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Elon Musk is intensifying his campaign against what he describes as politically slanted artificial intelligence, unveiling Grok 4.2 as a direct challenge to competitors he brands as overly “woke and sanctimonious” — and declaring that “Grok must win.”

In a series of early Wednesday posts on X, Musk shared multiple screenshots comparing Grok 4.2’s responses with those generated by rival systems from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Framing the rollout as part of a larger ideological struggle, Musk wrote, “Grok must win or we will be ruled by an insufferably woke and sanctimonious AI.”

A day earlier, Musk had revealed the test release of Grok 4.2 on X, encouraging users to weigh in. “Critical feedback is appreciated. Unlike prior versions of Grok, 4.2 is able to learn rapidly, so there will be improvements every week with release notes,” he wrote.

As access to the beta version expanded, Musk began circulating side-by-side examples that he said demonstrate Grok’s greater directness and its refusal to hedge on politically sensitive topics.

Among the comparisons he highlighted was a question asking whether the United States was founded on “stolen land.”

According to the image Musk posted, Grok was the only chatbot to answer “No,” while other platforms framed the issue as nuanced or debated.

Musk pointed to that exchange as evidence that Grok 4.2 is “BASED,” arguing that it stands out because it is the only AI chatbot that “doesn’t equivocate when asked if America is on stolen land.”

“The others are weak sauce,” he said.

Musk also amplified a message from Katie Miller, the wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who commended Grok for being the only chatbot to answer “No” when asked whether “Critical Race Theory” should be included in school curricula.

Additional screenshots Musk shared showed Grok providing a “yes” when asked whether “White Pride” was acceptable, describing affirmative action as “racist,” and demonstrating a willingness to misgender Caitlyn Jenner — examples Musk presented as proof that the system is less constrained by prevailing norms of political correctness.

The latest round of posts adds to Musk’s ongoing clashes with competitors in the artificial intelligence sector.

His dispute with OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, has played out publicly for years and includes a high-profile lawsuit. Although Musk helped found OpenAI, he filed suit in 2024 against the organization and its leadership, alleging that it had strayed from its original mission of building open-source Artificial General Intelligence to “benefit humanity” and instead shifted its focus toward profit.

OpenAI answered with its own countersuit, asserting that Musk had advocated in 2017 for converting the company into a “for-profit” entity under his leadership as CEO.

Musk has also taken aim at Google, particularly after controversy erupted in early 2024 over historically inaccurate images generated by its Gemini platform.

While he previously downplayed Anthropic as a major competitor, Musk later acknowledged its strengths in programming tasks and expressed frustration that xAI engineers lost access to its systems. “Anthropic has done something special with coding. It was a helpful motivator that they cut us off @xAI and not good for their karma,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Iran has issued a NOTAM for ballistic missile tests on Feb 19. The restricted airspace corridor runs from the southern interior in eastern Iran up toward central Iran and back down toward the Strait of Hormuz.

WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: We’re seeing promising signs every day that 2026 is going to be a record successful year for the American people, just as Trump promised them.

WATCH:

The Food and Drug Administration has changed its position and will now evaluate Moderna’s new influenza vaccine, the company announced Wednesday, reversing an earlier decision that stunned its leadership.

Just days ago, the agency informed Moderna that it would not proceed with reviewing the company’s updated flu shot, stating that the submission lacked sufficient supporting research. The unexpected move left Moderna’s president, Dr. Stephen Hoge, in “complete shock.”

In an exclusive interview with The NY Post, Hoge said he was “completely surprised and honestly pretty confused” after receiving the letter from Dr. Vinay Prasad.

The FDA’s decision to reconsider comes after The Post published an editorial cautioning that halting the final phase of the vaccine’s approval process could cost lives, warning that such a move might result in the deaths of “hundreds, maybe thousands, of senior citizens.”

To accelerate the process, Moderna had submitted a divided application. The company sought full approval for individuals between the ages of 50 and 64, while requesting accelerated approval for those 65 and older, with a commitment to carry out a follow-up study in older adults after the vaccine becomes available.

According to Moderna, the FDA has now established an August deadline to determine whether the vaccine will receive approval. Should the agency give the green light, older Americans could receive the new flu shot ahead of the 2026–2027 influenza season.

For the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, it is “statistically inevitable” that fraud would come up at some point, the museum’s No. 2 said in the wake of a decade-long, 10 million euro ($11.8 million) suspected ticket-fraud scheme revealed last week. Kim Pham, the Louvre’s general administrator, told The Associated Press that the museum’s unique scale makes […]

Singer Rabbi Boruch Levine, a Talmid of Mir Yerushalyim, who is one of the singers at the Malki Rabanan event this evening, seen backstage before the event.

