There’s a shakeup going on at the Department of Justice. Top Trump Administration officials have just booted antitrust chief Abigail Slater. Slater’s departure comes after she and top leaders within the DOJ  disagreed about which cases should be pursued. Here’s Slater’s post announcing her departure: It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today. It was indeed the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role. Huge thanks to all who supported me this past year, most especially the men and women of @justiceatr — Gail Slater (@gailaslater) February 12, 2026 CBS News provided some background information on Slater being booted: Top Trump administration officials had decided to oust Justice Department antitrust chief Abigail Slater and had discussions with her shortly before she announced on social media that she was leaving the department, sources told CBS News. Slater didn’t cite a reason for her departure in her statement on X, where she wrote, “It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role as AAG for Antitrust today.” But she had lost the trust of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. In her post as assistant attorney general for antitrust, she determined whether business merger deals would be approved or get derailed, and her every move was closely watched by the business community. Trump officials believed Slater had undermined pending cases because of disagreements with leadership and had disobeyed requests, including to not embark on expensive travel to Europe and on other matters, two sources said. On one occasion, Slater angered Bondi when she traveled to a conference in Paris without Bondi’s permission, prompting Bondi to cut off access to Slater’s government credit cards, one source said. Vice President JD Vance was aware of the fraught dynamics with Slater at the agency, two sources said. Bondi in a statement to CBS News said: “On behalf of the Department of Justice, we thank Gail Slater for her service to the Antitrust Division which works to protect consumers, promote affordability, and expand economic opportunity.” Some users on X disagreed on the Trump administration’s decision to cut Slater: Gail Slater is a warrior. Gail was most principled one there. Now no corporation will be held responsible for anything . When you won’t bend, powerful people get uncomfortable. Respect. @gailaslater https://t.co/kcXHJSK2yW — Grace Chong, MBI (@gc22gc) February 12, 2026 Newsweek has reported that bettors on prediction markets are betting that Bondi will be next: The likelihood that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be the first individual to leave President Donald Trump’s Cabinet has surged on prediction markets, surpassing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose chances of departing have also recently been high. Bondi has faced pressure over the government’s handling of files associated with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. On Wednesday, she was questioned by the House Judiciary Committee about the matter in an oversight hearing on Capitol Hill. Since then, according to prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket, her chances of leaving Trump’s cabinet have increased. Pam Bondi is now expected to leave the administration this year. https://t.co/fdz6RIKia1 — Pentagon Pizza Watch (@pizzintwatch) February 11, 2026

Prayers are needed for this Marine’s family. A U.S. Marine who was stationed on the USS Iwo Jima has died. The Marine died after reportedly falling overboard on the Iwo Jima, which was sailing in the Caribbean Sea. The body of the Marine has yet to be recovered. The Navy Times had more details to share on the death of the Marine: A Marine who fell overboard from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on Feb. 7 has been declared dead after exhaustive search-and-rescue efforts were unsuccessful, the service announced. Rescue efforts for Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, were suspended on Feb. 10, three days after the Marine went overboard in the Caribbean Sea, II Marine Expeditionary Force officials announced. Oforah, of Florida, was an infantry rifleman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the service announced. He graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot-Parris Island in February 2024 and was deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit at the time of his death. “We are all grieving alongside the Oforah family,” Col. Tom Trimble, the 22nd MEU commanding officer, said in a release. “The loss of Lance Cpl. Oforah is deeply felt across the entire Navy-Marine Corps team. He will be profoundly missed, and his dedicated service will not be forgotten.” A massive multi-branch search effort ensued on Feb. 7 after a man overboard was declared, according to the release. Five U.S. Navy ships, a rigid-hull inflatable boat, surface rescue swimmers from the Iwo Jima and 10 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force joined the search efforts, according to the announcement. The Iwo Jima is currently deployed to the Caribbean, where it was recently involved in transporting captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Here’s a photo of the USS Iwo Jima, where the Marine was stationed: Mayport, #UnitedStates () The @USNavy‘s USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) has returned to the U.S., arriving at NS Mayport yesterday for a much needed return. The Iwo Jima has been on deployment in the Caribbean for 137 days, participating in Operation Southern Spear & Absolute Resolve. pic.twitter.com/NdffE3mg28 — SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) January 9, 2026 The news of the Marine’s death comes a couple of days before two U.S. Navy ships collided in the Caribbean. The Hill reported more on the collision: Two U.S. Navy ships collided Wednesday in an area patrolled by the U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), leaving two personnel with minor injuries, according to military officials. The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun and Supply-class fast combat support vessel USNS Supply collided during a replenishment-at-sea, Southcom spokesperson Steven McLoud said in a statement. The injured personnel sustained minor injuries in the incident and are in stable condition. Both ships have reported sailing safely and the collision is currently under investigation, McLoud added. The cause of the collision is unclear, along with the exact location of the incident. A replenishment typically involves transferring fuel and other supplies between two vessels that are sailing next to each other. The death of the Marine and the collision come as the U.S. military has begun shifting naval assets from the Caribbean to the Middle East.

