Millions of Americans tuned in to the Super Bowl as the event marked its 60th anniversary, but amid football’s biggest night, viewers were reminded of an even greater anniversary — America’s 250th birthday. This year, a primetime ad marked the year-long celebration of America’s semiquincentennial year.
The commercial opened on the Statue of Liberty before sweeping through defining moments in American history. Glimpses of the Wright brothers, Mount Rushmore, the Declaration of Independence, and George Washington crossing the Delaware were interwoven with scenes of modern innovation and technology.
“After 250 years, the American experiment still isn’t finished. It’s been built, tested, carried forward, and fought for,” the ad read. “And we passed it on, hand to hand, life to life. Generations ago ordinary people risked everything to begin it.”
Throughout the thirty seconds, the military threads the scenes together acting as a guardian of America’s progress. The commercial closed celebrating America’s past but also looking towards its future. “250 years later the work continues because freedom is worth it. This year America turns 250.”
The ad aired as a Super Bowl Public Service Announcement (PSA), typically reserved for campaigns aimed at education or social awareness and often produced pro bono by nonprofits or foundations. This time, however, NBC donated the coveted 30-second slot, an opportunity that usually costs around $8 million, to Freedom 250.
Non-partisan Freedom 250 is spearheading the Nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. The organization works in tandem with the White House Task Force 250, along with other federal agencies, to bring the nation’s birthday to life.
“Just as Super Bowl Sunday brings Americans together around a shared love of competition, tradition, and excellence, the 250th anniversary will unite our entire nation in celebration of the values and freedoms that make America exceptional,” said Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach. “This is our moment to come together as one country and honor the American story and celebrate the bright future ahead.”
While Freedom 250 is hosting events to celebrate the nation all year long, the biggest bash will take place on July 4, 2026. At the National Mall in Washington, D.C. there will be military flyovers, notable speeches, headline performances, and an ending firework display. On the same day in New York, ships and naval vessels from more than thirty countries will into New York Harbor around the Statue of Liberty.

TOPSHOT-AMFOOT-SUPERBOWL-CHIEFS-EAGLES

At Super Bowl 60, Ad Celebrates 250 Years Of America

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America

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Kristin Cabot, the HR professional who went viral after being caught on camera in a loving embrace with the CEO of her company, is now cashing in on her fifteen minutes of fame.
The 53-year-old mother of two is listed as a keynote speaker at PRWeek’s 2026 Crisis Comms Conference in Washington, D.C., in April, with tickets priced between $750 and $875. Cabot will participate in a thirty-minute talk called “Taking Back the Narrative” alongside public relations CEO Dini von Mueffling.
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“This is the fourth year that we&#8217;ve run the crisis comms conference, and it&#8217;s been a sell-out every year because every day there is another brand, individual, or company that gets itself in crisis situations. I fully expect it to sell out again this year—not necessarily because of Kristin. It&#8217;s just, it&#8217;s such a hot topic,” Steve Barrett, VP and editorial director of PRWeek, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/kristin-cabot-coldplay-scandal-keynote-speaker-crisis-conference-11468683">told</a> Newsweek.
Conference organizers told the outlet that Cabot was not being compensated for her appearance.
The internet has been obsessed with the alleged Astronomer affair scandal since it was made public following viral images from a Coldplay show last July.
A video showed company CEO Andrew Byron, then married, and Cabot embracing one another at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, when the kiss cam landed on them. The couple reacted immediately, with Byron letting go of Cabot and stepping out of frame. Cabot had a similar reaction, immediately hiding her face and turning away from the camera.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin called out their reaction, saying, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy.”
The video was posted online and became part of the national conversation, inspiring references, spoofs, and commentary that lasted for months.
Byron had served as CEO of Astronomer since 2023, while Cabot had been a human resources executive with the company for less than one year. Both resigned from their positions following the scandal.
Cabot went on the interview circuit in December, expressing shock over the level of public outrage surrounding her alleged infidelity. She said it was her first time kissing her former boss and claimed their relationship was never sexual. 
The New Hampshire native also revealed that her then-husband, Andrew Cabot, was at the infamous concert. He said in a statement that the couple was estranged at the time of the incident.

