Accountability is a thing for most of the world
Arresting and trying world leaders edition.
It’s February 19, 2026, and the day hath finally arrived. No, not that day, yet. But yes, the day that my new combination toaster/air fryer was delivered. I’m pretty sure now—legally speaking—I have to go buy chicken nuggets and bagel bites to make for dinner tomorrow? And as a pro-law gal, I’ll oblige.
Today: World leaders face consequences, except ours, American women dominate, and thank god, Pedro Pascal takes off the helmet.
In politics: Overnight Wednesday in the US, we received two breaking news notifications—the first re: the life sentence for ex-South Korean Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol for invoking martial law and inciting an insurrection (ah yes, the concept rings a bell) and the second re: ex-Prince Andrew’s arrest in the UK over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein (our creep-in-chief is named 38k times in the files we’ve seen!!!!! which is only half of them!!!) And sure, we could hope that justice finds its way across either pond—Pacific or Atlantic—but if Trump goes to prison, then who would destroy historic buildings and contemplate striking Iran over the next “ten, fifteen days, pretty much maximum?”
Yes, in a shockingly unpeaceful move from the first ever FIFA Peace Prize winner, Donny T has sent an arsenal of ships to the Middle East, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, fighter jets, and air defense systems amid nuclear talks between Iranian officials and one-time Gossip Girl guest star Jared Kushner, all while Iran and Russia are holding joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman. So as it stands, possible war schedule: TBD/two weeks-ish. I hate this episode of Schoolhouse Rock.
Reminders: The Islamic Republic of Iran is a repressive regime that has recently killed thousands—likely tens of thousands—of its own people in the largest anti-government protests the country has seen in decades. Donald Trump claimed to have “obliterated” the regime’s nuclear program in targeted strikes last year, an assessment complicated by the fact that a) he didn’t and b) he’s now threatening war over nukes again. Last month, he said strikes would be about coming to the aid of Iranian people, but his goals now are—big surprise—both unstated and unclear. Luckily, we have Congress to stop him tweet about it.
In business: Anderson Cooper is leaving the now Bari Weiss-helmed 60 Minutes, where he has worked as a correspondent for two decades. eBay is buying secondhand clothing app Depop for $1.2 billion. And Warner Bros is apparently reconsidering Paramount-Skydance’s all-cash offer—with Netflix’s blessing—but WB’s board still prefers the Netflix deal. And honestly? I respect very little about David Zaslav, but his decision to be repeatedly wined and dined on David Ellison’s dime only to repeatedly reject him is a move I can get behind.
Wtf of the week: HHS Secretary and toilet cocaine connoisseur RFK Jr. put out an extremely weird video of himself and Kid Rock—neither paragons of health nor being human—doing jean-clad workouts together in the sauna, followed up with a jean cold plunge? And sure, we may not have nearly as much funding for cancer research anymore, but at least instead we get to have the image of these two dudes drinking whole milk in a hot tub together burned into our corneas until the plague they inevitably birthed in said hot tub comes for us all. Either that or—
Golden girls: US skier Mikaela Shiffrin won gold in the slalom, monobobist (a word I maybe invented just now for the single person bobsled) Elana Meyers Taylor won her first ever gold in her fifth (!!!!!) Olympics, and US Women’s Hockey beat Canada in overtime for the gold after Hilary Knight set the US record for number of goals in an Olympics (15!!!) + got engaged to speed skater Brittany Bowe. *Catches breath just from writing sentence.* And then Alysa Liu won the women’s figure skating gold whilst wearing gold after coming back to the sport completely on her own terms, with a free skate that was so wonderful and joyful it made me—if briefly—patriotic.
FYC: Now that I am a winter sports girlie, I’m going to need this “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” Après Ski Crewneck. And also these limited edition Publix seasonal ice cream flavors—but what’s a California girl to do??? Fly home for winter? LA’s annual museum free-for-all day is this Sunday, if you feel like taking a date somewhere both gratis + thoughtful. And Pedro Pascal is finally finally finally showing face in the new trailer for The Mandalorian & Grogu—and what a good face it is.
