Daily News Song - World News: Rock Edition

Riffs for a Broken, Burning, Healing World Verse 1 He marched beside a dreamer and carried on the flame, Built a rainbow out of struggle, gave the voiceless a name. Illness dimmed the body, but the thunder never waned, Laid to rest with loved ones near, the legacy remains. From the South Side to the ballot, he shook the nation’s core, Leaders hailed his firebrand heart from every kind of shore. Sources: Reverend Jesse Jackson dies at age 84 Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader who ran for president, dies at age 84 Longtime civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84 Rev Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and Rainbow PUSH founder, dies at 84 Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson dies at 84 Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on edge, but we won’t fade to grey, From mourning into marching, we will rise and say: Truth won’t drown, hope won’t rust, even when the night is long— Turn it up, turn it up, make justice our song. Verse 2 Across the frost and wire, a verdict crossed the sea, Labs lit up the darkness with a jungle chemistry. They said the state had motive, and the means to make it sting, His widow cried to heaven, named the hand behind the thing. The courthouse of the Kremlin called it all a bitter lie— But the frog-born shadow lingers where the fearless learn to die. Sources: Alexei Navalny likely killed by toxins from poison dart frog, Europeans say Russia accused of killing Navalny with dart frog toxin. What we know about the rare poison 5 European nations say Navalny was poisoned by the Kremlin Alexey Navalny: Russian opposition figure killed by toxin found in poison dart frogs Russia rejects claims of poisoning Navalny with dart frog toxin Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on edge, but we won’t fade to grey, From mourning into marching, we will rise and say: Truth won’t drown, hope won’t rust, even when the night is long— Turn it up, turn it up, make justice our song. Verse 3 In Geneva’s cold-lit rooms, they circled words like fire, An envoy from the desert, and a prince of deals and wire. Oman held the middle while the drafts began to cross, Strait gates briefly shuttered, carriers cut their gloss. They called it real momentum, but the devil guards the seam— Pages yet to barter in the half-light of a dream. Sources: Amid threat of U.S. attack, Iran nuclear talks proceed without breakthrough U.S. and Iran say progress made in Geneva nuclear talks U.S. and Iran to hold a second round of nuclear talks in Geneva Iran Says It Temporarily Closed the Strait of Hormuz as It Held More Indirect Talks With the US Verse 4 In a capital of stalemate, a fortress lost its pay, Most still stand in duty lines to keep the storms at bay. Shots in northern streets ignited fury, sharpened laws, While agents keep on moving through the loopholes and the flaws. Congress took a breather, speeches brewing in the wings— A Union waits for thunder and the shift that justice brings. Sources: Democrats send Trump DHS funding counteroffer as agency shutdown grinds on DHS government shutdown is underway. Here are the services affected. 5 things to know about the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security What to know on the DHS government shutdown Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on edge, but we won’t fade to grey, From mourning into marching, we will rise and say: Truth won’t drown, hope won’t rust, even when the night is long— Turn it up, turn it up, make justice our song. Verse 5 A brand-new board in Washington, bright banners, lofty claims, Vast pledges for a shattered coast, rebuilt from ash and flames. Nations sign in gilded ink—UAE, Amman on line, Riyadh, Tel Aviv in chorus, while some allies decline. Skeptics see a shadow of the blue flag’s crowded hall— Is it help or is it power when the giants make the call? Sources: Board of Peace members pledge more than $5bn for Gaza aid and reconstruction Trump's new Board of Peace to convene in Washington this week on Gaza reconstruction Trump says Board of Peace members promise $5 billion for Gaza rebuild Trump Says Board of Peace Members Pledge $5 Billion for Gaza Reconstruction Verse 6 Moonrise called the faithful and the city lights went still, Dates and dawn and whispered prayers, a turning of the will. From Doha’s quiet kitchens to the courts of Paris stone, Ash and crescent meeting where the sacred seeds are sown. Scholars sail from Maghreb winds to teach and break the fast— A chorus of forgiveness for a world that burns too fast. Sources: Saudi Arabia Announces Wednesday as First Day of Ramadan 2026 Ramadan in Qatar begins tomorrow, February 18, 2026 France Marks Start of Ramadan 2026 on Wednesday Final Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on edge, but we won’t fade to grey, From mourning into marching, we will rise and say: Truth won’t drown, hope won’t rust, even when the night is long— Turn it up, turn it up, make justice our song. Outro Strike the chord for saints and rebels, let the skyline shake, From closed straits to open hearts, feel the levees break. Raise the lights, roll the drums—let the final crash belong To the living and the fallen— Turn it up, we are the song!

Sirens, Wires, and Ink Verse 1 — Board of Peace, Broken Streets They lit a hall with a new-name crown, a promise in the glare, A Board of Peace holds out its hands to bones and dust and prayer. They talk of cranes above the ruins, boots ready for the sand, But old allies cross their arms at a chairman’s iron hand. With Moscow at the table and the ledger stacked so steep, The vows sound bright, but the reckoning runs deep. Sources: Trump Says Board of Peace Members Pledge $5 Billion for Gaza Reconstruction Board of Peace to unveil $5 billion in Gaza reconstruction at inaugural meeting, Trump says Trump Announces $5 Billion in Gaza Commitments From Board of Peace Member States Chorus Build it back, hold the line, turn the cameras to the night, Wire the sky, write the truth, talk till the fuse burns white. We’re a planet in the red, still the drum finds a beat— Raise your hands, don’t look away, make the broken streets believe. Verse 2 — Shut Doors, Open Wounds In halls of homeland half asleep, the lights are thin and cold, Most still work for empty checks while orders take their hold. Two names echo through the snow where sirens used to fade, Now there’s talk of eyes on uniforms and badges on display. They argue over shadows, over roving, over blame, While raids roll on with borrowed cash and Congress stays away. Sources: Government Shutdown 2026: No clear path to ending DHS funding standoff A partial government shutdown has hit the Department of Homeland Security 5 things to know about the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security DHS shutdown begins as funding expires without a deal in Congress Chorus Build it back, hold the line, turn the cameras to the night, Wire the sky, write the truth, talk till the fuse burns white. We’re a planet in the red, still the drum finds a beat— Raise your hands, don’t look away, make the broken streets believe. Verse 3 — Geneva Sparks Geneva hums like midnight wires, the ink not dry from Oman’s air, Tehran says bite the sanction chains and maybe there’s a share. The atom’s on the table; the rockets are not touched, The watchdog’s in the lobby and the strait’s waters are roughed. Envoys lean on careful words, a bargain laced with thorns, Peace with teeth, or just a truce that wilts before the dawn? Sources: Iran meets UN nuclear watchdog in Geneva ahead of a second round of US talks Iran open to compromises to reach nuclear deal with U.S., minister tells BBC Iran says missile programme non-negotiable as Tehran, Washington eye talks Chorus Build it back, hold the line, turn the cameras to the night, Wire the sky, write the truth, talk till the fuse burns white. We’re a planet in the red, still the drum finds a beat— Raise your hands, don’t look away, make the broken streets believe. Verse 4 — Ink on the Floor A newsroom older than our storms falls quiet, blinds half drawn, Sports and stories lost to dust, whole worlds of pages gone. From Cairo to the harbor lights, the foreign desk goes black, They blame the search that starved the clicks and code that bites the back. The union counts the faded names; the owner swears he’ll stay— But history’s heaviest scissors cut the truth away. Sources: Washington Post lays off one-third of its newsroom Jeff Bezos remains committed to Washington Post amid brutal layoffs, top editor Matt Murray says Inside one of the 'darkest days in the history' of The Washington Post Sweeping layoffs at The Washington Post will do 'enormous damage,' former editor says Verse 5 — Silicon Drought The data temples drink it all, the memory, the spark, Prices climb like thunderheads, the factory floors run dark. A car king dreams of forging chips with steel and salted fire, Phones feel tighter margins, cloud gods build higher spires. New foundries crawl toward the light while orders choke the air— In the hum of hungry servers, scarcity is prayer. Sources: AI Boom Driving a Global Memory Chip Shortage, Sending Prices Soaring Rampant AI demand for memory is fueling a growing chip crisis Memory chip shortage to last through 2027, semiconductor boss says How and When the Memory Chip Shortage Will End Verse 6 — Munich Echo In Munich, softer boots on stage call West to stand as kin, A gentler chord than last year’s flame, a smile to draw them in. He blesses bonds, then scolds the gates on migrants and the skies, Europe nods, calls it a calm, reassuring lullaby. But not a word for eastern ghosts, no anchor, just the breeze— A choir without the drummer, a promise on its knees. Sources: Rubio tries to ease tensions with Europe with message of unity Marco Rubio wants to build a 'new Western century'. Will Europe join? Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference Bridge Sirens in the harbor, wires in the rain, Pressrooms bleeding letters, steel that learns our pain. Talk in mirrored cities, deals that bend and sway— If we’re counting on tomorrow, let tomorrow hear us play. Final Chorus Build it back, hold the line, turn the cameras to the night, Wire the sky, write the truth, talk till the fuse burns white. We’re a planet in the red, still the drum finds a beat— Raise your hands, don’t look away, make the broken streets believe. Ending Turn it up—let Gaza breathe, let Geneva keep the light, Let the ink find its chorus and the circuits win the fight. From shut doors to open air, from silence into steel, We are amps against the darkness— Make the broken streets feel real.

Sirens Over the Fractured World Verse 1 — Poison and a Prison Cell From London to Paris to Berlin, Stockholm to The Hague, they ran the tests, they named the sting: a dart frog’s deadly blade. At Munich they said the science speaks, it cuts through barbed-up lies, and Yulia’s voice rose through the storm: “Hold the killer to the light.” They rang the bell in The Hague’s halls, a treaty torn and frayed, means and motive, shadowed hands, and poison on parade. Sources: NBC News PBS News TIME Al Jazeera CNN UK Government Chorus Turn up the glare, let the truth cut through the smoke, drums of justice shaking walls until they finally choke. From cold cells to crowded streets, we won’t look away— raise the amp, strike the chord, let the reckoning play. Verse 2 — Files Thrown Wide Pam Bondi cracked the vault and let the floodgates roar, a trove of names and midnight tapes spilled across the floor. Across the sea, a prince now faces questions from the Crown, Mandelson dropped his ribbons, a port king laid them down. Back home, counselors stepped aside, an old guard lost its poise, and cameras caught the paper trail of Congress-tracking noise. Sources: Fox News NPR CBS News Al Jazeera CNN Chorus Turn up the glare, let the truth cut through the smoke, drums of justice shaking walls until they finally choke. From cold cells to crowded streets, we won’t look away— raise the amp, strike the chord, let the reckoning play. Verse 3 — Vanished in the Night Nancy’s porch light blinked to black, her heartbeat app went mute, a mask at midnight on the cam, then silence in pursuit. A glove was found beyond the gate, a whisper in the clay, the lab says someone else was there, still ghosts refuse to say. The feds kicked doors and hope held fast, no cuffs to end the dread, while rivers full of tips keep running where the footprints bled. Sources: CNN NPR NBC News Chorus Turn up the glare, let the truth cut through the smoke, drums of justice shaking walls until they finally choke. From cold cells to crowded streets, we won’t look away— raise the amp, strike the chord, let the reckoning play. Verse 4 — Talks by the Lake Geneva sets another stage, Abu Dhabi in the rear, the White House in the corner keeps a deadline drawing near. Rutte counts the nameless cost, says losses break the scale, Moscow waves a captured town, another grieving tale. Donbas lines and iron vows, the knots are steel and flame, Paris and London stake a guard on promises and pain. Sources: Al Jazeera PBS News France 24 SBS News Verse 5 — Gunfire in Moscow A door in Moscow splinters wide, a quiet man goes down, a GRU brass ring is stained, a jacket soaked in brown. He once wore sanctions like a brand from Salisbury’s bitter day, now joins a list of uniforms that never walked away. Whispers point to Kyiv’s hand from older, colder nights, in stairwells where the echo keeps the names too scared for lights. Sources: NBC News Al Jazeera CNN Moscow Times Washington Post Verse 6 — Munich Roars for Change In Munich, winter warmed to fire, a sea of lifted hands, they called the end of iron rule from far and distant lands. They sang for Pahlavi to guide a bridge from crown to vote, he faced the mics at Munich’s hall and swore to keep that note: “I’ll take the charge the people give, to steer through storm and strife,” as flags became a metronome for freedom’s drum and fife. Sources: CNN Bridge Sirens in the distance, secrets on the wire, peace talks at the water’s edge, a city set on fire. Names etched into headlines, chains rattling on the rail, we tune our strings to lightning and we ride the fragile scale. Final Chorus and Ending Turn up the glare, let the truth cut through the smoke, drums of justice shaking walls until they finally choke. From cold cells to crowded streets, we won’t look away— raise the amp, strike the chord, let the reckoning play. One more time—raise the lights, shake the gates, name the wrongs by name. Let the world ring, let the chords sting— we won’t fade, we won’t break, we won’t look away!

