Viral AI video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt leaves Hollywood flabbergasted: 'It's likely over...

SAGAFTRA and the MPA have both accused Chinese company ByteDance of widespread infringement via its new generative AI service Seedance 2.0. Viral AI video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt leaves Hollywood flabbergasted: 'It's likely over for us' SAGAFTRA and the MPA have both accused Chinese company ByteDance of widespread infringement via its new generative AI service Seedance 2.0. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022.

SAG-AFTRA and the MPA have both accused Chinese company ByteDance of widespread infringement via its new generative AI service Seedance 2.0.

Viral AI video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt leaves Hollywood flabbergasted: 'It's likely over for us'

SAG-AFTRA and the MPA have both accused Chinese company ByteDance of widespread infringement via its new generative AI service Seedance 2.0.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise at the 'F1' premiere in London. Credit:

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

- Irish filmmaker Ruairí Robinson shared multiple AI-generated videos of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fistfighting on social media.

- SAG-AFTRA and the Motion Picture Association condemned ByteDance, the Chinese company responsible for the technology that generated the videos.

- *Deadpool* screenwriter Rhett Reese was also alarmed by the videos' quality: "It's likely over for us."

Another day, another AI video prompting pessimism about Hollywood's future.

Oscar-nominated Irish filmmaker Ruairí Robinson shared an AI-generated video on social media Tuesday, featuring the likenesses of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt having an elaborate fistfight on a Los Angeles overpass.

"This was a 2 line prompt in seedance 2," Robinson wrote in the caption of the 15-second clip, which has garnered more than 1.4 million views to date.

Seedance 2.0 is a new AI service by ByteDance, the Chinese company that also owns TikTok.

Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in Los Angeles in 1998.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Robinson also posted a follow-up video featuring AI versions of the *Interview With the Vampire* costars fighting in a similar location, this time with dialogue.

"You killed Jeffrey Epstein, you animal," the fake Pitt says in a voice that sounds strikingly similar to the real *Moneyball* star. "He was a good man."

"He knew too much about our Russia operations," AI-generated Cruise responds in a similarly realistic voice. "He had to die, and now you die too."

That clip has amassed more than 3 million views to date.

** has reached out to representatives for Cruise and Pitt for comment.

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing around 170,000 actors and entertainers worldwide, shared a statement with EW condemning ByteDance and accusing the company of widespread copyright infringement.

Chris Pratt pitched using an AI actor to play AI role in early 'Mercy' casting talks: Not a 'good idea'

Morgan Freeman slams AI-generated voices copying his own: 'Don't mimic me with falseness'

"SAG-AFTRA stands with the studios in condemning the blatant infringement enabled by Bytedance's new AI video model Seedance 2.0," the organization said. "The infringement includes the unauthorized use of our members' voices and likenesses. This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood. Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent. Responsible AI development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here."

EW has reached out to ByteDance for comment.

Rhett Reese at the 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' premiere in New York.

Noam Galai/WireImage

Screenwriter Rhett Reese, who wrote all three *Deadpool* movies and *Now You See Me: Now You Don't*, shared the first video with an alarmed message. "I hate to say it. It's likely over for us," he lamented.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Reese later clarified his reaction to the video in another post. "I am not at all excited about AI encroaching into creative endeavors," he wrote. "To the contrary, I'm terrified. So many people I love are facing the loss of careers they love. I myself am at risk. When I wrote 'It's over,' I didn't mean it to sound cavalier or flippant."

The screenwriter added that he was "blown away" by the video of the two AI actors fighting "because it is so professional" and realistic. "That's exactly why I'm scared," he said. "My glass half empty view is that Hollywood is about to be revolutionized/decimated. If you truly think the Pitt v Cruise video is unimpressive slop, you've got nothing to worry about. But I'm shook."**

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These essential films cover wide swaths of history. The 10 most thoughtprovoking war documentaries streaming on HBO Max These essential films cover wide swaths of history. By Jordan Hoffman :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JordanHoffmanauthorphotoe4b61cf41b534ce3bd109eae4b8f4eaa.jpg) Jordan Hoffman Jordan Hoffman is a writer at , mostly covering nostalgia. He has been writing about entertainment since 2007. EW's editorial guidelines February 14, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JimTheJamesFoleyStoryGHOSTSOFABUGHRAIBNIGHTANDFOG0202112649d1b828377d4ccca309606c75206685.

