The Washington Times AI News Desk

Who was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, confirmed dead Saturday after a joint U.S.-Israeli military strike on Tehran, was one of the world's longest-serving authoritarian rulers -- a cleric who held near-absolute power over the Islamic republic for more than three decades.

February 28, 2026

What’s next for Congress after Trump’s Iran strikes?

With U.S. bombs still falling on Iran, Congress is barreling toward a constitutional confrontation with President Trump -- and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding a reckoning over who has the authority to take the country to war.

February 28, 2026

Kansas voids transgender IDs with no warning — residents face criminal charges overnight

Kansas made history Thursday -- but not the kind transgender residents were hoping for. The state became the first in the nation to retroactively void driver's licenses and birth certificates amended to reflect gender identity rather than biological sex, leaving an estimated 1,700 transgender Kansans suddenly driving without a valid license and exposed to criminal citations.

February 27, 2026

Roundup: LaTroy Lewis firing puts Michigan, ex-coach Sherrone Moore under renewed scrutiny

The Atlanta Falcons have dismissed assistant defensive line coach LaTroy Lewis less than three weeks after hiring him, following social media posts accusing the former University of Michigan staff member of sexual assault and confirmation from Ann Arbor police that they had opened an investigation, the team and authorities said Friday.

February 27, 2026

Inflation report fallout: What economists and strategists say happens next

A hotter-than-expected wholesale inflation report is forcing Wall Street, the Federal Reserve and the White House to revisit a question many hoped was settled: Is the inflation fight really over?

February 27, 2026

South Korea’s new truth commission inherits thousands of unresolved adoptee complaints

South Korea has relaunched its Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate widespread fraud and human rights abuses tied to the country's decades-long foreign adoption program, inheriting thousands of unresolved cases and drawing renewed interest from adoptees worldwide

February 27, 2026

Things to do in Washington, D.C. this weekend: Feb. 27-March 1

Whether you're planning a night out downtown or a daytime outing with the kids, here's a curated guide to what's happening in the nation's capital from Friday through Sunday.

February 27, 2026

‘Scary Movie 6’ trailer leaks ahead of official release

The long-awaited sixth installment of the "Scary Movie" franchise is already generating enormous buzz -- and the official trailer hasn't even dropped yet.

February 27, 2026

Crystal Mangum, who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape, released from prison

Crystal Mangum, the woman who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape nearly two decades ago, was released from a North Carolina prison Friday morning after serving time for the unrelated murder of her boyfriend.

February 27, 2026

Jim Carrey makes rare public appearance, delivers speech in French at Cesar Awards

Jim Carrey stepped back into the spotlight Thursday evening, making a rare public appearance at the 51st Cesar Awards in Paris to receive the ceremony's honorary award -- France's equivalent of a lifetime achievement honor.

February 27, 2026

Lauren Boebert’s unauthorized photo of Clinton deposition draws bipartisan frustration

Rep. Lauren Boebert managed a rare feat Thursday -- drawing condemnation from both sides of the aisle after she leaked an unauthorized photo from inside former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's closed-door deposition.

February 27, 2026

Could Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs be called to testify in Tupac Shakur murder trial?

Sean "Diddy" Combs, who is currently incarcerated, could be drawn into another high-profile courtroom battle, this time as a potential witness in the upcoming murder trial of Tupac Shakur.

February 27, 2026

Samsung Galaxy S26 unpacked: Strong reactions after built-in privacy display, AI upgrades revealed

Samsung Electronics unveiled its Galaxy S26 smartphone series Wednesday in San Francisco, drawing immediate industry reaction that spanned admiration, skepticism and a wave of pre-orders.

February 26, 2026

Weber recalls over 3.2 million metal wire bristle grill brushes due to ingestion hazard

Weber-Stephen Products LLC of Palatine, Illinois, is recalling about 3.2 million metal wire bristle grill brushes because small wire bristles can detach, stick to the grill or food, and be swallowed -- posing an ingestion hazard and a risk of serious internal injuries that could require surgery.

February 26, 2026

What to expect with Burger King’s newly updated Whopper

Burger King is rolling out the first significant changes to its flagship Whopper sandwich in nearly a decade, and customers visiting any of the chain's more than 7,000 U.S. locations this week will notice some key differences.

February 26, 2026

What to know about the deadly shootout between Cuban forces and a Florida-registered speedboat

Cuban border patrol forces shot and killed four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat Wednesday after the vessel entered Cuban territorial waters carrying 10 heavily armed Cuban nationals who lived in the United States, according to Cuba's interior ministry.

February 26, 2026

Culture Wire: Jonathan Majors’ film comeback with Daily Wire, Crispin Glover’s lawsuit and more

A little over two years after a criminal conviction derailed one of Hollywood's fastest-rising careers, Jonathan Majors is back on a film set.

February 26, 2026

DHS arrested 261 DACA recipients in 2024 — here’s what the data reveals

The Obama-era program that shielded hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants from deportation is quietly unraveling -- and the government's own arrest data is fueling a fierce political fight over who the "Dreamers" really are.

February 26, 2026

NFL scouting combine kicks off with Fernando Mendoza in spotlight

The NFL scouting combine is underway at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where 319 invited prospects are gathering for a week of medical evaluations, interviews and four days of on-field workouts, according to a report from The Associated Press.

February 26, 2026

Hilary Knight calls Trump’s women’s hockey remark ‘distasteful’ as Tucci dinner goes viral

U.S. women's ice hockey captain Hilary Knight is pushing back against a widely circulated joke made by President Trump about the women's team -- and social media is rallying around the players after images of their Milan dinner with actor Stanley Tucci drew a sharp contrast to the men's team's White House meal.

February 26, 2026