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This Social Security mistake could reduce your lifetime wage

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This Social Security mistake could reduce your lifetime wage

This problem is fixable, but only if you know it exists.

kylie hagen
|The Motley Fool

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To squeeze the most money out of Social Security, it’s important to do the right thing. Work hard, pay your Social Security taxes, and claim them at the right time for your age and life expectancy. It’s also about avoiding doing the wrong things, but finding them can be difficult.

For example, one Social Security mistake can permanently reduce your lifetime benefits, and you may be making one right now without even realizing it. Fortunately, once you realize the problem exists, it’s often easy to fix.

How errors in income records can strip you of Social Security benefits after retirement

The amount of income you pay Social Security payroll taxes on is one of the biggest factors in determining the amount of your retirement benefits, so the government tracks it closely. The amount you pay these taxes each year is recorded on your income record. You can view your account by setting up my Social Security account.

This data comes directly from the IRS and is usually accurate. However, errors can occur, especially when it comes to changing jobs or changing names. For example, if you didn’t notify your employer that you recently changed your name or mistyped a digit in your Social Security number when filling out a new employment document, some of your income may not be associated with your earnings record for the year.

When the Social Security Administration calculates your retirement benefits, the amount will be less. If your income record is missing years of income, the amount could be significantly lower. But fortunately, this problem is not that difficult to find and fix.

How to fix errors in revenue records without spending money

First, create a Social Security account if you don’t already have one. This will allow you to see your earnings records. The numbers listed there should match the income you earned each year. You can check this against the corresponding year’s tax return.

This only applies to high-income earners. They cannot pay Social Security payroll taxes on all their income. If you earn more than your taxable wage base in a particular year, your earnings record will correctly show that year’s wage base instead of your actual income.

If you notice a problem with your income record, fill out the Income Record Correction Request Form and submit it to the Social Security Administration along with a copy of your actual income for the year, such as a tax return or W-2.

Generally, you have three years, three months, and 15 days after the end of the tax year to act on the incorrect information. However, depending on the reason for the mistake, you may be able to correct it after this deadline.

If you have any questions, please contact the Social Security Administration for more information. You can also make an appointment at your local Social Security office.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Experts say ICE’s new policy on residential entry violates the Fourth Amendment

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Experts say ICE’s new policy on residential entry violates the Fourth Amendment

Constitutional experts and federal judges have said it is a clear Fourth Amendment violation for immigration agents to enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant.

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Immigration and Customs Enforcement faces intense scrutiny over claims that federal agents can forcibly enter homes without a judicial warrant, a move that constitutional scholars, immigration experts and federal judges say is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment.

According to a whistleblower review reviewed by USA TODAY and first reported by the Associated Press, an internal ICE memo from May 2025 instructs agents to use force to enter residences after obtaining an administrative warrant, which is signed by ICE officials and does not require judge approval.

The memo appears to overturn long-standing precedent and law enforcement policy, including at the Department of Homeland Security, which relies on warrants signed by an impartial member of the judiciary to enter homes and businesses for searches and arrests.

News of the memo comes amid an escalating Trump administration deportation campaign, aggressive enforcement efforts across the United States, and a hiring spree that more than doubles the number of employees.

It remains unclear how often the new policy was used in field operations. On January 18, federal agents with guns broke down the front door of the home of Chongli Tao, a naturalized citizen of the United States. He was briefly detained, but no warrant was produced, relatives and local officials said. Images of Thao being led outside in the snow, shirtless, sparked outrage and calls for a formal investigation.

ICE officials and other federal authorities have downplayed constitutional concerns and said ICE is acting in accordance with the law. Marcos Charles, executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, said on January 22 that agents can only enter homes with an administrative warrant.

“We don’t break into anyone’s home,” Charles said at a news conference. “We enter the country in intense pursuit using either criminal arrest warrants or administrative arrest warrants. The thing to remember is that these administrative arrest warrants are considered justified by the courts for immigration purposes.”

During a visit to Minneapolis, Vice President J.D. Vance said federal law enforcement would not enter a person’s home “without a warrant of some kind,” although he noted that could include a less stringent administrative document.

“No one is talking about immigration without a warrant,” he said, acknowledging that legal battles are expected. “The court could say no, but of course if the court says no, we follow the law.”

Fourth Amendment scholars and immigration law experts said ICE’s memo violates the U.S. Constitution. In 2024, a federal judge in California reached a similar conclusion, barring ICE from entering homes without a judge’s warrant and declaring such actions “violate the Fourth Amendment.”

“This is essentially an admission of a violation of the fundamental rights that we have had as Americans since the Bill of Rights was passed,” said Rick Simmons, a law professor at Ohio State University. “This literally goes against 250 years of case law on what the Fourth Amendment allows.”

Administrative warrants are not judicial warrants.

According to the memo, ICE officers can use Form I-205 to enter residences without consent. Form I-205, which authorizes the arrest of an immigrant along with a final deportation order, is not reviewed by a judge. Instead, the form may be signed by an ICE officer, the officer directing the arrest.

A judicial warrant, on the other hand, must be approved by an impartial judge outside the executive branch and consider evidence before allowing the government to forcibly enter someone’s home.

Experts said the ruling that ICE agents can enter homes without seeking approval from a judge would take away one of the most basic checks on law enforcement in the country.

“The whole point of the Fourth Amendment is to have a check on the police,” Simmons said. “Police want to find violations of the law, and that’s what they’re supposed to do. But before they’re allowed to enter a home, they have to go to a member of another branch and prove that it was a reasonable thing to do.”

Lindsay Nash, a professor at Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law, said it’s dangerous to confuse judicial and administrative warrants.

“These forms that ICE officers fill out, in some cases including arrests, are a far cry from the judicial warrants needed to enter a residence,” she said.

Are there any exceptions?

The Supreme Court has allowed law enforcement to enter homes without a judge’s warrant or consent, with very few exceptions. These primarily include emergencies such as immediate danger to police officers or civilians in the area or risk of immediate loss of evidence.

Simmons said there is also a special needs doctrine that suggests that if the government is not conducting an investigation for criminal law purposes, it is not subject to all of the requirements of the Fourth Amendment.

But the Supreme Court has repeatedly restricted access to homes in emergency situations, such as when authorities believe someone is seriously injured or at risk of serious injury, including suicide.

“There is no emergency for ICE,” Simmons said. “They’re not claiming it’s an emergency. This is a violation of civil law. I don’t see how they could legally do that.”

The memo is a clear exception to the new policy for the Central District of California, where a federal judge ruled in 2024 that ICE agents must have judicial authorization to invade homes, according to a copy released by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

The order by U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright states that the court “nullifies any policy or practice” that allows ICE agents to enter homes and make arrests “in the absence of a judicial warrant.”

“This is the only time the court has taken up this particular issue,” Simmons said of Wright’s decision.

What does Homeland Security policy say?

ICE’s memo appears to contradict long-standing Department of Homeland Security procedures and policies, including materials used to train ICE officers.

The whistleblower included a copy of the 2021 ICE Training Guide, which read:th All kinds of fix searches. ”

A May 12 memo signed by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons acknowledged that the directive represents a departure from policy.

“While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not historically relied solely on administrative warrants to arrest aliens who are subject to final removal orders from their place of residence, the DHS Office of General Counsel recently determined that the U.S. Constitution, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and immigration regulations do not prohibit reliance on administrative warrants for this purpose,” the memo states.

