Trump’s global 10% tariffs take effect; Historic blizzard buries Northeast

President Donald Trump’s global tariffs take effect Tuesday at 10%, not the 15% he threatened over the weekend. The White House said the higher rate is still coming, as Europe delays a trade deal and FedEx sues for refunds.

Plus, up to 40 inches of snow blankets parts of the Northeast, grounding thousands of flights and knocking out power. Now comes the next challenge: digging out.

And both U.S. hockey teams won Olympic gold. But when invited to the State of the Union, only one team accepted.

These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

Global tariffs take effect but not at 15%, a rate the White House says is still coming

President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs take effect Tuesday, but not at the rate he threatened over the weekend.

Instead of the 15% tariff Trump announced on social media Saturday, the administration is implementing a 10% worldwide rate. The level was originally outlined after the Supreme Court ruled Trump lacked authority to impose his sweeping “liberation day” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

An administration official told The Financial Times the White House still plans to raise the rate to 15%. The official said that the increase “will come later,” but offered no timeline.

The back-and-forth has created uncertainty overseas. The European Commission voted in an emergency meeting on Monday to delay ratification of the EU’s trade deal with the United States, citing the need for clarity on U.S. tariff policy.

Trump also warned on social media that any country that tries to “play games” with the Supreme Court decision could face “a much higher tariff.”

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats are pushing for refunds of billions of dollars collected under the tariffs that the court ruled were unlawful.

FedEx has now filed a lawsuit seeking a full refund of the tariffs it paid.  

The company did not specify an amount, but analysts said other major corporations are likely to follow suit. Other big-name companies, such as Costco, Staples and Bumble Bee Foods, have already done so. 

Record blizzard pummels Northeast with feet of snow

The Northeast is digging out Tuesday morning after a historic bomb cyclone blizzard buried parts of the region under feet of snow.

Meteorologists have called it the strongest winter storm in a decade.

Due to the blizzard, officers are deploying All-Terrain Vehicles to safely respond to calls.

We’re still out there patrolling, answering calls for service, and staying engaged with our community.

Please stay safe, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance.  pic.twitter.com/44GQFUaHIC

— Boston Police Dept. (@bostonpolice) February 23, 2026

Rhode Island took a direct hit, with nearly 38 inches recorded at T.F. Green Airport, breaking a record that had stood since 1978.

The fallout has been massive. More than 10,000 flights have been canceled from Sunday through Tuesday.

At the peak, roughly 650,000 customers were without power as heavy snow and fierce winds snapped tree limbs and brought down power lines.

In New York City, nearly 20 inches fell in Central Park. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said schools will reopen for in-person classes on Tuesday, even as sidewalks remain buried. The teachers’ union, however, called that decision a “big mess.” City officials, though, said crews are clearing streets and that the system is ready.

And this may not be over.

Parts of Massachusetts and New Jersey are still dealing with more than two feet of snow. Now, forecasters say another fast-moving system could bring additional accumulation overnight into Wednesday, adding more snow on top of an already brutal start to the week for tens of millions of people.

Judge bars release of Smith report, saying it would violate grand jury secrecy

The public won’t see the classified documents report in the Trump case, as a federal judge has permanently blocked its release.

Judge Aileen Cannon barred the Justice Department from releasing the second volume of former special counsel Jack Smith’s findings on the investigation.

She said releasing it would violate grand jury secrecy rules and compromise the presumption of innocence.

Cannon had already dismissed the documents case last year, finding Smith was unlawfully appointed.

Smith appealed but dropped that appeal after Trump won a second term.

Without this ruling, the report was set to be released on Tuesday.

The Justice Department now agrees it should remain confidential.

Trump’s legal team calls the investigation unconstitutional and says the report should “never see the light of day.”

But government watchdog groups disagree.

The executive director of American Oversight called the decision a “troubling pattern of decisions that shield the president from public scrutiny.”

Cannon’s ruling can still be appealed.

Kouri Richins’ murder trial opens in alleged fentanyl killing of husband

Jurors are now hearing the state’s case in one of the most high-profile murder trials in the country. The case involves Utah mother and children’s book author Kouri Richins.

Opening statements began Monday, with prosecutors accusing Kouri Richins of poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl and then trying to turn his death into a financial reset.

Summit County Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth told jurors that the evidence will show that Kouri Richins was drowning in debt and believed she would inherit more than four million if her husband died.

“The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life. More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privilege, affluence and success,” Summit County chief prosecutor Bradley Bloodworth said.

Prosecutors pointed to nearly $2 million in life insurance policies, text messages with a man they say she was seeing and internet searches recovered from her phone, including questions about luxury prisons.

They also referenced her self-published children’s book, “Are you with me?” The book is about a father watching over his son from heaven.

But the defense claims there’s a major hole in the state’s case. Attorney Katheryn Nester told jurors that prosecutors still can’t prove how fentanyl entered Eric Richins’ body.

“After four years of investigation and five weeks of this trial, you know what you’re never going to hear? It’s how that fentanyl got inside of him because there is zero evidence of that,” defense attorney Kathryn Nester said.

Kouri Richins has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and to nearly three dozen other charges. If convicted, she could face life in prison.

Testimony begins Tuesday morning.

Team USA women’s hockey declines SOTU invite

At least one of the two USA Olympic hockey teams will not attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday. The women’s hockey team declined the invitation on Monday, citing scheduling conflicts, after winning the gold medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

The men’s hockey team, which also took home gold after defeating Canada in overtime on Sunday, was also invited to attend the SOTU address.

“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” a USA Hockey spokesperson said. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.”

The spokesperson added that the women’s team was honored to be included and grateful for the acknowledgement.

According to the Associated Press, logistics played a significant role in the decision, with the women not scheduled to arrive in North America until Monday night. The men’s team arrived earlier on Monday via a chartered flight, while the women flew commercially later in the day.

The decline comes after Trump invited the men’s team in a call on Sunday night after their overtime victory. He spoke to the team via FBI Director Kash Patel’s cellphone, who was inside the locker room celebrating with the team, a move that has drawn fierce criticism.

During the call, he told the men he’d also be extending an invitation to the women’s team, saying, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.”

The president joked that if he didn’t invite the women’s team, he believes he “probably would be impeached.”

Punch, an orphan macaque, and his plush orangutan become viral sensations

A tiny monkey and his stuffed animal have become the latest internet obsession.

Punch, a 7-month-old macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, captured global attention for always carrying a stuffed orangutan.

The little monkey was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth and hand-raised by zookeepers. In an effort to help him cope and build confidence, caretakers introduced a plush orangutan toy from IKEA, which Punch has clung to like a surrogate mom.

Clips of Punch being jostled by other monkeys and then clutching his stuffed companion have gained millions of views.

However, in recent videos, an adult female macaque was seen grooming Punch — a key sign of trust and acceptance in primate social life. It’s the first time since birth that he’s been cared for that way, and the internet is relieved.

While Punch remains at the Ichikawa zoo, viral videos have drawn thousands of visitors and sparked several petitions urging zookeepers to relocate Punch to a suitable animal sanctuary.

By the way, if you’re thinking about getting your own emotional-support orangutan, good luck. The viral fame has sparked a run on the toy. IKEA is sold out, and some are now reselling it online for hundreds of dollars.

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