On Thursday, Border Czar Tom Homan spoke about the future of ICE operations in Minnesota. In a morning press conference, Homan, who was selected by President Trump to lead ICE operations in Minnesota, announced that Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota will come to a close. Homan shared that both he and President Trump have deemed the operation a success, and now a drawdown will be issued. Watch Homan here: BREAKING: Tom Homan has announced the END of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, and ICE agents are already pulling out “A significant drawdown has already been under way this week and will continue through the next week.” pic.twitter.com/GGFGS2RAbw — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 12, 2026 Politico covered Homan’s press conference more in depth: The Trump administration’s massive immigration enforcement surge throughout Minnesota is coming to a close, White House border czar Tom Homan said during a press conference on Thursday. “I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said, citing arrests of “public safety threats” in coordination with state officials. A “significant drawdown” in federal immigration agents is already underway, Homan said, and will continue into the next week. But Homan has directed certain officers to remain in strategic areas throughout the state to coordinate with local sheriffs on more arrests. The White House has diminished its presence in Minneapolis amid public outcry after two federal agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a local nurse, during a protest in January. The agents were placed on administrative leave. And just last week, Homan announced the White House would shrink the number of immigration officers in the state by 25 percent. Homan characterized the White House pullback as evidence that the president had succeeded in his efforts to fight crime and remove violent undocumented people from the state. Later in the press conference, Homan revealed how many missing children have been saved during ICE operations in Minnesota: BREAKING: Tom Homan says ICE recovered 3,364 MISSING children: “ICE here in this state have located 3,364 missing unaccompanied alien children — children that the last Administration lost and weren’t even looking for.” pic.twitter.com/tmcfmsW4y5 — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 12, 2026 CNBC reported that a small remnant of ICE agents will still remain in Minnesota as the drawdown occurs: Homan added that a “small footprint” of personnel will stay in the area “for a period of time” to transition command back to a local field office, and to ensure “agitator activity” does not flare back up. The conclusion of “Operation Metro Surge” was announced less than three weeks after Trump deployed Homan to Minnesota to run the sweeping deportation mission, replacing Border Patrol commander at large Gregory Bovino. That shake-up followed the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens who were fatally shot by federal agents in separate altercations in January. Homan on Thursday touted a recent de-escalation in those tensions, crediting improved coordination between the federal government and state and local leaders since he took over. “With that, and success that has been made arresting public safety threats and other priorities since this surge operation began, as well as the unprecedented levels of coordination we have obtained from state officials and local law enforcement, I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting operations on state property without a judicial warrant. “Governor Mikie Sherrill took action to protect New Jerseyans’ safety and Constitutional rights as the Trump administration’s federal agents act outside the scope of the law. Governor Sherrill – alongside Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and Acting Human Services Commissioner Dr. Stephen Cha – announced Executive Order No. 12 to protect against ICE raids on state property, a resident reporting portal, and information for New Jerseyans to know their rights,” a press release from Sherrill’s office read. “I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe and, as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver. This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations. To strengthen public safety, we will also give New Jersey residents the tools to report ICE activity to the Attorney General’s office and ensure residents know their Constitutional rights. Today, we are making clear that the Trump administration’s lawless actions will not go unchecked in New Jersey. Given ICE’s willingness to flout the Constitution and violently endanger communities – detaining children, arresting citizens, and even killing several innocent civilians – I will stand up for New Jerseyans right to be safe,” Sherrill said. “This portal will help us to hold them accountable — to track their actions, collect that information, and use it to spot patterns that can inform our response as a state, including in court,” Sherrill said at a press conference. “If you’re approached by an agent or see an ICE operation taking place and you’re at a safe distance, get out your phones, send us your videos, and help to keep New Jersey safe,” she continued. Check it out: BREAKING: New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill Launches New Portal to Track & Report ICE “This portal will help us to hold [ICE] accountable — to track their actions, collect that information, and use it to spot patterns that can inform our response as a state, including in court.”