Neither the memo nor federal officials provide a detailed legal argument for how this decision was made.

Nash said the federal government faces an uphill battle if it tries to prove the memo is constitutional.

“ICE has repeatedly recognized in its own manuals that administrative warrants do not authorize forcible entry into homes,” she said. “ICE has no such authority, so it would be very difficult to justify this in court.”

Whistleblower claims memo was kept secret

The directive was not shared widely within the agency and was communicated verbally, including to new employees, according to disclosures that lawmakers received from the whistleblower advocacy group, a legal group representing two anonymous government officials.

“The May 12 memo was provided to selected DHS officials who were then instructed to verbally explain the new course of action,” the disclosure statement states. “Those supervisors then show the memo to some employees, such as customers, and instruct them to read the memo and return it to their supervisor.”

Whistleblowers allege that many newly hired ICE officers have no law enforcement background and are told to rely on Form I-205 to enter homes without consent to arrest illegal immigrants.

“This could potentially result in large numbers of ICE agents trespassing into private residences, including those of U.S. citizens,” the disclosure statement said.

Nash questioned why ICE did not publicize the policy changes described in the memo.

“This is not the action of an agency that believes what it is doing is legal or that will stand up in court,” she said.

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

Colorectal cancer is now the deadliest cancer for people under 50

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Colorectal cancer is now the deadliest cancer for people under 50

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Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in people under age 50 in the United States, according to new evidence from the American Cancer Society.

Evidence published Thursday, Jan. 22, in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that colorectal cancer has jumped from the No. 5 leading cause of cancer death in the early 1990s to the No. 1 leading cause of cancer death.

“We did not expect colorectal cancer to increase so quickly to this level, but it is now clear that this is no longer a disease of the elderly,” Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, the study’s senior author and senior vice president for surveillance, prevention, and health services research at the American Cancer Society, said in a news release.

According to the report, lung cancer has dropped from first to fourth place, and leukemia has dropped from third to fifth place. And breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death overall, and the leading cause of death among women.

The report analyzed more than 1 million people in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia from 1990 to 2023 using data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

“Today’s news confirms what experts have predicted for years, seeing the incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer rapidly rising and claiming far too many lives,” Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, said in a news release.

Dr. Timothy Cannon, director of the Inova Schar Cancer Molecular Tumor Board and associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said the increase in deaths from early-onset colorectal cancer is “alarming and deeply concerning.”

“For the past five years, experts have been predicting a future in which colorectal cancer becomes the most common cause of cancer death in the U.S. population under age 50, with date projections typically falling within the 2040 to 2050 range. It turns out that this future is already here,” Cannon, who was not involved in the study, told USA TODAY.

The report authors noted that these findings highlight the need for further research to determine the causes of the increase in early-onset colorectal cancer.

“For colorectal cancer, we don’t know what factors are driving the increase in incidence, or even if there are primary factors,” Cannon said. “This leaves us as a community feeling frustrated and a bit aimless, often shifting the focus to testing rather than lifestyle changes.”

According to the ACS Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 report, approximately 55% of colorectal cancers can be attributed to several underlying risk factors, including lack of physical activity, excessive smoking and alcohol intake, excess body weight, high intake of red and processed meat, and insufficient intake of calcium, whole grains, and fiber.

The authors also urge clinicians and the public to educate themselves about the symptoms to help with earlier diagnosis and more timely treatment.

“While we are still waiting for answers as to why colorectal cancer rates are rising, with three out of four people under age 50 diagnosed with advanced disease, we can save lives now by recognizing symptoms, reducing stigma, and increasing screening uptake,” the report’s lead author Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, said in a release.

The report contained some good news. In addition to colorectal cancer, mortality rates for each major cancer-related death among people under age 50 have decreased, even though the incidence is increasing, including breast cancer and leukemia.

Last week, the American Cancer Society’s annual report also showed that cancer survival rates in the United States are improving.

Seven out of 10 people now survive five years or more after diagnosis, the report found. This 70% figure is based on diagnoses from 2015 to 2021, up from just half in the mid-1970s. A 5-year measurement is a common time period used to measure survival.

Ford F-450 will be the biggest vehicle at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show

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Ford F-450 will be the biggest vehicle at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show

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What’s the biggest car at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show?A Ford F-450 with an Any Level Lift Kit was the biggest and tallest vehicle on the floor at Huntington Place.

Watch the F-450 in the video above.

The 2026 Detroit Auto Show opens to the public on Saturday, January 17th and runs through January 25th.

Anti-ICE protests planned in Los Angeles as Minnesota businesses close on Friday

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Anti-ICE protests planned in Los Angeles as Minnesota businesses close on Friday

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An anti-immigration and customs enforcement protest in solidarity with the state of Minnesota is planned for Friday, January 23, in Los Angeles, organizers said, and the demonstration comes amid ongoing tensions between federal immigration authorities and communities across the country.

This comes days after a nationwide walkout was planned in protest of the Trump administration and previous protests over the Jan. 7 shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

Hundreds of Minnesota businesses are expected to close on Friday as part of statewide protests against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.

The Southern California rally will be held in downtown Los Angeles, with a march planned to the Metropolitan Detention Center on Alameda Street.

“We are witnessing a dangerous pattern of behavior by ICE agents across select communities across the country, enforcing the Trump administration’s distorted mandate,” CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas said in a statement.

“These are not peacetimes, and all communities who want their neighborhoods to be free from these military operations and abuses should voice their discontent and join this national day of action to say ‘not in our name’ and ‘not on our watch,'” Salas said.

The Los Angeles demonstrations come as federal immigration enforcement agents continue to operate in Southern California. In early January, there were reports of ICE activity in the Fashion District, and on January 21, federal agents opened fire in Willowbrook, near Compton, in a “targeted operation.”

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. please contact her pbarraza@usatodayco.com.

Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley and more stars attend Valentino’s funeral

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Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley and more stars attend Valentino’s funeral

Valentino Garavani’s star-studded funeral was attended by Anne Hathaway, Anna Wintour, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley and more.

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Italian haute couture “emperor” Valentino Garavani was buried in Rome on Friday.

Some of the biggest names in fashion, including Donatella Versace, Tom Ford and Maria Grazia Chiuri, flocked to the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, designed by Michelangelo and built on the site of an ancient Roman bath.

The Italian fashion designer passed away at the age of 93 on January 19th at his home in Rome. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

The star-studded service attracted famous actresses such as Anne Hathaway and Elizabeth Hurley, who had just appeared in court. Olivia Palermo and fashion’s kingmaker Anna Wintour were also in attendance.

Valentino Garavani, Italian fashion Designer who graced the stars dies at the age of 93

“It has been an extraordinary privilege for me to have known, loved and cared for the great Valentino Garavani for the past 20 years,” Hathaway wrote in a tribute on social media after the designer’s death. “He’s a beloved, world-renowned designer titan, but he’s also my dearest friend who has taught me and raised me, sent me flowers every year on my birthday, made me laugh, been my dance and karaoke partner for fun nights, and made my world far brighter, grander, and funnier than I ever imagined.”

The founder of his eponymous brand, Valentino, retired from design in 2008 after a storied career in fashion that included dressing such luminaries as Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Joan Collins, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Penelope Cruz and Sharon Stone. He also introduced a signature deep red shade with orange accents, known as “Valentino Red.”

The unique red he championed in his collection reverberated in splashes of crimson among the many black-clad mourners.