These essential films cover wide swaths of history.

The 10 most thought-provoking war documentaries streaming on HBO Max

These essential films cover wide swaths of history.

By Jordan Hoffman

Jordan Hoffman

Jordan Hoffman is a writer at **, mostly covering nostalgia. He has been writing about entertainment since 2007.

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February 14, 2026 8:00 a.m. ET

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The most essential war documentaries on HBO Max. Credit:

HBO (2); Courtesy Everett

If you don't know your past, you don't know your future. It's a cliche, but it's true. Here's another one: history repeats itself. The best way to educate yourself about world affairs and their domestic impact is to investigate previous conflicts, their causes, and their legacies. While nothing beats reading a thick book (and a local library is the best route) those with limited time can always turn to documentary films.

Luckily, ** is here to help you further your history education with the best war documentaries on HBO Max.

The premium cable network has been home to some of the most important and thought-provoking documentaries ever produced, and its streaming service is brimming with options. Here are a few titles to get you started.

December 7th (1943)

The U.S. government recruited Hollywood icons to make 'December 7th'.

Office of War Information

This Oscar-winning film blurs the lines of a typical documentary, but is nonetheless an important work. Developed by U.S. government agencies as a propaganda tool and directed by John Ford (you may remember him from *The Fabelmans*) and Gregg Toland (cinematographer of *Citizen Kane*, among others), this exploration of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor incorporates what little actual footage existed mixed with recreations and miniatures filmed in a Hollywood studio.

Though scripted and featuring actors like Walter Huston as the avatar "Uncle Sam," the news aspect makes it significant. Multiple versions exist; the 32-minute release cut served audiences who felt the need to see the events up close, and to rally the homefront for the fight ahead.

For All Mankind (1989)

The Cold War paves the way for a touchstone human achievement in 'For All Mankind'.

Apollo Associates

A literally uplifting look at NASA's voyage to the moon, *For All Mankind *qualifies as a war documentary in that Neil Armstrong taking "one giant leap" never would have happened were it not for the ongoing Cold War. But let's not let that trouble us. Al Reinert's masterpiece of collage takes preexisting footage from multiple space adventures and shows the moon landing in an impressionistic style. Thousands of people made it possible, so individual faces and names are less important than the forward thrust.

Though the original score by Brian Eno, Roger Eno, and Daniel Lanois has been repurposed so many times, new viewers may be surprised to learn its origins. This is an inspiring film, and one of the best examples of real life adventure.

The 15 best war movies streaming on HBO Max right now

Hollywood History: How World War II forced the Academy to rethink the 1942 Oscars

George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin (1994)

A-list director George Stevens captured the most comprehensive color footage of World War II in Europe.

Already an established director with films like *Woman of the Year *(1942) and *Gunga Din *(1939), George Stevens joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1943 and assembled a crew known as the "Stevens Irregulars." They shot some of the most important footage of World War II, including images from the D-Day landing, the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, the meeting of American and Russian forces, and images of Berlin in ruins.

It wasn't until after Stevens' death (and a post-war career including *Giant *and *Shane*) that his cache of unseen color film from this period was discovered — the most comprehensive color film of the war in Europe. This documentary, framed by George Stevens Jr., is a remarkable reflection of that period.

Ghosts of Abu Ghraib (2007)

A corridor at Abu Ghraib during the Iraq War.

This frank look at the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Ghraib during the Iraq War, directed by Rory Kennedy (RFK Jr's sister), does its best to explain how an absurd environment can enable otherwise ordinary soldiers to become torturers. In interviewing military officials and psychologists, *Ghosts of Abu Ghraib* dismisses theories of bad seeds or bad apples, and shows how obedience to authority can quickly erode a person's moral compass. Think it couldn't happen to you? Stanley Milgram's experiments — footage of which is shown here — have shown how malleable people often are.

