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Trump makes good on troop pullout promise, vows return if Democrat city crime worsens

Published February 11, 2026 3:32pm EST | Fox News

The Trump administration has withdrawn all federalized National Guard troops from U.S. cities, following through on President Donald Trump’s announcement in December 2025 that warned “we will come back” if crime spirals in left-wing cities once again.

U.S. Northern Command, the military command responsible for homeland defense and coordinating defense support during domestic emergencies, states on its website that all Title 10 National Guard troops in Los Angeles Chicago and Portland, Oregon, were demobilized as of Jan. 21.

Trump federalized and deployed National Guard troops under Title 10 in June 2025, citing the need to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and federal property amid immigration unrest. Troops were sent to cities that also historically have struggled with spiraling crime trends, including in 2020 when the nation saw the largest single-year increase in murders since the FBI began tracking such data in the 1960s.

More than 5,000 troops in Los Angeles, approximately 500 in Chicago and 200 in Portland, Oregon, were demobilized, The Washington Post first reported Wednesday.

[WHITE HOUSE SAYS MURDER RATE PLUMMETED TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1900 UNDER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION]

All federalized National Guard troops were removed from U.S. cities by January 2026 after President Trump’s announcement on a withdrawal in December. (Jay L Clendenin/Getty Images)

The White House directed Fox News Digital to Trump’s announcement on the withdrawal in December 2025 when approached for comment on The Washington Post’s report.

“We are removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland, despite the fact that CRIME has been greatly reduced by having these great Patriots in those cities, and ONLY by that fact,” Trump wrote Dec. 31, 2025. “Portland, Los Angeles, and Chicago were GONE if it weren’t for the Federal Government stepping in.”

He added that the troops would return but likely only if crime spirals in the left-wing cities, adding he was puzzled by local liberal leaders who would want the troops to leave the city.

“We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again – Only a question of time!” he wrote. “It is hard to believe that these Democrat Mayors and Governors, all of whom are greatly incompetent, would want us to leave, especially considering the great progress that has been made???”

Title 10 troops serve under federal active-duty orders, distinct from Guard forces deployed elsewhere and under different legal authorities.

For example, there is still a National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., as service members there remain on duty under a nonfederal status, while National Guard troops in New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee, also are still on the ground, deployed under separate agreements between their governors and the administration.

The thousands of National Guard troops deployed as Title 10 soldiers to Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland, Oregon, however, are no longer mobilized, according to Northern Command’s website.

The U.S. National Guard was deployed around downtown Los Angeles June 8, 2025, after an immigration raid protest the night before.(Eric Thayer/The Associated Press)

[TRUMP SAYS IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN NEEDS ‘SOFTER TOUCH’ WITH ‘TOUGH’ STANCE AFTER DEADLY MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTINGS]

Local leaders and Democrat critics in Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago slammed the administration over the move, claiming it was an unnecessary and politically charged escalation that bypassed governors, leading to lawsuits and legal roadblocks.

The Supreme Court in December 2025, for example, temporarily blocked a deployment to Chicago, saying the administration failed to “identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois.”

[TRUMP VOWS NOT TO HELP BLUE CITIES WITH RIOTS, INSTRUCTS ICE AND BORDER PATROL TO PROTECT FEDERAL PROPERTY]

President Donald Trump met with National Guard members in Washington, D.C., in August 2025.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty)

“President Trump turned the National Guard against the communities they swore to serve. This is unlawful and immoral,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in October 2025 as the state legally challenged the administration over the federalization.

“The National Guard deserves better than being treated like Trump’s toy soldiers — and when they’re returned to California command, we’ll get them back to doing the real work they signed up to do.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says murders plunged to historic lows as Trump ramped up arrests, deportations and gang crackdowns, citing new crime data.(Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

The withdrawal of the federalized troops comes as the administration touts cratering violent crime trends across the nation.

The Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA) reported this month that, based on data from 67 of the nation’s biggest police departments, homicides overall fell 19% in U.S. cities, robberies by 20% and aggravated assaults by 10%.

[MURDER RATE DROPS TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1900 ACROSS MAJOR US CITIES NATIONWIDE]

“This is the direct result of President Trump’s aggressive, no-nonsense approach to public safety,” the White House said Wednesday of the data.

