US Ambassador to France Charles Kushner was banned from meeting members of the French government on February 23, 2026, after failing to appear at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier in the day, according to a Reuters report cited by BenjAlvarez1 on X between 8:15:59 p.m. and 9:15:13 p.m. UTC. Documents from two anonymous whistleblowers, obtained by Sen. Richard Blumenthal's office, reveal the Department of Homeland Security lowered training and testing standards for new ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers to meet hiring targets, as detailed by TylerMcBrien on X during the 59-minute reporting window ending at 9:15 p.m. UTC. The disclosure precedes a public forum today. The Freedom Caucus Fund endorsed Brandon Herrera for Congress in Texas' 23rd District, praising his defense of Second Amendment rights and commitment to President Trump's America First agenda, secure borders, spending restraint, free speech, and American interests, per the fund's X post in the reporting window. These ICE whistleblower documents align with earlier reports from the past hour citing similar findings on reduced standards, including elimination of exams like Judgement Pistol Shooting and Determine Removability, as provided to Blumenthal's office. House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed related political pressures on Rep. Tony Gonzales during the prior window, calling allegations against him serious but urging investigations to proceed.
