Trump boasts in State of the Union that US is ‘winning so much’

ICE, Iran and US, severe weather

ADVERTISEMENT View in Browser Policy changes, but facts endure. AP delivers accurate, fact-based journalism to keep the world informed in every administration. Support independent reporting today. Donate. By Jayakumar Madala February 25, 2026 By Jayakumar Madala February 25, 2026 In the news today: Trump's State of the Union speech; a federal court rules that the IRS can continue to share immigrants' taxpayer data with ICE; and the CIA offers tips to potential informants in Iran ahead of possible U.S. strikes. Also, the challenge of digging out a massive historic whaling ship after a snowstorm. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) POLITICS Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is 'winning so much' President Donald Trump insisted he'd sparked an economic boom at home and imposed a new world order abroad in hopes that the speech can counter his sliding approval ratings. Read more. What to know: Trump's main objective was convincing increasingly wary Americans that the economy is stronger than many believe, and that they should vote for more of the same by backing Republicans during November's midterm elections. In all, Trump spoke for a record 108 minutes, breaking — by eight minutes — the previous time mark from his address before a joint session of Congress last year. The president championed his immigration crackdowns and his push to preserve widespread tariffs that the Supreme Court just struck down. Trump vowed to plow ahead, using "alternative" laws to impose the taxes on imports and telling lawmakers "Congressional action will not be necessary." Several Supreme Court justices attended the speech. Trump's address came as two U.S. aircraft carriers have been dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. Trump said: "My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy." RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Takeaways: Sales mode on economy, heavy on patriotism, dark turn on Democrats FACT FOCUS: A look at Trump's false and misleading claims in his State of the Union speech Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger's rebuttal speech questions whether Americans feel the 'golden age' Trump describes US men's hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women's team will be honored 'soon' Army pilot wounded in Maduro raid gets Congressional Medal of Honor during Trump's speech Photos of Trump's State of the Union address Read the complete transcript of Trump's 2026 State of the Union WATCH: Rep. Al Green reacts after ejection from the speech US NEWS Court says the IRS can continue to share immigrants' taxpayer data with ICE A Washington, D.C., federal court on Tuesday rejected a request from an immigrant rights group to temporarily block the IRS from sharing certain taxpayer data that could make it easier to identify and deport people who are in the U.S. illegally. Read more. Why this matters: The immigrants' rights group Centro de Trabajadores Unidos and other nonprofits are suing the federal government over a data-sharing agreement. In declining the preliminary injunction request, Judge Harry T. Edwards wrote that the nonprofit groups "are unlikely to succeed on the merits of their claim," since the information the agencies are sharing isn't covered by the IRS privacy statute. A representative from Centro de Trabajadores Unidos did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agreement allows ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records. The creation of the data sharing agreement was so controversial that the acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service resigned last year over the deal.  RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Legal advocates seek to halt CBP policy pressuring unaccompanied children to self-deport Residents want local governments to end contracts that let ICE train on their gun ranges Judge bars government from 'wholesale' search of Washington Post reporter's seized devices Pentagon appeals order blocking Sen. Mark Kelly's punishment for call to resist unlawful orders States sue Trump administration over changes to childhood vaccine recommendations Appeals court questions shifting reasons for Trump's EPA killing clean energy contracts House rejects bill requiring aircraft locator systems to prevent midair collisions like last year's Ukrainian envoy says US raised concerns about strikes aimed at Russia that impacted US oil interests US embassy to offer its first consular services at an Israeli settlement in the West Bank Trump cites health care issues in Greenland saying he's sending a hospital ship. His claims are off Rubio flies into the Caribbean for talks with leaders unsettled by Trump policies Canada approves latest Gulfstream business jets after Trump tariff threat Gov. Gavin Newsom takes heat from Republicans and LGBTQ+ lawmakers during book tour Trial begins for group accused of antifa links in shooting at Texas immigration detention center Justice Department lawsuit says UCLA failed to protect Jewish employees from hostility WORLD NEWS CIA offers tips to potential informants in Iran as Trump considers military action The Central Intelligence Agency provided Farsi-language instructions on ways to safely contact the spy agency as President Donald Trump mulls possible military strikes. Read more. Why this matters: The social media outreach comes at an especially uneasy time in U.S.-Iran relations and as the Iranian theocracy faces new protests at home. The U.S. has assembled its largest military force in the Mideast in decades as tensions with Iran have risen. Another round of nuclear talks is planned for later this week. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Iran pushes back against Trump ahead of Geneva talks Iranians worry over American military buildup as last-chance round of talks nears Protest held on Greek island against docked US aircraft carrier as Iran tension builds ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Severe weather: Northeast scrambles to clear piles of snow as new storm descends on the region Hollywood: Paramount submits a new offer for Warner Bros in fight with Netflix Discord: Online platform pushes back global age verification rollout amid criticism 'Suitcase murder': Indonesia frees and deports American who spent 11 years in prison Today in History: In 1964, Muhammad Ali became world heavyweight champion for the first time WATCH Ohio: Sanitation worker surprised to find police suspect in trash can Spicy treat: The rising fame of the flat sausage ironed with a glass bottle A CHANGE OF PACE The Charles W. Morgan is berthed at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn., Tuesday, following a snowstorm. (Shannon McKenzie/Mystic Seaport Museum via AP) With rubber shovels and grit, workers dig out historic whaling ship after snowstorm Shipyard workers at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut were limited to rubber and plastic shovels as they carefully dug out a 113-foot-long historic whaling ship Tuesday from the record-breaking snowstorm that hit the Northeast. Anything metal, such as a snowblower or metal shovel, would damage the decks of the Charles W. Morgan and other wooden boats in the maritime museum's collection. Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Jayakumar Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Jayakumar SUPPORT THE AP. DONATE. Manage preferences | Privacy policy | Unsubscribe   *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. 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