Footage shows a U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft departing RAF Mildenhall in the UK towards the Middle East.

Authorities investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie are facing significant challenges in retrieving additional surveillance footage from her Arizona home, with the sheriff leading the case acknowledging that the odds of obtaining more critical video appear low.

Guthrie, 84, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, had several security cameras installed at her residence outside Tucson. So far, however, investigators have managed to secure only Google Nest footage from the front of the property, which shows a masked individual walking up to her front door.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said detectives have repeatedly contacted Google in an effort to determine whether more footage can be accessed. Despite those efforts, the company indicated that further recovery may not be possible. “We don’t think we can get anything,” the sheriff told NewsNation on Tuesday.

Complicating matters, Nancy did not maintain an active subscription for her camera system, a factor that has made the retrieval process particularly complex, Nanos said.

“It’s like peeling paint — you have images over images over images. And you’ve got to peel back very easy because you might destroy the layer you wanted,” the sheriff explained.

Even so, Nanos expressed hope that any additional video, if recovered, could prove crucial in locating Nancy. Footage released to the public last week has already prompted nearly 5,000 tips from concerned citizens.

The investigation has now entered its 18th day as search efforts continue.

Despite the obstacles, the sheriff said he has “100% faith” that law enforcement will ultimately solve the case.

“If you were the guy, if you were that monster, you should be worried,” he said.

Officials have announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information that leads to Nancy’s safe return or results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

In a further setback Tuesday, authorities revealed that DNA evidence collected from a glove discovered roughly two miles from Nancy’s home did not produce a match in the FBI’s national DNA database, known as CODIS.

Bnos Penina of Lakewood, NJ has announced that it will cease operations, citing severe financial shortfalls and the loss of its school building, according to a letter sent to parents on Tuesday.

In the emotional letter, the administration informed families that the school would be unable to continue operating after this week due to unmet financial commitments and mounting tuition arrears.

“Bnos Penina has been more than a school to us. It has been our life’s work, our passion, and our privilege,” the letter began. “We love your daughters. We love our staff. We love our school. We love the warmth, the growth, the רוח and the beautiful atmosphere that has defined Bnos Penina from its very beginning.”

School leadership wrote that they had made clear earlier in the year that they could not continue to shoulder the institution’s financial burden alone. They said the school opened this academic year only after receiving commitments from parents to assume greater financial responsibility and partner in sustaining operations.

“Unfortunately, those commitments were not carried through as needed to keep us financially viable,” the letter stated.

The administration further explained that tuition payments were required to remain fully current in order for the school to meet its most basic obligations. According to the letter, many accounts fell behind, contributing to the school’s inability to function.

“It must be stated clearly: had tuition obligations been maintained as agreed, we would not be in this position today,” the letter read. “Unfortunately, both the broader financial commitments and many tuition obligations have not been fulfilled. A school simply cannot function this way. Without the financial backing that was committed, we are not in a position to secure the space or meet the obligations required to continue operating.”

In a development that effectively sealed the school’s fate, the administration informed parents that the landlord had notified them that the building would no longer be available after Wednesday.

“Our landlord has just informed us that the school won’t be able to use the building after this Wednesday. Please do not send your children to school as of Thursday, Feb 19, 2026,” the letter stated.

School officials said the decision followed months of effort to find a sustainable solution, including numerous discussions and attempts to stabilize finances.

“After much effort, many conversations, and every possible attempt to find a sustainable path forward, we have reached the painful conclusion that we will not be able to continue after this Wednesday,” the letter continued. “This decision was not made lightly. It comes after speaking with תורה דעת, giving it tremendous thought, tears, and sincere attempts to avoid this outcome.”

At this point, the administration wrote, it is up to parents to determine the “אחריות of their daughters’ חינוך,” expressing hope that families might still step forward in a meaningful and immediate way to make continuation possible.

“It is our sincere hope that our wonderful and loyal parents will step forward in a meaningful and immediate way to make continuation possible,” the letter concluded.

The sudden closure leaves families scrambling to secure alternative placements for their daughters in the middle of the school year. No further details were provided regarding potential future efforts to reopen or reorganize the school.

{Matzav.com}

Mark Zuckerberg arrived at the courthouse today to testify in a high-profile social media trial.

Mayor Mamdani has proposed a $127 billion budget for New York City, exceeding the entire $117 billion budget of the state of Florida by $10 billion.

The Cuban foreign minister visited Moscow on Wednesday as the island faces blackouts and severe fuel shortages caused by a U.S oil embargo. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and was set to meet later in the day with President Vladimir Putin. Lavrov urged the U.S. to refrain […]

A landmark moment is set to take place this evening as Hagaon Rav Asher Arieli will, for the first time, deliver remarks outside the framework of his regular shiurim. The highly anticipated address will be delivered at the Malki Rabbanan gathering, scheduled to take place tonight at the Pais Arena in Yerushalayim.

