The horror novel “Shy Girl” is being pulled from publication in the United States and won’t be sold anymore in the U.K. due to suspected use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the author, Mia Ballard.
Hachette Book Group, one of the largest publishers in the United States, announced its decision on Thursday, per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/books/shy-girl-book-ai.html">The New York Times</a>.
 “Hachette remains committed to protecting original creative expression and storytelling,” a company spokeswoman told the outlet, noting that authors are required to disclose any use of AI for writing before submitting their work.
“Shy Girl” was slated to be released later this spring. Ballard responded to the accusations via email, denying the allegations. 
“This controversy has changed my life in many ways, and my mental health is at an all-time low, and my name is ruined for something I didn’t even personally do,” she told the NYT.
The book has sold about 1,800 copies in the U.K. so far. As of Thursday, it was removed from Amazon and the Hachette website.
According to the Goodreads description, the novel is about a girl who decides to live as a man’s pet. Ballard initially self-published the book in 2025.
“Lonely, broke and depressed with a serious case of OCD, Gia finds herself at a crossroads when financial troubles lead her to Nathan, a mysterious and affluent man she encounters on a sugar dating website. Desperate for a solution, Gia is intrigued by Nathan&#8217;s unconventional offer: in exchange for living as his devoted pet, all of her debts will be erased. But the longer Gia is in captivity, the more animalistic she becomes,” the description says. 
While AI-generated writing isn’t always easy to recognize, many readers have begun to notice certain patterns and call it out. “Shy Girl” was no exception, as many reviewers noticed aspects that they said indicate AI did the writing. 
“I am quite certain that this was written by ChatGPT,” one reviewer who gave the book one star wrote. “As an editor, I&#8217;ve read a few specifically ChatGPT written books, and this has not only all the hallmarks, but some specific repeated phrases that I&#8217;ve read in other ChatGPT works … If it&#8217;s not AI, and I&#8217;m truly quite sure that it is, then this author needs to be ruthlessly edited. Every noun is preceded by a flaccid adjective, every action is followed by a repetitive, boring simile.”
Two months ago, YouTube personality Frankie&#8217;s Shelf released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbeKTa5xhZo">video</a> on the book called &#8220;I&#8217;m pretty sure this book is AI slop,” which took a deep dive into the allegations. It received more than one million views and 44,000 likes. 
This move comes as the controversy over the use of AI across multiple industries, including entertainment and Hollywood, remains a hot topic of debate.

Robot’s hand holding a pencil.

