February 13, 2026

North Macedonia Trade Framework, President Lincoln's Birthday, Celebrating Coal, FLOTUS Secures Another Reunification, Patriot Abraham Lincoln, And More

By S.E. Gunn, PhD - All News Pipeline

On February 12, 2026, the White House published the Joint Statement on a Framework for United States-North Macedonia Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade to achieve reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade. This agreement will strengthen our bilateral economic relationship by opening markets to one another. Key terms include:

1. North Macedonia will eliminate customs duties for all U.S. industrial and agricultural goods exported to North Macedonia. 
2. The United States will maintain at 15 percent the reciprocal tariffs, as set forth in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2005, as amended, on originating goods of North Macedonia, and will also identify products from the list set out in Annex III to Executive Order 14346 of September 5, 2025, Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners, as amended, to receive a zero percent reciprocal tariff rate. The United States and North Macedonia may consider other tariff modifications following conclusion of the Agreement, taking into account trade balances and other appropriate factors. 
3. The United States and North Macedonia will work to address U.S. concerns with non-tariff barriers imposed by North Macedonia that affect bilateral trade in priority areas. 
4. The United States and North Macedonia commit to hold consultations to address and prevent barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Macedonian market. 
5. The United States and North Macedonia have committed to strengthen economic and national security cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation through complementary actions to address non-market policies of other countries, as well as to combat duty evasion and cooperate on investment reviews and export controls. This commitment includes cooperating to ensure that international procurement obligations benefit only those countries that have taken on the same commitments. 
6. The United States and North Macedonia note their intention to facilitate and enhance commercial ties. 
7. On energy sector opportunities, the United States and North Macedonia take note of the construction of an important new gas interconnector between North Macedonia and Greece, which will allow North Macedonia to enhance energy security and diversify energy sources, including through purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). North Macedonia will commence purchase of U.S. LNG upon completion of the new gas interconnector. 
8. North Macedonia commits to adopt and maintain high levels of environmental protections and to effectively enforce its environmental laws. 
9. The United States and North Macedonia will discuss commitments on intellectual property protection and enforcement, including on geographical indications. 
10. The United States and North Macedonia will engage to address labor issues. 
11. The United States and North Macedonia recognize the importance of high-standard commitments on digital trade in order to foster an open and competitive digital economy. North Macedonia has committed not to impose a digital service tax and to support adoption of a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the World Trade Organization (WTO). 
12. The United States and North Macedonia recognize the importance of facilitating trade in services. North Macedonia reaffirms its commitment to the WTO Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation. 

This is the framework upon which both Nations will work to finalize a trade agreement in the near future.

On February 12, 2026, the White House published the statement Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, 2026 celebrating his 217th birthday. Abraham's humble upbringing showcases the incredible potential that is uniquely fostered in America. Abraham was self-taught, working on the farm and educating himself by reading by candlelight late into the nights. He became an attorney, State Representative, Congress member, as well as an orator, writer, and debater. He married Mary Todd and had 4 children, 3 of whom died, leaving Abraham in deep grief for the rest of his life.

Abraham became obsessed with ending slavery, holding legendary debates against pro-slavery Democrat Stephen Douglas. In 1860, Abraham was chosen by the newly formed Republican Political Party to run for President. Once elected, the southern states started seceding from the Union. The civil war commenced. He championed the 13th amendment in use today (discussed in my November 2, 2025 ANP Article as well as a discussion of its ratification in my December 7, 2025 ANP Article, also see my March 27, 2025 ANP Article for a discussion of the 'original' 13th Amendment). 

Abraham was reelected in 1864 focusing on rebuilding the devastated US and binding the Nation's wounds by restoring the rule of law, healing the divisions of civil strife, and reclaiming liberty, freedom, and prosperity for all. Just over a month into his 2nd term, on April 14, 1865, Abraham was assassinated.

To honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the Trump Administration strives to protect and defend the US Constitution, enforce law and order, advance justice, and ensure that government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. The Trump Administration is safeguarding American workers from unfair foreign competition, standing against chaos and division, rebuilding our military, and protecting the free speech and religious liberty that are unique to American heritage. President Trump writes:

As our Republic celebrates its 250th year of independence, we dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work President Lincoln entrusted to the American people.  This historic milestone demands that we once again take up his torch, summon his courage, invoke his vision, and advance the enduring truths of our founding principles.  Guided by President Lincoln’s faith in the American people and grounded in the ideals of liberty, unity, and self-government, we stand ready to chart a new and bold course toward the next 250 years of American freedom, strength, and prosperity.

On February 12, 2026, the White House published the article “Champion of Beautiful, Clean Coal”: President Trump Celebrates Industry Revival by inviting lawmakers, industry leaders, and miners to the "Champion of Coal" event at the White House at which he signed EO Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet (discussed in my February 12, 2026 ANP Article). President Trump is determined to eliminate the "Green New Deal" which would cost US taxpayers billions of dollars, instead favoring coal, along with natural gas, oil, and nuclear power, for electricity generating plants for the stability of the Nation and enhancing our National Security and energy dominance.

On February 12, 2026, the Office of the First Lady published the statement First Lady Melania Trump Secures Another Russian – Ukrainian Child Reunification announcing the 3rd time Mrs. Trump has helped to facilitate the return of both Ukrainian and Russian children who were separated from their families by the Ukraine/Russia conflict. The children have been successfully reunited with their families. Mrs. Trump stated:

I appreciate that Russia and Ukraine are dedicated to bringing back the children who have been displaced because of the circumstances surrounding this conflict. Although all parties are cooperating and our communications remain robust, I urge Russia and Ukraine to intensify their efforts to ensure the safe return of every child to their families and guardians.

LAWFARE lawsuit tracker to date:

• 238 active cases
• 21 suits filed by the Trump Administration
• 17 SCOTUS stays or motions to vacate of lower court orders
• 1 SCOTUS affirmation of lower court order
• 8 suits where judges ruled for the federal government
• 9 suits where judges ruled against the federal government
• 6 criminal prosecutions by the DOJ: 
• Representative McIver, 
• former FBI Director James Comey, dismissed without prejudice 11/24/2025,
• former National Security Advisor John Bolton, 
• (illegal alien) Kilmar Abrego Garcia, ordered released 12/11/2025;
• New York AG Letitia A James, dismissed without prejudice 11/24/2025,
• Congressional candidate Katherine Abughazaleh

In the lawsuit Kelly v. Hegseth docket # 1:26-cv-00081 filed in District Court, District of Columbia on January 12, 2026 (discussed in my January 14, 2026 ANP Article) about Investigation of Mark Kelly.

On February 12, 2026, Judge Richard J Leon ordered:

• ORDERED that Plaintiff Mark Kelly's [Dkt. #2] Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Stay under 5 U.S.C. § 705 is GRANTED in part; and it is further
• ORDERED that Defendants and their agents are preliminarily ENJOINED from implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect to the Secretarial Letter of Censure dated January 5, 2026 and addressed to Plaintiff ("the Letter"); and it is further
• ORDERED that Defendants and their agents are preliminarily ENJOINED from implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect to the Department of Navy's Notification of Retirement Grade Determination Proceedings dated January 5, 2026 and addressed to Plaintiff ("the Notification"); and it is further
• ORDERED that Defendants; Defendants' officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys; and all other persons in active concert with Defendants are preliminarily ENJOINED from:
• (1) taking any other action in reliance on the findings, determinations, or threats of additional criminal or administrative action contained in the Letter;
• (2) taking any steps to place the Letter in Plaintiff's file;
• (3) relying on the Letter, or on the findings or determinations made therein, in any military, agency, or criminal proceeding;
• (4) taking any steps to revisit Plaintiff's grade determination; and 
• (5) adjusting Plaintiff's grade pursuant to the Letter or Notification; and it is further
• ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report within 30 days proposing further proceedings in this case.
• SO ORDERED. 

Expect DOW to file an appeal of this activist judge's ruling.

Today's Patriot is Abraham Lincoln who was born February 12, 1809 in an impoverished cabin on Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky, born to parents of English descent. He was the 2nd of 3 children, 2 of whom survived to adulthood. When Abraham was 9, his mother died. His father remarried a widow with 3 children. In 1828, his sister died in childbirth, devastating him.

Abraham's "formal" education was from itinerant (traveling) teachers as well as attending local school in Kentucky a couple times where he learned to read but probably did not learn to write. When the family moved to Indiana when he was 7, he attended school sporadically (about 12 months total over 8 years), learning primarily by reading by candlelight at night after working at hard labor all day. As a teenager, Abraham's father "hired him out" to area farmers, keeping the income Abraham earned (but that was the custom at the time). In March 1830, when Abraham was 21, the family moved to Illinois, settling in Macon County. By 1831, Abraham went off on his own, moving to New Salem, Illinois. He started by working in the general store. 