… pic.twitter.com/KNoZTLvdpT — Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) February 12, 2026 The Hill has more: The portal gives residents the chance to report their interactions with immigration authorities in a total of 10 languages. “It is essential that federal agents who conduct immigration enforcement operations in New Jersey follow the Constitution, as well as federal and state laws. When federal immigration officers violate the law and sow fear in our communities, they undermine public trust in law enforcement and make it harder for us to keep the public safe,” acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement. “We encourage the public to share photos and videos through our new online portal. We will ensure the safety of our communities and hold the federal government accountable when they violate the law,” she added. “Someone should brief @GovSherrillNJ on the Supremacy Clause before she tries to cosplay as a constitutional scholar. Federal law enforcement doesn’t answer to state executive orders. ‘Protecting New Jersey’ shouldn’t mean protecting people who broke federal law to be here,” Alina Habba commented. Someone should brief @GovSherrillNJ on the Supremacy Clause before she tries to cosplay as a constitutional scholar. Federal law enforcement doesn’t answer to state executive orders. ‘Protecting New Jersey’ shouldn’t mean protecting people who broke federal law to be here. Feds… https://t.co/VlBCqIA9En — Alina Habba (@AlinaHabba) February 12, 2026 PIX11 noted: Examples of concerning activity include uses of excessive force, warrantless searches or arrests, racial profiling, wrongful detentions, interference with voting, or other civil-rights violations. Information submitted through the website may be used by the Office of the Attorney General to assist in enforcing the law, as evidence in court and more. It will also help the state to understand trends in ICE enforcement, shape its legal strategy to protect residents, and guard against misconduct.

I did not expect to see this today! CNN’s Kaitlan Collins has been one of the nastiest, most outspoken critics of anything related to Donald Trump, but in a rare moment of shocking honestly, she actually defended and offered some rare praise for the Trump Administration, especially Katherine Leavitt. Watch here: WOW! CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reveals Karoline Leavitt DEFENDED her freedom of the press while on a trip with Trump “The Saudi Royal Guard freaked out and said I can’t come. Karoline said, ‘NO, she’s coming with the rest of the press!'” Imagine that. pic.twitter.com/KwWmlzNAVp — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 12, 2026 FULL TRANSCRIPT: When we were in Saudi Arabia and we were on a foreign trip with the president, and he came in with all the other leaders, including the Saudi Crown Prince. They famously do not like the media there. Right. Um, and, um, to put it lightly. And I asked a shouted question to President Trump, who had seen me when, when the US press came in. He didn’t answer, which is, I mean, that’s how it worked. You shout questions, they either answer or they don’t. Mm-hmm. It’s their prerogative. And then the world leaders left the room. The Saudi Royal Guard kind of freaked out because I dared to ask a question, and they’re not used to that there because they don’t have a free press. And so, they came up and they said, “Okay, well you can’t come into the next event.” Which was like 2 minutes later. And I was like, “That’s not how this works. I go in with the US press.” And they were like, “Well you’re not coming in.” And I could see them like whispering and pointing about me, and some of the younger White House staff that were with the press weren’t really sure what to do. And they went to Caroline. And to her credit, she said, “No, Kaitlin’s coming in with the rest of the US press.” Mm-hmm. And we went in. And so it didn’t become this huge issue because obviously if I had not been allowed in, you know, this is something that has happened with the North Koreans. When the President visited the DMZ and Sarah Huckabee Sanders was the Press Secretary. And so to her credit, she without a doubt was like, “No, you’re coming in.” Right. Which I, I do think is important in that moment, especially when you’re kind of the US contingent abroad. And we don’t do things like they do in Saudi Arabia. Right.