostic codes when billing for sex-rejecting procedures, and gave puberty blockers to “otherwise healthy children under the guise of ‘precocious puberty,’&#8221; according to the lawsuit.
Puberty blockers, which can cost thousands of dollars, are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of precocious puberty, an endocrine disorder in which early sexual development occurs in children. They <a href="https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/116284/documents/HHRG-118-JU10-20230727-SD011.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are not FDA-approved</a> for the treatment of gender dysphoria.
“Although Texas law bans dangerous and experimental sex-rejecting procedures on children, the scourge of so-called ‘gender affirming care’ persists in the State of Texas,” the lawsuit reads. “Even worse, Texas taxpayers have been on the hook for millions of dollars in gender transition surgeries, hormones, and other procedures that turn otherwise healthy children and young adults into chronic medical patients.”
“Our top priority is the health and well-being of the patients and families we serve. We comply with all applicable local, state and federal health care law,” Children’s Health said in a statement.
“Due to ongoing legal proceedings, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
In 2015, Children’s and UT Southwestern jointly opened a gender clinic, called the GENder Education and Care, Interdisciplinary Support clinic (GENECIS), which had more than 1,000 patients before abruptly closing in March 2022 after facing “intense scrutiny” as the public became more aware of the horrors of gender medicine, the lawsuit describes.
However, despite the public-facing closure of the gender clinic, healthcare providers continued to provide sex-rejecting procedures to children through the Adolescent and Young Adult clinics at Children’s and the Department of Pediatric Gynecology.
“Most patients continued to see the same providers at the same locations, and the partnership between UT Southwestern and Children’s remained essentially the same,” states the lawsuit.
Both the GENECIS and Adolescent and Young Adult clinics were “overseen by overlapping department chairs at UT Southwestern,” which included the Department of Pediatrics chair, Dr. Jorge Bezerra, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology chair, Dr. Perrin White, and the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics chair, Dr. Richard Adams, the lawsuit describes.
When SB-14 went into effect, Dr. Jarin and two former GENECIS clinic doctors, Dr. Brett Cooper and Dr. Mary Lau, met with UT Southwestern leadership, including Bezerra, White, and Adams, to “discuss the implication of SB-14 for both institutions,” according to the lawsuit.
Dr. Jarin was primarily tasked, alongside White, Lau, and Cooper, with creating a “wean protocol&#8221; that allowed patients to wean off of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in compliance with SB-14 over a “medically appropriate” period of time, according to the lawsuit.  Patients who attended mental health sessions and were prescribed the medications before June 1, 2023, were eligible for the “wean protocol.”
Paxton claims this protocol was an attempt to subvert compliance with SB-14 and “justify the continued, illegal prescription of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers to children,” in the lawsuit.
The “wean protocol” decreased the dosing of sex-rejecting hormones at such a low rate that it would take “2 to 5 years to wean completely off,” allowing children to maintain the feminizing or masculinizing effects of the drugs until age 18, when they could legally return to their “pre-SB-14 dosage,” according to the lawsuit.
Furthermore, if patients met either of two “exception” criteria, they were permitted to discontinue weaning altogether.
The protocol required patients to maintain the reproductive hormone levels of the opposite sex “in perpetuity,” claiming this was necessary to protect their bone health.
If patients failed to maintain these artificially high hormone levels, which are the intended result of cross-sex hormone therapy, they were granted an &#8220;exception&#8221; from weaning off of the outlawed drugs, according to the lawsuit.
Paxton said “there was no legitimate medical basis for their recommendation regarding bone health,” and the protocol was “always a pretext for patients to continue illegal cross-sex hormones,&#8221; as stated in the lawsuit.
&#8220;There is no evidence to justify maintaining these hormone levels over prolonged periods of time. The vast medical literature on this topic shows that these hormonal treatments did not produce the desired effect of improving psychological well-being,” <a href="https://donoharmmedicine.org/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpm&amp;utm_campaign=gg&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20707841002&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAo-mml0lKhEjcTG1qPvNZ-1InzHPM&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAhtvMBhDBARIsAL26pjGko9yt7rnE12NZnMRYmHQmENC5qfv_zJoBEEi7b_Tigf_gGa9qfHEaAu4wEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Do No Harm</a> chairman Dr. Stanley Goldfarb told The Daily Wire. “Moreover, they are involved with all of the unfortunate side effects, including the potential for sterility as well as a number of genital problems associated with prolonged exposure to contra-sex hormones.&#8221;
Patients were also granted an exception from weaning off cross-sex hormones if their mental health team failed to document their “mental health stability at least every six months,” according to the lawsuit.
The same initial intake criteria used by UT Southwestern and Children’s to begin medicalizing gender confused children was used to continue cross-sex hormone therapy under the wean protocol, according to the lawsuit.
The 75-page lawsuit outlined multiple allegations of billing fraud and the subversion of SB-14, providing examples from multiple patients.
In the lawsuit, Texas claims both defendants violated the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act and the Texas Business &amp; Commerce Code. It also claims Dr. Jarin “knowingly” violated SB-14 “with respect to at least twelve minor patients.”
“Jarin and Children’s conspired to subvert compliance with SB-14 and to receive reimbursement for gender interventions in violation of State law. Defendants conspired to violate SB-14 and therefore receive reimbursement from Texas Medicaid in violation of State law and regulation,” states the lawsuit.
The federal government has not stated an intention to get involved in the Texas situation, but allegations of Medicaid fraud could draw interest from the Department of Justice.
UT Southwestern Medical Center did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.

Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Says Radical Doctor Broke The Law To Give Minors Sex-Rejection Interventions

Fraud

Medicaid

Transgender

The big media controversy of the day comes courtesy of Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and late-night television host Stephen Colbert.
Talarico insisted that CBS spiked his interview with Stephen Colbert, claiming, “This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see. His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert. Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.”
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This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas. <a href="https://t.co/BCev5jZbKc">pic.twitter.com/BCev5jZbKc</a>
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamestalarico/status/2023659473466687994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Credit: @jamestalarico/X.com
Talarico is the probable Senate nominee for the Democrats in Texas and has been highly touted by a wide variety of people across the political spectrum, including Joe Rogan, on whose show he appeared.
But the reason CBS spiked the interview is because they&#8217;re afraid of the so-called Equal Time Rule. The FCC says that in a Senate primary, if you provide time to one candidate, you also have to provide equal time to the other candidates. CBS then said they didn’t want to provide equal time to Talarico’s rivals, including Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett or some other fringe candidate. Colbert then went on the air and ripped into CBS.
At this point, Colbert is hoping that he is fired so he can be treated as a victim — a victim of the Trump administration and their evil acolytes like Larry and David Ellison. Since that is his goal, he is actively attempting to militate for his own dismissal.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-2370-dave-chappelle-has-lost-it"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-974957 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1024x171.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-300x50.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-768x128.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-1536x256.webp 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/09/511983dad25841c8b1ec058d75769bbe-2048x341.webp 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
That is what he is doing right now. So, after the interview, he went on the air and said:
<blockquote>You might have heard of this thing called the Equal Time rule. Okay. It&#8217;s an old FCC rule that applies only to radio on broadcast television, not cable or streaming, that says if a show has a candidate on during an election, they have to have all that candidate&#8217;s opponents on as well. It’s the FCC&#8217;s most time honored rule right after no nipples at the Super Bowl. There&#8217;s long been an exception for this rule, an exception for news interviews and talk show interviews with politicians.
Now that&#8217;s crucial. How else were voters supposed to know back in 92 that Bill Clinton sucked at saxophone? But on January 21 of this year, a letter was released by FCC chairman and smug bowling pin Brendan Carr. In this letter, Carr said he was thinking about dropping the exception for talk shows because he said some of them were motivated by partisan purposes. Well, sir, you&#8217;re chairman of the FCC, so FCC you. </blockquote>
Brendan Carr is correct. Colbert is obviously motivated by partisan purposes. When was the last time he had a major Republican guest? Can you name one? When has he invited a major Republican guest on his show and treated that person with the same sort of kid gloves with which he treats Democrats?
Every episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is basically an ad for one Democrat or another. It is MS NOW with some bad jokes.
CBS responded:
<blockquote>THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. THE LATE SHOW decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options.</blockquote>
First, Colbert and his team tried to retell the lie that the FCC had overtly banned CBS from airing the interview with Talarico. That was not true. 
Then, he tried to retell the lie that CBS banned the interview because they were afraid of Talarico. And if Colbert hosted Talarico, then presumably he would also have to host a Republican candidate in the Texas Senate race, like Sen. John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton.
That is not what the equal time rule says. In the middle of the primary season, Colbert would have had to host another Democrat, Representative Jasmine Crockett. And the producers of “The Late Show” decided not to promote the interview on the air because then they would have to do the same for other Democrats.
For what it&#8217;s worth, Talarico is basically a straight Pete Buttigieg. That is his entire schtick, down to the Pastor Pete routine.
If you can remember back that far, one of the most irritating facets of the “Pete Buttigieg for President” campaign — and what irritated me most — is when he would suddenly turn into the world&#8217;s worst Sunday School teacher and cite the Bible to say completely non-Biblical things. He would try to explain that the Bible has nothing to say about issues ranging from same-sex marriage to abortion, and that it&#8217;s just a social justice document drafted by the Democratic National Committee.
Now, Talarico is doing the same exact thing. He&#8217;s claiming that you&#8217;re a bad Christian if you believe that same-sex marriage is non-Biblical.
For the record, same-sex marriage is non-Biblical. There are many books of the Bible that reference this, not least of which is Leviticus.
Trying to do the Pastor Pete routine, Talarico declared:
<blockquote>Jesus gave us two commandments: Love God and love neighbor. And there was no exception to that second commandment. Love thy neighbor, regardless of race or gender or sexual orientation or immigration status or religious affiliation. And it&#8217;s why I have fought so hard for the separation of church and state in the state capital in Texas.</blockquote>
When Democrats try to reframe their own religiosity on the basis of “Jesus was a post- religious figure who was in favor of secular humanism” — I may not be a New Testament expert, but it seems to me that Jesus was, in his human form, a Jew growing up under Biblical law, and that Jesus as the creator of Christianity, proceeded to suggest that people ought to follow the precepts of Christianity rather exclusively.
I think that’s a non-controversial take on the Bible.
It&#8217;s amazing how far Democrats have moved in my lifetime. Democrats used to do this routine where they would say, Sure, the Bible says that abortion is bad, Christianity says abortion is bad. There is a long-standing, several thousand years old doctrine that abortion is not approved, that same-sex marriage is not approved, and that homosexual activity is a sin. These are long-standing religious traditions, but we have separation of church and state. In terms of public policy, I don&#8217;t believe in making public policy on the basis of Biblical law, because this is not a theocracy.
That used to be the Democratic stance, which I think is weak when it comes to trying to make peace with Christians, but at least it is arguable. The new Democratic standards are that the Bible is somehow a document that greenlights same-sex marriage and encourages abortion, and if you truly were a Christian, you would be in favor of all these things.
Talarico says, “Love thy neighbor means love thy neighbor, regardless of immigration status or sexual orientation.”
The Bible says you are supposed to love thy neighbor as thyself, but you are not supposed to love his sin. You&#8217;re not supposed to place a stumbling block in front of the blind. There’s the Biblical injunction, which is commonly presumed to mean that you are not supposed to allow your neighbor to go without redress. If he’s sinning, you&#8217;re supposed to warn him.
So, back to CBS: What’s happening at CBS right now is an attempt to scuttle the ownership change at CBS and also target Bari Weiss at CBS News.
It&#8217;s all about virtue signaling for the Democrats. It has nothing to do with reality.
Democratic lawmakers, for their part, are suggesting they&#8217;re now going to investigate CBS. Representative Darren Soto of Florida wrote, “FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s reign on unlawful censorship continues. This time he’s blocking Democratic candidates. @EnergyCommerce Dems will be investigating this outrage. A reckoning is coming.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s reign on unlawful censorship continues. This time he’s blocking Democratic candidates.<a href="https://twitter.com/EnergyCommerce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EnergyCommerce</a> Dems will be investigating this outrage. A reckoning is coming… <a href="https://t.co/56MmbYdfIR">https://t.co/56MmbYdfIR</a>
— Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDarrenSoto/status/2023767918023262264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Credit: @RepDarrenSoto/X.com
All of this shows you what Democrats are going to do with Congress if they happen to win in 2026, which is to shut everything down.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Talarico, Colbert Cry Censorship As CBS Sets The Record Straight