Publisher Yanks Horror Novel Over Suspected AI Use

Artificial Intelligence

Books

Entertainment

Technology

United States

Joy Reid did a side-by-side comparison of the United States and Iran, and her overall takeaway was that if American women were better off than their Iranian counterparts, they were not better off by much.
Reid, who was ousted from her regular gig with liberal network MSNBC before NBC News jettisoned the now rebranded cable news network (MS NOW), argued that the United States had secret police just like Iran and was just as oppressive when it came to how women were treated — although she listed off the &#8220;oppressive&#8221; policies impacting American women and did not mention one of the many that affect Iranian women. The only real difference, she claimed, was that American oppression came at the hands of Christians and Iran&#8217;s oppressive regime was rooted in Islam.
WATCH:
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Joy Reid: America is a Christian form of Iran &amp; women may have be better off there <a href="https://t.co/mDAheewOPU">pic.twitter.com/mDAheewOPU</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2033542969509191976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We get told, particularly when it comes to Arabs and Muslims and Africans, that people are just diabolically evil for no reason, right? That they do things because they hate our freedoms. We were told this about Iraq, that they just hated us for no damn reason at all,&#8221; Reid said, suggesting that the narrative was invented out of whole cloth in order to justify American actions.
&#8220;Now, I’m not saying that that regime is not bad, but, by the way, our regime is not good,&#8221; Reid continued. &#8220;Our regime has secret police. They have secret police. Our regime is oppressing women, taking away abortion rights, taking away women’s rights in like 26 states — some states where they’re trying to have the death penalty for having an abortion.&#8221;
Reid acknowledged briefly that the Iranian rulers &#8220;also oppress women,&#8221; but omitted the <a href="https://iranhumanrights.org/2025/03/gender-apartheid-in-iran-is-crushing-womens-lives-and-futures/">extent of that oppression</a>. A number of the regime&#8217;s laws — and the punishment for breaking them — only apply to women.
<ul>
<li>Women must adhere to a mandatory dress code that requires covering their hair, arms, and legs in public. The regime&#8217;s so-called “morality police” — along with surveillance cameras — enforce the rule, and women who disobey could face hefty fines, prison sentences of five to 15 years, or be barred from travel. In 2022, for example, the morality police arrested Mahsa Amini for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, and she died after they brutally beat her. Nationwide protests followed.</li>
<li>Women can be arrested or thrown in prison for social media posts showing them without their hijabs or for posting dance videos online.</li>
<li>Women must also wear a hijab when appearing in films or on television, because Iranian law requires the covering in all public media.</li>
<li>Women are not permitted to sing solos in front of mixed audiences, meaning that female performers are restricted to performing at female-only events or recorded performances.</li>
<li>Women have often been banned from attending men’s sporting events, especially soccer matches, leading to a number of women being arrested for dressing as men in order to attend such events.</li>
<li>Many women require permission from a father or male guardian to marry, regardless of their age at the time, if it is their first marriage.</li>
<li>Girls can legally be married at 13, but a younger girl can be forced to marry if her father or a judge decrees it.</li>
<li>Married women are not permitted to leave the country or obtain a passport without first getting written permission from their husbands.</li>
<li>A woman’s testimony in court is only worth half of a man’s testimony.</li>
<li>Women typically inherit less than men, meaning that daughters usually receive only half the inheritance that would be given to sons.</li>
<li>The Iranian constitution bars women from ever becoming president, and women are not permitted to become judges.</li>
<li>Married women can be legally barred from holding a job if their husbands claim that their work conflicts with their family obligations.</li>
<li>Men can file for and obtain divorces for any reason, but women risk losing inheritances and child custody — and are rarely granted divorces anyway.</li>
</ul>
Reid, clearly unbothered by that, went on to claim, &#8220;They have the highest rate of women who are in STEM careers. We’re kicking women out of the military, out of university. We’re saying that DEI means women can’t be hired for high positions in the sciences.&#8221;
While it has been claimed in viral social media posts that 70% of STEM graduates in Iran are women, data from the <a href="https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/view#indicatorPaths=UIS-EducationOPRI%3A0%3AFOSGP.5T8.F500600700.F&amp;geoMode=countries&amp;geoUnits=IRN%2CUSA&amp;browsePath=EDUCATION%2FUIS-EducationOPRI%2Fgraduates&amp;timeMode=range&amp;view=line&amp;chartMode=single&amp;tableIndicatorId=FOSGP.5T8.F500600700.F&amp;chartHighlightSeries=&amp;chartHighlightEnabled=true&amp;chartIndicatorId=FOSGP.5T8.F500600700.F">United Nations</a> shows that 25% of Iran&#8217;s STEM graduates are female.
&#8220;So we’re marginally better,&#8221; Reid concluded. &#8220;And we’re doing it for Christianity, they’re doing it for Islam, right? So, it’s like we don’t get told those things because it would take away the kind of American exceptionalism narrative that makes it easy to take our people and send them off to die in a war that we have nothing to do with, that we don’t want.&#8221;
The Daily Wire&#8217;s Isabel Brown fired back at Reid, saying, &#8220;Forgive my Christian ignorance but when was the last time a woman was BEATEN TO DEATH BY THE MORALITY POLICE for a sliver of her hair showing in a Christian country?&#8221;

2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® – Day 3 – Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Joy Reid Says Iranian Women Are As Free As Americans — The Brutal Reality Says Otherwise

Joy Reid Compares U.S. And Iran Side By Side, Concludes America Is Just Barely Better

