Fed raises rates again; Nikki Haley announces '24 Presidential run; Iranian on watchlist caught on southern border; blacks more likely to be audited by IRS; Tom Brady retires; Biden beach home search
Harsh weather in U.S.; Tyre funeral; states people are fleeing, moving to; DeSantis barks at Trump; Exxon record earnings raise eyebrows; McDonald's to open 1900 new locations; Dr. Phil Show is done
Good Thursday morning!
My take: Take a moment to think about Tom Brady. He just retired again. Do I think this is it? Yes I do. Now do you wonder what must be in his head. Does he wonder if he had not gone back on his retirement would his marriage have survived? I bet he does. Does he wonder how now he has sacrificed being with his children all the time because he wanted to prove one last time that he is the GOAT. Brady’s Tampa Bucs were knocked out of the playoffs early. No ring, no wife and his kids are now with him only part-time. Tom Brady now has a film production company and he has a huge FOX commentator contract but my take is that out of all the “calls’ he has made, playing one more year was a disaster. If he had to take it back would he? If he could see his life where it is now, I believe he would. One other note: it’s quitters day — Tom Brady, Dr. Phil and Ozzy Osbourne. Something is in the water.
Now to your “1 to…”
Interesting: 10 states people are fleeing and 10 states people are moving to.
Polar vortex to bring subzero temperatures Friday into Saturday in Vermont, New York: Air temperatures drop to a range of -15° to -25°, and it’ll feel like -30° to -50° after dark Friday into Saturday morning.
280,000 without power in Texas, 1,800 flights canceled, at least 6 dead as winter storm sweeps US.
Oh no! 😀 ‘Dr. Phil’ ending after 21 seasons: After getting his start on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' Dr. Phil McGraw has hosted his highly rated eponymous series since 2002.
McDonald's to open 1900 locations in 2023, US franchisees encouraged by growth:
McDonald's plans to open 1900 new units in 2023, largest growth move since 2014
DOJ searching Biden Delaware beach home amid classified document investigation: There is no warrant and Biden consented to the search, according to his attorney.
Fed raises rates a quarter point, expects 'ongoing' increases: The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point and gave little indication it is nearing the end of this hiking cycle. Aligning with market expectations, the rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee boosted the federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage point. That takes it to a target range of 4.5%-4.75%, the highest since October 2007. The move marked the eighth increase in a process that began in March 2022. By itself, the funds rate sets what banks charge each other for overnight borrowing, but it also spills through to many consumer debt products.
Nikki Haley plans to enter race for 2024 Republican Presidential Nomination: Former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador had previously said she wouldn’t challenge Donald Trump for the nomination, if he ran again.
DeSantis snaps back at Trump: I got reelected: The governor’s comments show he’s willing to engage and defend against a rising stream of attacks from his one-time ally.
Trump knocks DeSantis as ‘RINO GLOBALIST’: Former President Trump accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of being a “RINO GLOBALIST” on Wednesday, continuing his attacks on the potential 2024 contender widely viewed as his biggest competition for the Republican nomination. “The real Ron is a RINO GLOBALIST, who closed quickly down Florida and even its beaches,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Loved the Vaccines and wasted big money on ‘Testing.’ How quickly people forget!”
GOP senators rally to defend DeSantis from Trump attacks: Republican senators are rallying to defend Ron DeSantis from former President Trump’s attempt to keep the popular Florida governor out of the 2024 presidential race. At the same time, Trump is picking up more formal endorsements within the Senate Republican Conference as his feud with DeSantis intensifies, an early signal that the 2024 Republican presidential primary will divide GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
GOP moves to stop unelectable Senate candidates: The Senate GOP campaign arm’s endorsement of Rep. Jim Banks in the Indiana Senate Republican primary on Tuesday marks an official departure from the committee’s policy in the 2022 cycle and makes clear it will play in primary contests in an attempt to win back the upper chamber. After a midterm cycle that saw candidates backed by former President Trump sail through primaries before suffering stinging general election defeats, Tuesday’s announcement was music to the ears of many Republicans.
Bob Woodward condemns media's Russiagate coverage, reveals reporters ignored his warnings about Steele dossier: Woodward says Post reporters had 'lack of curiosity' about criticism of Steele dossier.
Senate Republicans pen letter asking DirecTV to explain decision ditching Newsmax: A group of leading Senate Republicans is requesting information from cable provider DirecTV surrounding its recent decision to drop conservative network Newsmax from its channel lineup. In a letter dated Feb. 1 and shared exclusively with The Hill, GOP Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Mike Lee (Utah) and Tom Cotton (Ark.) wrote to the cable provider’s corporate leadership expressing that they are “deeply disturbed” by its decision to drop the network and alleged the episode “may be the latest example of big business suppressing politically disfavored speech at the behest of liberal Democrats.”