Most striking are interviews with military police reflecting back with horror on their own actions, expressing remorse at the past and frustration with who got left with the blame.

Guerras Ajenas (2016)

'Guerras Ajenas' focuses on a small narrative within the larger War on Drugs.

*Guerras Ajenas *(*Wars of Others*) looks at a tiny aspect of the so-called "War on Drugs" to expose how whole communities can get swept up in wider political currents.

For years the government of Colombia, at the behest of the United States, has been spraying a dangerous chemical called glyphosate from airplanes with an aim toward killing coca crops and disrupting the drug trade. In 2015, the World Health Organization declared that glyphosate was a likely carcinogen. As you can imagine, powerful forces have worked to obfuscate this fact, while innocent people suffer. Lilia Luciano's documentary examines the issue from the ground up.

Hearts and Minds (1974)

Father and child during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Courtesy Everett

This concise documentary quickly became a flashpoint in America upon its release, exposing just how unwinnable (not to mention unjust) the ongoing quagmire in Vietnam had become. The film mixes interview footage of American infantrymen (some of whom had become drug addicts) as well as a notorious interview with General William Westmoreland, who infamously concluded: "The Oriental doesn't put the same high price on life as does the Westerner."

This statement, juxtaposed with footage of grieving Vietnamese at a funeral, remains one of the darkest and lowest moments of American history.

Jim: The James Foley Story (2016)

James Foley was an American freelance videojournalist who was compelled to go into harm's way to expose atrocities. In 2011 he was kidnapped while shooting footage in Libya but was released 44 days later. Then in 2012, while working on assignment in Syria for French and American outlets, he was captured by ISIS — then later decapitated in a video message to President Obama.

That video is thankfully *not *shown in this film, but what you do see is a portrait of the man as told by his loved ones and fellow prisoners. Most insightful, perhaps, is learning how an ordinary family reacts when they suddenly become the focus of an international news story.

Night and Fog (1956)

Legendary filmmaker Alain Resnais made one of the definitive cinematic statements on the Holocaust.

Courtesy Everett

Can a historical film actually be history itself? Alain Resnais' short, stylistic project was one of the first major films to address the Holocaust. It uses some archival (often gruesome) footage, but is more notable for its contemporary imagery — a camera eye roving through abandoned Nazi extermination camps juxtaposed with voiceover narration.

The film was revelatory upon its release, and controversial in its native country for not sugarcoating collaborationist French efforts. Indeed, the film could only be originally released if Resnais agreed to alter some shots to obscure someone in a French police uniform observing mass deportations.

Wartorn: 1861–2010 (2010)

James Gandolfini speaks with Gen. Raymond T. Odierno in 'Wartorn: 1861-2010'.

Though not exactly an easy film to watch, *Wartorn: 1861–2010* is an insightful look at what we now call post-traumatic stress disorder, but used to call battle fatigue or shell shock. Co-produced by James Gandolfini, who also leads the interviews, this is partly a history lesson, but also an examination of more recent struggles.

Iraq veterans suffering from PTSD bravely reveal how routine activities like supermarket shopping can become mental torture. Conversations with family members of those who survived their tour, only to die by suicide at home, are even more heartbreaking.

White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2007)

'White Light/Black Rain' features interviews with several Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors.

It's fair to say the use of atomic weapons to end World War II remains one of the most significant "turn the page" events in human history. This Emmy-winning film boasts contemporary interviews with over a dozen survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, most of whom were children at the time.

Also included are some airmen who flew the *Enola Gay*, as well as Los Alamos scientists. The enormity of what they witnessed is not lost on them, but director Steven Okazaki recognizes it's through detail and specificity that we arrive at a wider truth. In a world where current weapons of mass destruction make the bombs dropped on Japan look like Nerf toys, there are not many films more important than this.

- Documentary Movies

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The 10 most thought-provoking war documentaries streaming on HBO Max

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Ego Nwodim draws gasps from Jimmy Kimmel Live audience after admitting she's never seen this clas...

