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Biden says Equal Rights Amendment is ratified, kicking off expected legal battle as he pushes through final executive actions President Joe Biden announced a major opinion Friday that the Equal Rights Amendment is ratified, enshrining its protections into the Constitution, a last-minute move that some believe could pave the way to bolstering reproductive rights. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/17/politics/joe-biden-equal-right-amendment/index.html?

Universal’s starry Stella Nova hotel set for Epic debut Universal Orlando has a project that’s literally shiny, new and interstellar to show off. It’s Stella Nova, a resort within sight of its upcoming Epic Universe theme park. The 750-room hotel opens to the public on Tuesday. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/01/16/epic-universe-universal-orlando-stella-nova-resort-hotel-opens-preview/?

This Storm-Battered Town Voted for Trump. He Has Vowed to Overturn the Law That Could Fix Its Homes. Donald Trump has said he will overturn a law that helps communities better weather the effects of climate change. If he follows through, he’ll be reversing an initiative that has disproportionately benefited areas that make up his base. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-biden-ira-climate-red-states? A Trump DOJ Could Bring an End to the Yearslong Investigation of His Ally Ken Paxton When President Donald Trump appeared in a New York courtroom last spring to face a slew of criminal charges, he was joined by a rotating cadre of lawyers, campaign aides, his family — and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-ken-paxton-doj-investigation?