Dart Frogs, Deadlines, and Docking: A World on the Wire Verse 1 — Dart frog toxin in the Arctic cold From an Arctic cage to a lab-lit glare, They traced a jungle’s poison through the winter air. A chorus of capitals pointed at the throne, Saying the toxin on his breath wasn’t his own. His widow stood in Munich, named the blade in the night, While denials from the Kremlin drowned in chemical light. They’re knocking on the watchdog’s unblinking door, Saying, break this taboo we’ve broken before. Sources: 5 European nations say Alexei Navalny was poisoned and blame the Kremlin Alexey Navalny: Russian opposition figure killed by toxin found in poison dart frogs Russia poisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny with dart frog toxin Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned by deadly 'dart frog' toxin Chorus World on the wire, sparks in the rain, Engines of truth against rivers of pain. Walls may be closing, but we raise the choir— When the sky goes dark, we turn up the fire. Verse 2 — Shutdown at the homeland gate Past midnight’s line, the lights went low, Over a border fight where cold winds blow. A death in Minneapolis burned the fuse, Now the floor demands cameras, faces, and warrants to use. Enforcers rumble on with the coffers pre-fed, While FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard bled. A vast force working as the paychecks stall, With Congress far away from the call. Sources: What to know on the DHS government shutdown 5 things to know about the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security DHS shutdown begins as funding expires without a deal in Congress A partial government shutdown is about to hit DHS Verse 3 — The newsroom bleeds ink The Post cut deep, whole sections erased, Foreign desks dimmed, Metro laid to waste. The publisher bowed and slipped from the stage, While a guild roared loud at the billionaire’s cage. Baron called it darkest, a paper in pain, After a spiked endorsement, the subs fled the train. A city of scribes shaken to its knees, Chasing truth on a tightening breeze. Sources: Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post conducts widespread layoffs Washington Post lays off one-third of its newsroom Bezos orders layoffs at 'Washington Post' Days after big layoffs at The Washington Post, publisher Will Lewis says he's stepping down Chorus World on the wire, sparks in the rain, Engines of truth against rivers of pain. Walls may be closing, but we raise the choir— When the sky goes dark, we turn up the fire. Verse 4 — Dhaka’s turning page In Dhaka’s dawn, the ballots roared, Students’ old thunder opened the door. The BNP surged, exile returned, Rahman at the helm where the future burned. Jamaat rose higher than it ever had, Yunus tipped his hat, the streets went mad. From Washington’s nod to Delhi’s grin, Term limits etched where power had been. Sources: Bangladesh election results 2026: Who won, who lost, what's next? Bangladesh PM-in-waiting Rahman appeals for unity as BNP sweeps polls A historic election in Bangladesh brings BNP to power 2026 Bangladeshi general election - Wikipedia Verse 5 — Munich’s guarded stage In Munich halls where the war-words churn, They weighed the bonds across oceans that burn. Zelenskyy, allies, talking shields and code, While protests rolled through the icy road. They timed the truth of a poisoned name, To echo inside that armored frame. Europe’s pulse in a fortress of glass, As the century’s shadows mass. Sources: Munich Security Conference 2026 62nd Munich Security Conference - Wikipedia Updates: World leaders gather in Munich for 2nd day of security conference Verse 6 — Docking at the edge of night A Falcon roared, scratched the sky, Carried a fresh crew where the star lanes lie. Meir and Hathaway, Adenot’s grace, Fedyaev drifting in steel and space. They rushed to relieve a station run lean, To mend the silence with hums of machines. Health of the human, maps to the Moon, Seeds for Mars in a pressurized room. Sources: SpaceX, NASA launch new ISS crew to end a month of skeleton staffing On their way! 4 people on NASA Crew-12 mission launch to International Space Station Watch the NASA SpaceX Crew-12 mission dock with the ISS SpaceX launches Crew-12 mission to International Space Station Chorus World on the wire, sparks in the rain, Engines of truth against rivers of pain. Walls may be closing, but we raise the choir— When the sky goes dark, we turn up the fire. Ending From Arctic bars to a vote’s bright drum, From a grounded fleet to a ship that’s come, From the shuttered press to the midnight line, We crash the chords and redraw the sign. If power writes poison, we’ll write it down. If paychecks vanish, we’ll shake this town. If stars are calling, we’ll tear through the night— Turn up the amps—this world still fights.

Fault Lines and Bright Warnings Verse 1 They tore the warning label from the sky, Trump and Zeldin called it freedom’s cry. An Obama-era cornerstone turned to dust, Cheaper wheels promised, in deregulation we trust. California sharpens suits, green banners raise, Obama says we’ll pay in air and days. Engines roar while lawyers circle the sun, From courthouse steps to the highest one. Sources: Trump revokes EPA finding on greenhouse gas threat - CNBC Trump's EPA will stop regulating greenhouse gases - NPR Trump's EPA revokes the endangerment finding - CBS News EPA Repeals Legal Basis for Regulating Greenhouse Gases - World Resources Institute Chorus We’re living on fault lines, chasing a flicker of truth, Engines are burning, borders are turning, ballots and boots. Sirens and courtrooms, allies in crosswinds, Hold the line, hold the light, till the world turns again. Verse 2 A name in the harbor, a whisper in the files, Sultan bin Sulayem walks the plank of lies and trials. Epstein’s shadow in late-night mail, “Torture video” echoes through a salt-stained gale. Investors freeze, the cargo hums low, Essa Kazim steps in, Narayan takes the prow. Ports move a giant share of the world’s breath, Even steel can shiver at the scent of death. Sources: CEO of Dubai's largest port replaced after ties to Epstein revealed - CBS News Dubai-based DP World replaces chief named in Epstein files - Al Jazeera Meet the high-profile Emirati business leader linked to Epstein 'torture' email - CNBC Powerful Dubai tycoon replaced after DOJ reveals emails with Epstein - CNN Chorus We’re living on fault lines, chasing a flicker of truth, Engines are burning, borders are turning, ballots and boots. Sirens and courtrooms, allies in crosswinds, Hold the line, hold the light, till the world turns again. Verse 3 Midnight shutters Homeland’s doors, Senate thunder shakes the floors. Democrats demand a badge and cam, No shadow raids, no nameless slam. Warrants on thresholds, no profile hunts, ICE and CBP keep grinding the fronts. TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard stay, Hands on duty, hearts on layaway. Sources: Partial government shutdown looms as ICE negotiations stall - The Washington Post US Department of Homeland Security to go into shutdown due to funding lapse - Al Jazeera Senate fails to advance DHS funding - CBS News What to know on the DHS government shutdown - NBC News Verse 4 In Munich they say the old map’s gone, Merz warns America it can’t march on alone. Macron holds Europe, rubs the frost from the glass, Rubio nods that the age has passed. A nuclear whisper between Rhine and Seine, JD Vance’s words meet stiff refrain. Zelensky walks in with winter eyes, Peace talks hover like distant cries. Sources: Germany's Merz warns America it cannot 'go it alone' - NBC News Rubio and European leaders agree: The old world order 'no longer exists' - CNN Munich Security Conference 2026 Live - Euronews Munich Security Conference: Europe Blames U.S. for Upending World Order - Foreign Policy Chorus We’re living on fault lines, chasing a flicker of truth, Engines are burning, borders are turning, ballots and boots. Sirens and courtrooms, allies in crosswinds, Hold the line, hold the light, till the world turns again. Verse 5 Desert wind through Tucson streets, Nancy Guthrie’s name in every beat. A raised reward, a backpack’s mark, Ozark Trail ink on a faceless dark. A ransom fake, Callella walks free, Agents knock on every mesquite tree. Savannah’s prayer on a sleepless night, Bring her home by morning light. Sources: Man accused of sending fake ransom note to Nancy Guthrie's family released - WRAL NPR U.S. News Headlines Verse 6 Dhaka wakes to a brand-new drum, BNP surges where the crowds first come. Tarique Rahman back from a long gray mile, Hand on the wheel with a tempered smile. Jamaat rises to claim the other side, Awami barred as the tides divide. Term limits promised, the street says “go,” Modi calls, the Stars and Stripes say “hello.” Sources: Bangladesh election results 2026: Who won, who lost, what's next? - Al Jazeera Bangladesh's BNP claims landslide win - Al Jazeera Tarique Rahman's BNP wins big in historic parliamentary vote - CNN A historic election in Bangladesh brings BNP to power - NPR Bridge Smoke on the waterline, ink on the dawn, Scars in the ledger where the truth signed on. From courtrooms to checkpoints to far-off squares, The world keeps turning on whispered prayers. Final Chorus and Ending We’re living on fault lines, chasing a flicker of truth, Engines are burning, borders are turning, ballots and boots. Raise up the chorus, let the sirens bend, From shuttered halls to ports that never end. Signal the coastline, spark up the night, Name every missing, stand in the fight. If the old world’s broken, we’ll weld it in flame, Hold the line, hold the light— Scream the name of hope again!

