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Batten down the hatches, a powerful nor’easter hitting the East Coast could bring up to 2 feet of snow to New York City.
Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
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1. Coronavirus
January was by far the deadliest pandemic month in the US, with more than 95,000 Covid-19 deaths reported. Now, concern is growing that the country is in an “absolute race against time,” as one expert put it, to contain international variants of the virus, in part because current vaccines could be less effective against them. Still, there are some glimmers of hope: More than 30 million vaccine shots have been administered across the US, and hospitalizations are at a low not seen in two months. In China, a team of World Health Organization investigators now has months of Chinese influenza data that might contain vital clues about the early spread of the virus.
2. Stimulus
President Biden will meet with 10 Republican senators today to discuss a GOP counterproposal to his $1.9 trillion Covid-19 rescue plan. While the $600 billion GOP proposal could be seen as an attempt to find common ground for a stimulus plan after months of division on the issue, it contains less than a third of the economic relief the Biden administration says the country needs. Biden’s team says he’s willing to compromise on a few things, like scaling back stimulus checks for families making more than $150,000 a year. But overall, the White House has all but said that any plan falling far short of Biden’s 13-figure promise won’t be accepted.
3. Impeachment
Five members left former President Trump’s legal team over the weekend, effectively collapsing his impeachment defense with little more than a week to go before the trial. Trump and his team disagreed on what arguments to make at trial, with Trump urging attorneys to focus on his election fraud claims rather than the constitutionality of convicting a former president. Trump has brought on two other lawyers to lead his defense. Despite the shake-ups, Trump still benefits from widespread loyalty among GOP senators, while for others, the threat of backlash from Trump-supporting colleagues and constituents likely will be enough to keep them from crossing the aisle for any impeachment decisions.
4. Myanmar
Myanmar’s powerful military has taken control of the country in a coup and declared a state of emergency. The country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other senior government leaders were detained today in early morning raids, and citizens woke up to widespread internet and communications blackouts. A military news outlet announced that power has been handed over to army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who has been under US sanctions designated for human rights abuses related to the atrocities against the Rohingya Muslim community. The coup comes in response to alleged voting irregularities in November’s election, in which Suu Kyi’s party claimed an overwhelming victory and the military-backed party underperformed. Political tensions have swirled for weeks, as have rumors that the military would soon take over.
5. Russia
Thousands of protesters flooded streets in Moscow and across Russia this weekend to support jailed opposition leader and Putin critic Alexey Navalny, who has been held by Russian authorities for weeks. More than 5,000 people were detained in at least 85 cities; among them was Navalny’s wife, Yulia, who was later released. This was the second weekend of protests against Navalny’s detention, and police response was the harshest the country has seen in years. President Vladimir Putin’s popularity was already declining by the time Navalny was detained last month, due to public grievances over declining personal incomes, diminishing personal freedoms and the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Idaho man wins lottery for the 6th time
The phrase, “Some people have all the luck,” was made for this man.
Grubhub has partnered with the Girl Scouts to help safely sell cookies and teach entrepreneurship
Nothing, not even a pandemic, will keep us from those delicious, delicious cookies!
Toys ‘R’ Us is closing its only 2 stores roughly a year after a highly anticipated relaunch
Fair ye well, Toys ‘R’ Us. The world is too cruel.
Canadian man sets his 4th world record for eating hot peppers
Three Carolina Reaper chili peppers in less than 10 seconds? It’s a wonder this guy still has a tongue.
Name a cockroach after your ex and watch it get eaten for Valentine’s Day
These roaches were made for chompin’, and that’s just what they’ll … get.
PROFILES IN PERSEVERANCE
February is Black History Month, and every day we’re highlighting Black pioneers in American history. Learn more here.
Garrett Morgan, inventor, 1877-1963
Morgan’s invention made the world a safer place. He is best known for developing a traffic “warning light,” a precursor to today’s yellow light. He also invented a new type of sewing machine, a straightener for Black hair and a personal breathing hood to protect miners and firefighters.
TODAY’S NUMBER
53%
That’s how much Melvin Capital, a premier Wall Street hedge fund, lost in January due to the GameStop stock frenzy. The firm started the year with roughly $12.5 billion in assets. It ended the month with more than $8 billion, but only after a $2 billion bailout from another hedge fund and commitments from current investors in the final days of the month.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“The current promises of countries through the Paris Agreement are insufficient to get the job done.”
John Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate, who says current provisions of the Paris climate pact are not enough to achieve international goals of limiting the Earth’s temperature.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY
You’re growing on me
Feast your eyes on the science – and art – behind growing portraits in grass. (Click here to view.)