Coldplay concert

Coldplay Kiss Cam Woman Headlining Crisis PR Conference

Coldplay Kiss Cam Woman Signs On As Keynote Speaker At Crisis PR Conference

Business

Entertainment

General

viral video

The so-called consensus surrounding “gender transitions” for minors begins to unravel, border czar Tom Homan announces a &#8220;drawdown&#8221; of federal immigration officers from Minneapolis, and talks teeter between Washington and Tehran while tensions with Beijing appear to be calming.
It’s Thursday, February 5, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/medicine-rebuffs-gender-transitions-troubled-tehran/id1576594336?i=1000748346174" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Medical Groups Walk Back Support For Child Trans Surgeries</h2>
In the wake of a landmark detransitioner verdict, the support of transgender surgeries for minors appears to be crumbling. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest association of plastic surgeons in the world, said that available evidence does not support trans surgeries for gender-confused kids, and also said there was “insufficient” evidence for placing children on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. The statement was unique among major medical groups and associations. Essentially, all support these surgeries and treatments for minors despite <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shocking-details-emerge-in-landmark-2-million-trans-malpractice-judgment?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Shocking+Details+Emerge+In+Landmark+%242+Million+%E2%80%98Trans%E2%80%99+Malpractice+Judgment">mounting</a> evidence that shows them to be harmful and irreversible. Following the ASPS, the American Medical Association, which wields major influence as the nation’s largest medical association, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-major-medical-group-reverses-course-on-trans-surgeries-for-minors?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Another+Major+Medical+Group+Reverses+Course+On+Trans+Surgeries+For+Minors">reversed</a> course, too. The AMA told National Review that it “agrees” with the ASPS that “surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood.” The statement is a huge shift for the AMA.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Minneapolis Drawdown</h2>
Border czar Tom Homan has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homan-strikes-deal-in-minnesota-yanks-hundreds-of-immigration-officers">announced</a> a “drawdown” of hundreds of federal immigration officers from Minneapolis. Seven hundred federal immigration officers and agents left the Twin Cities area on Wednesday. Homan said the force reduction is the result of deals with “an unprecedented number of counties” to “allow ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets.” The reduction will leave 2,000 federal immigration agents in Minnesota, along with the teams working on fraud investigations. Homan insisted that the Trump administration isn’t “surrendering” its mass deportation campaign. “This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement. This is safer for the community, safer for the officers, and safer for the alien,” said Homan.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Iran Talks Teeter On Scope Of Negotiations</h2>
Talks between Washington and Tehran may be on the verge of collapse after Iranian attacks on U.S. ships. Washington and Tehran are still on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+U.S.+Shoots+Down+Iranian+Drone+That+Threatened+Aircraft+Carrier">track</a> for a meeting on Friday. But it’s been a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-shoots-down-iranian-drone-after-it-aggressively-approached-uss-abraham-lincoln">messy</a> ride. The two sides were supposed to meet in Turkey, but Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday that talks will now take place in Oman. There are also significant questions over the scope of the negotiations. Iran wants to focus on its nuclear program. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/02/secretary-of-state-marco-rubio-at-a-press-availability/">told</a> reporters on Wednesday that in order for talks to “lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things” – such as Iran’s nuclear program, but also ballistic missiles, Iran’s sponsorship of terror groups across the region, and the treatment of the Iranian people.

