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Savannah Guthrie’s public crisis is the latest in the ‘Today’ show family

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Savannah Guthrie’s public crisis is the latest in the ‘Today’ show family

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The “Today” show calls itself a family. The program is broadcast to American homes every weekday morning. Over the years, the family has experienced some shocking heartbreaks, but the stars have emotionally supported each other through the process.

The disappearance of host Savannah Guthrie’s mother is the latest crisis the usually upbeat TV crew has had to deal with in public, broadcasting from New York City’s famously windowed Studio 1A.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was surprisingly reported missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on Sunday, February 1st, and the sheriff’s office treated the home as a crime scene. Authorities say Guthrie was “removed from her home against her will.” A devastated Savannah Guthrie took a leave of absence from “Today” on February 2, declined to host the Olympic opening ceremony in Milan-Cortina on February 6, and asked fans on Instagram to “pray.” On February 4, Savannah, her sister Annie, and brother Camron released an emotional video calling for their mother’s return.

The kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie is a shocking and highly unusual tragedy, but it is not the only trauma that members of the “Today” show have endured in the morning show’s long history. From cancer to the death of a spouse to mental health issues, the hosts have had their share of tough battles over the years and have shared and processed these hardships with millions of viewers, sometimes in real time.

Here’s how ‘Today’s’ families have coped with this ongoing personal crisis and other devastating life events in the past, and how they’ve stepped up for each other time and time again.

‘Today’ show rallies in support of Guthrie

The “Today” show co-anchor emotionally echoed Savannah’s call to prayer during his Feb. 2 show. “Her faith guides us and Nancy guides us,” Jenna Bush Hager said through tearful eyes.

“And that’s the only thing we all have and can do,” added Shinelle Jones. “It doesn’t cost anything.”

Why Savannah Guthrie’s mother went missing attracts the people

His close friend Craig Melvin, who also quit covering the opening ceremony of the Milan Olympics in solidarity with Guthrie, said on air that many fans of the program shared that they too were praying for the Guthrie family.

“And that’s exactly what Savannah and her family need to hear. My pastor said something like this years ago: ‘It’s easy to be faithful when things are going well in life. You have to be faithful when you’re on the top of the mountain, but the God of the mountain is the God of the valley,'” Melvin said.

Hota Kotb battled breast cancer and daughter Hope’s illness

Hoda Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2007 and spoke candidly about it on Today. Behind the scenes, the diagnosis and battle also had a big impact. After undergoing a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in March 2007, Kotb told NBC that she wanted to become the new host of the four-hour show Today, which she did in October 2007 with Kathie Lee Gifford.

In March 2023, Kotub returned from a two-week break and told Guthrie and viewers that she was caring for her youngest daughter, Hope, in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

“Thank you to my family and friends like you who were there every day,” Kotub said, her voice shaking with emotion. “I’m so grateful that she came to my house. I’ve been waiting for that day to come.”

Kotb, 61, left Today on January 10, 2025 in a tearful on-air farewell. She returned to the role last May and revealed on air that Hope’s type 1 diabetes condition “definitely weighed heavily” on her decision to step back from her 26-year career.

Shaynel Jones experiences a ‘beautiful nightmare’ after losing husband Uche Ojie

In January 2025, Jones said in a statement to Today viewers that she was “taking time to deal with family health issues.”

In May, Guthrie revealed on Today that Jones’ husband, Uche Ojie, who had been privately battling a malignant brain tumor called glioblastoma, had died at the age of 45 “after a courageous battle.” The two met at Northwestern University and married in 2007.

Jones returned to the show on September 5 and spoke about her time with Guthrie and her husband, Ogier.

Jones described the tragedy as a “beautiful nightmare” and told a friend: “My heart has been shattered into a million pieces.”

This week, amid Guthrie’s ordeal, Jones reflected on her husband’s death on his birthday, February 4. Jones emphasized the importance of the day at the beginning of that day’s show. Over the past few months, Jones and her children – 16-year-old Cain and 13-year-old twins Clara and Uche – have been adjusting to life as a family of four following the death of her husband.

“I think I underestimated how difficult this was going to be because I was so busy,” Jones told viewers.. “In some ways, it’s harder than Thanksgiving or Christmas, because you know it’s coming. And everyone knows it with you. So you’re strengthened. You’re strengthened with love and calling, but this is just one of those events for people in this tribe and in our family. So we sent a lot of text messages today because they understand that.”

Al Roker shared his prostate cancer diagnosis

In November 2020, Al Roker revealed during an episode of his show that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and said he would undergo surgery to remove his prostate next week.

“It’s like good news and bad news,” Roker said. “The good news is we caught it early. The not-so-good news is it’s a bit aggressive, so I’m going to take some time off to deal with this.”

In the years since, Roker has regularly reflected on that journey on air, commemorating milestones like the five-year anniversary of his surgery, talking about how his experience changed his life, and encouraging viewers to tune in for regular screenings.

Katie Couric returns to ‘Today’ after husband’s death

The spate of misfortunes for “Today” anchors is not limited to the current lineup of hosts. Katie Couric, who hosted the show from 1991 to 2006, suffered the death of her husband Jay Monaghan during her long tenure. Monaghan died of colorectal cancer at just 42 years old. When Couric returned as co-host of “Today” on February 24, 1998, after a bereavement, his moment on television was one of the most powerful in the show’s history.

Couric said at the beginning of the broadcast, “Many of you know that last month I lost my beloved husband, Joy Monaghan.” “Words alone cannot describe how devastating this loss is to me, my daughters, and Jay’s entire family.”

After thanking viewers for their cards and letters, Couric paid tribute to “all of you who may be battling a life-threatening illness right now.”

“Just know that my heart is with you,” she said.

Meredith Vieira leaves ‘Today’ to spend time with husband Richard Cohen

Meredith Vieira, who took over as host from Couric in 2006, announced her departure from Today on May 9, 2011, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family, including her husband Richard Cohen, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“It’s a difficult day for me. I’m going to pull myself together here,” Vieira said as he sat on a couch with colleagues. “Time is one of those strange things you never get tired of; it keeps ticking by.

“And I want to spend more time with my husband Richard,” she added, her voice shaking.

Over the years, the couple often appeared on Today and spoke candidly about living with the disease, caregiving, and resilience. When Cohen passed away on December 24, 2025, the accomplished journalist and father of three was memorialized on the “Today” show.

Carson Daly reveals his anxiety on ‘Today’

In 2018, Today’s Carson Daly, best known for hosting MTV’s Total Request Live in the 1990s and 2000s, came under threat from his co-hosts and viewers. Daly revealed on air her own mental struggle with anxiety, saying it was something she was born with.

“That’s something I can’t change about myself,” Daly said. “Actually, it’s okay. I’ve learned to accept it. There are downsides to the way God created me. And there are tremendous upsides as well.”

Ms Daly insisted on seeking the help of a professional psychotherapist.

“We are so proud of you,” Kotb told the Daily after his article aired.

Contributors: Erin Jensen, Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

Most layoffs since 2009 may be a sign of economic downturn

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Most layoffs since 2009 may be a sign of economic downturn

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Employers announced 108,435 layoffs in January, the highest number for the first month of the year since 2009, according to a report published on February 5, indicating that employers may be taking defensive measures against economic uncertainty.

The report, released by global outplacement and executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, echoes other data released on February 5 that suggests the labor market is cooling. The number of applications for unemployment benefits rose in the past week, and the number of job openings fell in December.

“Typically, the number of layoffs in the first quarter is high, but this is a high total for January,” Andy Challenger said in a release accompanying the company’s report.

Employers’ hiring plans are also at their lowest since 2009, at the end of the Great Recession, when unemployment was near double digits, Challenger said. The plan to hire 5,306 people announced in January was half of the 10,496 people announced in December, more than doubling the number of job cuts.

Job market data suggests a slowdown…but how fast?

Due to the brief government shutdown in early January, the Department of Labor’s payroll report will not be released this Friday as scheduled. As a result, analysts and investors have begun to closely monitor other indicators of economic and employment conditions.

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits has also spiked in recent weeks, the Labor Department announced on February 5. Many economists and other analysts believe that “initial claims” are the best real-time information on the job market because they are published frequently, but they can also cause results to vary widely.

Meanwhile, the number of job openings continues to decline, reaching 6.5 million in December, according to the Ministry of Labor’s Job Openings and Turnover Report. Although so-called JOLTS reports are considered comprehensive, they are not timely as they take time to produce.

more: Many workers will see their minimum wage increase in 2026. Its location is:

Taken together, the morning’s numbers highlighted a clear lack of consensus among economic watchers.

“After several weeks of unusually low levels due to low seasonal hiring in the fourth quarter and therefore an unusually low number of layoffs in January, initial claims numbers have returned to trend,” economists at Pantheon Macro said in a note shortly after the report was released.

However, he added, “We continue to believe that the unemployment rate will continue to rise gradually through the first half of this year.”

Christopher Rapkey, chief economist at market research firm FWDBONDS LLC, takes a more pessimistic view. “In October, there were 7.4 million job openings, but in December that number has fallen to just 6.5 million,” he wrote. “This is exactly what happens in a recession, where demand for labor evaporates overnight, and it would be a miracle if the economy wasn’t so close to the brink of recession.”

Community rebels against ICE warehouse conversion project

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Community rebels against ICE warehouse conversion project

ICE’s efforts to turn commercial warehouses into detention centers have faced opposition from local residents and elected officials of both parties.

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The Trump administration’s plan to rapidly expand immigration detention centers has stalled, with many residents not liking the idea of ​​converting local warehouses into deportation camps.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased, inspected or attempted to purchase at least a dozen commercial buildings since December in states including Texas, Mississippi, New York and Oregon, USA TODAY has learned. Court records and other disclosures show sales for each warehouse range from tens of millions of dollars to more than $100 million.

However, in some cases, local politicians from both parties have sided with concerned residents, causing public anger to break up the agreement.

In Oklahoma City, after several protests and a packed City Council meeting, a company that had planned to sell a warehouse to ICE withdrew from the deal, a move supported by Republican Mayor David Holt. In Democratic-led Salt Lake City, a company vowed not to sell a warehouse that ICE was scouting for a 7,500-bed detention center.

ICE did not respond to specific questions about the building but defended the administration’s efforts to increase detention capacity.

“These will not be warehouses, but very well-structured detention facilities that meet standard detention standards,” an ICE spokesperson said in an email to USA TODAY, adding, “It should not be news that ICE is making arrests and actively working to expand detention space in states across the country.”

