News On Tap For Wed., February 25, 2026

The Real State Of The Nation

Today’s “News On Tap” will hit the spot the mainstream news media missed on what the real state of the nation is. We’ve got the news, from Trump’s long lie-filled SOTU to the multiple Democratic messages laying out the real state of the union. There’s also Trumpstein files updates, and updates from Trump’s immigration wars. Democrats also won more elections last night, the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame election is set to begin. Plus, Matt McNeil & Bob Cesca will both be in the bar tonight. Read up first, then join us tonight!

First Round - Lies Vs Reality

Trump’s Long Lie-Filled SOTU

• In Record Long & Lie-Filled State Of The Union, Trump Touts A ‘Roaring Economy’ That Isn’t Real, As Americans Continue To Struggle

• Clashes With Democrats Dominate & Overshadow Trump’s Dark & Violent State Of The Union Speech

• FactCheck’s Very Long Check Of Trump’s Lie-Filled 2026 SOTU

• Five Takeaways From Trump’s 2026 State Of The Union Speech & The Democratic Responses

• Strength In Numbers Post-SOTU Poll: Americans Wanted To Hear Less About Immigration & More About How Trump’s Going To Bring Down Prices

• David Smith: Why The Longest-Ever State Of The Union Address Was Also The Most Inconsequential

The Real State Of The Union

• Gov. Spanberger, In Strong Democratic Response, Makes It Clear Trump Is Not Working For Most Of America [Gift Link]

• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Calls For Fight Against Federal Overreach During Alternative To Trump’s Lie-Filled Speech

• Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson At Alternative SOTU Event Calls Out Trump’s ‘Rambling’ & ‘Incoherent’ Speech, Notes His City’s Strong Response To ICE

• Robert De Niro Joins Democrats To Protest Trump At Alternate ‘State Of The Swamp’ Event

• Watched By Millions, A Joyous ‘People’s State Of The Union’ Event On The National Mall Countered An Unhinged Trump

Second Round - The Trumpstein Files

• New Evidence Shows Trump DOJ Is Withholding Files Of Epstein Accuser Who Alleges Trump Sexually Assaulted Her When She Was 13

• Dozens Of FBI Records Apparently Missing From Epstein Files, Including Trump Accuser Interviews

• House Democrats Will Now Probe Trump DOJ’s Withholding Of Epstein Files On Trump

• Larry Summers To Resign From Teaching Appointments, Relinquish University Professorship Over Epstein Ties

• Bill Gates Admits Extramarital Affairs & Apologizes To Staff Over His Epstein Ties

• Columbia Brain Institute Co-Director And Nobel Laureate Steps Down Over Epstein Ties

Third Round - Trump's Dangerous Failing Govt.

Immigration Wars

• Observer Data Now Reflecting An Actual Drawdown By Ice In Minnesota, As Operation Metro Surge Winds Down

• Trump Regime Now Considering Requiring Banks To Collect Citizenship Information

• Greg Sargent: Trump’s Ice Is Quietly Stockpiling Massive Amounts Of Weaponry – And That Should Alarm Us All

War On Good Govt.

• Whistleblower Confirms Trump FBI Dir. Kash Patel’s Use Of Jet Delayed FBI Team’s Response To Brown Univ. Mass Shooting

• Trump & RFK Jr’s Unqualified Influencer Nominee For Surgeon General Appears Before Senate In Highly Charged Hearing

• Supreme Court Splits 5-4 To Block Lawsuits Against Postal Refusals To Deliver Mail

The Unregulated Dangers Of Tech

• Shot: Sec. Of Defense Hegseth Threatens Anthropic Until Friday To Back Down On Ai Safeguards

• Chaser: Anthropic Ditches Its Core Safety Promise In The Middle Of An Ai Red Line Fight With The Pentagon

• AIs Can’t Stop Recommending Nuclear Strikes In War Game Simulations

Fourth Round - More News To Drink About

Election Land

• Pennsylvania Democrats Win State House Special Elections, Keeping Majority Intact

• Democratic Candidate Defeats MAGA Opponent In Maine House Special Election, Moving House Move Comfortably Away From Republicans’ Reach

• Republicans Now Staring Down Epic Voter Enthusiasm Gap Ahead Of 2026 Midterms; 14-Percentage Point Advantage Is Democrats’ Largest In Decades [Gift Link]

Foreign Affairs

• Trump Regime Issues New Sanctions As It Continues To Dial Up Pressure On Iran

• Iran Reacts To Trump’s 2026 State Of The Union, Accusing Him Of “Big Lies” On Nuclear Program And Protests

• Steve Benen: Trump Still Hasn’t Explained Why He’s Moving The U.S. Closer To War With Iran

• Ukrainian Officials To Meet Trump Envoys In Geneva Over More Russia Talks

Fifth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

Rest In Peace

• Katherine Short, Daughter Of Actor Martin Short, Dies Aged 42, In Apparent Suicide

• Martin Short’s Family ‘Devastated’ By Death Of His Daughter

Media Matters

• Warner Bros. Reopens Door To Paramount, Putting Netflix Deal In Question’

• Judge Blocks Trump DOJ From Searching Washington Post Reporter’s Seized Devices

Entertainment & More

• Sony Now Set To Reboot Extended ‘Spider-Man’ Universe’

• Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s 17 Nominees For 2026 Include Shakira, Lauryn Hill, Pink, Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins, New Edition, Wu Tang Clan, & More

• NFL’s Commanders And Jaguars Now Set To Host Games In London Next Season, With Jacksonville Playing Two Home Games Overseas

• Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby Placed On Injured Reserve After Getting Hurt At The Olympics

Today’s Special Guest

Matt McNeil, a proud Minnesotan, proud progressive, & the host of “The Matt McNeil Show“ weeknights on AM950 & WCPT, as well as the writer of the Progressive Citizen X blog. Matt will join us to talk about Trump’s disastrous State Of The Union, the strong Democratic messaging, and he’ll give us an update on the ICE monsters in Minnesota too.

Your Bar Regular Tonight

Bob Cesca, podcaster, broadcaster, journalist, artist, & host of The Bob Cesca Show, and co-host of the award-winning Trek Politics is back in the bar tonight to draw a few rounds with us from the ‘News On Tap.’ We’ll talk about the multiple State Of The Union messages, the immigration wars, Dems winning more elections, and more. Plus, even though Trump doesn’t want to talk about affordability, Bob did in his latest piece at The Banter. Grab a drink and join us tonight!

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