🎉 Yahoo! It's Friday! It's a great day to have a great day, so have one. ‌Programming note: We'll be off Monday for MLK Day. See you back here on Tuesday morning to recap the CFP title game. ‌In today's edition: The future is now for women's sports, Baseball Hall of Fame voting update, previewing the NFL Divisional Round, another teen wins in Melbourne, Jeremiah Smith's path to stardom, and more. ‌Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. 🚨 ICYMI Headlines 🏀 Upsets galore: Three ranked men's college basketball teams were in action on Thursday, and they all lost to unranked teams. Minnesota beat No. 20 Michigan (via buzzer-beater!), Oregon State took down No. 16 Gonzaga, and Temple beat No. 18 Memphis. ‌⚾️ HOF voting update: Ichiro Suzuki (100% of the vote), C.C. Sabathia (93.3%), Billy Wagner (84.7%) and Carlos Beltran (80.4%) are trending towards Hall of Fame induction with just over 40% of ballots publicly known. The final results will be announced on Tuesday. ‌🏒 Ovi makes history: Alex Ovechkin scored the game-winner in OT to lift the Capitals past the Senators and break the NHL record for most goaltenders scored on (179). He also moved within 21 goals of passing Wayne Gretzky for most all-time. ‌🏀 Thunder get revenge: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (40 points) and the Thunder destroyed the Cavaliers in OKC, 134-114, in a battle of the NBA's two best teams. This comes a week after the Cavs beat them in Cleveland. ‌💔 RIP, Bob: Bob Uecker, the longtime voice of the Brewers also known for his iconic role in "Major League," passed away on Thursday at 90 years old. He was "the soundtrack of our summers," the team said in a statement. Rest easy, legend. ‌See what else is trending on Yahoo Sports. 📈 UP AND TO THE RIGHT WOMEN'S SPORTS: BUSINESS IS BOOMING (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports) It wasn't long ago that the WNBA struggled to draw viewers. Now, there's a big enough appetite for women's basketball that an entirely new league is launching today with record salaries,* big name backers, blue chip sponsors and a $100 million media rights deal, Jeff and I write. ‌The future is now: Unrivaled, the new 3-on-3 league featuring 36 WNBA players, is a direct reflection of how much has changed in a few short years. Women's sports is no longer merely "on the rise" or "a space to watch"; it's a thriving industry where surging fan engagement is driving sponsorship dollars, athlete earnings and investor interest through the roof. ‌Building on a huge year: Thanks in no small part to the rising tide that is Caitlin Clark, the women's sports boom leveled up in 2024 (and the first few weeks of 2025) across just about every category. ‌Valuations and earnings: Angel City FC was sold for a women's sports record $250 million, pushing the average NWSL franchise valuation over $100 million (up 57% YoY). The world's 15 highest-paid female athletes earned $221 million in 2024 (up from $174 in 2023). The WTA and LPGA awarded historic prize money, and women's basketball teams will earn performance pay during this year's March Madness due to the tournament's surging media value. Media and investment: The WNBA's new $2.2 billion broadcasting deal is worth 6x its current deal, and Netflix signed a "landmark" deal with FIFA to secure the U.S. rights for the next two Women's World Cups. Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang pledged $30 million to U.S. Soccer to grow the women's game (plus $4 million to fund women's rugby), and Whoopi Goldberg launched the All Women's Sports Network. Viewership and attendance: The NCAA women's national championship (featuring Clark) was ESPN's most-watched college basketball game ever (18.9M viewers), and the WNBA Finals were the most-watched in 25 years (1.6M). The NWSL had record attendance (11,250 per game) and viewership (5x jump from 2023), UConn women's basketball reported more ticket sales ($3.25M) than 75 public men's programs, and the PWHL on Sunday set a U.S. women's hockey attendance record (14,108). Expansion and creation: The NWSL added two expansion teams (Bay FC, Utah Royals) and announced a third (Denver**), while the WNBA added one expansion team (Golden State Valkyries) and announced two more (Portland, Toronto). Three new leagues debuted (PWHL, USL Super League, League One Volleyball), and three were announced (Women's Lacrosse League, Women's Professional Baseball League, Major League Volleyball). But wait, there's more: The Paris Olympics were the first ever to achieve full gender parity, the NWSL's KC Current opened the world's first stadium built specifically for a women's pro team, both Time (Clark) and Sports Illustrated (Simone Biles) named women as their Athletes of the Year, and bars dedicated to women's sports continue to open across the country. ‌*Unrivaled money: Players have been given equity in the new league, and their average salary ($222,222) is nearly twice as much as the WNBA's ($119,500) and the highest among all women's team sports. ‌**Consider this: Denver secured the NWSL's 16th franchise at an expansion fee of $110 million, which is 55x (!!!) the league's expansion fee just three years ago ($2 million). If that isn't evidence of explosive growth, I don't know what is. 🏈 THE FINAL EIGHT DIVISIONAL ROUND PRIMER (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports) The NFL's final eight teams will battle it out this weekend in the Divisional Round, which often delivers the best set of games* all year, Jeff writes. ‌Texans (+8.5) at Chiefs (Sat. 4:30pm ET, ESPN/ABC): Kansas City's road to a third straight Super Bowl begins after a historically strange season. Their +59 scoring differential is 62 points worse than any other 15-win team in NFL history, and was just the 11th-best mark in 2024. ‌X-factors: Houston needs star defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter (whose 26% pass rush win rate led the league) to bother Patrick Mahomes. KC needs Trent McDuffie to shut down Nico Collins, the Texans’ only remaining truly dangerous receiver. A streak and a drought: The Chiefs have made six straight AFC title games (every year since Mahomes became the starter), while the Texans have never made it there in 22 years as a franchise. Commanders (+9.5) at Lions (Sat. 8pm, Fox): Two long-struggling franchises enjoyed their best season in years (if not ever), as Detroit scored the fourth-most points in NFL history and Washington