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  • Letters to the Editor | Feb. 25, 2026

    Letters to the Editor | Feb. 25, 2026

    Come on, Aileen

    Is anyone surprised U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon — young, inexperienced, and appointed by Donald Trump — has ruled that special counsel Jack Smith’s report on the president’s retention of classified documents may not be released, now or ever? Cannon has consistently acted as a Trump stooge, stalling proceedings against him, making rulings to his benefit, and playing a significant role in ensuring he would never be subjected to justice for any of the alleged crimes he committed.

    No doubt Cannon’s deference to Trump will earn her a pat on the head, and that the president will speak of her “brilliance.” Perhaps she was auditioning to be Trump’s next selection if a vacancy were to open on the U.S. Supreme Court. I imagine that most, if not all, of the supine Republican U.S. senators would go along with the nomination of such a lightweight. Trump believes those whom he appoints should be loyal to him rather than to the country. He got what he wanted in Cannon.

    Oren Spiegler, Peters Township

    Health over politics

    All this outrageous conversation of Israel and genocide and apartheid, rooted in a false narrative, denies the reality of Israel being “a light unto the nations.” Take pancreatic cancer. This pernicious affliction, a death sentence accompanied by hopelessness and horrific pain, has no boundaries; no ethnic, national, racial, or political favorites. The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved Israeli-founded company Novocure to market a wearable device for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The device, Optune Pax, uses high-frequency electric fields and is designed to be used in combination with standard chemotherapy drugs. The electrical treatment not only extends patients’ lives on average, but also delays the worsening of pain by about six months. This is the reality of Israel: cutting-edge medicine and discovery for all; living life, day by day, with its vulnerabilities, many challenges, and remarkable achievements.

    Rabbi Charles S. Sherman, Elkins Park

    Sowing mistrust

    I appreciate The Inquirer setting the record straight in response to U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick’s inaccurate comments about the voting issue that occurred in Chester County. In comments on the Senate floor and in his weekly newsletter, he repeats the heavily investigated and thoroughly debunked claim that noneligible voters are casting ballots. He says people question the integrity of voting — if they do, it is because Donald Trump has spent years making this same false claim. I had been expecting our new senator, with his history of military and government service, would stand up for facts and democracy rather than join the forces sowing mistrust.

    Karen Melton, Philadelphia

    Protect democracy

    My work as a therapist makes two concepts abundantly clear: There are parallel personality traits shared by destructive leaders in all walks of life and — for those who are enamored, empowered, or terrified by them — the defense mechanism of denial is extremely difficult to pierce. When it becomes clear that a leader of a household is a killer of either spirit or body or both, it is an uphill challenge to convey a warning to countless partners and many sons and daughters that, without their wake-up call, further destruction is both predictable and inevitable.

    In like manner, warning signs clearly show our 47th president, raised to be a destroyer of all he cannot control, dominate, or seduce, never intends to leave office. For readers loyal to Donald Trump, I ask you to consider the futures of your sons, daughters, and theirs when you are no longer here to protect them, and they dare to have thoughts that lead to their imprisonment or death by an authoritarian leadership. If Trump ever intended to leave office, why has he sent a team of FBI agents armed with a search warrant to Fulton County to seize all available materials relating to the 2020 election? Do you think he will stop this behavior with Georgia?

    Terrified his poll numbers are dropping, his intention is to alter evidence and once again lie — to tell the American people that evidence of voter fraud has, as he has always insisted, been found. Subsequently, he will tell us it will be too dangerous to hold elections. This takeover is our future if not stopped by a union of sane voices.

    SaraKay Smullens, Philadelphia

    Price on life

    The article on making CPR more accessible missed one important factor: the cost of the training. CPR can double or even triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, but to do that, proper training is necessary. When we explored CPR training in this area, the costs were over $80 per person. Some people need $80 for food and other essentials. If we all agree that CPR is critical, then provide a less expensive way to deliver it.

    Anne Weisbord, Blue Bell

    No justice

    Nasrallah Abu Siyam, born in Philadelphia, was shot by Israeli settlers in a West Bank village last week, becoming at least the sixth American citizen killed by Israeli settlers or soldiers in the territory in the last two years. The Israeli Knesset voted last year to annex the Palestinian West Bank, which was supposed to be the land for a Palestinian state — something past American administrations have supported. Our American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, is an avowed Christian Zionist and supports Israel’s “biblical claim” to that area, and possibly further expansion, despite all international resolutions and laws saying it is illegal. Palestinian families have lived there for centuries and now face violence and ethnic cleansing. After supporting Israel in killing tens of thousands in Gaza, we should not continue to allow Israel to act with such impunity. We should also defend the right to life of an American born in Philadelphia.

