February 17, 2026 – US Headlines

Story gist: The U.S. Department of Justice released Epstein files containing a list of approximately 300 names. The documents have led to the end of business and political careers worldwide.

Bias summary: Left-leaning NYT frames via opinion on Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna’s shaken reaction, emphasizing personal shock from revelations. Center PBS focuses neutrally on public response without specifics. Right-leaning WBFF highlights DOJ’s full release sparking backlash over the 300-name list, stressing controversy and fallout. Absent: left defense of implicated figures or right celebration of transparency.

Story gist: American surfer Kurt Van Dyke was found dead at his home in Costa Rica in an apparent robbery.

Bias summary: Right-leaning outlets omitted the story with no coverage, leaving that perspective absent. Center outlets framed it neutrally as an American hotel owner slain in a Costa Rica robbery, emphasizing his business role. Left-leaning outlets ignored the incident entirely, instead covering an unrelated outage of Elon Musk’s X platform, highlighting divergent news priorities.

Story gist: Australian citizens linked to ISIS departed a Syrian camp for repatriation but were turned back. Australia refused to repatriate them after the attempt failed.

Bias summary: Left-leaning CNN emphasizes Australia’s refusal to repatriate ‘ISIS-linked citizens’ amid a failed ‘escape attempt,’ highlighting government inaction. Center AP neutrally notes ‘Australians with alleged IS ties’ turned back after ‘departing’ camp for repatriation, using softer language on ties and omitting refusal. No right-leaning coverage; perspective on security merits of non-repatriation absent.

Story gist: Lunar New Year 2026 marks the start of the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac. BBC provides live coverage while CNN publishes zodiac predictions.

Bias summary: Left-leaning CNN frames the story with emphasis on zodiac predictions and fortunes for 2026, adopting an engaging, predictive tone. Center BBC delivers neutral live coverage of the event. Right-leaning outlets absent, providing no coverage and omitting any conservative perspective on the cultural observance.

Story gist: China warned Japan over militarism at the Munich Security Conference, targeting politician Sanae Takaichi. Japan reacted to the warning.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Global Times portrays China’s warning as fact-based and faults Japan’s response for unease and lacking decorum, emphasizing Japanese weakness. Center BBC neutrally describes China piling pressure on Takaichi and questions its effectiveness. Right-leaning Fox News omits Japan focus, instead highlighting Taiwan’s foreign minister vowing resistance to Chinese intimidation, framing China as aggressor.