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Morning Brief: Doctors Pull Back On Trans Kids, Minnesota ICE ‘Drawdown,’ & Iran Talks Teeter

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Chaos persists in Minnesota as state officials continue to defy federal authorities in a high-stakes showdown, President Donald Trump publicly warns Iran to “come to the table” as U.S. warships arrive in the region, and new data shows the American population growth fell dramatically last year.
It’s Thursday, January 29, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-house-warns-minnesota-american-population-nosedives/id1576594336?i=1000747155399" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Minnesota Chaos Continues</h2>
Chaos continues in Minnesota as state officials continue to defy the White House in a high-stakes showdown over ICE operations. Fingers on both sides of the aisle are pointing at Minneapolis Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey for fanning the flames. Around 200 activists stormed into the Minnesota Capitol on Tuesday. They were angry that Governor Tim Walz met with border czar Tom Homan. They demanded charges against the agents who shot protesters Alex Pretti and Renee Good. The activists went into Walz&#8217;s office in what they called a “slow march” for immigration justice, shouting slogans like “ICE out now!” and “No one is illegal,” “Abolish ICE,” and other statements. The White House has attempted to negotiate with Minnesota’s elected officials. Homan met with top officials, including Mayor Frey. But Frey, who continues to uphold Minneapolis&#8217;s sanctuary city policies, has insisted that local police will not cooperate with ICE and will not give them access to their jails. Frey said bluntly that Minneapolis “does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Threatens Iran And Rubio Testifies In Senate</h2>
On Wednesday, President Trump publicly warned Iran to “come to the table” after U.S. warships arrived in the region. And on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the president’s foreign policy to skeptical lawmakers. Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran needs to make a deal or risk “major destruction,” far worse than Operation Midnight Hammer in June. Rubio testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and gave an additional rationale for moving more military assets into the Middle East. “We have 30,000 to 40,000 American troops stationed across 8 or 9 facilities in that region. … All are within the reach of an array of thousands of Iranian one-way UAVs and Iranian short-term ballistic missiles,” <a href="https://x.com/StateDept/status/2016575448499569001">said</a> Rubio. “We have to have enough force and power in the region just on a baseline to defend against that possibility.” Rubio also defended the Trump administration’s Venezuela policy, saying it is seeking progress toward democratic elections in the country, but without risking regional destabilization.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">U.S. Population Growth Plummets</h2>
Amid President Trump’s border crackdown and mass deportation effort, new data shows the United States population growth fell dramatically last year. This week, the Census Bureau released new data showing that last year, the U.S. population grew by just 1.8 million, or 0.5%. With the exception of 2021, when COVID was at its peak, last year saw the slowest population growth in the history of the United States. The previous year, the United States grew by 3.3 million people, so roughly a 50% decline in one year. These numbers run from July 2024 to July 2025, so President Trump was only in office for half of that time. If the current pace holds, it’ll be an even more dramatic dip this coming year.

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Morning Brief: Minnesota ICE Showdown Escalates, Trump Warns Iran & U.S. Population Growth Collapses

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The Department of Homeland Security clarified what its role would be at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan next month after rumors began circulating that ICE officers would be arriving in Italy as part of the security detail.
“Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries,” the department shared in an X post on Tuesday in response to a Variety article detailing the “uproar.”
“At the Olympics, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is supporting the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations,” the post said. “All security operations remain under Italian authority.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Obviously, ICE does not conduct immigration enforcement operations in foreign countries.
At the Olympics, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations is supporting the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational… <a href="https://t.co/ujkMw6dxFD">https://t.co/ujkMw6dxFD</a>
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2016174667774480707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The clarification comes after social media users and even Italian government officials voiced their distress over ICE officers being present at the Olympics in any capacity. As the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-milan-cortina-olympics-immigration-enforcement-us-110fa4b2066e1fb920dba2a71c3a89e0">noted</a>, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a department within ICE, is known to deploy officers to overseas events like the Olympic Games to help with security.
Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony in Milan on February 6, 2026, the White House previously <a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-delegation-winter-olympics-vance-rubio-italy-4cda5924bd4bec7732c065e2a170cbaf">announced</a>. He will be joined by second lady Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, and several former Olympic champions.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala told local radio station RTL Radio 102 that he did not want ICE in the city. “This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,” Sala said, per AP.
Activist group Azione Milano started a petition calling for ICE agents to be banned from the Olympics this year &#8212; but the Associated Press noted that the backlash is caused by confusion over the different departments within Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Specifically, Enforcement and Removal Operations officers have the job of arresting and removing individuals violating immigration laws in the United States. Meanwhile, the delegation heading to the Olympics is part of HSI and are often stationed at foreign embassies around the world.