    Joan Hazbun, Media

    Grim anniversary

    As columnist Trudy Rubin recently reminded us, this week marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine, a conflict that now counts two million casualties and nearly half a million deaths. Despite these losses and the threat of many more, the purpose and urgency of U.S. support for Ukraine have faded in the minds of many American leaders. So this is an appropriate moment to recall why Ukraine’s fate matters.

    As the world’s model for democracy and freedom, the U.S. has long stood by those who align with those values. Invaded by a country whose population, wealth, and weaponry far exceed their own, the Ukrainian people have fought steadily with grim and unfailing endurance. Through commitment, grit, and bloodshed, they have shown themselves to be true partners in the pursuit of values we share. To abandon Ukraine today would be a betrayal of what we as Americans have long stood for.

    To assure global peace and security, it is essential that this war ends in a way that assures Russia will not renew it. By procrastination and by insistence on impossible terms, Vladimir Putin has shown repeatedly that peace with Ukraine is not on his agenda. He will call a halt to the war only when its price becomes intolerable. A weak deal will only invite renewed aggression. On this anniversary, let’s broadcast our support for Ukraine. We urge our fellow Philadelphians to convey to our elected representatives that we want a just and enduring end to this conflict, one that will be possible only when the U.S. exerts the necessary economic, political, and military pressure on the invader.

    Elaine Fultz and John Francis, Philadelphia

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Horoscopes: Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). It is not worth spending time fixing problems that you will not even have once you do things correctly from the beginning. A do-over is your new teacher. A different recipe, plan or relationship has great potential.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Stars encourage an active expansion of your social circle. Listening to different voices keeps you from getting stuck in your own head or in a single narrative. Uplifting relationships balance your perspective and mood.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re getting validation, and it feels good. The feedback is positive, the responses are what you aimed for, and the outcome is what you’d hoped. Now ask, does it actually solve the problem? And what’s the responsible next move?

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Most people are too focused on their own journey to judge yours, and that’s a good thing. The ones who care will be supportive. So there’s no need to overpolice your every step. Do it like nobody’s watching.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll be in a position to take charge. For you, leadership is cultivation. You want to help others, not control them or make them dependent on you. You’ll clear a path, show the way and teach what you know.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You play many roles: friend, worker, helper, leader and partner. Each one asks for certain behaviors, but none of them captures your whole self. They’re expressions, not definitions. A role is something you do, not someone you are.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The option on the table today is not the only one that will be offered and taking it could alter your course. Things may work on paper, but that doesn’t mean they really fit. The ideal arrangement? Try before you buy.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Don’t bend for someone who will take advantage of your good nature. You can show said good nature by good-naturedly saying, “Ha! No way.” It’s the swift timing, lightness and the gleam in your eye that sells it.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The stressful situation will pass, the problem will be solved and the transaction finalized. It’s all coming together very soon, too, so proceed as though you know this is going your way.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Today’s issue is a snowball rolling down a mountain. You might be able to stop it at the top while it’s tiny, but once it gets near the bottom, it’s a fast-moving, giant wrecking ball.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Talent plus merit is the golden ticket. But if you could only choose one, merit always wins out. With work, the job is learned. The real talent is a desire to put in the work it takes to be good.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You do have high expectations today, but it’s appropriate because you are ready for the challenge. You’ve done the preparation, and now it’s just a matter of surrendering to action. You can trust yourself, and the universe, implicitly.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 25). Step into your Year of Whispered Intuition, when incredible timing and subtle influence guide you to wonderful places. Your insight and generosity will be cherished and make a difference in the lives of those you love and those you don’t even know. More highlights: You’ll experience an unexpected windfall, you’ll acquire a lucrative skill, and you’ll give dozens of lauded performances. Leo and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 22, 37, 10 and 41.

  • Dear Abby | Longtime girlfriend tired of competing with attention-seeker

    DEAR ABBY: I’ve been with my boyfriend for 17 years. He has a friend, “Byron,” whom he hangs out with multiple times a week, sometimes up to six days. Byron’s wife, “Crystal,” (married 22 years) is always attached to Byron’s hip. They do everything together.

