TOP STORIES
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TRUMP REPORTEDLY ACCUSES AUSTRALIA OF TRYING TO SEND THE NEXT ‘BOSTON BOMBERS’ TO U.S. “Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday refused to talk about a report that a weekend call with President Donald Trump came to a blistering head after Trump attacked a plan to resettle refugees in the U.S. as ‘the worst deal ever.’” And HuffPost Australia takes a look at what the call has done to Turnbull’s administration. [HuffPost]
TRUMP’S YEMEN RAID MAY HAVE RESULTED IN MORE CIVILIAN DEATHS “U.S. military officials told Reuters that Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations.” On Wednesday, Trump greeted the plane carrying the remains of a SEAL Team 6 member who was killed during the mission. [Reuters]
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR MICHAEL FLYNN PUTS IRAN ‘ON NOTICE’ FOLLOWING BALLISTIC MISSILE TEST The move could foreshadow “more aggressive economic and diplomatic measures against Iran.” [Reuters]
TRUMP TELLS MITCH MCCONNELL TO ‘GO NUCLEAR’ FOR HIS SUPREME COURT PICK The use of the “nuclear option,” which would require a Senate rule change so that only 50 votes are required to confirm a Supreme Court nominee instead of the 60 currently needed, would forever change the Supreme Court nomination process. [HuffPost]
MILO YIANNOPOULOS SPEECH CANCELED AT BERKELEY AFTER VIOLENT PROTESTS Over 1,500 people had started fires, taken down light poles and thrown items at officers before the event, forcing the school to cancel the speech by the right-wing provocateur. Trump then tweeted that the school’s failure to allow “free speech” could mean no federal funds. [HuffPost]
TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS WILL VOTE AGAINST BETSY DEVOS’ CONFIRMATION FOR EDUCATION SECRETARY Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) announced they will not be voting for the controversial education secretary pick. Only one more “no” vote is needed for her nomination to be thwarted ― which would only be the second time in history a first-time president’s Cabinet nomination had been rejected. [HuffPost]
WHAT’S BREWING
IT’S OFFICIAL: THE INTERNET HAS EXPLODED Because Beyonce announced she and Jay Z are expecting twins in one heck of an Instagram post. The internet could not take it. It just couldn’t (and neither could Coachella-goers). [HuffPost]
TAMRON HALL IS LEAVING NBC, MSNBC Reportedly over the loss of her 9 a.m. show to incoming anchor Megyn Kelly. [NYT]
BAD NEWS, FOLKS...PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL HAS LET US DOWN THIS YEAR The groundhog saw his shadow this morning, giving us six more weeks of winter. Come on, Phil! [USA Today]
IN CASE YOU FORGOT, SUPER BOWL IS SUNDAY But don’t worry ― here are all the best appetizers you can buy premade. Or ones to make that don’t require cooking. Or fine, if you really want to be an overachiever, the best finger food recipes. [HuffPost]
‘BEN AND JERRY’S’ PINT SLICES ARE NOW A THING Because we needed another reason to eat more ice cream in an even more delicious form. [HuffPost]
THE ‘SERIAL’ TEAM IS COMING OUT WITH A NEW PODCAST, NETFLIX STYLE Get ready to binge-listen all episodes of “S-Town” in March. [HuffPost]
OPRAH IS HEADING TO ‘60 MINUTES’ She’ll be joining this fall as a special contributor. [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
~ Don’t worry, folks: the bobcat on the lam in D.C. has been found after 3 days missing.
~ A Boston marathon survivor is marrying the firefighter who saved her life.
~ Hillary Clinton will deliver the 2017 commencement address for Wellesley College.
~ We’re all still a bit confused about Trump’s description of Frederick Douglass.
~ Stop the widespread panic: The bacon shortage worried about all day Wednesday turns out to be a hoax.
~ Apple is getting into Intel’s lane by producing a chip that could increase your Mac’s battery life.
~ The staying power of the grand romantic gesture in pop culture.
~ Chrissy Teigen is straight fire in her first photos for Sports Illustrated since giving birth last year.
~ Speaking of Teigen, she and Kim Kardashian just launched a book club.
~ The tale of the “Girls” sex scene even HBO wouldn’t air.
~ The other thing Twitter loved Wednesday? Former President Barack Obama’s backward baseball cap and flip flops.
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