Sirens on the Fault Line Verse 1 — DHS on the brink Midnight hangs above the Homeland halls, Senate doors slam, nothing moves at all. White House, Dems, locked in iron jaws, Fighting over how to police our laws. They’re asking for warrants, cameras on the chest, Since blood hit Minneapolis, no one rests. TSA waiting, FEMA bracing in the dark, Coast Guard scanning every restless spark. Sources: Trump administration says it is ending its immigration surge in Minnesota Trump border czar Tom Homan announces Minnesota immigration surge is ending Tom Homan announces end of ICE operation Metro Surge in Minnesota Trump administration to end Minnesota immigration crackdown Chorus Sirens on the fault line, thunder in our bones, Headlines like a landslide rolling through our homes. Hearts aren’t borders and truth won’t be contained, We’re the chorus in the street, we’re the unchained. Raise your voice, make it bite, Turn the night into a warning light. Verse 2 — Metro Surge ends in Minnesota Tom Homan says the surge is through, Minneapolis breathes, but the storm blew through. Renee Good, Alex Pretti—names we won’t forget, Candles in the rain where the pavement’s wet. Crowds took the corners, coast to coast, Governor Walz called the damage gross. Relief for the shops with shuttered doors, Public trust falling through the floors. Sources: Iran's President apologises to 'all those affected' by protests, crackdown Pezeshkian calls for unity as Iran marks 1979 Revolution anniversary Iran protests 2026: UK and international response Iran's president apologises for brutal protests crackdown Verse 3 — Grand jury says no A jury weighed the tape and shut the gate, No charges for the six they tried to freight. Mark Kelly calls it straight from the playbook’s page, “Authoritarian lines,” he names the stage. Even on the right, a sigh of air, The gavel’s echo says: beware. Sources: Nancy Guthrie disappearance: FBI reveals description of suspect Bitcoin reportedly sent to wallet associated with Nancy Guthrie's ransom letter Chorus Sirens on the fault line, thunder in our bones, Headlines like a landslide rolling through our homes. Hearts aren’t borders and truth won’t be contained, We’re the chorus in the street, we’re the unchained. Raise your voice, make it bite, Turn the night into a warning light. Verse 4 — War grinds on in Ukraine Kyiv wakes to fire in the sky, Windows shake and children cry. A family lost where the ashes cling, An ambulance felled by a droning wing. Across the line, a refinery burns, Smoke writes a message as the planet turns. A “Board of Peace” hung in gilded ease, But allies step back from the stage’s freeze. Sources: Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,449 War - Ukrinform The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, Feb. 11, 2026 Verse 5 — Iran’s apology Pezeshkian steps to the mourning ground, Says “ashamed before the people,” voice unbound. A promise to help where the black cloth waves, Too many names, too many graves. He swears no quest for a secret crown, As talks with the West circle up and down. Candles flicker on a revolution’s day, Grief still walking a hard, old way. Sources: Partial government shutdown looms as ICE negotiations stall DHS shutdown all but certain as Democrats and Trump White House can't cut deal DHS expected to shut down as immigration talks falter A partial government shutdown is about to hit DHS Verse 6 — The missing mother A mother is gone from a Tucson night, A doorbell’s eye torn out of sight. Blood in the foyer, a family’s plea, A host on the air with a heart at sea. The Bureau prints a phantom face, Tips pour in at a frantic pace. A ransom ghost slips through the sieve, Crypto crumbs where the letters live. Sources: Trump administration updates - February 11, 2026 Live updates: Trump meets with Netanyahu Bridge This is the hum beneath the breaking news, The pulse between the bombs and breaking shoes. From border vans to city squares, From courtroom oaths to siren flares, We stitch the truth with a barbed-wire thread, Sing for the living, say the names of the dead. Final Chorus Sirens on the fault line, thunder in our bones, Headlines like a landslide rolling through our homes. Hearts aren’t borders and truth won’t be contained, We’re the chorus in the street, we’re the unchained. Raise your voice, make it bite, Turn the night into a warning light. Turn the night into a warning light— And ride the roar into the breaking light.

Open Files, Broken Seas, Burning Lines Verse 1 – The Files Vaults swing open at Justice, paper storms across the floor, Lawmakers read in quiet rooms what redactions hid before. A commerce chief admits the island after judgment had been cast, A congressman speaks names aloud, ghosts pulled from the past. Old notes say a future president told the cops he was glad they’d try, Yet in a thundered hearing, some cry cover-up and lie. Survivors rage at sunlight that burns the wounded, not the crowned— Unsealed truth that shows their scars while the powerful stay unbound. Sources: February 10, 2026 – Trump administration updates - CNN Struggling to navigate the Epstein files? Here is a visual guide - Al Jazeera Members of Congress will be able to view unredacted Epstein files - NBC News Massive trove of Epstein files released by DOJ - CBS News Chorus We are the drum in a world gone wild, Open the blinds, don’t close your eyes. From cell to storm to a haunted file, Hold the line, let truth arise. When the seas roar and the headlines cry, We’ll burn like beacons in the night, Sing it loud so the dark replies— Hold the line, let truth arise. Verse 2 – The Newsman A newsman in chains under a law from the north, Apple ink called seditious for bringing voices forth. The gavel falls like winter, cold beyond the bone, Rights keep shouting “cruel, unjust,” while he stands there alone. Colleagues bow to verdicts, printing presses stilled, From London to the mainland, diplomats are chilled. They call for his release across a tightening sky, When headlines become handcuffs, even paper learns to cry. Sources: Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison - CNN Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison - Al Jazeera Hong Kong: Publisher Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years - Human Rights Watch Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison - Committee to Protect Journalists Chorus We are the drum in a world gone wild, Open the blinds, don’t close your eyes. From cell to storm to a haunted file, Hold the line, let truth arise. When the seas roar and the headlines cry, We’ll burn like beacons in the night, Sing it loud so the dark replies— Hold the line, let truth arise. Verse 3 – The Cyclone Gezani ripped the harbor where the cranes kiss salty air, Tin roofs spun like sparrows, cables sparked despair. Another in a chain of tempests pounding island bones, Flooded streets, broken walls, unanswered phones. The blue flag opens lifelines, the leader walks the scars, While the eye grows dull and tilts toward distant shores and stars. Madagascar whispers names the wind still tries to take, And Mozambique waits, bracing for the break. Sources: 'Monstrous': Cyclone Gezani hits Madagascar, leaving at least 20 dead - Al Jazeera Tropical Cyclone Gezani Hits Madagascar and Kills at Least 20 - US News Cyclone Gezani Tears Through Madagascar, Kills at Least 31 - Reuters via US News Verse 4 – The Actor The creek runs quiet, the Friday lights grow dim, A leading man slips past the frame that once held him. His love says he met the end with grace that wouldn’t bend, Bills piled like mountains, friends and strangers lend. A family at the water’s edge, hands linked by the ache, Old castmates send their candles, trembling but awake. From teen-dream screens to mortal seams, he taught the tender art— That fame is just an echo, but courage is a heart. Sources: James Van Der Beek, 'Dawson's Creek' star, has died - CNN James Van Der Beek, 'Dawson's Creek' star, dies at 48 after cancer battle - NBC News James Van Der Beek, 'Dawson's Creek' star, dies at 48 after cancer diagnosis - CBS News Chorus We are the drum in a world gone wild, Open the blinds, don’t close your eyes. From cell to storm to a haunted file, Hold the line, let truth arise. When the seas roar and the headlines cry, We’ll burn like beacons in the night, Sing it loud so the dark replies— Hold the line, let truth arise. Verse 5 – The Back-Channel In Oman’s hush, envoys trade the words that sharpen peace, A promise on the table, or the iron to police. Engines warm on ocean steel, missiles wait on wheels, The last time haunts the hallway where a hard decision kneels. From Tehran voices answer, “War won’t mend the flame,” Choose speech over thunder, let the diplomats remain. Between a fist and open hand the future draws its breath— Stand down the drums a moment, step away from death. Sources: Early Edition: February 11, 2026 - Just Security Headlines for February 11, 2026 - Democracy Now! Wednesday morning news: February 11, 2026 - WORLD Verse 6 – The Meeting At the house of white they talk of Gaza’s open wound, Of reactors under watch and streets that feel consumed. No common script on strategy, but a push to keep the talk, A preference for a promise over yet another shock. Midnight shadows on the carpet, echoes on the wall, The Pentagon keeps glancing east, waiting for a call. Two leaders leave without a map, but eyes still on the wire— Negotiations smolder, not a blaze, not yet a fire. Sources: After 3-hour meeting, Trump says he 'insisted' to Netanyahu that Iran talks continue - Times of Israel Trump, Netanyahu end meeting with no deal on Iran strategy - The Hill Live updates: Trump meets with Netanyahu to discuss Iran relations - CNN Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with Trump at the White House - NPR Bridge Are we lost in the static, or tuned to the cry? We won’t count the storms—just the hands lifted high. Name the jailed, shield the broken, face the rising tide, Turn the amp toward the sunrise, let the truth collide. Final Chorus and Ending We are the drum in a world gone wild, Open the blinds, don’t close your eyes. From cell to storm to a haunted file, Hold the line, let truth arise. When the seas roar and the headlines cry, We’ll burn like beacons in the night, Raise your voice till the dark unwinds— Hold the line, let truth arise— Hold the line… now let it rise!

Sparks on the Wire Verse 1 (Ukraine) Over the steppe, the year’s fiercest barrage, Swarms of drones, storms of missiles bruise the grid. Blocks go cold in Kyiv, breath turns to fog, A brief power truce dissolves into night. Turbines fall silent, hours shrink to embers, As new ground shifts on a bleeding front. Sources: Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,445 The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, Feb. 4, 2026 Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,447 Verse 2 (DHS Standoff) On the Hill, the clock hisses like a fuse, A stopgap spent, nerves fray in the glare. One side calls for cameras, no masks, real warrants, An end to roaming dragnets on the street. The other digs in, lines hard as marble. Lives lost in Minneapolis spark the fight. If the money runs dry, wings and shields feel it: TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, the Service, the cyber watch. Sources: This week on the Hill: DHS shutdown inching closer as funding deadline looms House narrowly passes bill to end shutdown, but divisive DHS funding fight remains ICE negotiations could lead to a DHS shutdown. Its effects would go beyond immigration The clock runs down on DHS funding as lawmakers look for a path out of another shutdown fight Chorus Sparks on the wire, thunder in the news, Power plays and blackout days—what do we choose? Crank up the truth till the speakers bleed, We won’t go quiet while the world runs on fumes and greed. Verse 3 (Trump–Netanyahu, Iran) In the West Wing’s hush, old allies lean close, Tehran on the table, the wish list wider. Cap the missiles, starve the proxies—that’s the push, A meeting moved up, fresh files held high. Out on the lawn, a pledge to strip a climate warning, Bragging the rollback will shake the earth. Sources: Why Iran, not Gaza, is expected to top agenda for Trump-Netanyahu meeting in Washington Netanyahu to hold urgent meeting with Trump Wednesday amid Iran negotiations Netanyahu to meet Trump on Feb. 11 as Iran talks set to continue Netanyahu to discuss potential Iran strikes with Trump as Washington and Tehran resume talks Verse 4 (Maxwell Deposition) Behind a muted screen, a name from the island years, Every question meets a wall of rights. She offers a deal: mercy for a full confession, Says she can cleanse presidents past and present. Lawmakers sift unsealed pages in cold light, A chairman’s sigh; more witnesses wait the mic. Sources: Ghislaine Maxwell refuses US Congress testimony on Epstein, seeks clemency Ghislaine Maxwell invokes 5th Amendment in closed-door House Oversight deposition Epstein files fallout grows as Ghislaine Maxwell pleads Fifth before Congress Maxwell Offers to Prove Trump 'Innocent' in Exchange for Clemency Verse 5 (GRU Attack in Moscow) In Moscow’s chill, a shadowed general falls, Sirens knife the night; the Kremlin calls it out. Confessions claimed, a script pinned on Kyiv, A hand from Warsaw sketched in the margins. Those named stay silent; the city counts whispers, Footsteps fade where the street met steel. Sources: Portal:Current events/February 2026 - Wikipedia Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,447 Ukraine war latest updates: Kyiv carried out 3 offensive operations in 2025 Verse 6 (UN on West Bank Measures) Across the West Bank hills, new lines scrawl the dust, A cabinet’s reach into towns once off-limits. Gates crack for land sales, settlers eye the map, While the UN’s voice rings through the hall: This dims the lamp of a two-state dawn. From Gaza’s uneasy hush to far capitals—condemnation. Sources: West Bank: New Israeli measures further erode prospects for two-State solution Why Iran, not Gaza, is expected to top agenda for Trump-Netanyahu meeting Chorus Sparks on the wire, thunder in the news, Power plays and blackout days—what do we choose? Crank up the truth till the speakers bleed, We won’t go quiet while the world runs on fumes and greed. Finale Raise the lights, feel the surge in the mains, From frozen windows to marble halls, the feedback reigns. Count no clocks, trust no hush—let the amps decide: If the world’s on the edge, we’ll be the overdrive. Sparks on the wire—shout it higher, higher— We are the current, the chorus, the fire!