found increasingly clutch ways to win behind rookie sensation Jayden Daniels. ‌Sonic and Knuckles: The league's best RB tandem is back in action with David Montgomery (knee) rejoining Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit's backfield. That's bad news for Washington, which allowed the third-most rushing yards per game this season. Three decades later: The Commanders haven't reached the NFC Championship since 1991, when they beat the Lions (!) en route to their third Super Bowl. Rams (+6) at Eagles (Sun. 3pm, NBC): Two of the league's most electric offensive players — Saquon Barkley (2,005 rushing yards, eighth-most ever) and Puka Nacua (3.7 yards per route run, third-best mark since 2007) — take the field in Philly, where snow is in the forecast. ‌Stifling defense: Good luck scoring on the Eagles, who've won 13 of their last 14 games and have allowed more than 20 points just twice in that time. Wild stat: This will be Rams head coach Sean McVay's 13th career playoff game and he's never faced the same team twice. Ravens (-1) at Bills (Sun. 6:30pm, CBS): The weekend concludes with one of the most tantalizing playoff matchups in recent memory, as MVP favorites Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson square off in Buffalo, where the temperature is expected to feel like 0 degrees. ‌Josh vs. Lamar: Jackson leads the regular-season series, 3-1 (including a 35-10 shellacking in Week 4), while Allen won their only postseason matchup four years ago. But something's gotta give: Josh hasn't won consecutive playoff games since 2021 and Lamar never has. Wild stat: Buffalo and Baltimore had nearly identical seasons. The Bills scored 525 points with a +157 differential, while the Ravens scored 518 points with the same +157 differential. *Think about it: Wild Card Weekend doesn't include either conference's best team, and while the Conference Championships and Super Bowl are obviously both great theater, they don't actually feature much football. The Divisional Round strikes a perfect balance. 🎾 AUSTRALIAN OPEN ANOTHER TEEN WINS IN MELBOURNE (Paul Crock/AFP via Getty Images) 19-year-old qualifier Learner Tien knocked out No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in a five-setter on Thursday, becoming the youngest American man to reach the Australian Open's third round since Pete Sampras in 1990, Jeff writes. ‌The kids are alright: Tien is the third teenager this week to defeat a top-10 opponent, joining Brazil's João Fonseca (No. 9 Andrey Rublev) and Croatia's Jakub Menšík (No. 6 Casper Ruud). ‌Australian Open recap: Day 5 📺 CFP CHAMPIONSHIP WATCHLIST: COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S GRAND FINALE (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports) We'll be off Monday for MLK Day, so we won't be back in your inbox until after the CFP National Championship. Enjoy the holiday weekend! ‌Ohio State and Notre Dame meet on Monday night in Atlanta (7:30pm ET, ESPN) for the first national championship game of the 12-team era, Jeff writes. ‌Overwhelming favorite: The Buckeyes (-8.5) are huge favorites over the Irish, whom they have beaten six straight times dating back to 1995. ‌More to watch: ‌🏈 NFL: Texans at Chiefs (Sat. 4:30pm, ESPN); Commanders at Lions (Sat. 8pm, Fox); Rams at Eagles (Sun. 3pm, NBC); Ravens at Bills (Sun. 6:30pm, CBS) 🎾 Australian Open: Third Round, Round of 16, Quarterfinals (Fri-Mon, ESPN+/ESPN2) 🏀 NBA: Magic at Celtics (Fri. 7pm, ESPN); Grizzlies at Spurs (Fri. 9:30pm, ESPN); Timberwolves at Grizzlies (Mon. 2:30pm, TNT); Celtics at Warriors (Mon. 5pm, TNT) 🏒 NHL: Golden Knights at Hurricanes (Fri. 7pm, NHL); Maple Leafs at Canadiens (Sat. 7pm, NHL); Rangers at Canadiens (Sun. 7pm, NHL); Lightning at Maple Leafs (Mon. 7:30pm, NHL) 🏀 NCAAM: No. 4 Alabama at No. 8 Kentucky (Sat. 12pm, ESPN); No. 17 Purdue at No. 13 Oregon (Sat. 3pm, NBC); No. 21 Ole Miss at No. 15 Miss. St. (Sat. 6pm, ESPN2); No. 19 Illinois at No. 12 Michigan St. (Sun. 12pm, CBS) 🏀 NCAAW: No. 13 Oklahoma at No. 2 South Carolina (Sun. 3pm, ESPN); No. 7 Texas at No. 8 Maryland (Mon. 5:30pm, Fox) Plus: The USMNT hosts Venezuela (Sat. 3pm, TNT) and Inter Miami hosts Club América (Sat. 10pm, Apple) in a pair of friendlies; UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome (Sat. 10pm, ESPN+ PPV); The American Express at PGA West (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/Golf); Unrivaled's opening weekend in Miami (Fri-Mon, TNT/truTV). 🏈 DIAPER DANDY PREGAME READING: JEREMIAH SMITH'S PATH TO STARDOM (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith has had such an incredible freshman season that many believe he'd be the No. 1 pick if he were eligible for this year's NFL draft. And to think: It all started with a snub from a youth football coach. ‌From Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg: ‌Somewhere in the Miami area is a youth football coach who unknowingly fueled the rise of a record-breaking wide receiver. This is the coach who told Jeremiah Smith he didn't make the Miami Gardens Ravens after the 7-year-old tried out to play football for the first time. ‌Much like the high school basketball coach who cut Michael Jordan, the snub ignited a fierce determination to be great within Smith. As he told Fox's Tom Rinaldi in November, "I was just a whole different type of person from that day forward. It just made a kid more hungry, that's all I can say." ‌The cut also inspired Smith's father to do more to help his son maximize his talent and achieve his goals. Chris Smith spent endless hours alongside J.J. (as he's known to family and friends) at the park, the field or the gym, instilling the work ethic that made his son an elite prospect before anyone knew he would grow to become a 6-foot-3, 215-pound genetic marvel. ‌Hailed as the next great Ohio State receiver when he arrived in Columbus, Smith has achieved feats that even Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson could not. The cousin of Seahawks QB Geno Smith has smashed Cris Carter's school records for receptions, yardage and touchdown catches by a freshman. ‌ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said Smith would "easily be the No. 1 pick in this year's draft" if he were eligible for it. NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay has said the same. "The guy is NFL-ready," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said after the Rose Bowl. "He's that talented, that special."

