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─────── February 16, 2026 ───────

Happy Monday!

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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The beginning and the end of all Christian leadership is to give your life for others.”
Henri Nouwen

ESPRESSO SHOTS

U.S. NEWS

ICE Investigation

ICE and the DOJ are opening a joint probe into whether two immigration officers lied under oath about the shooting of a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis on January 14th.

The FBI’s sworn statement (which differed from DHS’ original account) said ICE officers were conducting a traffic stop when Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna crashed, fled on foot, and violently resisted arrest. During the struggle, Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis and another man allegedly attacked officers with a snow shovel and broom handle. One officer fired, striking Sosa-Celis in the thigh, before detaining the men.

Friday, ICE leadership said video evidence suggests both officers made “untruthful statements” under oath and have been placed on leave until the investigation wraps up.

A federal judge dismissed charges against Aljorna and Sosa-Celis because evidence was “materially inconsistent with the allegations” of assaulting immigration officers. 

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether it’s law enforcement, immigrants, strangers, or friends on trial, Christians always root for justice. When the truth is murky and the future is uncertain, focus on what you know: the good news of Jesus and His mission of love.

“The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another.”
1 John 4:8-11 (CSB) (read full passage)

U.S. NEWS

File Fallout

Resignations are rippling through high-profile circles after the latest Epstein files release. 

Goldman Sachs’ chief legal officer, Kathryn Ruemmler, is resigning over emails advising “Uncle Jeffrey” on how to push back on negative media. Brad Karp, chairman of a prestigious law firm, also resigned following a disclosure of emails with Epstein, while scrutiny over ties to Ghislane Maxwell prompted 2028 LA Olympics chairman Casey Wasserman to sell his talent agency

None of the execs have been accused of crimes, and each says their decision is in the “best interest” of their organizations. 

Meanwhile, Epstein aftershocks have reached yearbooks, with some U.S. schools canceling picture day after photography giant Lifetouch’s corporate parent’s former CEO was named in the files. Others in the spotlight include Norway’s crown princess and the owner of the New York Giants.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
As the Epstein-related fallout continues, it is a reminder that while people and institutions fail us, God never does. We can always trust Him to fulfill His promises, including that justice will ultimately prevail.

“Blessed be the LORD! He has given rest to his people Israel according to all he has said. Not one of all the good promises he made through his servant Moses has failed… May my words with which I have made my petition before the LORD be near the LORD our God day and night. May he uphold his servant’s cause and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires. May all the peoples of the earth know that the LORD is God. There is no other!” 
1 Kings 8:56; 59-60 (CSB) (read full passage)

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SPORTS

Itallyin’ Medals

The Milan-Cortina games are shoop-shoop-shooping toward the home stretch.  

Ilia Malinin’s gold hopes melted Friday as the “Quad God” fell twice, finishing eighth in men’s single free skate. Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov skated off with the gold, while Malinin cited “mental” challenges and a flood of “negative thoughts” for the stunning upset.

On the slopes, Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen carved continental history, winning giant slalom and securing South America’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal. Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo broke the Winter Olympics gold medal record, winning his ninth gold in the cross-country skiing team relay on Sunday.

On the ice, American Jordan Stolz the show, winning the men’s 500m and nabbing his second gold and second Olympic record in Italy, and Uncle Sam’s men’s hockey team moved to 3-0.

Meanwhile, accusations of Canadian cheating led to a heated cursing curling match with Sweden.  

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Verse to consider when you fall on the ice, fail the test, or blow the deal… “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18 (CSB) (read full passage)

IN OTHER BREWS…

Lawmakers gave the Department of Homeland Security no-funding for Valentine’s Day. With Senators deadlocked over immigration restrictions, DHS funding expired Saturday. As a result, TSA workers will be working with reduced or no pay until a deal is reached, raising concerns about staff hardships, flight delays, and cancellations. Travelers may wanna budget extra time in their plans for a while.

Law enforcement hasn’t made any arrests in their investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance after searching a residence two miles from her Tucson home on Friday. Investigators are analyzing DNA found at the 84-year-old’s property that doesn’t belong to her or her loved ones. Meanwhile, the FBI is sorting through thousands of tips and upped the reward to $100K.

Five European allies say Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died two years ago while serving 19 years in a Siberian penal colony. Long-awaited autopsy results “conclusively” identified the presence of epibatidine—a toxin found in dart frogs, 200x more potent than morphine. The Kremlin called the statement an attempt to divert “attention from pressing Western issues.”

Did you feel prices rise only 0.2% in January? Labor Department data released Friday showed the lowest inflation rate since May 2025: 2.4% annually and 0.2% in January. Forecasters expected 2.5% year-over-year (down from 2.7% in December) and 0.3% month-over-month. While still higher than the Fed’s 2% inflation goal, economists are optimistic about the trend.

President Trump reversed a landmark ruling on greenhouse gases Thursday. The evaporated 2009 ruling had declared six gases dangerous, leading to Clean Air Act regulations on power plants, vehicles, and oil and gas facilities. #47 said repealing the “scam” will save Americans $1.3T, while critics warn the U.S.’s “largest deregulatory action” will harm the planet and Americans’ health.

WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP

Ahem... She would like to show you her party trick.

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