YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP | | | |
President Donald Trump, joined by Elon Musk in the Oval Office, ordered up big cuts in the federal workforce. American school teacher Marc Fogel has been released by Russia after more than three years in custody. USA TODAY has sourced the top 44 restaurants in the nation. |
Trump, with Musk in tow, orders up big cuts in federal workforce |
Elon Musk, wearing a black MAGA hat and joined by his son, X, stood next to Donald Trump, who was seated behind the Resolute Desk on Tuesday when the president signed an executive order that seeks to significantly reduce the size of the government. |
Why the image matters: The joint Musk-Trump appearance marked the first time the billionaire CEO has publicly answered reporters' questions since he's assumed power in Trump's second term. |
| • | What the new order says: It directs for a federal "workforce optimization initiative" created by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is rapidly slashing federal departments. | | • | What Musk said: He insisted he won't engage in work that poses potential conflicts of interest — though Musk has billions of dollars in SpaceX contracts with the Pentagon. | | • | What federal workers say: Thousands of workers have already signed up for Trump's buyout program, while others are heeding calls from unions and advocates that there's no guarantee Trump can or will stick to the program. | | Elon Musk and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday. Andrew Harnik, Getty Images |
American teacher released from Russian prison |
Marc Fogel touched down on American soil and met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening following his freedom from over three years in Russian custody. His release came as part of an agreement between Washington and Moscow that the U.S. said came about amid talks to end the war in Ukraine. Fogel, 63, who is from Butler, Pennsylvania, was arrested in Moscow in August 2021, when he entered the country on a teaching assignment while in possession of marijuana that his family said was prescribed to him by a doctor to treat chronic pain. Read more | American schoolteacher Marc Fogel on an airplane flying him back to the United States on Tuesday. Adam Boehler, via REUTERS |
Messy snow and ice are coming |
A second winter storm sets in on parts of the Midwest on Wednesday, with Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City, Missouri, among places likely to be pounded with snow. The latest storm will cause snow to accumulate for almost 2,000 miles from Colorado to Michigan and Maine, AccuWeather said. School closures and dangerous road conditions could abound nationwide, with freezing conditions or flooding threatening commuters and travelers. USA TODAY is tracking the winter weather near where you live. |
Measles cases growing in West Texas |
The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed dozens of measles cases in the state, with the majority of cases occurring in children. Local vaccine clinics are opening to stave off infections, according to the USA TODAY Network in Texas. But the offering of shots comes against the backdrop of repeating false and misleading claims about measles jabs, including debunked claims by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Here are the symptoms of measles to look for. |
WARNING: Do not read this if you're hungry |
Once you've had a snack, proceed: |
Teams of journalists across the USA TODAY Network set out to spotlight the best places to eat across America. Now, we're serving up the 2025 USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year, and we didn't select the spots you would find on your average roundup of best foodie spots. It's a celebration of local flavors and stories, curated by reporters who actually live across the country and know an Italian dinner in Mamaroneck can be just as rewarding as one in Manhattan. Check out USA TODAY's 2025 Restaurants of the Year. | USA TODAY's Restaurants of Year 2025 features foodie spots from across the country. USA TODAY |
Photo of the day: Monty is the pup on top |
Monty the Giant Schnauzer was named Best in Show on Tuesday, besting more than 2,500 dogs across 200 breeds at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. At least the competition was cute. | Monty, a Giant Schnauzer, won the Best in Show during the 149th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday. Eduardo Munoz, REUTERS |
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 NFallert@usatoday.com. | | | | Influenza levels in the US are the highest they've been in 15 years amid winter weather and a second wave of the virus. | | | | The FAA is reopening runways at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and increasing the arrivals rate as the crash investigation continues. | | | | Google has removed a key section of its AI principles that previously barred the company from developing artificial intelligence for weapons and surveillance. The change eliminates the "Applications will not be pursued" section, which had explicitly ruled out AI for harming people. | | | | Food journalists from across the USA TODAY Network dug into their favorite places to share them with you. | | | | This year marks the 149th show of the annual event which kicked off Saturday and ends Tuesday. | | | | Auburn's run of four weeks at No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll ended with a loss to Florida. Its rival Alabama takes the top spot. | | | | USA TODAY's daily news podcast, The Excerpt, brings you a curated mix of the most important headlines seven mornings a week. | | | | Our app gives you award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, eNewspaper and more. | | | | | | | Brighten your day with one of our games. | | | | | |
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