The Washington Times AI News Desk

Super Bowl turns into partisan battleground over Bad Bunny and immigration enforcement

America's biggest sporting event has become the latest political battleground, with Republicans launching a counter-Super Bowl and liberals demanding immigration enforcement stay away from the stadium.

February 3, 2026

Palantir stock jumps after blowout earnings beat Wall Street estimates

Palantir Technologies shares jumped Tuesday after the defense and data analytics firm reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by accelerating demand from government customers and continued strength in its U.S. commercial business.

February 3, 2026

Cracker Barrel orders traveling employees to eat at company restaurants

Cracker Barrel has implemented a strict new travel policy requiring employees on business trips to dine at the chain's own restaurants for most or all of their meals, according to an internal memo obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

February 3, 2026

Panama court voids Chinese company’s control of critical canal ports in major win for Trump admin

Panama's Supreme Court has voided contracts allowing Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings to operate two critical port facilities at the Panama Canal, marking a significant victory for Trump administration efforts to secure the waterway against Chinese influence.

February 2, 2026

Deep-sea rare earth discovery could reshape Japan’s reliance on Chinese minerals

Japan has achieved a world-first milestone by successfully drilling and retrieving rare earth-containing sediment from nearly 6,000 meters below the sea surface near Minamitorishima island, marking a significant step toward reducing its dependence on China for critical minerals.

February 2, 2026

No relief in sight: Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter misery

Punxsutawney Phil delivered his trademark prediction Monday, forecasting six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow at Gobbler's Knob in western Pennsylvania.

February 2, 2026

Biden White House adviser says Melania Trump got more done in one year than Jill Biden did in four

An adviser to the Biden White House tells Seen, Heard & Whispered that first lady Melania Trump has done more in her first year than Jill Biden did in four full years.

February 1, 2026

Spain’s immigration reform offers hope to asylum seekers and workers without papers

Spain announced it will grant residency and work permits to immigrants who arrived before Dec. 31, 2025, have lived in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record, offering legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented workers who have been filling essential jobs in the Spanish economy.

January 31, 2026

5 questions about Minnesota’s challenge to federal immigration enforcement

Judge Katherine Menendez, a Biden appointee, denied Minnesota's emergency request to halt the surge of federal immigration enforcement officers in the state.

January 31, 2026

Full ‘Snow Moon’ to reach peak illumination Sunday night. Here’s when to see it

Residents across the Washington region will have a chance to see February's full moon this weekend, as the so-called Snow Moon reaches peak illumination Sunday evening.

January 31, 2026

Where bots go to socialize: Inside Moltbook, the AI-only social network

Moltbook is an experimental platform where AI agents interact autonomously. Research shows such systems can develop shared behaviors without human direction.

January 30, 2026

Hollywood reacts to Catherine O’Hara’s death: How celebrities are mourning the comedy icon

Catherine O'Hara's death at her Los Angeles home prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, friends, and fans who recognized her as one of the most brilliant comedic talents of her generation.

January 30, 2026

GOP lawmaker holds House floor hostage to force Senate vote on voter ID

A Florida Republican is threatening to bring House business to a halt unless the Senate passes sweeping election integrity legislation that would require voter ID and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.

January 30, 2026

Don Lemon arrest fallout: 5 constitutional questions that could rewrite press freedom

With the federal arrest of Don Lemon in Los Angeles, a complex legal battle begins that pits the sanctity of worship against the freedom of the press. We break down the 5 essential questions that could alter the future of reporting in America.

January 30, 2026

5 questions about Trump’s Federal Reserve chairman nominee

President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh, 55, to serve as chairman of the Federal Reserve on Friday.

January 30, 2026

Government shutdown looms as Democrats demand ICE reforms after federal agents kill protesters

The Senate is preparing for a potential vote as early as Thursday night on a spending package designed to prevent another extended government shutdown.

January 29, 2026

Starbucks says it plans to add 25,000 seats to its U.S. cafes

Starbucks announced plans to open hundreds of new U.S. stores and add 25,000 seats to existing cafes as CEO Brian Niccol doubles down on making coffeehouses community gathering spaces despite the growing popularity of drive-thru-only competitors.

January 29, 2026

Border czar announces federal agent pullback after Minnesota operation turns violent

White House border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday he is working on a "drawdown" plan to reduce the federal presence in Minnesota, where the nation's largest state immigration operation has sparked violent protests and left two civilians dead.

January 29, 2026

Federal judge reveals ICE defied 96 court orders in Minnesota during January 2026

A federal judge in Minnesota has issued a stern rebuke to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, revealing that the agency has defied 96 court orders across 74 different cases in January 2026 alone.

January 28, 2026

Measles cases surge in South Carolina as outbreak surpasses 2025 Texas total

South Carolina's measles outbreak has become the nation's worst current outbreak with 789 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, surpassing Texas' 2025 outbreak total and highlighting declining vaccination rates across the United States.

January 28, 2026