Ben Shapiro

Bible

Brendan Carr

Democrats

Opinion

Republicans

Stephen Colbert

Television

A mistrial was declared in the federal case against alleged Antifa terrorists who ambushed federal immigration agents in Alvarado, Texas, last year.
During jury selection on Tuesday, a United States attorney raised concerns about defense attorney Marquetta Clayton, who was wearing a t-shirt under her blazer plastered with civil rights figures, <a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/mistrial-federal-domestic-terrorism-case-over-alvarado-ice-facility-attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox 4. United States District Judge Mark Pittman declared a mistrial before the jury was seated.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know why in the world you would think that&#8217;s appropriate,&#8221; Pittman told Clayton, <a href="https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-02-17/judge-declares-mistrial-in-prairieland-ice-shooting-trial-over-lawyers-politically-charged-shirt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to KERA News.
Pittman, who said he admired the civil rights figures, likened the shirt to a prosecutor sporting an ICE pin or “a shirt with Donald Trump riding an eagle” and waving an ICE flag, the outlet reported.
“Politics — as prevalent as they are, as divided as they are — don’t have any business here,” he said.
The Trump administration&#8217;s first terrorism case against Antifa centered around the cell.
<div id="attachment_1045953" style="width: 778px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1045953" class="wp-image-1045953 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2247088267-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2247088267-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2247088267-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2247088267.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" />(Mark David Smith/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)</div>
The mask-wearing anarchists allegedly lured Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents out of the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, by setting off fireworks outside on July 4. One of the alleged Antifa militants then yelled &#8220;Get to the rifles&#8221; seconds before they “opened fire on the officers, striking the Alvarado officer in the neck area as the unarmed correctional officers ducked and ran for cover,” according to court documents.
A local police officer was shot in the melee, but survived their injuries.
“The wounded officer fell to the ground but was able to return a few shots. Coconspirator-1 continued to fire additional rounds until his rifle jammed. The attackers then left the scene,” it added.
Authorities initially <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/17/us-news/how-texas-ice-ambush-suspect-evaded-cops-for-a-week-before-capture-revealed-in-court-docs/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> ten suspects. Former Marine Corps Reservist Benjamin Hanil Song, who allegedly fired shots during the ambush, was on the run for a week before they could hunt him down.
Five other people arrested in connection with the attack accepted plea deals and are expected to testify in the upcoming trial. Nine defendants are at the center of the latest case.
A new jury selection will begin Monday, according to KERA News.
The outlet reported that Clayton was seen leaving the courthouse with her shirt turned inside out.
The judge said the attorney would need to return at some point in the future, when it would be determined whether or not she&#8217;d face sanctions.

White Nationalist Groups Hold “White Lives Matter” Marches

Mistrial Declared In Texas ICE Ambush Case Involving Accused Antifa ‘Terrorists’