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“By surging federal resources to Democrat-run cities that had devolved into war zones, removing savage criminal illegals from our streets, supporting police and prosecutors and rejecting the radical left’s weakness, President Trump’s decisive actions have turned the tide, saved countless lives and restored peace to communities long abandoned by Democrat politicians who prioritized criminals over citizens.”

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386932609112

US government counter-drone testing disrupted DC flights in 2025

February 11, 2026 8:25 PM UTC / Reuters

By David Shepardson

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Police officers stand near an exhibition of U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drones, at El Paso International Airport, after the FAA lifted its temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying all flights will resume as normal and that there was no threat to commercial aviation, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., February… Read more

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to briefly close El Paso airport to all traffic was prompted by safety concerns over testing of a new laser-based counter-drone technology at the nearby U.S. Army Fort Bliss, sources told Reuters.

It was not the first time the issue has impacted flights.

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In March, testing of counter-drone technology near Reagan Washington National Airport by the U.S. Secret Service and Navy led to numerous flight crews receiving faulty alerts of potentially nearby aircraft, the FAA and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz said.

Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, disclosed at a hearing last year that faulty alerts that caused some flights to abort landings were due to the government testing using the same spectrum band as the alerting system. That led to interference that impacted at least a dozen flights.

Cruz, a Republican from Texas, called the testing inappropriate and

Sen. Mitch McConnell discharged from hospital, working from home this week | Fox News

Kentucky Republican was hospitalized last week after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend

By Jasmine Baehr
Fox News

Published February 11, 2026 5:26pm EST

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has been discharged from the hospital and will work from home this week on the advice of his doctors, according to his spokesman.

“Senator McConnell was discharged from the hospital [Tuesday] and is grateful for the outstanding care he received. He is feeling better and will be working from home this week on the advice of his doctors,” spokesman David Popp said in a statement.

His absence this week comes as lawmakers face a Friday deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Senate leaders are discussing a short-term continuing resolution to avoid a partial shutdown while negotiations continue.

McConnell, 83, was hospitalized last week after experiencing flu-like symptoms. His office said at the time that he had checked himself into a local hospital “in an abundance of caution” after feeling ill over the weekend.

PRO-REPARATIONS PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT WHO WANTS ICE ABOLISHED MOUNTS LONGSHOT SENATE BID TO SUCCEED MCCONNELL

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is seen in the U.S. Capitol as the Senate voted on a government funding package, Jan. 29.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation last night,” a spokesperson said Feb. 3. “His prognosis is positive, and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving. He is in regular contact with his staff and looks forward to returning to Senate business.”

McConnell has experienced several health scares in recent years, including falls at the Capitol.

Last October, McConnell stumbled and fell while walking down a hallway in the Capitol. He was helped up and continued walking.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL SEEN ON VIDEO FALLING INSIDE SENATE BUILDING

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is helped up steps as he enters the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 2, in Washington, D.C.(Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP via Getty Images)

Nearly one year ago, he fell on a set of stairs while exiting the Senate chamber.

McConnell previously announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026, and plans to retire at the end of his current term, which runs through Jan. 3, 2027.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives for a vote at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.(Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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He has served in the Senate for decades, including as Senate majority leader during President Donald Trump’s first administration.

McConnell is a survivor of childhood polio.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz contributed to this story.

Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.

Trump insists on Iran diplomacy as Netanyahu joins Board of Peace in strategic White House meeting

By Efrat Lachter
Fox News

Published February 11, 2026 3:21pm EST

Iran dominated the agenda in Wednesday’s White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with both leaders signaling that diplomacy with Tehran remains uncertain and that coordination will continue if talks fail.

In a post on Truth Social following the meeting, Trump said he pushed for continued negotiations but left open other options.

“There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be… Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer — That did not work well for them.”

Netanyahu’s office said the leaders discussed Iran, Gaza and broader regional developments and agreed to maintain close coordination, adding that the prime minister emphasized Israel’s security needs in the context of negotiations.

FROM GAZA TO IRAN: WHAT’S AT STAKE IN TRUMP-NETANYAHU MAR-A-LAGO TALKS?