Wearing sharply tailored black satin suits, co-founder Giancarlo Gianmetti and Bruce Hoksema, the designer’s last partner, accompanied the plain wood coffin into the church, drawing applause from the crowd outside.

“Through him, I discovered beauty, which followed us throughout our lives and kept us busy. We met in childhood, had the same dreams, and some of them, I was able to realize many of them,” Giametti said in his eulogy.

“Valentino, you were not the one I spoke to, you were the one I spoke to. You were there for me when words weren’t needed. Life wasn’t always perfect, but it was real. Over 40 years, one day at a time,” Hoksema said in an impromptu speech.

Valentino’s current creative director Alessandro Michele, his predecessor Pierpaolo Piccioli, and the company’s CEO Riccardo Bellini also attended. French billionaire François-Henri Pinault and Antoine Arnault, the eldest son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, were among those mourning.

After the designer’s death, Michele wrote an essay in Vogue magazine saying, “He was almost a mythical figure to me.” Piccioli also paid tribute to Valentino in the magazine, calling him “the most reliable person I have ever met.”

Hundreds of people gathered both outside and inside the cathedral, famous for its marble walls and columns in a darker red than Valentino’s. White flowers adorned the altar, and a black-and-white photo of Valentino was placed next to the coffin.

There were glimpses of red in the bleachers: hats, scarves, bright carmine coats, wool shawls.

More than 10,000 people paid tribute to Valentino on Wednesday and Thursday. Valentino was laid to rest in Rome’s Piazza Mignanelli, next to his fashion house’s historic headquarters and a stone’s throw from the city’s iconic Spanish Steps.

A private burial will follow after the memorial service.

Contributor: Reuters; Kim Willis, USA TODAY

Why do we panic buy before a storm?

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Why do we panic buy before a storm?

Good morning and Happy Friday! I’m Betty Lynn Fisher for Friday’s consumer edition of “The Daily Money.”

If you’re in a part of the country preparing for this weekend’s major winter storm, you may be thinking about going on a “panic buy” trip to the grocery store, or shaking your head in frustration at the empty shelves. I just needed a loaf of bread and I couldn’t find it anywhere.

USA TODAY colleague Mary Walrus Holdridge reports that panic buying is not a new phenomenon. Toilet paper, in addition to staple food, is another big thing people buy in panic, and so is gasoline.

So why do people panic buy?

Click here for tips for winter driving and air travel

To prepare for this big storm, we’ve got some winter driving tips and the latest information on airline storm responses and travel impacts. USA TODAY Travel reporters have a lot of information to help you solve this problem.

Healthcare companies promise Obamacare rebates

UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley has pledged to rebate the company’s Affordable Care Act benefits to customers in 2026, my colleague Ken Alltucker reported.

The stance comes as a House committee meets to examine insurance affordability. Obamacare premiums have skyrocketed due to the recent expiration of coronavirus-era tax credits.

📰 Consumer stories you can’t miss 📰

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.

Barron Trump calls police for allegedly assaulting British woman

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Barron Trump calls police for allegedly assaulting British woman

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President Donald Trump’s teenage son, Barron Trump, went to the police in the UK last year for an alleged assault, according to multiple reports.

In January 2025, Barron Trump made an emergency call to British authorities to report that a woman he met on social media had been assaulted. According to local reports including the London Standard, The Times, Sky News and Metro, the man told a dispatcher that he saw the woman being attacked during the video call.

On January 22nd, a transcript of the emergency call was read out in the Snaresbruck courtroom during the trial of Matvey Rumyantsev, who is accused of assaulting a woman.

Rumyantsev has been charged with assault, actual bodily harm, two counts of rape, intentional strangulation and perverting the course of justice, which he denies, according to reports.

USA TODAY has contacted Snaresbrook Crown Court, the Crown Prosecution Service and the White House.

more: Barron Trump’s marriage pitch with Princess of Denmark goes viral

The woman told the court that Barron Trump’s call to the police “saved her life,” according to reports.

The woman, whose name has not been released under UK privacy laws, reportedly testified in court that she had an affair with Rumyantsev, who had responded to a phone call from Barron Trump.

In response to Barron Trump’s phone call, the woman reportedly testified, “He saved my life. That phone call was like a sign from God.”

In a recording of Barron Trump’s emergency call released by various media outlets, the president’s son reportedly told a dispatcher that a woman was “being beaten.”

“This is a real emergency, please,” he told the operator.

Asked how he knew this woman, Barron Trump reportedly said, “I don’t think those details matter because she’s been beaten, but oh well, I met her on social media. I don’t think it matters.”

The operator responded, “Can you please stop being rude and actually answer my question? If you want to help this person, please answer my question clearly and accurately. Thank you.”

After providing more information, Barron Trump reportedly told the operator, “I’m sorry for being rude,” before hanging up.

The Times and Metro reported that police body camera footage from the scene showed a woman telling an officer, “I’m friends with Barron Trump, Donald Trump’s son.”

One of the officers then told a colleague, “It looks like this informant from America is likely Donald Trump’s son.”

Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

Bill O’Reilly reveals his illness and says he’s battling an illness

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Bill O’Reilly reveals his illness and says he’s battling an illness

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Bill O’Reilly is taking a step back from the news cycle to deal with an undisclosed illness.

The 76-year-old former Fox News host said in a statement posted on his website on January 20 that he will be taking a break from all media activities while undergoing treatment. The conservative commentator hosts the podcast No Spin News, which was created after he left Fox over several lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct.

“Hello, No Spin Nation. Sorry, I’m sick,” O’Reilly wrote on his website. “We have great doctors, so I’m going to fight the good fight. My finger is unaffected, so I’ll keep you up to date with updates on me, the news cycle, and anything else that’s important.”

“Hopefully I can get back in the saddle soon,” he concluded. USA TODAY has reached out to O’Reilly’s representatives for further comment.

O’Reilly gained fame in the 1990s as a hard-charging Republican reporter on Fox, where he hosted “The O’Reilly Factor” for more than a decade. During his time at the media company, he settled five sexual harassment lawsuits and paid millions of dollars to his accusers.

Where is Bill O’Reilly now?

Mr. O’Reilly left Fox after sexual harassment allegations and subsequent lawsuits became public, and he went on to start a podcast and make career guest appearances on Newsmax and NewsNation.

O’Reilly, a free agent after years of being one of Fox’s most recognizable faces, is offering fans a premium membership to the website. His show “No Spin News” is available on Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, and Roku. Additionally, his latest book, “Confronting Evil,” will be provided as a welcome gift to subscribers. This book examines the worst acts of dictators and autocratic leaders over the centuries.

Memberships start at just under $5.50 per month, with the top tier costing $7.92 per month. The top tier includes free signed books, ad-free streaming of O’Reilly’s shows, and access to subscriber-only message boards.

Tesla’s new CyberCab aims to redefine ride-hailing

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Tesla’s new CyberCab aims to redefine ride-hailing

Do you use or own a Cybercab?

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  • Tesla has announced Cybercab, a two-seater vehicle designed for fully autonomous ride-hailing networks.
  • The vehicle will be manufactured using a new “boxless” manufacturing process aimed at streamlining assembly.
  • Tesla will sell the CyberCab for about $30,000, and owners will be able to add their vehicles to the robotaxi network.
  • CyberCab positions Tesla to compete with companies like Waymo in the growing self-driving car market.