Antifa

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Shooting

The most explosive development in Texas’s high-stakes Senate race isn’t polling — it’s a late-night television appearance that never aired.
Democratic candidate James Talarico claimed that the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) “refused to air” his interview with “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” dramatically declaring on social media, “This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see. His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert. Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas. <a href="https://t.co/BCev5jZbKc">pic.twitter.com/BCev5jZbKc</a>
&mdash; James Talarico (@jamestalarico) <a href="https://twitter.com/jamestalarico/status/2023659473466687994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
At a campaign rally on Tuesday, Talarico escalated further, alleging the FCC “colluded with corporate media executives at CBS … But I think it’s safe to say that their plan backfired.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
At a packed campaign rally, <a href="https://twitter.com/jamestalarico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jamestalarico</a> says the FCC “colluded with corporate media executives at CBS” to keep his interview with Stephen Colbert off the air.
“But I think it&#39;s safe to say that their plan backfired,” Talarico says. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txsen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#txsen</a> <a href="https://t.co/NABVRJZf4O">pic.twitter.com/NABVRJZf4O</a>
&mdash; Kayla Guo (@kaylaguo_) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaylaguo_/status/2023927855973863508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That narrative quickly unraveled.
CBS issued a blunt statement contradicting both Talarico and host Stephen Colbert. The network said Colbert “was NOT prohibited” from airing the interview. Rather, lawyers advised the show that broadcasting it could trigger the FCC’s equal-time rule, potentially requiring comparable airtime for other Democratic candidates — including Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX). CBS explained that the show opted to run the interview on YouTube with on-air promotion instead of navigating equal-time obligations on the broadcast.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This just in from CBS: &quot;THE LATE SHOW was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and…
&mdash; Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/2023843159604596894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In other words: no federal ban, no White House directive — just legal guidance and a programming decision.
CNN’s Brian Stelter reported that the FCC had recently sent a “letter of inquiry” to ABC regarding possible equal-time violations on “The View,” creating caution among network executives. The regulatory environment, executives believed, was uncertain. But limited FCC enforcement power and corporate risk management hardly amount to “collusion.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&#8230;But the scrutiny of ABC (which was first reported by Reuters on Feb. 7) weighed on CBS execs. There was a sense, I&#39;m told, that the regulatory environment is uncertain, and that caution is warranted&#8230; and that&#39;s why network lawyers called Colbert&#39;s show. <a href="https://t.co/pnkHIluHi9">pic.twitter.com/pnkHIluHi9</a>
&mdash; Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/2023969453889700310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yet Talarico not only doubled down — he has also praised Colbert in glowing terms, telling him, “You have really shown people in this country what Christianity should be.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Texas Democrat James Talarico says Stephen Colbert embodies Christianity.
Colbert has&#8230;
&#8211; Compared ICE agents to Nazis &#8211; Defended pro-Hamas protesters &#8211; Called abortion a &quot;funny word&quot; &#8211; Likened Trump supporters to the Taliban.
We can&#39;t let Talarico become a Senator. <a href="https://t.co/nEe8dlp6MK">pic.twitter.com/nEe8dlp6MK</a>
&mdash; Christian Collins (@CollinsforTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinsforTX/status/2023864036321108186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
That assertion is striking given Colbert’s own record. Colbert has <a href="https://www.wccsradio.com/2026/01/29/late-show-host-stephen-colbert-faces-backlash-for-obscene-attack-on-ice-agents/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">compared</a> ICE agents to Nazis, saying, “Yes, do not compare ICE or Border Patrol agents to the Nazis. That’s an unfair comparison. The Nazis were willing to show their faces.”
Speaking of the word “abortion,” Colbert has <a href="https://www.lifenews.com/2014/09/17/stephen-colbert-abortion-is-a-funny-word-just-like-guacamole/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">said</a>, “It’s a funny word. It’s like guacamole.” He has compared Trump supporters to the Taliban, <a href="https://news.grabien.com/story/colbert-why-should-we-fight-radicals-afghanistan-when-we-hav">saying</a> in reference to January 6, “Why should our soldiers be fighting radicals in a Civil War in Afghanistan? We’ve got our own on Capitol Hill.”
All of this unfolds as the Texas Senate race intensifies. On the Republican side, Sen. John Cornyn battles Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in a bruising primary that could head to a runoff. On the Democratic side, Rep. Jasmine Crockett leads Talarico in several polls, with demographic splits revealing a competitive contest. General election surveys show razor-thin margins against any top Republican.
But the defining controversy so far isn’t ideological positioning or fundraising totals. It’s a candidate alleging federal suppression — contradicted by the very network involved — while elevating a sharply partisan late-night comedian as a model of Christian witness. In a state like Texas, that combination may prove politically combustible.

Dem Cries ‘Trump Censorship’ Over Colbert Interview — CBS Has A Different Take

Donald Trump

James Talarico

Jasmine Crockett

Media

Tragic new details emerge about Monday’s deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink, the United States and Iran report progress in their nuclear talks in Geneva, and a critical Republican Senate primary in Texas gains nationwide attention.
It’s Wednesday, February 18, 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:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rhode-island-shooters-past-progress-with-iran-2-18-26/id1576594336?i=1000750292350" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trans Hockey Shooting</h2>
Tragic new details have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-identifying-man-opens-fire-at-rhode-island-hockey-game-killing-two">emerged</a> following Monday’s deadly shooting at a Rhode Island ice rink. 
Friends and family had gathered for a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Shortly after the game started, a lone gunman who identified as transgender descended from the back row of the bleachers and opened fire, killing his ex-wife and his son, and injuring at least three others, including his father and mother-in-law — all three victims are in critical condition. A livestream from the game captured the shooting and showed the players drop their sticks as they realized what was unfolding, as panicked spectators also attempted to flee. Rather than running for safety, one heroic bystander instead rushed the shooter. The video shows him jumping on top of the gunman and bringing an end to the carnage. Police later praised that man, saying his actions “led to a swift end to this tragic event.” During the ensuing scuffle, the gunman ultimately took his own life. 
Hours later, one of the gunman’s daughters spoke briefly with reporters and <a href="https://x.com/WCVB/status/2023544634216005773?s=20">said</a> her father had “mental health issues.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Iran Talks</h2>
The United States and Iran held nuclear talks in Geneva on Tuesday, and both sides are reporting progress. 
Behnam Ben Taleblu, the senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joined Morning Wire to analyze the discussions. The American side has been “tight-lipped,” but Tehran has not hesitated to talk to the media after every round of negotiations. According to Taleblu, the Iranians have two main goals with their strategy: dilute Trump’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-military-preparing-for-potentially-weeks-long-iran-operations">resolve</a> to strike Iran, and dilute the protesters&#8217; resolve to continue to resist the regime internally. 
Meanwhile, the regime continues to crack down on internal dissent.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump’s Nonendorsement-Endorsement In Texas</h2>
The 2026 midterms are starting to heat up, with a critical Republican Senate primary in Texas getting nationwide attention. 
President Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-backs-all-three-republicans-in-texas-senate-primary-as-early-voting-begins">said</a> he backs all three of the Republican candidates in the heated race as early voting kicked off on Tuesday. On Air Force One on Monday night, the president <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t1QLBb9FKo">declined</a> to support any one above the others. 
Attorney General Ken Paxton is backed by Turning Point Action, while incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The race also includes Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX).