Donald Trump

Iran

Joy Reid

Media

Politics

Women

Women's Rights

As the United States and Israel continue their joint military campaign against Iran, Israelis have set up a memorial in Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Square honoring fallen American service members.
The display has turned a busy public space into a place of reflection, where Israelis have gathered to pay their respects to the American soldiers who lost their lives during the conflict. The memorial features photos of six fallen U.S. soldiers, with flowers placed nearby and visitors pausing in silence. 
The Tel Aviv memorial comes as the United States and Israel continue close military coordination against Iran. The campaign — known in Washington as Operation Epic Fury and referred to in Israel as Operation Roaring Lion — began on February 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s missile systems, military infrastructure, and naval assets. 
The soldiers honored in the display were members of the United States Army Reserve working in logistics when a drone struck their command center at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. The attack occurred one day after the United States and Israel launched their military campaign.
A sign at the memorial reads: “For the American heroes, your courage and dedication will not be forgotten,” alongside “Seek peace and pursue it,” from Psalm 34:14.
<div id="attachment_1057197" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1057197" class="size-large wp-image-1057197" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265274271-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265274271-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265274271-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265274271-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265274271.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Memorial on Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv on March 10, 2026. (OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP via Getty Images)</div>
Those honored in the memorial are:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Maj. Jeffrey R. O&#8217;Brien</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Capt. Cody Khork</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Sgt. Declan Coady</li>
</ul>
Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, who was also killed in an Iranian drone attack, was not included in the display because his name had not yet been publicly announced when the memorial was created. His remains were returned to the U.S. in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base on Monday. 
The memorial comes as U.S. forces continue to face attacks across the region amid the conflict with Iran.
About 140 U.S. service members have been wounded over 10 days of sustained attacks, though most injuries have been minor, and 108 troops have already returned to duty, according to Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell. Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care.
Israel has previously erected memorials dedicated to American victims and service members.
One of the most prominent examples is the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in Jerusalem, built by the Jewish National Fund. Located in the hills outside the city, the monument, shaped like a rising American flag, is the <a href="https://voicescenter.org/living-memorial/memorials/911-living-memorial-plaza">only memorial</a> outside the United States that lists the names of all 2,977 victims of the September 11 attacks. The site hosts annual commemorations attended by Israelis and Americans.

Iran Continues Drone And Missile Attacks After Joint U.S.-Israel War

Far From Home, Fallen American Troops Honored in Powerful Tribute

Israel

Operation Epic Fury

Tel Aviv

The LA Marathon was full of highs and lows over the weekend, with viewers celebrating the triumph of American excellence and resiliency, and also mocking the implementation of what amounted to a participation trophy. 
American high school track and cross country coach Nathan Martin finished first, beating out Michael Kamau from Kenya by a mere .01 of a second.
It was the closest finish ever for the famous marathon and drew a huge reaction online, especially as viewers watched how Martin overcame Kamau right at the finish line.
Martin&#8217;s time was 2:11:16.50, which was technically the same as Kamau&#8217;s, even though he crossed the line first. Kamau can be seen on video collapsing at the finish line, where he was later attended to by medics.
In interviews later, Martin said he wasn’t even sure at first he had won because of how close he and Kamau were to crossing at the same time. 
Last year was the first time in 31 years that an American won the LA Marathon when Matthew Richtman took home top honors. Prior to that, an American hadn’t won the race since 1994. 
The annual running event kicked off with the implementation of a cringeworthy policy. Runners could still receive a medal indicating they had completed the entire marathon if they were having an off day and could only complete half the race.
The 26.2-mile race was expected to have unusually warm temperatures, which is what prompted the change.
“If you’re having a tough day and want to end your race before 26.2, you can choose to take the turn at Mile 18 and head into the finish line early. You do not need to notify anyone of your decision and can opt to take this route at any time,” officials said, as <a href="https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/race-day-weather/">posted</a> on the “Race Day Weather” page.
“There is no shame in making a smart decision for your body,” the announcement went on. The temperature had reached the upper 60s by 9 a.m. on Sunday, per ABC News 7, and was expected to be in the mid-70s within the next hour when the update was made.
Social media users mocked the idea, <a href="https://x.com/lisa_4_la/status/2030362981230678211?s=43">saying</a>, “people who don’t finish the Marathon can identify as people who do finish the Marathon.”
“Can I submit my application to be a marathon finisher by mail and just have them send me my medal afterwards?” another X commenter asked.
ABC7 <a href="https://abc7.com/post/heat-prompts-safety-changes-la-marathon-higher-usual-temperatures-expected/18692488/">reported</a> that more than 27,000 people participated in this year’s Asics LA Marathon.

