Good Morning!

It's Thursday, February 19, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• US military builds up forces near Iran

• What's “New Collar” work?

• Are we all just “love addicted”?

Love this newsletter? Don’t keep it all to yourself — share it with your friends!

Reading for the first time? Join over 50,000 intellectually curious women. 

Paywalled articles ruin a seamless experience. We hear you, going forward, here’s a link that you can use to access all the locked articles to bypass the paywall. It is safe and we hope to deliver nothing but the best experience for our readers.

Help us be better, write at: [email protected]

Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

Politics

US Military Moves In For Possible Strike On Iran

The US has rapidly built up forces in the Middle East, giving President Trump the option to strike Iran this weekend, officials said. The military buildup includes two aircraft carrier strike groups, dozens of fighter jets, refueling planes, and missile defenses. Indirect talks in Geneva this week ended with Iran agreeing on “guiding principles,” but gaps remain. See map: where is US building military force around Iran.

Trump has demanded Iran halt uranium enrichment. Israel has heightened alert and prepared for a possible joint strike. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy is preferred, but a military option remains under consideration. Six reasons why a war might be along the way.

World

Ex-Prince Andrew Arrested Over Epstein Ties

King Charles’ brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, police said, in connection with his dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest came on his 66th birthday. Thames Valley Police are carrying out searches at addresses in Norfolk and Berkshire, with Norfolk Police assisting. The investigation follows emails suggesting Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential information as the UK’s trade envoy with Epstein. 

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said a full investigation has been opened. Buckingham Palace previously stripped Andrew of royal titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge in October 2025. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing. Follow live updates here.

Unbiased News Trusted by 2.3 Million Americans!

The Flyover offers a refreshing alternative to traditional news.

Tired of biased headlines and endless scrolling? We deliver quick, fact-focused coverage across politics, business, sports, tech, science, and more—cutting through the noise of mainstream media.

Our experienced editorial team finds the most important stories of the day from hundreds of sources, so you don’t have to.

Join over 2.3 million readers who trust The Flyover to start their day informed, confident, and ahead of the curve.

Join Free Today!

Tech

Zuckerberg Testifies In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified Wednesday in Los Angeles during the first of three weeks in a trial over alleged harms caused by Facebook and Instagram. He said Meta aims to provide useful services, not to attract children, and denied platforms are addictive. 

Plaintiff lawyer Mark Lanier questioned Zuckerberg on internal documents, including a 2015 email setting “time spent” targets and reports of children under 13 using Instagram. The case involves KGM, who alleges social-media use from age 10 led to depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. Meta disputes liability and claims teen safety has been prioritized.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🏔️ Eight skiers found dead, one missing in California avalanche.

💼 “New Collar” work is in — and you don’t even need a degree to do it!

💘 Is “love addiction” even a thing? From butterflies to “behavioral patterns,” love is getting a rebrand.

😌 Feeling stressed out lately? Well, you might want to try this kid’s game to feel better.

✈️ Is Donald J. Trump International Airport being built? President’s company has already bought the trademark.

🤖 AI might be stealing jobs but here’s how to use it to ace your next job interview!

⛪ Vatican refuses to take part in Trump’s Board of Peace. Wonder what side god’s on.

🌍 Environmental groups sue to stop the EPA’s rollback of its key climate finding.

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

⏰ Your eyes pop open at 5:00 am, and it feels like a total win. But before you roll over, experts want you to reconsider if the forced “rest” is worth it. 

🥤 Do you really need an $80 juice cleanse to detox your body? Biology is on the other side of the argument. 

🍹 Yes, even occasional binge drinking isn’t a safer bet; new research shows how one bottomless brunch can wreak havoc on your gut.

🧠 There’s a symptom of Alzheimer’s often mistaken for a personality flaw, yet it can make you feel like you're losing your very self.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

🧥 Bomber jackets have evolved from being a style afterthought to the one piece that makes an outfit look intentional. For instance, have you tried layering it over a midi dress?  

💇‍♀️ Everybody’s over the high-maintenance blowout. But we’ll let you in on a secret — the wolf cut does the work for you. Actually, it’s the perfect messy-on-purpose shag that looks better the less you touch it.

⚠️ Put the hemorrhoid cream down! TikTok’s newest skin “tightening” hack is just a temporary trick that can give some very permanent problems. 

👖 We’re calling it what it is …. denim accessories are the sleeper hit of the season. It’s the street-style high the world has been chasing forever.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎸 An Irish band just released a new song, ‘American Obituary’, critiquing US federal immigration policies. 

🎬 Bad Bunny is stepping into his first major leading role on the big screen! 

🚩 Zendaya is sharing her relationship “red flags” and “green flags” — and it starts with a very telling test. 

🎤 Leighton Meester finally explains that viral Ariana Grande “mocking” clip.Turns out, it was all a hearing mishap!

Interactive

WEIGH IN

For many Americans, taxes are a once-a-year chore, but legal scholars argue the system reflects deeper values — which is that they might be anti-feminist. A Pace University law professor says the US tax code isn’t neutral and often reinforces power imbalances, especially around caregiving, household income assumptions, and the treatment of child care. She notes that joint filing can disadvantage second earners and that gaps between labor and capital taxation fuel inequality.

“Become so grounded that no storm can rewrite your story.”

 — Arianna Huffington