Tesla’s newly announced CyberCab marks the electric car company’s most direct move yet toward fully autonomous ride-hailing, like Uber and Lyft, which doesn’t require a human driver.

This two-seater vehicle has no pedals or steering wheel and is designed from the ground up for driverless operation. The move positions Tesla to compete with emerging robotaxi networks.

Tesla CyberCab manufacturing technology strengthened

CyberCab also offers a first look at Tesla’s “boxless” manufacturing process, which the company says will ultimately streamline the assembly process in innovative ways.

CEO Elon Musk told X that production will start slowly but will eventually “eventually get very fast” as the new system scales.

Assembling a typical car can take many hours for popular domestic brands. Tesla is increasingly focused on streamlining production.

A fast, low-cost manufacturing process could be a major competitive advantage as automakers face pressure to improve profit margins as the global EV market softens.

What does CyberCab mean to car buyers?

Tesla plans to sell the CyberCab for $30,000 each, Musk said. CyberCab owners also have the option of renting their vehicles to Tesla’s robotaxi network.

CyberCabs could be a potential new revenue stream for car buyers, but current profit projections are ambitious at best, and the vehicles and networks are so new that they are a risky investment.

In case you missed it: Tesla Cybertruck sales will drop by nearly 50% in 2025

How Tesla Cybercab can transform ride-hailing services

Self-driving ride-hailing companies like Tesla and Waymo hope to reduce ride costs by eliminating human labor and deploying self-driving cars at scale. According to Precedence Research, the global autonomous vehicle market is expected to grow from approximately $274 billion in 2025 to $364 billion by 2035, supporting the industry’s long-term growth potential.

Self-driving cars and ride-hailing services may not seem like a big influence today, but the multibillion-dollar industry is poised to revolutionize transportation over the next decade.

If the CyberCab can achieve even a fraction of the market impact of Tesla’s Model Y, the world’s best-selling car in 2023, it could become one of the defining cars of the next decade.

Tesla’s self-driving taxi rides are already available through the company’s Robotaxi app in Austin, Texas, and Tesla says more markets will come online over time.

Musk’s boring company is building a Tesla tunnel network in Las Vegas and Nashville.

Former Olympian Ryan Wedding arrested in Mexico on drug charge

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Former Olympian Ryan Wedding arrested in Mexico on drug charge

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who was wanted by the FBI on charges of murder and money laundering in connection with suspected drug trafficking into the United States, has been arrested, federal officials confirmed on January 23.

Wedding was taken into custody in Mexico on January 22, FBI Director Kash Patel announced in a post on X, and US Attorney General Pam Bondi said she had been extradited to the US for federal prosecution.

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Former Olympic athlete Ryan Wedding arrested on drug trafficking charges

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been arrested by the FBI on murder and money laundering charges related to suspected drug trafficking into the United States.

Wedding, 44, was wanted by the FBI in connection with a “transnational criminal enterprise.” Mr. Bondi called the Canadian “one of the most prolific and violent drug lords in the world.”

“This is #6 of the top 10 most wanted fugitives captured by the FBI in the past year, combined with fugitives who have been on the run for almost 40 years,” Patel said on social media.

Authorities will hold a press conference on Friday, Jan. 23, at Southern California’s Ontario International Airport to explain the incident, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Los Angeles office told USA TODAY.

Wedding accused of distributing cocaine, collaborating with Mexican cartels

In November, federal authorities released an indictment charging Mr. Wedding with witness intimidation, murder and money laundering.

At the time, Attorney General Pam Bondi called Wedding “Canada’s largest cocaine distributor.” He is also believed to be involved in the sale of other illegal drugs, including fentanyl, while working with the Mexico-based Sinaloa cartel, which Bondi said is “very protective of him.”

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Justice Department and FBI announce new charges and reward for Ryan’s wedding

Canadian former Olympian snowboarder Ryan Wedding faces new charges in the United States for allegedly running a cocaine empire tied to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.

More than 35 people have been charged so far in connection with the federal case, officials said. Bondi said Wedding’s organization imports 60 tons of cocaine into the United States from Mexico each year, generating billions of dollars in annual profits.

“Wedding started with a crush on the Olympic slopes and ended with distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and his native Canada,” Akil Davis, deputy director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said at a press conference in November.

Related: Authorities seize 62 motorcycles in former Olympic snowboarder case

When did Ryan Wedding compete in the Olympics?

Wedding represented Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He competed in the men’s snowboard parallel giant slalom and finished 24th.

This is a developing story.

Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund

2026 Rivian R1T Quad pickups ooze power and character

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2026 Rivian R1T Quad pickups ooze power and character

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  • The R1T Quad Max uses Rivian’s new in-house developed electric motors (one for each wheel) to deliver incredible power.
  • We tested the R1T Quad Max for a week in some serious winter weather.

Rivian will become a mainstay in the car market later this year with the release of the R2 compact electric SUV starting at about $45,000.

But first, the electric vehicle specialist swings for the fences with the 2026 R1T Quad Max, a super truck with electric motors in each wheel, 1,025 horsepower, hands-free highway driving, the smartest headlights you’ve ever seen, and more.

Is $115,990 definitely a lot of money?

of course. If you find a pickup with the R1T Quad Max’s power, imaginative features, and advanced technology for less, let us know.

I spent a week testing the top-of-the-line R1T Quad Max, which includes Rivian’s new in-house developed electric motor and an electrical architecture that VW is paying $5 billion to share, in cold, windy, often snowy and icy Great Lakes winter weather.

All tests passed, but some small adjustments are required.

2026 Rivian R1T Trim Levels and Prices

  • R1T Dual Standard: $70,990
  • R1T Dual: $77,990
  • R1T Tri: $100,990
  • R1T Quad: $117,885
  • R1T Quad Launch Edition: $119,990

Source: Edmunds Note: All prices exclude $1,895 destination charge

R1T Quad Max: Everything More

The R1T Quad Max uses Rivian’s new in-house developed electric motors (one for each wheel) to deliver incredible power. Numbers like 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 pound-feet of torque are there more for bragging rights than actual use, but with the Quad Max, you’ll never wish for more acceleration or towing capacity.

The Quad Max also offers Rivian’s new hands-free highway driving feature and an adaptive headlight system that adjusts the lights to avoid the eyes of oncoming drivers without turning off the high beams.

Car purchase: Cheapest Pickup Trucks Under $35,000

It has features like Rivian’s signature “gear tunnel,” plus a large clear screen for locked storage, audio, navigation, and more.

The Quad Max’s large 141kWh battery delivers an EPA-estimated 338 miles of driving range. The less powerful R1T has a range of 420 miles.

The Quad Max (and other future Rivians) feature a Tesla-style NACS charging port for accessing the simplest and most reliable DC fast charging network.

Rivian’s controls aren’t that big deal

Rivian takes a minimalist approach to controls. The screen is good, buttons and dials should be avoided.

The California-based automaker doesn’t do something as preposterous as some European brands, trying to control four windows with three buttons. I’m looking at you, VW, Volvo, Polestar.

Rivian’s approach led to a mostly rational approach to control. Adjusting your HVAC vents using the touch screen may seem complicated, but the vents will return to the selected position each time you drive. I like it.

I also have a lot of concerns about side mirror and steering column adjustments, which are done using rockers and rollers on the horizontal arm of the steering wheel. It’s also relatively simple and linked to the driver’s profile, so you don’t have to use the controls often.