Critics of the plan include politicians who support immigration enforcement efforts. On February 4, Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker asked ICE not to move forward with a plan to convert a warehouse in the town of Byhalia into a detention facility for more than 8,500 detainees.

“While I support enforcement of our immigration laws, I am writing to express my opposition to this takeover and detention center project,” Wicker said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, adding that such facilities would place a “significant strain” on local resources.

Meanwhile, residents have staged large-scale protests as some local and state officials draft ordinances and bills to close the detention centers. Advocates and elected officials have raised concerns that the building was intended to house commercial cargo rather than people, citing reports of poor conditions at other ICE facilities built last year.

“It’s similar to Prime, but just like humans.”

President Donald Trump’s second term saw an explosion in the number of ICE detention facilities and the number of people held there.

According to ICE data, there were 107 detention centers holding immigrants in January 2025, but by the end of the year, that number had nearly doubled to 212. These facilities include privately operated, purpose-built immigration detention centers. Temporary tent facility on a military base. county jail. and state prison.

Naina Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council, said the move to repurpose large commercial spaces to house detainees underscores the Trump administration’s aggressive push to maximize deportations.

“Building a new facility with solid walls takes time and it doesn’t go very quickly,” she told USA TODAY. “Purchasing an existing facility that is easy to stand up is a way to overcome delays and barriers.”

Mr. Gupta noted that this effort appears to be consistent with comments made by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons at the Border Security Expo in Arizona last year.

“We need to do a better job of treating this as a business,” Lyons said at the event, adding that he would like to see a deportation process “like[Amazon]Prime, but with humans.”

Some of the proposed warehouses are planned to hold more than 8,000 illegal immigrants at a time. Camp East Montana, the largest ICE detention center currently in operation, has a capacity of 5,000 beds but has been plagued by reports of poor conditions.

The tent camp at Fort Bliss Army Base in Texas was charged with 60 violations by ICE inspectors in September, and an American Civil Liberties Union report based on dozens of interviews found a pattern of physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect and food shortages.

The Department of Homeland Security denied the report’s allegations of abuse and maintained that all detainees were given proper due process.

The Texas facility has recently come under intense scrutiny after the death of a Cuban immigrant was officially ruled a homicide in January. ICE officials previously said the man, Gerardo Lunas Campos, died after “experiencing medical distress.”

Proposed ICE facility would revitalize community

As word of these proposed facilities spread, anger spread among local residents.

In the Hudson Valley town of Chester, New York, where Trump won a majority of votes in 2024, hundreds of people braved subzero temperatures to protest a proposed Department of Homeland Security plan to buy warehouses and turn them into ICE detention centers.

Residents held placards reading “ICE=TERROR” and “I’m not mad at you.” It’s a nod to Renee Nicole Good’s last words before she was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January. At a recent Chester Village board meeting, 600 people showed up to condemn the proposed facility, necessitating a change of location from its regular location to a senior center.

In Washington County, Maryland, where Trump won 60% of the vote in 2024, residents protested on January 20 after DHS purchased a warehouse for more than $102 million.

Nancy Evans, 80, who lives in the Williamsport area, said she opposes ICE facilities because they are “arresting people they shouldn’t be arresting” and using “excessive force,” citing a recent operation in Minneapolis.

“We don’t want that,” Evans told the Herald-Mail, part of the USA TODAY Network.

More than 1,000 people attended a Jan. 31 rally in Surprise, Arizona, outside Phoenix, after DHS purchased a 418,000-square-foot warehouse.

“An ICE facility in Surprise would be a stain on our city,” local resident Carol Parnell told USA TODAY Network’s Arizona Republic.

Similar protests are taking place in Orlando, Florida. Salt Lake City; Social Circle, Georgia; and Salem, Oregon.

Can local and state authorities stop ICE detention centers?

Local officials say they face opposition to building camps and have limited power to block the federal government from acquiring land and buildings, especially from private owners.

Officials in Surprise, Arizona, where ICE bought the warehouse from a private company for $70 million in cash, said there wasn’t much they could do because the federal project is not subject to local regulations such as zoning.

This “completely leaves us powerless,” Surprise City Councilman Chris Judd told The Arizona Republic. “It looks like it’s out of our control.”

In Orlando, where ICE agents have repeatedly visited the 440,000-square-foot warehouse, Democratic Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a statement that the city has tried to find a way to prevent the opening of an ICE detention facility, but has not found one.

“The city cannot take any action to restrict or regulate any activity of the federal government,” Dyer said.

Meanwhile, other communities are attempting to implement ordinances and other regulations that would prevent the opening of ICE detention centers in their communities, but the success of such efforts remains uncertain.

In El Paso, Texas, a bipartisan City Council unanimously approved an action plan in February aimed at finding ways to prevent future detention center construction, including creating a moratorium on ICE facilities.

Countries are also taking measures. A bill to ban ICE detention centers in New Mexico was passed by the Democratic-led state Legislature on February 3 and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Similar bills have been introduced in Delaware, New York, and Massachusetts.

Some private sellers withdraw from transactions due to public pressure

Local governments may have limited authority to block the opening of ICE detention facilities, but protesters and authorities have found a winning formula: putting pressure on private property owners.

In Salt Lake City, rumors about a possible ICE detention facility sparked a protest outside a warehouse that Homeland Security officials were said to be inspecting.

On January 24, the family-owned Ritchie Group released a statement that said the company and its law enforcement agency “have no plans to sell or lease the property in question to the federal government,” an announcement welcomed by residents and local leaders alike.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a statement that she was “very relieved to hear that Ritchie Group will not sell or lease the Salt Lake City warehouse that was designated as an ICE detention facility.”

On January 30, Canadian company Jim Pattinson Developments made a similar announcement, assuring residents of Ashland, Virginia, that it would not move forward with a deal to sell a 550,000-square-foot warehouse to DHS.

The company said it accepted the bid before knowing the facility would be used “in support of ICE operations,” as stated in a letter from DHS to Hanover County officials.

Similarly, in Oklahoma City, the private owner of a warehouse that ICE had planned to purchase withdrew from the deal following an outcry at the City Council and protests downtown.

“I applaud the owners’ decision and on behalf of the people of Oklahoma City, I thank them,” Republican Mayor David Holt said in a statement after the deal failed.

State Sen. Michael Brooks, an immigration attorney who represents south Oklahoma City, celebrated the collapse of the agreement and said he expected other property owners who had contracts with ICE to face similar backlash.

“What was clear at City Council was that the public was not going to support this,” Brooks said. “People are full of energy.”

Villaran and Jennifer Boresen, ONE TOD. Svemer, Okistofer, Okrihoman. Vandana Saras, Middletown Times-Herald Record, Julie E. Green, Herald Mill. Elena Santa Cruz, Archive Republic. Other than that.; Pam Dunkins, Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Christopher Cann is a national breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Email us at ccann@usatoday.com.

Super Bowl 60 game goes head-to-head against the spread: Who will win?

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Super Bowl 60 game goes head-to-head against the spread: Who will win?

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Super Bowl 60, the 285th and final game of the 2025 NFL season, has arrived after five months of preparation.

In a league that is always unpredictable, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will face off for the first time in 11 years. This matchup was a much bigger surprise than the first one, as neither team had made the playoffs a year ago. The next question will be whether their second Super Sunday showdown, if not a rematch with Tom Brady and the Legion of Boom who left the stage years ago, can somehow approach the unforgettable Super Bowl 49 classic.

For the final time this season, USA TODAY Sports’ NFL experts offer their predictions, including the MVP of Super Bowl 60.

(Odds provided by BetMGM)

Super Bowl 60 selection, predictions, odds

All your NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th Monday Newsletter.

Newly minted millionaires make money mistakes. Here are six things to avoid.

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Newly minted millionaires make money mistakes. Here are six things to avoid.

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If you have a seven-figure net worth but don’t really consider yourself wealthy, you may be part of a growing number of “hidden billionaires.”

Vanguard applies the term to Americans who have quietly surpassed the $1 million mark in recent years, primarily by saving for retirement and building home equity.

“More than 127,000 individual investors became millionaires last year,” said Andy Reid, director of investment behavior research at Vanguard. “Hundreds of users cross the millionaire threshold every day on our platform.”

The burgeoning population of hidden billionaires is cause for celebration. Thanks to a soaring stock market and rising retirement savings rates, more Americans have seven-figure balances in their 401(k) accounts. Housing wealth is also near record highs.

But Vanguard researchers have found worrying signs in the way hidden billionaires manage their money. Vanguard reports that new millionaires are making costly mistakes when handling investments, debt, and financial planning.

reason? Many of the hidden millionaires seem to live in denial of their wealth. They don’t consider themselves wealthy. They didn’t care about financial advisors. They have no estate plan.

“Roughly one in five millionaire investors don’t even think of themselves as investors,” Reid said, “let alone being wealthy.”

Here are six common financial mistakes hidden millionaires make.

cash drag

Vanguard reports that one of the most costly mistakes secret millionaires make is storing their retirement savings in cash.

Reed said “cash drag” often occurs when retirement savers roll over their workplace 401(k) accounts to IRAs. After a rollover, funds often remain in a cash or cash equivalent account until the saver reinvests them.

If you keep your retirement funds in cash, you typically miss out on stock investment returns that average about 10% a year.

Why do investors hold their savings in cash?Many say they either didn’t realize their savings weren’t invested yet, or thought the funds would be invested automatically.

“For many investors, it will remain in cash for months, maybe years,” Mr. Reed said.

Inventory concentration

Another costly mistake made by hidden millionaires is stock concentration. Putting too much of your investment money into individual stocks.

A typical example is employer stock. Your company will offer you its stock as a 401(k) match. After 20 years, a huge percentage of your retirement savings is in one stock.

“There’s a sense of security because they’re familiar with the company and they trust the company,” Reed said. “But in reality, it’s very dangerous.”

Retirement savers sometimes overinvest in their favorite stocks that have made big profits over the years.

Michelle Crum, a certified financial planner in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recalls a client who inherited $4 million in Microsoft stock from her parents.

“I’m saying, ‘We need to sell all of this stock,'” Crum said. However, the customer refused, saying, “My father bought it in the 1970s.”

“I have a very emotional attachment to this stock,” Crum said. She eventually persuaded her client to sell her half.

With stock concentration, there is a risk of betting too much on a single company’s performance. Experts usually recommend not putting more than 10% of your investment in any one stock.

Bad debt management

In theory, if you have a seven-figure net worth, there’s no need to take on high-interest credit card debt.

However, a Vanguard study found that many high-net-worth investors have credit card loans that they can easily repay.

Let’s say you have $20,000 in cash in a brokerage account earning 3% interest. You also have $20,000 in credit card debt with an interest rate of 20%.

Debt costs you far more than the income your brokerage account generates. Therefore, it makes sense to use some or all of the cash to pay down debt.

Other wealthy people have other problems. They are paying too aggressively on low-interest mortgages, wasting money that could have been invested in stocks.

The same principles apply. The cost of borrowing a 4% mortgage is lower than the potential interest you could earn by investing that money.

poor estate planning

Many hidden millionaires don’t consider themselves wealthy, so they don’t bother writing an inheritance plan.

“A lot of people say, ‘Estate planning is for rich people. I’m not that rich,'” Reed says.

Estate planning includes medical and financial instructions during your lifetime, as well as what happens to your assets after your death. According to research from Trust & Will, less than half of Americans have any sort of estate plan in place.

“Everyone needs an estate plan, even if it’s just a basic will,” says Spencer List, a certified financial planner in Dallas.

poor financial planning

Similarly, a hidden millionaire may not see the point in consulting a financial advisor.

However, there is a reason why wealthy people hire financial planners. A professional can help you solve all the above problems. This will help you invest your assets and prepare for retirement.

Don’t want to spend money on an advisor?

“Try to find someone who will do a one-time look at your finances and do it for a fixed fee,” says Dan Caplinger, contributing analyst and financial planning expert at The Motelly Fool.

This encounter may lead to a long-term relationship.

unnecessary frugality

And then there’s the economic blunder that Michigan CFP’s Crum calls “bag lady syndrome.”

Some of our clients have saved millions of dollars, enough to retire. But they continue to work and are reluctant to spend.

“They’re spending $50,000 a year,” she says. They can easily spend $100,000 a year. ”

Liz Windisch, a certified financial planner in Denver, says of related concerns:

When a household has hundreds of thousands of dollars in home equity, the family must decide whether to use that equity for retirement. This decision could reduce reliance on retirement savings.

“If you’re looking to sell, you may not need to put that much money into your retirement account,” she says.

Simone Sanders and Eugene Daniels mix politics and pop culture in new podcast

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Simone Sanders and Eugene Daniels mix politics and pop culture in new podcast

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Simone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels are close friends, MS NOW anchors, and current co-hosts of a new podcast called Clock It, which aims to blend politics and pop culture.

The audio series, which debuts on February 12, is a perfect fit for the Washington, D.C. stars, both 36 years old.

Daniels was one of the first openly gay hosts to host a cable news show and rose to fame in a capital known for his drab clothing, becoming a D.C. fashion icon.

Sanders Townsend, a self-described “bald man” and “eyelash and nail enthusiast,” is instantly recognizable to some Americans for his style, social media presence, and past surrogacy for Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris.

MSNBC is becoming MS NOW. What you need to know About the changes and how to watch.

The Beyoncé superfan’s much-talked-about venture comes as MS NOW’s parent company, Versant, and other cable companies seek to reach new audiences in a rapidly changing TV news landscape, three months after its split from NBCUniversal.

A day after rap superstar Nicki Minaj appeared on stage with President Donald Trump, Sanders Townsend said on January 29 that pop culture and politics “have always been closely intertwined, and I feel like with this president and this particular environment that we’re in, it’s become even more so.”

“He never backed down.”

Now, Daniels’ relationship with best friends Sanders Townsend faced a rocky start. The two, both young in terms of their career trajectories, first met at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Sanders Townsend worked as the state press secretary for the progressive U.S. senator from Vermont who shares his last name, and Daniels was a political reporter for Newsy.

Spokespeople like Sanders Townsend are often confrontational and focused on changing the candidate’s perspective to reporters like Daniels, but a healthy working relationship can make things go more smoothly for both parties. “The reporters had a job to do, and I had a job to do, and Eugene, you know, was one of those guys who never backed down. And I always thought highly of him,” Sanders-Townsend recalled.

Vice President Simone Sanders, Head of Kamala Harris Press secretary leaves White House amid personnel overhaul

Sanders Townsend later joined Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. By then, Daniels had become a reporter for Politico. After Biden was elected president, Sanders Townsend was hired as chief press secretary and senior adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris. Mr. Daniels covered Ms. Harris when she was vice president and was named author of “The Playbook,” a must-read for Washington insiders, chronicling the news inside the Beltway at the time.

A year after serving as Harris’ senior staffer, Sanders-Townsend left government to join MSNBC, now known as MS NOW, where she hosted “Simone.” She then co-anchored The Weeknd with longtime anchor Alicia Menendez and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

Last year, when the trio took weekends off for “The Weeknight,” which airs daily Monday through Friday, Daniels left Politico to replace Sanders Townsend in charge of “The Weekend.” He co-hosts the Saturday/Sunday show with Washington Post alums Jonathan Capehart and Jackie Alemany.

Daniels called the ability to “be yourself” during mutual upward mobility in the network “amazing.”

“We never expected to see two people who look, sound and act like us doing what we do on MS NOW,” Daniels told USA TODAY.

President Trump has ‘followed culture all his life’

“Real Housewives” aficionado Saunders Townsend and Oprah fan Daniels combine the topics of the day, including what’s happening on Capitol Hill, with the latest in Hollywood and beyond.

“People often forget that there was a time when Donald Trump was the most mentioned name in rap music,” Sanders-Townsend said, adding, “The fact that they were mentioned in rap music was a positive thing, and he followed that culture his whole life.”

How is Rachel Maddow going to cover President Trump’s second term, 5 nights a week

At “Clock It”, tea is served first (with a side of shade). While filming the pilot episode with Daniels last month, Sanders-Townsend explained that they started with the recent Golden Globe Awards rather than difficult news. “I was waiting for Michael B. Jordan to win because he played two twins and three vampires,” Sanders Townsend said of Michael B. Jordan’s Oscar-winning performance in Ryan Coogler’s film “Sinners.”

The two will also discuss the highly anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny, who recently won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Daniels, a former D1 college football player at Colorado State University, praised MS NOW executives Rebecca Cutler and Madeline Hellinger for letting them be authentic on the air and in their new podcast project.

“They understand that on the one hand they have a certain obsession with culture and hair or no hair, but on the other hand they’re great people and they care about their skin care, but on the other hand they’re also very serious people who care deeply about the fate of this country,” Daniels said.

“I think you can be all of those things,” Daniels said.

clock that.

How a Long Island iced tea kicked my autistic son off a cruise

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How a Long Island iced tea kicked my autistic son off a cruise

A New Jersey family says Celebrity Cruises dropped off their autistic son on Christmas Eve over an alleged misunderstanding and forced him off the ship in Mexico.

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  • An autistic man was removed from a Celebrity Cruises ship on Christmas Eve after buying a teenager a drink.
  • The man’s mother said she did not know the Long Island Iced Tea he purchased contained alcohol.
  • The family was given 90 minutes to pack up and disembark in Cozumel, Mexico, late at night.

Carolyn Pirro and her four sons were planning to celebrate Christmas together on a cruise.

The New Jersey-based family spent Christmas Eve in Mexico, where their Celebrity Cruises ship was docked. “We went to Cozumel and swam with dolphins,” Pirro, 61, told USA TODAY. “It was really fun.”

However, when they returned to the ship, Pirro’s son Sean Curran, 31, who has autism, went to the pool on his own. Shortly afterward, she was called to the ship’s security room, where Curran was told she had 90 minutes to pack up her belongings and disembark after buying cocktails for her teenage guests.

The girl asked Curran to buy her a Long Island Iced Tea, but said she didn’t know it contained alcohol. “Sean thinks Long Island iced tea is Long Island iced tea,” Pirro said.

more: Here are the friendliest cities in America, based on traveler reviews

Curran said he bought the Sprite himself, and the girl followed him to the hot tub. “We got in the hot tub,” he recalled. “I picked her up like Shrek did with Fiona, like a groom picks up his bride.”

Pirro said his parents arrived and “started screaming at him.”

“She got out of the bathtub and then I got out of the bathtub,” Curran said. “Then I went to my parents and apologized.” They called security, the family said (Pirro said he only knew the girl’s first name).

In the security room, Pirro said a flight attendant asked her to confirm that Curran was autistic. “And I said, yes, he is,” she recalled. “And they said, ‘But this is high-performance, right?’ And I said, ‘That’s a relative term.’ You see, he can’t make pennies, but he can make frozen pizza. ”

The staff had Curran write a statement and then asked for Pirro’s credit card to book a flight out of Cozumel. “They said, ‘Who’s going to go with Sean?’ So they knew he couldn’t go by himself,” she said.

The earliest flight was the next day, so Pirro had to book a hotel in Cozumel that night. A security guard escorted them to their cabin and waited while they packed their bags. One of Pirro’s other sons joined her and Curran, but her other two children, both in their 20s, one of whom has Mosaic Down Syndrome, remained behind.

“So Sean, his other brother, and I were seen off the ship,” she recalled. “It was pitch black and everything was closed.”

She had no cell phone service, but she happened upon an emergency worker who spoke some English and stopped a taxi. The driver turned on the hotspot on his cell phone so Pirro could look up the address of the hotel. “And that was our Christmas Eve.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported the news. Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity’s parent company, told USA TODAY that after reviewing the incident, it “concluded that the ship could have been more sensitive” to the needs of guests during disembarkation and will provide additional training to its staff.

In a separate statement, the company added: “Given this serious violation of our Guest Conduct Policy, we support the action of disembarking the guest.”

Celebrity’s website says it offers a number of activities and accommodations for children and adults with autism, from quick check-in, boarding and disembarkation to sensory-friendly movies and more. Passengers can notify the cruise line of any special needs or dietary restrictions using a form available online.

Planning begins months in advance. What is traveling with children with autism like?

“This is something we can learn.”

Pirro said she flew back to Florida with her two sons for Christmas, secured a hotel and waited for the ship to return to Fort Lauderdale three days later.

Pirro said Curran had been on multiple cruises with celebrities and had “no problems” for four days on the December voyage. “I’m not making excuses,” she said. “Sean shouldn’t have bought a stranger a drink, he shouldn’t have picked up people in the pool. Was he aggressive? Was he malicious? Was he, you know, a predator? No, he’s neither of those things.”

Pirro contacted the celebrity about a week after returning home. She said the company initially apologized and offered to cover the costs and expenses of the cruise. However, the offer she received was lower than the amount she paid. Ms Pirro, who works as a therapist, also demanded that the security team apologize directly to Ms Curran and offered to take part in training for staff.

“I said, ‘I’m happy to come. I’ve done corporate training. I’m happy to come and participate in security training. Please don’t let my story fade,'” she said. “‘Don’t erase it. This is something we can learn from.'”