Dennis M. Lynch Arena

Morning Brief: Trans Gunman Kills Family, Iran Stalls For Time, & Trump Stays Neutral In Texas

Iran

John Cornyn

Morning Wire

Rhode Island

United States

As early voting begins Tuesday in Texas&#8217;s heated Republican Senate primary, President Donald Trump said he supports all three GOP candidates in the race, declining to pick a favorite.
On Air Force One on Monday night, Trump was asked whether he would back Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the three-way race that also includes Rep. Wesley Hunt.
“I just haven&#8217;t made a decision on that race yet. It’s got a ways to go, and I haven&#8217;t. [Cornyn’s] a good man. John is a good — I like all three of them, actually,” he said. “They&#8217;ve all supported me. They&#8217;re all good and you&#8217;re supposed to pick one. So, we&#8217;ll see what happens. But I support all three.&#8221;
The Republican nominee, to be decided in the March 3 primary, will face either Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) or state Sen. James Talarico in the general election. If no candidate tops 50% of the vote, the race heads to a May 26 runoff between the top two finishers.
All three campaigns welcomed Trump&#8217;s remarks.
Cornyn&#8217;s campaign touted his loyalty to Trump, noting he has voted with the president &#8220;99.3% of the time while in office&#8221; and arguing that he would keep Texas safely in Republican hands. Senior adviser Matt Mackowiak told The Daily Wire that nominating Paxton would require massive spending and hurt Republicans down-ballot.
A Paxton spokesperson did not respond in time for publication, though the attorney general has frequently emphasized his support for Trump. He was recently endorsed by Turning Point Action, while Cornyn is backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. On Tuesday, Paxton urged voters to &#8220;fire John Cornyn&#8221; as early voting began.
Hunt, meanwhile, said Trump&#8217;s endorsement &#8220;isn&#8217;t given, it&#8217;s earned,&#8221; arguing his campaign &#8220;has the momentum&#8221; and is &#8220;surging in the polls&#8221; ahead of March 3.
This is not the first time Trump has endorsed multiple candidates in a primary. Last April, he backed both Karrin Taylor Robson and Rep. Andy Biggs in Arizona&#8217;s gubernatorial primary, though Robson later dropped out. In 2022, he simply endorsed “ERIC” in Missouri&#8217;s Senate primary between Eric Schmitt and Eric Greitens, with Schmitt ultimately winning the seat.
The Cook Political Report ranks the Texas race as “Likely Republican.” Republicans are in a tight battle to maintain a 53-47 Senate majority, with four races listed as “toss-ups.”
Trump has also weighed in on other key GOP primaries, recently backing Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) in her bid to unseat incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), as well as backing former Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) over former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown in a competitive New Hampshire contest.

Trump Backs ‘All Three’ Republicans In Texas Senate Primary As Early Voting Begins

Trump Backs 'All Three' Republicans In Texas Senate Primary As Early Voting Begins