Fault Lines and Deadlines Verse 1 In Hong Kong’s sleepless glare, a tycoon of ink takes the stand, Apple pages turned to ash beneath a sweeping security brand. The harshest sentence yet for words they called seditious fire, Rights groups call it cruel, say the clock became a wire. From London and Washington to Brussels, Taipei, Canberra’s light, Voices lift his name, urge the bars to open to the night. Sources: Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong media tycoon sentenced to 20 years in prison after landmark national security trial Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison China critic and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in Hong Kong Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offenses Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years in Hong Kong after nat. security conviction Chorus Turn up the noise, the world’s on the wire, From prison bars to ceasefire choirs, Crowns will quake, ballots blaze, We ride the fault lines through the haze. Sirens wail, guitars bleed, Truth keeps rolling at breakneck speed. Verse 2 Across the steppe of static, a deadline hums like a drum, The road to peace marks early summer, next stop: Miami sun. While grids go dark under swarms, the sky a steel-winged choir, Kyiv won’t leave the Donbas line though Moscow stacks the wire. Still through smoke a narrow mercy, prisoners cross the snow, Hand to hand the trade of sorrow, a fragile undertow. Sources: U.S. gave Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach a peace deal, Zelenskyy says Zelenskyy says US set June deadline for peace deal, as Russia launches new attacks on energy sites Zelensky says US wants Ukraine-Russia peace deal by June US has given Ukraine and Russia June deadline to end war: Zelenskyy Zelenskyy says U.S. gave Ukraine and Russia a June deadline to reach agreement to end war Verse 3 In Moscow’s frozen mirror, a shadow moves in close, A general built of secrets falls to winter’s ghost. He wakes to sterile daylight, blame nailed to Kyiv’s door, A suspect flown from desert nights, a whisper’s captured core. Skripal’s haunted footnotes, cyber scars that last, Another strike on brass as restless empires clash. Sources: UK PM's chief of staff resigns over Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador despite Epstein links Epstein files: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff quits Pressure grows on UK PM Starmer as Scottish Labour leader urges him to quit Why the Epstein scandal is Keir Starmer's most perilous moment yet after chief of staff resigns Chorus Turn up the noise, the world’s on the wire, From prison bars to ceasefire choirs, Crowns will quake, ballots blaze, We ride the fault lines through the haze. Sirens wail, guitars bleed, Truth keeps rolling at breakneck speed. Verse 4 In Westminster’s narrow halls, the whispers turn to shouts, A chief of staff drops the keys, the comms chief follows out. A gilded post to Washington set every headline ablaze, Tangled ties to a fallen name ignite the party’s maze. Scotland’s call says step aside, the Chancellor holds the line, A leader walks a fraying rope where trust and power grind. Sources: Russian military intelligence general Vladimir Alekseyev shot in Moscow Russian general shot and wounded in Moscow, in latest attack on top military leaders Top Russian general shot in Moscow as talks stall on Ukraine ceasefire Senior Russian officer shot in Moscow in apparent assassination attempt Verse 5 Far east the ballots thunder, a gamble meets its prize, The ruling crest keeps rising on a wave of youthful eyes. A trailblazing woman steering, firm on state and steel, Talk of turning pacifism’s page, of hardening the shield. The map glows fierce and certain, a mandate forged in flame, Conservative winds are blowing, and they’re calling out her name. Sources: Japan's Takaichi to pursue conservative agenda after election landslide Japan's Sanae Takaichi secures parliamentary majority in election win Japan's Takaichi tightens grip on power with stunning victory in snap election Japan's Takaichi Wins Big in Snap Election: What to Know Japan's Sanae Takaichi wins a supermajority after gambling on a snap election Verse 6 On the edge of ocean light, Portugal writes its sign, A moderate takes the palace in a rare runoff’s shine. A far-right roar receding as districts bow like grain, Yet in the House, that banner stands to press its claim again. The post may seem ceremonial, but it hides a quiet sword, He vows to bridge the chambers, keep the compass toward accord. Sources: Center-left Socialist candidate wins over populist in Portugal's presidential runoff Portugal elects Socialist Party's Seguro as president in landslide Portugal chooses between a moderate and a populist in runoff presidential election Seguro wins Portugal presidency with 66.2% of vote Bridge Bars, bullets, ballots, backrooms, Deadlines burning into moons, Signals flicker, hearts align, Storms are clocks we learn to time. Final Chorus Turn up the noise, the world’s on the wire, From prison bars to ceasefire choirs, Crowns will quake, ballots blaze, We ride the fault lines through the haze. Raise your fists to the headline sky, We won’t go quiet, we won’t stand by— When ink is chained and thunder roars, We are the riff that breaks the doors.

Deadlines and Fault Lines Verse 1 — The Paper Bleeds Neon hum in a silent newsroom, chairs left cold on the floor, Sports and stories packed in boxes, the books aren’t turning anymore. Local lines go faint and foreign windows close, The daily voice goes quiet, and the headline never knows. Days later the captain quits, the CFO takes the wheel, The guild cries, “This was a choice,” not some iron fate of steel. An old editor points at the tower, at bets that went astray, No nod before the last election, and readers walked away. Sources: Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post conducts widespread layoffs Washington Post lays off one-third of its newsroom Washington Post CEO resigns after sweeping layoffs Bezos orders layoffs at 'Washington Post' Sweeping layoffs at The Washington Post will do 'enormous damage' Chorus We’re living on deadlines and fault lines, Ink runs with heart and with rage. War drums, closed doors, and bright signs, Turn up the truth on the stage. If they cut the wire, we’ll sing louder, If they burn the bridge, we’ll build prouder— On deadlines and fault lines, We won’t fade with the page. Verse 2 — Summer Clock on a War In the desert the table waited, Abu Dhabi heat in the air, No grand unraveling of knots, but a trade of lives proved care. June hangs like a quiet thunder, a clock above the lines, Miami whispers next steps, as the break keeps out of sight. One side says, “Leave the Donbas,” the other says, “Not a chance,” Maps and sorrow face each other in a stalemate’s broken dance. Sources: US gave Ukraine and Russia June deadline to reach peace agreement US has given Ukraine and Russia June deadline to end war: Zelenskyy Ukraine says first day of peace talks with Russia 'productive' Chorus We’re living on deadlines and fault lines, Ink runs with heart and with rage. War drums, closed doors, and bright signs, Turn up the truth on the stage. If they cut the wire, we’ll sing louder, If they burn the bridge, we’ll build prouder— On deadlines and fault lines, We won’t fade with the page. Verse 3 — The Resignation Letter A strategist drops the pen, takes the heat for a call gone wrong, He pushed a name for Washington, but the shadows were too long. Says it stained the party colors, trust dragged through the mire, Old emails lit like matches, and the raids fanned the fire. He’d been the architect of victory, now the exit signs all glow, When the past pulls hard on power, even allies have to go. Sources: UK PM's chief of staff resigns over Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador Morgan McSweeney - Wikipedia McSweeney resigns as British PM's chief of staff Irish man Morgan McSweeney resigns as Keir Starmer's chief of staff Verse 4 — Muscat Echoes Across the water, Oman listens, words pass wall to wall, Tehran says, “It’s a good start,” Washington says, “Stand tall.” An envoy pair and a watchful admiral, steel humming in the bay, Talks like tinder in a windstorm, will it spark or blow away? Fears of thunder on the runway, but the chorus holds its breath, If the door stays cracked a heartbeat, maybe we outwalk death. Sources: Iran says talks with US in Oman 'a good start' CNN Politics: Trump Administration News NPR World News Chorus We’re living on deadlines and fault lines, Ink runs with heart and with rage. War drums, closed doors, and bright signs, Turn up the truth on the stage. If they cut the wire, we’ll sing louder, If they burn the bridge, we’ll build prouder— On deadlines and fault lines, We won’t fade with the page. Verse 5 — The Gates of Ivy The War Department slams a gate, says the crimson’s lost its way, A diploma tossed like a gauntlet from a long-remembered day. “Too much hate for home,” the charge, as the campus takes the stand, Courts have weighed the scorecards, and the school has held its land. A fortune’s on the table to turn the funding spout, While other towers brace for judgment, waiting for the shout. Sources: Pentagon to end military training at 'woke' Harvard Pentagon says it's cutting ties with 'woke' Harvard Pentagon Says It Will Cut Academic Ties With Harvard University Pentagon cuts academic ties with 'woke' Harvard Verse 6 — Rust in the Gears Pink slips stack like storm clouds, the hardest winter in years, Blame the contracts turned to smoke and markets bent by fears. Restructures cut to bone and code eats jobs for lunch, Tariffs, borders, cold decisions—hiring’s lost its punch. A trickle where a river ran, the help-wanted signs grow dim, Machines are learning melodies while workers lose the hymn. Sources: The job market was already 'slim pickings.' New data shows it just got worse US Treasury Economy Statement CBS News Final Chorus — Turn It Up We’re living on deadlines and fault lines, Ink runs with heart and with rage. War drums, closed doors, and bright signs, Turn up the truth on the stage. If they cut the wire, we’ll sing louder, If they burn the bridge, we’ll build prouder— On deadlines and fault lines, We won’t fade with the page. Ending — Break the Quiet Hit the lights, shake the rafters, let the headlines quake, Beat the drums till the power-walls crack and wake. From the pressroom to the picket line, from Muscat to the quay— Our voices are the deadline they can’t break, can’t break, can’t break!