Pirro said she received an email from the company asking her to sign a non-disclosure agreement, but she refused. I have not heard from the cruise line since then.

The news comes after a Florida mother said her family was kicked out of Universal’s Epic Universe theme park in late December due to misconceptions about her autistic daughter.

Pirro said she decided to speak out to prevent similar incidents from happening to other families. “I’m not saying Sean is innocent, and I’m not saying he’s given a free pass because of his autism,” Pirro said. “He won’t, but he had other options than kicking us off the ship on Christmas Eve.”

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.

High cost of living is forcing older Americans into retirement

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High cost of living is forcing older Americans into retirement

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When Diane Weatherington retired from a long career as a purchasing and contracting agent in 2020, she thought she had enough money to live comfortably, travel the world and babysit her six grandchildren.

But stuck at home in Altamonte Springs, Florida, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she had to do something to keep herself busy. So she started consulting for local government agencies and found part-time remote work.

As the cost of living gradually rose, Wetherington realized that while he could not quit his job, he could still afford the necessities of life and his twice-yearly trips abroad. Now, even those ventures are on hold until we can figure out “where the economy is going,” she said.

“I was doing well financially in retirement until everything started going up, like home insurance and car insurance, but now food and everything else has gone up,” said Wetherington, 73. “Fortunately, it’s also something I enjoy doing. But I’ll probably have to work as long as possible to be able to afford to live.”

Wetherington is part of a growing wave of “non-retirees” who are returning to work and working well beyond the traditional retirement age of 65.

A new AARP survey of adults 50 and older shared exclusively with USA TODAY found that 1 in 10 retirees have replaced their bucket list with a 9-to-5 job, many out of financial necessity.

What’s crushing your retirement dreams right now? Four in 10 older Americans say they are looking for work or are returning to work just to make ends meet.

“For me, this is an eye-opener,” AARP’s vice president of financial resiliency programs, Carly Roszkowski, told USA TODAY. “It’s not just, ‘I’m afraid I’ll outlive my retirement savings,’ but more specifically, ‘I’m having a hard time paying my daily living expenses today.'”

Why Older Americans Can’t Afford to Retire

With longer lifespans and a desire to stay connected and have a sense of purpose, more Americans are working into their 60s and 70s.

About 38 million Americans over age 55 are working or looking for work, more than 2.5 times the number of seniors 40 years ago, according to AARP.

This dramatic demographic shift has reshaped the workforce, with older Americans now making up nearly a quarter of the workforce.

What’s different now: Economic pressures are increasing the proportion of “non-retirees,” Roszkowski said.

Kiss job-hopping goodbye. The reason why more people are giving job hugs.

For decades, the combination of pensions and Social Security has made it possible for many people to enjoy a worry-free retirement.

Today, Social Security payments are less than half the average wage, and many older Americans don’t have enough savings or 401(k) accounts to weather economic shocks, much less afford to cover the rising cost of living.

According to the AARP survey, 7% of retirees said they either stayed or returned to work in the past six months, more than twice the average rate. Nearly half said their main motivation was to make money, with the desire to stay active a close second at 14%.

Post-retirement research consistently finds that income is the number one reason retirees return to work, but the differences aren’t all that great, Roszkowski said.

High cost of living shatters safety net

T. Rowe Price estimates that 20% of retirees continue to work part-time or full-time, and an additional 7% are looking for work. Single retirees and women are much more likely to cite income as a reason for not retiring in their golden years.

Many of these older Americans are living on the edge, said Angela Antonelli, executive director of the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.

More than one in five households aged 65 and older rely on Social Security for more than 90% of their income, and more than half of households aged 55 and older have nothing saved for retirement, he said.

“Older workers are the fastest growing segment of the workforce, but too many are not working by choice,” Antonelli says.

Do you think you can work even after age 70? Good luck. Why most of us retire early.

Now, the safety net they had is being shredded by the rising cost of living, said Jeffrey Sanzenbacher, a researcher at Boston University’s Retirement Research Center.

If retirees who are worried about paying for groceries, housing, health care and utilities don’t receive some relief, “more people will want to take a side hustle and cancel their retirement,” Sanzenbacher said. “So the question is, can they do it?”

He said that while jobs are disappearing, unemployment is rising and many retirees who are forced to look for work will find it difficult to find work.

“And those are exactly the people who are most likely to have problems. The people who need to come out of retirement are the ones who don’t have much savings and don’t have much to fall back on,” Sanzenbacher said.

2026 Super Bowl commercial sets new tone 5 years after coronavirus

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2026 Super Bowl commercial sets new tone 5 years after coronavirus

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“We welcome you all to gather here in The Middle. The Middle has been a difficult place to get to lately… between the red and the blue. Between the servants and the citizens. We need The Middle. We just have to remember that the very soil we stand on is common ground. And we will get there. We will cross this divide. Our light has always found its way through the darkness.”

– Bruce Springsteen, “The Middle,” Jeep Super Bowl Commercial, February 7, 2021.

“Nuance is great, but sometimes you have to be harsh.” – Springsteen took the stage on January 30th at the “Concert of Solidarity and Resistance to Defend Minnesota!” benefiting Minnesotans killed by federal agents.

As Super Bowl 60 approaches Feb. 8, the gap between this year’s national secular holiday and Super Bowl 55 in 2021 seems to widen with each passing week.

You probably remember: Eleven months into a global pandemic that killed 500,000 Americans in its first year, unprecedented times still struggle to find a precedent. Eight months have passed since the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, which sparked global protests.

And he was given a month’s reprieve from a group of unjust rioters who stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the election results.

Five years later, a lot has changed, but the similarities still remain.

President Donald Trump is back in the White House. The country is largely “divided” even though typical fault lines have become distorted under extreme conditions. Sharing the truth remains elusive as the news ecosystem takes new hits from industry conditions and aggressive misinformation.

But the Super Bowl remains one of America’s cultural markers. And if the game’s great asides, the 30- to 60-second commercials that entertain fans during breaks, are any indication, looking back at the lineup from five years ago and the ads airing on widescreen and mobile this year reflects a culture unwilling to accept many difficult realities at the expense of checking out mentally.

“We’re very divided in this country right now,” Charles R. Taylor, a marketing professor at Villanova School of Business and author of “Win the Advertising Game: Lessons from Super Bowl Advertising Champions,” told USA TODAY Sports. “This isn’t really new. But there seemed to be a period of calm. But what’s going on now is really dividing people.

“Advertisers that mention that sector are really running the risk of alienating a lot of consumers. That’s why I think we’re seeing one of two paths: a message of humanity and trying to help people, or an over-the-top escapist humor.”

Indeed, we’ll likely see the usual mix of celebrity mash-ups and cross-generational stars trying to influence brands. Sabrina Carpenter piles on Pringles, Jon Hamm, Scarlett Johansson and Bowen Yang hit back at the Ritz, and Matthew McConaughey, Bradley Cooper, Parker Posey and George Clooney take on a food delivery app that delivers lattes to your door if you’re so inclined.

“To some extent, I think advertising reflects the sentiment and mood of a country,” said Kim Whitler, a business professor at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. “They’re a lens through which I understand the pop culture of the moment. Going back and seeing what’s going on is how I understand society.

“Is it perfect? ​​No. But it reflects pop culture, media narratives and management coverage.”

Whitler analyzed 11 years of data from USA TODAY’s Ad Meter, tracking dozens of metrics related to content, tone, use of celebrities and emotional themes, among other things. Ads that lean heavily toward humor have steadily increased since the late 2010s, rising to 76% in 2020, during the Super Bowl, which aired just weeks before the pandemic began.

It is probably no coincidence that in 2022, a year after “Uncertain Times” was strongly reflected in both advertising and broadcasting, the humor spot reached a 91% audience rating.

And perhaps in the most lethargic way possible, it will lead us into a time when we have little choice but to play it safe.

United again? not that many

Springsteen’s message in 2021 wasn’t necessarily radical. Jeep’s ad centers around a chapel in Kansas, which is located right in the middle of the Lower 48 states.

“Everybody, come here and meet me in the middle,” he called out, a wailing guitar riff accompanying his tired, flat delivery.

The book ends with a little wish that certainly didn’t hold up in the years that followed.

“America Re-United States.”

This hopeful tone foresaw that when a vaccine becomes widely available in the coming months, a society that will be hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic will be ready to welcome it, if not end it. Rather, the coming months and years will likely see widespread skepticism, a prolonged endemic presence of the coronavirus, and a general rise in grievance culture.

Four years later, with President Trump back in office, the rioters jailed for their crimes on January 6th were pardoned, and Springsteen traveled to Minnesota last week to appear with former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello at a benefit show following the murders of Renee Goode and Alex Preti by federal agents.

You could say that the middle one didn’t work out.

In times of trial, flying lemons

If that Super Bowl time capsule reflected the mood of society, as Whitler said, the 2021 commercial certainly captures the uncertainty that individuals, and by extension, brands, were feeling at the time.

Nine of the 57 ads in the 2021 lineup reflect a sense of civic responsibility and awareness, and five of them are at least loosely tied to the ongoing pandemic. Perhaps some people felt it was vaguely anachronistic at the time of the broadcast, and felt that April 2020, for example, was more appropriate than spring, when a society with widespread vaccinations was once again on the rise.

The NFL’s “As One” spot features a hologram of Vince Lombardi and an emotional speech dubbed over images of the pandemic, including tearful health care workers and lost food on porches, before cutting to a live shot of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. There, Kansas City Chiefs players will be masked on the sideline, as will fans in socially distanced pods.

Anheuser-Busch takes a lighter route with two spots, indirectly acknowledging The Thing We’re Going Through with Budweiser’s “Let’s Have A Beer.” Bud Light takes a more cynical and badass approach with “Last Year’s Lemons.”

But Bass Pro Shops urges you to get outside, doubling down on haunting piano and strings, evoking the phrase people were burnt out by April 2020: “In these difficult times, we need nature more than ever.”

It’s no wonder that the following year, nearly 9 out of 10 took a big turn toward comedy.

“In hindsight, it’s easy to minimize that,” Whitler says. “The summer of protests, the murder of George Floyd, people were stuck in their homes. How important is watching sports to the American spirit? All of that was shut down. There was no release of the pressure valve.

“If you ignore all that and create something that’s light and fluffy and ridiculous, I don’t think that’s reflective of this country at the time.”

The ad also appears to feature a greater commitment to multiculturalism and representation, key themes that emerged after the summer protests of 2020.

The 2021 Ad Meter winner is Rocket Mortgage’s “Certain Is Better” ad featuring a Black family buying a home and Tracy Morgan highlighting the importance of certainty.