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the White House, Feb 11, 2025.(Avi Ohayun/ GPO)

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu formally joined the U.S.-backed Board of Peace, signing onto the initiative ahead of the meeting after weeks of hesitation. The move places Israel inside a forum that includes Western partners as well as Turkey and Qatar, whose involvement in Gaza has drawn criticism in Jerusalem.

Experts say the decision reflects strategic calculations tied to both Gaza and Iran.

Dr. Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, said Netanyahu’s participation is directly linked to cooperation with Washington and to shaping postwar arrangements in Gaza.

“It is in Israel’s interest for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join the Board of Peace. He needs a place at that table even alongside adversarial powers such as Muslim Brotherhood-aligned countries Qatar and Turkey. Netanyahu’s membership in the Board of Peace is an important element in his cooperation with President Trump to help implement the 20-point plan, with deradicalization, disarming Hamas and demilitarization as the first three non-negotiable actions.”

ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY WARN IRAN’S BALLISTIC MISSILES COULD TRIGGER SOLO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TEHRAN

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a document after their meeting in Washington, on Feb. 11, 2026.(Avi Ohayon/GPO/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Diker said the decision is also tied to Iran. “More strategic reason that Netanyahu’s membership on the Board of Peace is important is that it represents an element of cooperation to counter the Iranian regime. Netanyahu is likely counting on action against the Iranian regime from the Iranian people themselves and from the United States in the coming weeks. In exchange, Netanyahu continues to cooperate in implementing the 20-point plan in Gaza as part of a quid pro quo.”

Blaise Misztal, vice president for policy at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, described Israel’s move as a pragmatic choice shaped by the incomplete implementation of the Gaza deal and the broader regional threat environment.

“The implementation of the Gaza peace deal leaves much to be desired. Hamas, despite being given 72 hours to release all hostages, took over 100 days to do so; Hamas has still not disarmed; there is neither an International Stabilization Force nor any countries jumping at the chance to join it; and the Board of Peace comprises countries that have shown themselves enemies of peace with Israel.”

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President Donald Trump holds up his signature on the founding charter during a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2026.(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

He said Israel ultimately chose engagement over isolation. “Proceeding with the deal — including joining the Board of Peace — is Israel’s least bad option. Israel has a better chance of countering or balancing Turkish and Qatari influence on the Board of Peace by being in the room with them, rather than outside it.”

Misztal also linked the timing to Iran. “With the United States having a real chance to disarm, or even topple, the Iranian regime and the risk that Tehran might yet lash out at Israel, there is no interest in doing anything that would risk restarting the war in Gaza.”

Efrat Lachter is a world reporter for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to efrat.lachter@fox.com.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6389084872112

Rules of mysterious ancient board game decoded by AI, scientists say

February 11, 2026 / 2:49 PM EST / CBS/AFP

A smooth, white stone dating from the Roman era and unearthed in the Netherlands has long baffled researchers. Now, with the help of artificial intelligence, scientists believe they have cracked the mystery: the stone is an ancient board game and they have even guessed the rules.

The circular piece of limestone has diagonal and straight lines cut into it.

Using 3D imaging created by the restoration studio Restaura, scientists discovered some lines were deeper than others, suggesting pieces were moved along them, some more than others.

“We can see wear along the lines on the stone, exactly where you would slide a piece,” said Walter Crist, an archaeologist at Leiden University in the Netherlands who specializes in ancient games, in a statement. “The appearance of the stone combined with this wear strongly suggests it’s a game.”

Other researchers at Maastricht University then used an artificial intelligence program that can deduce the rules of ancient games.

They trained this AI, baptized Ludii, with the rules of about 100 ancient games from the same area as the Roman stone.

The computer “produced dozens of possible rule sets. It then played the game against itself and identified a few variants that are enjoyable for humans to play,” Dennis Soemers, from Maastricht University, said in a statement.

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They then cross-checked the possible rules with the wear on the stone to uncover the most likely set of movements in the game.

However, Soemers also sounded a note of caution.

“If you present Ludii with a line pattern like the one on the stone, it will always find game rules. Therefore, we cannot be sure that the Romans played it in precisely that way,” he said.

The aim of the “deceptively simple but thrilling strategy game” was to hunt and trap the opponent’s pieces in as few moves as possible, scientists said. Researchers said they believe glass, bone or earthenware were used as game pieces.