Nathan Martin

LA Marathon Ends In Stunning Photo Finish Between American Coach And Kenyan Runner

LA Marathon Ends In Closest Race Ever, With American Track Coach Narrowly Besting Kenyan Runner Up

Los Angeles

Marathon

The Trump administration and Israeli officials are reportedly discussing a high-stakes shift in the conflict: the direct seizure of Kharg Island, Iran’s primary economic artery.
While special operations plans originally focused on securing Iran&#8217;s 450-kilogram stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the strategic conversation has expanded to physically capturing the terminal that handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/08/iran-ground-troops-special-forces-nuclear">according to Axios</a>.
The ultimate goal, according to former Lockheed marketing executive Jarrod Agen, now the director of the National Energy Dominance Council, is to take control of Iran&#8217;s oil. &#8220;Ultimately, we’re not going to have to worry about these issues in the Strait of Hormuz because we’re going to get all of the oil out of the hands of terrorists,&#8221; Agen <a href="https://maritime-executive.com/article/report-white-house-mulling-over-a-raid-to-seize-kharg-island">said</a> in an interview on Fox Business.
Kharg Island is the &#8220;jugular&#8221; of the Iranian regime. Located 20 nautical miles off the coast, this small island is the only facility in the country capable of loading the supertankers that supply Iran’s primary customers, including China. Because Iran’s entire pipeline infrastructure is engineered to feed into Kharg, the regime has no viable way to reroute these volumes to smaller terminals like Jask or Bandar Abbas.
Seizing the island would offer the U.S. what sanctions never could: direct, physical control over the regime’s revenue. By controlling the point where crude reaches the world market, the U.S. gains an &#8220;on/off switch&#8221; for the Iranian economy without needing a full-scale invasion of the mainland.
The primary target of such an operation could be the funding of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is not merely a military wing; it is a conglomerate that depends on state oil revenue to:
<ul style="font-weight: 400;">
<li>Pay salaries and benefits to maintain the loyalty of elite security forces.</li>
<li>Fund foreign proxy groups like Hezbollah and militias in Iraq and Syria.</li>
<li>Procure missiles, drones, and advanced weaponry.</li>
</ul>
If Kharg were seized, Iran stands to lose between $90 million and $130 million per day. A sudden collapse in hard-currency revenue would likely trigger hyperinflation and a domestic fiscal crisis. Under an authoritarian system, the inability to pay its praetorian guard is often the precursor to a coup or a total collapse of authority. By severing this financial lifeline, the U.S. aims to hollow out the IRGC’s power from the inside out.
The operation is viewed as a &#8220;limited&#8221; mission rather than a traditional &#8220;boots on the ground&#8221; occupation. With the U.S. already claiming to have sunk over 30 Iranian warships and established air superiority, Kharg’s isolation makes it a defensible prize.
Controlling the island would provide a strategic refueling point for other missions — such as the recovery of enriched uranium from the buried tunnels in Isfahan — and provide absolute leverage over whatever government eventually emerges in Tehran.
Ultimately, the strategy rests on a simple premise: you do not need to control the capital if you control the cash.

Satellite Imagery Of Kharg Island In Iran

Trump Admin Eyes Seizing Iran’s Economic ‘Jugular’

PIVOTAL MOVE: Trump Administration Reportedly Considering Seizing Iran’s ‘Economic Jugular’