Squarespace (website development), Logitech (creators led by Lil Nas

The nominal increase in representation may have planted the seeds for a major DEI backlash that would culminate in Trump’s reelection and subsequent executive orders. Suddenly, the concept of the “annihilation” of white people in advertising brought oxygen to the online space.

And in less than a year, the composition of white actors in commercials has “revised,” rising from 65% to 72%, according to Forbes.

apolitical impossibility

So what does the gaming landscape look like in 2026?

It’s a world where satire is increasingly difficult to achieve.

Five years ago, Will Ferrell, Kenan Thompson, and Awkwafina launched an invasion of Norway on GM’s behalf against Norway’s dominance in electric vehicles.

Innocent little Norway? Cheerful!

Yes, about that.

In the days and weeks after President Trump expressed disappointment at not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, imposed 10% tariffs on allies such as Norway, and called for control of Greenland, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Stoer said this week at the Oslo Security Conference that “the U.S. “What we experienced two weeks ago, where the United States used tariffs against an ally as a political tool to force a view to pass, and the United States used tariffs against an ally as a political tool to take land from another part of the alliance, shows how things are changing.”

“The world order has not collapsed. Completely.”

All of this comes at a time when brands are apolitical and aiming for increasingly difficult challenges.

“Brands are in a no-win situation because taking a political position one way or another only puts them in a bind,” Villanova’s Davis said, noting that Bud Light, Cracker Barrel and Nike have all faced sales declines due to potentially controversial campaigns and rebrands.

“The opposite is true. What would Tesla’s stock price have been like if[Elon]Musk had stayed away from politics? They’ve reduced the size of the universe that buys the brand. And that’s never a good idea.”

Still, it’s nearly impossible to avoid politics, even if the message is in the flag. Anheuser-Busch’s Super Bowl menu leans heavily into both patriotisms (Happy 250)th,America! ) and your own 150th Anniversary. This spot leans heavily on Clydesdales and bald eagles (the Colbert Show 2000s intro would be proud), with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird providing the soundtrack.

Pretty apolitical – as long as you can separate modern Skynyrd’s political leanings from the scene.

Even dogs aren’t safe. Ring touts its cameras’ ability to track lost pets and donates the monitoring equipment to animal shelters across the country. But that warm-and-fuzzy demeanor comes at the same time that a partnership with security technology company Flock could significantly enhance law enforcement’s use of its customers’ images.

So far, there is no evidence that Ring data is being used in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids or other actions by DHS agencies. However, the narrow degree of separation makes watching a simple dog commercial a little unnerving.

In that sense, not much has changed in five years in the last 250 years.th The American version would create a fun mirror of reactions.

“It’s going to be interesting to see. It’s a combination of commemoration and recognition about the president,” Whitler said. “The answer is complex and depends on the decision makers and the brands they represent.

“You would like it to be simple. The reality is that different groups and generations view America differently.”

Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, ICE, Epstein, Weather, Olympics: Daily Briefing

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Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, ICE, Epstein, Weather, Olympics: Daily Briefing

Hi! Welcome to the daily briefing. This morning’s breaking news is:

nicole farato Here I am grateful that my job is not ski jumping. From Savannah Guthrie’s latest plea about her mother’s disappearance to Bill Gates’ response to allegations about Jeffrey Epstein, we’ve got the news for you Thursday. Plus: Meet Olympic coach Snoop Dogg.

Guthrie family begs mother Nancy to come home

“Today” host Savannah Guthrie made an emotional appeal Wednesday as the search for her 84-year-old mother continues.

TMZ and CBS affiliate KOLD News have confirmed that their newsrooms have received Nancy Guthrie’s ransom note, but it is currently unverified as the FBI is working with local police in Arizona to investigate.

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings addressed these reports in a video posted to Instagram on the evening of February 4th.

“We’ve been hearing reports in the media about the ransom letter,” said Savannah Guthrie, sitting between her sister Annie Guthrie and brother Camron Guthrie. She appeared to speak directly to the possible kidnapper as she continued, “We definitely need to know that she’s alive and that you keep her.” The trio also shared a message of love for their mothers.

Read Savannah Guthrie’s full statement here.

Meanwhile, Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona community gathered for a vigil Wednesday night as the world watched from a deeply, horribly sad and horrific incident.

More news you need to know right now

  • Bill Gates says he ‘regrets every minute’ of time spent with Jeffrey Epstein. Gates has denied any involvement with Epstein, including using Epstein to facilitate secret meetings with women and hiding sexually transmitted diseases from his then-wife, Melinda French Gates.
  • Keep a winter jacket on hand. The frigid temperatures plaguing the eastern half of the country won’t end soon, as major shifts in the polar vortex are expected this month.
  • Is there a space data center? Potentially. Elon Musk is merging his rocket company SpaceX with an artificial intelligence startup known as xAI in a bid to further the mogul’s plans to build data centers in space.

2026 Olympics

“Coach” Snoop Dogg

No one loves the Olympics more than Snoop Dogg. The rapper joined American athletes in Milan this week as Team USA’s first-ever honorary coach and Milan-Cortina torch bearer. There’s only one day until the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the games have already begun on Thursday.

health and wellness

One-third of cancers are preventable

Good news for people who want to reduce their cancer risk. A new study published this week in Nature Medicine found that an estimated 7.1 million (about 37.8%) of the 18.7 million new cancer cases in 2022 will be attributable to 30 modifiable risk factors, including smoking, alcohol intake, and high body mass index.

sports corner

Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.

Kristaps Porzingis trades performance in contract between Warriors and Hawks

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Kristaps Porzingis trades performance in contract between Warriors and Hawks

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The Golden State Warriors took action on Wednesday, February 4th to remain a contender in the Western Conference.

The Warriors added center Kristaps Porzisis in the final hours before the NBA trade deadline, reportedly reaching an agreement with the Atlanta Hawks. The Warriors sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta in return.

For months, the Warriors were expected to trade Kuminga and were considered a candidate to acquire disgruntled Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The latter appears to have changed, with Golden State “moving on” from Antetokounmpo following the deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Here’s how we evaluate the Kristaps Porzingis contract.

Kristaps Porzingis trade grade

Golden State Warriors Grade: B

The Warriors are finally moving on from Kuminga. While Kuminga showed flashes of talent and potential, he never seemed to be on the same page as Golden State’s coaching staff.

Porzisis may be considered low risk, high return. If he stays healthy, he could be exactly the kind of center the Warriors need who can shoot the basketball. He also added some much-needed size near the rim.

Atlanta Hawks grade: B

Kuminga provides the Hawks with a high level of athleticism and physicality at the forward position. He also showed scoring ability and solid defensive ability during his time with the Warriors. Hield is one of the best long-range guns in the league and was a positive bonus in the trade. He will also add a bright and fun energy to the locker room.

Savannah Guthrie talks about ransom demand for missing mother

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Savannah Guthrie talks about ransom demand for missing mother

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Savannah Guthrie and her siblings are dealing with media reports that they received an unverified ransom note as their mother remains missing for a fourth day.

“We too have heard reports in the media about the ransom letter,” Savannah Guthrie said in an emotional four-minute video, sitting between her sister Annie Guthrie and brother Camron Guthrie.

She went on to appear to address the possible kidnapper directly.

“As a family, we are doing the best we can. We are ready to speak. But we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We definitely need to know that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out,” Savannah Guthrie said.

Guthrie family statement: Everything Savannah Guthrie and her brother said in the video

The “Today” show co-host highlighted 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s medical needs, saying, “Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She doesn’t have medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it so she doesn’t suffer.”

Annie Guthrie added: “Mommy, if you’re listening, I want you to come home. I miss you.”

Watch a video statement from Savannah Guthrie’s family

What we know about possible ransom demands

On the afternoon of February 3, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement on social media confirming that it was “aware of reports circulating regarding a possible ransom note” and that “we take all information and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in is reported directly to detectives working with the FBI.”

CBS News reported that its Tucson affiliate KOLD News received the letter on February 2nd. Without specifying which news station received the communication or confirming its authenticity, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News that the letter “included specific details about the home and the clothing Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night.”

Nanos told CBS News that the FBI reviewed the memo and shared it with Savannah Guthrie. On February 3, TMZ reported that it had received a letter demanding payment for Nancy Guthrie’s release. The USA TODAY Network has not confirmed or substantiated the authenticity of either memo.

On February 4, authorities announced that no suspects or persons of interest had been identified.

Nancy Guthrie’s family reported her missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson, on Sunday, February 1, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. She was last seen the previous evening, Saturday, January 31, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Nanos said at a press conference on February 2.

On Monday, February 2, authorities confirmed that investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was “abducted from her home” and said the incident is being considered as a “possible kidnapping or abduction.” The FBI is assisting with the investigation.

Financial literacy lessons from 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey

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Financial literacy lessons from 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey

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Bay Area students were told they would be attending a conference on financial literacy. They never expected to meet Christian McCaffrey, the entrepreneur, record-setting running back for the San Francisco 49ers and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year.

Inside the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, hundreds of students filled the ballroom for an Intuit for Education event as part of the brand’s efforts during Super Bowl week to increase financial literacy. When McCaffrey took the stage, the crowd roared.

The phone rang and the noise sounded like a touchdown at a home game at Levi’s Stadium.

Latest updates on Super Bowl 60: Latest Patriots vs. Seahawks news, events.

But once the cheers died down, the 49ers star turned his attention to why they were all together. It was about learning about money before the most important things.

Interviewed by Greg Johnson, Intuit’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, McCaffrey began telling students he wished a program like this had existed when he was in high school.

“First of all, I’m really happy to be here,” McCaffrey said. “I think it’s a really great opportunity for you to be able to learn about financial literacy at this age. I really wish something like this had happened when I was your age. This is a huge deal.”

He spoke candidly about the whiplash he felt when he found sudden wealth from his college debt. He entered the league at age 20 and went from parking ticket debt to NFL paycheck almost overnight.

McCaffrey, widely regarded as the best running back in football, has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024 with an average annual salary of $19 million. This contract earns him an additional $8 million over his previous contract, and is a significant increase from his previous annual salary of $16 million.

“The biggest piece of advice I would give you before you receive your first paycheck is to learn the language of money,” he said.

For McCaffrey, “learning a language” means more than understanding the terminology. That means finding smart people to act as financial advisors, especially people who have learned how to invest by failing.

Some of the best questions came when Johnson took the microphone to the students, including questions every teenager wanted to ask. “What did a football professional do when he first saw a million dollar check?”

His answer surprised them.