Wall Street has a lot riding on the Fed’s rate decision: Stocks and bonds are on an impressive run so far this year, driven by hopes the Federal Reserve will slow down, or even pause, its interest rate increases.
Judge gives Trump lawyers second chance in New York trial showdown: Though Trump's legal team has been exceedingly evasive, a New York judge is giving them more time to cooperate ahead of the crucial trial involving his businesses.
2022 Corruption perceptions index reveals scant progress against corruption as world becomes more violent: Corruption levels remain at a standstill for eleventh year straight.
Iranian illegal immigrant on terror watch list caught near southern border: sources: Texas authorities caught 29-year-old Alireza Heidari being smuggled in vehicle.
Iranian couple handed prison sentence for dancing in the streets: An Iranian couple, both social media influencers, have been given lengthy prison sentences after a video emerged of them dancing in a main square in the capital Tehran.
In a video shared widely on social media, Astiyazh Haghighi, 21, is seen dancing without a headscarf with her fiancé Amir Mohammad Ahmadi, 22, in Azadi Square. The couple posted the video themselves. Each was charged with “spreading corruption and vice,” and “assembly and collusion with the intention of disrupting national security,” receiving sentences of ten and a half years, according to activist group Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). However Mizan, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, said each individual was sentenced to 5-year prison term on the charges of “assembly and collusion with the intention of disrupting national security.”
Vice President Kamala Harris to attend Tyre Nichols' funeral.
The College Board strips down its A.P. curriculum for African American Studies: After criticism from Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, the official course looks different: No more critical race theory, and the study of contemporary topics — like Black Lives Matter — is optional.
'Extremely frustrated' NYC Mayor Eric Adams pleads with White House for more help on migrant crisis: On Sunday, buses arrived at the Watson Hotel on the West Side of Manhattan to transport migrants who had been housed there to a shelter that Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, was opening on the Brooklyn waterfront. But some of the migrants refused to go, leading to a face-off with the New York Police Department that lasted into Monday. Immigrants’ rights groups criticized Adams, arguing that the dislocation was inhumane. City Hall fumed and New Yorkers wondered, not for the first time, just how such a standoff would finally be resolved.
Oregon kidnapping suspect dies of self-inflicted gunshot, police say: A suspect in a violent kidnapping in Oregon died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday night after being taken into custody following a standoff with law enforcement, a police spokesman said. Grants Pass Police Department Lt. Jeff Hattersley told KTVL-TV that Benjamin Obadiah Foster, 36, died at a hospital hours after he was taken into custody in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Man dies after brawl breaks out at Vermont middle school basketball game: Police: The death is under investigation, Vermont State Police said.
3 rappers missing for days since Detroit gig was scratched: Three aspiring rappers who met in prison have been missing for 10 days after a Detroit gig suddenly was canceled because of an equipment problem, police said. "We just have a whole lot of unanswered questions that we’re trying to find the answer to,” Cmdr. Michael McGinnis said Monday. “The fact that the three of them are missing together is very concerning and very alarming for us.”
The men, who live in Michigan, were identified as Armani Kelly, Montoya Givens and Dante Wicker.
GoodRx illegally shared health data with tech giants to target ads, government alleges: Telemedicine company GoodRx allegedly shared sensitive personal health information with Google, Facebook and other firms to target ads to users, according to a complaint filed by federal regulators on Wednesday. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleged that GoodRx, a company that lets users compare drug prices and receive coupons, shared sensitive information about users’ prescriptions and health conditions with advertising platforms that allowed them to target ads to users about specific health conditions and medications, despite claims that the company would not do so.
Exxon announced record earnings: It's bound to renew scrutiny of Big Oil.
Black Americans are much more likely to face tax audits, study finds: A new report documents systemic discrimination in how the I.R.S. selects taxpayers to be audited, with implications for a debate on the agency’s funding.
Western states at an impasse on conservation regarding Colorado River: Six of seven western states have reached an agreement, but the future still remains unclear.
Netanyahu says he’d consider mediating Ukraine-Russia peace if asked: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he’d consider acting as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia as the war between the two countries nears its one-year mark. The prime minister underscored that he’s focused on issues closer to home, but said he had been asked about taking on the responsibility in the past and would consider it again if asked by the relevant parties.
4 key suspects in Haiti presidential slaying in U.S. custody: They stand accused in the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Pea-sized Australian radioactive capsule falls off truck, is found 6 days later after massive hunt: Authorities locate tiny capsule 8 mm in length along a 870-mile stretch of highway.