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Leftists Melt Down Over Absurd Fear That ICE Will Be At Milan Olympics

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Legendary American rock climber Alex Honnold stunned the world yesterday when he scaled the 1,667-foot skyscraper Taipei 101 in Taiwan without any safety equipment.
The entire 90-minute event was broadcast live on Netflix on Saturday with a ten-second delay after being postponed due to weather earlier in the week. 
“It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” the 40-year-old climber said afterward, per <a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-honnold-taipei-101-solo-climb-netflix-cfe8960237290086cdee581075056fbf">Associated Press</a>. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”
Honnold has done major climbs before, but nothing to this scale. Spectators watched captivated as the climber ascended the massive skyscraper, at one point, going hands-free, gripping only with his legs.
A huge crowd of onlookers watched from the ground and in the building, which Honnold said was not the usual for him. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
ALEX HONNOLD AFTER COMPLETING HIS FREE SOLO OF TAIPEI 101: &#8220;Sick.&#8221;
The 101 story climb took 1 hour and 35 minutes <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SkyscraperLIVE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SkyscraperLIVE</a> <a href="https://t.co/TIzeRqiUcM">pic.twitter.com/TIzeRqiUcM</a>
— Netflix (@netflix) <a href="https://twitter.com/netflix/status/2015255348215742822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“When I was leaving the ground, you’re like oh it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching,” he said, per the AP. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. I mean basically it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.”
The father of two first went viral in 2017 after becoming the first person to “free solo” on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, climbing 2,900 feet without safety equipment. The 2018 biographical documentary “Free Solo,” is about Honnold’s climbing career and won a BAFTA and an Academy Award.
&#8220;Free solo&#8221; in rock climbing means climbing without any ropes or harnesses. It’s the most dangerous form of climbing and often proves fatal. One mistake can easily result in death. 
Another climber, Alain Robert from France, climbed Taipei 101 in 2004 upon its completion. At the time, it was the tallest building in the world. However, Robert utilized ropes and harnesses for his ascent.

Alex Honnold

American Climber Scales Taiwan’s Tallest Skyscraper Without Any Safety Equipment

Climber Scales 1,667-Foot Skyscraper With No Safety Equipment, Live On Netflix

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Mountain climbing

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Chinese tech giant ByteDance has reached a deal over ownership of TikTok for the social media platform to stay active in the United States.
TikTok <a href="https://newsroom.tiktok.com/announcement-from-the-new-tiktok-usds-joint-venture-llc?lang=en">announced</a> the deal on Thursday evening after a six-year campaign to ban the app under Chinese ownership from the United States. Congress passed legislation over a year ago that could have spelled the end of TikTok in the United States, but President Donald Trump postponed the ban from going into effect beyond the bill’s stated grace period to reach a deal.
Since 2019, a conglomeration of people and entities have sought legal action against TikTok, while a bipartisan group of lawmakers has sought an outright ban over concerns that the platform was being used by China to steal from and spy on Americans.
The effort to ban TikTok was resisted by social media influencers who have used the platform to further their careers, as well as Trump, who prioritized negotiating with ByteDance to sell off the platform to allow it to continue to operate in the United States.
Under the terms of the deal, a new U.S. version of the app will be created, which will be 80% owned by international investors.
TikTok’s Thursday statement listed the new group of international owners. The largest owners outside of ByteDance itself are the software giant Oracle, the Emirati investment firm MGX, and U.S.-based investment firm Silver Lake. ByteDance will retain 19.9% ownership of the U.S. version of the platform while the other big three will each have 15%.
“Completing the full consortium of investors are: Dell Family Office, the investment firm of Michael Dell, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies; Vastmere Strategic Investments, LLC, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group, LLP; Alpha Wave Partners; Revolution; Merritt Way, LLC controlled and managed by partners of Dragoneer; Via Nova, an affiliate of General Atlantic; Virgo LI, Inc., investment arm of a foundation established by Yuri and Julia Milner in support of science; and NJJ Capital, the family office of Xavier Niel, a French entrepreneur and pioneer in telecommunications,” the statement from TikTok explained.
Oracle will become the manager of all U.S. user data on the platform.
“TikTok USDS Joint Venture&#8217;s mandate is to secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm through comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures. It will safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem through robust trust and safety policies and content moderation while ensuring continuous accountability through transparency reporting and third-party certifications,” the announcement stated.

