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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Mon Jan 29 2024

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

Three US troops killed in Jordan

President Joe Biden bows his head in a moment of silence for the three American troops killed Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in a drone strike in northeast Jordan, while speaking in South Carolina on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

President Joe Biden promises U.S. will 'respond'

An attack that killed three U.S. troops and wounded 34 others Sunday in the Middle East is the latest in an increasingly lethal barrage aimed at bases with American troops in the region. Also in the news: Super Bowl Sunday will include the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers ... and the Swifties.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Read how this small town has united to fight a monkey farm.

Here is the news to know Monday.

Attack in Mideast shows increasing threat against US troops

Three U.S. service members were killed and dozens wounded Sunday in a drone attack by "Iran-backed militants" at a U.S. base along the Jordanian-Syrian border as the war in Gaza continued to show signs of spreading across the region.

They are the first U.S. troops killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, igniting the war that has led to more than 26,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza.

•	President Joe Biden issued a statement saying an investigation was underway. After leading a moment of silence, he said, "And we shall respond."
•	Despite the layers of defenses in place to protect U.S. bases in the Middle East, officials had concerns about the possibility attacks may get through.
•	Meanwhile, talks intensified Sunday on a potential agreement under which Israel would pause military operations against Hamas for two months in exchange for the release of more than 100 remaining hostages, according to multiple media reports.

Related: It's not enforceable. It doesn't say if Israel is committing genocide. What's ICJ's Gaza ruling for?

The wife of an Israeli soldier carries her child past a tank, as she visits her husband upon his return from a mission in the Palestinian territory on January 28, 2024.

AFP via Getty Images

We have our Super Bowl lineup: Chiefs v. 49ers

We now have the matchup for Super Bowl 58. The Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl 54. In the AFC championship game, the Chiefs — despite punting five consecutive times in the second half before the final possession to bleed the clock to zero — took down the Baltimore Ravens to advance. In the NFC championship game, the Detroit Lions couldn't hold on to their 17-point lead at halftime and yielded 27 unanswered points, as the 49ers thwarted what was a magical run for the long-suffering franchise. Here's our full recap of the conference championship winners and losers.

•	The Lions' first Super Bowl was in sight. But then Detroit had a meltdown for the ages.

Detroit running back David Montgomery falls to the turf after the Lions' 34-31 loss to the 49ers in the NFC championship game.

Junfu Han, USA TODAY NETWORK

More news to know now

•	Climate activists threw soup at the Mona Lisa. She was behind protective glass.
•	Can Taylor Swift sue over explicit AI photos of her likeness?
•	Washington is getting federal support amid increasing crime rates.
•	After Kenneth Smith's execution by nitrogen gas, the U.N. and E.U. condemned the method.
•	On today's The Excerpt podcast, breaking down Donald Trump's hold on rural voters. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Does Nikki Haley need South Carolina to beat Trump?

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley vowed to maintain her nomination battle against ex-President Donald Trump, arguing Sunday she doesn't "necessarily" need a primary win in South Carolina to continue her presidential campaign. Trump and his allies have said his swift victories in Iowa and New Hampshire show that Republican voters want the former president back as their nominee. Many have called on Haley to exit the race following Trump's wins. But as candidates look toward the South Carolina primary, at least one thing is certain: Haley will face a steady barrage of personal and political attacks as she challenges Trump. Read more

A man places signs outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on January 28, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina.

Allison Joyce, Getty Images

Here's what's a stake in a border deal from Congress

President Joe Biden vowed to take immediate action to "shut down" the U.S.-Mexico border if Congress approves a proposal under negotiation in the Senate as he urged lawmakers to pass a bipartisan bill. Biden's statement sought to save a border deal on the verge of collapse after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., acknowledged privately to other Republican senators this week that opposition from former President Donald Trump puts the party in a dilemma. The demise of a bipartisan border deal would deny Biden the chance to claim a victory in addressing surging migration at the southern border − a topic that Republicans have hammered Biden over throughout his presidency. Read more

•	Some say "Restore Roe." Others say abandon the 1973 case that established the right to abortion.

Keep scrolling

•	Salt in tea advice created a stir in Britain.
•	Here's where cicada broods will emerge for first time in over 200 years.
•	What's a "gray divorce"?
•	Americans don't sleep enough. The effects are especially dire for Black people.
•	Amber Glenn is the first LGBTQ+ woman to win the U.S. Women's Figure Skating Championship.

Today is the first day of the 2024 tax season

Tax season 2024 opens on Monday, setting off a race against the clock to file your 2023 return by April 15. That means you have a dozen Mondays, including this one, to get your taxes in. You may not be ready to file your taxes on the first day: If you work a regular job, your employer has until January 31 to mail your W-2 form, which spells out your yearly earnings. But the big reason to file early is to get your refund, if you have one coming. Three in four taxpayers are likely to get a refund. For many Americans, it's the largest single payday of the year. Read our full guide to tax season here.

•	Subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every weekday.

Photo of the day: 'It's a love story'

This news deserved its own break-out item in today's newsletter: Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce shared a special moment on the field after the AFC Championship victory over the Baltimore Ravens. But as the Eras tour launches back into action in Japan next month, will Swift make it to the Super Bowl?

Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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 or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.