Ukraine Court Allows Newly Transgender Woman To Dodge Draft

A Ukrainian court has made a significant ruling regarding a transgender individual's exemption from military service amidst an ongoing draft due to war.

• The Kharkiv District Administrative Court decided that a transgender person, who transitioned legally from male to female, is exempt from the draft.

• The individual changed their gender legally on January 16, 2025, almost three years into the war.

• Initially registered as male, the individual sought to be removed from military registration after obtaining legal documents confirming their gender change.

• Local recruitment officials contested this, stating that only a military-medical commission could determine unfitness for service.

• The court disagreed, citing Ukrainian law, which does not automatically classify women as liable for military service without specific military specialties.

• The court ordered the removal of the individual from military registration, referencing their legal recognition as female.

The ruling emphasizes the legal recognition of gender change in Ukraine and sets a precedent for similar cases concerning military service exemptions for transgender individuals. 

https://substack.com/home/post/p-188614718

OH THE IRONY: Watch New Yorkers Rage About the Prospect of Mayor Zohran Mamdani Raising Their Taxes

Residents of New York City, particularly in Queens, are expressing anger and disappointment over Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal to raise property taxes. This increase is suggested as a solution to close a significant budget gap.

• Mayor Mamdani has suggested a 9.5% increase in property taxes as a way to fill a $5.4 billion budget shortfall.

• Many homeowners are upset because the mayor's campaign promised affordability and better housing, and they feel betrayed by this tax plan.

• Homeowners like Vivian Campbell emphasize their commitment to staying in their homes despite the tax increase, stressing the sentiment of homeownership as part of the American dream.

• Others, such as James Johnson and Pierry Benjamin, voiced their displeasure directly, demanding that the mayor keep taxes stable and questioning his decision-making.

• The mayor argues that an alternative to raising taxes would involve convincing New York Governor Kathy Hochul to tax the wealthy, a proposal she has already rejected.

• The residents' reactions signal a realization of the potential consequences of previous electoral promises about "free" services not considering economic realities.

The plan to raise taxes by Mayor Mamdani has sparked significant backlash among New Yorkers, particularly those who feel let down by unfulfilled campaign promises. The situation highlights ongoing discussions about economic management and the expectations voters have from their elected officials. 

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/oh-irony-watch-new-yorkers-rage-about-prospect/

Amazon Cloud Unit Taken Down Twice By Its Own AI Tools: Report

Amazon's cloud computing division, AWS, experienced two service interruptions recently, linked to issues caused by its own AI coding tools. This has raised internal concerns regarding the integration of autonomous software in operational environments.

• In December, AWS faced a 13-hour disruption due to its Kiro AI tool making automatic system changes to address an issue, leading to a significant service outage.

• The Kiro AI, which was introduced in July, is designed to execute code from formal specifications.

• This incident marked the second time in a short period that an AI tool was responsible for a disruption; in both cases, changes were made without the usual secondary approval process.

• Amazon maintained that these issues were due to user error rather than flaws in the AI tools.

• Following these events, AWS implemented mandatory peer reviews and enhanced training for its staff to improve oversight on AI interactions.

• Despite some employee skepticism about AI reliability for critical tasks, Amazon aims to increase AI tool usage among developers as it sees strong customer interest in Kiro.

Amazon is taking steps to mitigate risks associated with its AI development tools after experiencing notable outages, while continuing to promote their use for efficiency. 

https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/amazon-cloud-unit-taken-down-twice-its-own-ai-tools-report

More Than 550 Commercial Driving Schools to Close After Checks: Transportation Department

On February 18, the Department of Transportation announced the removal of certifications for over 550 U. S. commercial driving schools that train truckers and bus drivers due to serious violations.

• Investigations found that many schools had unqualified instructors, used fraudulent addresses, and improperly trained students for hazardous materials transportation.

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sent over 300 investigators to conduct more than 1,400 safety operations, leading to 448 proposed removals and 109 schools voluntarily withdrawing.

• Allegations included the use of unlicensed instructors, mismatched vehicles for training, incomplete student testing, and failure to meet state safety standards.

• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need for strict compliance to improve road safety.

• An additional 97 schools are still under investigation, and new rules for non-citizens applying for commercial driver's licenses will take effect in September 2025.

These actions are part of a broader effort to enhance safety in the trucking industry and hold training providers accountable. 

https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/more-than-550-commercial-driving-schools-to-close-after-checks-transportation-department-5987313?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=ZeroHedge&src_src=partner&src_cmp=ZeroHedge

Virtually All Countries Support Voter Photo ID – So Why the Filibuster?

The debate surrounding voter ID requirements has generated significant discussion in the United States, with contrasting views mainly between Democrats and Republicans. Recent insights suggest widespread support for these measures among various demographics.

