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U.S. trade representative says White House expects to

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/us-trade-representative-says-we-expect-to-stand-by-trade-deals-after-supreme-court-ruling/

AOC blames critics, Trump after Munich hiccup backlash

Critics seize on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s fiancé snoring during her diatribe

By Eric Mack
Fox News

Published February 22, 2026 1:56pm EST

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., responds to critics after her appearance at the Munich Security Conference in an Instagram Live post that is going viral, in part, because her fiancé is snoring through it.

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An emotional Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., attempted to blame critics – and even President Donald Trump’s own off-the-cuff agility – for the backlash she received for her response to a question at the recent Munich Security Conference on American defense of Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

“If you think I don’t understand foreign policy, because of out of hours of discourse about international affairs, I pause to think about one of the most sensitive geopolitical issues that currently exist on earth, I’m afraid the issue is not my understanding, but perhaps the problem is you’ve gotten adjusted to a president that never thinks before he speaks,” a raspy-voiced Ocasio-Cortez said on a late-night Instagram Live video circulating on social media.

The leftist congresswoman’s Munich stumbling on Friday, Feb. 13, started the critical firestorm and has conservatives questioning her fitness for a potential 2028 Democrat presidential primary campaign.

“Um, you know, I think that this is such a, you know, I think that this is a um — this is, of course, a, um, very long-standing, um, policy of the United States,” she said with pause when asked about America defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion to enforce its One China Policy over the island-nation.

AOC HIT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH AFTER APPEARING TO STRUGGLE WITH QUESTION ABOUT US DEFENDING TAIWAN

President Donald Trump took a couple sharp jabs at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., for her showing at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, Feb. 13.(Alex Kraus/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“And I think what we are hoping for is that we want to make sure that we never get to that point, and we want to make sure that we are moving in all of our economic, research and our global positions to avoid any such confrontation and for that question to even arise.”

Vice President JD Vance, a potential 2028 presidential campaign opponent in a prospective general election matchup, weighed in multiple times this week to Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks.

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“I think it’s a person who doesn’t know what she actually thinks, and I’ve seen this way too much in Washington with politicians: Where they’re given lines and, when you ask them to go outside the lines they were given, they completely fall apart,” Vance told Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum” in an in-studio interview earlier this week.

“That was embarrassing,” he continued. “If I had given that answer I would say, ‘You know what? Maybe you ought to go read a book about China and Taiwan before I go out on the world stage again.’ I hope that Congresswoman Cortez has the same humility. I’m skeptical.”

Eric Mack is a writer for Fox News Digital covering breaking news.

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President Trump tells Netflix to fire Susan Rice or ‘pay consequences’

By Amanda Macias | Fox News

Published February 22, 2026 1:16pm EST

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President Donald Trump called on Netflix to fire board member Susan Rice immediately or “pay the consequences.”

Trump’s comments followed remarks Rice made Thursday on the “Stay Tuned with Preet” podcast, hosted by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

During the interview, Rice warned that corporations she said had “taken a knee” to Republican pressure should not expect forgiveness from Democrats if they return to power.

“This is not going to be an instance of forgive and forget. The damage that these people are doing is too severe to the American people and our national interest,” Rice said.

LARA TRUMP WARNS AGAINST DEMOCRATS’ “ACCOUNTABILITY AGENDA” FOR TRUMP ALLIES

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice warned corporate America to expect an “accountability agenda” from Democrats.(Alex Wong/Getty Images)

It was not immediately clear what specific actions the Trump administration might pursue.

Netflix did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.

BATTLEGROUND STATES SHOULDER BURDEN OF TRUMP’S TARIFFS AS MIDTERM MESSAGING RAMPS UP

U.S. domestic policy advisor Susan Rice speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on Aug. 24, 2022.(Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images)

Rice made the remarks while discussing what she described as corporate retreats from diversity and governance commitments amid pressure from Republican lawmakers.

“If these corporations think that the Democrats, when they come back into power, are going to, you know, play by the old rules, and, you know, say, ‘Oh, never mind. We’ll forgive you for all the people you fired, all the policies and principles you’ve violated, all, you know, the laws you’ve skirted.’ I think they’ve got another thing coming,” Rice added.

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President Donald Trump called on Netflix to fire sitting board member Susan Rice following her comments on the podcast.(Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)

Rice, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, predicted an “accountability agenda” awaited those entities, forecasting an electoral shift in the upcoming midterm elections.

She also pointed to waning public approval for Trump’s economic and immigration policies in making her case.

