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Monday, February 23, 2026

Trump warns countries that 'play games' with US trade deals will face higher tariffs

February 23, 2026
Trump warns countries that 'play games' with US trade deals will face higher tariffs

By Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and David Lawder

Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday warned countries against backing away from recently negotiated trade deals with the U.S. after the Supreme Court struck down his emergency tariffs, saying that if they did, ‌he would hit them with much higher duties under different trade laws.

Trump, in a series of social media posts, said he also may ‌impose license fees on trading partners as uncertainty over his next tariff moves gripped the global economy and sent stocks lower.

"Any Country that wants to 'play games' with the ridiculous supreme court decision, especially ​those that have 'Ripped Off' the U.S.A. for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher Tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to. BUYER BEWARE!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said that despite the court's decision to invalidate his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, its decision affirmed his ability to use tariffs under other legal authorities "in a much more powerful and obnoxious way, with legal certainty, than the Tariffs as initially used."

He suggested that ‌the U.S. could impose new license fees on trading partners, ⁠but did not provide any details.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative's office did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on Trump's plans.

In Brussels, the European Parliament decided on Monday to postpone a vote on the European Union's ⁠trade deal with the U.S. after Trump imposed a new temporary import duty of 15% on imports from all countries.

EU goods under the deal would face a 15% U.S. tariff, with exemptions for hundreds of food items, aircraft parts, critical minerals, pharmaceutical ingredients and other goods, while the EU would remove duties on many imports from the U.S., ​including ​industrial goods.

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Trump on Friday initially announced the temporary duty under Section 122 of the Trade ​Act of 1974 at 10%, but raised it to 15%, ‌the maximum allowed under the statute, on Saturday.

The new duty is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday. At that same moment, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said it would stop collecting the now-illegal IEEPA duties, more than three days after the Supreme Court's ruling.

UNCERTAINTY UNNERVES MARKETS

Wall Street stocks ended lower on Monday as renewed tariff uncertainty following the Supreme Court decision and concerns about artificial intelligence-fueled disruption unnerved investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.65%, the S&P 500 fell 1.02%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.01%. The dollar weakened against the euro and the yen.

The path forward for Trump's ‌foreign trade deals remained uncertain, with China urging Washington to scrap tariff measures, the ​EU freeze on its approval and India delaying planned talks.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said over ​the weekend that the Trump administration expected to open new Section 301 ​unfair trade practices investigations on several countries, a legal step expected to allow it to threaten new tariffs.

A group of ‌22 Democratic U.S. senators introduced legislation aimed at forcing the Trump ​administration to issue refunds for all of ​the now-illegal IEEPA-based tariffs within 180 days, but it faced an uncertain path to a vote.

Trump used his social media post to again lash out against the justices who ruled against him, which included two who he had appointed during his first term in the White House. In ​its ruling, authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, ‌the court reasserted its power to check the power of the president.

The president also expressed concern that the top court could rule against ​his administration's bid to restrict birthright citizenship in its forthcoming decision in that case.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey, David Lawder and Doina Chiacu, ​writing by David Lawder; Editing by Doina Chiacu, William Maclean and Nick Zieminski)

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Trump weighs strikes against Iran for nuclear program he says he 'obliterated'

February 23, 2026
Trump weighs strikes against Iran for nuclear program he says he 'obliterated'

Hours after the U.S. military dropped more than a dozen heavy bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk missiles on three ofIran's major nuclear facilitiesin June, President Donald Trump declared the operation a "spectacular military success."

ABC News

"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated," Trump said in an address to the nation.

The Pentagon backed up Trump's assessment.

Trump considering initial limited strike against Iran, source says

"It's delayed by one to two years. I think we're thinking probably closer to two years," chief spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters in July.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse Monford/US Navy - PHOTO: Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sails in the Arabian Sea, Feb. 6, 2026.

Now, eight months later, the president is once again weighing military strikes against Iran with the administration providing shifting explanations on the goals. In recent weeks, Trump has said he wanted to stop Tehran's recentdeadly crackdown on protestors-- which he said ended at his behest -- as well to curb Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and its nuclear program.

