A frontpage overview of the news from The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times for February 18.

These 2026 front-page reports center on the passing of civil rights pioneer Jesse Jackson, who died at age 84 from a neurodegenerative condition. Business coverage details Warner Bros. Discovery’s renewed merger talks with Paramount and technology investments by the Trump family. Public health articles highlight a decline in vaccine research under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and conflict-of-interest concerns regarding UnitedHealth’s leadership. Political stories describe President Trump’s stalled budget cuts in Congress and legal challenges over alleged censorship at national parks. Meanwhile, international updates include U.S. warnings about Chinese nuclear testing and diplomatic tensions involving Iran and the Philippines. Lastly, lifestyle and sports features discuss the rise of drone use at the Winter Olympics and a decline in Canadian tourism within the United States.