Multiple Trump administration officials issued responses after The Guardian published a report claiming the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was backing off its pledge to ban artificial dyes from food. The outlet claimed that the FDA “would loosen labeling requirements to allow companies to state ‘no artificial colors’, even though products may contain some dangerous substances such as titanium dioxide.” “Amusing fake news. The FDA is moving full steam ahead,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary responded. Amusing fake news. The FDA is moving full steam ahead. pic.twitter.com/NToEZYJKIK — Dr. Marty Makary (@DrMakaryFDA) February 23, 2026 More from The Guardian: The FDA in early February announced it would allow food makers to claim “no artificial colors” as long as the dyes are not petroleum-based, but health experts say even some naturally based additives present health risks, and the labeling would deceive consumers. The move comes after the agency in 2025 began pressuring companies to phase out petroleum-based dyes, but stopped short of putting in place a ban. Removing toxins from food is a cornerstone of the Robert F Kennedy-led Maha movement. Kennedy is the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, which holds the FDA, and he quickly zeroed in on dye upon taking office last year. The FDA agreed to what critics label a “handshake” with big food to stop using the dyes, though Kennedy framed it as “an understanding”. Some candy makers still are refusing to fully stop using artificial dyes. The latest decision around labeling “is going to cause confusion and allow some companies to mislead folks about the colors that are present in their foods”, said Thomas Galligan, principal scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which researches food dyes. “It’s frustrating, especially when the rhetoric suggests they are solving the problem, but in practice they’re just letting industry do whatever they want,” Galligan continued, adding that the rules were already so loophole-ridden that there were other ways that companies could deceive consumers. The most effective measure to protect consumers is a ban, he said. “This could not be further from the truth. This administration has addressed a roadblock that prohibited companies using natural colors from highlighting that fact on the labeling,” said Kyle Diamantas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. “Under the old way, companies that used only natural color were forced to call them ‘artificial’ when making labeling claims, creating consumer confusion and disincentivizing use. Fixing this issue will help companies continue to transition to using natural color alternatives as part of an industry wide phase out,” Diamantas continued. “FDA is actively reviewing the safety of titanium dioxide. We have already received numerous commitments from industry leaders to abandon the use of TiO2,” he added. This could not be further from the truth. This administration has addressed a roadblock that prohibited companies using natural colors from highlighting that fact on the labeling. Under the old way, companies that used only natural color were forced to call them “artificial”… https://t.co/yBQ0K28dDO — Deputy Commissioner Kyle Diamantas (@FDA_KyleD) February 21, 2026 White House Senior Advisor Calley Means called the reporting “utter bulls***.” Utter bullshit. Official response soon. https://t.co/FTx6A3YiTs — Calley Means (@calleymeans) February 21, 2026 Read the full FDA release from earlier this month: Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took additional steps to support the transition of our nation’s food supply from the use of artificial petroleum-based colors to alternatives derived from natural sources. Companies will now have flexibility to claim products contain ‘no artificial colors’ when the products do not contain petroleum-based colors. In the past, companies were generally only able to make such claims when their products had no added color whatsoever — whether derived from natural sources or otherwise. The agency sent a letter to industry providing notice of the FDA’s intent to exercise enforcement discretion related to these voluntary labeling claims. “This is real progress,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “We are making it easier for companies to move away from petroleum-based synthetic colors and adopt safer, naturally derived alternatives. This momentum advances our broader effort to help Americans eat real food and Make America Healthy Again.” Additionally, the agency today also approved beetroot red, a new color option, and approved the expanded use of spirulina extract, an existing color additive derived from a natural source. These actions were initiated by two petitions and will further help the industry transition from petroleum-based food colors. This brings the total number of new food color options approved under the current administration to six. “We acknowledge that calling colors derived from natural sources ‘artificial’ might be confusing for consumers and a hindrance for companies to explore alternative food coloring options,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “We’re taking away that hindrance and making it easier for companies to use these colors in the foods our families eat every day.” This work builds on previous HHS and FDA actions to encourage companies to phase out the use of petroleum-based colors in their food products. In April 2025, HHS and the FDA first announced a series of new measures to work with industry to phase out use of all petroleum-based synthetic colors from the nation’s food supply—a significant milestone in the administration’s broader initiative to Make America Healthy Again. Ongoing progress in removing petroleum-based colors from the food supply is being publicly tracked by the FDA at Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes. “We are working diligently to facilitate industry’s phase out of petroleum-based colors and speed up authorizations for colors that are derived from alternative sources,” said Kyle Diamantas, J.D., Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods. “The actions announced today give companies even more ways to transition to the use of alternative colors derived from natural sources.” While the FDA encourages manufacturers to transition to alternative colors, including those derived from natural sources, the agency is also reminding manufacturers of their responsibility to ensure color additive safety. Therefore, the agency is issuing a letter that, among other things, highlights resources that may assist manufacturers of authorized color additives in maintaining high standards of safety and purity.