These controls on the steering wheel also manage adaptive cruise control, hands-free system speed, following distance, and more. Not to mention audio volume and tracks.

Some of these features could use dedicated controls, but it didn’t take me long to learn Rivian’s layout.

2026 Rivian R1T Quad Max Key Features

  • Cruising range 338 miles
  • all wheel drive
  • Built-in NACS Tesla style charging port.
  • CCS charging adapter available
  • 1,025 horsepower, 1,198 pound-feet of torque
  • 0-90mph/2.5 seconds
  • Hands-free highway driving system
  • adaptive high beam

Driving impression

I used Rivian’s app to enable my phone as a key. The app worked perfectly, locking and unlocking as I left or approached, and remembered the system.

A funny pseudo-owl’s “Who? Who?” sound went off every time I walked away, reassuring me that the R1T was locked.

When I used the DC fast charger while shopping, the app kept me informed of the charging progress. Charging was quick and the R1T’s range matched the projected 338 miles.

The cabin is comfortable and quiet. Thanks to the heated front seats and steering wheel, I was able to keep myself warm without relying too much on forced air heat, which drains the battery.

Four motors managed the power, providing smooth and controlled traction even on slippery surfaces.

The hands-free highway driving system worked well enough that I’m looking forward to using it for all-day driving, but it lacks the auto lane changing ability of state-of-the-art systems. Once, the front sensor was blocked by relatively light snow, disabling its functionality.

The “kick turn,” which rotates the wheels in opposite directions and essentially spins the pickup on its own axis, is a unique feature that serves as the equivalent of a parlor trick, and is an enabler for navigating the toughest off-road conditions. The driver is controlled via the R1T’s 15.6-inch touchscreen.

What could be better? connectivity, sensors

The hands-free driving system’s sensors were highly susceptible to blockage from mud, snow and sleet, rendering the system inoperable in conditions where competing cars such as GM’s Super Cruise would still function.

Like other automakers (Tesla and General Motors, for example), Rivian has chosen not to enable the CarPlay feature, which gives you access to the full functionality of your iPhone.

Although “Hey Siri” is enabled on the Rivian, it’s missing some features I use frequently, like reading text messages aloud and programming the navigation system with contact addresses.

Rivian plans to add its own virtual assistant via an over-the-air update later this year. it might help.

Why buy the 2026 Rivian R1T Quad Max?

The R1T is the only medium-sized electric pickup. Its range and charging capacity should serve owners well. Owners will trust and appreciate features like hands-free driving and adaptive high beams.

The pickups are unique in size, power, and functionality. Rivian’s unique style and inventive features like Kick Turn the Owl and Gear Guardian, Rivian’s virtual watchman, add a touch of whimsy.

2026 Rivian R1T Quad Max Overview

All-wheel drive electric mid-size pickup

5 seats

Now on sale

Base price: $115,990. All prices exclude $1,895 destination charge

Test price: $121,995

Power: 4 electric motors, one for each wheel.

Power: 1,025 horsepower. 1,198 lb-ft of torque

Transmission: Single speed direct drive automatic

EPA estimated range: 338 miles

EPA estimated annual fuel cost at current prices: $1,050

Battery capacity: 141kWh

Estimated charging time: 20% to 80% in 38 to 40 minutes at 220 kW. 14 hours at 240V

0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds

Top speed: 130 mph

Wheelbase: 135.8 inches

Length: 217.1 inches

Width: 82 inches (with side mirrors folded)

Height: 78.2 inches (including antenna)

Ground clearance: 14.9 inches

Bed: 4.5 feet

Vehicle weight: 6,898 lbs.

Towing capacity: 11,000 lbs.

Payload: 1,764 lbs.

Cargo: 9.9 cubic feet of front trunk. 11.7 cubic feet gear tunnel

Assembled in Normal, Illinois

Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark ferran. read more car and sign up for our service automotive newsletter. become a subscriber.

Exhibits about enslaved people in George Washington’s home are removed

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Exhibits about enslaved people in George Washington’s home are removed

George Washington kept slaves as president. Federal exhibits commemorating them have now been removed in the name of “returning truth and sanity to American history.”

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PHILADELPHIA – An exhibit commemorating the enslaved people who lived and worked in George Washington’s home while he lived here as president, just steps away from the Liberty Bell, was dismantled on Jan. 22, its signage and other materials removed by National Park Service officials.

The lot at Sixth Avenue and Market Street is where Washington lived when Philadelphia was the nation’s capital, and records show he kept people there as slaves.

“There is only one federal facility in the country where the history of enslaved black people is documented,” said Michael Cord, a lawyer and activist who has fought for recognition for the nine people who were held in home confinement.

USA TODAY contacted the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior about the removal and received an email response pointing to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last March titled “Restore Truth and Sanity to American History.”

“The President has directed federal agencies to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, integrity, and consistency with our nation’s shared values,” the statement said. “After completing the necessary reviews, the National Park Service is currently taking steps to remove or modify the interpretive materials in accordance with the order.”

Coad said he wasn’t surprised by the firing, which had been threatened for months, but didn’t know why it happened now.

Cord was not at the scene when workers began removing signs and other exhibits, but Mijuel Johnson, another member of the Revenge of the Ancestors Coalition, was. Cord said Johnson asked the workers who were loading the signs onto trucks, but the workers only said they would take the signs to a safe location.

Several months ago, Coad and other activists, preservationists, historians and architects began drawing up plans in case the government acted before the executive order’s September deadline.

What is the Presidential Palace? Activists vow to protect exhibit on George Washington’s ties to slavery

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on January 22 that Philadelphia Mayor Sherrell Parker’s administration filed the lawsuit under a 2006 agreement between the federal government and the city that requires advance notice of any changes to park grounds. The lawsuit names Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Park Service Acting Director Jessica Bowron and calls the removal of the slavery exhibit illegal and “arbitrary and capricious,” according to the Inquirer.

Cord, speaking late on Jan. 22, said he was aware of the city’s lawsuit and was grateful the city was putting resources into the issue.

“I give great credit to the city for saving not only Black history but American history,” he said. “Our focus is to save the scene.”

He is worried about what will happen to the materials that were in the presidential palace.

Coad said there was “no way” the materials could be destroyed because they are important information and could serve as evidence in a lawsuit. “But anything can happen with this administration. It could all be torn down tomorrow.” This included a wall carved in stone with the names of enslaved people kept in the house.

Still, Coad said, “We are pursuing all legal options and there is much more we can do.”

President Trump says Canada’s Carney will no longer be invited to peace committee

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President Trump says Canada’s Carney will no longer be invited to peace committee

In a Jan. 22 social media post, President Trump said, “The Peace Committee is withdrawing Canada’s invitation to participate.”

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President Donald Trump will remove Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney from his peace committee. The peace commission was initially created by President Trump to help rebuild Gaza, but has expanded to include other conflicts.

“The Peace Council will withdraw at any time Canada’s invitation to participate in the most prestigious summit ever convened,” Trump said in a social media post directed at Carney on January 22.

President Trump withdrew his invitation to Carney after the Canadian leader gave a speech at the World Economic Forum in which he spoke of a “disconnect” with the United States over tariffs and Greenland.

“We are in the midst of a disconnect, not a transition,” Carney said at an event in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20. “Great powers have begun to use economic integration as a weapon.”

Mr. Carney’s speech attracted a lot of attention, with Mr. Trump incensed by describing the chaos in the “world order” in which “great power geopolitics is unfettered” and calling on “middle powers” to “build a new order.” President Trump criticized Carney as ungrateful in his speech at Davos.