Fault Line Anthem Verse 1 — No Limits The last lock on the doomsday door fell to the floor, Generations with no ceiling over war. A warning bell from the UN shakes the air, The clock feels heavier, the future bare. A promise of a brand-new deal is cast, With China in the circle, shadows long and vast. Between the red lines and the satellite light, We hold our breath through another night. Sources: UN chief warns of 'grave moment' as final US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires Why it matters that the U.S.-Russia New START nuclear treaty expired Fears of new nuclear arms race grow as key U.S.-Russia treaty expires New START Nuclear Arms Control Treaty Expires Between Russia, U.S. Chorus We ride the fault line, torn between fear and fire, Headlines thunder, hearts climb higher. When the bridges burn or blaze anew, Sing it louder—what will we choose? From broken vows to blazing flame, We are the chorus, we shout our name. Verse 2 — Open Lines Across desert halls where peacemakers meet, A frozen wire hums with returning heat. After talks on Ukraine, the generals call, Old doors crack open in a guarded hall. Soldiers go home in a careful trade, A soft relief where hard plans are made. The silence breaks, not quite a truce, But static gives way to a fragile use. Sources: 'Washington Post' CEO Will Lewis resigns after massive layoffs announced Washington Post publisher Will Lewis abruptly steps down, days after massive layoffs gut the newspaper Washington Post publisher Will Lewis resigns just days after paper enacts mass layoffs Will Lewis steps down as publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post Chorus We ride the fault line, torn between fear and fire, Headlines thunder, hearts climb higher. When the bridges burn or blaze anew, Sing it louder—what will we choose? From broken vows to blazing flame, We are the chorus, we shout our name. Verse 3 — Ink on the Floor In the great newsroom, the lights run low, A mass layoff winds like a winter blow. The boss steps down, late to the pain, Seen at a party while jobs went down the drain. The guild calls it overdue, hard and raw, A paper’s soul tested by a brutal saw. Jeff D’Onofrio takes the helm tonight, To steer what’s left through a storm-tossed fight. Sources: Iran says talks with US in Oman 'a good start', more discussions expected February 6, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode February 6, 2026 – Trump administration news, Congress still in funding stalemate Verse 4 — Campus Cold Front The Pentagon slams a scholarly gate, Calling Harvard “woke,” resetting the slate. Training cut, fellowships turned away, Certificates fade with the end of a day. A standoff with power, money in the air, Other ivies lined up for the same hard stare. Ranks bristle at the culture war spin, Where books and boots both claim to win. Sources: Milan Cortina 2026: First gold medals and record-setting hometown hero Everything that happened on Friday, February 6 at the Winter Olympics From San Siro to the Dolomites: A multi-site opening sets the tone for Milano Cortina 2026 Chorus We ride the fault line, torn between fear and fire, Headlines thunder, hearts climb higher. When the bridges burn or blaze anew, Sing it louder—what will we choose? From broken vows to blazing flame, We are the chorus, we shout our name. Verse 5 — Backchannel Dawn In Oman’s hush, the messages move, Indirect voices find a cautious groove. Tehran says it’s a start worth keeping, Washington calls it good, eyes not sleeping. Witkoff and Kushner sit near the line, Admiral Cooper a steel-backed sign. More rounds promised after phones all ring, A thin new thread on a tightening string. Sources: Pentagon says it's cutting ties with 'woke' Harvard, discontinuing military training and fellowships Pentagon says it's cutting ties with 'woke' Harvard, ending military training Pentagon Says It Will Cut Academic Ties With Harvard University Verse 6 — Torches in the Snow From San Siro roar to the Dolomites’ glow, The Games ignite where cold winds blow. Carey’s cry, Bocelli’s flame, Pausini’s vow to lift the name. Flames rose in both cities bright, Mountains answered with silver light. A new wild climb joins the stage, The world laces up, turns the page. Sources: U.S. and Russia agree to reestablish military dialogue after Ukraine talks US and Russia agree to re-establish military dialogue after Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi Ukraine, Russia conduct POW swap after trilateral talks with US end Final Chorus and Outro We ride the fault line, torn between fear and fire, Headlines thunder, hearts climb higher. When the bridges burn or blaze anew, Sing it louder—what will we choose? Treaties fall, lines return, presses bleed, torches rise— Turn up the amps, tear up the skies. On this edge of storm and shine, We are the spark— Now draw the line.

Countdown With No Numbers Verse 1 — The last guardrail falls The clock struck hush, the safeties off, The final pact between the giants snapped today. The UN warns a grave and widening gulf, A former president calls it a broken deal, wants a shinier cage. Moscow growls of payback if the chill turns blaze, Two titans hold almost all the fire while Beijing stays away. Without the locks, say the watchers, more ash could rise in a heartbeat. Sources: UN chief warns of 'grave moment' as final US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires Fears of new nuclear arms race grow as key U.S.-Russia treaty expires Why it matters that the U.S.-Russia New START nuclear treaty expired The expiration of New START: what it means and what's next New START - Wikipedia Chorus Hold on, world, the wires are sparking, Treaties break and desert rooms are talking. Code storms crash, the presses bleed, Stadiums tremble, borders trade, and hearts still need. We’re living on the faultline, fire in the headlines, Sing like a siren through the thunder: It’s a countdown with no numbers. Verse 2 — Whispered heat in Oman In Muscat’s hush, they bargain through a wall, Envoys trade papers no hands ever touch. A uniform glints, a carrier prowls the coast, Tehran stays on one narrow line, shuts the door on the rest. Washington says the goal is none at all, Tehran says lift the chains, we’ll show the checks. Oman calls it groundwork, the White House won’t slam the lid. Sources: US and Iran conclude high-stakes talks in Oman U.S. holds indirect talks with Iran US-Iran updates: FM Araghchi says latest round of talks 'a good start' Iran and US to reopen nuclear talks in Oman US-Iran nuclear talks conclude in Oman Chorus Hold on, world, the wires are sparking, Treaties break and desert rooms are talking. Code storms crash, the presses bleed, Stadiums tremble, borders trade, and hearts still need. We’re living on the faultline, fire in the headlines, Sing like a siren through the thunder: It’s a countdown with no numbers. Verse 3 — The office ghost made of code A cowork built of circuits walks in, Files whisper open, folders fall in line. Law and cash and pitch get new chrome skins, Then a bigger mind arrives with canyon-wide recall. The street shudders, legal names and cloud kings reel, A data giant hits the worst day it’s ever seen, And the maker warns the rookies: your chairs might not be yours for long. Sources: Anthropic's new AI tool sends shudders through software stocks Anthropic Opus 4.6: The AI that shook software stocks gets a big update Anthropic AI Tool Sparks Selloff From Software to Broader Market AI fears pummel software stocks Why a new AI tool hammered some software stocks this week Verse 4 — Newsroom lights go dim A storied masthead cuts to the bone, Sports stripped, books erased, bureaus thinned. A former chief calls it one of the darkest days, Jeff Bezos owns the name while readers drift. The guild says fate didn’t do this, choices did, The new boss points at search devoured by AI’s grip. Sources: Washington Post lays off one-third of its newsroom Washington Post announces massive layoffs Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post conducts widespread layoffs Bezos orders layoffs at Washington Post The Washington Post lays off a third of its staff Chorus Hold on, world, the wires are sparking, Treaties break and desert rooms are talking. Code storms crash, the presses bleed, Stadiums tremble, borders trade, and hearts still need. We’re living on the faultline, fire in the headlines, Sing like a siren through the thunder: It’s a countdown with no numbers. Verse 5 — Stadium shadows before the torch Before the flame is lit, the spotlight burns, Old flirty mails with Ghislaine Maxwell surface and sting. County voices say step down, a senator joins the turn, He says he’s sorry, says no ties to Epstein, recalls a charity wing. The ring of rings says it trusts him still, The mayor holds her tongue, the city holds its breath. Sources: LA Olympics chief faces calls to resign after flirty emails with Maxwell revealed LA County supervisors call on Casey Wasserman to resign Calls grow for LA28 chair Casey Wasserman to resign Citing Epstein files, calls grow for LA Olympics chief to step down LA Olympics chairman Casey Wasserman urged to resign Verse 6 — The bargain on the borderlines Across the latitudes, a handshake clears a thorny trail, A pen orders far more Argentine beef to cool a fevered price. Buenos Aires counts the windfall, tariffs fall like hail, Their doors swing for poultry, rules ease for stateside slice. Back home the ranchers roar, party allies bristle and warn: Don’t undercut the family acres for a cheaper bite tonight. Sources: Argentina and U.S. sign a major trade deal to slash tariffs Trump signs executive order quadrupling beef imports from Argentina Trump strikes deal to allow $800M in beef imports from Argentina Trump Boosts Argentina Beef Imports in Affordability Push Final Chorus and Coda Hold on, world, the wires are sparking, Treaties break and desert rooms are talking. Code storms crash, the presses bleed, Stadiums tremble, borders trade, and hearts still need. We’re living on the faultline, fire in the headlines, Raise your voice above the thunder, It’s a countdown with no numbers, No numbers, just thunder— Ready or not, we roll like lightning under.

Sirens, Ink, and Iron Verse 1 (Minnesota drawdown) In the cold of Minneapolis, they packed up and rolled, After nights of street clashes and a pair of souls gone cold. Homan says the handshake’s real, locals and feds aligned, But marches pound the pavement, justice on their mind. Noem straps on body cams, red lights start to glow, Frey says it’s not enough—end the surge, let it go. Sources: US border security chief withdrawing 700 immigration agents from Minnesota Border czar Tom Homan says 700 ICE and CBP officers are leaving Minneapolis Trump admin to withdraw 700 immigration agents from Minnesota 700 federal agents to leave Minnesota 'effective immediately' Chorus Hold the line, don’t look away, When the world frays at the seams today. Raise your voice, make it loud, Through smoke and silence, cut the cloud. If the night feels like it’s closing in, Keep the lamps of truth lit from within. Verse 2 (New START expires) The last lock on the thunder finally slipped its chain, For the first time since détente’s dawn, no caps remain. The UN calls it grave, a shadow on the sky, Trump wants a newer pact with Beijing standing by. Moscow says it’s unbound, but leaves a door ajar— Empty launchpads whisper to a restless star. Sources: Why it matters that the U.S.-Russia New START nuclear treaty expired Fears of new nuclear arms race grow as key U.S.-Russia treaty expires UN chief warns of 'grave moment' as final US-Russia nuclear arms treaty expires Last Russia-US treaty on nuclear arms control set to expire Chorus Hold the line, don’t look away, When the world frays at the seams today. Raise your voice, make it loud, Through smoke and silence, cut the cloud. If the night feels like it’s closing in, Keep the lamps of truth lit from within. Verse 3 (US–Iran talks in Oman) After days of whiplash signals, they chose the desert air, Tehran said change the venue, keep it nuclear, keep it square. From across the Arab sunrise came a plea to stay the course, The White House shows up wary, with a distant threat of force. In a room by the water, hope and heat collide— Ink meets iron, while the hawks circle wide. Sources: Iran and US agree to high-stakes nuclear talks in Oman US-Iran nuclear talks set for Oman on Friday, Tehran confirms Iran and the U.S. will hold nuclear talks Friday in Oman U.S.-Iran nuclear talks back on after Arab leaders lobby White House Verse 4 (Routh sentencing) A gavel fell in Florida, the verdict hard as stone, Routh bound to live with bars for violence he had sown. A letter spelled his purpose, cold and calculated lines, The judge named evil plainly, drew unforgiving signs. The nation’s top attorney called it a strike at our core, The defense says this story will climb one court more. Sources: Ryan Wesley Routh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump Ryan Routh, convicted of trying to assassinate Trump, sentenced to life in prison Attempted Trump assassin Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison for Trump assassination attempt Chorus Hold the line, don’t look away, When the world frays at the seams today. Raise your voice, make it loud, Through smoke and silence, cut the cloud. If the night feels like it’s closing in, Keep the lamps of truth lit from within. Verse 5 (South Carolina measles) A fever rides the highways from the upstate pines, It found a nursery ward, it found the factory lines. Most who caught the fire never took the shield, Now clinics hum like engines, sleeves rolled in the field. Even in ICE halls, warnings cross the floor, Elimination’s halo may not crown us anymore. Sources: South Carolina measles outbreak hits 876 with 29 new cases Measles continues to spread in the US, but with some letup South Carolina measles outbreak at 876 cases 2025 Measles Outbreak - South Carolina Department of Public Health Verse 6 (Washington Post layoffs) Ink runs thin in Washington, desks stand bare and still, Sports boxed up in silence, books and pods gone chill. Foreign beats fall quiet, fewer boots on foreign ground, Murray blames the search storms and the rise of coded sound. The Guild cries out for substance, for trust that won’t erode, While Bezos wears the echoes of a shrinking, shaken load. Sources: Washington Post lays off one-third of its newsroom The Washington Post lays off a third of its staff Bezos orders layoffs at Washington Post Jeff Bezos remains committed to Washington Post amid brutal layoffs Bridge From body cams to treaty scraps, From desert talks to courtroom maps, From needles raised to deadened feeds, We’re counting on each other more than leads. Final Chorus Hold the line, don’t look away, When the world frays at the seams today. Raise your voice, make it loud, Through smoke and silence, cut the cloud. If the night feels like it’s closing in, Keep the lamps of truth lit from within. Exciting Ending Turn the cams on, turn the warheads down, Meet in the desert, set the anchors in the ground. Shots in the arm, ink back in town, If the presses dim, we’ll be the sound. Turn the cams on, turn the warheads down— Hearts like amplifiers, we won’t back down.