Britain hit by biggest strike in more than a decade with schools shut and rail networks disrupted: More than half a million British workers are due to take strike action through Wednesday. The include teachers, civil servants, university staff and train drivers. U.K. inflation hit 10.5% annually in December, while grocery price inflation hit a record 16.7% in the four weeks to Jan. 22.
Musk blows off Dems in first Capitol tour as Twitter CEO: Elon Musk's whirlwind Washington trip left off Democrats from his calling card, but the minority party still wants to hear from him.
10 AI trends to watch for in 2023: Artificial intelligence is, suddenly, all around. You may have tested ChatGPT, the AI-powered chatbot that headlined tech conversations at this year’s World Economic Forum, seen AI-generated portraits on Instagram, or followed the wave of recent enthusiastic media coverage. But this technology hasn’t just appeared from nowhere. Artificial intelligence has powered internet search, voice assistants, and more for years — but has rapidly entered our public awareness and conscious engagement in the past few months.
2023 will be a defining year in shaping the future of AI. Here are ten important AI domains to watch.
MCDONALD’S SALES ACCELERATED LAST QUARTER, THANKS TO ADULT HAPPY MEALS AND THE MCRIB: The company’s same-store sales rose 10.3% in the U.S. behind its marketing promotions and increased customer counts.
This injectable Biomaterial Heals tissues from the inside out: The material can be injected intravenously and has potential application in heart attacks, traumatic brain injury and more.
Tom Brady says he’s retiring, for good this time: Brady, whose career spanned 23 seasons and seven Super Bowl wins, announced his retirement in a social media post.
Gisele Bündchen sends heartfelt message to Tom Brady following retirement announcement: Brady and Bündchen announced their divorce in October.
IOC rejects Russian demand that its athletes compete without restrictions: The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday rebuffed a Russian demand that its athletes be treated the same as those of other countries, in a growing row over Russian and Belarusian participation in the 2024 Paris Games. "The sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian state and governments are not negotiable," an IOC spokesperson said.
Cal fires longtime swimming coach Teri McKeever after spate of bullying, abuse allegations: The University of California has fired longtime women's swimming and diving coach Teri McKeever following an eight-month investigation into widespread allegations of bullying and abuse. Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton announced the decision on Tuesday in a letter to student-athletes. The decision arrived after an extensive investigation that involved interviews with 147 people and reviews of 1,700 documents conducted by university lawyers, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Secret Princess Diana letters detail ‘ugly’ Charles divorce: ‘On my knees’.
Ozzy Osbourne cancels all tour dates amid 'life-altering' injury, several health scares: 74-year-old singer announces he’s retiring from touring.
‘Dances With Wolves’ actor arrested in Nevada sex abuse case: Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, who goes by Nathan Chasing Horse, was taken into custody in the afternoon near a North Las Vegas residence. SWAT officers were seen outside the two-story home in the evening as detectives searched the property.
Ex-ABC News reporter James Gordon Meek hit with child pornography charge: Former ABC News reporter James Gordon Meek was hit with a child pornography charge by federal authorities in Virginia on Wednesday — months after the FBI raided his home and seized his laptop and other electronic devices.
Meek — an Emmy Award-winning journalist who abruptly resigned from the network following the October 2022 raid — was charged with one count of transportation of child pornography by federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia. In an affidavit unsealed Wednesday, the feds detailed disgusting communications the national security journalist allegedly had with other friends online.
As hip-hop turns 50, Chuck D praises its power as "a worldwide cultural experience and religion": The legendary rapper on politics, his Top 5 songs and PBS series "Fight The Power: How Hip-Hop Changed The World".
Eagles’ Josh Sills indicted on rape, kidnapping charges prior to Super Bowl: Eagles rookie offensive lineman Josh Sills was indicted on rape and kidnapping charges in his native Ohio this week. Prosecutors said the 25-year-old Sills “did engage in sexual conduct” with a victim and “purposely compelled her to submit by force or threat of force” in an alleged incident that occurred in Guernsey County on Dec. 5, 2019. The Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation into the case and a grand jury indicted Sills on one felony count of rape and one felony count of kidnapping this week. “In December 2019, the indictment says, Sills engaged in sexual activity that was not consensual and held a victim against her will. The crime was immediately reported, and the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office conducted a detailed investigation,” the Ohio Attorney General said in a news release.
Grand jury indicts 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' husband and prominent attorney, accusing him of stealing from clients: Thomas Girardi, the estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Erika Jayne, named in an 12-count complaint
Best AI stocks to buy: Smart Artificial Intelligence investments: AI stocks have been bloodied up in recent months, but the technology's relentlessly growing importance should see the sun shine on them again.
Have a great Thursday!