Excavating Middle Bronze Kurdistan While some archaeological sites are well-known from ancient sources, others remain a mystery, despite the scale of their remains. This is the case with Kurd Qaburstan, a site near Erbil in northern Iraq. After more than ten years of excavation, it is clear that the site was a major regional center during the Middle Bronze Age (c. 2000–1550 BCE), around the time of the famous Babylonian king, Hammurabi (r. 1792–1750). But not much else is known. So, what questions can be asked, and what can be learned by excavating a site like Kurd Qaburstan? https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/excavating-middle-bronze-kurdistan/? The “Original” Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls For centuries, Bible scholars examined two ancient texts to elucidate the original language of the Bible: the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint. The Masoretic Text is a traditional Hebrew text finalized by Jewish scholars around 1000 C.E. The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Torah created by the Jews of Alexandria in the third century B.C.E. (The other books of the Hebrew Bible were translated over the course of the following century.) According to Septuagint tradition, at least 70 isolated ancient scholars came up with identical Greek translations of the Torah. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-versions-and-translations/the-original-bible-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls/? The Arch of Titus’s Menorah Panel in Color How did Rome look in ancient times? https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/archaeology-today/cultural-heritage/true-colors-the-arch-of-titus/?

China’s population falls for a third straight year, posing challenges for its government and economy TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China’s population fell last year for the third straight year, its government said Friday, pointing to further demographic challenges for the world’s second most populous nation, which is now facing both an aging population and an emerging shortage of working age people. https://apnews.com/article/china-population-economy-growth-6415abe5e6422de26bd838b6bf0b7564?

Driver in Texas migrant smuggling run that led to the deaths of 53 people pleads guilty A Texas truck driver charged in the deaths of 53 migrants who rode in a sweltering tractor-trailer with no air conditioning pleaded guilty Thursday over the 2022 tragedy that became the nation’s deadliest smuggling attempt across the U.S.-Mexico border. https://apnews.com/article/texas-migrant-deaths-smuggling-9b99a40b763ac8f60161b83c271dd653?

Pakistani court sentences ex-PM Imran Khan and his wife to 14 and 7 years in prison in graft case ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced the country’s already-imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife to 14 and seven years in jail after finding them guilty of corruption, officials and his lawyer said. https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-court-sentences-imran-khan-corruption-case-1257d85b807f71a9f64dabfae93d3dd0?

TikTok ban In just hours, the Supreme Court is expected to release its latest opinions, including one that might determine one of America's favorite apps. Without intervention from the nation's highest court, a ban on TikTok in the US could go into effect on Sunday — the last full day of President Joe Biden's administration. White House officials say they don't believe Biden has the authority to defer enforcement of a law he signed in April that required the app's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell TikTok to American ownership by January 19. Since the ban's timing comes at the end of Biden's term, the White House said it will be up to President-elect Donald Trump's administration to decide how to implement the ban.

Los Angeles wildfires Tens of thousands of residents in Los Angeles County who were forced to evacuate the wildfires raging in the area will have to wait at least another week before they can return to their homes to survey damage, retrieve necessities and assess what can be salvaged of their remaining property. More than 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires and securing the evacuation zones goes beyond ensuring the blazes are out. Toxic ash, hazardous waste and charred debris left in the wake of the infernos must be cleaned up, plus repairs to infrastructure such as water and electricity, officials said. As of today, over 170,000 people are still under evacuation notices in LA County. Ash and other dangers mean LA area residents who fled fires a week ago won’t be going home soon It has been more than a week since two massive fires forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in the Los Angeles area, and officials said Thursday residents won’t be going home soon. Read more. Key points: Firefighters continued to battle the two largest fires, which have killed 27 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. More than 80,000 people are still under evacuation orders. Officials have asked residents for patience as hazardous materials teams and cadaver dogs comb the sites block by block. They said it will be a week or more before people can go back. “The properties have been damaged beyond belief,” Los Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella said at a briefing. “They are full of sediment, debris, silt and hazardous materials.” Hillsides have become unstable behind some damaged homes, and a small landslide in Pacific Palisades this week sent debris into the streets, he added. The city is also working on ensuring the region’s storm drainage system does not get clogged when rain begins to return in the coming weeks. Rain also poses the risk of mudslides. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Looking for his father, a worried son went to fire evacuation zone but found death and devastation California is years behind in implementing a law to make homes more fire resistant After disasters, people are especially vulnerable to scams. Here’s how to protect yourself