Sirens, Gavels, and a Torch in the Night Verse 1 — Ukraine Over blackened grids and winter’s bite, the sky went screaming through the night, Ceasefires shattered, engines roar, high-rises freezing on the floor. They said to wait for colder skies, to hoard the thunder, sharpen lies, Peace set for deserts far away, but miners died on a helpless day. Sources: Russia hits Ukraine energy targets with hundreds of drones, missiles, ahead of talks Russia resumes night strikes on major Ukrainian cities, ending brief reprieve agreed between Putin and Trump Russia bombards Ukraine with drones and missiles a day before planned peace talks Russia unleashes 521 missiles and drones on Ukraine in 2026's largest attack Chorus Raise your voice like a floodlight, truth is a riff that won’t quit the fight. From broken wires to headlines bright, we carry the fire through the night. If power fails and the world leans tight, let the chorus be our satellite, We won’t go quiet, we won’t lose sight— we carry the fire through the night. Verse 2 — Sentencing in Florida A judge said evil, called it plain, a golf green stained by a bitter aim, A rifle waiting, shadows drawn, the plan was careful, cold as dawn. A scrawled apology left behind, a courtroom wound, a fractured mind, Now iron doors and ticking clocks, life in a cell with the echoed knocks. Sources: Ryan Routh, convicted of trying to assassinate Trump, sentenced to life in prison Ryan Wesley Routh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Assassination Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison for Trump golf course assassination attempt Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison in Trump 2024 assassination attempt Verse 3 — Westminster Fallout A lord steps down beneath the glare, old emails whisper market fare, A name entangled in a stain, with midnight flights and Epstein’s name. Blue lights circle, charges loom, the Prime Minister chills the room, Says country’s trust was thrown away— old embassy ashes in the day. Sources: UK police launch investigation into ex-envoy Mandelson over Epstein ties British politician Peter Mandelson faces pressure to quit House of Lords after latest Epstein files release Criminal investigation launched into Mandelson over 'misconduct' in relation to Epstein emails Mandelson Resigns After UK Refers Epstein Emails to Police Chorus Raise your voice like a floodlight, truth is a riff that won’t quit the fight. From broken wires to headlines bright, we carry the fire through the night. If power fails and the world leans tight, let the chorus be our satellite, We won’t go quiet, we won’t lose sight— we carry the fire through the night. Verse 4 — The Paper Bleeds A newsroom trembles, desks gone dumb, sports and books fall quiet, numb, A podcast silenced, borders thinned, the Middle East blown out by wind. A titan watches from the mast, the guild counts ghosts of seasons past, The one who tracked the city’s store, is told to leave and write no more. Sources: Bezos orders layoffs at 'Washington Post' Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post conducts widespread layoffs, gutting a third of its staff Washington Post Layoffs Cut More Than 300 Employees at Jeff Bezos Paper Washington Post lays off one-third of its newsroom Verse 5 — The Shutdown Unwinds Cold doors open, lights hum on, a pen moves quick, the grid moves on, A fragile bridge for homeland guards, while protest blood reopens scars. They’re calling for a lens to see, for tighter lines and agency, A deal stitched up from either side, keeps engines turning one more ride. Sources: Trump signs bill to end government shutdown and fund DHS for two weeks Trump signs funding bill to end shutdown after package clears House US House passes $1.2 trillion spending package to end government shutdown House passes funding package to end partial government shutdown Chorus Raise your voice like a floodlight, truth is a riff that won’t quit the fight. From broken wires to headlines bright, we carry the fire through the night. If power fails and the world leans tight, let the chorus be our satellite, We won’t go quiet, we won’t lose sight— we carry the fire through the night. Verse 6 — The Winter Games Ignite In Milan streets and mountain air, the rings burn hot, the crowd will stare, Voices soar, the stage runs wide, curling stones already slide. New peaks call climbers to the start, a torn knee swears with lion heart, The rink sees pros return to play, a rapper lifts the torch to day, Twin flames rising, towns alight, Italy singing into night. Sources: Winter Olympics 2026 guide: All you need to know about the Milan Cortina Games Olympic Opening Ceremony - Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games Lindsey Vonn 'confident' to ski at 2026 Winter Olympics despite ruptured ACL Snoop Dogg carries Olympic torch ahead of 2026 Winter Games in Italy Bridge — Turn It Louder From frozen homes to courthouse halls, from paper cuts to stadium calls, From bruised debates to snowbound flights, we’re wired together by these nights. Turn the amps to thunder’s edge, light the match and make a pledge: When storms bear down and deals run tight, we are the spark, we are the right— Final Chorus Raise your voice like a floodlight, truth is a riff that won’t quit the fight. From broken wires to headlines bright, we carry the fire through the night. If power fails and the world leans tight, let the chorus be our satellite, We won’t go quiet, we won’t lose sight— we carry the fire through the night, We won’t go quiet— we carry the fire through the night.

Headlines on Fire, Moon in Sight Verse 1 — The Files The vaults swing wide and a paper ocean spills, Mountain of shadows, a thousand quiet chills. Titans and royals caught under buzzing lights, Musk, Gates, Clinton, Andrew in the bite. They say fresh charges won’t ignite tonight, Black bars dance wrong, redactions out of sight. Advocates howl that privacy was torn, Abroad, old titles crack and fall from thrones. Sources: Department of Justice Publishes 3.5 Million Responsive Pages in Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act Powerful people, random redactions: 4 things to know about the latest Epstein files Breaking down some boldface names in the Epstein files What latest released files show about Epstein's ties with prominent figures Chorus Turn on the lights, open the gates, We want truth that doesn’t blur or break. From the courthouse to the desert sky, From code we write to rockets we fly. Hold the line, hold the light, Headlines on fire, but we won’t lose the night. Verse 2 — The Missing Desert door left broken in the Tucson night, Sheriff swears she didn’t choose that flight. Feds chase echoes through towers and tones, Whispers of ransom in clipped, cold phones. A daughter drops bright rings and global stage, To guard a porch light and a turning page. Neighbors keeping vigil by the dawn, Prayers like sirens carrying on. Sources: Savannah Guthrie's Mother Remains Missing, Sheriff Shares Updates on Investigation What we know about Savannah Guthrie's missing mother Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, missing in Arizona; 'I believe she was abducted,' sheriff says Savannah Guthrie asks for prayers after her mother's disappearance Search continues for Savannah Guthrie's mom: 'We don't know where she is,' sheriff says Verse 3 — The Raid In Paris halls the servers hum, then stall, Badges at the door, a heavy-footed call. Deepfakes and darkness, algorithms on trial, Holocaust denials and code gone vile. Summons sent to the boss and the chair, The platform calls it theater in the square. Across the water, watchdogs start to bite, A prosecutor logs off, takes the voice to new sites. Sources: Paris prosecutors summon Elon Musk after raid on X's French offices French authorities raid X offices in Paris, summon Musk in cybercrime probe Paris prosecutors raid X offices in France and summon Elon Musk French offices of Elon Musk's X platform raided by Paris cybercrime unit Paris prosecutor's cybercrime unit searches X office, Musk summoned Chorus Turn on the lights, open the gates, We want truth that doesn’t blur or break. From the courthouse to the desert sky, From code we write to rockets we fly. Hold the line, hold the light, Headlines on fire, but we won’t lose the night. Verse 4 — The Cameras Cold streets watch as lenses click alive, Orders from the top: every badge in sight. After shots that should never have been fired, A coroner’s ink and a black-suited choir. A child and his father step out from the lock, Lawsuits say the innocent took the shock. City of refuge, don’t cage the afraid— Roll the tape back, let the truth parade. Sources: ICE in Minnesota: DHS deploying body cameras to all federal agents Refugees relive the trauma they fled as ICE targets them in Minnesota Minnesota citizens detained by ICE are left rattled, even weeks later Verse 5 — The Moon At the cape, the rocket’s breath runs cold, Hydrogen whispers through a secret fold. Wiseman, Glover, Koch, and Hansen stand, Ready to ride when the stars command. Safety first, says the voice from the floor, No bolt rushed, no rushing through the door. Next sweep round the moon, hearts stretched wide, Farther than fear, on the dark blue tide. Sources: NASA delays Artemis II moon mission launch NASA delays Artemis II moon launch after issues during rehearsal NASA delays the launch of Artemis II lunar mission by at least a month NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity Verse 6 — The Stage In the capital, a palace dims its glow, A long hard rebuild with a leader’s name in tow. Artists walking, opera leaves the room, Critics say power seeds a kind of gloom. What of the symphony, paintings on the wall? A promise of grandeur after dust and crawl. Steel laid bare, but the city wants the sound— A quiet hall is a wound in the ground. Sources: Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for construction in July, Trump says Trump says Kennedy Center will close for two years for renovations Trump says steel to be 'fully exposed' in Kennedy Center rebuild but 'not ripping it down' Trump announces 2-year closure of Kennedy Center for 'complete rebuilding' Bridge From files to fibers, from bodies to stars, From courtrooms to consoles to shuttered bars— We’re tuning the nation, string by string, Till truth and mercy start to sing. Final Chorus Turn on the lights, open the gates, We want truth that doesn’t blur or break. From the courthouse to the desert sky, From code we write to rockets we fly. Hold the line, hold the light, Headlines on fire, but we won’t lose the night. Coda Raise the amps, let the countdown ride— No digits, just thunder and a tidal stride. Spotlights on the faces, moonlight on the wing, If the truth is a fuse, then tonight we sing.

