NEWS
President Donald Trump addressed lawmakers about his administration’s actions so far. Severe weather forced New Orleans to reschedule Mardi Gras celebrations. One parent shared with USA TODAY their journey to provide gender-affirming care to their pre-teen.
🙋🏼♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Congrats to bald eagle parents Jackie and Shadow!
Trump defends America’s direction
President Trump’s address Tuesday night to a joint session of Congress was the longest of its kind in modern U.S. history at 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Trump began his address by declaring “America is back”: The speech offered ample reminders of how the second-term Republican president has already tested the limits of executive authority in almost every facet of the job.
👉 “Change doesn’t need to be chaotic or make us less safe”: Here’s what Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin said in her rebuttal to Trump.
A US-Ukraine mineral deal is pending
President Donald Trump’s administration and Ukraine plan to sign a much-debated minerals deal Tuesday, four people familiar with the situation said. The deal was put on hold last week after a contentious Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that resulted in the Ukrainian leader’s swift departure from the White House. The deal to be signed last week included no explicit security guarantees for Ukraine but gave the United States access to revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources. Zelenskyy said on Monday he’s ready to work with Trump.
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Fire and ice grip the US
While a massive winter storm unleashed damaging winds in the South, it is also set to bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions to portions of the north-central U.S. into Wednesday. Blizzard warnings are in effect in six states, and some 6 million people could be impacted, the National Weather Service said. The storm has already unloaded heavy winds, rain and snow across much of the country, killing two people in Mississippi, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers and forcing officials to reschedule Mardi Gras events in New Orleans. Here’s what to know about severe weather in your area.
A mother and her pre-teen drive cross-country for medical care
“This kid is not ready to decide how he would feel about boobs and a period if it happens at the age it did for me, which was 11. My kid needs that pause to have that adult conversation with therapists.”
~ Amanda, who requested to only print her middle name to protect her child’s medical privacy, travels with her son to western New York every six months to meet with doctors and get puberty blockers. The treatment has recently been threatened after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to take action against hospitals that continue to provide gender-affirming care. Read Amanda’s story.
Today’s talkers
Gene Hackman investigation excludes gas, carbon monoxide
As the investigation into the causes of death for Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa continues, the possibility of a gas leak inside their home appears to be conclusively ruled out. Officials found “no significant findings” of gas leaks and carbon monoxide at Hackman’s home, where he and his wife were found dead alongside their dog. Authorities have called the circumstances of the deaths “suspicious,” while noting “no foul play” is suspected at this time. Read more
Photo of the day: Doechii feels wonderful
Doechii found her place to bloom and feel beautiful. The Grammy-winning U.S. rapper joined other stars donning stunning fashion at the Louvre in Paris on Tuesday for “Le Grand Diner du Louvre,” a glamorous exhibition held at the iconic French art museum. There was glitter galore.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at [email protected].