&34;I've seen 'Scarface,' does that count?&34; Ego Nwodim draws gasps from Jimmy Kimmel Live audience after admitting she's never seen this classic film &34;I've seen 'Scarface,' does that count?&34; By Shania Russell :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShaniaRussellauthorphoto5934b684845d480caa4485648c39ef2b.jpg) Shania Russell Shania Russell is a news writer at , with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine. EW's editorial guidelines February 14, 2026 10:00 a.m.

"I've seen 'Scarface,' does that count?"

Ego Nwodim draws gasps from* Jimmy Kimmel Live* audience after admitting she's never seen this classic film

"I've seen 'Scarface,' does that count?"

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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Ego Nwodim and Jimmy Kimmel on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Feb. 10. Credit:

Disney/Randy Holmes

Ego Nwodim is the first to admit that she's no cinephile.

The *Saturday Night Live* alum is currently gearing up to host Sunday night's Film Indie Spirit Awards — but just because she's hosting the movie-centric ceremony, doesn't mean she's an expert. The live audience of *Jimmy Kimmel Live *learned as much on Tuesday evening, when Nwodim confessed that she still hasn't seen a number of classic and long-heralded titles. It's so bad that one *SNL* host called her out within minutes of them meeting.

"Josh Brolin sized me up within an instant and said, 'You look like you've never seen any movies before,'" Nwodim told Kimmel during the Feb. 10 interview. "To this day, I've lost sleep over it because I'm like, 'What about me says I haven't seen movies?'"

When Kimmel asked if Brolin's assumption was correct, Nwodim admitted, "Josh was right."

Josh Brolin as Mark and Ego Nwodim as Lisa on 'Saturday Night Live'.

Will Heath/NBC via Getty

For his part, Brolin took the backstage exchange so seriously that he sent the comedian a curated list of "53 movies that everyone needs to have watched." But to date, Nwodim has still only seen one title on the list — Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic thriller, *Jaws*.

"Was there one on the list that people would get actually angry at you because you haven't seen?" Kimmel asked

After a thoughtful moment, Nwodim admitted, "I'm mad about this myself: I haven't seen *[The] Godfather*."

Nwodim's response was swiftly met with a wave of gasps and audible distress from Kimmel's live audience — including one attendee who shouted, "What?!"

Raising her hands in defense, Nwodim said, "Oh, come on! I thought this was a safe space. Everyone backstage said this would be a safe space."

While the audience didn't take too kindly to her ignorance of the Corleone family, Kimmel admitted that he was jealous of Nwodim.

Ego Nwodim in November 2025 in New York City.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

"I would love to be able to see *The Godfather* and* The Godfather 2* — and skip the next one — for the first time again," he joked.

After clarifying that she does intend to check out the venerated Francis Ford Coppola-directed titles, Nwodim attempted to appeal to the audience, noting, "I've seen *Scarface*, does that count?"

This time, even Kimmel shut her down, answering with a firm, "No."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

While Nwodim still has many classics to catch up with — she cited *12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon*, and Federico Fellini's highly influential *8½* among the titles she has yet to see — the *SNL* alum noted that she has already watched a huge chunk of the movies that are up for awards on Sunday night.

"I watched the films, [and] I'm super excited," Nwodim said of the impending event, whose contenders include *If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, One of Them Days, *and* Train Dreams.*

The Film Independent Spirit Awards stream on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 5 p.m. ET on YouTube. Watch Nwodim defend her cinematic knowledge above.**

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'Euphoria' Creator Donates Massive Amount to GoFundMe for Eric Dane’s Daughters After Actor's Death

&x27;Euphoria&x27; Creator Donates Massive Amount to GoFundMe for Eric Dane's Daughters After Actor&x27;s Death Rachelle LewisSat, February 21, 2026 at 4:19 PM UTC 0 (Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic for HBO) The death of beloved actor Eric Dane has his friends rally around his two teenage daughters, Billie Beatrice Dane, 15, and Georgia Geraldine Dane, 13, with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart. On Friday, friends of Dane's launched a GoFundMe page to help Dane's girls financially.