2026 election

Elections

Executive

Senate

The Texas Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments in a case surrounding a statute that could impact how gender medical malpractice lawsuits are handled across the country.
Detransitioner Soren Aldaco’s medical malpractice lawsuit was dismissed in November 2024 when a judge ruled her claims were filed outside of Texas’ two-year statute of limitations, nullifying her ability to seek damages for the harms caused by her sex-rejecting surgery.
When Aldaco’s appeal <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TaXEX_NtHw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached</a> the Texas Supreme Court this week, her counsel argued the statute of limitations couldn’t begin until she was physically harmed by the surgeon&#8217;s knife.
“What was done to Miss Aldaco and many people like her is a medical scandal,” attorney John Ramer argued. “Kids and young adults suffering from severe psychological distress went looking for help, and what they found is medical providers saying that what&#8217;s going to liberate them from their distress is pumping them full of cross sex hormones and cutting off their body parts.”
Some Texas lawmakers have <a href="https://x.com/shelbyslawson/status/2019111108553084979" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposed legislation</a> that would <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB00888I.pdf#navpanes=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extend</a> the statute of limitations from two to ten years for those harmed by rejection interventions in their state. They say that Aldaco’s case highlights the need for reform.
“Cases like Soren’s are not the intent of these two-year statutes of limitations in the Texas Medical Liability Act,” Texas State Representative Shelby Slawson told The Daily Wire. “Those limitations are not meant to give safe harbor hideouts for medical professionals whose ideology causes egregious harm to Texas patients.”
The outcome of Aldaco’s case could reverberate across the country. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice <a href="https://www.rocketlawyer.com/family-and-personal/health-and-medical/personal-injury/legal-guide/medical-malpractice-statute-of-limitations-by-state" target="_blank" rel="noopener">varies</a> from state to state, with many limiting the timeframe in which a patient can sue between one and three years after the injury occurred. If the Texas Supreme Court rules in Aldaco’s favor, it could inspire detransitioners in other states to bring similar suits.
Attorneys for Aldaco say the court &#8220;clearly expressed concern&#8221; at what was done to her, and are hopeful that its ruling &#8220;will encourage courts in other states to ensure justice for their vulnerable citizens.&#8221;
&#8220;Soren&#8217;s case reaching the Texas Supreme Court highlights the fact that the treatment she was subjected to is unprecedented,&#8221; Daniel Sepulveda, a partner 
at Campbell Miller Payne told The Daily Wire. &#8220;During oral argument, the Court clearly expressed concern at the idea of vulnerable individuals like Soren not having a reasonable amount of time to sue after being subjected to such medical and mental health treatments. A ruling in her favor would benefit all Texans harmed in these ways, and could also encourage courts in other states to ensure justice for their vulnerable citizens.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-one-has-a-right-to-sterilize-a-child-two-detransitioners-sue-doctors-over-medical-interventions?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=39&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98No+One+Has+A+Right+To+Sterilize+A+Child%E2%80%99%3A+Two+Detransitioners+Sue+Doctors+Over+Medical+Interventions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prisha Mosely,</a> who was given testosterone and underwent a sex rejecting double mastectomy as a teen, filed a lawsuit in <a href="https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/north-carolina-woman-files-lawsuit-in-wake-of-gender-transition-surgery-as-a-teen?redirectedfrom=cna" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 2023</a> against her gender affirming healthcare providers that was initially <a href="https://www.independentwomen.com/2025/08/14/detransitioner-prisha-mosley-fights-to-revive-medical-malpractice-claim-in-lawsuit-poised-to-set-national-precedent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dismissed</a> because it was filed outside of North Carolina’s statute of limitations. In July 2025, the North Carolina General Assembly <a href="https://ncfamily.org/nc-general-assembly-overrides-governors-veto-of-hb-805/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed HB 805,</a> which extended the statute of limitations for sex-rejecting interventions to 10 years, allowing Mosely to <a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/north_carolina/article_9097012b-b600-477b-b64c-3b1537846b44.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">refile</a> her lawsuit.
Texas State Representative Brent Money told The Daily Wire that in cases where there has been a “clear violation of the duty of care,” it is important that individuals, particularly children, can seek compensation through the court system.
“We also need to make sure that, in cases where there&#8217;s a clear violation of the duty of care, that the patient, who has been wronged, can be adequately compensated for that. Especially when the patient is a child,” Money told The Daily Wire.
Aldaco, a woman who struggled with gender confusion throughout her adolescence, underwent a double mastectomy at 19 that she later regretted, court <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/second-court-of-appeals/2024/02-24-00217-cv.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documents show</a>. She sued her mental health providers, Barbara Rose Wood and Three Oaks Counseling Group, LLC, alleging they negligently wrote a surgical recommendation letter in February 2021 that allowed her to undergo the mastectomy in June 2021, <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/second-court-of-appeals/2024/02-24-00217-cv.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">court documents</a> show.
Many insurance companies and surgeons require a timely <a href="https://www.templehealth.org/sites/default/files/2023-08/surgery-readiness-letter-guide-2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mental health assessment </a>and surgery recommendation <a href="https://transcare.ucsf.edu/surgery-referral-assessment-requirements" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> in order to move forward with sex-rejecting surgery.
In May 2023, Aldaco sent her former healthcare providers notice of her “health care liability claims,” weeks before the two-year anniversary of her surgery, believing she was within the statute of limitations. However, a judge agreed with the defendants, who argued the two-year period of liability began when the surgical recommendation letter was written in February 2021, and Aldaco missed her window to sue, court documents show.
Ramer told the court that while the mental healthcare was provided before surgery, Aldaco didn’t have cause of action — giving her grounds for her lawsuit — until she underwent surgery.
“The limitations period for a health care liability claim does not begin to run before the claimant is even injured,” Ramer told the court.
“There&#8217;s no such thing as a tort without an injury, and more specifically here, there&#8217;s no such thing as a negligence claim without an injury,” Ramer stated.
Opposing counsel argued the statute of limitations began in February 2021, when the surgery letter of recommendation was written, and acknowledged Aldaco’s mental health provider did not discuss her gender dysphoria before writing the surgery recommendation letter.
Ramer explained to the justices that the surgical recommendation letter was not equivalent to a simple medical referral but was critical to Aldaco accessing a double mastectomy.
“The letter was the gateway to the injury,” Ramer said. “The letter is what got her into–onto–the operating table for purposes of receiving this surgery because it was a required letter from the psychologist under the standards of gender affirming care that have to be followed.”
In 2021, <a href="https://e-space.mmu.ac.uk/625048/1/2011_WPATH_Standards_of_Care_V7-%202011.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guidance</a> from the World Professional Association of Transgender Health, whose recommendations underpin insurance and health policies worldwide, required patients to undergo a mental health assessment to determine if sex-rejecting was “medically necessary.”
The guidance stated mental health professionals and surgeons had a “shared responsibility” when deciding to move forward with irreversible sex-rejection surgeries.
A recent <a href="https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/health-policy/positions/2026-gender-surgery-children-adolescents.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">policy statement</a> published by the American Society of Plastics Surgeons recommending minors do not receive sex-rejection surgeries addressed the role of “shared responsibility” in the multidisciplinary care of gender confused children.
“Diagnostic assessment, psychosocial support, endocrine intervention, and surgery form a connected clinical pathway rather than a series of independent steps,” the policy reads.
The American Society of Plastics Surgeons warned surgeons they cannot “rely” on the assessments of other healthcare disciplines when deciding if an adolescent is an appropriate candidate for sex-rejecting surgery.
“Surgical interventions inherit the foundational uncertainties present earlier in the continuum of care,” the policy says. “In this context, plastic surgeons cannot rely on the presence of a prior medical intervention, referral, or letter of support as a proxy for surgical indication or adolescent readiness.”
&#8220;Wednesday&#8217;s hearing at the Supreme Court of Texas is understatedly important. Even though I believe my case falls within the state&#8217;s two-year statute of limitations — and hopefully SCOTX will agree — detrans Texans deserve better,” Aldaco told The Daily Wire.
Barbara Wood and Three Oaks Counseling did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.