“By the way, Canada is getting a lot of freebies from us. They should be grateful, but they’re not,” Trump said. “I saw your Prime Minister yesterday. He wasn’t very grateful. But they should thank us, Canada. Canada lives because of the United States. Mark, please remember that next time you speak.”

Mr. Carney was one of dozens of world leaders Mr. Trump invited to serve on the peace commission. To date, the leaders of more than 20 countries have participated in the Council, including Armenia, Egypt, Hungary, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. However, other leaders are reluctant to participate.

The Council’s broad mandate has raised questions about whether it could come into conflict with the United Nations. The organization’s charter states that it is committed to “ensuring lasting peace in areas affected by or threatened by conflict.”

Carney’s speech and Trump’s response are the latest signs of continuing tensions between the United States and Canada. President Trump has stated that he wants to make Canada the 51st state, and has shown an active stance toward trade relations with the country. Trade negotiations between Canada and the United States remain unresolved.

Contribution: Bert Jansen, Reuters

New movies streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max

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New movies streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, and HBO Max

Need to see a new movie? Stream these 10 movies for free at home with Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, HBO Max, and Paramount+.

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  • One of these movies is the one you should watch tonight.
  • This weekend’s selections include several big-name biopics, including “The Smashing Machine” and “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.”
  • Need some fantasy in your viewing life? Includes the kid-friendly “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” and the sentimental “Big Bold Beautiful Johnny.”

Do you like movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY’s Watch Party newsletter has all of our best recommendations, delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.

If you haven’t streamed any new Oscar nominees this weekend, check out the slew of new releases that range from Dwayne Johnson fight flicks to Bruce Springsteen biopics.

Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, HBO Max, and Paramount+ all offer movie lovers something fresh to watch. A fantastical road trip with Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, a mixed martial arts sports movie with The Rock, and Jeremy Allen White on screen as The Boss. And for maximum family fun, don’t fall asleep while watching the movie version of Netflix’s popular children’s hit Gabby’s Dollhouse.

Here are 10 hottest new movies you can stream right now.

“A big, bold and beautiful journey”

In this sentimental fantasy, Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell play strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and are magically drawn together. They go on a road trip with various strange doors and random pop music needle drops, forcing them to confront past decisions and difficult moments.

Where to watch: Netflix

“Black Phone 2”

Young Finn (Mason Thames) is kidnapped by the villainous Glover (Ethan Hawke) and manages to kill the masked menace in his first “phone”. Years later, Finn and his psychic sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) find themselves face-to-face once again from beyond the grave at the winter camp their mother once attended in this hilarious horror sequel.

Where to watch: peacock

“Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie”

This family-friendly, kitten-loving adventurer finds Gabby (Lila Lockhart Cranor) and the animated Gabby Cats heading to Cat Francisco with Grandma Gigi (Gloria Estefan). This movie is fun for all ages and reminds adults that you’re never too old to have fun.

Where to watch: peacock

“People I meet on vacation”

The romantic comedy, adapted from Emily Henry’s novel, is a breezy ride, at least until it takes a serious turn downwind. Poppy (Emily Bader) and Alex (Tom Bryce) are unlikely best friends from college and go on vacation together every summer, usually with a lot of fuss until their significant others and their feelings for each other complicate things.

Where to watch: Netflix

“The Rip”

In Joe Carnahan’s twisty action movie, best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck lead a Miami police crew to seize cash at a cartel stash. Instead of the expected thousands of dollars, they instead find a whopping $20 million, and a night full of shady shenanigans begins as the team members decide whether to do the right thing or keep the money.

Where to watch: Netflix

“running man”

Director Edgar Wright’s rework is more faithful to Stephen King’s novel, with Glen Powell reprising his old Arnold Schwarzenegger role as a man who must survive the world’s most dangerous game show. It’s a vivid satire of modern reality television, terrifying Big Brother technology, cultural discord, and pervasive income inequality.

Where to watch: paramount+

“The Smashing Machine”

Even if you’re familiar with The Rock, you’ve probably never seen this side of Dwayne Johnson. This sports biopic depicts three formative years in the life of mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Carr, and Johnson excels at telling an emotional story that captures the complex soul of a man whose struggle with drugs nearly derailed his career.

Where to watch: HBO Max

“Springsteen: Deliver It From Anywhere”

Jeremy Allen White plays New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen in the musical drama, born to run as an American icon. The story centers on the making of the singer-songwriter’s downbeat but introspective 1982 album Nebraska, in which Springsteen learns how to be a boss while unearthing childhood trauma.

Where to watch: Hulu

“The Toxic Avenger”

In this splatter reinterpretation of 1980s cult classic star Peter Dinklage, a hapless janitor is thrown into a toxic waste bin and emerges as a mutant superhero wielding a radioactive mop. Filled with ultra-violent gonzo footage and lots of laughs, this movie is a must-see for Gen Xers who lived for the movies their parents didn’t want them to watch back in the day.

Where to watch: Hulu

“Twinless”

After the death of his identical twin, a grieving Roman (Dylan O’Brien) attends a support group where he forms a codependent bromance with fellow loner Dennis (James Sweeney), who harbors a secret that threatens both of their unstable mental states. O’Brien is better than ever at commanding the smart humor and big heart of a film about moving on.

Where to watch: Hulu

CIO’s Governance Guide

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CIO’s Governance Guide

Enterprise networks are becoming filled with AI agents, creating governance blind spots for leaders managing multicloud infrastructure.

As various business units race to deploy generation technologies, CIOs especially find themselves with fragmented and unmonitored assets in their ecosystems. This reflects the challenges of shadow IT in the cloud era, but involves autonomous actors who can execute business logic and access sensitive data.

IDC predicts that the number of actively deployed AI agents will exceed 1 billion by 2029. This is an increase of 40 times the current level. In the first half of 2025 alone, agent creation jumped 119%. The immediate challenge for enterprise leaders will shift from building these agents to finding, auditing, and managing them across platforms.

Salesforce addressed this fragmentation by extending the capabilities of MuleSoft Agent Fabric and introducing an auto-discovery tool designed to centrally manage AI agents, regardless of their origin.

Automated discovery

Visibility remains a core issue for security and operations teams. When marketing teams deploy AI agents on one platform and logistics teams build on another, effective governance becomes difficult because central IT loses a unified view of the organization’s digital workforce.

MuleSoft’s updated architecture addresses this issue through an “agent scanner.” These tools continuously patrol major ecosystems such as Salesforce Agentforce, Amazon Bedrock, and Google Vertex AI to identify running agents. Rather than having developers manually register deployments, the system automates discovery.

Finding an agent is only the first step. Compliance leaders need to understand the logic behind it. The scanner extracts metadata detailing the agent’s capabilities, the LLM that powers it, and the specific data endpoints it is allowed to access. This information is normalized into standard agent-to-agent (A2A) specifications to create a uniform profile of assets regardless of the underlying vendor.

“The most successful organizations over the next decade will be those that take full advantage of the diversity of multicloud AI environments,” said Andrew Comstock, SVP and GM, MuleSoft. “The expanded capabilities of MuleSoft Agent Fabric give them the freedom to innovate across any platform while maintaining the unified visibility and control they need to scale.”