Last week, Trump gave Iran 15 days to cut a deal that would prohibit Iran from enriching uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi refused, saying the country has the right to a nuclear program, which he says is for peaceful purposes.

This weekend, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff suggested the urgency has to do with Iran being dangerously close to obtaining enough highly enriched uranium to make a bomb.

"They're probably a week away from having industrial-grade, bomb-making material, and that's really dangerous. So, [we] can't have that," Witkoff said in an interview with Fox News that aired on Saturday.

But analysts and international inspectors say Iran's access to highly enriched uranium has been a concern for several months already, along with satellite imagery suggesting that Iran is trying to rebuild. An exact picture of Iran's nuclear program is unclear because Iran blocked international inspectors from accessing the sites after the June bombing.

2nd US carrier group heads toward Middle East amid Iran tensions

When asked why the president is focusing on cutting an urgent deal on a nuclear program he says he obliterated months ago, a White House official said "the President has been clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons or the capacity to build them, and that they cannot enrich uranium."

Last summer, an early classified assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency concluded the three nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. weren't completely destroyed, leaving much of the materials buried but intact.

Likewise, Rafael Grossi, head of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, said in a February interview with the French television network TFI that he believes much Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium likely remains at the sites bombed by the U.S.

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images - PHOTO: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (L), accompanied by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine (R), takes a question from a reporter during a news conference at the Pentagon, June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Va.

According to a translation, Grossi said "some of it [the enriched uranium] may be less accessible, but the material is still there."

The IAEA estimates that some 972 pounds of highly enriched uranium remained unaccounted for following the U.S. bombing.

Analysts say a more critical question about Iran is whether the regime has made a decision on how quickly to move toward trying to build a bomb.

In arecent analysis,the Institute for Science and International Security estimated the current probability that the Iranian regime would decide to build a nuclear weapon at 40 to 50 percent.

If Iran decides to move ahead, the group says, its success in building a weapon would probably be even lower -- less than 15% in a short period of time, and 42% over a longer timeframe.

"The war saw the destruction of its gas centrifuge program and much of its nuclear weaponization facilities," according to the group's analysis.

"Nonetheless, important remnants and knowledge remain that could form the core of small gas centrifuge enrichment and nuclear weaponization capabilities," the report added.

How bunker-busters and B-2 stealth bombers struck at the heart of Iran's nuclear program

ABC News confirmed last week that among the options Trump is considering is a limited strike against Iran to force its hand negotiating. If that doesn't work, Trump could pursue a possible sustained military operation intended to topple the regime -- a campaign that could last weeks and pose risks to the 30,000 to 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in the region, experts say.

Trump pushed back Monday against media reports that his top military adviser, Gen. Dan Caine, privately cautioned that a lack of munitions and support from allies could pose risks to U.S. troops.

"General Caine, like all of us, would like not to see War but, if a decision is made on going against Iran at a Military level, it is his opinion that it will be something easily won," Trump posted on his social media platform.

According to a U.S. official, Tehran was expected to offer a new nuclear proposal by Tuesday ahead of another round of negotiations in Geneva led by Witkoff on Thursday. The meeting would be the second round of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran, with Omanis and Qataris passing notes between the delegations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Iran during a speech to the Knesset on Monday, warning the Iranian ayatollah if Iran strikes Israel, "we will respond with a force they cannot even imagine," according to remarks of his speech google translated from Hebrew to English.

"No one knows what the day will bring. We are vigilant, we are prepared for any scenario," Netanyahu said.

ABC News' Shannon Kingston and Jordana Miller contributed to this report.

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Police in Britain arrest former ambassador Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

February 23, 2026
Police in Britain arrest former ambassador Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

LONDON (AP) — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties to the lateJeffrey Epstein. It came days after a friendship with Epstein landed the former Prince Andrew in police custody.

Associated Press

Both men are suspected of improperly passing U.K. government information to the disgraced U.S. financier, and the high-profile British arrests are some of the most dramatic fallout from thetrove of more than 3 million pagesof Epstein-related documents released last month by the U.S. Justice Department.