    Crystal needs to be the center of attention. She constantly brags about herself and speaks louder so she gets all the attention. She’s always texting my boyfriend, even sending him pictures of herself. My boyfriend says it’s harmless and that there’s nothing to be worried about because “she’s his friend’s wife.” To me, that means nothing. Crystal is very competitive, and I feel like she’s trying to win him over. I’m about ready to let her win because I’m not a confrontational person.

    I hang out with them often, so I can distract her and let my boyfriend talk to Byron without her. But I get so exhausted. It’s nonstop. She’s definitely going out of bounds, treating my boyfriend like her man.

    I’ve mentioned my dislike of the situation but have been told it’s my problem (I’m jealous), not his. My boyfriend says I’m acting too clingy now because I always want to be there to keep them separated, but it’s wearing on me. Am I reading too much into this?

    — ENCROACHED ON IN VERMONT

    DEAR ENCROACHED: No, I think you have probably read Crystal, and her insatiable need for attention, right. Because trying to shield your boyfriend from her attempts to monopolize him hasn’t worked, it may be time for a change in tactics. By that, I mean stop tagging along so often. Give him space, while you use the time to get together with friends, family or some other activity you enjoy. If you do, you and your boyfriend will have more to talk about when he returns from these marathons. As I see it, you have nothing to lose and possibly something to gain by trying it.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I am in the process of leaving my husband of 15 years. He has admitted that he used to have sex with me while I was sleeping and when I was passed out drunk back when I had a drinking problem. He’s aware that I was molested when I was younger and that most of it took place when I was sleeping and I would wake up to it happening. He doesn’t see anything wrong with it. He says he was gentle and it was OK because I’m his wife and it’s better than cheating on me. This has permanently scarred me. I don’t know how to handle it. Please help.

    — TRAUMATIZED IN NEW YORK

    DEAR TRAUMATIZED: You have my sympathy. If you haven’t sought counseling, I hope you will do it to help you process the fact that the assaults you have described were spousal rape. Sex with a person who is unable to give consent is illegal in all 50 states. For the sake of your mental health, please talk with a psychotherapist, who can help you to heal as well as report this to the police. A helpful resource that has been mentioned in my column many times is RAINN, the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network. You will find it at rainn.org.

  • From talking up the 250th anniversary to shaking John Fetterman’s hand, here are the Pa. moments in Trump’s State of the Union address

    From talking up the 250th anniversary to shaking John Fetterman’s hand, here are the Pa. moments in Trump’s State of the Union address

    President Donald Trump ended his historically long State of the Union address Tuesday night with how he began it — talking about the United States’ 250th birthday this summer.

    He mentioned the “historic streets of Philadelphia,” Thomas Jefferson’s final breath, and the FIFA World Cup games, some of which will take place in the city this summer.

    But his talk of the 250th celebrations served as bookends to what was otherwise a speech in which he railed against immigrants, spread falsehoods and lashed out at political opponents.

    During the speech, Trump took credit for ending DEI programs across the country, doubled down on his push to end sanctuary cities, falsely suggested his opponents cheat during elections and called for proof of citizenship in order to vote.

    The president chastised Supreme Court justices for their recent ruling against his tariffs. And he frequently lambasted Democrats, bristling when they would not stand to applaud.

    “These people are crazy,” Trump said.

    Stacy Garrity will be a guest at Trump’s SOTU address. Here’s who else from Pa. will (and won’t) be there.

    Pennsylvania popped up throughout the evening as Trump leaned on the 250th as a framing device for his speech and pointed to a woman from the Poconos to promote his economic agenda.

    Trump talks of ‘epic milestone’ 250th celebrations

    Trump mentioned the “epic milestone” of the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary in July just moments in his remarks.

    “This July 4, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom, in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth and you’ve seen nothing yet, we’re going to do better and better and better,” Trump said.

    Philadelphia will be at the center of 250th anniversary celebrations this year, especially during the warmer months when the city is expected to see an influx of tourism which by one estimate could bring in as much as $2.5 billion to the city and region.

    But when visitors stop by Philly’s iconic sites, it’s unclear whether they’ll be seeing the full picture of U.S. history.

    Last month, the Trump administration ordered the takedown of every educational panel from the President’s House at Independence National Historical Park. The site serves as a memorial to the nine people George Washington enslaved at his Philadelphia residence.

