NEW YORK, Feb. 20 [Category: Law/Legal] -- Access Now, an organization that says it defends and extends the rights of people and communities at risk, issued the following letter with 46 organizations: * * * #KeepItOn: authorities must reverse social media shutdown order and restore access in Gabon * We, the undersigned organizations, and members of the #KeepItOn coalition -a global network of over 345 human rights organizations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns - urgently   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 [Category: Environment] -- The Sierra Club posted the following news release: * * * Advocates Call on CA Attorney General, LA District Attorney to Investigate AI Astroturf Campaign * LOS ANGELES - Environmental and public health advocates are calling on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to investigate an AI-powered campaign that allegedly submitted public comments attributed to residents without their consent to oppose   more

LANSING, Michigan, Feb. 19 -- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued the following news release: * * * AG Nessel Urges Senate to Reject SAVE America Act * LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in urging the U.S. Senate to reject the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, warning that the legislation would unlawfully nationalize election administration, impose sweeping new barriers to voter registration, and dise  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Cantwell Joins State & King County Leaders to Warn of Proposed Barriers to Voting * NEW DATA: Cantwell snapshot report shows House-passed SAVE America Act could disenfranchise millions of Washingtonians - especially residents in rural areas & women who took their spouses' names; Cantwell announces WA Sec of State Steve Hobbs will be her guest at Trump's State of the Union Address next Tuesday;   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis issued the following commentary on Feb. 20, 2026, by Ax:son Johnson fellow Kseniya Sotnikova: * * * Making Ukraine Ready for Renewal As Ukrainians suffer their toughest winter since the full-scale invasion, it's hope for the future that keeps them going. And they need to make detailed plans for it. * In our freezing apartments, we know we are weeks away from spring. It's a season that symbolizes hope and renewal, as well as the   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis issued the following commentary on Feb. 20, 2026, by Ax:son Johnson fellow Uliana Movchan: * * * Ukraine Needs Stronger Institutions Right Now The country's democratic institutions have shown amazing resilience under pressure of war, but need immediate reform to support peacetime rebuilding and political debate. * Core state functions have continued since the full-scale invasion despite infrastructure damage, personnel shortages  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis posted the following commentary on Feb. 19, 2026, by Armando Chaguaceda and Cesar E. Santos, researchers at Government and Political Analysis AC. Chaguaceda is also Karl Loewenstein fellow and visiting professor of political science at Amherst College. * * * Cuba's Woes Threaten the Kremlin's Authoritarian International The Kremlin and its allies in Havana are united by a desire to undermine democratic systems. That relationship  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene: Democrats "have an offensive map of 44 districts across the country." * As Democrats expand their sights to 44 House districts across the country, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene joined Meet the Press NOW to discuss Democrats' relentless focus on lowering prices, what special election victories indicate for November, and how Democrats are fighting back against Re  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Feb. 20, 2026: * * * Kash Patel's One-Year Performance Review: Epstein Cover-Ups, Undermining Elections, and Luxurious Vacations Today marks one year since Kash Patel was confirmed, and his first year as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been a humiliating catastrophe. Since his confirmation, Patel has used the FBI to cover up the truth about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, undermine   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Feb. 20 -- The Virginia Democratic Party posted the following news release: * * * DPVA Chairman Senator Lamont Bagby's Statement on the Special Election for the Redistricting Constitutional Amendment * DPVA Chairman Senator Lamont Bagby issued the following statement ahead of early voting for the special election on the constitutional amendment regarding redistricting: "Beginning March 6, Virginians will have the opportunity to make their voices heard in this year's red  more

LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 19 [Category: Sociological] -- Equality California posted the following news release: * * * Equality California Endorses Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Richard Pan for Congress * CONTACT: Jorge Reyes Salinas, Equality California  PHONE: (213) 355-3057 / MOBILE: (213) 355-3057 / EMAIL: press@eqca.org SACRAMENTO -Equality California, the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced the endorsements of Fiona Ma for Lieutenant Gov  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest: * * * Commission meetings and hearings No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week. * * * Litigation Bernegger v. FEC (Case No. 26-106) On February 6, Plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Giffords v. FEC (Case No. 25-5188) On February 19, Plaintiff-Appellee Giffords filed a Brief a  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe released the following testimony by Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery (ret.), senior director at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and senior fellow of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, from a Feb. 10, 2026, hearing entitled "Weaponized Mass Migration: A Security Risk to Europe and the United States": * * * Chairman Self, Ranking Member Keating, and distinguished members of the committee, on behalf of the Foun  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Hudson Institute, a research organization that says it promotes leadership for a secure, free and prosperous future, issued the following commentary on Feb. 18, 2026, by senior fellow Luke Coffey and Efgan Nifti to the Washington Examiner: * * * Vance Visit Demonstrates U.S. Commitment to Peace in the South Caucasus This week, Vice President JD Vance made a historic visit to the South Caucasus. He became the first sitting vice president to visit Armenia and, shortly the  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Feb. 20, 2026: * * * ICYMI: DNC Notches Legal Victory in NC, Fights to Protect Voting Rights for Military Spouses in MI All across the country, the DNC is fighting hard to defeat Republicans' assault on Americans' right to vote. Earlier this week, in a major victory for North Carolina voters, the DNC blocked Republicans from purging over 73,000voters from the rolls, and yesterday, the DNC filed a le  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSrpt) -- Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * In New Report, Sen. Schiff Exposes Over $140 Million Dedicated to ICE and CBP's Deadly Arsenal of Weapons and Munitions Since Start of Second Trump Administration A review of the government's contracting data reveals skyrocketing spending commitments by ICE and CBP over the past year for a wide range of weapons, munitions, and related accessories Report raises alarm about the Trump admin  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release: * * * Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Rep. James Walkinshaw for Reelection to Congress * AFGE says Walkinshaw stands with federal employees and working families WASHINGTON - The American Federation of Government Employees today announced its endorsement of Rep. James Walkinshaw for reelection to the U.S. House representing Virginia's 11 th Congression  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. John B. Larson, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Larson, Williams, Escobar Introduce Legislation to Protect Elections from Illegal ICE Interference * Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) announced the introduction of the Stop ICE Election Militarization Act with Reps. Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Veronica Escobar (TX-16) to protect American elections from illegal ICE interference. Their bill follows President Trump's threats to "  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (Rep.) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES ON MS NOW: "THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE THE ONES PAYING THE PRICE FROM THIS FAILED PRESIDENCY" * Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW's The Briefing with Jen Psaki, where he explained how Democrats are standing up for democracy and fighting to make life better for hardworking taxpayers while Donald Trump and Republicans are hurti  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES ON MS NOW: "THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE THE ONES PAYING THE PRICE FROM THIS FAILED PRESIDENCY" * Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MS NOW's The Briefing with Jen Psaki, where he explained how Democrats are standing up for democracy and fighting to make life better for hardworking taxpayers while Donald Trump and Republicans are hurting everyday Americans and   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 (Rep.) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES ON WVON: "DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" * Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on WVON's The Morning Show with Rufus Williams, where he reflected on the life and legacy of the late great Rev. Jesse Jackson and articulated how House Democrats will continue to keep hope alive and end the national   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES ON WVON: "DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" * Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on WVON's The Morning Show with Rufus Williams, where he reflected on the life and legacy of the late great Rev. Jesse Jackson and articulated how House Democrats will continue to keep hope alive and end the national nightmare that Donald Trum  more

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 21 -- Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon issued the following news on Feb. 20, 2026: * * * FAQ: Minnesota's Statewide Voter Registration System On February 20, 2026, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State provided Minnesotans with answers to frequently asked questions about Minnesota's Statewide Voter Registration System. Learn more about Minnesota's Secure and Fair Elections (https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/secure-and-fair-elections/). What is  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 -- Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Moulton Introduces Defend Elections From Trump Act To Prevent Federal Law Enforcement and Military Presence at Polling Places * WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) introduced the Defend Elections from Trump Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to deploy federal law enforcement, intelligence personnel, or the military to polling locations without explicit aut  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news: * * * Out of touch Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet chose appeasing her far-left base over supporting commonsense election integrity efforts to ensure only Americans vote in U.S. elections. If rejecting common sense was an Olympic sport, out of touch Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet would have multiple gold medals. Read more from The Midwesterner here (https://www.themidwesterner.news/2026/02/u-s-  more

VIENNA, Austria, Feb. 20 -- The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe posted the following news release: * * * OSCE Chairman-in-Office Cassis concludes visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina * SARAJEVO, 20 February 2026 -The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Switzerland's Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, today concluded his visit to Sarajevo, where he met with members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and leadership of the Central Election Commission  more

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 21 -- The University of Wisconsin posted the following news: * * * Research shows social media advertising suppresses voting in targeted communities A new study is the first to quantify the effect of this kind of microtargeting on voter turnout. By Chris Barncard Messages intended to suppress votes can be precisely delivered to particularly vulnerable and consequential groups of people via social media and keep millions of them from casting ballots, according to a  more

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Feb. 21 -- The Caribbean Community, an organization that aims to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, issued the following news release: * * * Strong Democracies, Stronger Community: Prime Minister Drew Highlights CARICOM Unity in Barbados Visit The Honourable Dr Terrance M. Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), continued his series of regional engagements today, Friday, 20 February, with a   more

NEW DELHI, India, Feb. 20 -- The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued the following remarks on Feb. 19, 2026, by Peggy Hicks, director of the Thematic and Special Procedures Division, on behalf of High Commissioner Volker Turk, at an AI Impact Summit plenary: * * * Artificial intelligence is reshaping societies; many analysts forecast seismic changes. AI systems are likely to touch almost every aspect of life. Which means they touch almost all our human right  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 -- The House Homeland Security Committee released the following testimony by Joseph B. Edlow, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services, from a Feb. 10, 2026, hearing on the oversight of the agency: * * * Chairman Garbarino, Ranking Member Thompson, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I am here to discuss the progress, priorities, and challenges of U.S. Citizens  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 [Category: Political] -- The Campaign Legal Center posted the following news release: * * * VICTORY: Utahns Will Have Fair Map in Place for 2026 Midterms * SALT LAKE CITY - On February 20, 2026, the Utah Supreme Court dismissed an eleventh-hour challenge by the Utah Legislature, which sought to block Utah's law requiring fair maps and revive a gerrymandered map for the fall congressional election. Campaign Legal Center, on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Utah (L  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 20 -- The Ohio Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * WATCH: GOV. DEWINE SAYS VIVEK RAMASWAMY MORE FOCUSED ON 2028 THAN DELIVERING FOR OHIOANS * Columbus, Ohio- At the Politico's 2026 Governors Summit, when asked if Vivek Ramaswamy wants to be a good governor of Ohio or a national political celebrity, Governor Mike DeWine said "I don't know. I assume he wants to be both." WATCH THE CLIP HERE Ramaswamy has focused his attention on the national spotlight thr  more