Bill Freeman February 18, 2026
Billionaires Gone Wild
Understanding the oligarchs’ power grab and the dire threat to American democracy
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrugman/p/billionaires-gone-wild?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Censorship Comes for Stephen Colbert
The latest dustup between the talk-show host and CBS should be concerning for people of any political leaning.
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/02/censorship-free-speech-trump-tv-senators-citizens/686034/?gift=kv3__FYls2fxmm4Mh6G3fdILFuKwi18FGn9gkf-FTDE&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Immigration and Customs Enforcement reverses course, says it hasn’t purchased facility in Lebanon • Tennessee Lookout
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not purchased a detention facility in Lebanon, a spokesperson said Tuesday, reversing course.
tennesseelookout.com/2026/02/17/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-reverses-course-says-it-hasnt-purchased-facility-in-lebanon
Tennessee schools shouldn’t be ‘instrument of immigration enforcement,' teacher warns
There are now two Tennessee Republican efforts to begin tracking the immigration status of K-12 students in the state, though it’s not yet clear how they can be practically enforced.
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/2026/02/17/undocumented-students-bill-schools-immigration-enforcement
Annie — Athens Area Council for the Arts
This worldwide phenomenon and winner of seven Tonys including “Best Musical” is a triumphant story with beloved music and treasured characters. McMinn County East Tennessee Foothills Smokey Mountains Arts council Athens Arts Center Athens TN Tennessee Social Athens Area Performing arts council comm
www.athensartscouncil.org/upcomingevents/annie-2026
How Jesse Jackson tried to change Chattanooga schools from the inside
Long before the microphones and presidential campaigns, Jesse Jackson came to Chattanooga with a different message.Not protest.Not politics.Performance.In 1979,
newschannel9.com/newsletter-daily/how-jesse-jackson-tried-to-change-chattanooga-schools-from-the-inside
Dalton family joins PFAS lawsuit as carpet industry liability fight grows
Amber and Leroy Fletcher thought they were buying five quiet acres in Dalton.They didn’t expect to be testing their creek for “forever chemicals.”The Fletchers
newschannel9.com/newsletter-daily/dalton-family-joins-pfas-lawsuit-as-carpet-industry-liability-fight-grows
February 17, 2026
Trump’s White House website welcomes visitors with a pop-up that reads: “WELCOME TO THE GOLDEN AGE!” But on this heavy news day a year into Trump’s second term, it is increasingly clear that as his regime focuses on committing the United States to white Christian nationalism, the country is becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, and its own economy is weakening.
open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/february-17-2026?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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