Embedded Files
Article written by Avalon Stewart, Feb 16th 2026
Extra Terrestrial Olympians
Obama Says Aliens Exist
Just this weekend, former President Barack Obama shared something on a podcast style interview with American political commentator Youtuber, Brian Tyler Cohen, that has people asking questions. The entire interview video which spanned for 47 minutes, was filled with discussion on a wide variety of current events, but towards the end, Cohen asked a series of heavy weight rapid fire questions; one of which involved asking if aliens are real.
The first question asked was, “Are aliens real?”, with Obama responding, “They’re real but I haven’t seen them,”. He then followed up by saying, “And they’re not being kept in… what is it? Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States”. Though Area 51, the classified operating location near the Nevada National Security Site, has been seen by pop culture as a facility where the government hides UFOs and extra terrestrials, it in reality is test bed for the nation’s high-tech aircraft dating back to when it was established in 1955 to test the high-flying U-2 spy plane.
Though it was just a short comment in a nearly hourlong interview, the soundbite of Obama seemingly confirming alien existence quickly became a source of international media chatter. Due to the mass coverage and speculation that followed, Obama issued a statement on Instagram to clarify his position on Sunday evening. He stated he, “saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us”, he continued, “I was trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round, but since it’s gotten attention let me clarify. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!”
Area 51 border and warning sign stating that "photography is prohibited" and that "use of deadly force is authorized"
Obama's seeming admission comes about five months after a slate of witnesses last testified under oath to Congress about strange flying craft they claim can outmaneuver U.S. military vehicles. The four witnesses who testified Sept. 9, 2025, discussed their own first-hand experiences of seeing what they believed were UAP, as well as their knowledge of what the federal government may be unlawfully shielding from lawmakers about the phenomena. The hearings have often spurred calls from advocates and lawmakers alike for transparency. Legislation is in the works that would compel the federal government to release more information about what has been uncovered.
Olympic Village Shortage
On Valentine's Day at the Milan Cortina Olympics, a renewed supply of free condoms for the athlete villages was promised by the organizers after going short during the week. After a report from Italian outlet La Stampa said the free condoms available to athletes at the Olympic village "ran out in just three days,” according to an anonymous Olympian, the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee confirmed the shortage to PEOPLE on Sunday.
Competitors from around the world were provided 10,000 contraceptives for their stay in Italy, but the media site stated, "We can confirm that condom supplies in the Olympic Villages were temporarily depleted due to higher-than-anticipated demand," they said. "Additional supplies are being delivered and will be distributed across all Villages between today and Monday. They will be continuously replenished until the end of the Games to ensure continued availability."
Condoms for athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Credit : Olivia Smart/TikTok
The shortage appears to have been caused by low supply rather than athletes having sex at a record pace. La Stampa said participants in the 2024 Summer Olympics that took place in Paris were given 300,000 condoms. That reportedly amounted to two condoms per day for every athlete.
Attilio Fontana, the president of the Lombardy region in Italy, addressed the condoms via social media, confirming birth control is available for the athletes should they want or need it. He wrote, “Yes, we provide free condoms to athletes in the Olympic village,” continuing, “If this seems strange to some, they’re unaware of the established Olympic practice. It began in Seoul 1988 to raise awareness among athletes and young people about sexually transmitted disease prevention—a topic that shouldn’t cause embarrassment”. The 2026 Milano Cortina Games, which began on February 6, will come to a close on February 22.
Avalon Stewart
Avalon Stewart
Avalon is from Mount Vernon, Washington. She is a Freshman at Whitman College and plans to major in Psychology and Politics. In high school she competed in Speech and Debate all four years and even was state champ in Congressional Debate. She is passionate about politics and the process of delivering news that people can trust.
Lead editor for The Lamplight
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse