👋 Good morning, NewsNation! It’s officially been one week of the new Your Morning newsletter! Thank you for waking up with us and reading the latest news across America. Have feedback, questions or ideas? Let us know!
Here’s what’s happening today:
‘I know what the hell I’m doing’: Biden addresses DOJ report
What happened: President Joe Biden delivered remarks Thursday night at the White House after a report by the DOJ’s special counsel investigating his handling of classified documents. Biden denied improperly sharing classified information and lashed out at the special counsel’s questioning of his mental acuity and assertion a jury would find the president a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Biden’s response: “I’m well meaning, and I’m an elderly man. And I know what the hell I’m doing.”
DOJ report: The report said Biden did willfully retain classified information after he was vice president. Materials included: marked classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan; notebooks containing handwritten entries about issues of national security; and information about foreign policy implicating sensitive intelligence sources and methods. The special counsel did not believe the evidence met the standard for criminal charges against Biden.
Biden vs. Trump: The report will likely make it difficult for Biden to draw contrast to former President Donald Trump. In Biden’s classified documents case, the special counsel doesn’t think the president should face charges. Trump is scheduled to stand trial on charges related to his handling of classified documents. Take a closer look at the similarities and differences between the Biden and Trump investigations >
Trump in Nevada caucus victory speech says US has ‘lost its way’
What’s going on: Thursday appeared to be a big day for Donald Trump. The former president won Nevada’s Republican presidential caucuses after being the only major candidate to participate. He used his victory speech to rail against the Biden administration, saying: “You need leadership, and this country does not have leadership. It’s lost its way.”
Big day: Trump’s Nevada victory came the same day the DOJ’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents was released, and the same day the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Colorado lawsuit over whether he’s eligible to be on the primary ballot there. The state’s Supreme Court ruled Trump is disqualified under the 14th Amendment, but the U.S. Supreme Court seemed skeptical of that argument.
Super Bowl Sunday: What to know
The big game: Las Vegas will hold its first-ever Super Bowl on Sunday. The game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs is expected to draw more than 330,000 visitors and generate $600 million in revenue. Four in ten U.S. adults are extremely excited or very excited for at least one part of the Super Bowl, according to a new poll.
Rematch: Sunday’s game will serve as a rematch of the 2019 NFL season’s championship game between the 49ers and Chiefs. While both teams have shaken up their rosters, both teams have the same head coach and some of the same players suiting up. Full breakdown >
Commercials: Advertisers are expected to pull out all the stops for Super Bowl Sunday. Most advertisers will feature messages with fantasy, light humor or nostalgia. A 30-second ad during the Super Bowl will cost brands a reported $7 million. What you can expect >
Entertainment: Usher will try to fit three decades of music into a Super Bowl halftime show. Reba McEntire is slated to sing the national anthem. The game is also seeing more attention this year as fans keep an eye on Kansas City’s tight end Travis Kelce’s romance with pop star Taylor Swift. Swift is due to play in Tokyo on Saturday, but the Japanese Embassy has reassured fans the singer will make it to Nevada in time to see Kelce play.
7 indicted in attack on NYPD officers in Times Square
What to know: Seven people have been indicted in Manhattan following a brawl last month between police and migrants in Times Square. According to NYPD, 14 people were involved in the attack on two of its officers in front of 220 West 42nd Street. The latest >
What we’re watching 👀
We’re keeping an eye on these topics today. Make sure you tune in to our latest coverage and share your thoughts with us on social media!
- A pretrial conference is being held for Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, who allegedly leaked highly classified military documents to a chat room.
- Former President Donald Trump is slated to keynote the NRA Presidential Forum.
- President Joe Biden hosts German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House to discuss their “support for Ukraine’s defense of its land and it’s people against Russia’s war of aggression.”
🌎 News Across America 🌎
With roughly 7,000 open jobs and a thriving Hispanic community, the city of Topeka, Kansas, is encouraging recent immigrants with documentation and work paperwork to make the city their home. The city’s pitch >
Speaking of homes, the most expensive one in the country listed for a record $295 million. The property in Florida’s Naples’ Port Royal neighborhood includes three waterfront houses, a yacht basin and a dock for six boats. Take a look at photos >
In New York, a special election in the suburbs to replace disgraced former Rep. George Santos is pitting former U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, against Republican nominee Mazi Pilip. Why some say the race could offer clues about the mindset of voters as 2024 elections ramp up >
A Texas mother is pushing back against the Lake Travis school board’s discipline decisions after she says football players put peanuts in her allergic son’s locker.
A school district in Petersburg, Virginia, has launched an investigation after a former long-term substitute teacher gave elementary school students pre-packaged candy during recess without permission. At least 13 students experienced illness after receiving the candy. The latest >
The Los Angeles Lakers unveiled a 19-foot bronze statue of Kobe Bryant outside their downtown arena Thursday. Details >
☀️ Good NewsNation ☀️
Boy makes buzzer beating basket with help from friend: A heartwarming moment between two players on opposing teams at a New York basketball tournament was caught on camera. Jacoby Egloff, 10, of Bolton Central School, a child with Down syndrome, made a buzzer beater basket after Tyce Mulder, who plays for Queensbury, passed him the ball. Read more >