Doctor with LGBTQ pin

‘Safe Harbor Hideouts’ For Gender Surgeons Could Face Reckoning

Courts

detransitioner

Gender Transition

ICE officers are leaving Minnesota as “Operation Metro Surge” comes to an end, Department of Homeland Security funding is set to run dry on Saturday, and an “illegal immigrant enclave” in Texas agrees to a $68 million settlement.
It’s Friday, February 13, 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:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/operation-metro-surge-ends-colony-ridge-caves-2-13-26/id1576594336?i=1000749572130" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Homan Announces End To ‘Operation Metro Surge’</h2>
Border czar Tom Homan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-end-ices-operation-metro-surge-in-minnesota-homan-says">announced</a> the end of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota on Thursday. 
Homan said he is satisfied with his meetings with local authorities and has sufficient cooperation to conclude the operation, which means officers and agents flown in from across the country will return to their home offices. More police chiefs and sheriffs are apparently on board with honoring ICE detainers, and ICE will be readily available and stationed near jails to pick up inmates, rather than forcing local jurisdictions to hold them longer than necessary. 
Homan added that President Donald Trump greenlit the decision. Homan’s announcement is the big step toward Trump’s softer approach toward interior immigration enforcement after the shooting deaths of two Americans by federal agents in Minneapolis.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Congress Stares Down Another Shutdown</h2>
Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeland-security-shutdown-likely-as-schumer-accuses-trump-admin-of-thuggery?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Homeland+Security+Shutdown+Likely+As+Schumer+Accuses+Trump+Admin+Of+%E2%80%98Thuggery%E2%80%99">seems</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-will-shut-down-the-department-of-homeland-security-this-week-white-house-says?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Democrats+Will+Shut+Down+The+Department+Of+Homeland+Security+This+Week%2C+White+House+Says">poised</a> to experience a lapse in government funding on Saturday at midnight amid an intense debate on immigration reforms. 
A test vote in the Senate to see if there was enough support to pass another continuing resolution failed on Thursday afternoon. The House has gone home, but members could be asked to return if a deal is reached. 
Democrats have not appeared pleased with the White House&#8217;s counteroffer on immigration reform. Details on that counteroffer are still fairly unclear. Democrats want an end to masking for agents and a change in warrants. Warrants are likely to be the hottest topic among the changes, as shifting from administrative to judicial warrants for many of these arrests could make the process much more difficult.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump DOJ Settles Colony Ridge Suit</h2>
A settlement has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/colony-ridge-agrees-to-pay-68-million-in-penalties-for-illegal-immigrant-haven?author=Brent+Scher&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Colony+Ridge+Agrees+To+Pay+%2468+Million+In+Penalties+For+%E2%80%98Illegal+Immigrant+Haven%E2%80%99">reached</a> in the lawsuit against Colony Ridge, the massive Texas development that became a magnet for illegal immigrants. 
Colony Ridge was hailed by the developers as the fastest-growing development in the whole United States. But it wasn&#8217;t just a big development. The business model that The Daily Wire helped to uncover was that its marketing strategy was aimed exclusively at illegal immigrants, or at least foreign populations. 
Ultimately, the Biden administration sued the developer over loans and the marketing strategy. The Trump administration is now jointly settling this lawsuit with Texas&#8217;s Republican attorney general. The settlement reached lays the groundwork not only to put an end to the scheme but also to provide a major boost to the surrounding communities affected by it. The settlement is $68 million, not payments to anyone, but payments to fix what they created at Colony Ridge.

Border Czar Tom Homan Speaks In Minneapolis During Operation Metro Surge

Morning Brief: ICE Backs Down In Minnesota, A Shutdown Looms, & Colony Ridge Agrees To $68M Settlement

Colony Ridge

Government Shutdown

Minnesota

Tom Homan

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted a previous order on Wednesday that had grounded all flights departing El Paso International Airport in Texas for ten days due to “special security reasons.&#8221;
The White House told The Daily Wire shortly after the reversal that the move was related to drug cartels.
&#8220;Mexican cartel drones breached U.S. airspace. The Department of War took action to disable the drones,&#8221; the White House said. &#8220;The FAA and DOW have determined there is no threat to commercial travel.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: Administration official tells <a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a> that the FAA temporarily grounded all flights over El Paso because “Mexican cartel drones breached US airspace.”
“The Department of War took action to disable the drones,” the official said. “The FAA and DOW have determined there…
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2021594743180828908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Similar <a href="https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_2234">restrictions</a> were put in place for Santa Teresa, New Mexico, about 15 miles away from El Paso. El Paso, which borders Mexico, is a city of around 678,000 people. 
&#8220;The temporary closure of airspace over El Paso has been lifted. There is no threat to commercial aviation. All flights will resume as normal,&#8221; the FAA announced Wednesday morning, just a few hours after announcing flights would be grounded for ten days. The airport handles up to 100 flights daily.
The <a href="https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_2233">notice</a> from the FAA put in place flight restrictions for a 10-mile radius around El Paso. Planes flying above 18,000 feet would have been allowed to fly over, but the limitations did not extend into Mexican airspace. 
After the initial grounding was announced, Democrat Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes El Paso, <a href="https://x.com/RepEscobar">called</a> for the FAA to lift the restrictions. 
“The highly consequential decision by FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and has resulted in significant concern within the community,” she said. “From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.”
After the restrictions were lifted, Escobar said there were no safety concerns.
&#8220;The FAA is rightfully lifting the Temporary Restricted Airspace. I will again reiterate there is no threat to El Paso or the surrounding areas,&#8221; she said.
State Senator Cesar Blanco, a Democrat, said his office was contacting multiple agencies to understand the justification for the temporary grounding. 
“Actions like this are taken out of an abundance of caution to protect our community. I encourage everyone to remain calm and patient as we await further information. We will share updates as they become available,” he said. 
&nbsp;