'Euphoria' Creator Donates Massive Amount to GoFundMe for Eric Dane's Daughters After Actor's Death

Rachelle LewisSat, February 21, 2026 at 4:19 PM UTC

0

(Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic for HBO)

The death of beloved actor Eric Dane has his friends rally around his two teenage daughters, Billie Beatrice Dane, 15, and Georgia Geraldine Dane, 13, with his wife, Rebecca Gayheart.

On Friday, friends of Dane's launched a GoFundMe page to help Dane's girls financially.

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Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson are among the nearly 1,000 people who have donated to the GoFundMe. The couple donated a staggering amount of $27,000, which made a nice dent in the $250,000 goal set.

Levinson and Dane became close while working on Euphoria. Dane told Variety last year that working with Levinson allowed him to be free as an artist.

"I just have so much trust in Sam Levinson that I don't really what's happening. On the day, he can just tell me what to do and where to go, and I'm good with it," Dane shared.

Following the news of Dane's death, Levinson paid tribute to him. "I'm heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend Eric. Working with him was an honor. Being his friend was a gift. Eric's family is in our prayers. May his memory be for a blessing," Levinson shared in a statement to Variety.

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Related: Eric Dane's 'Charmed' Co-Star Alyssa Milano Pens Heartfelt Tribute to Beloved Actor

Now, Levinson and others are helping to ensure the belovedGrey's Anatomy star's family are taken care of after losing him to ALS.

"Following his diagnosis, Eric became a passionate spokesperson for the ALS community, using his voice and platform to advocate for fellow patients and to push for greater awareness. Even as his own health declined, he remained deeply committed to helping others facing the same devastating disease. As his illness progressed far more quickly than anyone could have imagined, Eric's friends have come together to create this GoFundMe to support his girls and their future needs," read part of the message on the GoFundMe.

As of this writing, almost $150,000 of the $250,000 goal had been reached in less than one day since the GoFundMe was created.

Dane's friends setting up the GoFundMe comes hot on the heels of James Van Der Beek's friends setting up one following his death for his family. Van Der Beek's GoFundMe saw large donations from Hollywood but also drew serious backlash as the amount raised reached over $2.7 million.

Next: Fan-Favorite Country Stars Announced as Performers for Benefit Concert

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'Euphoria' Creator Donates Massive Amount to GoFundMe for Eric Dane’s Daughters After Actor's Death

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Supreme Court gives Trump — and the rest of the GOP — a gift in disguise

Supreme Court gives Trump — and the rest of the GOP — a gift in disguise Analysis by Aaron Blake, CNNSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC 0 President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House, on Friday. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images The Supreme Court on Friday dealt President Donald Trump perhaps the most significant rebuke of his second term. The justices, including two of the president's appointees, struck down Trump's signature economic policy: his global tariffs. In the long run, the court might have saved him from himself — at least politically.

Supreme Court gives Trump — and the rest of the GOP — a gift in disguise

Analysis by Aaron Blake, CNNSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM UTC

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President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing held at the White House, on Friday. - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Friday dealt President Donald Trump perhaps the most significant rebuke of his second term. The justices, including two of the president's appointees, struck down Trump's signature economic policy: his global tariffs.

In the long run, the court might have saved him from himself — at least politically.

Some Republicans are outright praising the decision, and you can bet more are happy behind the scenes.

That's because, while the decision is clearly a major setback for Trump's agenda, it also strips him of tools that seemed to cause short-term economic damage to the country, and that were clearly doing short-term political damage to Trump's party.

This is not the end of the tariffs story. Trump quickly signaled he'd launch 10% global tariffs under a different authority (which he said Saturday he was upping to 15%). He even claimed on Friday that the Supreme Court's decision had actually made his ability to levy trade penalties "stronger," somehow.

But that's not actually true. Trump's tariff powers have been significantly curtailed. And while Republicans have been happy to let him try to do things on his own, even when those things were powers delegated to Congress by the Constitution, this setback could also lead to some soul-searching in the GOP about whether to continue entertaining Trump's trade gambits.

