The Washington Times AI News Desk

Washington Times Culture Wire: Actor James Van Der Beek dies at 48

James Van Der Beek, known for his role on "Dawson's Creek," among other performances, died on Wednesday at 48.

February 11, 2026

Trump targets ‘holy grail’ of climate regulation in trillion-dollar rollback

The Trump administration this week will repeal a 2009 scientific finding that has served as the foundation for federal greenhouse gas regulation for more than a decade, setting up a major battle over America's environmental and economic future.

February 11, 2026

5 questions about Virginia’s new gun control push

The House quickly passed a half dozen measures, including a ban on firearms they deem "assault weapons," a limit on magazine capacities to 10 rounds, requirements for how guns must be stored in households and expanded civil liability for the gun industry.

February 10, 2026

What is Trump’s plan for peace in Gaza, and what is the Board of Peace?

President Trump announced his Gaza peace plan in September 2025 as a 20-point framework to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

February 10, 2026

Entertainment Roundup: Catherine O’Hara’s cause of death revealed

The beloved Schitt's Creek and Home Alone star's passing has driven "pulmonary embolism" to over 200,000 searches today.

February 10, 2026

Free McNugget Caviar kits ‘sell out’ in minutes after McDonald’s turns viral meme into reality

That didn't last long. McDonald's limited-edition "McNugget Caviar" kits "sold out" minutes after the fast-food giant began giving away the luxurious meme-borne menu item on Tuesday.

February 10, 2026

Trump ‘got the hell out’ after seeing teens around Epstein, FBI files reveal

President Trump witnessed something troubling around Jeffrey Epstein two decades ago -- and immediately distanced himself, according to bombshell Justice Department files released this week.

February 10, 2026

‘I’m treating this as a real addiction’: Young Americans caught in food delivery debt trap

One young woman recently posted a confession on social media that thousands of others are thinking but haven't said out loud: she deleted the DoorDash app from her phone like someone cutting ties with a dangerous habit. The reason? She was spending $9,000 a year ordering food at least once a day.

February 10, 2026

Wasserman Agency faces artist revolt after CEO appears in Epstein-related DOJ files

One of the music industry's largest talent agencies is facing growing backlash after newly released Department of Justice documents revealed its founder and chief executive officer, Casey Wasserman, exchanged emails with Ghislaine Maxwell more than two decades ago.

February 10, 2026

Hong Kong fire survivors wait for resettlement two months after deadly blaze killed 168

More than two months after Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades killed 168 people and destroyed seven apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court complex, displaced residents remain in temporary housing while awaiting government resettlement plans, with many fearing they may not live to see permanent homes rebuilt.

February 10, 2026

Student shot inside Wootton High School in Rockville, suspect in custody

A student was shot inside Thomas S. Wootton High School Monday afternoon, and another student has been arrested in connection with the incident, according to Montgomery County police.

February 9, 2026

Catherine O’Hara had rectal cancer, but died from pulmonary embolism, reports confirm

Catherine O'Hara, the Emmy-winning actress and comedian best known for "Schitt's Creek" and the "Home Alone" films, died of a pulmonary embolism, though she was also battling rectal cancer, according to multiple reports.

February 9, 2026

Researchers build heartbeat decoy to thwart radar surveillance

Millimeter-wave radars can already detect your heart rate through the vibrations in your chest. Rice University researchers have built a device that fights back, feeding trackers a fabricated pulse to keep your real vital signs private.

February 9, 2026

NYC men charged with running decade-long $120M fraud scheme through adult day cares, pharma

Two Queens, New York, men are facing federal charges for allegedly bilking Medicare and Medicaid out of approximately $120 million over a decade by paying cash bribes and supermarket gift certificates to elderly patients and submitting fraudulent claims through a pharmacy and two social adult day care centers.

February 9, 2026

How does clemency work? Ghislaine Maxwell gambit puts presidential pardon power in spotlight

Ghislaine Maxwell's refusal to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Monday unless granted clemency by President Trump has thrust a sweeping presidential power into the national conversation.

February 9, 2026

Airlines scramble after Trump’s tariffs force Cuba into fuel crisis

Cuba is running out of jet fuel as President Trump wields tariff threats to pressure other nations into cutting off the communist island's energy supplies.

February 9, 2026

How AI-powered apps help European shoppers boycott American products

Danish apps designed to help consumers identify and boycott American products experienced a dramatic surge in downloads following tensions over President Trump's expressed interest in acquiring Greenland.

February 9, 2026

Trump administration settles lawsuit blocking Biden migrant parole programs for 15 years

The Trump administration has reached a legal settlement with Florida that ends one of President Biden's mass migrant parole programs and could prevent future administrations from reviving similar policies for the next 15 years.

February 8, 2026

3 Doors Down frontman Brad Arnold dies at 47 after cancer battle

Brad Arnold, the founding member and lead singer of the rock band 3 Doors Down, died Saturday following a monthslong battle with kidney cancer. He was 47.

February 7, 2026

DOJ limits congressional review of Epstein records to publicly released files

Lawmakers set to review unredacted Jeffrey Epstein records at the Justice Department beginning Monday will be allowed to examine only documents that have already been released to the public, not the full universe of Epstein-related materials the department has identified, according to Justice Department correspondence and congressional aides.

February 7, 2026