Why Trump is giving Musk more cost-cutting power, snowstorms head for Midwest and Northeast, Paul McCartney plays pop-up concert
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NEED TO KNOW
Alex Brandon/AP
Why Trump is giving Musk more cost-cutting power
Elon Musk appeared in the Oval Office for the first time yesterday to answer questions about his Department of Government Efficiency as President Trump signed an executive order to shrink the federal workforce.
The order: It instructs federal agencies to implement DOGE's 'workforce optimization initiative,' which would limit hiring to essential positions. Within hours, hundreds of Small Business Administration employees were told they had been let go. [USA Today/Politico]
Musk's Q&A: With his son beside him, Musk defended DOGE's work as 'common sense,' argued that 'the people voted for major government reform,' and acknowledged that its fast pace of work would lead to mistakes, promising to fix them. [AP]
Who's in DOGE: White House records show that DOGE's staff of about 30 people is primarily made up of tech workers but also includes five lawyers and a former McKinsey consultant. Most are in their 20s and 30s. [Business Insider]
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
MJ Kim for MPL Communications Ltd
🎵 Paul McCartney pops up
Paul McCartney announced a same-day concert in New York City yesterday. The sold-out show included Beatles classics like 'A Hard Day's Night' and 'Hey Jude' as well as his own hits, such as 'Maybe I'm Amazed.' See the photos. [Variety]
❄️ Winter storm watch
More than 90 million Americans were under winter weather advisories as a storm slammed the mid-Atlantic with up to a foot of snow. Another snowstorm is expected to move from Colorado to the Northeast through tomorrow. [USA Today]
🇺🇲 Marc Fogel's homecoming
American Marc Fogel returned to the U.S. after the Trump administration reached a deal with Russia to release him from prison. At the White House, Fogel called Trump 'a hero.' Another American is expected to be released today. [ABC News]
🩺 Canned tuna recall
The FDA announced a recall on Monday for canned tuna sold in dozens of states by grocers including Costco, Walmart and Trader Joe's. The agency said a manufacturing defect in the lids may increase risk of botulism contamination. [CBS News]
🎧 Apple's new Powerbeats
Apple debuted its Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, which are the first from the company to come with built-in heart rate monitoring sensors. The new tech hits shelves tomorrow for $249. See how they look. [Yahoo Finance]
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY
📺 Reality TV fans: The Masked Singer returns tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. (More on that below.) [Cosmopolitan]
🏀 On the court, the Celtics host the Spurs, with Wemby and their new point guard De'Aaron Fox, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. [Celtics Wire]
🏒 In the rink, Canada and Sweden play in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off's inaugural game at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. [NBC Sports]
☀️ And don't forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.
Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Historica Graphica Collection/TODAY IN HISTORY
In 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the U.S., was born in a log cabin at Sinking Spring Farm near Hodgenville, Ky. [AP]
3 QUESTIONS
...about reality TV this week
'Tis the season for drama and subterfuge: There's lots of reality TV airing this week, including some premieres. I asked Laura Bradley, who writes about (nearly) all of them, to clue us in.
Divya: What are the shows you're most excited about this week?
Laura: I'm all in on The Bachelor, Deal or No Deal Island and The Traitors. Grant Ellis's Bach season is already dramatic as hell, DONDI is pure, delightful silliness, and this season of The Traitors has been a mess. No one's safe, and the suspense has been thrilling!
Divya: A new season of The Masked Singer airs tonight. What can we expect?
Laura: A new cast, of course. My favorite costume so far is Cherry Blossom — look at those creepy eyes! But it's also Season 13, so there will be a new character: Lucky Duck (get it?), who will pop in throughout the season to give clues and apparently has a connection to someone on the show.
Divya: Love Is Blind premieres later this week. What can you tell us about it?
Laura: From what I know so far, this season has everything: Romance, jealousy, a potential scandal and a dude who thinks it's funny to joke that women over 30 are 'no longer attractive.' In other words, I'm pumped!
Un-Masked? Some think they already know who Lucky Duck is.
Faye Plunkett via TikTok
FEEL-GOOD MOMENT
George Peirce and Faye Plunkett wanted to include Peirce's grandparents in their wedding last year, so they opted to have 'flower grandparents' rather than a flower girl. His grandparents said they were 'honored and excited' about the role. Watch the emotional moment. [People]
Have a great day. See you tomorrow!
💡 P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: Looking for ways to reduce your sodium intake? Try nutritional yeast, or one of these other salt substitutes. [Yahoo Life]
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