The research and the possible rules were published in the journal Antiquity, which posted a video on social media explaining the game.

NEW AI simulation helps calculate the rules of a previously unknown Roman board game, pushing evidence for the playing of blocking games in Europe back centuries!

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🆓 https://t.co/T4ZsS7zELF@PietteRic@DennisSoemerspic.twitter.com/tqjaUFJS2J

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— 🅰ntiquity Journal (@AntiquityJ) February 11, 2026

“We know the rules we found explain the wear marks on the stone and that they are consistent with games from comparable cultural periods,” Karen Jeneson, curator of The Roman Museum in Heerlen, said in a statement. “Of course we considered other possible uses for the stone, such as an architectural decorative feature, but we found no alternative explanation. So, the stone really is a board game.”

In 2015, scientists said they uncovered board game pieces, including dice, in an ancient Roman settlement in a German town located on the Rhine River.

Attorney General Pam Bondi sparred with members of the House Judiciary Committee during a tense hearing Wednesday, as she sought to defend the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and push back on Democrats’ accusations of so-called “weaponization” within the department.

Bondi’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee was the first since her confirmation last year as the top U.S. law enforcement official. Much of the hearing quickly descended into chaos and shouting matches, as Democrats took aim at Bondi’s actions, and as Bondi doubled downon the department’s decisions under her watch. At times, she responded with barbs of her own.

Here are the five biggest takeaways and most heated exchanges from the sharp-elbowed hearing.

BONDI HEARING DEVOLVES INTO CHAOS OF SHOUTS AS AG ACCUSES TOP DEMOCRATS OF ‘THEATRICS’

Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Washington, D.C.(AP Photo/Tom Brenner)

1. Ted Lieu accuses Bondi of lying under oath

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Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., accused Bondi of lying under oath about an alleged witness statement that he said showed President Donald Trump had been accused of rape, saying: “You just lied under oath.”

“Don’t you ever accuse me of a crime!” Bondi fired back: The exchange spiraled into chaos, with Jordan struggling to restore order.

“This is so ridiculous,” Bondi said in response. “And they are trying to deflect from all the great things Donald Trump has done. There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime; everyone knows that!”

2. ‘Turn around … and apologize’

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal urged Democrats to “stand strong” amid the federal government shutdown.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

One of the most widely-shared moments came during an exchange with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who demanded that Bondi turn around and apologize to the Epstein survivors seated behind her in the House gallery for publishing documents that failed to redact their names.

“Will you turn to the survivors … and apologize?” Jayapal asked, accusing the department of compounding their trauma. Bondi refused, beginning to cite the actions of the former administration before Jayapal interjected.

“This is not about anybody that came before you. It is about you taking responsibility for your Department of Justice and the harm that it has done to the survivors who are standing right behind you and are waiting for you to turn to them and apologize,” Jayapal said.

“I’m not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics,” she shot back, before muttering moments later, “Unprofessional.”

COMER CALLS GHISLAINE MAXWELL DEPOSITION ‘VERY DISTURBING’ AS SHE REFUSES ANSWERS

3. Massie, Bondi spat

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Notably, some Republicans also posed tough questions for Bondi, largely centered on the handling and publication of the Epstein files.

Among them was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who criticized the redactions that occurred on Bondi’s watch.

Massie noted that, in his view, DOJ was “over-redacting” certain information that could be potentially incriminating, while failing to redact the names of the victims.

“This cover-up spans decades, and you are responsible for this portion of it,” he told her.

In response, Bondi shot back that Massie was a “failed politician” with “Trump derangement syndrome.”

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, intervened multiple times as members sparred over procedure and “reclaiming” time.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-OH looks on during a hearing with the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

4. Bondi confirms criminal referral alleging Brennan perjury

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Bondi confirmed that she received a criminal referral from the House Judiciary Committee alleging that former CIA Director John Brennan lied to Congress.

The news came during an exchange with Jordan, who asked Bondi if Brennan would be indicted.

The reference comes as the Justice Department for months has been investigating Brennan and others over the origins of the 2016 Russia investigation — a probe Democrats have assailed as politically motivated.

“What I can confirm is that we have received a referral from you, Chairman Jordan, to investigate John Brennan,” Bondi said, responding to Jordan’s question whether Brennan would be indicted.