London's Metropolitan Police force said "officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office" at an address in north London. He was taken to a police station for questioning.

The man was not named, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case previously was identified as the former diplomat, who is 72. Mandelson was filmed being led from his London home to a car by plainclothes officers on Monday afternoon.

Under U.K. law, police can hold a suspect without charge for up to 24 hours. This can be extended to a maximum of 96 hours. Mandelson could be charged, released unconditionally or released while investigations continue.

Claims of leaked government information

Police are investigating Mandelson over claims he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.

His arrest came four days afterAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while the police investigation continues.

Mandelson served in senior government roles under previous Labour governments and was U.K. ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmerfired him in Septemberafter emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.

The files released in January contained more explosive revelations about Mandelson's ties to Epstein, whom he once called "my best pal."

Messages suggest that Mandelson passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was a senior minister in the British government. That includes an internal government report discussing ways the U.K. could raise money after the 2008 global financial crisis, including by selling off government assets. Mandelson also appears to have told Epstein he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers' bonuses.

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British police launched a criminal probe earlier this month andsearched Mandelson's two housesin London and western England.

Thedecision to appoint Mandelson nearly cost Starmer his jobearlier this month, as questions swirled around his judgment about someone who has flirted with controversy during a decades-long political career.

Though he acknowledged he made a mistake and apologized to victims of Epstein,Starmer's position remains precarious. His future may rest on the release of files connected to Mandelson's appointment. The government has pledged to begin releasing those documents in early March, though the timeline may be complicated by his arrest.

Mandelson a contentious figure

Mandelson has been a major, if contentious, figure in the center-left Labour Party for decades. He is a skilled — critics say ruthless — political operator whose mastery of political intrigue earned him the nickname "Prince of Darkness."

The grandson of former Labour Cabinet minister Herbert Morrison, he was an architect of the party's return to power in 1997 as centrist, modernizing "New Labour" under Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Mandelson served in senior government posts under Blair between 1997 and 2001, and under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010. In between, he was the European Union's trade commissioner. Brown has been particularly angered by the revelations and has been helping police with their inquiries.

Mandelson twice had to resign from government during the Blair administration over allegations of financial or ethical impropriety, acknowledging mistakes but denying wrongdoing.

He later returned to government and was back on the political front line when Starmer named him ambassador to Washington at the start of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term. Mandelson's trade expertise and comfort around the ultra-rich were considered major assets. He helped secure a trade deal in May that spared Britain some of the tariffs Trump has imposed on countries around the world.

The status of the deal is now up in the air after Trump announced a new set of global tariffs in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision quashing his previous import tax order.

Earlier this month Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords, Parliament's upper chamber, to which he was appointed for life in 2008. But he still has the title — Lord Mandelson — that went with it.

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Former Rams WR Robert Woods joins Sean McVay's coaching staff; Kliff Kingsbury named assistant head coach

February 23, 2026
Former Rams WR Robert Woods joins Sean McVay's coaching staff; Kliff Kingsbury named assistant head coach

A familiar face is joining the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff.

Yahoo Sports

Former Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is joining Sean McVay's staff as an assistant wide receivers coach. The Rams announced the hiring on Monday via an announcement of the team's full coaching staff for the 2026 season.

They also announced that Kliff Kingsbury will work as McVay's assistant head coach. Reports previously indicated thatKingsbury was joining McVay's staff, but his role wasn't clear.

The former head coach of Texas Tech and the Arizona Cardinals, Kingsbury spent the previous two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.The Commanders parted with Kingsburyin the offseason, and he'll now work as McVay's top assistant.

Brian Johnson, the former Eagles offensive coordinator who worked as the Commanders' passing game coordinator with Kingsbury, is also joining the staff as a senior offensive assistant.

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Woods back with Rams days after retirement announcement

Woods, meanwhile, will embark on a coaching career with a Rams team for which he played five of his 12 NFL seasons. Woods played for the Rams from 2017-21, all under McVay. He finished his final season in Los Angeles on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but was a member of that 2021 Super Bowl-winning team.

