The Washington Times AI News Desk

At a glance: Social media trials could reshape legal shield protecting tech companies

Meta is facing two separate jury trials -- one in Los Angeles County Superior Court and another in Santa Fe, New Mexico -- that test whether the company misled the public about youth safety and whether features of its platforms contributed to harm involving children.

February 18, 2026

Culture Wire: Kristen Bell joins next ‘Sonic’ movie and an altercation involving UFC’s Tiki Ghosn

Former UFC fighter Tiki Ghosn is trending after a video surfaced of him knocking out streamer DeenTheGreat with a sharp elbow at a house party hosted by Rampage Jackson.

February 18, 2026

How six people survived California’s deadliest avalanche

Wednesday morning, eight of the nine skiers who went missing in the avalanche's wake had been found dead.

February 18, 2026

The Texas GOP Senate primary at a glance: Republicans fear Paxton nomination could endanger seat

Texas Republicans are heading into a bruising GOP Senate primary with significant implications not just for the Lone Star State but for the party's hold on Congress.

February 18, 2026

Tom Noonan, character actor known for ‘Manhunter’ and ‘Heat,’ dead at 74

Tom Noonan, the towering character actor, playwright and filmmaker whose chilling portrayals of outsiders and villains made him one of Hollywood's most distinctive presences, died on Saturday. He was 74. No cause of death was immediately available.

February 18, 2026

Japan’s Takaichi sets March summit with Trump to strengthen economic and military ties

Japan's newly reappointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is setting an ambitious agenda as she prepares for a March summit with President Trump, pursuing stronger U.S.-Japan economic and military ties while taking a hawkish stance toward China and advancing conservative domestic policies.

February 18, 2026

From 250 to 600 arrests a day: Inside ICE’s dramatic expansion

ICE agents used force more than four times as often in the early weeks of the Trump administration compared to before, according to newly released government documents that offer a raw look at the friction accompanying the White House's mass deportation push.

February 18, 2026

NASA has no active defense against city-killer asteroids, scientists warn

Space officials say tens of thousands of near-Earth asteroids capable of demolishing cities remain untracked -- and humanity currently has no way to deflect them.

February 18, 2026

Ash Wednesday 2026: What it means and why Christians observe it

Ash Wednesday, which falls on Feb. 18 this year, marks the beginning of Lent -- the most penitential season on the Christian calendar.

February 18, 2026

Abortion pill reversal: What the science actually says

Heartbeat International made headlines this week announcing that more than 8,000 women have used its Abortion Pill Rescue Network in an attempt to continue their pregnancies after starting the chemical abortion process. Democrats and major medical groups say the procedure is scientifically unsound.

February 18, 2026

Records show Democratic fundraisers sought Epstein donations after conviction

Newly released Epstein-related records -- including materials provided by the Justice Department and published by congressional investigators -- show that fundraisers working for top Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, solicited Jeffrey Epstein for campaign donations and access to fundraising events years after his 2008 conviction as a registered sex offender.

February 17, 2026

Culture Wire: Springsteen hits the road, Shia LaBeouf arrested and Netflix eyes a media empire

Bruce Springsteen isn't staying quiet. The Boss and the E Street Band officially announced their "Land of Hope and Dreams" American Tour today -- a 20-date spring run kicking off March 31 in Minneapolis and closing May 27 at Washington, D.C.'s Nationals Park.

February 17, 2026

Syria book fair opens flood of previously banned titles after decades of censorship

Syria's first International Damascus Book Fair since the fall of former President Bashar Assad's government marked a dramatic shift toward freedom of expression, drawing massive crowds and featuring books and languages previously banned under decades of authoritarian rule.

February 17, 2026

Anderson Cooper exits ‘60 Minutes’ amid turmoil at CBS News

Anderson Cooper's departure from "60 Minutes" after nearly two decades comes at a time of unprecedented turmoil at the venerable CBS newsmagazine, though Cooper has cited only family reasons for his decision.

February 17, 2026

Who was Robert Dorgan? Pawtucket hockey rink shooter’s troubled history revealed

Robert Dorgan, the 56-year-old gunman who killed two family members and wounded three others at a Rhode Island hockey rink Monday, had a history of family conflicts and mental health struggles, according to court records and law enforcement officials.

February 17, 2026

Ronda Rousey to fight Gina Carano in Netflix MMA debut

Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey will return to mixed martial arts after nearly a decade to face fellow combat sports pioneer Gina Carano on May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

February 17, 2026

Shia LaBeouf arrested on battery charges during New Orleans Mardi Gras

The 39-year-old actor is facing two charges of simple battery after an incident that occurred shortly after midnight outside a bar in the city's French Quarter.

February 17, 2026

Colbert defies CBS, airs banned James Talarico interview on YouTube

Late-night host Stephen Colbert openly defied his own network Monday evening, revealing that CBS lawyers barred him from interviewing Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico due to concerns over new federal communications guidance.

February 17, 2026

Nancy Guthrie investigation: Latest theories, glove DNA mystery, family cleared as suspects

As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's likely abduction enters its third week, officials say they are examining forensic evidence, reported ransom communications and possible purchase records tied to items seen in surveillance footage, while also addressing public scrutiny over how key evidence is being tested.

February 16, 2026

Read here: George Gerbo and Kerry Picket talk NRA’s waning influence and energy-hungry data centers

George Gerbo hosts the Washington Times Weekly, where he gets a chance to sit down with reporters and talk about their coverage of the latest news and events.

February 16, 2026