Amanda covers the intersection of business and politics for Fox News Digital.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6389681049112

‘It is not up to me’: Secretary Bessent pushes back against tariff refunds | CNN Politics

Published 11:10 AM EST, Sun February 22, 2026 / CNN

Dana Bash presses Treasury Scott Bessent over what happens to the $134 billion in tariff revenue already collected after the Supreme Court struck down most of Trump’s emergency tariffs.

8:12 • Source: CNN

An idol Capitol could be the devil’s playground

By Chad Pergram | Fox News
Published February 22, 2026 12:50pm EST

“I can’t believe they just left!”

“Why didn’t they just stay until they fixed it?”

“Why didn’t they make them stay?”

I must have fielded forty questions last week from colleagues, friends and acquaintances. Even reporters and editorial staff from other news organizations. And that’s to say nothing of a few Congressional aides.

Everyone had the same question. They were in disbelief that lawmakers just abandoned the Capitol a week ago Thursday and left the Department of Homeland Security without funding on Saturday at 12:00:01 am et.

COAST GUARD CAUGHT AS ‘COLLATERAL DAMAGE’ IN DEMOCRATS’ DHS SHUTDOWN AS CHINA, RUSSIA PRESS US WATERS

Senate Democrats blocked a short-term funding bill, stalling efforts to keep DHS and its agencies operating.(Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

The Senate tried twice to avert the partial government shutdown on Thursday. The Senate failed to break a filibuster on a placeholder, undetermined funding bill. And then Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., objected to a request by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., to approve a stopgap, two-week funding bill. Passage of the bill would require agreement of all 100 senators. But all it took was one objection. And Murphy, speaking for many Democrats on both sides of the Capitol, interceded to sidetrack Britt’s effort.

“I’m over it!” shouted an exasperated Britt on the Senate floor, as Congress pitched at least part of the federal government into its third shutdown since October 1.

Democrats are refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security until there’s a specific agreement to reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). And – few Democrats will say this out loud – but their base insists on Democrats shuttering DHS over ICE tactics after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

This is somewhat ironic. Republicans funded ICE through 2029 via last year’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill. So thanks to Democrats, TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA – all under the DHS aegis – are without money right now. That means tens of thousands of employees are technically working without paychecks as they scan passengers at airports, patrol the seas and respond to natural disasters.

This brings us back to the basic question: Why didn’t they just stay until they figured it out?

As a reporter, I have covered dozens of shutdowns, partial shutdowns, near shutdowns, flirtations with shutdowns. That’s to say nothing of various permutations of interim spending bills – long and short – known as Continuing Resolutions or CRs. Those bills keep the funding flowing at the old spending level – until lawmakers all agree on something new. Sometimes one CR begets another CR. And even another one after that until everything’s resolved. The exercise can go on for months.

HOW ICE WENT FROM POST-9/11 COUNTERTERROR AGENCY TO CENTER OF THE IMMIGRATION FIGHT

Sen. Katie Britt vented frustration on the Senate floor after her stopgap bill was blocked.(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

But as it pertains to DHS, lawmakers weren’t going to solve the issues surrounding ICE right away. So both the House and Senate got out of Dodge last Thursday as the deadline loomed. Lawmakers were everywhere from the Middle East to Munich when the bell tolled midnight Saturday and DHS lumbered into a slow-speed funding crash.

Failure to fund the Department of Homeland Security may seem unreasonable from a policy standpoint – regardless of what you think of ICE. But it’s not unreasonable if you understand the politics and Congressional procedure to fund ICE.

Let’s say they were on the precipice of an agreement to fund DHS. That may involve some last-minute trading of paper between Senate and House leaders. Maybe a call or two from the President to reluctant Republicans. If lawmakers believed a deal was within range, it’s doubtful that leaders would have cut Members loose. They would have stayed if there was a viable path to nail something down last Friday, have the Senate expedite the process and vote on either Saturday or Sunday (albeit after the deadline) and then have the House vote on Monday. That’s all under the premise of a deal being close.

They were nowhere near that stage when lawmakers called it last Thursday. Democrats didn’t send over their offer for days after a brief shutdown of 78 percent of the government more than two weeks ago. Democrats then criticized Republicans and the White House for slowly volleying a counteroffer. Democrats then rejected the GOP plan – only sending back another plan late Monday.

Getting a deal which can pass both the House and Senate – and overcome a Senate filibuster – takes time. And there simply wasn’t a deal to be had yet.

This is where things get really interesting. With no agreement in sight, you simply don’t anchor lawmakers in Washington with nothing to do. There’s nothing to vote on. There are no committee meetings scheduled. All tethering lawmakers to DC does is stir up trouble.

There’s a line in the song “Trouble” in The Music Man by Meredith Willson: “The idle brain is the devil’s playground.” Who knows what kinds of mischief you would have, just making very cranky lawmakers hang around Washington for days – without anything to vote on. Keeping everyone here does not contribute to securing a deal. Yes, all 532 House and Senate Members (there are two House vacancies) must eventually be dialed-in to vote on a bill to fund DHS. But we aren’t there yet. A handful of Members in the House, Senate and people at the White House will be the ones to negotiate an agreement. Rank-and-file Members marooned in Washington with nothing to do but post outrageous things on social media and appear on cable TV is counterproductive.

Now, let’s look at the other scenario of being close to an agreement. House and Senate leaders may believe they are still a little short of votes. But if something is viable, leaders know they can nail down the votes with some arm-twisting, legislative and ego massaging and a few forceful phone calls. Yes, that process may require elbow grease. But in that instance, keeping everyone in Washington for a few extra days and blowing up a long-awaited Congressional recess actually helps the process.

DHS SHUTDOWN LEAVES LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ON THEIR OWN AMID EXTREME WEATHER, EXPERT WARNS

TSA officers, Coast Guard members and FEMA staff are working without pay as the DHS funding lapse drags on.(Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

Why?

Think of the Stockholm Syndrome. You demand that everyone stay in Washington for an extra day or two and the “hostages” will start to come around to the viewpoints of their captors. Yes, everyone is frustrated and mad. But they feel the bill is something they can support and finally end this triumvirate of government shutdowns. In this case, the fustigation builds – but just a little. Everyone is happy to vote yes and rush off of Capitol Hill.

If they were close to nailing down an agreement on DHS funding, then Congressional leaders would have deployed a version of the Stockholm Syndrome to wrap up everything.

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But with no deal, leaders were more afraid of the mayhem they may trigger by keeping everyone in Washington. The devil would romp freely through the playground of idle brains.

So how will you know when there’s a deal?

When everyone’s present and accounted for.

Chad Pergram currently serves as Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.

Dana Bash presses Secretary Bessent on Congress’ role in enacting tariffs | CNN Politics

Published 11:08 AM EST, Sun February 22, 2026 / CNN

Treasury Secretary Bessent responds to Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch’s opinion saying tariff policy needs to go through Congress.

Iranian foreign minister says “we have every right to enjoy a peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment”

February 22, 2026 / 2:20 PM EST / CBS News

Washington — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Iran has “every right to enjoy a peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment” as the U.S. pushes for a deal on its nuclear program.

Negotiators for the U.S. and Iran met last week in Geneva, where both sides said progress was made. President Trump said on Friday, amid a massive military buildup in the region, that he’s considering a limited military strike on Iran, after warning that Tehran had a matter of days to reach a deal on its nuclear program, or “bad things” would happen.

Araghchi announced Sunday on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” the two sides will come together again Thursday in Geneva.

He said that the only way to find a resolution for Iran’s nuclear program is through diplomacy, while stressing that a solution is within reach.

“So there is no need for any military buildup, and military buildup cannot help it and cannot pressurize us,” he said.

The Iranian foreign minister, who helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear deal under the Obama administration, said the Iranians are still working on a draft proposal for Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East. Araghchi said that when the two sides meet again Thursday, “we can work on those elements and prepare a good text and come to a fast deal.”

U.S. officials have expressed widespread skepticism about Iran’s nuclear program, including the bulk of Republicans in Congress who have called on the president to demand zero enrichment and a full dismantlement of the program. But Araghchi argued that “enrichment is our right.”

Araghchi said enrichment is a “sensitive part” of the negotiations, noting that the U.S. negotiators are aware of Iran’s position and “we have already exchanged our concerns.”

“I think a solution is achievable,” Araghchi added.

Asked by Brennan whether demanding a right to enrich on Iranian soil is worth the risk amid the American military buildup, Araghchi said “as a sovereign country, we have every right to decide for ourselves, by ourselves.”

“We have developed this technology by ourselves, by our scientists, and it’s very dear to us,” Araghchi said. “So that is now a matter of dignity and pride for Iranians, and we are not going to give it up. There is no legal reason to do that while everything is peaceful, while everything is safeguarded by the agency.”

Araghchi said “if the U.S. attacks us, then we have every right to defend ourselves.”

“Our missiles cannot hit the American soil,” Araghchi said. “So obviously we have to do something else. We have to hit, you know, the Americans’ base in the region.”

Still, Araghchi questioned why conflict would be necessary “when there is every possibility for a peaceful solution.”

