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Jay Bhattacharya to Take Over as Acting CDC Director; US and Iran Edge Closer to Military Confrontation | Capitol Report
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Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, director of National Institutes of Health, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 10, 2025. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)
By Jack Bradley
2/18/2026Updated: 2/18/2026

President Donald Trump is sending the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest warship, to the Middle East, as well as a huge fleet of fighter jets and refueling tankers.

As the United States and Iran edge closer to a military confrontation, what’s next? And how is the United States shifting Europe’s alliances as Russia–Ukraine talks stall? We hear from Global Risk analyst Hal Kempfer.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies in court over allegations that social media platforms harm children. What could the case mean for the future of social media? We discuss with former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani threatens to increase property taxes. We discuss with Lee Neves and Katie Frost.

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Jack Bradley is a daily news reporter for The Epoch Times based in Southern California.

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