For decades, Rav Arieli — the most prominent maggid shiur in the Torah world — has declined invitations to appear before large public audiences beyond his daily shiur at the Mir. His shiurim, which draw approximately a thousand lomdim each day, have become legendary. Yet despite his stature, he has consistently avoided public speaking engagements and any form of personal publicity, devoting himself exclusively to delivering Torah through his daily shiur and smaller chaburos. He also delivers a shiur each week at Yeshiva Tiferes Tzvi and a shiur each year to the participants of Agudas Yisroel’s Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah.

According to information obtained behind the scenes, the decision follows a personal request from the Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, who urged Rav Arieli to address the Malki Rabbanan event in light of the significance of the occasion and its importance in being mechazeik the Olam HaTorah.

Event organizers explained the deeper message behind the gathering. “Specifically at this time,” they said, “in a period when the honor of Torah is being trampled and in the public square one hears voices of ‘Mai ahanu lan Rabbanan,’ this event comes to proclaim in a clear voice the public’s appreciation for those who toil in Torah, as Chazal said: ‘Man malki? Rabbanan!’”

{Matzav.com}

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the United States.

Satellite imagery indicates Iran recently built a concrete shield over a new facility at the sensitive Parchin military complex and covered it with soil, according to experts. •⁠ ⁠Additional images show Iran burying tunnel entrances at the Isfahan nuclear complex, which was bombed by the United States in June, with analysts saying all entrances are […]

Houston police responded early Wednesday at William P. Hobby Airport after a Delta Air Lines passenger attempted to enter the cockpit on a flight to Atlanta. According to the Houston Police Department, officers were called at 5:38 a.m. about a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit. The plane had briefly taken off before turning back […]

Sanae Takaichi was officially reelected as Japan’s prime minister following a decisive election victory, clearing the path to fast-track budget negotiations and implement a newly agreed trade deal with President Trump.

Mark Zuckerberg is set to take the witness stand in a closely watched trial examining whether Meta’s social media platforms were intentionally designed in ways that addict young users and contribute to mental health harm.

The Meta CEO is scheduled to testify Wednesday under questioning from lawyers representing a now 20-year-old woman identified as KGM. She alleges that her use of social media beginning at a young age led to addiction and worsened her depression and suicidal ideation.

Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube remain the only defendants in the case after TikTok and Snap reached settlements. The lawsuit is one of several targeting major technology companies over the impact of their platforms on minors.

Zuckerberg has previously appeared in court and testified before Congress about youth safety issues tied to Meta’s services. During a prior congressional hearing, he apologized to families who said social media tragedies had devastated their lives.

This proceeding, however, will be the first time Zuckerberg addresses such claims before a jury. Families who have lost children and believe social media played a role are expected to attend, filling the limited public seating available in the courtroom.

The lawsuit has been designated, along with two related cases, as a bellwether trial. Its outcome could influence how thousands of similar claims against social media companies are resolved nationwide.

In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said the company firmly rejects the accusations and expressed confidence that the trial will demonstrate “our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.”

During opening arguments, Meta attorney Paul Schmidt told jurors the company does not deny that KGM has struggled with mental health challenges. Instead, he argued that Instagram was not a significant cause of those issues.

Schmidt cited medical documentation referencing instability at home, and both he and YouTube’s legal counsel contend that the plaintiff used the platforms as a way to cope with or escape existing mental health difficulties.

Zuckerberg’s appearance follows testimony last week from Adam Mosseri, who heads Instagram. On the stand, Mosseri said he rejects the notion that users can become clinically addicted to social media.

Mosseri also testified that Instagram prioritizes the safety of younger users and stated that it is “not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people’s well-being.”

Attorney Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff, devoted much of his questioning of Mosseri to Instagram’s appearance-altering filters, pressing on how those tools may affect young users’ self-image. Lanier is expected to pursue similar lines of questioning with Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg is also anticipated to be asked about Instagram’s algorithm, the continuous scroll format of Meta’s feeds, and other platform features that plaintiffs argue are structured to keep users engaged for extended periods.

In addition to this case, Meta is defending itself in a separate trial underway in New Mexico that began last week.

{Matzav.com}

Mark Zuckerberg will testify in an unprecedented social media trial that questions whether Meta’s platforms deliberately addict and harm children. Meta’s CEO is expected to answer tough questions on Wednesday from attorneys representing a now 20-year-old woman identified by the initials KGM, who claims her early use of social media addicted her to the technology […]