She added: “What I will say today I can’t confirm nor deny whether there’s a pending investigation, but what I will say [is] that no one is above the law. Weaponization has ended.”

BRENNAN, STRZOK, PAGE SUBPOENAED AS PART OF FEDERAL RUSSIAGATE PROBE

Attorney General Pam Bondi conducts a news conference at the Department of Justice on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

5. Nadler tangles with Bondi

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At one point, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) directly asked Bondi how many Epstein coconspirators had been indicted by the Justice Department on her watch.

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“How many of Epstein’s co-conspirators have you indicted? How many perpetrators are you even investigating?” Nadler asked.

Bondi did not provide a number. Instead, she shifted the focus to criticism of past impeachment proceedings and reiterated that the department would investigate credible evidence that is brought forward.

Nadler interjected sharply: “The answer is zero.”

Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI and other national news. She previously covered national politics at the Washington Examiner and The Washington Post, with additional bylines in Politico Magazine, the Colorado Gazette and others. You can send tips to Breanne at Breanne.Deppisch@fox.com, or follow her on X at @breanne_dep.

Stellantis issues “do not drive” warning for 225,000 vehicles with unrepaired Takata air bags

February 11, 2026 / 5:11 PM EST / CBS News

Stellantis issued a “do not drive” alert on Wednesday to owners of certain Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles, with the automaker warning people not to use the cars until defective air bags are replaced.

Stellantis said roughly 225,000 of its U.S. vehicles contain unrepaired air bags, according to an online notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The air bags were made were made by Takata, a Japanese automotive parts supplier.

“This action is intended to accelerate the repair of the remaining affected vehicles to safeguard owners, their families and the general public from the risk of serious injury or death,” Stellantis said in a statement. “Over time, the chemical propellant inside certain Takata inflators can degrade, particularly in hot and humid conditions, increasing the risk of rupture during airbag deployment and the potential for metal fragments to enter the vehicle cabin.”

The affected vehicles are as follows:

• 2003–2010 Dodge Ram (15V312,15V313,16V352,16V947,18V021,19V018)
• 2004–2009 Dodge Durango (15V313,16V352,16V947,18V021)
• 2005–2011 Dodge Dakota (15V313,16V352,18V021,19V018)
• 2005–2008 Dodge Magnum (15V313,16V352)
• 2006–2015 Dodge Charger (15V313,16V352,18V021,19V018)
• 2007–2009 Chrysler Aspen (15V313,16V352,16V947,18V021)
• 2008–2014 Dodge Challenger (15V444,16V352,18V021,19V018)
• 2005–2015 Chrysler 300 (15V313,16V352,18V021,19V018)
• 2007–2016 Jeep Wrangler (16V352,18V021,19V018)
• 2006–2009 Mitsubishi Raider (15V313,16V352)

“If you have one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective air bag is replaced,” NHTSA said on its website.

Stellantis, based in the Netherlands, owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and several European car brands.

To date, 67 million defective Takata air bags have been recalled in what NHTSA previously referred to as “the largest and most complex safety recall in U.S. history.” The agency said at least 28 people have been killed and 400 injured by exploding Takata air bags.

“Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries,” the safety agency said in its notice on Wednesday.

NHTSA said vehicle owners can visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls to check if their vehicle is part of the recall.

Edited by Alain Sherter

Senators question why US agency pushed out officials working on Chinese threats

February 11, 2026 9:19 PM UTC / Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) – Two Democratic senators asked the Commerce Department to explain why it removed an official and her deputy whose office had effectively barred nearly all Chinese cars from entering the U.S. market on national security grounds.

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Mark Warner pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a letter seen by Reuters to answer questions on reports the department pushed out “key national security officials who were working to counter China’s intelligence and cyber threats against American technology supply chains and communications infrastructure.”

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Reuters reported Elizabeth Cannon in January had agreed to resign as executive director for Information and Communications Technology and Services, an office created in 2022 to investigate threats to the supply chain from foreign adversaries.

The senators said that diminishing the office “and now pushing out its leadership, sends a clear signal that truly standing up to China is not a priority of this administration.”

