The Midwesterner
@Th_Midwesterner
During a "foreign policy" panel in Munich, Gretchen Whitmer said AOC knew more about foreign policy than her. She struggled to answer about Ukraine and even looked to a Trump ambassador for an answer.
==This is the @gretchenwhitmer
the Michigan media has insulated for 8 years.==
9:38 AM · Feb 14, 2026
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187.3K
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https://x.com/Th_Midwesterner/status/2022681978911309884?s=20
Pelosi Warns of Trump ‘Surveillance’ Ahead of Midterms: ‘It’s Not Right’
Zachary Leeman Feb 14th, 2026
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)warned MS NOW about “surveillance by the intelligence operation” ahead of the midterm elections, telling Democrats to not “put anything past” President Donald Trump.==
Pelosi joined MS NOW’s The Weekendon Saturday from Munich where she is attending the annual Munich Security Conference. She saidshehas been ==assuring European leaders at the conference that she has “absolute certainty”
Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives— despite her many concerns about the elections. (So she admitting that dems have already rigged the 2026 elections==. She needs a thorough investigation of why she is sure dems will win!)
Pelosi saidshe is alarmed by the involvement of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbardin a FBI raidon a polling station in Fulton County, Georgia to retrieve 2020 ballots.
She said:
I hear that all over the United States, not just in Europe,that there is concern about the election.
Let me just say that surveillance by the intelligence operation of our country, surveillancein our own country is something thatis absolutely not to be allowed. And now, if there’s some particular reason, there’s one thing,but for the for them, for Tulsi to be looking into elections is really not right.
It’s notlawful. It’s not right. KEK
But that doesn’t seem to ever bother the president.But you know what? We don’t agonize, we organize, and we have litigation. We have lawyering in terms in addition to in the courts,but at polling places and the rest, we have legislation.
Pelosi alsovowed that Democrats will fight voter ID requirementswhich the president has promised will be in effect for the midterms. The House recently passed the SAVE Act — which would require ID to vote — with one Democrat joining Republicans. It now faces an uphill battle to pass the Senate.
Her confidence in Democrats’ chances in the midterms aside,Pelosi warned Trump could deploy ICE or the National Guard to try and influence the elections.
“We’re dealing with it. And the president — people are concerned they’re going to send in ICE and the National Guard or this or that,” she argued.
“Don’t put anything past him. As we saw on January 6th when the president of the United States personally incited an insurrection in our country, he’s capable of any bad thing.”
Watch above via MS NOW.
https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/pelosi-warns-of-trump-surveillance-ahead-of-midterms-its-not-right/
I love that Nancy opens her decrepit mouth and tells Europeans etc, and the Trump Admin of what she’s planning!
No wonder, she’s opposed to surveillance.
U.S. strikes 30 ISIS targets in Syria as it continues "relentless military pressure" on terrorist network
February 14, 2026 / 8:07 AM
Ten U.S. military strikes in Syria hitmore than 30 Islamic State targetsin Syria earlier this month, as it continues "relentless military pressure" on the terrorist network there, U.S. Central Command announced Saturday.
CENTCOM, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said U.S. forceshit ISIS infrastructures and weapons storage targetsbetween Feb. 3 and Feb. 12.
The strikes were part ofOperation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched in retaliation for an ISIS ambush that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and an interpreter in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13.
President Trump vowed "very serious retaliation" in a Truth Social post after the ambush.
On Dec. 19, the U.S. launched airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria in retaliation.More than 70 targets were hitin those strikes, a U.S. official told CBS News at the time.
In January, U.S. forceskilled Bilal Hasan al-Jasim,who authorities said was a leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda, allegedly directly connected with the ISIS gunman accused ofthe deadly ambush.
"The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,"Central Command CommanderAdm. Brad Cooper said in a statement at the time. "There is no safe placefor those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters.We will find you."
More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or capturedandmore than 100 ISIS infrastructure targetshave been hit during the operation, CENTCOM said on Saturday.
On Friday, U.S. military forcescompleted the transfer of thousands of ISIS detaineesfrom Syria to Iraq, where they are expected to stand trial in the future.
CENTCOM said that the transfer that began on Jan. 21 saw U.S. forces transportingmore than 5,700 adult maleISIS suspects from detention facilities in Syria to Iraqi custody.
The prisoners were transferred to Iraq at the request of Baghdad — a move welcomed by the U.S.-led coalition that had for years fought against ISIS.
"We appreciate Iraq's leadership and recognition that transferring the detainees is essential to regional security," Cooper said.
It's not clear if any of the prisoners have been charged with specific crimes or even been confirmed as ISIS members.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-strikes-isis-targets-syria/-
UNHCR seeks support for solutions as 5.4 million Afghans return since late 2023
GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, continues to observe significant numbers of Afghans returning or being forced to return from neighbouring countries in extremely difficult circumstances.
So far this year, nearly 150,000 Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan. These arrivals come on top of already unprecedented returns – 2.9 million people in 2025, bringing the total to some 5.4 million since October 2023.
The speed and scale of these returns have pushed Afghanistan deeper into crisis, as the country continues toface a deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation– particularly for women and girls – a fragile economy, and recurring natural disasters. According to a recent World Bank report, the rapid population growth fuelled by the returns led to a 4 per cent decline in GDP per capita in 2025.
The high number of returns already this year is concerning given the severity of winter, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall across much of the country.
Our recent survey of returnees highlights the scale of challenges they face. Just over half reported being able to find some form of work, even if informal. For women, this figure drops to less than a quarter.More than half of returnee families report having no civil documentation– for example, identity cards to prove who they are or where they are from – and more than 90 per cent are living on less than $5 a day.