Ceasefire deal Israel's full security cabinet will hold a vote Saturday on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, which US officials expect to take effect Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a truce has been agreed upon with Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza, though discussions with his cabinet are still underway. The agreement would also see a pause in fighting in the enclave and the phased release of Palestinian prisoners. G7 leaders released a statement endorsing the ceasefire agreement, explaining it "has the potential to secure the release of all remaining hostages; further facilitate urgently needed humanitarian aid; and pave the way for civilians to return to, and rebuild, their homes and their lives," said the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Netanyahu says deal to release hostages held in Gaza has been reached Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war. Read more. Key points: Netanyahu said he would convene his security Cabinet later Friday, and then the government, to approve the long-awaited hostage deal. Netanyahu’s pre-dawn statement appeared to clear the way for Israeli approval of the deal, which would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and see dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The deal would also allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to the remains of their homes in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes, meanwhile, killed at least 72 people in the war-ravaged territory on Thursday. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Live updates: Netanyahu’s security cabinet votes on Gaza truce Satellite photos show the Gaza Strip before and after the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war Mysterious airstrip appears on a Yemeni island as Houthi rebel attacks threaten region

Arctic blast An Arctic blast is forecast to give President-elect Donald Trump the coldest inauguration in 40 years. The temperature in Washington, DC, at noon on Monday is expected to be in the low-20s as Trump stands up in front of the Capitol to take his oath of office. It will likely be the coldest Inauguration Day since President Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985, when the noon temperature was 7 degrees. Meanwhile, temperatures in swaths of the US are expected to drop this weekend and could be almost 30 degrees below normal by Monday for millions. The same weather pattern that will bring the Arctic chill across the Lower 48 is also partly responsible for making more Santa Ana wind events in Southern California, which sparked the past week's firestorm.