AI agent governance and cost management

Unmanaged agents are exposed to financial inefficiencies and risks. Consider a CISO in the banking sector. In standard operations, validating a new loan processing agent requires manual documentation tracking from the development team. Automated cataloging allows security teams to instantly see which financial databases agents are accessing and check their authorization levels without manual intervention. This feature allows security teams to see real-time data instead of old snapshots.

From a financial perspective, visibility drives integration. Large companies often suffer from redundancy as regional teams source or build similar tools on their own. For example, a multinational manufacturer may have three separate teams paying separate aggregation agents on different platforms.

By using MuleSoft Agent Visualizer to filter assets by job type, operations leaders can identify these duplicates. Consolidating these into one high-performance asset reduces excess licensing costs and allows you to reallocate your budget toward new development.

Successfully transitioned to an “agency company”

Innovation often happens at the edge, where data scientists build bespoke tools outside of formal procurement channels.

The Enhanced Agent Fabric addresses this issue by allowing you to register “homegrown” agents and Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers via a URL. This is particularly relevant in areas such as logistics, where teams may build their own internal tools for database optimization. Rather than leaving these assets hidden, you can register them to make them discoverable and reusable across your company.

Jonathan Harvey, Head of AI Operations at Capita, said, “Agent Scanner allows us to focus on innovation instead of inventory management. Knowing that all agents are automatically discovered and cataloged allows our teams to collaborate, reuse work, and build smarter multi-agent solutions.”

Similarly, AT&T leverages this framework to coordinate agents across customer support, chat, and voice interactions.

Brad Ringer, Enterprise and Integration Architect at AT&T, explained, “With rapid advances in AI, MuleSoft Agent Fabric provides the framework we need to scale. It helps us integrate and orchestrate all the agents and MCP servers we’re building for customer support, chat, and voice interactions. It’s more than just a tool; it’s a big enabler for everything we do next.”

The move to an “agent enterprise” requires a change in governance around how IT assets are tracked, and the days of managing integrations via old spreadsheets are no longer compatible with the speed of AI agent deployment.

Leaders should assume that their AI agent inventory is incomplete and deploy automated scanning tools to establish a baseline of truth. Once this baseline is established, governance policies should require that all agents, whether purchased or built, expose their capabilities and data access privileges in a standardized format, such as A2A, to facilitate monitoring.

Finally, executives can use the visibility these tools provide to audit spending, identify duplicate functionality across cloud environments, and consolidate them to control total cost of ownership (TCO).

As organizations move from pilot programs to large-scale deployments, the differentiator is not the intelligence of individual agents, but the consistency of the network that connects them.

See also: Balancing AI cost efficiency and data sovereignty

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$1.8 billion jackpot winner receives prize almost a month later

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.8 billion jackpot winner receives prize almost a month later

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A lucky lottery player who won a huge $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve received his prize nearly a month later.

On Thursday, January 22nd, Powerball announced that the winner had come forward to claim the prize. Lottery participants chose to remain anonymous.

“Everyone has been anxiously waiting for the winners to come forward, and we’re glad they took the time to seek legal and financial advice first, as we recommended,” said Sharon Strong, executive director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, in a statement. “We’re thrilled that the winner is from Arkansas!”

Powerball said jackpot winners had the option of receiving an annuitized payout or a lump sum of $834.9 million. They opted for a one-time payment.

Here’s what you need to know about Victory.

First Powerball win in 2026: Find out where tickets are on sale.

Where were the tickets sold?

The ticket was sold at a Murphy USA gas station in Cabot, Arkansas, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock, Powerball reported. The store also received $50,000 in fees for selling the winning ticket.

The jackpot was the second-largest prize in U.S. and Powerball history.

This is only the second time in the game’s history that a ticket sold in Arkansas won the jackpot. The first time was in 2010.

Can Arkansas Lottery Winners Stay Anonymous?

Yes, according to Arkansas law. If you win more than $500,000 in the lottery, you can choose to remain anonymous.

But winners can’t remain anonymous forever.

After three years, the name of the person who claimed the jackpot becomes public information. This law was enacted in 2021.

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
  • January 1, 2024, $842.4 million in Michigan.
  • March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
  • August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts

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 buy Powerball tickets online depending on your local government.

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.

If you want the computer to pick the numbers for you, you can use the “Quick Pick” option. To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls with the red Powerball in any order.

Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. If no one wins the jackpot, the prize continues to rise.

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

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 US 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.

Can I get Powerball tickets online?

You can also order tickets online Jackpocket, USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery delivery companythe following 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.

Julia Gomez is USA TODAY’s trends reporter, covering popular toys, scientific research, natural disasters and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamaigz or email jgomez@hannett.com..

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_.

See the latest forecast map as country brackets

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See the latest forecast map as country brackets

Much of the country east of the Rocky Mountains is bracing for the worst winter storm of the season, which will be followed by the coldest temperatures in years.

For many people on January 22nd, especially in the southern half of the country, it meant going to the grocery store and preparing their homes and businesses for what was to come.

More than 175 million people were receiving some type of severe winter weather message from the National Weather Service, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center. The messages include warnings and alerts for winter storms and extreme cold, including heavy snow, freezing rain, sleet and double-digit freezing temperatures.

These maps show what meteorologists are predicting through January 25th.

Where are the areas most at risk for snow and ice?

The darkest red areas on this map indicate areas that could be at least moderately affected by snow and ice by January 26th.

Warnings, advisories, and alerts have been issued across the country.

extreme wind cooling values

Temperatures can reach freezing in much of the northern half of the country, with the coldest temperatures occurring in the upper Midwest and northern New England.

snow forecast

The National Weather Service said widespread snowfall of 5 to 15 inches is expected, with isolated amounts of more than 18 inches in some high-elevation areas.

Freezing rain expected to continue until January 25th

more: As winter storms begin to hit the US, take a look at some of the biggest snowstorms

Dinah Boyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, covers climate change, weather, the environment and other news. Contact dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or dinahvp.77 on X or Signal.

FCC targets talk shows, late-night TV amid Trump-Kimmel feud

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FCC targets talk shows, late-night TV amid Trump-Kimmel feud

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The Federal Communications Commission said in new guidance that daytime and late-night television talk shows do not have a blanket exemption from the law that requires stations to provide equal broadcasting opportunities to political candidates.

The station’s Jan. 21 public announcement comes months after FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr made comments that some interpreted as a threat to revoke ABC stations’ licenses unless Jimmy Kimmel was fired for his on-air comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. President Donald Trump’s administration has also criticized Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert and “The View” co-hosts.

Experts told USA TODAY that such laws go back decades, are not widely enforced against television stations, and violate the First Amendment right of broadcasters to make their own editorial decisions.

“The FCC is not intended to be, and is not authorized to be, the nation’s speech police,” said Robert Cohn Revere, principal counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

USA TODAY has reached out to the FCC and the National Association of Broadcasters for comment.

Notice regarding late-night TV

The Communications Act of 1934 required FCC licensees in both radio and later television to provide all legally eligible candidates for public office an equal opportunity to appear on the air.

The law was amended in 1959 to exempt news programs, news interviews, news documentaries, and on-the-ground coverage of news events from its requirements.

The FCC determined in 2006, under the administration of former President George W. Bush, that interview segments on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” qualified for the news interview exemption, according to the FCC notice.

But this singular decision was interpreted and applied too broadly in subsequent years, resulting in the widespread belief that all daytime and late-night talk shows were exempt from equal opportunity requirements, the FCC said in new guidance.