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In a stunning display of gaslighting on International Women’s Day, Qatari Minister of Education Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater took to social media on Sunday to deliver a sharp rebuke to the West.
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Her message? Stop trying to “liberate” Muslim women. While Al Khater framed her defiance as a stand against “sick destructive agendas” and &#8220;Hollywood-style&#8221; savior complexes, the reality on the ground in Doha tells a much darker story of state-sponsored subjugation.
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Al Khater demanded that critics &#8220;leave us alone,&#8221; claiming on social media that the Islamic world is doing &#8220;just fine.&#8221; She went further, accusing Western powers of igniting wars for profit and &#8220;trafficking and raping little kids.&#8221; It is a classic authoritarian tactic: deflect from your own human rights record by hurling inflammatory, unsubstantiated accusations at the proponents of liberty.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WomensDay</a> 
Happy Women’s Day to all women wherever they are, those who are striving for their families, to survive, to make this planet a better and more peaceful place.
As a Muslim woman and as an Arab woman I just want to say:
STOP 🛑 
STOP talking on our behalf 
STOP…
&mdash; لولوة الخاطر Lolwah Alkhater (@Lolwah_Alkhater) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lolwah_Alkhater/status/2030622485587071083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote>
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But for the women living under Al Khater’s government, things have been anything but &#8220;fine.&#8221; While the Minister enjoys the privilege of high office, the average Qatari woman is legally treated as a permanent minor. According to a damning 94-page 2021 <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/29/qatar-male-guardianship-severely-curtails-womens-rights">report</a> from Human Rights Watch in 2021, Qatar’s &#8220;male guardianship&#8221; system masked a suffocating reality.
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In the Qatari &#8220;paradise&#8221; Al Khater defends, a woman’s life was entirely tied to a man. Want to get married? You need the permission of a male guardian. Want to study abroad on a scholarship? Get a man’s signature. Want to work in a government job—perhaps even in Al Khater’s own Ministry of Education? You’ll likely need your father’s or husband’s consent.
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The stories of those living under this &#8220;peaceful&#8221; planet that the Minister speaks of are harrowing. One 32-year-old woman, &#8220;Nawal,&#8221; recounted how her brother blocked her marriage simply because he &#8220;felt powerful&#8221; and wanted to show resistance. Another woman, &#8220;Dana,&#8221; was denied an urgent vaginal ultrasound for a suspected burst ovary because she couldn&#8217;t produce a marriage license. This isn&#8217;t &#8220;liberation&#8221;; it’s a medical and civil rights hostage situation.
</div>
<div>
Furthermore, the legal deck has been stacked. A husband could easily be granted a divorce, but a woman faced years of litigation. If she &#8220;disobeyed&#8221; by working without permission or refusing sex, she could lose her financial support. Men could marry four wives without any consent from their current spouse, yet a woman could not even be the primary guardian of her own children.
</div>
<div>
When Al Khater tells the West to &#8220;stop talking on our behalf,&#8221; she is really asking the world to stop looking at the bars of the cage. Qatar wants the prestige of the international stage—hosting World Cups and educational summits—without the accountability that comes with basic human dignity.
</div>

LEBANON-QATAR-ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-CONFLICT-HEALTH

‘STOP Liberating Us’: Qatari Minister Accuses Western Powers Of ‘Trafficking And Raping Little Kids’

Qatar

McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has gone viral on social media after a video of him tasting the new Big Arch burger started circulating online.
Viewers made comments about the fast food chain exec’s awkward demeanor and wording, saying it was clear that he hated the “product” and didn’t really want to eat it.
“I love this product, it is so good. I’m going to do a tasting right now, but I’m going to eat this for my lunch, just so you know,” Kempczinski says in the video, which was shared to drum up interest in the new addition to the McDonald’s menu.
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He explained how the burger has “two quarter-pound patties, a delicious Big Arch sauce, and of course, some lettuce, along with crispy onions and pickles.”
Kempczinski awkwardly approached the burger, noting that he “didn’t even know how to attack it,” before taking a hesitant bite, which he described as being bigger than it actually was.
“Mmm, that is so good, that’s a big bite for a Big Arch,” the CEO said, showing the camera the tiny nibble he took out of the massive burger.
Social media commenters didn’t hold back with their mockery.
“What’s the opposite of genuine and authentic?” one popular Instagram comment said.
“That was the smallest first bite I’ve ever seen,” another person agreed.
“This man does not like that ‘product,’” another person wrote.
“Watching the McDonald&#8217;s CEO tentatively nibble on the Big Arch like it&#8217;s a radioactive artifact from the dollar menu, calling it &#8216;product&#8217; instead of food, is the most unintentionally hilarious endorsement fail since New Coke,” one X commenter <a href="https://x.com/RoyalMelanite/status/2028020316644249747">added</a>.
The video was posted to Kempczinski’s Instagram last month, but didn’t go viral until now, just days before the Big Arch is set to debut on McDonald’s menus nationwide on Tuesday, March 3. This fact led to some fans wondering if the awkward video and its promotion is nothing more than a way to get attention for the new fast food menu offering.

