Have you ever gone to sleep on a Tuesday and then woke up on a Monday?

Tucker Carlson's recent trip to Israel occurred in mid-February 2026, specifically on February 18, 2026. It was a very brief visit—he flew in on a private plane, conducted an interview, and left the same day without leaving Ben Gurion International Airport.

The purpose was to film a lengthy sit-down interview with Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel (a Trump appointee confirmed in 2025 and a strong evangelical supporter of Israel). The interview, which lasted about 2.5 hours and was released on February 20, 2026, covered contentious topics including:

• Israel's treatment of Christians in the region (with Carlson pressing on claims of decline or persecution).

• Biblical claims to land (Carlson referenced Genesis 15:18, suggesting a divine promise from the Nile to the Euphrates; Huckabee responded that "it would be fine if they took it all," though he clarified Israel seeks secure borders rather than full conquest).

• U.S. aid to Israel, alleged influence of the Israeli lobby, classified files (Epstein, 9/11), wars in the Middle East, and whether U.S. policy prioritizes Israel over American interests.

The conversation was described by some as heated or a "Gish Gallop" (rapid-fire questions mixing facts, half-truths, and allegations), with Huckabee defending Israel robustly and accusing Carlson of misleading claims. It sparked backlash, including condemnations from Arab and Muslim nations over Huckabee's land comments.

After the interview, Carlson claimed Israeli authorities seized his and his team's passports, interrogated his executive producer in a side room, and questioned them about the interview's content—implying harassment or detention. He framed this as evidence of issues with U.S.-Israel relations, saying Americans can't expect their government to side with them over Israel.

However, this was disputed:

• Israeli officials and the U.S. Embassy stated it was routine passport control and questioning (standard for many visitors, including diplomats).

• The "side room" was reportedly a VIP lounge.

• Carlson posted a photo from the airport captioned "Greetings from Israel," and later footage showed him posing amicably with staff.

• Some sources called his claims exaggerated or fabricated for drama.

Carlson also raised (then apologized for) a suggestion that Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Epstein's island, which he retracted.

Overall, the trip highlighted tensions within the American right over Israel policy—"America First" skepticism (Carlson) vs. strong pro-Israel evangelical support (Huckabee). It didn't involve broader travel in Israel, and reactions ranged from seeing it as exposing undue influence to viewing it as biased or antisemitic-leaning provocation. The full interview is available on Carlson's platforms if you're interested in the details.

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The man shot at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend (specifically early Sunday morning, February 22, 2026) was Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old from Cameron, North Carolina (in Moore County).

He was fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy after breaching the secure perimeter at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, around 1:30 a.m. local time. Authorities stated that Martin entered through the north gate (possibly as another vehicle was exiting), carrying a shotgun and a fuel/gas canister. When confronted, he was ordered to drop the items; he set down the canister but raised the shotgun into a shooting position, prompting law enforcement to open fire to neutralize the threat. No officers or other individuals were injured, and President Trump was not present—he was at the White House in Washington, D.C., at the time (having attended a governors' dinner the previous evening).

Martin had been reported missing by his family in North Carolina shortly before the incident. According to relatives, including his cousin, he came from a family of Trump supporters, was generally reserved and not very talkative, had no known prior interest in politics or firearms, and had never shown an "appetite for deadly weapons." He was a 2023 graduate of Union Pines High School and reportedly worked as a golf course groundskeeper while running a small artwork business specializing in handmade drawings of golf courses.

Some reports mention he had become increasingly fixated on topics like the Jeffrey Epstein files in recent times, though motives remain under investigation with questions lingering (no clear political or ideological driver has been confirmed publicly beyond family descriptions portraying him as apolitical and non-violent in the past). The incident is being treated as a security breach, with ongoing inquiries by federal and local authorities.This appears to be the full picture from available reporting—no broader conspiracy or additional details have emerged yet.

Wizard of Oz - Dorothy wakes up in a poppy field

In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy does not wake up in the poppy field—she falls asleep there. The field of poppies, enchanted by the Wicked Witch of the West, emits a powerful scent that causes anyone who breathes it to fall into a deep, potentially eternal sleep. Dorothy, along with her dog Toto and the Cowardly Lion, succumbs to the soporific effect. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, unable to breathe, are unaffected and carry Dorothy to safety outside the field. The Lion, however, is too heavy to move and is left behind.

In the 1939 film, Glinda the Good Witch later awakens them by making it snow over the poppy field. This magical snow is a cinematic device, not based on real-world science. Some fan theories suggest the "snow" was actually cocaine or asbestos, but these are speculative and not supported by official sources. The real-world poppy plant (Papaver somniferum) produces opium, but the scent alone does not induce sleep—active compounds like morphine require ingestion or injection to have an effect.

The scene symbolizes a test of endurance and friendship, and the eventual rescue by field mice (in the book) or Glinda (in the film) reinforces the theme of magical intervention aiding the journey.

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