By: Andrew Springer and Anthony Cifone, NOTICE News co-founders
Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 25, 2026. In today’s newsletter:
The DOJ removed MAJOR accusations against Trump from the Epstein Files
The State of the Union disaster
Stories the algorithm is keeping out of your feed
In depth: Pete Hegseth’s AI power grab
⏱️ Estimated read time: 9 minutes, 22 seconds
⁉️ Questions? Comments? Just reply to this email!
TOP STORY
DOJ Erases MAJOR Accusations Against Trump From Epstein Files
Remember when Trump promised to release the Epstein files and finally expose all the powerful predators? Turns out “all” had a pretty significant exception: himself.
An NPR investigation found that the Justice Department has removed and withheld documents from the public Epstein files database that relate to accusations against President Trump—including more than 50 pages of FBI interviews with a woman who claims Trump sexually abused her when she was 13 years old.
The FBI interviewed this accuser four times.
Only one interview made it into the public database—conveniently, the one that doesn’t mention Trump.
➡️ Question of the Day
Trump’s SOTU Was a DISASTER—And Reality Is Even Grimmer
Trump’s record-breaking 108-minute State of the Union was a marathon of lies, racism, and authoritarian theater—with Congressional Republicans applauding even as he announced he’d ignore the Supreme Court on tariffs. Trump arrived with the lowest approval ratings of his career, a cratering dollar, and collapsing international trust—this may be remembered as the first SOTU of a failing, authoritarian America. Read the full story →
Spanberger RIPS Trump’s Economy, Corruption in Dem Response
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union from the historic House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, calling out the president for enriching himself while farmers lose entire markets to his chaotic tariff war and he runs crypto scams and “cozies up to billionaires for ballrooms.” Watch the incredible response here→
Epstein Survivors CONFRONT Trump at State of the Union
More than a dozen Jeffrey Epstein survivors sat in the Capitol during Trump’s 108-minute State of the Union speech wearing “Release the files” badges—while Trump ignored them entirely and never mentioned Epstein once. The confrontation came hours after NPR revealed the DOJ withheld documents from the Epstein files, including FBI interviews with a woman who accused Trump and Epstein of sexually abusing her as a minor, and Trump has refused to meet with any survivors despite being mentioned thousands of times in the files. Read the full story→
‘You Are Killing Americans!’: Democrats Erupt in Trump State of Union
During Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday, Democratic representatives erupted in protest when the president claimed his “first duty” was “to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens”—this while his federal agents literally just shot two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, dead in the streets of Minneapolis. Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar repeatedly shouted “You’re killing Americans!” and “You have killed Americans!” as Trump smirked and told them they should be “ashamed.” Read the full story→
🗳️ Yesterday’s poll results
Last time, we asked: How should Democrats handle the State of the Union?
63% said SKIP IT COMPLETELY
25% said ATTEND WITH VOCAL DEFIANCE
12% said ATTEND WITH SILENT DEFIANCE
“Trump has made this a one party country. So only HIS party should attend. WHO wants to hear more of his lies anyways. I will not be watching!”
- ses8726
“I am boycotting everyone should”
- happynana
“Don’t give the liar the time of day. He’s just going to brag himself up with a bunch of lies. Every word out of his mouth will be a lie. Why listen to something that is just a bunch of lies?”
- fsnkp
“Shout at the top of your voice calling him a liar every time he gives false information.”
- elevan23
“Fill the seats with Epstein survivors”
- spike4flowers
“Prove to a rude nation that Democrats have manners and control. Sit quietly and listen, taking notes, then afterwards counter each lie with the truth.”
- fowleredna2
“The Democrats have been complicit in allowing all of this and folding on the first government shut down. Seriously we are screwed no matter what so they should verbally and loudly oppose his lies as they should have done during his first term. They could chant shame anything. So I will not vote for anyone who is currently in office. It is time to burn the system down and send this traitorous group to The Hague. I have never seen such travesty. This all started years ago and they have covered up a universal sex trafficking targeting children. Rebuild it so that there are no rights for corporations. No donations other than from actual voters and only from their constituents. Corporations make money off of their business only. They can’t buy politicians. And No one makes money while in office other than their salary which is the mean salary of each state. With a ranked voting system for all positions!”
- AMEN, leilanisay!
👀 Kept Out of Your Feed
Here are some stories the algorithms may be keeping out of your feed.
Kimmel absolutely destroyed every lie Trump told during his unhinged SOTU
Rep. Al Green was ejected for holding a sign that simply said the truth
Whistleblower reveals how Kash Patel is sabotaging FBI investigations
FedEx just went to court demanding refunds on Trump’s illegal tariffs
Amy Coney Barrett delivered the most perfect death stare while Trump attacked SCOTUS
Trump’s latest fascist plan: forcing banks to hunt immigrants
Bill Maher’s pathetic attempt to grovel his way back to Trump is really something
Democrats held a counter-SOTU because “these are not normal times”
The Texas GOP is eating itself alive as Cruz backs challenger to Dan Crenshaw
This Supreme Court justice said exactly what they think of Trump by skipping his big night
We found the most embarrassing MAGA moment from Trump’s SOTU (it’s bad)
Jon Stewart roasted Kash Patel’s cringey Olympics party behavior
There was ONE moment Republicans refused to clap for Trump—and it’s telling
Even MAGA is starting to notice their 79-year-old president is losing it
IN DEPTH
The Pentagon’s AI Power Grab: How Military Pressure Threatens Democratic Oversight of Lethal Autonomous Systems
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei until Friday to bend the knee on AI safety guardrails—or face the Pentagon’s wrath.
The ultimatum, delivered in a Tuesday meeting, cuts to the heart of who controls artificial intelligence in America: the companies building it, or the military industrial complex demanding unfettered access to autonomous killing machines.
The ethics debates are over. The weapons are here.
The question now is, who will control them?
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