Big Arch

WATCH: McDonald’s CEO Struggles Through New Big Arch Burger, Goes Viral

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General

McDonald’s

U.S.

viral video

The Cuban government claimed on Wednesday that a speedboat bearing a Florida registration crossed into Cuban waters and then fired on Border Guard Troops as they approached the vehicle. The resulting firefight left four dead on board the speedboat.
The Cuban Embassy in the United States shared a <a href="https://x.com/EmbaCubaUS/status/2026732911114760673">statement</a> on Wednesday afternoon, attributed to the Ministry of the Interior, detailing a confrontation that took place early that morning.
&#8220;On the morning of February 25, 2026, a violating speedboat was detected within Cuban territorial waters. The vessel, registered in Florida, United States, with registration number FL7726SH, approached up to 1 nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province,&#8221; the statement read.
The Ministry of the Interior went on to assert that those on board the speedboat fired the first shots when Border Guard Troops approached to request proof of identification.
&#8220;When a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior, carrying five service members, approached the vessel for identification, the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured. The injured individuals were evacuated and received medical assistance.&#8221;
The statement concluded: &#8220;In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region. Investigations by the competent authorities continue in order to fully clarify the events.&#8221;
Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the still-unfolding situation, saying, “We’re going to find out exactly what happened here, and then we’ll respond accordingly.”
An unnamed U.S. official told The New York Times that the speedboat was a civilian vessel and was &#8220;part of a flotilla to get relatives out of Cuba&#8221; — and also clarified that the boat did not belong to either the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Coast Guard.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeir issued a statement on the incident: &#8220;I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation. The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.&#8221;
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), former Mayor of Miami-Dade, also issued a statement: &#8220;I am calling for an immediate investigation into this massacre. United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred. The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity.&#8221;

Border Guard Touts Drug Enforcement Program

Deadly Gun Battle Off Cuba’s Coast — Florida-Registered Boat At Center Of Clash

Cuba's Coast Guard Engaged In Deadly Firefight With American Vessel, Cuban Government Says

Cuba

Global Politics

The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, came to a sensational close on Sunday after the United States men’s hockey team defeated Canada, capturing the twelfth and final gold medal for Team USA.
But it was after America&#8217;s victory in the mixed team aerials freestyle skiing event on Saturday that officially marked the country’s most gold medals in Winter Olympics history. The previous record of ten gold medals was won in the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This year, the U.S. placed second overall with thirty-three medals — twelve gold, twelve silver, and nine bronze. As predicted, Norway reigned with forty-four medals (eighteen gold), and the host country slightly trailed behind the U.S. with thirty total medals (ten gold).
The most notable wins came from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/usa-wins-olympic-hockey-gold-in-ot-thriller-over-canada?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=12&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=USA+Wins+Olympic+Hockey+Gold+In+OT+Thriller+Over+Canada">men&#8217;s</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/revenge-served-cold-team-usa-takes-gold-over-canada-in-olympic-sudden-death-overtime?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Revenge+Served+Cold%3A+Team+USA+Takes+Gold+Over+Canada+In+Olympic+Sudden-Death+Overtime">women&#8217;s</a> hockey teams, which both secured first place after suspenseful overtime games against rival Canada.
Two gold medals were won in figure skating this season, one in the team event and one by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-figure-skaters-father-narrowly-escaped-china-she-just-won-olympic-gold?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Alysa+Liu%E2%80%99s+Father+Escaped+China.+She+Just+Won+Olympic+Gold+For+The+United+States.">Alysa Liu</a>, the twenty-year-old who returned to the sport after a two-year break and became the first American woman to win a medal in figure skating in two decades.
Other significant wins came in alpine skiing with Breezy Johnson in the women’s downhill and Mikaela Shiffrin in women&#8217;s slalom.
In freestyle skiing, Elizabeth Lemley took first in women&#8217;s moguls and Alex Ferreira in the men’s freeski halfpipe. Jordan Stolz won two gold medals in speed skating, as well as a silver. In cross-country skiing, Ben Ogden won silver in the men’s sprint classic.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-elana-meyers-taylor-the-american-bobsledder-who-finally-won-her-first-gold-medal?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Meet+Elana+Meyers+Taylor%3A+The+American+Bobsledder+Who+Finally+Won+Her+First+Gold+Medal">Elana Meyers Taylor</a> finally won her first gold medal in the women’s monobob at her fifth Olympic Games, with teammate Kallie Humphries behind her in bronze. The 41-year-old also became the oldest athlete to win an individual event in the Winter Games.
There were some major disappointments, namely <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/olympic-heartbreak-quad-god-ilia-malinin-breaks-under-pressure-fails-to-medal-in-milan?author=Amanda+Harding&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Olympic+Heartbreak%3A+%E2%80%98Quad+God%E2%80%99+Ilia+Malinin+Breaks+Under+Pressure%2C+Fails+To+Medal+In+Milan">Ilia Malinin</a>, the &#8220;Quad God,&#8221; who delivered a devastating routine in the free skate and finished eighth, despite being heavily favored for gold. Amber Glenn was aiming for the podium as well, but missed a key jump in the short program, which crushed her opportunity for a medal. Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates just slightly missed first in their event, finishing with the silver. Chock, Bates, and Malinin did, however, play a major role in solidifying the gold for the team event.
Snowboarder <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/snowboarder-chloe-kim-falls-short-of-historic-gold-medal-threepeat?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=American+Snowboarder+Chloe+Kim+Falls+Short+Of+Historic+Gold+Medal+Threepeat">Chloe Kim</a> was also hoping to earn her third consecutive gold medal in the women’s halfpipe, but was edged out by Korea’s 17-year-old Choi Ga-on and finished with the silver.