“I didn’t even look at it. I just kept working,” he said. “I don’t play football for the money, and I don’t play football for the accolades. I’ve never done that before and I never will. I think players who want money for accolades are often out of the league after two or three years. But ironically, the players who love the game are the ones who get the money and the accolades.”

David Zasada, vice president of education and corporate responsibility at Intuit, says it’s precisely this practical, evidence-based approach that says,

“Children usually don’t think about financial literacy until they make serious financial decisions that can affect them for a long time,” Zasada says. “Sports prepares you for success on game day, and high school prepares you with a focus on financial literacy so you can succeed beyond the graduation stage.”

The combination of NFL star power and real-world financial lessons was the biggest takeaway.

Zasada noted that 30 states currently require personal finance courses, but in many cases there is no training, curriculum or funding. Intuit created this tour to provide students and teachers with tools not available anywhere else.

“Everything we do is free, all the professional development we do for teachers is free, all of these events are free,” he said.

Still, the moment that drew the biggest laughs, and perhaps the sharpest lesson, was when the student asked the entrepreneur about his first big purchase.

“I bought a matte black Aston Martin,” he said. “Everyone was clapping, but I never drove it, so I sold it after a year. The car didn’t appreciate in value. It was really cool. It looked great. I parked the car and people were talking about it. And I started thinking, ‘This is ridiculous.'”

Brian West is a music reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Instagram, TikTok, and X as @BryanWestTV.

Bill Gates says it was ‘stupid’ to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein

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Bill Gates says it was ‘stupid’ to spend time with Jeffrey Epstein

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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has revised his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, saying it was “stupid” to spend time with the late investor and convicted sex offender after the Justice Department released three million more documents about the affair.

In an interview with Nine News Australia, Gates added that he “regrets every minute” of his time with the disgraced asset manager. He has denied allegations mentioned in draft emails from Mr. Epstein’s account, including that he used Mr. Epstein to facilitate trysts with women and that he hid sexually transmitted diseases from his then-wife, Melinda French Gates.

“Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent,” Gates told the news outlet. “That email is false. So I don’t know what he was thinking. Was he trying to attack me in some way? I just remember. Every minute I spent with him, I regret it and I apologize for what I did.”

Gates said he met Epstein in 2011 and “had dinner with him many times.” Gates said the focus of the relationship was to discuss business opportunities.

“The focus was always that he knew a lot of very wealthy people and said he could get them to donate money to global health,” Gates added. “In hindsight, it was a dead end. I was foolish to spend time with him. I was one of the many people who regret never knowing him.”

Gates also denied ever visiting the island where Epstein has been accused of human trafficking, assaulting women and having affairs with other women.

“The more it becomes clear, the more it will become clear that while the time was wrong, it had nothing to do with such conduct,” Gates said.

The interview came after internal documents related to Mr. Epstein revealed his ties to many prominent figures in politics, finance, academia, and business. Gates, along with President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, is named in millions of files collected by the Justice Department. All three deny wrongdoing.

Epstein died in a Manhattan prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial for sex trafficking. His death was ruled a suicide.

Conspiracy theories have long swirled that other wealthy and powerful people were involved in sex crimes with Epstein. Many of the alleged victims say more people should be held accountable.

Document reveals new name: Who is included in the latest Epstein files release?

Bill Gates’ name listed in Epstein files

Documents released from Epstein’s files show that Gates and Epstein met repeatedly after Epstein’s prison sentence to discuss expanding the Microsoft founder’s philanthropy. It also includes photos of Gates posing with women whose faces have been edited.

A photo released in December 2025 showed Gates and Epstein wearing suits, but the background of the image remains unclear. On January 30, the Justice Department released another 3 million pages of documents from the Epstein file that referenced Gates, billionaire technology executive Elon Musk, and Trump.

According to files shared by the Justice Department, on July 18, 2013, Epstein sent himself two emails containing unconfirmed claims that the former Microsoft CEO contracted a sexually transmitted disease from extramarital “sex with a Russian girl” that required antibiotics.

The other email, a resignation letter that appeared to be written from the perspective of someone named “Boris,” criticized Gates for choosing to “ignore the friendships we have cultivated over the past six years.”

“In my role as his right-hand man, I was repeatedly asked to do things that, in retrospect, could range from the morally inappropriate to the ethically unsound, unreasonably acquiesced in, and otherwise border on or cross the line of illegality,” the email said.

Gates said the relationship was limited to philanthropy-related discussions and that it was a mistake to meet.

Epstein files: Melinda French Gates says Bill Gates needs to ‘answer’ Epstein claims

Melinda French Gates says Bill Gates needs to ‘answer’ allegations

Following the release of the latest set of documents from Epstein’s files, French Gates said she was not responsible for answering questions about her ex-husband’s relationship with Epstein.

“Whatever questions I have left about things I don’t know, I can’t even begin to know them all. Those questions are directed at those people, even my ex-husband. They are the ones who need to answer those things, not me,” she said on the Thursday, Feb. 5, episode of NPR’s podcast “Wild Cards.”

In 2021, the French Gates announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage. French Gates later left the Gates Foundation in 2024, a decision she said she felt she had to make.

“It’s an incredible sadness,” she told Rachel Martin, host of the NPR podcast “Wild Card.” “I had to end my marriage. I wanted to end my marriage.”

Contributions: Anthony Robredo, Erin Mansfield, Kathryn Palmer, Jamie Fraser, USA TODAY. Reuters

Saks Off 5th store closed, sale announced. See affected locations.

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Saks Off 5th store closed, sale announced. See affected locations.

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Saks Global, owner of luxury brand Saks Fifth Avenue and discount division Saks Off Fifth, is scaling back its operations following a recent bankruptcy filing.

On February 2nd, Saks Off 5th shared a social media post announcing to customers that “Saksoff5th.com, Neiman Marcus Last Call stores, and the ‘vast majority’ of Saks Off 5th stores will be closing.” The development comes after Saks Global announced a Chapter 11 filing and a change in leadership on January 14.

“Select stores are participating in store closing sales and the sale will run over the next few weeks,” Saks Off 5th’s post reads. “We encourage you to shop your favorite brands while you still have the best product selection.”

more: These companies will close their stores in 2026. Check out the list.

The closure, described as a “strategic move,” comes as the company continues to gain access to the first $500 million portion of a $1.75 billion funding package. Saks Global said the closures only apply to its Saks Off 5th and Last Call retail stores.

The luxury retail chain said its Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores and their e-commerce experiences are “operating as usual and serving customers.”

Introducing the latest information on store closures, including stores holding store closing sales.

Why are Saks Off 5th and Last Call stores closing?

Saks Global said in a Jan. 29 announcement that the “downsizing” of Saks Off Fifth Online’s operations was the result of “an increased focus on luxury retail and fixed-price sales across the company’s iconic portfolio.”

Saks Global added: “These actions are part of our ongoing evaluation of our business development to ensure we remain well-positioned to invest in areas that offer the greatest opportunities for sustainable and profitable growth for our luxury retail brands and partners.”

A closing sale began on January 31st at some Saks Off 5th stores and all remaining Last Call stores.

The company also plans to use the dozen or so Saks Off Fifth stores that remain open as “sales channels” for remaining inventory from Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

According to Saks Global, the website saksoff5th.com will also cease operations. This website is a separate legal entity from Saks Global and is hosting an online closing sale.

Visit the Saks Global website for more information about gift cards, shipping, returns/exchanges, InCircle credit cards, SaksFirst credit cards, and Off 5th Rewards.

From Grapevine Mills to The Outlets at Orange, here’s the complete list of Saks Off 5th stores that remain open.

  • Gallery @ Westbury Plaza (Garden City, New York)
  • Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Florida
  • Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York
  • Bergen Town Center in Paramus, New Jersey
  • Aventura, Florida Town Center Aventura
  • Buckhead Station in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Miromar Outlets in Estero, Florida
  • Somerset Shops in Boca Raton, Florida
  • Outlets at Orange in Orange, California
  • Dolphin Mall in Miami, Florida
  • Palm Beach Outlets in West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Grapevine Mills, Grapevine, Texas

Some Saks Global stores are holding “closing sale”

Some Saks Off 5th and Neiman Marcus Last Call stores are holding “closing sales” ahead of their store closures.

Last Call locations holding closing sales:

  • Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, Florida
  • Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon, California
  • Grapevine Mills, Grapevine, Texas
  • San Marcos Premium Outlets in San Marcos, Texas
  • Outlets at Orange in Orange, California

Closing sale underway at Saks Off’s 5th store:

  • Arundel Mills, Hanover, Maryland
  • Waipahu, United States
  • palm desert california
  • Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Chandler, Arizona
  • eastchester new york
  • bridgewater new jersey
  • Clarksburg, Maryland
  • Deer Park, New York
  • shrewsbury new jersey
  • elizabeth new jersey
  • Somerville, Massachusetts
  • Wrentham, Massachusetts
  • Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets in Vineland, Florida
  • Park Shore Plaza in Naples, Florida
  • Orlando, Florida
  • florida lats
  • Ellenton Premium Outlets in Ellenton, Florida
  • Destin, Florida
  • charlotte, north carolina
  • Lawrenceville, Georgia
  • Hilton Head, Bluffton, South Carolina
  • Rosemont, Illinois
  • Cypress, Texas
  • sugar land, texas
  • katy, texas
  • costa mesa california
  • Beverly Connection, Los Angeles, California
  • Woodland Hills, California
  • Las Vegas North Premium Outlets in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Las Vegas South Premium Outlets in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Livermore, California
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • Cabazon, California

Which Saks Off 5th stores will be closing?

According to Saks Global, “the majority” of Saks Off 5th stores and “all remaining Neiman Marcus Last Call stores” will close.

Approximately 20 Saks Off 5th retail stores nationwide closed on February 2nd. Includes the following stores:

  • Mebane, North Carolina
  • Charleston, South Carolina
  • grand prairie, texas
  • Road Post States in Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Petaluma, California
  • Glendale, Arizona
  • Tucson, Arizona
  • Merrimack, New Hampshire
  • Riverhead, New York
  • clinton, connecticut
  • woodstock georgia
  • Aurora, Illinois

  • dallas, texas

  • northbrook illinois
  • Eagan, Minnesota
  • columbus ohio
  • San Diego, California
  • Camarillo, California
  • Ontario, California
  • Milpitas, California
  • State Street, Chicago, Illinois
  • Highridge Shopping Center in Stamford, CT
  • Greenburgh, New York

Kevin Johnson’s death may be connected to three murders: LA authorities

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Kevin Johnson’s death may be connected to three murders: LA authorities

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The death of former NFL defensive tackle Kevin Johnson may be connected to three other homeless homicides in the same area of ​​Los Angeles, authorities announced Tuesday.