“This is not true,” the notice said.

Rather, the agency said such decisions are “fact-based” and exemptions are “limited to the program that was the subject of the request.”

Guidance could have a chilling effect on broadcasters

Jenna Leventoff, senior policy adviser at the American Civil Liberties Union, said narrowing the definition of what constitutes news to exclude talk shows “could have very dramatic First Amendment implications.”

She said her organization supports a broader definition, given the vast number of options people now have to stay up to date on current events, including traditional news outlets, social media and talk shows.

The 1934 law was based on a limited number of public airwaves. David Keating, director of the Free Speech Institute, said such a rationale would be “obsolete” by 2025 due to the dramatic changes in the media environment that have occurred in the years since.

He said the equal opportunity requirement was “constitutionally questionable” in the modern context, adding that the courts could resolve the issue if a lawsuit were filed.

However, he said his talk show may avoid booking political candidates in light of the FCC’s notice.

“As a result, I think the situation for viewers and the public will become even worse,” he said.

Although the notice only refers to television, Mr. Cornrevere said these policies apply to radio as well, as the Broadcasting Act applies to both mediums. That means conservative talk radio, said to be a key factor in President Trump’s political success, will also be bound by equal opportunity requirements.

It remains to be seen how much of a mandate the FCC will impose on talk shows over such requirements, but Leventov said, “Even if it’s unenforceable, damage could still occur.”

“Sometimes that threat is enough to chill speech,” she says.

Breanna Frank is USA TODAY’s First Amendment reporter. please contact her bjfrank@usatoday.com.

USA TODAY’s coverage of First Amendment issues is funded by the Freedom Forum in collaboration with our journalism funding partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.

Here’s why Donald Trump’s name has been popping up everywhere lately.

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Here’s why Donald Trump’s name has been popping up everywhere lately.

Toponymic narcissism refers to people who are obsessed with attaching their own names to things. Trump’s name now seems to be everywhere.

play

President Donald Trump’s recent tongue-in-cheek proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico in his honor highlights a growing trend. The president and his supporters envision putting his name on everything from phones to performing arts centers, stadiums, airports, roads, whiskey glasses and bathrobes.

From a town called Hope, to the boulevards of Martin Luther King Jr. and Ronald Reagan, to Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, to the nation’s capital, Washington itself, which was named in honor of then-president in 1791, societies have always used the names of streets and places to convey values. The colony of Jamestown was named in honor of King James I of England, and Louisiana was named after King Louis XIV of France.

But the current president’s willingness to promote his personal brand, and the willingness of others to support it, stands out in modern history, according to people who study naming.

“Typically, best practice is to wait until someone dies,” says Reuben Rose Redwood, a professor of geography at the University of Victoria in Canada and an international expert on how place names shape perceptions. “We’ve never seen anything like the scale of renaming places after living people, as we’re seeing with President Trump. It’s unprecedented in modern times.”

Businessman’s brand “Trump”

History is full of examples of leaders naming communities, streets, and buildings in their honor, including Soviet leaders Stalin and Lenin, who gave us Stalingrad and Leningrad. Hitler named several places in Berlin after himself, but at the end of World War II his name was erased from the city.

“The rise and fall of regimes is often accompanied by name changes,” Rose-Redwood said. “What I see in the United States is a combination of gross commercialization and a cult of personality centered around an authoritarian leader who treats the government and its assets as the president’s own personal property.”

Rose-Redwood said there is a term to describe this concept: “homonymous narcissism.”

Trump has long used his name as the cornerstone of the branding of his real estate empire, giving the world Trump Steaks, Trump Vodka, Trump University and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino. There are also Trump cell phones, Trump gold cards for wealthy immigrants, and the $Trump coin cryptocurrency.

In his second term, President Trump also added his name to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the United States Institute of Peace. ESPN reported that President Trump is encouraging the Washington Commanders football team to name their new stadium after him.

On January 20, at the end of his first year in office, Trump said he refused to name the bay after himself, but mused aloud about the idea, saying, “Trump Bay, it sure sounds nice. Maybe we can, but it’s not too late.”

In honor of Trump

Many Trump supporters support efforts to name things after him.

  • In Kentucky, the state Legislature is considering a plan to rename 12 miles of Kentucky Route 18 from Florence to Rabbit Hash in Boone in honor of the president.
  • In December, officials in Florida renamed a four-mile stretch of Southern Boulevard near the president’s Mar-a-Lago golf club as “President Donald J. Trump Boulevard.”
  • In Ohio, Republican lawmakers are proposing to name a two-mile stretch of Interstate 70 in Columbus the “President Donald Trump Freedom Highway.”
  • Congressional Republicans are proposing to rename Washington Dulles International Airport, which already accommodates one president, the Donald J. Trump International Airport. The capital’s other airport is named in honor of both Washington and President Ronald Reagan.

In each case, sponsors argued that Mr. Trump deserves to be recognized for his successes on behalf of the American people.

“We have entered a golden age in America thanks in large part to President Trump’s leadership,” Rep. Addison McDowell, Republican of North Carolina, said in announcing plans to rename Dulles. “It is only right that the two airports that serve our nation’s capital are rightly honored and respected by two of the greatest presidents who have had the honor of serving our great nation.”

Derek H. Alderman, a place-naming expert and Chancellor’s Professor at the University of Tennessee, said President Trump’s place-naming push is reminiscent of the ancient practice of “paying tribute,” in which certain classes of people seek to gain favor with a powerful monarch.

“That’s definitely what we’re looking at with some of this naming,” said Alderman, who served on the federal advisory committee on place name reconciliation in the Biden administration.

take back the story

The councilman said there are bigger issues as well. This is said to be the desire of some conservatives to “take back” the process of naming and renaming places.

For example, a Biden administration-era commission that the city council member served on was assembled to help change geographic names, including those considered offensive by Native Americans, similar to when Congress ordered the renaming of about a dozen Army bases in honor of Confederate military leaders in 2020.

The base renaming process took years and included thousands of hours of public testimony and community engagement, but upon taking office in 2025, President Trump ordered the bases to be renamed back to their original names.

President Trump also ordered Denali, the nation’s highest mountain, to be called Mount McKinley again. President Obama changed the name in 2015 after decades of requests from Alaska state officials, some of whom objected to President Trump changing the name last year.

As with the Gulf of America, President Trump called for Denali’s name to be changed without seeking substantial public input.

Show your respect, stroke your ego, and rewrite history.

The councilman said MAGA supporters seemed to have decided that naming things for Trump was a way to solve two problems at once.

“People know that honoring President Trump is a way to keep him happy and basically feeds his ego. But we’re also in the midst of a political realignment by the right that is pushing back on the movement toward more progressive symbols,” the councilman said. “This is their attempt to counter that reform movement.”

Rose Redwood added: “The irony here is that this idea of ​​erasing history, Trump himself was very opposed to removing Confederate place names and statues, but at the same time renaming the Gulf of Mexico doesn’t somehow erase history.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, is proposing federal legislation that would ban federal buildings from being named after sitting presidents.

Sanders’ proposal, called the “Stop Executive Name Changes for Vanity and Ego Act,” would apply retroactively to federal facilities that already bear Trump’s name. Sanders said naming a building after a current leader is reminiscent of authoritarian regimes in history.

“It is arrogant and illegal for Mr. Trump to put his name on a federal building,” Sanders said in a statement. “We have to put an end to this narcissism. That’s what this bill is about.”

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