The Pour Over Today - Jesse Jackson Dies, Pentagon-AI Relationship Troubles, More Milan Cortina Updates, & More | 02.18.2026

Episode Date: February 18, 2026

Today, we’re talking about the life and death of longtime civil rights leader Jesse Jackson; the DOW questioning its relationship with AI giant Anthropic; Team USA’s closing Olympic efforts; and other top news for Wednesday, February 18th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. TPO News Cleanse Looking to support us? You can choose to pay ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Wild Alaskan HelloFresh Safe House Project Gloo QAVA CCCU Filament Bible Upside Mosh LMNT Not Just Sunday Podcast Bible Gateway Plus Life Application Study Bible Unto TPO Corrections Page

Hey, this is Zan at the Pourover. And this is Bailey at the Poorover. Today is Ash Wednesday, which is a reminder of our need for repentance and our hope in Christ. Over the next 40 days, we're doing what we're calling a news cleanse designed to help you quiet today's news and amplify the good news ahead of Easter. In a once-weekly email starting this Sunday, we're going to reflect together on scripture, pray, and practice healthy news. habits. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy, sign up for free at the pourover.org slash lent or head to the link in the show notes. Now for today's news, we are talking about the life and death of longtime civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, the DOW questioning its

relationship with AI giant anthropic, Team USA's closing Olympic efforts, and other top news for Wednesday, February 18th. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with the pourover. Here's your quote of the day. Your approval before God is woven into the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Not what other men and women think about you. Matt Chandler. Let's get started with some espresso shots. Reverend Jesse Jackson, long-time civil rights leader and two-time Democratic presidential candidate,

died peacefully on Tuesday at 84, after battling a rare neurodegenerative condition. Jackson was mentored by Martin Luther King Jr. and became one of the civil rights era's most gifted organizers and orators who sought to, quote, transform the mind of America. He ran for the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988, becoming the first black candidate to seriously contend for a major party's nod by buying his rainbow coalition of poor and working class voters and delivering electrifying convention speeches.

Jackson later created the Rainbow Push Coalition, an organization focused on voting rights, education, and economic equality, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000. He is survived by his wife and six children. Join us in prayer for Jesse Jackson's family. God of comfort drawn near to the loved ones and admires mourning Reverend Jesse Jackson's death. We thank you for the ways his life and message echoed your heart for the poor, the overlooked, and the outcast.

As we continue our march through history, bring our longings to you. Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 524. Amen. The Pentagon's reviewing its relationship with Anthropic amid disputes over the use of its AI product, Claude. Claude was the first chatbot approved for the military's classified systems. But tense negotiations have the Department of War threatening to cancel its $200 million contract, and, in a move usually reserved for foreign adversaries, label the AI giant a, quote, supply chain risk, giving Pentagon partners a, quote, us or them ultimatum.

U.S. officials say they need partners willing to help, quote, win any fight, and wants its AI partners, including Anthropic, to allow their tools to be used for, quote, all lawful purposes. Anthropic reportedly has concerns about Claude's deployment in the U.S.'s Venezuela raid, and while committed to supporting national security, wants safeguards against use for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. Limits the Pentagon isn't ready to swipe right on. Whether you're unsettled by, indifferent to, or excited about conversations surrounding AI and the military, remember that God will remain God and our eternal life with Christ will remain secure.

Be quick to point to God and give him the credit for your hope, strength, and love during times dominated by uncertainty and fear. Job 1210 says, the life of every living thing is in his hand, as well as the breath of all humanity. The Milan Cortina Games continue to leave fans frozen in front of their TVs. While Norway is skiing away with the top overall spot, Team USA remains in third with 21 medals, including new hardware and men's speed. speed skating. On Monday, 41-year-old Bob Sletter Alana Myers-Taylor capped her fifth Olympics with her first gold. Her six career medals tie her with speed skating legend Bonnie Blair as Team USA's most decorated female Winter Olympian. Yesterday, the Blade Angels glided onto the ice hoping to give Team USA its first podium sweep in women's figure skating by tomorrow's final round. Also tomorrow, the U.S.'s

undefeated women's hockey team, which has outscored opponents 31 to 1, aims to sweep Canada again in the gold medal game. Here's a verse to consider whether you're a professional athlete, newsletter writer, student, teacher, dentist, farmer, stay-at-home mom, or retiree. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. First Corinthians 10.31. Hey, it's Katie from the pourover. work, wedding planning, and a never-ending to-do list, dinner is one more decision I don't have the energy to make. That's why HelloFresh has been such a game changer. No planning, no extra shopping,

just fresh ingredients and recipes delivered right to my door. HelloFresh has over 100 meals to choose from every week, so I can pick what sounds good right now. They're easily adjustable portions make it so I can cook for just me or treat all of my roommates. And the best part is that HelloFresh uses real sustainable ingredients so I can support my nutrition without feeling overwhelmed by one more task. Make dinner something you rely on, not something you dread. Go to hellofresh.com slash TPO10FM to get 10 free meals plus a freeze willing knife on your third box.

Offer valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only varies by plan. That's hellofresh.com slash TPO10FM. In other brews, here's a rapid round of updates. Former President Barack Obama briefly triggered. Disclosure Day, after saying on a podcast Saturday that aliens are, quote, real. Before anyone stormed Nevada, Obama clarified on Instagram that, quote, The odds are good extraterrestrials exist, but he saw no evidence they've, quote, made contact.

He also said aliens aren't in Area 51, unless there's a, quote, enormous conspiracy hiding them from the president. authorities declared Nancy Guthrie's children, siblings, and their spouses innocent in her disappearance. Pima County Sheriff Nanos affirmed, quote, the family has been nothing but cooperative. FBI databases yielded no DNA matches on a glove recovered near Guthrie's home, and President Trump said authorities should pursue the death penalty if the 84-year-old isn't returned alive. She's been missing for 18 days. Satellites scoped Uncle Sam putting his battle.

ships near Iran. Iran's supreme leader responded to the USS Abraham Lincoln's presence in the Arabian Sea, warning the U.S. Navy could, quote, be struck so hard that it cannot get up again. Despite the tensions, officials from both nations men in Switzerland yesterday, agreeing on, quote, guiding principles for continued nuclear talks. Oscar winner Robert DeVall died peacefully on Monday at 95. After getting his cinema start as Boo Radley and To Kill a Mockingbird, he became Don Corleone's Concegleri in The Godfather and had an affinity for Napalm's Morning Sent in Apocalypse Now.

Offscreen, Deval received a National Medal of Arts in 2005 and is survived by his wife, Luciana. Floats, red envelopes, and telescopes had a big day yesterday. Over one billion Lunar New Year revelers rung in the Year of the Firehorse with fireworks and family feasts. Catholics and carnival partygoers also feasted and feted for Mardi Gras. And a Ring of Fire Solar Eclipse was spotted in Antarctica. That's all we have for today.

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