Closing Ceremony – Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Day 16

Team USA Breaks American Record For Most Gold Medals Ever At Winter Olympics

Italy

Sports

Winter Olympics

World

President Donald Trump’s deadline for a deal with Iran draws near, Secret Service takes down a Mar-a-Lago intruder, and Team USA reignites the American spirit with thrilling victories on the ice.
It’s Monday, February 23, 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/iran-negotiations-intensify-mar-a-lago-intruder/id1576594336?i=1000750986850" 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;">The U.S.-Iran Showdown</h2>
American and Iranian diplomats meet again to work <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule">towards</a> a nuclear deal, as President Trump continues to threaten military action. 
Now that Trump’s military buildup in the Middle East is nearly complete, he has a range of options at his disposal, and the world is waiting to see which way he’ll go. White House officials say he could launch limited strikes on nuclear sites in the coming days, with the message: capitulate, or we’ll go harder. He could also specifically target the supreme leader and his son, widely viewed as the successor. Or he could simply keep the forces in place and allow negotiations to continue, albeit with a very different dynamic than before. 
Iranian officials on social media and in speeches have struck a defiant tone, taunting the United States, vowing to send American carriers to the bottom of the ocean.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Gunman Killed At Mar-a-Lago</h2>
Authorities shot and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/armed-intruder-with-shotgun-sparks-deadly-secret-service-response-at-mar-a-lago">killed</a> an armed man who walked through one of the main gates of Mar-a-Lago early Sunday morning. 
According to authorities, a young man entered the inner perimeter around 1:30 in the morning. He was carrying a gas can and a shotgun, and he walked through one of the club’s main gates as a vehicle was exiting. Law enforcement who were assigned to Mar-a-Lago responded. Two Secret Service agents and a sheriff’s deputy fatally shot the man after he disregarded orders to drop the shotgun. 
The dead man has been <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article314795124.html">identified</a> as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin. He is originally from North Carolina, where his family reported him missing about the same time he was killed. Early on Sunday morning, a family member told a sheriff’s deputy from North Carolina’s Moore County that Martin had been unreachable since about 8 p.m. on Saturday. Later that morning, Martin’s mother posted about her son on Facebook, asking for help finding him.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Olympic Wrap Up</h2>
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have drawn to a close, but not before delivering one of the most emotionally charged finishes in decades.
 From the United States men’s hockey golds to breakout stars like Alysa Liu, the games have reignited a renewed American spirit. After a rocky start due to anti-ICE statements, Team USA athletes didn’t just score medals; they delivered iconic moments that deeply connected with the public. 
The U.S. men <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/revenge-served-cold-team-usa-takes-gold-over-canada-in-olympic-sudden-death-overtime?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Revenge+Served+Cold%3A+Team+USA+Takes+Gold+Over+Canada+In+Olympic+Sudden-Death+Overtime">defeating</a> Canada in overtime for Olympic gold marked the country’s first men’s hockey gold since 1980, the &#8220;Miracle on Ice.&#8221; Jack Hughes’ winning goal sent the U.S. bench into chaos and reignited memories of American hockey’s defining moments. 
Elsewhere on the ice, figure skater Alysa Liu has become bigger than medals. The young athlete <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-figure-skaters-father-narrowly-escaped-china-she-just-won-olympic-gold?author=Andie+Valdes&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Alysa+Liu%E2%80%99s+Father+Escaped+China.+She+Just+Won+Olympic+Gold+For+The+United+States.">carried</a> herself with humility, joy, and visible love for her country. Liu’s success was particularly poignant when contrasted with that of skier Eileen Gu, who, though American, agreed to compete for Communist China. Her performances were emotional, technically strong, and original. When she finished her program, the reaction wasn’t just applause; it was affection.

