It’s a new week!🙋🏼♀️ I’m Nicole Fallato. Preparing roasted butternut squash.
Let’s take a quick look at Monday’s news.
- Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has long been one of Donald Trump’s most loyal MAGA allies. Until now.
- Airport personnel are recovering.
- Team USA is taking shape for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Why are Marjorie Taylor Greene and Donald Trump fighting?
President Donald Trump is feuding with one of his most vocal MAGA supporters.
fever pitch: Trump withdrew his support for Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and gave her a nickname. This is usually given to the most bitter political opponents.
- Where it started: Democrats cited Greene’s complaints about the government shutdown and rising health care costs as reasons for holding off on voting to open the government and approve the spending package.
- All that Epstein. The rift also comes as Greene works to force the House of Representatives to vote to release all government records on Jeffrey Epstein.
- And Trump blamed Epstein. President Trump on Sunday called on House Republicans to vote for the full release of Epstein files, in a stunning reversal of his previous warnings for Republicans not to fall into Epstein’s “trap.”
Airplane suspension has ended
The Federal Aviation Administration will lift all flight restrictions at 40 major U.S. airports that were imposed amid the government shutdown due to concerns about air traffic safety. Air traffic controller staffing levels have “continued to return to previous levels” since the end of the government shutdown, the FAA said. The FAA said the action was the result of a review of safety trends.
More news you need to know right now
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Immigration officials ‘swarm’ Charlotte
The arrival of federal agents in Charlotte, North Carolina, comes as President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown expands to more Democratic-run cities, including Charlotte, which is now led by Democratic Mayor Vi Lyles. Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden said last week that the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has not released specific details about DHS operations, such as how many officers will be sent to the city or what their duties will be. According to the Charlotte Observer, “masked federal agents” made their presence known Saturday at churches and other locations in east Charlotte.
My favorite gummy bears are in legal trouble.
The bill that reopened the government also includes strict new rules for hemp products, which critics say could outlaw mainstream drinks, creams, gummies, oils and e-cigarettes. This provision closes a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed the sale of hemp-derived products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The impending ban could have a significant impact on communities where hemp-based consumer products are an entire industry.
today’s speaker
Loading Team USA…
American athletes are gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, competing at the highest level to earn a ticket to the Games, scheduled to open in Italy this February. Ice was the star of the weekend. California’s Alisa Liu won her first career victory at Skate America in 2025, raising hopes for the U.S. team (no woman has won a medal in the singles event since 2006). Meanwhile, U.S. speed skaters collected a lot of hardware at the World Cup.
Photo of the day: Grande at the Oscars
Hollywood’s hottest names are joining the Oscar campaign, and many of them attended the 16th Annual Governors Awards on Sunday. Ariana Grande shared her Academy Awards joke.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer for USA TODAY. Sign up for emails here. Want to send a note to Nicole? Email NFallert@usatoday.com.