Gates Open, Lights Dim Verse 1 (Rafah) Rafah gates crack open after long dark seasons, Ceasefire breathing, thin as a paper seam. Once seized and shuttered, now under foreign eyes, A trickle of patients with family at their side. Egypt’s wide network stands ready like a choir, But the first notes faltered, choked by missing wires. Critics shout for answers through the static and the sand, Hope walks slow, rationed at the border’s hand. Sources: Gaza's Rafah border crossing reopens - NPR Key Gaza border crossing reopens - NBC News Rafah crossing reopens - Washington Post Only 5 patients leave Gaza - Al Jazeera Chorus Turn it up, let the world feel the drums, Where the gates creak wide and the cold wind hums. Hold the line, keep the faith, sing it loud, sing it true, We’re the roar in the night breaking bad news in two. Raise the light, keep the names, don’t you dare go numb— Heart like a hammer, hope like a drum. Verse 2 (Ukraine talks) Abu Dhabi whispers of a map with missing pieces, Another round of handshakes, smoke, and teases. Moscow wants the land where hearts still stand, While a bus of miners fell to a steel-winged hand. A U.S. voice called the sit-down “productive,” But streets count losses more than any directive. Drones, bombs, missiles like a midnight tide, Peace keeps talking while sirens reply. Sources: Russia-Ukraine war key events - Al Jazeera Trilateral Ukraine talks to resume - Al Jazeera Ukraine war latest - Ukrinform Verse 3 (Epstein files) A vault unlatches, a paper avalanche, Millions on millions, the past left blanch. A top voice says no new charges rise, That parties alone don’t make a crime. But names bled through the blacked-out lines, Survivors exposed in the flash of headlines. From London to Bratislava came the fall of suits, Mandelson, Lajčák—reputations uproot. Sources: DOJ releases final Epstein files - The Hill Massive trove of Epstein files released - CBS News DOJ released the final Epstein files - NPR DOJ Official Press Release Chorus Turn it up, let the world feel the drums, Where the gates creak wide and the cold wind hums. Hold the line, keep the faith, sing it loud, sing it true, We’re the roar in the night breaking bad news in two. Raise the light, keep the names, don’t you dare go numb— Heart like a hammer, hope like a drum. Verse 4 (Catherine O’Hara) A queen of the odd and the perfectly timed, From SCTV sparks to Moira’s wild shine. Home Alone winters, Beetlejuice nights, She taught us to laugh at the edge of the fright. A mirror-heart secret she learned late in life, Still she danced through the weird with a graceful knife. Culkin and Levy lit candles in the rain, The stage bows low to her fearless refrain. Sources: Catherine O'Hara dies at 71 - ABC News Catherine O'Hara Dead - TMZ The Studio Cancels Panel - Variety Catherine O'Hara's rare condition - STAT News Verse 5 (Kennedy Center) He stamped his name on the marble and glass, Artists pulled back, let the spotlight pass. Now the hall goes dark for a sweeping redo, He calls it broken, says closing’s the move. Board still waiting, but the chair holds the pen, Staff saw the plan on a post, not a mem. Curtains in storage, echoes in the hall, Politics louder than the curtain call. Sources: Kennedy Center closure - CNN Politics Trump plans to close Kennedy Center - Washington Post Trump announces closure - The Hill Kennedy Center closure - Fox News Chorus Turn it up, let the world feel the drums, Where the gates creak wide and the cold wind hums. Hold the line, keep the faith, sing it loud, sing it true, We’re the roar in the night breaking bad news in two. Raise the light, keep the names, don’t you dare go numb— Heart like a hammer, hope like a drum. Verse 6 (Shutdown) Deadline missed and the lights half-dim, A paywall thrown on the public’s limb. Senate sends a bundle with a bridge and a patch, House steps in to swing the latch. Immigration battles knot the thread, Speaker swears the gray will turn to red. Reports postponed, plans on ice, Workers wait while they roll the dice. Sources: The House races to end shutdown - NPR Government shutdown nears possible end - CBS News Partial government shutdown expected to extend longer - ABC News Government Shutdown Politics - Bloomberg Final Chorus and Outro Turn it up, let the world feel the drums, Where the gates creak wide and the cold wind hums. Hold the line, keep the faith, sing it loud, sing it true, We’re the roar in the night breaking bad news in two. Open the gates—wider! Ground the drones—quieter! Seal the files—tighter! Light the stage—brighter! Pay the people—sooner! Say her name—louder! Guitars to the border, kick drum to the dome, Spotlight on truth, and we’re carrying it home. When the night turns thin and the headlines come, We are the thunder—heart like a drum.

Gates and Ghost Lights Verse 1 — Shutdown Static Midnight locks click on the marble floor, Budgets bleed out in a border war. They want the watchers wearing eyes that record, While the House stacks bills like a broken chord. Speaker’s counting shadows, can’t find the line, Jobs report waiting on borrowed time. A nation on hold, humming fluorescent blue, Between the oath we swear and the work we do. Sources: Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopens for limited traffic Key Gaza border crossing reopens, a step forward in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire Gaza's Rafah crossing reopens for limited traffic Gaza: Limited Rafah crossing reopening sparks hope – but also 'massive trepidation' Chorus We ride the wire where the sparks still fly, Between the open hand and the guarded sky. Turn up the truth, let the feedback roar, We’ve been here before, we’ll be here once more. Raise your voice till the dead of night hears, Hope is louder than the sum of our fears. Verse 2 — The Shuttered Stage Curtains fall early on the river’s white spine, A palace renamed, now closing its shine. Blueprints promise a grander rebirth, But artists are walking, shaking the earth. Family ghosts whisper, “Remember the name,” The symphony wonders who carries the flame. A composer steps back, the opera bows out, The hall holds its breath while the crowd learns doubt. Sources: Russian drone strike kills 15 in Dnipro as Zelenskyy says more talks next week Russian drone attack on bus in Ukraine kills at least 12 Russian drone strike on bus in Ukraine kills 12 miners Verse 3 — The Files That Flooded A vault bursts open in a thunder of ink, The law says show it, we finally blink. Pages like storm clouds, pictures like rain, Famous faces float through the stain. No charge is tethered to the names that ride, Yet some survivors found their shields untied. Questions in Congress: how much was kept? In the glow of the monitor, the nation slept. Sources: Massive trove of Epstein files released by DOJ What's inside the latest Epstein files released by the Justice Department US Department of Justice releases 3 million new Epstein files DOJ releases tranche of Epstein files, says it has met its legal obligations Verse 4 — The Rafah Crack Steel teeth part just a sliver of light, Ceasefire whispers in the sand-blown night. A river of patients stares at the gate, Only a few feel the turnstile’s fate. Ambulances ready with engines warm, Hospitals braced for the human storm. Foreign badges help steady the frame, Hope and dread speaking the same name. Sources: Catherine O'Hara dies at 71. She starred in 'Schitt's Creek' and 'Home Alone' Seth Rogen, Eugene Levy and more pay tribute to Catherine O'Hara after her death Catherine O'Hara Dead at 71 Hollywood mourns the death of two-time Emmy winner Catherine O'Hara at age 71 Verse 5 — Miners’ Road, Iron Wings A drone finds a bus on a morning line, A company’s workers caught in the grind. The minister calls it a mark on the heart, Another hospital shattered apart. Yet talks set a table in desert air, Leaders fly words where gunfire stares. A promise to pause fades thin and frail, When sparks from the sky write a black-letter tale. Sources: Government shutdown live updates as funding fight turns to the House WATCH LIVE: House convenes during partial government shutdown The House races to end shutdown Verse 6 — Catherine’s Curtain Call From Beetlejuice shadows to a creek’s bright glow, She taught us to laugh at the tears we know. A mother at Christmas, a queen in a wig, Every odd note she sang rang big. Screens dim low while the tributes climb, Sketch shows bow and friends keep time. Keep a ghost light burning where legends play, Her voice in the rafters won’t fade away. Sources: Kennedy Center to close for construction for 2 years, Trump says Trump says Kennedy Center will close in July for two-year renovation Trump announces 2-year closure of Kennedy Center for 'complete rebuilding' Trump says he's closing the Kennedy Center for renovations. We have questions Chorus We ride the wire where the sparks still fly, Between the open hand and the guarded sky. Turn up the truth, let the feedback roar, We’ve been here before, we’ll be here once more. Raise your voice till the dead of night hears, Hope is louder than the sum of our fears. Bridge Borders and stages, filings and flames, Headlines like thunder, a thousand names. But under the sirens, a stubborn drum: We won’t go quiet, we won’t play dumb. Final Chorus and Outro We ride the wire where the sparks still fly, Throw wide the gates, let the wounded by. Turn up the truth till the walls give way, Let the dead be honored, the living stay. Raise your voice, make the night ignite— Gates swing open to the ghost light bright. Kick in the silence, break down the cold, We are the chorus, and we won’t be told.

Headlines on Fire, Snow on the Wire Verse 1 — Texas Turns Blue sparks in the Lone Star sky, Courthouse bells for a seat in D.C. Menefee riding past the red road signs, A veteran union voice breaks Tarrant concrete. The map redraws in midnight ink, Party brass says, “This is your warning, see.” Sources: Khamenei warns US of 'regional war' if Iran is attacked Iran's supreme leader warns any U.S. attack would spark 'regional war' Iran's supreme leader warns any US attack would spark 'regional war' U.S. regional allies push diplomatic offramp as Iran's supreme leader warns of 'regional war' Iran's Khamenei warns any U.S. attack would spark 'regional war' Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on the fretboard, wired, Borders and ballots, headlines on fire. From desert drums to cities that never tire, We rage, we hope, we raise it higher. Hold the line, hold the line—don’t let it expire. Verse 2 — Streets of L.A. Downtown beats chant “ICE Out” in the heat, Daytime peace, then sirens kiss the night. Fireworks arc to shields in the street, Pepper haze blooms under city hall lights. Cuffs click tight where the concrete meets, And justice feels just out of sight. Sources: Pakistan forces kill 145 militants in two-day battle after wave of attacks Pakistan says it has killed 145 'Indian-backed terrorists' in Balochistan after deadly attacks At least 145 people killed in multiple attacks in southwestern Pakistan Pakistan forces kill 145 militants after attacks in Balochistan 'Army alone can't neutralise grievances': What fuels Balochistan violence Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on the fretboard, wired, Borders and ballots, headlines on fire. From desert drums to cities that never tire, We rage, we hope, we raise it higher. Hold the line, hold the line—don’t let it expire. Verse 3 — Tehran Tremors An old fist lifts under a black turban crown, Saying a spark could torch the whole sand sea. A carrier prowls the Arabian brown, Accusations of oil-thirst tyranny. Dissent called sedition, Europe named with a brand, Cells swell as neighbors beg diplomacy. Sources: Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt to reopen for limited travel Monday Gaza border crossing buzzes with activity after years of near-complete closure Israel partially reopens Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza in pilot Israel reopens Rafah crossing for limited passage of Gaza residents Verse 4 — Balochistan Bleeds Hospitals, schools, and markets in smoke, The BLA says the strike was theirs. Forces sweep through the dust they broke, Gwadar mourns with family prayers. Islamabad points east, denials choke, While fortune roads tremble for foreign heirs. Sources: Democrat Christian Menefee wins special election for U.S. House seat in Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips GOP-held Texas state Senate seat in special election Fort Worth Democrat Rehmet wins Texas Senate seat Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on the fretboard, wired, Borders and ballots, headlines on fire. From desert drums to cities that never tire, We rage, we hope, we raise it higher. Hold the line, hold the line—don’t let it expire. Verse 5 — Rafah’s Gate Rafah creaks open like a rusted hymn, A pilot light flickers in a tunnel of years. Patients clutch papers with trembling limbs, Israel, Egypt, Europe tune the gears. A hostage returned as a whisper and hymn, Footsteps test sand that remembers tears. Sources: Live updates: Arrests made hours after hundreds gathered for another anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles Verse 6 — Bomb Cyclone Blues Carolinas buried in a white guitar roar, Queen City wears a crown of snow. A cold blade kisses the citrus shore, Flurries find bays where warm winds blow. Lights go dark, runways close their doors, The storm signs its name where the tall pines grow. Sources: Bomb cyclone brings historic snow to North Carolina, flurries to Florida Bomb cyclone brings bitter cold and snow to the Southeast Powerful storm hits an East Coast still buried under last week's snow Live updates: Nor'easter 'bomb cyclone' hammers Carolinas with record snow Bomb cyclone to focus most of its furious snow on Carolinas Bridge Borders crack, ballots flip, Night sirens, a whiteout whip. Desert thunder, coastal cry, Steel strings cut the winter sky. Raise your voice, let embers fly— Choose the spark that won’t die. Final Chorus Turn it up, the world’s on the fretboard, wired, Borders and ballots, headlines on fire. From war drums low to hope’s choir, We rage, we heal, we climb higher. Hold the line, hold the line—hearts never tire. Headlines on fire—now we’re the wire.