January 17, 2025 SUPPORTED BY APPLE TV+ Good morning. Today, my colleague Alexis Soloski writes about the loss of community in the Los Angeles fires. We’re also covering a Gaza cease-fire, RedNote and rocket debris. —David Leonhardt The aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena. Kyle Grillot for The New York Times ‘It’s all gone’ By Alexis Soloski I grew up in Los Angeles. Even as the Los Angeles wildfires continue to burn, the real, material toll is already apparent. Homes and businesses are gone. So are schools, supermarkets and houses of worship. These fires have also robbed some Californians of something more intangible: a sense of community. What defines a community? Though often a physical space, it’s also more vibes-based and amorphous — the networks of feeling among its members and their environment, built and natural. Already, online and in conversation, Angelenos are memorializing what they lost in the blazes that incinerated the Pacific Palisades, on the coast, and Altadena, an East Side enclave with a thriving Black middle class. The fish tacos at the Reel Inn. The pancakes at Fox’s. A synagogue. The Bunny Museum. Hiking trails. A pet supply store that did a brisk trade in backyard chickens. The accounting is early and incomplete. These fires will likely smolder for weeks. New ones kindle every day. The destroyed Altadena Community Church. Philip Cheung for The New York Times The eulogies show how loss is both personal and collective. JJ Redick, the Lakers’ coach who had moved to the Palisades recently, captured this in an interview over the weekend. His rented home had burned along with all of his family’s possessions. But he was struggling most, he said, with the loss of the community. “All the churches, the schools, the library, it’s all gone,” he said. He put his head in his hand when he spoke of the recreation center where his children had played sports. “It just hurts to lose that,” he said. What is the Palisades without these spaces? What comes after First settled by Indigenous peoples, then a property of Spain, then of Mexico, Los Angeles incorporated in 1850, the same year that California became a state. Rangy urban sprawl and frequent natural disasters make it feel less fixed than most major American cities. It is always growing, changing, renovating, reforming. I grew up in the Palisades in the 1990s. I left at 17 for college, and nearly every time I came home, something I loved had disappeared — a nearby bookshop, a diner. Each loss was a pinprick. It was also a real-world example of the Ship of Theseus thought experiment: How much of a neighborhood can be replaced before it isn’t your neighborhood anymore, before it isn’t your home? Now the losses are happening all at once, not slowly over time. With them comes another comprehensive loss — a civic identity, uninsurable, nonreimbursable. The Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Loren Elliott for The New York Times Some have argued that these neighborhoods shouldn’t be rebuilt, or not in the same way. They point to a 1998 essay by the eco-critic Mike Davis, “The Case for Letting Malibu Burn.” But Malibu has burned often, and for better or worse it has always come back. Likewise, these neighborhoods will almost certainly return. There will be new schools, new churches, new recreation centers. As an Angeleno, you have to witness only so many natural disasters to recognize the city’s resilience. The next Palisades won’t be the same. Neither will a future Altadena. (Whether they will still be accessible to middle-class families remains an open and necessary question.) And it’s unlikely that they’ll feel the same. At least not for a very long time. But for now those communities live on in the people comforting one another, helping one another, remembering and recovering. With luck, adequate government funding and very hard work, these places might build back safer, better able to withstand what a changing climate will bring. For a century, Los Angeles has been a dream factory. Its residents, mindful of what they have lost, grateful for what they have retained, might dream something brighter. Now is a time to mourn and help and heal. Soon it will be a time to begin again. Los Angeles, after all, loves nothing more than a sequel. For more Winds have subsided in Los Angeles, which has let firefighters make progress containing the two largest wildfires. It could still be weeks before many displaced residents are allowed to return. Officials warned water is contaminated and urged some residents to rely on bottled water. Harmful chemicals could linger in the system for years. People tend to donate clothes after a natural disaster. Aid groups in Southern California say money is more helpful. An eighth grader started a donation drive for teenagers whose homes have burned. Ariana Grande and others have chipped in. A MESSAGE FROM APPLE TV+ Severance Season 2 New season of Severance, the Emmy®-winning thriller, now streaming on Apple TV+ Stream Now THE LATEST NEWS Gaza Cease-fire Israeli and Hamas negotiators resolved their remaining differences in the cease-fire deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet to vote on the deal. Netanyahu is facing a political crisis as he manages far-right opposition to the deal. Politics Doug Burgum Eric Lee/The New York Times Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s pick for interior secretary, told senators at his confirmation hearing that he would focus on realizing America’s “energy dominance” — shorthand for increasing fossil fuel production. At another hearing, Scott Bessent, Trump’s choice for Treasury secretary, defended plans to cut taxes and raise tariffs. President Biden issued an executive order to improve cybersecurity. It will require software companies working with the government to prove their security features can thwart Chinese intelligence agencies. In the final days of his term, Biden has issued a series of policy decisions intended to cement his agenda. Eric Adams, New York City’s Democratic mayor, made a surprise visit to Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago. Adams, who faces federal corruption charges, has said he is open to receiving a pardon from Trump. How did your neighborhood vote in 2024? Look it up using our detailed map of election results. International Omdurman, Sudan. Ivor Prickett for The New York Times Sudan’s military has used chemical weapons at least twice against the paramilitary group it is battling, U.S. officials said. China’s population declined for the third straight year. Space Marcus Haworth, via Reuters The seventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket failed. Debris could be seen falling in the sky over the Caribbean. A home security camera filmed a meteorite landing in a front yard. See the video. Other Big Stories RedNote Adek Berry/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images TikTok users are migrating en masse to the Chinese app RedNote. Cancer rates are rising among young and middle-aged women. The Federal Trade Commission sued Greystar Real Estate Partners, the largest apartment landlord in the U.S., and accused it of charging tenants millions of dollars in hidden fees. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing across most of the U.S. in the coming days. Opinions Trump’s return to office will discourage migrants from seeking health care. Doctors should make sure that migrants know they’re safe in their exam rooms, Danielle Ofri writes. De-gendering terms — like dropping “-ess” from “actress” — is a worthwhile language endeavor, John McWhorter writes. We deserve Pete Hegseth because we live in an unserious country, David Brooks writes. Here’s a column by Bret Stephens on the Gaza cease-fire deal. Receive free access to handpicked articles via text message. Now you can get Times journalism sent right to your phone. Each article will be accessible for 30 days. Sign up now MORNING READS Hideko Yamashita Noriko Hayashi for The New York Times Decluttering: Before Marie Kondo, Hideko Yamashita taught Japan the art of creating tidier spaces. City life: New York isn’t cheap. Here are 40 ideas to make it more affordable. Travel: Spend 36 hours in Barbados. Screenland: Luigi Mangione isn’t the first murder suspect America has loved. He won’t be the last. Overbooked flight? Here’s what to do if an airline bumps you. Lives Lived: Bob Uecker’s baseball career was nothing special, but it led him to his true calling: sportscasting. Uecker served as the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for more than 50 years. He died at 90. SPORTS Danielle Collins at the Australian Open. Australian Open Tennis: The American Danielle Collins heard boos from the Australian Open crowd after her win, but said afterward the disdain only motivated her more to earn a “big fat paycheck.” Unrivaled: A new women’s 3-on-3 basketball league, featuring some of the world’s best players, begins today. N.F.L.: Tom Brady’s agent said the former quarterback plans to fulfill the rest of his 10-year broadcast deal at Fox despite his growing role as minority owner of the Raiders. A MESSAGE FROM APPLE TV+ Severance Season 2 New season of Severance, the Emmy®-winning thriller, now streaming on Apple TV+ Stream Now ARTS AND IDEAS Shane and Hannah Burcaw. Ryan Pfluger for The New York Times In a new essay collection, Shane and Hannah Burcaw, an influencer couple, explore “interabled” relationships, where one person has a disability and the other doesn’t. They say people are very curious about the caregiving aspects of their relationship, but they argue that is just a part of romantic love. More on culture David Lynch Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images David Lynch, whose strange, dreamlike creations included the TV series “Twin Peaks” and the film “Mulholland Drive,” died at 78. The actor Justin Baldoni is suing Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds for defamation. He claims they falsely accused him of sexual harassment and damaged his reputation. Restaurants are making wine lists shorter and less intimidating. The Apple TV+ dystopian thriller “Severance” is back for Season 2. Here’s where the first season left off. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist; Hadas Smirnoff. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgepeth. Marinate chicken in mayonnaise, ginger and lime zest, then cook for a 15-minute dinner. Revive your hair with dry shampoo. Sit on a supportive office chair. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was notably. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch

No, LA Fire Department isn't using women's handbags to put out fires | Fact check The claim: Los Angeles Fire Department is using women's handbags to put out California fires "They don't, the firemen don't have hoses so they're, like, literally using purses?" a woman says in the video. "Women's handbags?" The Instagram post garnered more than 10,000 likes in a week. Other versions of the claim were shared on Facebook and Instagram. Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones shared a version of the claim on X, saying the Los Angeles Fire Department was using handbags because its supplies "were sent to Ukraine over the past two years." Our rating: False The LAFD said the footage shows its team putting out a fire using small canvas bags, which are part of the department's standard equipment, not handbags. The canvas bags are more efficient than hoses at putting out small fires, the department said. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2025/01/16/lafd-womens-handbags-fires-fact-check/77726410007/?

📍 Mapped: Porn crackdown Data: Age Verification Providers Association. Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/Axios Nineteen states have passed laws requiring adult websites to verify that users are older than 18 — and the Supreme Court could soon give more states a green light to follow suit, Axios' Alex Fitzpatrick writes. The justices indicated this week that they're likely to uphold Texas' age-verification law. 🔒 How it works: Age verification laws typically require adult websites to implement a way of checking users' ages, often via government-issued IDs. The laws are meant to prevent underage kids from accessing pornographic websites. Critics say they raise privacy and First Amendment concerns. 💬 "Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy," Pornhub parent company Aylo said. Some adult sites, including Pornhub, have decided to go dark in states with age verification rules.

🏡 Mayors: We need more housing Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios Mayors across the country are warning of a severe and worsening housing shortfall, Axios' Sareen Habeshian reports from a new survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, with the American Institute of Architects. 89% of the mayors surveyed said the federal government should provide flexible and direct funding for cities to address housing shortages. The mayors want more low-income housing credits and housing vouchers. ⚡️ The big picture: There aren't enough homes in the U.S. to keep up with demand. Some estimates put the total housing shortage in the millions of units. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which opens its 93rd Winter Meeting in Washington today — with 270+ mayors in town — sees housing as a "national crisis [that] calls for a national response." Read the 20-page report ...