Johnson, 55, was found dead just before 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday, January 21, at a homeless encampment about 10 miles east of Los Angeles International Airport, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. At the time, the sheriff’s office said deputies found a man, later identified as Johnson, unconscious from blunt force trauma.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and the death was ruled a homicide, the sheriff’s office said. On Thursday, January 22nd, the Los Angeles County Coroner announced that Johnson’s cause of death was “blunt force trauma and stab wounds to the head.”

In a Feb. 3 update, the sheriff’s office announced that its homicide unit was investigating a “series of homicides” that occurred in roughly the same location, specifically “the 1300 block of East 120th Street in an unincorporated area of ​​Los Angeles.”

According to the Sheriff’s Office, four people were killed in the area between October 2025 and January 2026. All four victims were homeless and living in homeless camps in the area.

“At this time, investigators are working to determine if these incidents are related,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “One of the victims was Kevin Johnson, a former NFL player who played in the 1990s.”

The sheriff’s department is asking for the public’s assistance in the investigation and is asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Homicide Bureau or the Los Angeles Regional Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

“It’s everywhere.” Growing American crisis affects more than 1 million students

Who is Kevin Johnson?

A Los Angeles native, Johnson began his football career at Los Angeles Harbor College and Texas Southern University before being selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

After the Patriots released Johnson in August of that year, the defensive tackle briefly spent time in Minnesota and Oakland as a practice squad member and training camp participant, until the Philadelphia Eagles claimed Johnson off waivers in August 1995.

He played two seasons with the Eagles, appearing in 23 regular season games and starting six of them. He also played in two playoff games in 1995.

After Johnson missed practice, the Eagles suspended him and released him in 1996, according to Pro Football Reference and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He signed with the Oakland Raiders in April of the following year, playing in 15 games and recording 7 tackles.

The Raiders released Johnson in 1998, and he went on to play four years in the Arena Football League, winning the Arena Bowl with the Orlando Predators that same year.

Friends and acquaintances told investigators that Johnson had been in poor health in recent years, which contributed to his housing instability, ESPN reported. Those who knew him at the camp described him as quiet and friendly.

How many people will be homeless in 2024? Homelessness rate rises by double digits in 2024 as Americans struggle to afford housing

violence against homeless people

The deaths of Mr. Johnson and three other homeless victims were the latest incidents of violence against homeless people in the United States. A 2024 report from the National Coalition for the Homeless revealed that the nonprofit organization recorded nearly 2,000 incidents of violence against homeless people over a 23-year period.

“During this period, at least 588 homeless victims lost their lives in violent attacks,” the report said. “These crimes appear to have been motivated by the perpetrators’ prejudice against people experiencing homelessness and facilitated by the perpetrators’ ability to target the homeless with relative ease.”

The report noted that many incidents remain under-reported and are “likely to be even more devastating than available reports suggest.” In 2019, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that less than half (about 44%) of violent incidents against people experiencing homelessness were reported to police, according to the report.

In recent years, multiple incidents have made headlines across the country. In June 2025, a man was arrested after stabbing 11 people at a homeless shelter in Oregon. In October 2024, authorities in Minnesota announced that three people were killed and three others injured in back-to-back shootings at two separate homeless camps.

Similar incidents occurred in 2023 and 2022, including a “serial” murder of three homeless men in Los Angeles, three men stabbed while sleeping in New York City, and a series of mass shootings in New York City and Washington, DC.

Contributors: Eric Larsen and Jack McKessy, USA TODAY. James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun

Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday, February 4, 2026

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Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday, February 4, 2026

The Powerball jackpot continues to rise ahead of the drawing on Wednesday, February 4, and is now at $80 million with a cash value of $36.2 million.

There has already been one Powerball jackpot winner this year. On January 21st, one lucky person in North Carolina took home an estimated $209 million. After coming forward to collect his prize, the winner opted for a lump sum payment of $95.3 million.

The winner chose to remain anonymous for 90 days, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery. North Carolina law allows winners of more than $50 million to remain anonymous for up to 90 days after receiving their prize.

Here’s what you need to know about Wednesday’s Powerball drawing.

more: What is a “lifetime millionaire”? What you need to know about new lottery games

What are the winning Powerball numbers for February 4th?

Here are the winning numbers for the February 4th Powerball drawing. 27, 29, 30, 37, 58 and the powerball 15. The multiplier for “power play” is 2x.

Top 10 Powerball Jackpots

  • $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
  • December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
  • $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
  • $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
  • January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
  • April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
  • $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
  • $842.4 million in Michigan on January 1, 2024
  • March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
  • August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts

Do I have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?

The short answer is no. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball. Anyone visiting any of the 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands may purchase lottery tickets from authorized and licensed retailers, regardless of nationality, as long as they meet the legal age requirements (usually 18 years old) at the time of purchase.

How to play Powerball

Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This can be done at a variety of locations, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. In some states, you can purchase Powerball tickets online depending on your local jurisdiction.

Once you have your ticket, you have to choose six numbers. Five of them are white balls numbered from 1 to 69. The red Powerball range is 1-26. You can also add a “Power Play” for $1, which increases your winnings on all non-jackpot prizes. “Power Play” multipliers allow you to increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.

A “Quick Pick” option is also available if you want the computer to select the numbers for you. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls with the red Powerball in any order.

Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. The winnings continue to increase even if no one wins the jackpot.

Winning Lottery Numbers is sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA TODAY Network.

more: Which Powerball number should you choose?

Can I get Powerball tickets online?

You can also order tickets online Jackpocket, USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery delivery companythese states and territories of the United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and West Virginia.

The Jackpocket app allows you to choose your lottery games and numbers, place your order, check your tickets, and claim your winnings, all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery carrier of USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to the Jackpocket Service. Must be 18 years or older, 21 years or older in Arizona, 19 years or older in Nebraska. Not affiliated with any state lottery. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (ALL OTHERS). visit jackpocket.com/tos Over the entire period.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.

Majority wants Supreme Court to rule against President Trump on tariffs, Fed: poll

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Majority wants Supreme Court to rule against President Trump on tariffs, Fed: poll

A majority of the public wants the Supreme Court to rule against President Trump in two major cases. But more than half think the justices are going out of their way to avoid siding with him.

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WASHINGTON – A majority of Americans want the Supreme Court to rule against President Donald Trump in two major pending cases, according to a new poll from Marquette Law School.

In a January survey, more than six in 10 adults said the high court should uphold lower court rulings that limit the president’s power to impose tariffs.

A similar proportion said the court should rule that Trump cannot fire members of the Federal Reserve Board.

But more than half said the justices were doing everything in their power to avoid ruling against the president.

The Supreme Court accepted President Trump’s appeal.

The court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has overwhelmingly accepted Mr. Trump’s challenges to his actions as president, often allowing controversial policies to advance during litigation.

Some challenges are now making their way through lower courts, where justices are being asked to decide the ultimate fate of Trump’s policies.

During oral arguments in November on President Trump’s blanket tariffs, many of the justices seemed skeptical that the president could use the emergency powers provided in the 1977 law to avoid the more complex and restrictive tariff procedures that other presidents have relied on.

more: Justices question Trump tariffs as Supreme Court considers keeping them in place: Key takeaways

But the court has not yet issued a ruling, leading to speculation that the justices are in no hurry to strike down Trump’s economic centerpiece and major foreign policy tool.

However, it is not uncommon for courts to take months to issue major decisions. And of the eight other cases heard in November, the court decided on only one, none of which are as serious as the tariff dispute.

The Marquette Law School poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, with 56% saying tariffs would hurt the economy and 30% saying tariffs would help the economy.

Poll finds most want an independent Federal Reserve Board

Additionally, 76% said the Federal Reserve should be independent from political control.

President Trump’s attempt to fire Lisa Cook from the Fed was mooted in January.

The justices say it is likely that Mr. Cook will remain at the central bank, at least while he fights Mr. Trump’s claims. The court could also rule outright that President Trump did not have sufficient cause to fire her, which would resolve the dispute once and for all.

more: Can Trump fire Fed Chair Lisa Cook? The Supreme Court seems doubtful

Even if that happens, Mr. Trump could emerge victorious in another pending decision regarding his ability to control independent agencies.

In the December case, a majority of the justices is likely to agree that the president can remove at will the heads of the Federal Trade Commission and many other agencies with staggered terms, led by politically balanced panels of experts set up by Congress.

But the court has indicated that the Fed takes a different view, and Cook’s case is likely to yield a different outcome.

Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, remains missing. Tuscon feels empty.

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Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, remains missing. Tuscon feels empty.

As the Today anchor’s mother’s shocking disappearance reaches its fifth day, friends and neighbors feel a great sense of loss.

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  • The community held a candlelight vigil to pray for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return as mysterious events grip the nation.
  • Investigators have returned to her home in the Catalina foothills, but have not yet identified a suspect.

TUCSON, Ariz. — On Wednesday, Nancy Guthrie’s presence disappeared within the sandstone-colored walls of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson, where she was a devout believer.

She went missing at the 84-year-old’s favorite restaurant, El Charro Cafe in the city’s eclectic downtown, where she was sitting with her famous daughter Savannah Guthrie during a recent visit last year.

Four days after the mother was abducted from her sprawling home in the area’s affluent Catalina Foothills neighborhood on January 31, investigators returned to the home and found her missing there as well.

But her standing in the community was on full display on February 4, when distressed residents and supporters flocked to a nearby church, surrounded by the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains, for a vigil to pray for her safe return.

And whether she will be found before she goes too long without her daily essential medication.

Savannah Guthrie breaks her silence About Mother Nancy’s Case – Live Updates

“We pray for our sister Nancy. Please guide, comfort and support her in this moment of need,” the service leader prayed as mourners clutched candles at the wake.

Her mysterious disappearance has shocked the nation, with many Americans wondering how the 80-year-old woman, who had been living a sleepy life in the Southwest, was taken away while her neighbors slept. And why investigators have struggled to find answers since her disappearance.

And whether she will be found before she goes too long without her daily essential medication.

“My mother still lives there.”

On Nov. 5, about three months before her mother disappeared, Today anchor Savannah Guthrie launched Hometown Today, a new segment on NBC’s popular morning show.

The purpose of the show was to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the upbringing of the series’ popular anchors.

“Savannah, we start with you,” co-host Carson Daly said from the show’s curvy couch. “You took us to our old stomping grounds,” said Guthrie, who returned home to Arizona surrounded by “the family of today,” including Craig Melvin, Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker and Carson Daly.