一日内两度调整全球关税至15% 特朗普再搅局让美国内外不知所措 | 联合早报

发布/2026年2月22日 23:03

尽管在法律上遭遇重挫，美国总统特朗普仍咬牙切齿，势必将全球进口高额关税计划进行到底。 （路透社）

（华盛顿综合电）美国总统特朗普反击最高法院裁决关税违宪，接连宣布新关税税率，势必会引发更多不确定因素，使局面更加混乱。消息指一些白宫人员对关税突然上调不知所措。

最新宣布的15%税率，对各国的直接冲击喜忧参半。英国、澳大利亚等国，也包括新加坡，新税率实际上高于此前谈成的10％基准关税税率。对于此前面临美国高额关税的中国（20％）、越南（20％）、印度（18％）和巴西（50％）等国家而言，新税率则显著较低。

有贸易专家指出，美国对全球各国征收划一的进口商品关税税率，最终可能使中国和其他亚洲国家低成本生产商受益；因为即使加上15％的进口税，这些商品的价格仍然相对较低。

不过，美国贸易代表格里尔周五接受福克斯新闻采访时指出，尽管特朗普宣布了新税率，但那些与美国达成协议的国家，仍须遵守协议中所定下的税率。格里尔表示，尽管新税率较低，马来西亚和柬埔寨等国对美国的出口，仍将继续按19％的谈判税率征税。

法律虽受挫 特朗普关税税率势必进行到底

特朗普在高院裁决后立即宣布10％新关税；不到24小时后，他在周六（2月21日）又宣布将税率上调至法律允许的15％上限，并且立即生效。

特朗普周六在他的Truth Social发文称，他会在接下来的150天内，确定并颁布新的合法关税。此举表明，尽管在法律上遭遇重挫，特朗普对全球进口商品征收高额关税的计划，仍势必进行到底。

特朗普说：“身为美国总统，我将立即把对许多国家征收的10％全球关税，提高到完全合法且经过法律检验的15％水平。这些国家几十年来一直在剥削美国，却未受到任何惩罚（直到我上台！）。”

各国阵脚大乱纷研究对策

消息人士透露，白宫工作人员对突然的关税上调感到措手不及。

其他国家也乱了阵脚，急于研究美国高院裁决和特朗普的新关税税率可能造成的后续影响。

德国总理默茨周六说，他3月初访美之前会与欧洲盟友举行会谈，明确欧洲立场，并对美国作出集体回应。

澳大利亚政府则准备研究所有选项。澳洲贸易部长法雷尔星期天发声明说：“我们始终反对这些不合理关税。澳洲正与驻华盛顿大使馆密切合作，评估新税率的影响，并研究所有应对方案。”

日本自民党干部小野寺五典星期天（22日）指出，特朗普的新关税“令人愤慨”，他担心这只会加速各国与美国疏远。

在印度访问的巴西总统卢拉星期天敦促特朗普平等对待所有国家。

卢拉在新德里对记者说：“我想告诉美国总统特朗普，我们不希望爆发新的冷战。我们不要干预任何其他国家，我们要所有国家都得到平等的对待。”

卢拉表示，希望巴西与美国关系尽快正常化。他将在下个月访问华盛顿，与特朗普会面。

拥君主对阵反君主 伊朗大学生示威两派对立

2026年2月22日 23:30 / 联合早报

伊朗学生连续两天举行两派对立集会，悼念近期抗议活动中的遇难者。

当地和海外媒体发布的视频显示，伊朗学生星期六（2月21日）集会，根据回教什叶派哀悼传统，纪念1月8日至9日示威活动高峰期遇难者逝世40天。

法尔斯通讯社星期天（22日）发布的视频显示，伊朗首都德黑兰多所大学的集会中，数十人挥舞伊朗国旗，手持纪念照片。

沙里夫理工大学（Sharif University of Technology）发生骚乱，人群高喊“打倒沙阿”（Shah，此处指1979年被伊斯兰革命推翻的伊朗君主制），与另一拨人对峙。身着制服的男子将两方隔开。

对立阵营则高喊“国王万岁”以及其他反政府口号。

据法尔斯通讯社称，德黑兰至少三所大学出现紧张情况，部分学生高呼“反体制”口号。

在顶尖工程学府沙里夫大学（Sharif University），两名学生挥舞绿白红三色旗，旗面印有狮子和太阳图案，即君主制象征。

法新社周末也记录到集会现场爆发冲突。网络上还流传抗议活动的斗殴片段。

伊朗当局承认数周的骚乱造成超过3000人死亡，但将此事归咎为敌对势力煽动的“恐怖行为”。

人权组织的记录则显示，伊朗镇压行动中的死亡人数已超过7000人，绝大多数为抗议者，实际数字可能远高于此。