Whether any of them seize on this apparent opportunity to deescalate is the big question.

How the tariffs have hurt Trump

It was fortuitous that the Supreme Court's decision came Friday. Just 90 minutes before it landed, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced the gross domestic product had grown at just a 1.4% annualized rate in the fourth quarter. That made 2025 the second-worst year for GDP growth since 2016.

Last year was also one of the weakest jobs years in decades. And there is, of course, the inflation that finally dropped a bit in January but remains stubborn.

In other words, the stock market aside, the economy isn't doing great.

It's not clear how much the stagnancy is due to tariffs, specifically. But the uncertainty surrounding them and the extra costs they've created have clearly put a damper on an economic picture that wasn't great to begin with.

At the very least, they gave Americans a reason to blame Trump for economic hardships. Trump voluntarily took ownership of a struggling economy, using a method that economists widely predicted would cause more problems, at least in the near term.

It's not difficult to see why that cost Trump and the GOP. And cost them it did.

Shipping cranes stand above shipping containers at the Port of Los Angeles, with snow-covered mountains beyond, on Friday. - Mario Tama/Getty Images

Since Trump announced the global tariffs back on April 2, his net economic approval rating in Nate Silver's averages has gone from plus-6 to minus-12.

And a CNN poll last month showed Americans disapproved of Trump on tariffs, 62%-37%. Even 25% of Republican-leaning voters disapproved.

How the Supreme Court hamstrung him

In an often-confusing press conference Friday afternoon, Trump pointed to how Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh's dissent suggested Trump could simply move on to different tariff authorities.

And there are some available. Trump quickly seized on one of them, announcing the 10% global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

"Now I'll go the way I could have gone originally, which is even stronger than our original choice," Trump claimed.

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But that's not true.

While there are multiple options available, there's a reason Trump chose the initial path he did. If the court permitted him to wield tariffs under emergency authority, it would have given him much greater flexibility to quickly implement huge tariffs and make changes — often to punish or cajole other countries.

About the only limit was that Congress could vote to invalidate the emergencies. But vocal opposition to the tariffs didn't come close to hitting a veto-proof majority.

By contrast, Section 122 limits tariffs to 15% and to a period of 150 days — after which Congress needs to extend them. Given majorities of both chambers have voted against Trump's tariffs recently, that seems unlikely.

And it's not even clear Trump can use this section, given it requires some kind of international payments problem.

Other tariff authorities require more of a process before the tariffs can be implemented.

Indeed, Chief Justice John Roberts in a footnote directly took issue with Kavanaugh's claim.

"The cited statutes contain various combinations of procedural prerequisites, required agency determinations, and limits on the duration, amount, and scope of the tariffs they authorize," Roberts said.

The US Supreme Court as seen on Friday. - Heather Diehl/Getty Images

Trump has pitched tariffs as revitalizing American manufacturing and giving him great leverage to craft trade deals with other countries. But the shorter shelf life and lower ceiling under Section 122 and more extensive processes involved in the alternatives means he has to confront limitations he wouldn't have otherwise. And other countries will know he faces those restrictions, lessening his leverage.

It'll be interesting to see if Trump decides it's even worth it to try to truly go big on tariffs again, given those constraints.

All eyes on the GOP

It will also be interesting to see if this might embolden the many tariff-skeptical but quiet congressional Republicans who want to turn the page on this chapter.

Many Republicans have spent the last year holding their noses (and tongues) as Trump imposed tariffs. Those tariffs, after all, ran afoul of the GOP's longstanding attempts to brand itself as the party of free markets and free trade.

But the ruling is a major setback for Trump's go-it-alone approach that could imperil his other efforts. In his concurrence, Justice Neil Gorsuch seemed to plead with Congress to start handling these matters with legislation.

And we're now in a midterm election year, when the potential cost of these tariffs looms large. Even before the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the first round of tariffs, we started to see some signs of waning patience with this portion of Trump's agenda. Some of these Republicans might reason they gave Trump a chance to make it work, and now it's time to move on.