Cannon and the Commerce Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The office is responsible for efforts aimed at bolstering U.S. cyber defenses in response to cyberattacks like Salt Typhoon, the senators said, adding the loss of the officials “strips this office of the leadership and institutional expertise required to defend the United States against escalating national security and cyber threats.”

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Reuters first reported last month the Commerce Department was withdrawing a plan to impose restrictions on Chinese drones to address national security concerns after an earlier crackdown on passenger cars and trucks. Those restrictions effectively bar Chinese vehicles from the U.S. market.

The department also quietly shelved plans to impose similar restrictions on heavy trucks and buses.

The senators said the work of the office, along with probes of other Chinese issues and telecoms, has stalled under Lutnick’s tenure. “In addition, ongoing actions against Chinese state-owned telecommunications companies, China Telecom and China Unicom, may be on hold despite the fact their presence in the United States may leave users’ personal data exposed to theft and disruption.

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Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chris Reese and Diane Craft

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Prosecutor who left Minnesota office amid anti-ICE unrest joins Don Lemon defense team

The ex-US prosecutor will appear alongside Lemon in federal court on Friday

By Breanne Deppisch
Fox News

Published February 11, 2026 4:19pm EST

A longtime federal prosecutor who left the U.S. attorney’s office in Minnesota last month amid a wave of resignations linked to concerns over the Trump administration’s handling of anti-ICE agitators has joined former CNN anchor Don Lemon’s defense team, court filings show.

Joseph H. Thompson, a former senior leader in the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office before he resigned, will now defend Lemon alongside Abbe Lowell, bringing firsthand experience from the same federal district prosecuting the case. Lowell is a well-known defense attorney who has sparred with the Trump administration in a number of high-profile cases in the past year alone, representing New York Attorney General Letitia James, Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Lemon will fight these charges “vigorously and thoroughly” in court, Lowell told Fox News Digital last month.

According to a formal notice of appearance, Thompson will appear alongside Lemon in federal court Friday for an arraignment and initial court appearance in the Minnesota federal district.

DON LEMON TAPS HUNTER BIDEN’S ATTORNEY TO FIGHT TRUMP DOJ CHARGES

Pam Bondi, US attorney general, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.(Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Lemon, who describes himself as an independent journalist, was arrested last month for his alleged involvement in the storming of Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, by anti-ICE agitators. Eight others were also arrested and charged in an event that Attorney General Pam Bondi described at the time as a “coordinated attack.”

“Make no mistake, under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said in a video posted to social media. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”

Thompson is one of roughly 14 federal prosecutors who resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota since January — a mass exodus many have attributed to the Justice Department’s handling of the unrest in Minnesota. He was one of five U.S. prosecutors who resigned from the office shortly after the fatal shooting of Renee Good and concerns over DOJ’s handling of the case.

“It was an honor and privilege to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the District of Minnesota and Northern District of Illinois,” Thompson said on LinkedIn to announce his departure. He did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the news that he will represent Lemon.

Thompson previously spent 11 years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, including in key leadership roles. He served as the acting U.S. attorney for the district through October 2025 and headed up the fraud and public corruption section for the federal district.

MINNESOTA DRAGS TRUMP’S ICE TO COURT IN EFFORT TO PAUSE IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN

Former CNN anchor and journalist Don Lemon speaks to the media after a hearing at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles on January 30, 2026. The Trump administration charged Lemon with civil rights crimes over coverage of immigration protests.(AFP via Getty)

Lemon was charged with conspiracy to deprive the rights of others and a FACE Act violation related to his alleged involvement with the anti-ICE disruption at Cities Church.

The group was seen chanting “ICE out,” according to video footage, and interrupting a worship service.

Lemon was released without bail on Jan. 30. The FACE Act, passed in 1994, is a federal law that prohibits the use of force, intimidation, or obstruction to deliberately “injure, intimidate, or interfere” with an individual’s ability to exercise their right to religious freedom at a place of worship.

FACE Act violations carry penalties ranging from fines to prison time, depending on the severity of the violation alleged and other contributing factors.

Because the FACE Act classifies a first-time violation involving the use of force or physical obstruction as a misdemeanor, Lemon could face a maximum of one year in federal prison if prosecutors seek those charges.

Lowell has argued the case against Lemon is an “unprecedented attack” on the First Amendment, and an attempt by the Justice Department to chill free speech protections.