TikTok

TikTok Strikes Deal To Stay Active In U.S., Ending Years-Long Battle Over Chinese Ownership

Big Tech

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Communist China

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration is closely watching Iran for signs that it&#8217;s killing protesters, and has sent a &#8220;big flotilla&#8221; toward the region &#8220;just in case.&#8221;
The president said that he hopes the U.S. fleet is unnecessary. Trump talked about U.S. troop movements regarding Iran while on board Air Force One, with his orders suggesting that tensions between Washington and Tehran are still high amid Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests.
“We’re watching Iran. You know, we have a lot of ships going that direction just in case. We have a big flotilla going in that direction, and we&#8217;ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
The president said that he stopped Tehran from following through on hundreds of public executions.
“I said, ‘If you hang those people, you&#8217;re gonna be hit harder than you&#8217;ve ever been hit. It&#8217;ll make what we did to your Iran nuclear look like peanuts.’ And an hour before this horrible thing (the executions) was going to take place, they canceled it,” the president said. “But we have an armada. We have a massive fleet heading in that direction. And maybe we won&#8217;t have to use it. We&#8217;ll see.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &#8220;We&#8217;re watching Iran. We have a lot of ships going that direction just in case&#8230; We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won&#8217;t have to use it. We&#8217;ll see.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/eL0sRyJb6u">pic.twitter.com/eL0sRyJb6u</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2014496443311018323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Trump threatened Iran with another attack if the regime used deadly force, as anti-government protests have swept the Middle Eastern country in recent weeks. Tehran has maintained an internet blackout over the entire country for two weeks, as reports suggest that the regime has killed thousands.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency <a href="https://www.en-hrana.org/day-twenty-six-of-the-protests-government-commits-violence-denies-responsibility-and-continues-mass-arrests/">says</a> it has confirmed the deaths of over 5,000 people since mass protests erupted in Iran in late December. The human rights group says it is investigating nearly 10,000 more deaths. It says nearly 27,000 people have been arrested by the regime since the protests started.
Trump and Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have traded strong words while Washington and Tehran negotiate and threaten each other over the fate of Iranian protesters and a potential U.S. strike.
“Anything ever happens [to me], we’re going to blow the whole — the whole country’s going to get blown up,” Trump <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5697870-trump-iran-assassination-threats/">said</a> on Tuesday in response to the Iranian regime’s threats on his life.
Tehran hit back on Wednesday. An Iranian military spokesman, Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/g-s1-106639/iran-warns-trump-khamenei">said</a>: “Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world.”
Trump ordered strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year, which the United States military carried out in cooperation with Israel, effectively ending the 12-Day War that took a significant toll on Iran’s top military leadership and nuclear research.