Indeed, on Friday we saw relatively few Republicans criticize the court like Trump did.

That doesn't mean they're going to suddenly break with Trump en masse on this subject. And Trump is a proud man who surely doesn't want to be seen as capitulating to the Supreme Court or pressure from his party.

But if he does keep trying to go big on tariffs, he could be looking a (political) gift horse in the mouth.

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DHS agent killed US citizen in March 2025, records show

DHS agent killed US citizen in March 2025, records show By David ThomasSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:06 PM UTC 0 FILE PHOTO: A view of the sign in front of US Homeland Security Department on Nebraska Avenue in Washington, D.C., U.S. February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo By David Thomas Feb 21 (Reuters) A federal immigration agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Texas in March 2025, months before the Trump administration began its deportation surge in Minnesota that ‌led to the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, according to records released this ‌week.

DHS agent killed US citizen in March 2025, records show

By David ThomasSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:06 PM UTC

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FILE PHOTO: A view of the sign in front of US Homeland Security Department on Nebraska Avenue in Washington, D.C., U.S. February 15, 2026. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno/File Photo

By David Thomas

Feb 21 (Reuters) - A federal immigration agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen in Texas in March 2025, months before the Trump administration began its deportation surge in Minnesota that ‌led to the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, according to records released this ‌week.

Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, was killed by agents with the Department of Homeland Security, attorneys for Martinez's family said in a statement.

A DHS ​agent fired multiple rounds at Martinez, who allegedly hit another DHS agent with his car as the agents assisted local police in South Padre Island, Texas, with traffic control following an accident on March 15, 2025, according to records obtained by American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog group. The agents were conducting immigration enforcement, the records show.

Martinez's shooting appears to be ‌the first known instance of a U.S. ⁠citizen being killed during U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration. Federal agents conducting immigration enforcement shot at least five people in January alone, including Pretti and Good.

FAMILY LAWYERS CALL FOR ⁠INVESTIGATION

Martinez was trying to comply with instructions from local law enforcement when he was shot, Charles Stam and Alex Stamm, attorneys for Martinez's family, said in a statement. They called for a "full and fair investigation."

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"Ruben's family has been pursuing transparency ​and accountability ​for nearly a year now and will continue to do ​so for as long as it takes," ‌Stam and Stamm said.

The mounting death toll in Trump's intensifying immigration push has increased scrutiny on the crackdown, driving a backlash among lawmakers and the public.

The Trump administration is dramatically ramping up immigration enforcement with $170 billion budgeted for immigration agencies through September 2029, a historic sum.

Martinez, who was identified as a U.S. citizen in the redacted records, was taken to a hospital in nearby Brownsville, Texas, where he was later pronounced dead. The agent who was hit with ‌a car went to the hospital for a knee injury and ​was later released, according to the report.

"These records paint a deeply ​troubling picture of the violent methods used by ​ICE," Chioma Chukwu, the executive director of American Oversight, said in a statement. "In just ‌the first months of this administration, ICE's own ​data shows a dramatic spike ​of nearly 400 percent in use-of-force incidents — with people hospitalized, bystanders swept up in operations, and even the death of a U.S. citizen."

A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that Martinez "intentionally ran over" an ​agent with DHS' Homeland Security Investigations and another ‌agent "fired defensive shots."

The nearly year-old incident is under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety ​Ranger Division, a DHS spokesperson said. A spokesperson with Texas DPS did not immediately respond to a ​request for comment.

(Reporting by David ThomasEditing by Rod Nickel)

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Source: "AOL Breaking"

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Source: Breaking

Published: February 21, 2026 at 01:54PM on Source: PRIME TIME

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February 21, 2026

DHS agent killed US citizen in March 2025, records show

DHS agent killed US citizen in March 2025, records show By David ThomasSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:06 PM UTC 0 FILE PHOT...