    The incident has sparked outrage from Philadelphians who have rallied to protect the site and spurred Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s first major confrontation with Trump.

    After a lawsuit from the Parker administration and tireless community activism, a federal judge last week ordered the site to be restored. The panels were mostly reinstalled Thursday and Friday before a federal appeals judge ordered park employees to pause while the Trump administration’s appeal remains pending.

    Trump did not address the controversy in his speech even as he touted the city’s history and the founding fathers in his speech.

    The Philadelphia case is the most high-profile battle over the Trump administration’s broader effort to sanitize U.S. history ahead of the 250th. The National Park Service has removed content from parks throughout the country, including the Grand Canyon, underan order from Trump forbidding displays that “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.”

    Trump gives a shoutout to working mom from Pa.

    The president brought Megan Hemhauser, a waitress and mom of two from Cresco, Pa., a town in the Poconos, as one of his guests to his address Tuesday night, saying in his speech that because of his “No Tax on Tips” and “No Tax on Overtime” policies she is “so, so much richer.”

    Hemhauser was also featured at Trump’s rally in Mount Pocono in December when the president invited her to speak. She shared that these policies have helped her invest in her family.

    “It saves us and it’s for the future of our children,” she said at the time.

    Under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, tipped workers can deduct up to $25,000 of certain tips per year, but the lowest earners and some tipped workers won’t be eligible for the tax break, CNBC reported. For overtime, certain individuals can deduct up to $12,500 for single filers or $25,000 for married couples filing their taxes jointly each year from 2025 through 2028.

    Both tax breaks are available from 2025 through 2028 and decreases in size when earnings exceed $150,000 for single filers or $300,000 for married couples filing jointly.

    Democrats have pointed out the same legislation also included cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, two programs heavily relied by low-income Americans. They’ve blamed other Trump policies, including his signature tariffs and his opposition to extending health care policies, for exacerbating the cost of living for Pennsylvanians.

    “Trump promised to lower costs for Pennsylvania families on Day One, but he’s done the exact opposite,” said DNC chair Ken Martin in a statement ahead of the speech.

    Protesting with a pin

    U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D., Montgomery) attended Trump’s State of the Union, but ended up leaving the event once Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance would be leading a “war on fraud.”

    “I just had had enough of the lies,” Dean said in an interview after the address.

    The Pennsylvania lawmaker joined other members of the House Democratic Women’s Caucus in wearing white as an homage to the suffragettes. She also wore a pin and scarf showing her support for Ukraine, as Tuesday marks four years since Russia waged its attack on the country.

    “How I would have wished the president would have said ‘I am dismayed that I have not been able to bring an end to that brutal war and that is going to be my singular focus,’” said Dean, a member of the Ukraine caucus. “But, of course, he doesn’t say that.”

    Other Democrats showed their opposition to Trump by boycotting his speech, including several from the region.

    U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D., Delaware) and U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D., Allegheny) both attended “People’s State of the Union,” an alternative event hosted by progressive groups instead of the president’s address.

    Other Democrats who skipped Trump’s speech include retiring U.S. Reps. Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania and U.S. Sen Cory Booker of New Jersey.

    John Fetterman wears a suit and shakes hands with Trump

    Known to seldom wear dress clothes, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman traded his usual hoodie for a suit Tuesday evening when he shook hands with Trump during the president’s entrance to the House chamber.

    Fetterman’s greeting of Trump comes in contrast to many of his Democratic colleagues and underscores the senator’s willingness to embrace the other side of the political aisle, often earning him ire from his own party.

    U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D., Philadelphia) criticized Fetterman in a post on X Tuesday night.

    “I’m not surprised PA Senator John Fetterman finally got dressed up for once and so warmly greeted Donald Trump tonight,” wrote Boyle, who has been floated as a potential primary challenger to Fetterman in 2028. “After all, as the White House has previously stated, John Fetterman is Trump’s favorite Democrat.”

    During a Wednesday morning interview with Fox News, Fetterman criticized fellow Democrats for not standing and applauding during several moments in Trump’s speech that he felt should have garnered bipartisan support, including when Trump recognized Erika Kirk, whose husband Charlie Kirk was shot and killed last year during a speech in Utah.

    Fetterman also defended his handshake with the president and believes he was only Democrat to make such a gesture.

    “Yes, I shook his hand. Of course. He walked in, and I’m always going to do that, for sure,” Fetterman said.

    President Donald Trump passes Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as he departs after delivering the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

    Summer Lee’s Working Families Party response

    Lee, a Pittsburgh progressive in her second term, delivered a response to Trump’s address on behalf of the Working Families Party, a grassroots progressive party that often endorses Democratic candidate.

    The Pennsylvania lawmaker criticized Trump’s tariffs, Medicaid cuts, escalation of federal immigration agents, and mass layoffs of federal employees.

    “The state of the union is dire,” Lee said. “We can’t afford to believe Trump’s lies, and we have to pay attention to his actions. This is not a normal time, and our response to it can’t be politics as usual.”

  • Trump used the longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that the U.S. is ‘winning so much’

    Trump used the longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that the U.S. is ‘winning so much’

    WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared during a marathon State of the Union on Tuesday that “we’re winning so much” — insisting he’d sparked an economic boom at home and imposed a new world order abroad in hopes it can counter his sliding approval ratings.

    Trump’s main objective was convincing increasingly wary Americans that the economy is stronger than many believe, and that they should vote for more of the same by backing Republicans during November’s midterm elections. In all, Trump spoke for a record 108 minutes, breaking — by eight minutes — the previous time mark from his address before a joint session of Congress last year.

    From talking up the 250th anniversary to shaking John Fetterman’s hand, here are the Pa. moments in Trump’s State of the Union address

    The president largely avoided his usual bombast, only occasionally veering off-script — mostly to slam Democrats. As he did during such addresses in his first term, Trump relied on a series of surprise special guests to dramatically punctuate his message. They included U.S. military heroes and a former political prisoner released after U.S. forces toppled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

    Trump drew some of the loudest applause of the night when he invited the Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team into the House chamber.

    “Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mister President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore,’” Trump said before introducing the team.

    The hockey players, wearing their medals and “USA” sweaters, drew a bipartisan standing ovation. Trump pointed to the Democratic side of the chamber and quipped, “That’s the first time I ever I’ve ever seen them get up.”

    In a made-for-TV moment, the president announced he would be awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, to the hockey team’s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. He also bestowed the Purple Heart on Andrew Wolfe — a National Guard member who was shot while deployed on the streets of the nation’s capital. Wolfe made his first public appearance since then during the speech.

    That scene recalled a similar surprise announcement in 2020, when Trump gave the Medal of Freedom to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh during his State of the Union speech.

    Trump decries tariff decision as justices look on

    The president championed his immigration crackdowns and his push to preserve widespread tariffs that the Supreme Court just struck down. He drew applause only from Democrats while describing the high court’s decision, which he called “an unfortunate ruling.”

    Trump vowed to plow ahead, using “alternative” laws to impose the taxes on imports and telling lawmakers, “Congressional action will not be necessary.” Trump argued that the tariffs are paid by foreign countries, despite evidence that the costs are borne by American consumers and businesses. “It’s saving our country,” he said.

    The only Supreme Court justices attending were Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan. Trump greeted them personally before the speech, despite last week slamming Coney Barrett — who he appointed to the high court in his first term — for siding with the majority against his tariffs.

    Democrats also stood for Trump vowing to halt insider trading by members of Congress. But Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat, yelled, “How about you first!” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, called out, “You’re the most corrupt president!”

    When some heckling continued, Trump proclaimed, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.” Later, he pointed at Democrats and proclaimed, “These people are crazy.”

    Democratic Rep. Al Green was escorted from the chamber early in the speech, after he unfurled a sign of protest that read “Black People Aren’t Apes!” That was an apparent reference to a racist video the president posted that depicted former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle. Green was also removed during Trump’s address last year.

    The president, meanwhile, was mostly optimistic and patriotic, but Trump struck a darker tone in large swaths of his speech to warn about the dangers posed by immigrants. He invited lawmakers from both parties to “protect American citizens, not illegal aliens” and championed proposals to limit mail-in ballots and tighten voter identification rules.

    Affordability gets relatively little time

    Trump didn’t dwell on efforts to lower the cost of living — despite polling showing that his handling of the economy and kitchen-table issues has increasingly become a liability. Such concerns about the high costs of living helped propel Democratic wins around the country on Election Day last November.

    There also are persistent fears that tariffs stoking higher prices could eventually hurt the economy and job creation. Economic growth slowed in the last three months of last year.