In 1832, Abraham announced his candidacy for Illinois House of Representatives. During the campaign, he accepted a Captaincy in the Illinois Militia during the Black Hawk War (April 6 - August 27, 1832), serving but not seeing combat. He lost this election. Returning from the Black Hawk War, Abraham opened a general store in partnership with William berry. Once they obtained a liquor license, the shop was rebranded the Lincoln-Berry General Store and Tavern. The business struggled, went into debt, and Abraham sold his share.

Abraham became New Salem's postmaster and later county surveyor. He decided to become a lawyer, reverting back to his voracious reading, borrowing legal texts from attorney John Todd Stuart. Abraham was admitted to the Illinois bar on September 9, 1936. He moved to Springfield and began is law practice under John T. Stuart who happened to be Mary Todd's cousin. He then partnered with Stephen T Logan. By 1844 he had a practice with William Herndon.

Abraham was active in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834 to 1842, supporting the Whig Party. He served 4 terms for Sangamon County, championing the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. He also supported the chartering of the Illinois State bank and moving the capital from Vandalia to Springfield. 

In a speech on January 27, 1838, Abraham attacked Democratic Party member Stephen A Douglas for "mobocracy" simultaneously attacking anti-abolitionism and racial bigotry. He ridiculed James Shields in the press, writing under the pseudonym "Aunt Rebecca" which resulted in having a duel between the two scheduled. The duel was never held. It is said that Abraham was embarrassed by this situation.

After 2 ill-fated courtships, Abraham met Mary Todd (1818-1882) in Springfield, Illinois in 1839. They became engaged in 1840. Abraham called off the engagement in 1841 but soon reconciled. Abraham and Mary were married November 4, 1842 in Springfield, Illinois. They had 4 sons, only 1 of whom survived to adulthood (the first born). Mary was known to be verbally and sometimes physically abusive towards Abraham.

From 1847-1849, Abraham was involved in the US House of Representatives, finally winning the 1846 election for Illinois' 7th district seat. He was the only Whig in the Illinois delegation. In 1847, he became known as "spotty Lincoln" for asking, rhetorically, that President James K Polk identify the "spot" where the blood was shed. He supported Zachary Taylor in the 1848 presidential election. Once Zachary was elected, he appointed Abraham as secretary of the Oregon Territory. Since this appointment would require him to give up his legal and political career in Illinois, he declined the appointment.

In 1858, Abraham represented William "Duff" Armstrong for the murder of James Preston Metzker, where he used judicial notice to challenge the credibility of a witness. He used the Farmer's Almanac against another witness who testified they saw the murder under the light of a full moon when the Almanac showed the moon at a low angle which drastically reduced visibility. Armstrong was acquitted.

In 1859, he defended "Peachy" Quinn Harrison, grandson of Lincoln's political opponent Peter Cartwright. Abraham successfully argued that a dying declaration was not subject to the hearsay rule ending in Quinn's acquittal.

By May 18, 1860, Abraham won the Republican candidacy for President and former Democrat, Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was nominated for VP. Southern states offered John C Breckinridge as their candidate. John Bell of Tennessee was selected by the Constitutional Union Party. Abraham gave no speeches during the candidacy period. He was officially elected November 6, 1860 becoming the first Republican president due to support from the North and West, receiving 39.8% of the total votes in the 4-way race.

From 1861 to 1865, Abraham served as President of the United States. Much has been written and taught about Abraham's presidency, and the Civil War, so I will not repeat it here. Moving on to the last days of his life.

On April 14, 1865, Abraham and Mary attended the play Our American Cousin. Grant was also scheduled to attend; but at the last minute he chose to visit his children in New Jersey instead. John Wilkes Booth entered the Lincoln booth at 10:15pm, crept up to Abraham, and fired his weapon into the back of Abraham's head. Major Henry Rathbone, Abraham's guest at the play, grappled with Booth who stabbed Rathbone and got away. Abraham remained in a coma for 9 hours and died at 7:22am on April 15, 1865, he was 56 years old. Johnson was sworn in as President later that day. Booth was shot and killed at a farm in Virginia 2 weeks later by Sergeant Boston Corbett.

Abraham received a State funeral, lying in state in both the White House and the Capitol rotunda. Then, his casket traveled for 2 weeks on a funeral train from Washington DC to Springfield, Illinois, stopping frequently along the way. Although the majority of the US mourned, there was still that faction that rejoiced and celebrated Abraham's death. Abraham was interred at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield in the Lincoln Tomb.