Woods joins the Rams' staff less than a week afterretiring as a player.Woods played his final two active seasons with the Houston Texans from 2023-24. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 offseason, but didn't play in 2025 after the Steelers released him in August.

Woods played for four NFL teams, but announced his retirement via a Rams blue-and-gold Instagram statement alongside prominent graphics of him wearing a Rams uniform.The Rams later announcedthat he was officially retiring as a member of the team.

Less than a week later, Woods has officially rejoined the team as a member of its coaching staff.

He rejoins a Rams team that lost to the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship game and projects as one of the top contenders to compete for the Super Bowl next season. He'll work directly with two of the top receivers in football, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

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2026 NBA playoff picture: Who would be in bracket if season ended today?

February 23, 2026
2026 NBA playoff picture: Who would be in bracket if season ended today?

The NBA's postseason isn't far away, and perhaps getting close enough to take attention away fromthe various league issues that took attention away from the courtin the lead-up and throughout All-Star weekend festivities.

USA TODAY Sports

Less than two months and 30 regular-season games remain for most NBA teams, and the 2026 playoff picture is clear enough at this point to see it will be defined by a few key races in theEastern and Western Conference standings.

TheDetroit Pistonsstill have a comfortable lead over a trio of more established contenders for the No. 1 seed in the East, but how theBoston Celtics,New York KnicksandCleveland Cavaliersshake out among the top six will be a subplot in the weeks ahead. TheOklahoma City Thundermust hold off theSan Antonio Spursfor the top seed in the West, while theDenver Nuggets,Houston Rockets,Los Angeles LakersandMinnesota Timberwolvesjockey for position beneath them.

There's also a fascinating chase for theNBA's play-in tournament, now entering its seventh season as an addition to the league's postseason schedule and sixth year in this current four-team format. Given how many franchises are in tank mode already this season, there aren't many teams outside the top 10 at the moment actively trying to make the playoffs.

Here's a breakdown of the current NBA playoff picture, including what teams would make the postseason if the regular season ended today:

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center. Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena. <p style=Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena. Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum. Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum. Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden. Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

OPINION:Cade Cunningham has MVP moment at Madison Square Garden in domination of Knicks

NBA playoff bracket

Records and standings through games played on Sunday, Feb. 22:

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Eastern Conference

  1. Detroit Pistons (42-13)

  2. Boston Celtics (37-19)

  3. Miami Heat (31-27)

  4. Atlanta Hawks (28-31)

Western Conference

  1. Phoenix Suns (33-25)

  2. Golden State Warriors (30-27)

  3. Portland Trail Blazers (28-30)

  4. Los Angeles Clippers (27-30)

When does NBA regular season end?

The final day of the regular season is Sunday, April 12.

When is NBA play-in tournament?

The NBA play-in tournament will begin Tuesday, April 14 and conclude Friday, April 17.

How does NBA play-in tournament work?

The tournament is divided into two rounds for each conference:

  • Game 1: No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed

  • Game 2: No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed

The No. 7 and No. 9 seeds play at home in the first round. The winner of Game 1 secures the No. 7 seed in their respective conference playoff bracket. The loser of Game 1 continues to the second round and hosts the winner of Game 2. The loser of Game 2 is eliminated from playoff contention.

  • Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 winner

The winner of this game secures the No. 8 and final seed in the playoffs. The loser is eliminated from playoff contention.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2026 NBA playoffs bracket if the season ended today

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Cowboys 'lean toward' tagging WR George Pickens to prioritize defense

February 23, 2026
Cowboys 'lean toward' tagging WR George Pickens to prioritize defense

Tagging George Pickens is the most likely solution for the Dallas Cowboys to maintain long-term cap flexibility, keep the wide receiver and save some cash to address improving personnel on defense.

Field Level Media

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones laid out the scenario on Monday as the NFL Scouting Combine becomes the backdrop for league business for the next week.