    It is potentially politically perilous ahead of November elections that could deliver congressional wins to Democrats, just as 2018’s blue wave created a strong check to his administration during his first term.

    On Tuesday, Trump blamed his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, along with Democratic lawmakers in the chamber, saying they were responsible for rising prices and health care costs, two issues his political opponents have repeatedly raised against him.

    “You caused that problem,” Trump said of affordability concerns. He added a moment later, “They knew their statements were a dirty, rotten lie.”

    Trump also said he’d press tech companies involved in artificial intelligence to pay higher electricity rates in areas where their data centers are located. Such data centers tend to use large volumes of electricity, potentially increasing the cost of power to other consumers in the area.

    Another notable off-script moment came as Trump was referencing prescription drug prices, saying, “So in my first year of the second term — should be my third term — but strange things happen,” prompting at least one chant in the chamber of “Four more years!”

    Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who delivered the Democratic response to Trump’s speech, slammed the president’s aggressive immigration policies, his widespread cuts to the federal government and his tariffs.

    “Even though the Supreme Court struck these tariffs down four days ago, the damage to us, the American people, has already been done. Meanwhile, the president is planning for new tariffs,” she said. “Another massive tax hike on you and your family.”

    A warning to Iran

    Trump’s address came as two U.S. aircraft carriers have been dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. Trump said, “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy.”

    “But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror — which they are, by far — to have a nuclear weapon,” he added.

    The president also recounted U.S. airstrikes last summer that pounded Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, and lauded the raid that ousted Maduro in Venezuela — as well as his administration’s brokering of a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.

    “As president, I will make peace wherever I can,” Trump said. ”But I will never hesitate to confront threats to America, wherever we must.”

  • Sixers dominate Pacers, 135-114, in Joel Embiid’s return to the lineup

    Sixers dominate Pacers, 135-114, in Joel Embiid’s return to the lineup

    INDIANAPOLIS — Joel Embiid had 27 points in his return to the lineup after missing five games with right shin soreness and right knee injury management, Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, and the 76ers beat the Indiana Pacers 135-114 on Tuesday night.

    Embiid scored 20 points in the first half, sinking 11 of 17 shots in 26 minutes. VJ Edgecombe chipped in with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting for the 76ers, who shot 58%.

    Andrew Nembhard and Micah Potter each scored 23 for the Pacers. Quenton Jackson had 15 points and rookie Kam Jones added a career-high 13 points.

    Joel Embiid will return to the Sixers lineup vs. Pacers after missing five games

    Pacers leading scorer Pascal Siakam was out with a left wrist sprain. The Pacers also were without Aaron Nesmith, who missed his third consecutive game with right ankle sprain.

    Indiana shot 42% from the field and committed 16 turnovers. The Sixers held a 44-41 rebounding edge with Maxey leading the way with nine rebounds. Jarace Walker had 10 rebounds for the Pacers.

    The 76ers showed their dominance inside with a 82-52 edge in points in the paint.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey (center) had a game-high 32 points against Indiana.

    The Pacers led 38-30 after the first quarter, but the 76ers answered with a 17-0 spurt to open the second quarter and take a 47-38 lead. Philadelphia shot 64% to take a 75-65 lead at halftime.

    Maxey scored 13 points in the third quarter as the 76ers took complete control, expanding the lead to 106-85 after three quarters.

    The Sixers led by 28 points in the fourth quarter before emptying the bench. They will return to Xfinity Mobile Arena next to face the Miami Heat on Thursday (7 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Philly schools return to in-person classes on Wednesday

    Philly schools return to in-person classes on Wednesday

    After two days of virtual classes, the School District of Philadelphia will return to in-person instruction on Wednesday.

    More than a foot of snow was dumped across the city Sunday into Monday morning, prompting widespread closures. However, warmer temperatures on Monday helped to speed up snow removal.

    The city offices and courts reopened on Tuesday, but the School District decided to stay virtual one more day.

    Philadelphia trash and recycling collections will also resume Wednesday on a two-day delayed schedule, officials said.

  • Police rescued seal pup from middle of a snowy Jersey Shore road

    Police rescued seal pup from middle of a snowy Jersey Shore road

    Why did the little seal pup leave the ocean, wander up the beach path, go one block up Middlesex Avenue, then cross three lanes of Long Beach Boulevard in Harvey Cedars?

    Who knows?