“I grew up there, I went to college there, my mom still lives there, and to be honest, a part of me never really left there,” Savannah Guthrie, 54, told viewers.

Savannah Guthrie, wearing a jean jacket and a black dress, walked through a field of prickly pear cacti, stopping to peck at the prickly plants. She introduced herself and the audience to local muralist Joe Pagac. Guthrie returned to his alma mater, the University of Arizona, where he greeted President Suresh Garimella in one parody and met up with sorority sisters at his Pi Beta Phi in another skit.

Savannah Guthrie talks about the press Ransom letter to missing mother

She then went to El Charro, a Mexican restaurant, for lunch with her mother and sister Annie, 56, a poet. The mother-daughter trio shared margaritas and chatted with executive chef Carlotta Flores as Guthrie sipped on prickly pear during the show.

“We’re just praying.”

On February 4, about a dozen patrons were lined up at the same location that Flores has operated since 1972. Inside, waiters ferried out dishes like Carlotta’s chicken moles and shrimp tamales during the lunch rush.

Flores had been in and out of the home recently, but one of his sons said he was gone around 12:45 p.m.

“Everyone has their own opinion (of what happened), but ultimately this is a missing woman,” Flores told the New York Post. “Their mother is missing.” It was felt throughout the community, with the pastor at St. Andrew’s Church preparing to attend the wake and staff working around the clock answering the phone.

It was at her church on Sunday, February 1st, that a fellow churchgoer called Nancy Guthrie’s family after she did not attend the service. Her home is about a 12-minute drive away in a tight-knit upper-class neighborhood.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said she was “abandoned by her children” at her home on Saturday, Jan. 31, at approximately 9:45 p.m. Then, the obvious kidnapping.

“We’re just praying,” St. Andrews officials told USA TODAY hours before the wake began, praying for good news while respecting the family’s privacy.

What you need to know about Savannah Guthries family

Outside the Guthrie home, not far away, around 5 p.m. Wednesday, neighbor Chris Wilkie said investigators’ efforts to return to the home only deepened the mystery.

“As soon as the sun goes down, everyone goes home.”

Late in the afternoon, there was an incident that appeared to be of renewed interest to law enforcement at Nancy Guthrie’s home. Crime scene tape was posted in front of the residence. One of the agents, wearing a Pima County Sheriff’s Department vest, removed the equipment from a plastic container in the truck.

They went into the garage of the house and went in and out. When they left, they had at least one box and a large brown envelope with them. After the investigators left, the crime scene tape disappeared again.

This upscale neighborhood is popular for its stucco homes and acres of grounds. The garden is planted with rocks and cacti. Black-barked mesquite and palo verde trees line the garden.

Mr Wilkie, 50, said the area was “very dark” at night and there were no street lights, making it difficult to see what had happened and making the case difficult to solve. Unidentified individuals are endangering Wilkie’s neighborhood as days go by without a suspect being found.

“As soon as the sun goes down, everyone goes home,” he said.

‘I love you’

When “Today” was filmed in El Charro, Ms. Flores served Ms. Guthrie and her family tequila in teacups, a tradition that dates back to the Prohibition era, when card-playing women would hide their booze with a little help from the utensils.

Savannah Guthrie said, “Cheers, I love you,” and then joked to her mother, “Don’t drink it all.” Then she turned around and asked me why I moved to Tucson.

“It’s so wonderful. Just the air, the quality of life is laid back and peaceful,” Nancy Guthrie said. “I like watching the javelina eat my plants,” she said, referring to the pig-like animals, adding in laughter from her daughters.

A seemingly lonely widow, Nancy Guthrie moved to the area in the 1970s with her late husband Charles, who died of a heart attack when Guthrie was 16 years old. “The best thing about Tucson is coming home and seeing everyone,” Savannah Guthrie told her mother and sister.

Why Savannah Guthrie’s mother went missing attracts the people

They clinked tall glasses and the show returned to the curved white couch of Studio 1A at NBC’s 30 Rock headquarters in New York City.

Savannah Guthrie surprised her four Today co-stars with tequila and teacups given to them by Flores and El Charro. “And like my mom said, it’s very smooth,” Guthrie told the group. “Cheers!” declared former eldest daughter Jenna Bush Hager. “For Nancy!”

“Hurry and get her to a safe place.”

At 6 p.m., as the sun set behind the mountains, hundreds of residents poured into St. Philip’s Church in the Hills Episcopal Church.

They had come there to pray by candlelight. Organizers said their goal was to elevate the voice of Nancy Guthrie and her family.

In a mostly silent service, supporters and worshipers chanted the Lord’s Prayer and walked in single file to the altar, holding lit candles, as soft organ hymns filled the sanctuary. “Please bring her to a safe place as soon as possible for her loved ones,” the military leader said in prayer.

Savannah Guthrie talks about the press Ransom letter to missing mother

Investigators, including the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, are scheduled to hold a press conference on February 5, but so far police have not identified any suspects. Many in town guessed, but few had the answer.

The day also marks three months since Guthrie aired a “Today” segment listing reasons why he still loves Tucson.

“I will always be a desert girl, from my love for my family to the familiar and beautiful landscapes I see,” Savannah Guthrie said. However, the landscape she loved reminded her of the background to her mother’s disappearance.

Savannah Guthrie made the appeal on Instagram as parishioners gathered at a church near her mother’s home to seek intercession. To all the viewers. Towards the prisoners. To anyone who will listen.

“We need to know without a shadow of a doubt that she’s alive and that you have her,” a fresh-faced and unmanicured Savannah Guthrie says to the camera. “We want to hear from you. We always listen. Please contact us.”

As night fell, she held the statement in her hand. The fifth day without my mother will soon begin.

Contributor: Kimi Robinson

23 million Americans enroll in Obamacare despite subsidies taking a hit

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23 million Americans enroll in Obamacare despite subsidies taking a hit

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Millions of Americans were expected to lose their Affordable Care Act health insurance when the enhanced tax credit was repealed this year.

But so far, the worst-case scenario has not materialized, even as momentum to restore coronavirus-era subsidies has stalled.

Approximately 23 million Americans will enroll in ACA insurance in the federal and state-based marketplaces in 2026, down from 24.2 million enrollees in January 2025, according to Jan. 28 statistics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“Enrollment is not going down as much as we expected,” said Cynthia Cox, vice president and ACA program director at the health policy nonprofit KFF.

But Cox and other enrollment experts say there are some big caveats to the preliminary numbers.

Millions of Americans with ACA insurance, also known as Obamacare, are automatically re-enrolling in more expensive insurance plans this year, and the expiration of enhanced tax credits could cause average insurance costs for consumers to jump 114%, according to a KFF analysis.

more: Americans take drastic steps to address soaring Obamacare bills

Some people may choose to discontinue coverage once they receive their first monthly insurance bill. If you are automatically re-enrolled but do not pay your premiums, you will have a three-month grace period before your coverage ends. Those numbers won’t be known until later this year, Cox said.

Before the enhanced tax credits went into effect in 2021, about 85% of enrollees in ACA plans paid premiums to maintain coverage, said Sabrina Corlett, co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reform.

It’s also unclear how many people have switched to “bronze” plans, which have lower monthly premiums and higher deductibles. Switching to a high-deductible plan may provide more affordable continued coverage, but it can also increase consumers’ out-of-pocket costs for doctor and hospital visits and prescriptions.

The number of enrollees who paid their premiums or the number of enrollees who switched to cheaper, less robust plans “are the two big unknowns,” Corlett said. He said those numbers are needed “before we can draw any conclusions about what the impact of federal policy changes actually means.”

State aid for enrollees drives enrollment

Several states that operate their own state-based ACA insurance exchanges are trying to soften the blow with financial assistance to consumers.

Enrollment in New Mexico reached a record high in 2026, thanks in part to generous state measures that replaced the ACA’s enhanced premium deductions. A total of 82,403 state residents were insured as of mid-January, an increase of 17% from 2025.

New Mexico’s Affordable Care Fund, established in 2021 and supported by a tax on health insurance companies, will reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs for people in the state’s ACA market, BeWell. The fund also supports other health programs, and nearly half of the fund’s proceeds go to New Mexico’s general fund.

Abuko Estrada, health care director at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, said state subsidies for ACA enrollment are earmarked through June, but the state Legislature needs to act to extend the subsidies throughout the year.

Health savings account: Will it replace ACA subsidies for some Americans?

“There’s a lot of concern from families” about the potential loss of coverage, Estrada said. “They’re worried that the aid will run out.”

Other states offer limited assistance to residents facing higher premiums because they do not have enhanced tax credits. California and Maryland extend subsidies to low- to moderate-income households, but households with incomes at least four times the federal poverty level must pay the full amount.

Maryland’s one-year program replaces lost subsidies for individuals who earn up to $31,300 a year, twice the federal poverty level. California aid is limited to individuals and families earning up to 165% of the federal poverty level.

Colorado and Washington states also approved limited financial aid for some ACA enrollees, according to KFF’s analysis.

Is the push to extend ACA subsidies over?

Congressional Democrats last year pushed to expand tax credits that would lower insurance premiums for millions of Americans. At the end of 2025, Democrats forced the federal government to shut down for a record 43 days after most Republicans refused to extend the aid.

Without the enhanced tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of 2025, the average cost for the 22 million Americans with subsidized ACA insurance would have more than doubled as of January, according to KFF.

Some consumers said they are struggling to cover the increasing costs of their ACA insurance plans. CBO estimated that 3.8 million Americans will lose health insurance by 2035 as enhanced subsidies expire.

Congress on February 3 passed budget amendments for most federal agencies through September to end the partial government shutdown. The budget includes health-related provisions related to medical billing and drug price intermediaries called pharmacy benefit managers, but is silent on ACA subsidies.

On January 8, the House passed a bill extending the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credit for three years, but the Senate has not taken up the bill. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, worked out a bipartisan compromise in the Senate, but his proposal has not progressed.

Moreno told Semafor on February 2 that some Democratic lawmakers have not ruled out his plan to revise and extend the tax credit expansion. “The people I talk to actually want to solve problems,” he says.

Health care advocates are urging lawmakers to continue efforts to improve the affordability of the ACA.

Anthony Wright, executive director of Families USA, which advocates for health care consumers, noted that the House agreement to end the government shutdown includes provisions regarding health insurance affordability.

“Despite the inclusion of these policies, the package does not extend the enhanced premium tax credit and therefore fails to stop the significant rise in premiums in the individual insurance market,” Wright said.

Contact Ken Alltucker at alltuck@usatoday.com..

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