Protesters chant and bang on trash cans as they stand behind a makeshift barricade during a protest.(AP Photo/Adam Gray)

And Lemon, for his part, said he had been attending the demonstration in a reporting capacity.

In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Lemon remarked, “I’m just here photographing, I’m not part of the group … I’m a journalist.”

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“I went there to chronicle and document and record,” Lemon told Jimmy Kimmel in an interview last week, adding, “There is a difference between a protester and a journalist.”

Lowell echoed this claim. “Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done.”

Breanne Deppisch is a national politics reporter for Fox News Digital covering the Trump administration, with a focus on the Justice Department, FBI and other national news. She previously covered national politics at the Washington Examiner and The Washington Post, with additional bylines in Politico Magazine, the Colorado Gazette and others. You can send tips to Breanne at Breanne.Deppisch@fox.com, or follow her on X at @breanne_dep.

U.S. Olympic skier Breezy Johnson has plans for her broken and repaired gold medal

February 11, 2026 / 3:46 PM EST / CBS News

American skier Breezy Johnson told CBS News she’s been treating her replacement gold medal with care after the original, which she won in the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy on Saturday, broke.

“I think that because they were so heavy, the ribbons couldn’t really hold them,” Johnson said, calling it “a little disappointing” that Olympic medal winners had to be careful about celebrating too enthusiastically, as it’s “all anybody wants to do.”

Johnson said she was initially told she wouldn’t get her original medal back, but it has been fixed, and she plans to keep it and trade in the replacement. She also plans to knit a special pouch to keep it safe.

“I am an avid knitter,” Johnson told CBS News correspondent Seth Doane on Wednesday. “I knit a new hat or headband for every race. It’s a big superstition of mine.”

She only wears her special handknit race accessories once, for their respective race, after which they are retired.

“They’re piling up in my bags, but I’ve been wanting for a long time to, like, auction some of them off and, like, have people buy them and donate the proceeds to charity,” she said. “I don’t have anything else to do with them.”

Team USA’s Breezy Johnson shows her gold medal in the alpine ski women’s downhill race on Feb. 8, 2026. Andy Wong / AP

Asked about her views on representing the United States, given political debate around the Games, Johnson declined to go down that slope.

“There’s been a lot of rhetoric. I personally prefer to focus on my skiing. I personally don’t know anybody who has changed their political affiliation because of something that any celebrity or person said. So, I personally prefer to focus on my skiing and donate the money that I make to charities that I feel are actually doing the work that I support.”

Despite winning the first gold medal for Team USA in Italy, the Milano-Cortina Winter Games haven’t been a total success story for Johnson.

She failed to make the podium after skiing with teammate Mikaela Shiffrin in the team slalom event Tuesday. After the race, Johnson could be seen speaking with Shiffrin, delivering what looked like a pep talk.

“I said, ‘I know you tried your best and it’s gonna be OK,’” Johnson told CBS News of the private chat. “I don’t, like, hold any of that against anyone because I know this sport. There’s so many variables, and there were variables yesterday, too. They weren’t necessarily in our favor, and we went out and we both gave it our all, and it didn’t happen, but that’s OK.”

Johnson said she’s generally pretty good at coping with the pressure of competing at the highest level of her sport — and she understands that such competition, and such extreme speeds, come with extreme danger.

After Team USA’s Lindsay Vonn was injured in a fall in the downhill race Saturday, which Johnson went on to win, she said her 41-year-old world champion teammate texted her.

“She said, ‘congratulations,’” Johnson said. “You know, I know what she’s going through is hard, and I think she’s dealing with a lot. So, we haven’t spoken, like, on the phone or anything, but I wish her the best.”

Johnson said she also understands what drove Vonn to compete in these Games just a week after rupturing her ACL.

“Part of what breaks your heart is that you’re used to defying the odds. You’re used to writing fairytale endings. And the reality is that those things get made into movies because they’re so unlikely. And unfortunately, you can’t always — it’s not always like the movies,” she said.

“It’s difficult to understand what moves people to do it, but when you’re doing it well, it’s a pretty incredible feeling,” Johnson said, adding that spectators can share in the rush: “It’s Formula One on ice with giant knives. Who doesn’t want to watch that?”

Seth Doane contributed to this report.