MRN_260223_V2

Morning Brief: Iran Talks Heat Up, Mar-A-Lago Intruder, & Team USA On Fire

Florida

Mar-a-Lago

Morning Wire

Olympics

The grandson of the man who invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is speaking out against The Hershey Company, accusing the multinational confectionery company of cheaping out on ingredients and spoiling the product his family created.
Brad Reese, 70, claims that real ingredients have been replaced with cheap, ultra-processed additives that have altered the taste of the popular candy.
“My grandfather, H. B. REESE (Who Invented REESE’S), built REESE’S on a simple, enduring architecture: Milk Chocolate + Peanut Butter. Not a flavor idea. Not a marketing construct. A real, tangible product identity that consumers have trusted for a century,” Reese shared in a LinkedIn post.
“But today, REESE’S identity is being rewritten, not by storytellers, but by formulation decisions that replace Milk Chocolate with compound coatings and Peanut Butter with peanut butter style crèmes across multiple REESE’S products,” the post continued.
“I can’t just let it go. They’re lowering the quality of ingredients, charging the same price and probably giving you a smaller product size,” Reese <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/18/business/grandson-of-reeses-founder-alleges-hershey-has-switched-to-cheaper-ingredients-sparking-family-feud/">told</a> The New York Post in a follow-up interview. “I’m really embarrassed as a member of the Reese family.”
The Hershey Company, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, said in a statement that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are made with real peanut butter and milk chocolate, but admits they’ve done “recipe adjustments.” 
“Our iconic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are made the same way they always have been; starting with roasting fresh peanuts to make our unique, one-of-a-kind peanut butter that is then combined with milk chocolate,” a statement from The Hershey Company <a href="https://www.abc27.com/hershey/the-hershey-company-responds-to-allegations-over-reeses-ingredient-changes/">said</a>, per ABC27 News. 
“As we’ve grown and expanded the Reese’s product line, we make product recipe adjustments that allow us to make new shapes, sizes and innovations that Reese’s fans have come to love and ask for, while always protecting the essence of what makes Reese’s unique and special: the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.”
According to the <a href="https://www.hersheyland.com/products/reeses-milk-chocolate-peanut-butter-cups-1-5-oz.html">website</a>, traditional Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups include: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Lecithin, PGPR), Peanuts, Sugar, Dextrose, Salt, and TBHQ &amp; Citric Acid (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS). 
Reese indicated that the spinoff versions of the classic candy are the culprits. The Florida resident said he recently purchased and tossed out a Valentine’s Day-themed bag of Reese’s Mini Hearts. 
“It was not edible,” Reese <a href="https://apnews.com/article/reeses-peanut-butter-cups-hershey-chocolate-1a66ec75247fd146888b7a747a740cd3">told</a> The Associated Press in an interview. “You have to understand. I used to eat a Reese’s product every day. This is very devastating for me.”

Reese’s

CANDY CIVIL WAR: Reese’s Heir Calls Out What’s Being Put In America’s Favorite Treat

Business

chocolate

Pennsylvania

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:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/iran-response-imminent-gender-surgeon-scrutinized-2-19-26/id1576594336?i=1000750462173" 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;">U.S. Surrounds Iran</h2>
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, <a href="https://x.com/rcpvideo/status/2024169941696459097?s=20">including</a> 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.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Blue State Spends Millions On Gender Surgeon</h2>
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&#8217;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&#8217;s clientele included a steady stream of inmates from Washington Department of Corrections facilities.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">FDA’s Moderna Reversal</h2>
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.

MW_260219_V1

Morning Brief: U.S. Surrounds Iran, Prisoners Get ‘Gender Surgeries,’ & FDA’s Moderna Reversal

Moderna

Washington

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