    Maybe it was just the long slick surface of post-storm snow and ice that urged the seal to keep going until a sunny spot in this beach town’s southbound slow lane invited her to stretch out.

    Luckily for the gray seal pup, a landscaper on his way to plowing snow did not mistake her for a chunk of snow, and pulled over to block the roadway and help, Harvey Cedars Police Chief Robert Burnaford said Tuesday.

    “At approximately 7 o’clock, an innocent bystander was driving by and saw the seal laying in the Boulevard,” Burnaford said by telephone.

    “They called us, and the officers confirmed the seal was kind of just relaxing in the slow lane of Long Beach Boulevard,” the chief said. “Literally it crossed over three lanes of traffic to where it was finally hanging out.”

    A member of Public Works wrapped the seal in his jacket and moved her to Middlesex Avenue, out of traffic, Burnaford said. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center responded and carried her to their truck, and then to their hospital in Brigantine.

    A gray seal pup wandered off the beach in Harvey Cedars and ended up in the middle of Long Beach Boulevard on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, a day after a snowstorm dropped a foot and a half of snow on the island.

    The Stranding Center put it this way on Instagram: “POV: When your nap shuts down a whole street.”

    The center said in social media statements that the pup had no injuries but was in “thin overall body condition.”

    “She is currently resting comfortably in Pen 2 of the Pool House,” the center wrote.

    Seal beachings are not uncommon at the Jersey Shore, but the animals rarely end up off the beach. Burnaford said that a seal once ended up in the driveway of an oceanfront home.

    “They beach themselves to sun themselves,“ Burnaford said. ”Maybe she was sick and tired of the weather, trying to find another place.”

    A gray seal pup wandered off the beach in Harvey Cedars and ended up in the middle of Long Beach Boulevard on Tuesday, a day after a snowstorm dropped a foot and a half of snow on the island.

    Official totals put towns on Long Beach Island at around 18 inches of snow.

    “It was icy and maybe [the seal] was able to slip and slide easier,” the chief said.

    The Marine Mammal Center added: “Another big reason to use caution when driving through a shore town after a snowstorm.”

  • Joel Embiid will return to the Sixers lineup vs. Pacers after missing five games

    Joel Embiid will return to the Sixers lineup vs. Pacers after missing five games

    INDIANAPOLIS — Joel Embiid will return for the 76ers’ Tuesday game at the Indiana Pacers, the team said.

    Embiid had missed the Sixers’ previous five games with shin soreness and to manage an injury in his right knee. The shin soreness surfaced during the mid-February All-Star break while participating in a management program for his right knee injury, which first emerged earlier in the season.

    Embiid had progressed to 4-on-4 on-court work on Sunday and participated in most of Tuesday’s shootaround, coach Nick Nurse said during his pregame news conference.

    Quentin Grimes vows to stay in ‘attack mode’ for Sixers after breakout performance

    Before this absence, Embiid was enjoying a dominant resurgence that put him in consideration to be an All-Star reserve. The former NBA Most Valuable Player had averaged 30 points on 52.7% shooting, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in his last 20 games played from Dec. 23 through Feb. 7.

    Prior to this season, Embiid struggled to stay healthy following multiple surgeries on his left knee. He played in only 19 games last season, and missed nearly two months of the 2023-24 season.

    Following Tuesday’s game, the Sixers next host the Miami Heat on Thursday before a marquee road matchup at the Boston Celtics on Sunday night.

  • Unhappy with his game, Matvei Michkov got to work over the break: ‘I was training every day’

    Unhappy with his game, Matvei Michkov got to work over the break: ‘I was training every day’

    The Flyers’ season restarts Wednesday in Washington, and Matvei Michkov is ready to go.

    “I was training every day. Was not resting,” the winger said through team translator Slava Kuznetsov about how he spent his Olympic break.

    Michkov said he did two-a-days off the ice for seven days during the break. One session focused on strength and another on conditioning and stamina while he stayed off the ice. He also posted pictures and videos on Instagram on Feb. 16, showing him working out on vacation in the Dominican Republic, and said he had a trainer with him.

    Flyers GM Danny Brière addresses Rick Tocchet’s recent comments on Matvei Michkov: ‘They have a good relationship.’

    “Last year, the 4 Nations [Face-Off] was not too long a break, so I was just resting,” he said when asked about his impressive stretch after the February 2025 tournament. “This time, I was not planning to rest. I was not happy with the way the game was going, so I was working the entire break.

