morning! Welcome to the daily briefing. This morning’s breaking news is:
nicole farato Here’s the news you need to know on Tuesday. The latest on Venezuela’s deposed president, the league-wide cull of NFL coaches, and people flocking to buy public transit cards they can’t even use.
Deposed Venezuelan leader pleads not guilty
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro pleaded “not guilty” in federal court to U.S. drug trafficking charges on Monday, days after his wife was captured by U.S. forces in a surprise attack on the oil-producing nation.
“I’m innocent. I’m not guilty. I’m a decent human being. I’m still the president of my country,” Maduro said through an interpreter, but was interrupted by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. Hellerstein ordered that Maduro be held until a March 17 hearing.
President Maduro, wearing a prison uniform – the latest public clothing ensemble to garner attention – delivered the petition just after 12pm ET. His wife, Cilia Flores (more about her here), also pleaded not guilty.
How do Americans feel about the United States taking military action against Venezuela? One in three Americans agrees.
More news you need to know right now
- Will federal economic stimulus be delivered this month? Experts say the revenue from President Trump’s tariffs likely won’t cover the cost of issuing the $2,000 checks.
- “You can’t give your all to a political campaign”: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has called off his bid for re-election amid mounting pressure over the corruption scandal that has engulfed his administration in recent weeks.
- USA TODAY took a closer look at Roblox’s new safety features. Starting this month, all users will be required to undergo a face scan with AI-powered age estimation to continue using the platform’s chat features. The changes are, in many ways, the company’s response to the increased scrutiny it faces over child safety on its apps.
Let’s take a look
team to cut ties
It was a scary day on the NFL calendar. “Black Monday” usually heralds major disruption across the league, and teams often take quick action to revamp their coaching staffs and front offices as the season ends. USA TODAY Sports tracked who’s going, who wants to be interviewed and who’s begging to stay.
I want to talk to you about something.
How much do you spend on a ticket to nowhere?
Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials phased out MetCards last month, switching entirely to contactless tap-and-go payments. MetroCards, which have been around since 1994, are no longer available for purchase through the MTA, but new and popular MetroCards sell for thousands of dollars on resale sites like eBay.
before you go
Have feedback about the daily briefing? Email Nicole at NFallert@usatoday.com.