Trump Says ‘Massive Fleet’ Headed Toward Iran: ‘We’re Watching Them Very Closely’

Snow and ice are expected to coat the South less than a week after rare snowfall peppered spots of Florida and Georgia.
The United States’ South is expected to be hit by a major weather system over the coming weekend, with icy weather anticipated to begin Friday and last through Sunday. Snow and ice are expected as far south as Houston, Texas, and as far east as Virginia Beach. Rain is likely to blanket much of the Deep South.
Projected amounts of precipitation are unreliable at this point as current models vary and are likely to change in the coming days, according to the <a href="https://nashvillesevereweather.com/2026/01/19/potential-for-snow-this-weekend/">Nashville Severe Weather</a> blog. But the models generally show wintery conditions covering a large part of the south from Friday to Sunday, potentially wreaking havoc on any weekend travel plans.
“It is still early, but models are suggesting that multiple cities in the South could see at least some winter weather. They could get everything: rain, snow, ice or a combination of them all,” <a href="https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/2026-01-19-rain-snow-ice-mix-south-southeast">The Weather Channel</a> reports.
Freezing weather may extend in some regions as well, so any snow that does land is likely to stick around and compound any effects from the storm itself.
Wintery weather across the South is expected to ramp up significantly on Friday, with snow falling in parts of north Texas up into the Great Plains region. By Friday night, the area of potential snowfall is likely to stretch from Colorado to Virginia and North Carolina.
Into the weekend, the system is expected to tilt slowly down into the Gulf Coast of Texas and up into the Northeast, with much of the South staying under the system. Wintery conditions on Saturday night could stretch from Houston up to New York City.
The storm system that will potentially blanket the South comes less than a week after wintery weather hit Georgia and parts of northern Florida – a rare event for the area. A separate system hit the Northeast at the same time, snarling traffic and causing significant air travel delays, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/winter-weather-travel-mlk-weekend-rcna254664">NBC News</a>.
The twin storm systems placed roughly 55 million people under winter weather alerts. Air traffic in the United States face delays with roughly 7,700 flights within, into, or out of the United States delayed, and more than 500 canceled, according to <a href="http://flightaware.com">FlightAware.com</a>. In Michigan, snow and ice-covered roads <a href="https://x.com/foxweather/status/2013306132475806039">contributed</a> to a 100-car pile up.

Snow Hits New York

Snowpocalypse 2026: Severe Winter Weather Expected To Blanket The South

Severe Weather

U.S.

Weather

The United States is on the verge of reigniting last year’s trade war with Europe after President Donald Trump threatened eight European countries with tariff hikes over Denmark’s refusal to sell Greenland.
A trade deal Trump secured in July of last year with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is unlikely to move forward after Trump on Saturday <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115911344443637897">threatened</a> 25% tariffs against eight EU countries, as well as the United Kingdom and Norway.
The European People’s Party is the most influential bloc in the European parliament, <a href="https://results.elections.europa.eu/en/seats-political-group-country/2024-2029/">holding</a> 188 of 720 seats. Party President Manfred Weber said in a statement that the parliament cannot move forward with the trade deal the EU agreed to last year because of threats from the United States.
“The EPP is in favour of the EU–U.S. trade deal, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this stage. The 0% tariffs on U.S. products must be put on hold,” <a href="https://x.com/ManfredWeber/status/2012607273370087621">said</a> Weber.
The deal by Trump and von der Leyen last year would eliminate tariffs on goods from the United States to the EU, and cap U.S. tariffs on European products at 15%. Because of Trump’s trade threats over Greenland, officials in the bloc want to freeze the trade agreement and potentially pull other economic levers against the United States as well.
French President Emmanuel Macron intends to ask the EU to use the bloc’s Anti-Coercion Instrument, known as the trade “bazooka,” against the United States. The instrument would allow the bloc to take significantly more steps against the United States, such as placing limits on intellectual property protections and restricting investment.
“He will be in contact all day with his European counterparts and will ask, in the name of France, the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument,” Macron&#8217;s office <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-to-urge-eu-to-use-trade-bazooka-in-response-to-trumps-tariffs/">told</a> Politico Europe on Sunday.
In response to the escalating trade threats coming from Europe, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Sunday <a href="https://x.com/JacquiHeinrich/status/2012952767518650432">defended</a> Trump’s approach.
“I think right now with respect to Greenland, the president has a strong view that it&#8217;s a national security matter for the U.S. to have more control over Greenland, and I&#8217;m confident that in the end, he&#8217;s going to negotiate a deal that&#8217;s great for us and great for our partners,” said Hassett.