    “My emotions depend on how the hockey goes, so that’s why I decided to work instead of the rest.”

    In mid-October, the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast reported that sources said Michkov was “out of shape,“ and coach Rick Tocchet revealed the same day that Michkov had suffered an ankle injury in the offseason that impacted his training. In November, the 21-year-old Russian attributed his slow start — one goal in his first 13 games, and now 13 across 55 — to his failure to train well over the summer.

    Over the past several weeks, The Inquirer has spoken with former and current NHL players about the conditioning and strength needed to endure the grind of the 82-game season, especially one as condensed as this one.

    They all agreed that while not 100% impossible, it is incredibly difficult to build strength and conditioning during the season. A large part of that is because of the lack of time to recover when players need to be ready to play a physical game at a consistent level. This season, even more so, makes it tough to have an extra day to “run myself into the ground,” as one player put it, because the next day is a game or practice.

    In-season programs are built to maintain instead of build, with even maintaining still difficult to achieve. Conditioning and stamina do go up as games build because of the constant stress of the game on the body, but strength goes down for everyone. The work has to be done in the summer, and Michkov, who was “a little bit behind the eight ball” as Tocchet said earlier this season, reiterated Tuesday that he has learned from his mistakes.

    Flyers coach Rick Tocchet and Matvei Michkov haven’t always agreed on the winger’s role and ice time this season.

    “The NHL is hard work,” he said. “If you take a four-month break, it can reflect [in] your game. You have to concentrate on hockey all the time, and you cannot take even a month of [a] break. You have to be smart when you train in the break, don’t take [an] injury, but training must go.”

    As for working with Tocchet, another topic that swirls around Michkov due to his current role and ice time, the sophomore forward said they have the “common relationship” between coach and player.

    He said he was also unaware of the media chatter before the break, specifically around Tocchet’s comments on the PHLY podcast at the Flyers Charities Carnival regarding Michkov’s minutes and how general manager Danny Brière wanted “to address a little bit of the noise that is going around” while denying a rift between the two.

    “I’ll play as much time as I’m [being] given, and I have to do my job. That’s the only thing I care about,” said Michkov, who is averaging more than two minutes fewer this season compared to last.

    “The way the [coach] plays me, that’s the way he decides to play, so I’ll play. I’m a player, and I have to concentrate 100% on what I’ve been doing at that moment.”

    A left-handed left wing is preferable to many coaches in the defensive zone because it typically pits a lefty against a right-shot defenseman, so they have sticks on the same side — and in the shooting lane — as the defenseman when they try to close them down.

    Another aspect of Tocchet’s decision-making that has drawn criticism is his switching of the left-handed Michkov off his preferred position of right wing to the left side. Some traditionalists will tell you that Michkov should be playing on the left side anyway, especially in defensive-zone coverage, as a left-handed stick will be able to use the walls and protect the puck to get it out on the left side.

    Tocchet said in January that it’s just to line up and not a big deal in the offensive zone, “but through the neutral zone, for me, the faster you can go on your forehand is the better [side]. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go to the other side.”

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    Asked about the adjustment, Michkov responded: “I’m always playing [on] the right, I was always happy. Now I’m playing on the left [and] it’s a new role. If the coach sees me there, I have to adapt as quick as I can. But, for me, on the right, I can create a lot more moments. Now I have to switch everything to the left and do the same thing.”

    Regardless, Michkov says he is feeling 100% and “very light on the ice.” His focus is not on the noise but the last stretch of games as the Flyers try to make up ground in the Eastern Conference and gain a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

    “I’m sure every single player is looking [to win] those games,” he said.

    “Twenty-six games left; it’s hard work. Everybody wants to make the playoffs, and that’s our goal on the ice — for me, for coaches, and for staff as well — everybody’s thinking about the group and how to win those games and make the playoffs.”

    Breakaways

    Rasmus Ristolainen rejoined the Flyers on Tuesday after an impressive Olympic performance in Milan. He said he roomed with Mikko Rantanen in the Athletes’ Village and is just happy he didn’t lose his bronze medal after the game. … Assistant coach Todd Reirden said Travis Sanheim was at the Flyers Training Center on Tuesday and is expected to play against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday (7 p.m., NBCSP). He took a different route home from Italy than Tocchet, who flew on the charter to Miami and was unable to make it to Philly because of the weather. Tocchet will join the team in Washington.