• Voter ID Support: A CNN report indicates substantial support for voter ID laws, with 71% of Democrats and 95% of Republicans favoring such measures.

• Democratic Concerns: Democrats argue that voter ID laws create barriers, especially for Black and Hispanic voters. However, many countries—including all African nations and several South American nations—require photo IDs for voting.

• Public Opinion: Surveys show that 83% of American adults support voter ID laws, including 82% of Hispanics and 76% of Black Americans.

• Education and Income: Contrary to claims that voter ID laws disproportionately affect those with less education and lower incomes, data indicates that less-educated voters show more support for these laws compared to highly educated individuals.

• International Context: Voter ID requirements are common worldwide, with stricter measures observed in Canada, Mexico, and many European countries, which have enacted such laws to combat voter fraud.

• Historical Evidence: In Northern Ireland, reforms strengthened ID requirements after extensive voter fraud was reported. Reforms led to decreased fraudulent activities and higher voter turnout.

The SAVE Act, aimed at reinforcing voter ID laws, faces opposition primarily from Democrats who argue these laws are discriminatory. However, evidence suggests broad support among various voter demographics, raising questions about the claims made against voter ID requirements. 

https://www.realclearwire.com/articles/2026/02/17/virtually_all_countries_support_voter_photo_id__so_why_the_filibuster.html

Transgenderism and the Perils of Pretending

The topic of transgenderism and the negative impacts of pretending to change one’s gender. It reflects on historical understandings of gender and critiques current societal beliefs regarding gender fluidity.

• Historically, there have been two recognized genders: male and female. The author emphasizes that this traditional understanding has been changed by modern views on gender.

• The article suggests that pretending to be something one is not can lead to mental health issues and societal confusion.

• The author shares personal experiences of living in a diverse city, pointing out that respect for individual identity was practiced, but without challenging intrinsic gender identities.

• He critiques modern political approaches, specifically targeting the Democratic Party, for promoting what he sees as false narratives about gender. He argues that these narratives cater to specific voter bases, including those who identify as transgender.

• The author warns against the consequences of transitioning, including the irreversible nature of some surgical and medical interventions, and the potential harms to individuals, particularly children and adolescents.

• The piece highlights the societal backlash and violence that can stem from political discourse on gender, suggesting that those who feel attacked by opposing views may resort to aggression.

• The author questions the motivations behind promoting gender fluidity, connecting it to political gain rather than genuine concern for individuals' well-being.

The article concludes with a strong critique of how contemporary society handles discussions about gender, claiming that it leads to confusion and real-world consequences, particularly for the younger population. The author calls for reflection on how political agendas exploit these complex issues for votes, with a cautionary note on the harmful effects of such pretension on individuals and society as a whole. 

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2026/02/transgenderism_and_the_perils_of_pretending.html

CIA Yanks 19 Docs ‘Compromised’ By Leftist Activism, Including Threat Assessment Targeting ‘Traditional Motherhood’

The CIA has recently retracted 19 intelligence documents found to promote leftist ideology, compromising the agency's standards for objectivity. This decision follows an independent review that identified issues in the documents' analyses and sources, which leaned towards left-wing activism.

• CIA Director John Ratcliffe ordered the retraction after a review revealed that the documents did not meet proper quality standards and encouraged a political bias.

• The reviewed documents supported leftist views, took stances on foreign political issues, and relied on sources from left-wing media and NGOs.

• Among the controversial documents, one called groups promoting traditional motherhood suspicious due to an increase in female participation.

• Another document raised alarms about possible increased births in countries like Egypt and Nigeria due to potential COVID-19 disruptions in contraceptive supplies, based on data from abortion rights organizations.

• A third document advocated for LGBT academic programs in North Africa and the Middle East, criticizing regional governments for their conservative stances as hindering U. S. support for LGBT rights.

• The decision to remove and revise these documents came after an audit by the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), which evaluated 300 intelligence analyses for compliance with CIA standards.

• The flawed documents’ authorship and whether they will face consequences remain unclear.

• One specific analysis linked women to “white racially and ethnically motivated violent extremist” groups, classifying female advocates of traditional motherhood as emerging threats based on limited reporting and open-source information.

• The document set forth claims about women using cooking and lifestyle topics to subtly promote extremist narratives.

The CIA's retraction of these documents emphasizes the agency's commitment to impartiality in intelligence and transparency. The revelations raise questions about the quality and political neutrality of past intelligence assessments conducted over several years. 

https://thefederalist.com/2026/02/20/cia-yanks-19-docs-compromised-by-leftist-activism-including-threat-assessment-targeting-traditional-motherhood/