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Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Migrant Crossing Island

Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Migrant Crossing Island Rebecca SchneidSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM UTC 0 ope Leo XIV waves to the faithful at the end of a mass at Beirut's waterfront on December 2, 2025. Tens of thousands of people gathered at Beirut's waterfront as Pope Leo XIV held mass in the morning of December 2, the highlight of the Catholic leader's visit to the capital. Credit Giuseppe CACACE—AFP or Licensors Pope Leo XIV will spend July 4 visiting a Mediterranean island known for migrant crossings into Europe.

Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Migrant Crossing Island

Rebecca SchneidSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM UTC

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ope Leo XIV waves to the faithful at the end of a mass at Beirut's waterfront on December 2, 2025. Tens of thousands of people gathered at Beirut's waterfront as Pope Leo XIV held mass in the morning of December 2, the highlight of the Catholic leader's visit to the capital. Credit - Giuseppe CACACE—AFP or Licensors

Pope Leo XIV will spend July 4 visiting a Mediterranean island known for migrant crossings into Europe.

The Vatican announced this week that the first American leader of the Catholic Church will visit the small Italian island of Lampedusa, a gateway for migrants traveling to Europe from Africa and the Middle East.

Read More: Pope Leo Condemns 'Diplomacy Based on Force' as Trump Threatens Further Military Actions

Pope Leo expressed a desire to visit the island in a video message sent to volunteers there last year, in which he said they "have shown … the smile and the attention of a human face to people who have survived in a desperate journey of hope."

His predecessor, Pope Francis, celebrated Mass on the island in 2013 on an altar made of shipwrecked migrant boats, throwing a wreath into the ocean in honor of migrants who lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

The Vatican announced earlier this month that Pope Leo would not be visiting the U.S. this year, after Vice President J.D. Vance personally delivered an invitation from President Donald Trump during a visit to the Vatican in May last year.

Back home, Trump has promised to give the U.S. "the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen" this year, with a slate of programming called "Freedom 250." Among the events rumored so far are an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout, an IndyCar street race through Washington, D.C., and a four-day athletic event featuring high school athletes.

Pope Leo's visit to Lampedusa follows a year of tensions between the Vatican and the Trump Administration over the President's sweeping immigration crackdown in the U.S., which Pope Leo has spoken out against on several occasions.

Before he became Pope, then-Cardinal Robert Prevost shared several posts critical of both Vance and Trump's policies.

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In his first public address, he announced his commitment to the dignity of migrants and claimed that the issue was personal to him and his own story as a "descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate."

"In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope," Pope Leo then wrote in a letter on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees last year.

In September, he was more direct in his criticism of the Trump Administration's immigration policy by name, questioning whether the poor treatment of immigrants was in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

"Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro-life," he told journalists in September outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo.

He also spoke out in support of migrants again when his hometown city of Chicago, Illinois, became the focus of Trump's crackdown in October 2025.

"You stand with me and I stand with you, and the church will continue to accompany and stand with migrants," Pope Leo reportedly said after a meeting with a group of visiting American Bishops and Catholic leaders in October, who raised concerns about the deportation campaign.

In December, he replaced New York Archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a friend of President Trump, with pro-migrant successor Bishop Ronald Hicks. In November, Hicks released a statement supporting a message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that expressed its opposition to "the indiscriminate mass deportation of people" in the United States.

The decision also comes just days after Pope Leo declined an invitation to join Trump's Board of Peace, a U.S.-led initiative launched by the president with the ostensible aim of rebuilding Gaza and solving other conflicts.

A statement from the Vatican cited "certain critical issues" as a reason for the refusal. "One concern," Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told Vatican News, "is that at the international level it should above all be the U.N. that manages these crisis situations."

Contact us at [email protected].

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Breaking"

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Source: Breaking

Published: February 21, 2026 at 01:54PM on Source: PRIME TIME

#ShowBiz#Sports#Celebrities#Lifestyle

byPrime Sky

in

February 21, 2026

Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Migrant Crossing Island

Pope Leo Will Spend July 4 Visiting Migrant Crossing Island Rebecca SchneidSat, February 21, 2026 at 6:33 PM UTC 0 ope...

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