It looks like Da Bears might soon be Da Bears from Indiana! The Far-Left Mayor of Chicago and the Far-Left Governor of Illinois are doing all they can to run The Bears out of town, and so far it’s looking like they might just succeed. Why do Socialists always ruin everything they touch? With the promise of a new domed stadium, it looks like Indiana is making real progress in luring The Bears out of hibernation and out of Chicago: Trade Deal Indiana gets the Chicago Bears and a new space age stadium + $ Billions in new tourism Chicago gets Obama DEI garbage can pic.twitter.com/z2PjuOCLlg — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 19, 2026 Of course the move is partially about the carrot and partially about the stick. Because who would really want to live in the Hell Hole that Chicago has become? This is why DA BEARS are moving to Indiana lol pic.twitter.com/9ac7tjx9Zj — 11202011TINA (@11202011t) February 19, 2026 The NFL.com added more details: The Chicago Bears’ potential move to Indiana took another step forward on Thursday when a key committee approved a plan to create an agency that would help get a stadium built. The Indiana House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed a bill establishing a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority to finance, construct and lease a stadium by a 24-0 margin. The Bears are looking at a tract of land near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Ind. “The passage of SB 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date,” the team said in a statement. “We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana.” Republican Gov. Mike Braun and lawmakers in Indiana have been aggressive in trying to lure the founding NFL franchise across the state line amid a yearslong effort to build an enclosed stadium in Illinois. The Bears did not mention Illinois in their statement. The Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday morning on a bill that would allow the Bears and any other developer of a large enough project to negotiate long-term property tax rates with local taxing bodies. But that got canceled. “Illinois was ready to move this bill forward,” Matt Hill, a spokesman for Gov. JB Pritzker, posted on X. “After a productive three-hour meeting yesterday, the Bears leaders requested the (Illinois General Assembly) pause the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill. This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois.” Leave it to a Red State to pull off one of the biggest wins in sports history! Luring away the storied Bears franchise! Meanwhile, Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson feigned outrage: IT’S OFFICIAL: The Chicago Bears are FLEEING CHICAGO to Indiana, Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson is LIVID “Is my face straight? Alright. OK. Trying to keep a straight face here.” He PUSHED THEM OUT, Chicago is a SHTHOLE. This is on you, Johnson!pic.twitter.com/sJcha9yq7B — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 19, 2026 The move would be just a 24 minute drive away, but sometimes a change in state lines means everything: For reference: https://t.co/jo0jMO6nZ0 pic.twitter.com/CfZWG4ZiXU — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 19, 2026 Here’s more from Rich Eisen:

A vicious blizzard walloped the Northeast United States from Sunday night into Monday afternoon, particularly in Providence, Rhode Island, where it shattered the snowfall record. Providence reached 32.8 inches of snow on Monday afternoon, eclipsing a 48-year record. Providence, Rhode Island, has officially set a new snowfall record, with 33 inches and counting — surpassing the 28.6 inches recorded during the historic Blizzard of 1978. pic.twitter.com/qLitxvPRXu — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 23, 2026 The Providence Journal shared further: As of the 1 p.m. snow totals from the National Weather Service, numerous towns have smashed their snowfall records previously set by the Blizzard of ’78, and the snow keeps falling. There is currently a total travel ban in place, Four of the state’s bridges are closed – the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge, Mount Hope Bridge, Newport Pell Bridge and the Sakonnet River Bridge. Numerous towns have over 30 inches of snow recorded, according to preliminary totals from the National Weather Service. There are currently about 39,881 power outages across Rhode Island. Check out some photos from the historic snowfall: This shot from @AsherReddtv in Providence, RI is wild. Hip-high snow. The all-time record for biggest snowstorm, set in the infamous 1978 blizzard is almost certain to fall pic.twitter.com/XXkhWZHrhd — Greg Diamond (@gdimeweather) February 23, 2026 33 INCHES OF SNOW! Providence, Rhode Island, just had their all-time greatest snowstorm on record with 33" so far, beating out the Blizzard of '78. Montauk Point on Long Island had hurricane-force wind gusts of 84 mph too! These are new pictures today from the historic… pic.twitter.com/j2etj8XnOD — Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) February 23, 2026 “We are very concerned for areas southeast of the Boston-Providence corridor where wet snow combines with northeast wind gusts of 60-70 mph. Power outages & tree damage. Worst conditions Mon 4 am to noon,” NWS Boston wrote. [Potentially Historic/Destructive Storm southeast of the BOS-PVD corridor] We are very concerned for areas southeast of the Boston-Providence corridor where wet snow combines with northeast wind gusts of 60-70 mph. Power outages & tree damage. Worst conditions Mon 4 am to noon. pic.twitter.com/8NHt3mkDIP — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) February 22, 2026 FOX Weather has more: Snow totals kept climbing throughout the day on Monday, with Rhode Island seeing some of the highest snow totals of all the Northeast hit by the storm. FOX News Multimedia Reporter Asher Redd reported from Providence on Monday, bringing incredible pictures to FOX Weather through the worst of the storm. Wind gusts of 60 mph at times, along with heavy, blowing snow and limited visibility led to blizzard conditions on Monday. The snow that fell on Monday nearly matches Providence’s annual average snowfall of 36.6 inches, which the city is likely to surpass on Monday alone. Watch additional coverage below:

The U.S. State Department ordered non-emergency personnel to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. “The Department of State updated its Travel Advisory for Lebanon on February 23, 2026, to reflect that the Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government personnel and the family members of government personnel to leave Lebanon due to safety risks. The Travel Advisory Level for Lebanon remains Level 4 – Do Not Travel,” the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon stated. “Out of an abundance of caution and until further notice, U.S. Embassy Beirut has suspended routine consular services. Americans should contact beirutacs@state.gov in case of emergency. Americans in Lebanon are strongly encouraged to depart now. The commercial airport remains open and there is availability on commercial carriers, however flights may be cancelled at any time. Please check flight options at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport,” the statement continued. “Americans who choose not to depart at this time should prepare contingency plans should the situation deteriorate. These alternative plans should not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation,” it added. JUST IN: US embassy evacuates staff from Beirut, Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/Nx4ZtrV1lR — BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) February 23, 2026 Fox News has more: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has tightened control over Hezbollah in Lebanon amid looming prospects of potential U.S. strikes, according to reports. According to the Jerusalem Post, the tactical shift comes as Hezbollah and Iran prepare for military confrontation in the region, with analysts warning that if Washington specifically strikes the regime, Hezbollah is ready to be “activated.” “If the regime in Tehran feels threatened, the likelihood of unleashing Hezbollah against Israel and U.S. regional assets increases substantially,” Ross Harrison, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital. “Hezbollah would not be activated right away, unless the attack immediately targets the leadership of the Islamic Republic. But as part of a graduated response, Hezbollah will likely be seen as an asset,” he said. “If it faces an existential risk, then Iran may throw caution to the wind and try to deploy Hezbollah to the maximum,” Harrison, author of “Decoding Iran’s Foreign Policy” explained. The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon listed the following actions to take: Americans who wish to depart should take advantage of commercial transportation options. If you choose to remain in Lebanon, be prepared to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate. Have a contingency plan for emergencies and review the Traveler’s Checklist . Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov to receive critical information from the Embassy related to health and safety in Lebanon. Have a plan to depart in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations “On February 23, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel due to the security situation in Beirut. U.S. Embassy Beirut personnel are restricted from personal travel without advance permission. Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. personnel under Chief of Mission security responsibility, with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats,” the statement added. BREAKING STATE DEPT: LEBANON: DO NOT TRAVEL pic.twitter.com/yOY8cFDKVQ — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) February 23, 2026 The Guardian shared further: The diplomatic drawdown followed reports that dozens of US personnel had been evacuated through Lebanon’s Beirut-Rafic Hariri international airport to protect them from a possible Iranian counterattack if tensions between the US and Iran escalate into war. Roughly 30-50 US embassy personnel have left the country, estimates suggest. The US and Iran are scheduled to hold a third round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday on limiting Iran’s nuclear programme. Donald Trump has said that he wants a “meaningful deal” that will prevent Iran from seeking to build a nuclear weapon and warned that “bad things” would happen if no deal was made. The US has evacuated personnel from its embassies and military bases as part of its preparations for armed conflict with Iran in the past. In 2025, the US temporarily evacuated non-essential personnel from embassies in Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait before launching strikes on Iranian uranium enrichment and other facilities linked to its nuclear programme.

Kara Braxton, a two-time WNBA champion, passed away after a car crash in Atlanta over the weekend. Braxton, who played in the league for about a decade, won two championships with the Detroit Shock. “It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton. A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time,” the WNBA stated. It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton. A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time. pic.twitter.com/0I71xWCWfW — WNBA (@WNBA) February 23, 2026 Fox News shared further: The Detroit Shock selected Braxton with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2005 draft out of Georgia. She was an All-Star for Detroit in 2007 and was a member of the championship-winning teams in 2006 and 2008. She was with them when the team moved to Tulsa but was later traded to the Phoenix Mercury and eventually the New York Liberty. She was waived by the Atlanta Dream before the 2016 season. “We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our organization and the women’s game,” the Liberty said. “Our hearts are with her family, friends, teammates, and all who were touched by her spirit. Her impact will not be forgotten.” “Rest in peace Kara,” the University of Georgia women’s basketball stated. “Georgia mourns the loss of former Lady Bulldog Kara Braxton, who played from 2002-04,” it added. Rest in peace Kara Georgia mourns the loss of former Lady Bulldog Kara Braxton, who played from 2002-04. pic.twitter.com/4bKYMzur4c — Georgia Basketball (@UGA_WBB) February 23, 2026 NBC News has more: Braxton’s son, University of North Carolina tight end Jelani Thurman, posted a photo of himself and his mother from when he was a toddler, a teenager and a college football player. “Imma miss my queen!” he wrote in an Instagram story. According to the Cobb County Police Department, Braxton was behind the wheel of a 2023 Ford Mustang heading north on Interstate 285 just after 5 p.m. on Saturday when she collided with the concrete median wall. “The Ford continued in a northerly direction against the concrete wall until coming to rest on the left shoulder of I-285 at Cobb Parkway,” police said in a press release. Braxton was rushed to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.