Enforcement of environmental laws in the United States plummeted during the first year of Donald Trump's second term, while global events saw a center-left candidate win in Portugal and a crackdown on dissent in Iran. These developments, along with a reported deadline for the Russia-Ukraine war and warning signs for Republicans in upcoming elections, marked a busy news cycle on February 9, 2026.
According to a report from the Environmental Integrity Project, civil lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice in cases referred by the Environmental Protection Agency dropped significantly. The report found that only 16 such lawsuits were filed in the first 12 months after Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025. This represented a 76 percent decrease compared to the first year of the Biden administration, according to Ars Technica.
Meanwhile, in international affairs, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated that the U.S. had set a June deadline for Kyiv and Moscow to end the ongoing war, as reported by NPR Politics. This announcement came amidst discussions between Washington and Russia regarding $12 trillion in economic deals that could potentially impact Ukraine.
In Portugal, center-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro secured a decisive victory over far-right populist André Ventura in the presidential runoff election on Sunday, February 8, 2026, according to The Associated Press. Seguro won with 66.7 percent of the vote, compared to Ventura's 33.3 percent.
Domestically, NPR News highlighted several "glaring warning signs" for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections. These included the unpopularity of President Trump and his policies, the GOP's losses in special elections, a higher rate of Republican retirements compared to Democrats, and a preference among voters for Democratic control of Congress.
In Iran, security forces initiated a campaign to arrest figures within the country's reformist movement, widening a crackdown on dissent following nationwide protests. The protests, which were violently suppressed by authorities, resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests, according to The Associated Press.
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