El Paso International Airport

White House Responds After Taking Out Mexican Cartel Drones In U.S. Airspace

El Paso

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

National Security

Southern Border

Colony Ridge, the Texas neighborhood that became the “fastest growing development” in the country thanks to a marketing scheme that targeted illegal immigrants, has <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txsd.1945245/gov.uscourts.txsd.1945245.149.1.pdf">agreed</a> to pay $68 million in penalties in a joint settlement with the Trump administration and the State of Texas.
The developers of Colony Ridge, located just north of Houston, came under both federal and state investigation after a 2023 report by The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-colony-ridge-the-fastest-growing-development-in-the-u-s-is-a-magnet-for-illegal-immigrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exposed</a> how it grew to nearly 100,000 residents with a business model catered to illegal immigrants. Its Spanish-only marketing campaigns were directed at foreign buyers.
The initial lawsuit was brought by the Biden administration, which said Colony Ridge “targeted Hispanic consumers with predatory loans” and “misled” them about what they were getting. Colony Ridge sold inexpensive plots of land at sky-high interest rates, with a type of loan available to illegal immigrants who are ineligible to apply for traditional loans. The buyers ended up in a “cycle of foreclosure,” creating a “nightmare for thousands of hardworking Hispanic families,” Biden’s Department of Justice said, treating the illegal immigrant population as the victim.
The settlement, however, was reached by the Trump administration and Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Its provisions appear designed not only to punish Colony Ridge, but also to end its ability to give loans to illegal immigrants, and even to supercharge deportations.
Included in the settlement is a pledge to require purchasers to present a valid Texas-issued driver’s license or identification card, or a valid visa issued after January 1, 2025. Also included is a pledge to spend $20 million to build a new law enforcement center inside Colony Ridge, where cartel activity has taken a foothold.
Want to support The Daily Wire’s journalism? <a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?_gl=1*zk9jo9*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NzA3MDY0MTIuQ2p3S0NBaUFxS2JNQmhCbUVpd0FaM1Vib05iT0dWbm9xdVB3Mk1RR1c0VmdKb0xlVVRSSU9KYUlDbEpSQjVNYWJSMGVndlB5dnB3MFBSb0NEZ3NRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*Mjc1MjQyNDA2LjE3NzAwNDYyOTM.*_ga*MTQxNjEzNTU5NC4xNjkxNjk2NTg1*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*czE3NzA3MDU5NjUkbzM1MyRnMSR0MTc3MDcwNjQyOSRqNjAkbDAkaDA." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Join DailyWire+</a>.
According to Paxton, the funding can be used to facilitate deportations carried out by local Texas law enforcement.
“Colony Ridge endangered American citizens by allowing illegal aliens to run rampant on its streets, in its schools, and in its community. Now, it’s time for those responsible to pay a steep cost for their unlawful actions,” Paxton said. “My office will continue to bring the full force of the law against anyone who threatens the safety of our state or creates a safe harbor for illegals.”
Paxton’s office said the agreement “halts the development of a de facto illegal immigrant community.”
Among the other provisions are $48 million for infrastructure improvements to the development, which was plagued by flooding and sewage issues, and a promise to end its predatory lending practices.
“This DOJ will go after all lenders, financiers, and land developers who participate in schemes which ultimately encourage illegal immigration,” said Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The changes required by this settlement will promote public safety, and affordable and sustainable homeownership in America, key priorities of this administration.”
LISTEN TO MORNING WIRE’S INVESTIGATION INTO COLONY RIDGE:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-americas-largest-illegal-immigrant-enclave-9-17-23/id1576594336?i=1000628139512" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
Colony Ridge became a flash point for the illegal immigration crisis in America. The massive influx of illegal immigrants that came across the border during the Biden administration found a whole community that was ready to accept them.
The communities that surrounded them all of a sudden saw their lives changed. Their once-quiet towns were now down the street from shocking crimes, such as three previously deported illegal immigrants who were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/3-illegal-aliens-arrested-after-344-pounds-of-meth-found-in-colony-ridge?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=3+Illegal+Aliens+Arrested+After+344+Pounds+Of+Meth+Found+In+Colony+Ridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caught with 344 pounds of crystal meth</a>, Mexican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-illegal-alien-captured-at-colony-ridge-believed-to-be-tied-to-mexican-drug-cartel?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=EXCLUSIVE%3A+Illegal+Alien+Captured+At+Colony+Ridge+Believed+To+Be+Tied+To+Mexican+Drug+Cartel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drug cartel leadership</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/illegal-alien-two-accomplices-plead-guilty-in-colony-ridge-murder-case?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Illegal+Alien%2C+Two+Accomplices+Plead+Guilty+In+Colony+Ridge+Murder+Case" target="_blank" rel="noopener">several brutal murders</a>.
After President Trump took office, deportation raids captured more than 100 targets in Colony Ridge alone, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nearly-100-illegals-captured-in-colony-ridge-deportation-raids?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Over+100+Illegals+Captured+In+Colony+Ridge+Deportation+Raids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.

Colony Ridge Agrees To Pay $68 Million In Penalties For ‘Illegal Immigrant Haven’

Harmeet Dhillon

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