"We want Pickens here. We think the world of him," Jones said. "Want him here. Love him, and I think he wants to be here. So all that's a plus."

Dallas would be charged a one-year salary of around $28 million to use the franchise tag on Pickens unless the two sides reach a long-term agreement before July 15.

Pickens caught 93 passes for 1,429 yards with nine touchdowns in 2025. He turns 25 on March 4.

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Dallas signed running back Javonte Williams to a three-year, $24 million contract to keep one of their difference-makers from hitting the open market.

The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus at the end of the 2025 season and hired Christian Parker to repair that side of the ball. Jones said part of that equation involves upgrading the level of talent.

"We want to fix this defense," Jones said of the budget priorities. "We feel really good about the offensive side of the ball now that we got Javonte done and we know that we'll have George back. So, we feel really good about that side of the ball. Obviously we spent a lot of time on it already in the offseason, revamping the defensive coaching staff, and now we'll take the next steps, which are to improve the personnel on that side of the ball."

The Steelers selected Pickens in the second round of the 2022 draft and he played his first three seasons in Pittsburgh. Pickens has produced 267 receptions, 21 touchdowns and 4,270 receiving yards in 65 games (55 starts).

--Field Level Media

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Kandi Burruss Says She Pays for Daughter to Live in NYC Apartment Alone: She ‘Runs Through My Pockets’

February 23, 2026
Kandi Burruss Says She Pays for Daughter to Live in NYC Apartment Alone: She 'Runs Through My Pockets'

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo

People L: Riley Burruss; R: Kandi Burruss Astrid Stawiarz/Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo

NEED TO KNOW

  • Kandi Burruss is revealing she still pays for her daughter's New York City apartment

  • The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star said her 23-year-old daughter Riley "runs through my pockets" during the Feb. 22 episode of Watch What Happens Live

  • Riley, who starred in Bravo's Next Gen NYC, previously said she has one year before her mom financially cuts her off

Kandi Burrussisn't afraid to admit she still pays for her 23-year-old daughter's New York City apartment.

The Real Housewives of Atlantaalum, 49, joinedAndy Cohenfor the Sunday, Feb. 22 episode ofWatch What Happens Live. During their chat, the host asked who Kandi supports "more financially" between her mom,"Mama" Joyce Jones, and her daughter,Riley Burruss.

"Oh that's easy, Riley," Kandi says while shaking her head. "Riley runs through my pockets."

Kandi welcomed Riley with her ex Russel Spencer in August 2002. After graduating high school in 2020, Riley left home to attend New York University. She graduated from college in May 2024 before she joined the cast of Bravo'sNext Gen NYCalongside other network stars' children, includingAriana BiermannandGia Giuduce.

"I mean, you know, she lives in New York in a two-bedroom in a nice building," Kandi says during the interview.

L-R: Riley Burruss, Kandi Burruss and

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Cohen, 57, then pressed if Riley has a roommate to fill up both bedrooms. To which Kandi simply replies, "no."

Kandi then poked fun at her daughter, who wants to be a lawyer, with the way she "argues her points."

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Kandi and Riley Burruss attend the Sergio Hudson fashion show during February 2025 New York Fashion Week on February 7, 2025 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

"She was like, 'Mom, it's for my mental health…,' " Kandi says. "I promise you, it was a whole thing."

Riley first moved to New York City in 2019 to complete an internship prior to her freshman year, according toBravo. During an episode ofThe Real Housewives, Kandi revealed she was setting up her daughter with a $5,547-per-month, two-bedroom high-rise apartment.

However, her living arrangement changed when she moved into a dorm at the beginning of her college career. In April 2022, Kandi and ex-husbandTodd Tuckerconfirmed toThe Daily Dishthat Riley had moved into a new apartment.

Riley revealed once again in a February 2024 Instagram Story she would be making another move.

In the June 3, 2025, premiere ofNext Gen NYC, Riley revealed she won't be able to rely on her mother financially for much longer.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I feel stressed and on a time crunch because my mom has given me one year before she cuts me off financially," she says.

Read the original article onPeople

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