Ursula von der Leyen, Donald Trump

Europe Ramps Up Trade Fight After Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Greenland

European Union

Greenland

On Tuesday, the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection held a hearing titled, “Defense through Offense: Examining U.S. Cyber Capabilities to Deter and Disrupt Malign Foreign Activity Targeting the Homeland.”
Chairman Andy Ogles (R-TN) opened the hearing by declaring that the United States can no longer rely solely on a defensive posture. Citing recent breaches like Salt Typhoon (targeting Congressional staff) and Volt Typhoon (targeting critical infrastructure), Ogles argued that adversaries — primarily China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea — operate with impunity because they face no meaningful consequences.
The consensus among the subcommittee and the witnesses was that the U.S. must shift toward a proactive, &#8220;industrial-scale&#8221; offensive strategy to alter the risk calculus of state-sponsored actors.
Joe Lin, the CEO of Twenty Technologies, Inc., provided a blunt assessment: the United States is currently losing the cyber war because it treats offensive operations as &#8220;bespoke,&#8221; elite activities while adversaries operate at &#8220;machine speed.&#8221;
Lin called for codifying operator tradecraft into automated software systems. He argued that one operator should be able to manage hundreds of targets simultaneously to match the scale of Chinese campaigns. He emphasized that &#8220;patching&#8221; alone will never secure critical infrastructure. Deterrence requires the demonstrated ability to impose asymmetric costs upstream before attacks reach U.S. soil.
Emily Harding, the vice president of the defense and security department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), focused on the &#8220;escalation ladder,&#8221; noting that adversaries currently control it because U.S. responses have been muted.
CSIS war games revealed that senior U.S. officials often freeze during cyber crises due to a lack of a shared framework for what constitutes an &#8220;act of war.&#8221; Harding proposed several key shifts: treating cyber-attacks that imperil life as kinetic attacks, flipping risk tolerance so that the default answer for an operation is &#8220;yes,&#8221; and creating a dedicated Cyber Force to consolidate talent.
Frank Cilluffo, the director of the McCrary Institute, argued that the U.S. has allowed adversaries to define its strategy. He pushed for &#8220;operational collaboration,&#8221; where the private sector — which owns the vast majority of infrastructure — is treated as a partner in active defense rather than a passive victim. He noted that campaigns like Salt and Volt Typhoon are &#8220;pre-positioning&#8221; efforts designed to be triggered during a future kinetic conflict (e.g., a Pacific contingency).
Drew Bagley, the chief privacy officer at CrowdStrike, offered a nuanced view, reinforcing the necessity of defense while supporting targeted offense. While he cautioned against a &#8220;federated&#8221; or &#8220;vigilante&#8221; hack-back regime due to risks of collateral damage, he supported more persistent disruption of malicious infrastructure. He recommended that CISA and the private sector maintain a prioritized list of threat actors to be dismantled systematically through coordinated law enforcement and military action.
The subcommittee discussed the severe workforce shortage. Witnesses noted that while thousands of personnel were lost during recent agency &#8220;right-sizing&#8221; (DOGE-related shifts), the solution isn&#8217;t just &#8220;more bodies.&#8221; AI is being used by the PRC to automate espionage; the U.S. must adopt &#8220;Agentic AI&#8221; to defend and counter-attack at the same speed. Suggestions included a &#8220;Cyber Reserve&#8221; (similar to the National Guard) and a &#8220;Teach for America&#8221; style program for cyber professionals to serve in rural areas in exchange for loan forgiveness.
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) raised the critical issue of undersea cables, through which 95% of global data flows. There is currently no &#8220;single home&#8221; in the government for undersea cable security. Harding and Bagley called for an increase in repair ships and the use of AI-driven maritime surveillance to identify &#8220;anomalous&#8221; ship patterns (like &#8220;fishing&#8221; vessels lingering over cable lines) before they can sabotage infrastructure.
A major takeaway was the need to move past &#8220;tit-for-tat&#8221; cyber responses. Witnesses argued that if China hits a U.S. water plant, the U.S. shouldn&#8217;t necessarily hit a Chinese water plant; it should use diplomatic, economic, or kinetic tools to hit a &#8220;pain point&#8221; that the adversary actually values.
Ogles concluded by signaling a &#8220;forward-leaning&#8221; posture, emphasizing that the Monroe Doctrine now extends into the digital realm. The subcommittee intends to pursue &#8220;operational collaboration&#8221; between the private sector and government to ensure that any breach of American digital boundaries carries a significant, punishing price.
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Faceless hackers and malware hackers use laptops with dangerous digital code on binary code background.