Streets, Straits, and Shattered Lines Verse 1 In Minneapolis the streets are a drumline again, Names on the wind: Renee Good, Alex Pretti, say them. Operation Metro Surge, they shout it down by name, Call for a stay-home storm, a countrywide refrain. A general strike like none in living memory’s eyes, From L.A. to the Bay, New York, Boston skies, Hands raised, some wrists in cuffs when the shields hit the light— Crowd sings, “No more,” through another restless night. Sources: Demonstrators in Minneapolis, across U.S. protest ICE - CBS News Minnesota Photos: Thousands once again protest ICE in Minneapolis and across the U.S. - NPR Anti-ICE protests take place nationwide - ABC News Second 'National Day of Action' planned to demand 'ICE Out' of Minnesota - FOX 9 Verse 2 Spotlights and velvet ropes, then sirens cut the scene, In Los Angeles they moved on Don Lemon between The show and the street—charged for a churchyard line, Cities Church in St. Paul where worship met sign. They say conspiracy against the right to pray, He says, “I won’t be silenced,” come what may. Press freedom rings as the cameras shout, Pam Bondi says it’s faith they’re guarding now. Sources: U.S. warns Iran over planned military drills - NBC News What to know about the Strait of Hormuz as Iran plans military drill - ABC News Iran to hold live-fire drills in Strait of Hormuz - Fox News US-Iran tensions: The diplomatic scramble to prevent a war - Al Jazeera Chorus Turn up the truth till the needles are red, We’re living on the edge of what was left unsaid. From streets to power, from borders to war, Hold the line, hold the line, turn it up more. If the gates shut tight and the night won’t end, We’ll be the feedback that will not bend. Verse 3 In the Strait of Hormuz, fire drills trace the foam, IRGC ghosts stalk a narrow salt home. The USS Abraham Lincoln haunts the glare, An armada bristles while warnings tear the air. U.S. Central Command says no reckless wave, Back home in Iran, too many untimely graves. Neighbors grind diplomats to cool the fuse, Turkey, Egypt, Riyadh—no one wants to lose. Sources: Former CNN journalist Don Lemon released following arrest - ABC News Feds arrest Don Lemon, Minnesota journalist and 2 others over church protest - NPR Former CNN anchor Don Lemon appears in court - CBS News Don Lemon arrested after covering protest at Minnesota church - NBC News Verse 4 Back in D.C., the lights flicker in the maze, Defense and State count the empty days. Treasury quiet, health halls slow, The Senate signs a map, but the House won’t show. The White House and Dems sketch a longer road, Homeland on a short leash while talks overload. Jeffries says no fast lane for the bill they wrote— Shutdown grinding like a last note held in throats. Sources: What to know about the partial government shutdown - NPR Partial government shutdown begins as funding lapses despite Senate deal - CBS News Jeffries says Dems won't help fast-track Senate-passed funding measure - ABC News U.S. government partially shuts down - CNBC Chorus Turn up the truth till the needles are red, We’re living on the edge of what was left unsaid. From streets to power, from borders to war, Hold the line, hold the line, turn it up more. If the gates shut tight and the night won’t end, We’ll be the feedback that will not bend. Verse 5 A call crosses oceans, a pause over Kyiv’s dome, Putin nods to a personal ask from Trump’s phone. “Make room for talks,” while winter bites the wire, Energy grids scarred, the city’s breath is fire. Zelensky says welcome, but no pact is signed, No direct line between the barrels and minds. It’s brief and it’s brittle, and the cold still climbs— Even the clocks can’t agree on the times. Sources: Confusion in Kyiv and Moscow after Trump says Putin agreed to pause attacks - NBC News Russia says it agreed to pause strikes on Kyiv until Sunday at Trump's request - CNN/KRDO Trump says Putin agreed to temporary halt in energy attacks on Ukraine - PBS News Trump says Russia to pause bombing Kyiv during extreme winter conditions - Al Jazeera Verse 6 In Pretoria an envoy’s told to pack and fly, Persona non grata for insults online. Unannounced visits stoke a sovereign flame, Jerusalem mirrors back the very same. Old wounds reopened at the world court gate, A genocide claim haunts a frayed estate. Washington watches, pulse in its ear, Another crack in the chandelier. Sources: South Africa orders expulsion of Israeli envoy - Al Jazeera South Africa expels Israel's top diplomat - PBS News South Africa expels Israel's top diplomat in a move that could prompt a strong reaction from the US - Washington Post Diplomatic ties fray further as South Africa and Israel kick out each other's envoys - Jewish Telegraphic Agency Final Chorus Turn up the truth till the needles are red, We’re living on the edge of what was left unsaid. From streets to power, from borders to war, Hold the line, hold the line, turn it up more. If the gates shut tight and the night won’t end, We’ll be the feedback that will not bend. Outro Strike the match, light the wires, let the thunder climb, From protest boots to carrier brine, From shuttered doors to frozen skies— We are the roar no night denies. Drop the hammer, raise the cry, This is the chord that will not die.

Storm Sirens and Steel Verse 1 – Streets on Fire From New York subways to Portland rain, church bells in Minnesota ring the pain. Operation Metro Surge cuts through the night, organizers call a stay-home, no-purchase strike. In Minneapolis, the crowd knows the names: Renée Good, Alex Pretti, gone to the flames. Federal badges at a church door’s hem— they cuffed a newsman, Don Lemon, with them. The anthem of the sidewalks won’t be denied, as L.A. and Texas throw sparks to the sky. Sources: Live updates: ICE protests spread; Don Lemon released after arrest - NBC News Nationwide strike called Friday to protest ICE - CBS News Minnesota Hundreds of students walk out of class across Portland to protest ICE - OPB Operation Metro Surge - Wikipedia Chorus Raise your voice above the engines and the drones, over stormwinds, headlines, unquiet phones. If the world feels heavy as a rolling wheel, we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel. Hold the line, light the dark, break the seal— we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel. Verse 2 – Midnight on the Hill The Senate stamps a deal before the clock goes black, but a sliver of shutdown still snaps back. Agencies fed through the end of the road, Homeland rides short on a narrow load. After Alex Pretti’s name cut through the air, they’ll wrangle over ICE and what agents wear: body cams on and the masks off faces, two weeks to redraw the chases. Sources: Iran prepares for war as US military 'armada' approaches - Al Jazeera US-Iran tensions soar: What do both sides want? - Al Jazeera Likelihood Of US Strikes On Iran 'Very High' Amid Military Buildup - RFE/RL US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in the Middle East as Tensions With Iran Remain High - Military.com Verse 3 – Gulf of Shadows The USS Abraham Lincoln splits the foam, a steel cathedral far from home. A warning from Trump like a tightening wire, Araghchi answers with a loaded choir: fingers on triggers, defense over talk, diplomats pace the razor-walk. Turkey in whispers, Beijing, Moscow plead, months after hot skies scorched Iran’s nuclear reed. Sources: DOJ releases tranche of Epstein files, says it has met its legal obligations - NPR DOJ releasing 3 million pages of Epstein files, 'didn't protect' Trump, deputy AG says - ABC News Epstein files live updates on today's DOJ release - CBS News US Department of Justice releases 3 million new Epstein documents - Al Jazeera Chorus Raise your voice above the engines and the drones, over stormwinds, headlines, unquiet phones. If the world feels heavy as a rolling wheel, we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel. Hold the line, light the dark, break the seal— we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel. Verse 4 – Vaults Unlatched The DOJ swings open a mountain of past, Epstein’s paper ghosts spill fast. Todd Blanche says no shield for the throne, no velvet cover for the powerful known. FBI echoes, survivors’ words, a spreadsheet of rumors, unverified birds. Files withheld where the harm runs deep— to guard the wounded and the law they keep. Sources: Luigi Mangione will not face the death penalty after judge nixes two federal counts - NBC News Luigi Mangione latest: Death penalty off the table, judge rules - ABC News Luigi Mangione won't face death penalty in CEO murder case - CNBC Judge rules Luigi Mangione should not face death penalty - NPR Verse 5 – Gavel and Shadow Judge Garnett’s pen cuts through the haze, death’s cold sentence pushed away. Luigi Mangione, in a stark-lit room, charged in the CEO’s winter doom. Stalking counts stand, but the law draws lines, not crimes of violence by the court’s designs. Supreme ghosts guide what the codes reveal, an autumn trial where the fates congeal. Sources: Snowstorm headed to Southeast: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia declare state of emergency - ABC News Nor'easter to bring blizzard-like snow - Washington Post Over 100 fatalities confirmed after major January 2026 U.S. winter storm - Watchers.news January 2026 North American winter storm - Wikipedia Verse 6 – White Noise Coming The South braces under iron-gray skies, carolinas and Georgia with watchful eyes. Appalachian ridges load their spines, coastal Virginia hears the pines. Fern left the heartland iced and torn, a weekend’s grief for lives we mourn. Indianapolis, Boston wore winter’s brand, Tennessee and Kentucky, glass on the land. Sources: Senate votes to fund government ahead of Friday deadline but will negotiate restrictions on ICE - ABC News Senate passes funding deal, but government will still partially shutdown at midnight - CNBC Live updates: Senate votes to approve government funding deal - NBC News Bridge – Feedback Prayer Sirens, sermons, headlines, hail, pressing the needle, bending the rail. When the sea grows teeth and the night won’t yield, we tune the truth like a battered shield. From courthouse steps to the foreign foam, from dorm-room chants to a broken home— hold on, hold fast, let the drumline heal, let the strings ignite what the cold can’t steal. Final Chorus Raise your voice above the engines and the drones, over stormwinds, headlines, unquiet phones. If the world feels heavy as a rolling wheel, we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel. Hold the line, light the dark, break the seal— we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel. Outro Strike the chord, let the breakers peel— no retreat, no hush, no kneel. Turn it loud till the storm must kneel— we are thunder, we are truth, we are steel.