We are deeply concerned about the sustainability of these returns.While 5 per cent of returnees surveyed say they intend to leave Afghanistan again, more than 10 per cent know a relative or community member who has already left since returning. These decisions are not driven by a desire to leave, but by the reality that many are unable to rebuild a viable and dignified life.
There are pockets of hope. We have seenthat the socio-economic profile of returnees is evolving, with those who returned in 2025 generally having higher levels of education and labour market participation. With sustainable livelihood opportunities, returnees can apply their skills and experience and contribute to stabilization.
This year, our focus is on supporting the reintegration of returnees. We have the access, presence and experience over the last four decades in Afghanistan to deliver the assistance that communities say they most need, including protection services, housing and livelihood support, particularly for women.
With other UN agencies and partners, UNHCR is closely monitoring the regional situation,where asylum space continues to shrink and regulated migration pathways narrow. Afghans increasingly feel compelled to undertake dangerous onward journeys. We remain prepared to respond to population movements into Afghanistan,while also continuing to call on States to uphold access to asylum, protect and assist Afghan refugees, and ensure no one is returned to where their rights and freedoms are at risk.
With this dire humanitarian situation and rapidly increasing population, additional support is urgently needed in 2026 to scale up assistance and invest in reintegration, allowing people to rebuild their lives with dignity, hope and stability.For 2026, UNHCR needs $216 million to support displaced people and returnees across Afghanistan. Our response is currently just 8 per cent funded.
This is a critical moment to act while there is an opportunity to find long-term solutions andresolve displacement for Afghan returnees in their homeland, often after years or decades in exile.
(https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing-notes/unhcr-seeks-support-solutions-5-4-million-afghans-return-since-late-2023
OpenAI has deleted the word ‘safely’ from its mission – and its new structure is a test for whether AI serves society or shareholders
Published: February 13, 2026 8:21am EST
Alnoor Ebrahim, Tufts University
https://theconversation.com/openai-has-deleted-the-word-safely-from-its-mission-and-its-new-structure-is-a-test-for-whether-ai-serves-society-or-shareholders-274467
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OpenAI, the maker of the most popular AI chatbot, used to say it aimed to build artificial intelligence that “safely benefits humanity, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return,” according to its 2023 mission statement. But the ChatGPT maker seems to no longer have the same emphasis on doing so “safely.”
While reviewing its latest IRS disclosure form, which was released in November 2025 and covers 2024, I noticed OpenAI had removed “safely” from its mission statement, among other changes. That change in wording coincided with its transformation from a nonprofit organization into a business increasingly focused on profits.
OpenAI currently faces several lawsuits related to its products’ safety, making this change newsworthy. Many of the plaintiffs suing the AI company allege psychological manipulation, wrongful death and assisted suicide, while others have filed negligence claims.
As a scholar of nonprofit accountability and the governance of social enterprises, I see the deletion of the word “safely” from its mission statement as a significant shift that has largely gone unreported – outside highly specialized outlets.
And I believe OpenAI’s makeover is a test case for how we, as a society, oversee the work of organizations that have the potential to both provide enormous benefits and do catastrophic harm.
OpenAI has deleted the word ‘safely’ from its mission – and its new structure is a test for whether AI serves society or shareholders
(Long article, must read)
Published: February 13, 2026
OpenAI, the maker of the most popular AI chatbot, used to say it aimed to build artificial intelligence that “safely benefits humanity, unconstrained by a need to generate financial return,” according to its 2023 mission statement. But the ChatGPT maker seems to no longer have the same emphasis on doing so “safely.”
While reviewing its latest IRS disclosure form, which was released in November 2025 and covers 2024, I noticed OpenAI had removed “safely” from its mission statement, among other changes. That change in wording coincided with its transformation from a nonprofit organization into a business increasingly focused on profits.
OpenAI currently faces several lawsuits related to its products’ safety, making this change newsworthy. Many of the plaintiffs suing the AI company allege psychological manipulation, wrongful death and assisted suicide, while others have filed negligence claims.
As a scholar of nonprofit accountability and the governance of social enterprises, I see the deletion of the word “safely” from its mission statement as a significant shift that has largely gone unreported – outside highly specialized outlets.
And I believe OpenAI’s makeover is a test case for how we, as a society, oversee the work of organizations that have the potential to both provide enormous benefits and do catastrophic harm.
Tracing OpenAI’s origins
OpenAI, which also makes the Sora video artificial intelligence app, was founded as a nonprofit scientific research lab in 2015. Its original purpose was to benefit society by making its findings public and royalty-free rather than to make money.
To raise the money that developing its AI models would require, OpenAI, under the leadership of CEO Sam Altman, created a for-profit subsidiary in 2019. Microsoft initially invested US$1 billion in this venture; by 2024 that sum had topped $13 billion.
In exchange, Microsoft was promised a portion of future profits, capped at 100 times its initial investment. But the software giant didn’t get a seat on OpenAI’s nonprofit board – meaning it lacked the power to help steer the AI venture it was funding.
A subsequent round of funding in late 2024, which raised $6.6 billion from multiple investors, came with a catch: that the funding would become debt unless OpenAI converted to a more traditional for-profit business in which investors could own shares, without any caps on profits, and possibly occupy board seats.
Establishing a new structure
In October 2025, OpenAI reached an agreement with the attorneys general of California and Delaware to become a more traditional for-profit company.
Under the new arrangement, OpenAI was split into two entities: a nonprofit foundation and a for-profit business….
https://theconversation.com/openai-has-deleted-the-word-safely-from-its-mission-and-its-new-structure-is-a-test-for-whether-ai-serves-society-or-shareholders-274467