Beyond Defense: Congress Wants To Industrialize U.S. Cyber Offense

Congress

Cybersecurity

President Donald Trump calls off all meetings with the Islamic regime — suggesting he may come to the aid of Iranian protestors, inflation holds steady as the administration touts an affordability push, and Congress tosses around a funding package to keep the lights on until October.
It’s Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Puts Iran On Notice</h2>
President Trump put Tehran on notice on Tuesday, cutting off discussions with Iranian leaders and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Trump+Tells+Iranians+%E2%80%98Help+Is+On+Its+Way%E2%80%99+As+Death+Toll+Climbs">telling</a> protesters: “Help is on its way.” Trump posted on Truth Social on Tuesday that “the killers and abusers” in Iran “will pay a big price.” He urged protesters to continue their resistance and to take over institutions. The president also recommended that any Americans in Iran leave as soon as possible. Meanwhile, deaths during the protests appear to have surged past other recent instances of mass demonstrations in Iran. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates that more than 2,000 people have been killed. The Saudi-funded outlet Iran International estimates a much higher death toll at around 12,000. Thousands more have been arrested. Reports say that 26-year-old Erfan Soltani is expected to be hanged on Wednesday after the government found him guilty of “waging war on God.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Labor Department Report Shows Inflation Cooling</h2>
The latest Labor Department report released Tuesday showed that inflation continues to cool, once again defying expert predictions. The department released its highly anticipated CPI report for December, which showed inflation at 2.7% – tied for the lowest since March 2021. The pace of inflation has fallen dramatically since the 9% peak in 2021. Across former President Joe Biden’s four years in office, the average number was about 5%. The report surprised experts, who had projected a slightly higher number. EJ Antoni, chief economist at The Heritage Foundation, said the report likely understates the cooling, as the indicators used by the Labor Department lag behind reality.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Rep. Brad Finstad Talks Congress’s Latest Funding Package</h2>
The House is set to take up a two-bill funding package this week, after the Senate advanced it, as the government faces an end-of-month shutdown deadline. The bipartisan legislation would fully fund agencies like the State and Treasury departments, the IRS, and the federal courts through October, but it currently omits funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Minnesota GOP Rep. Brad Finstad told Morning Wire that one of the priorities of the bills is to “get some fiscal sanity back in our country.” The current version includes a 16% reduction in spending. “It&#8217;s an opportunity for us to kind of right-size government,” said Finstad. The package also aims to curb fraud by defunding some USAID programs and increasing reporting standards.

MRN_260114_V1

Morning Brief: Trump Puts Iran On Notice, Economy Gains Momentum & Funding Fight Looms

Morning Brief: Iran On Notice, Inflation Cools, And Congress’ New Spending Package

Department of Labor

Inflation

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