Good morning, everyone. If you want to make some easy dinners this week, these cozy recipes come together with staples from your pantry. Now, on to the news.
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NEED TO KNOW
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Who’s affected by Trump’s federal funding freeze?
In a memo to federal agencies yesterday, the White House Office of Management and Budget ordered a freeze on all federal grants and loans, potentially affecting trillions of dollars in federal assistance.
The memo: It said the pause would provide time to determine the “best uses of funding for programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities.” It takes effect at 5 p.m. today, and agencies have until Feb. 10 to report the affected programs. [CNN]
Potential impacts: The memo said the pause doesn’t include funds “provided directly to individuals,” like Social Security and Medicare, but it’s unclear how the freeze would affect federal money that’s first sent to states or organizations and then to households. [Politico]
Dems react: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the move, saying Congress had already approved the funding and warning that it would affect families in red and blue states. “It will mean missed payrolls and rent payments,” he said. [The Hill]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
John Fleenor/Disney
🌹 ‘The Bachelor’ premiere
On the premiere of The Bachelor, Grant Ellis met the 25 women vying for his love — one of whom introduced him to her “no drama llama” Linda — and gave out the first impression rose, which came with a big twist. [People]
⚖️ DOJ shakeup
More than a dozen Justice Department officials who worked on the criminal investigation into President Trump were fired yesterday. Acting Attorney General James McHenry said they couldn’t be “trusted” to “faithfully” enact Trump’s agenda. [CNN]
📱 The new AI chatbot in town
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company whose R1 chatbot climbed to the top of Apple’s app store, triggered a major selloff of tech stocks amid concerns that it threatens U.S. dominance in the industry. [Yahoo News]
☕ Starbucks woos customers
In an effort to win back customers, Starbucks announced “coffeehouse amenities,” including free refills — with a catch — and the return of its condiment bar. The amenities come after Starbucks reversed its open-door policy. [USA Today]
🏀 Thompson’s ‘Kobe’ moment
The Houston Rockets overcame multiple game-tying scores by the Boston Celtics in the final seconds of last night’s game to win 114-112. “That’s my first game-winner. I feel like Kobe,” said Amen Thompson, who sank the buzzer-beater. [Yahoo Sports]
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY
📺 Now streaming: The first three episodes of the political thriller series Paradise, starring Sterling K. Brown, dropped overnight on Hulu. Watch the trailer. [TheWrap]
🏀 On the court, the Sixers look to keep turning things around after a losing skid when they play the Lakers at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT. [SixersWire]
🏒 In the rink, the Stars face their conference rivals, the Golden Knights, again at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+. [Hockey News]
☀️ And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Photo Media/ClassicStock/Getty Images
In 1958, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen filed a patent for the Lego brick in Denmark. The building blocks went on to become one of the world’s most popular children’s toys, and in recent years, they’ve also won over adults, with sets including a $700 Titanic replica and a $500 town from The Lord of the Rings. [Fortune]
3 QUESTIONS
…about morning routines
Do you have a morning routine? Yahoo wellness editor Erin Donnelly stopped by to discuss why having one is important and what it should include.
Divya: Why should people have a morning routine?
Erin: Morning routines set the tone for the day. They can motivate you to wake up, give you a sense of control over your schedule and make healthy habits stick. Of course, they can look different for everybody, so our reporter asked experts what’s actually worth incorporating.
Divya: What did the experts say?
Erin: I found this tip interesting: If you brush after breakfast or your morning coffee, wait at least 30 minutes to protect your teeth from acid damage. But the experts had other tips too, including exercising and drinking a glass of lemon water — influencers are right on that one!
Divya: And what did they say people should skip?
Erin: They said juicing in the morning isn’t as healthy as it’s made out to be, which surprised me. They also said that, unless your doctor has flagged that you have a specific nutrient deficiency, you probably don’t need vitamin supplements as long as you have a healthy diet.
Trying to wake up earlier? Here are seven tips for resetting your body clock.
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
NASA
NASA recently released an ethereal new image of the Tarantula Nebula, the largest star-forming region in the local universe, which is home to stars roughly 200 times as big as our own sun — the biggest stars ever observed. [Engadget]
Have a great day! See you tomorrow.
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Trying to grow your savings? Experts recommend putting 20% of each paycheck aside. These strategies might help. [Yahoo Finance]
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