This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.
What the left is doodling.
John Deering | Creators Syndicate
What the right is doodling.
Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate
Editors’ Note: This month, we’re trying something new. In lieu of featuring the results of reader surveys in our coverage roundup, we’re adding a “Further Reading” section where we’ll link out to similar coverage of ours from months or even years in the past.
Monday, February 9.
The layoffs at The Washington Post. On Wednesday, February 4, The Washington Post laid off approximately one third of its staff, including hundreds of reporters in its newsroom. Executive Editor Matt Murray announced the cuts to the company, saying its approach required “a new way forward and a sounder foundation.” The layoffs have created uncertainty about the future of the outlet, which has long served as a leading U.S. news source but has recently struggled to retain readers and improve its business model.
Our take: “The Washington Post was my childhood paper, and I’m sad to see so much of it go. Jeff Bezos has to do what he can to keep it alive; he shouldn’t be asked to permanently eat the costs of bad decisions. Ultimately, these cuts are the necessary result of a business that failed to adapt to a new landscape.”
Tuesday, February 10.
The TrumpRx launch. On Thursday, February 5, the Trump administration rolled out TrumpRx, a government website offering consumers discounted prices for common prescription drugs. The platform functions as a hub for consumers, connecting them to manufacturers’ sites or offering coupons for purchases at pharmacies. President Donald Trump said TrumpRx will create millions in consumer savings, with those savings likely concentrated among the uninsured.
Our take: “TrumpRx makes some fertility treatments and GLP-1s much more affordable. For most people, the new government website will do nothing. With complicated approvals and patent protections, drug pricing is really complicated — and any step towards affordability should be celebrated.”
Wednesday, February 11.
The decreasing murder rate. In January 2026, the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) released a report finding that murders and violent crimes in the United States decreased significantly in 2025. According to the report, the murder rate in 35 large U.S. cities fell 21% last year — the biggest one-year drop ever — to what could be its lowest level since 1900. Furthermore, 11 of 13 types of violent crime tracked by CCJ all decreased in 2025; drug crimes increased by 7% while the rate of sexual crimes remained unchanged.
Our take: “The declining murder rate is good news but hard to explain. Federally funded crime prevention strategies and increased policing are likely factors but probably not the only ones. We need more data to understand the root causes.”
Thursday, February 12.
Tensions with Iran. In recent weeks, the United States has built up its military presence in the Middle East while conducting negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group arrived in the Arabian Sea on January 26, bringing an additional 5,700 U.S. troops to the region. On Wednesday, February 11, the Pentagon reportedly told a second aircraft carrier group to prepare for deployment, while President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss diplomatic and potential military strategy. Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian officials met for indirect talks in Oman on Friday, February 6, for the first negotiations between the countries since the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025.
Our take: “I think U.S. military action is more likely now than it was a month ago. Trump’s strategy in Venezuela informs how he could approach an attack. Whatever happens, the administration’s foreign policy is creating more chaos.”
Friday, February 13.
This week, Executive Editor Isaac Saul and Editor Russell Nystrom revisit Tangle’s coverage of Project 2025. They explore how much the Trump administration is following Project 2025, how much its contributors are involved with the administration, and how our coverage (and Isaac’s take) has held up since 2024.
We’ve covered newspaper editorial decisions, drug prices, and tensions with Iran before. Plus, before Senior Editor Will Kaback joined Tangle’s staff, he was a reader who wrote in to critique Isaac’s crime coverage. You can find the piece that sparked Will’s response — and our other past coverage — below.
Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our last newsletter on Thursday.
On Thursday, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the Pentagon from reducing Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-AZ) rank and pension as punishment for his participation in a video urging U.S. servicemembers to disobey unlawful orders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he would appeal the decision. (The ruling)
On Thursday, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division Abigail Slater announced her departure from the Justice Department. Several outlets reported that Slater was ousted by top Trump administration officials after longstanding conflicts with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. (The departure)
On Thursday, President Trump announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is repealing the Obama administration’s 2009 finding that climate change poses a threat to the public, known as the “endangerment finding.” Trump said the EPA will no longer regulate greenhouse gas emissions for cars and trucks that were previously impacted by the finding. (The repeal)
On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration covertly transported thousands of Starlink terminals into Iran following the Iranian government’s crackdown on nationwide protests in January. The terminals were intended to help anti-regime activists remain connected to the internet after the government restricted access. (The report)
On Friday, several outlets reported that President Trump is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East in preparation for a potential strike on Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln is already stationed in the Arabian Sea along with its guided-missile destroyers. (The deployment)
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the consumer price index (CPI) for January rose 2.4% on an annual basis, down 0.3 percentage points from the prior month. The core CPI rose 2.5%, the lowest level since April 2021. (The report)
On Friday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons said two immigration agents have been placed on leave while they are investigated for potentially “untruthful statements” about a January incident in which a federal officer shot a man in the leg during an attempted traffic stop. Lyons said the agents could be fired and criminally charged if they are found to have lied under oath. (The update)
On Friday, funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed after lawmakers failed to reach a funding agreement. Democrats have said that a deal must include a list of reforms to immigration officials’ actions, which Republicans have so far rejected. (The lapse)
Reader essay.
Buttersville, MI | Photo by Cristin Marker
In June 2023, Tangle reader Cristin Marker took a vacation with her family to a scenic town on the shores of Lake Michigan. But instead of relaxing in nature, Cristin found herself drawn to the blue glow of her phone screen and the anxieties she was supposed to have left behind. In this week’s reader essay, Cristin describes how this experience finally prompted her to “go dumb” — sharing how she forsook technology, and how you too can get your life back.
This post is for paying subscribers only
Sign up now and upgrade your account to read the post and get access to the full library of posts for paying subscribers only.