🔆 Trump strikes warmer inaugural tone Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images Eight years ago, Donald Trump took office with a dark message about "American carnage" — a nation ravaged by crime, poverty and drugs. As he returns to the White House on Monday, his team is stressing "unity" and "light," Axios' Erin Doherty writes. The weekend's pre-inauguration festivities have optimistic, hopeful themes, including a "One America, One Light" prayer service. 🕯️What they're saying: "Light signifies hope, it signifies a new beginning, it signifies a pathway forward," a person familiar with Trump's inauguration plans told Axios. "It's really something that has been a theme for the inaugural, yes, but also a guiding principle for our team over the past couple months." Between the lines: Trump and his inner circle feel vindicated and validated after winning the popular and electoral votes, and see a broad MAGA mandate. Via Truth Social 🥊 Reality check: Trump has tried to play the role of unifier before. It hasn't lasted. Trump called for national unity after surviving an assassination attempt last summer. His speech at the Republican convention — his first after the shooting — began with a reflective, positive tone about unity. Go deeper. ✈️ Tech CEOs flock to D.C. Chart: Axios Visuals Just about all the biggest names in tech will be in Washington on Monday for President-elect Trump's inauguration — a much different scene than the beginning of his first term, Axios' Sam Baker writes. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is the latest addition to the Big Tech guest list for Trump's swearing-in — a day after his company's app is set to be banned in the U.S. 💻 Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are also planning to attend, according to media reports. Elon Musk will be there, too.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 17 1950 Boston thieves pull off historic Brink’s robbery On January 17, 1950, 11 men steal more than $2 million ($29 million today) from the Brink’s Armored Car depot in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the perfect crime—almost—as the culprits weren’t caught until January 1956, just days before the statute of limitations for the theft expired. The robbery’s... read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1893 Americans overthrow Hawaiian monarchy 1990s 1997 Ireland grants a divorce for the first time in the country’s history American Revolution 1781 Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina Art, Literature and Film History 1820 English author Anne Brontë is born 1966 NBC greenlights “The Monkees” Cold War 1966 U.S. accidentally drops hydrogen bombs in Spain Crime 1977 Gary Gilmore executed 2013 Bolshoi Ballet artistic director attacked with acid European History 1928 Stalin banishes Trotsky Exploration 1912 Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole Inventions & Science 1953 Corvette unveiled at GM Motorama Natural Disasters & Environment 1994 Northridge earthquake rocks Los Angeles area Sports 1916 PGA is formed 1995 NFL’s Rams announce move to St. Louis U.S. Presidents 1961 President Eisenhower warns of military-industrial complex World War I 1916 Winston Churchill hears speech on the tragedy of war World War II 1945 Soviets capture Warsaw

January 17, 2025 Saving Faith “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” (James 2:14) The well-known apparent “conflict” between James and Paul focuses especially on this verse. The apostle Paul says emphatically: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet James, also an apostle, insists: “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). But no real conflict exists. In our text there is a definite article before the word “faith.” James’ question is, literally, “Can that faith save him?” This is obviously intended as a rhetorical question with a negative answer. In the context, James teaches that a “profession of faith” is not enough to produce salvation if that faith “have not works.” Since that kind of faith does not save, then what kind of faith does save? The answer is given by Paul in the very verses quoted above. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [i.e., that faith which is the inference in the original] not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” In other words, true saving faith is not a man-generated faith of some kind, it is a supernatural gift of God! And that faith does save, because it is part of the new nature implanted by the Holy Spirit when a new believer is born again. Furthermore, this faith does inevitably produce good works, for the verse following says that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Faith must be faith in something, and true saving faith must be centered in the saving gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in His inerrant Word. Such faith will inevitably result in a changed life and good works. That is the faith that saves. HMM

📷 Parting shot Photo: Stewart Verdery Finish Line regular Stewart Verdery shares an amazing image of this morning's sunrise, taken from a rooftop near his home in Northwest D.C. "Regular iPhone with no training!" Stewart tells us.

May Pang sighs as she considers the world’s problems and the political divide here in America. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/01/16/beatles-history-may-pang-photos-john-lennon-florida/?

🤐 Mitch makes 'em sweat Former Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's conspicuous silence is starting to spook Tulsi Gabbard's team. Why it matters: The Trump transition thinks Gabbard, the director of national intelligence nominee, can get confirmed even with a "no" vote from McConnell. But his public opposition — if it materializes — could open the door to other GOP defectors. Gabbard's team isn't banking on McConnell's vote, sources tell us. McConnell is studiously avoiding public or private indications that he'll support President-elect Trump's nominees, three people familiar with the matter tell us. Voting against Gabbard would resume hostilities between McConnell and Trump. It could have implications for big policy questions down the line, from funding Ukraine to raising tariffs. 📣 McConnell said on the Senate floor today that he'll support nominees to "senior national security roles whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not liabilities, in the pursuit of peace through strength." When asked specifically about Gabbard, McConnell told CNN's Manu Raju he was not ready to announce whether he can back her. Zoom in: Gabbard is focused on winning over members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where the GOP has a 9-8 voting advantage. Two key GOP swing votes sit on the Intel committee: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Me.), a former SSCI chair, and Todd Young (R-Ind.). Gabbard has met with every Republican and five of the eight Democrats, including Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the ranking Democrat. She has reached out to all of them. Majority Leader John Thune can still bring Gabbard's nomination to a full floor vote even if she doesn't have the support to be recommended by the committee — but it would not be a great sign for her chances. Most of Trump's nominees are pocketing hard "yeses" from senators, as they meet privately or appear before their committees. Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, whose nomination as secretary of Defense appeared doomed in early December, appears to be a glide path to confirmation, barring any new revelations about his personal life. The bottom line: If Democrats have any chance — and it's slim — at helping drag down a Trump nominee, they see Gabbard as the most likely prospect. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer views the party's grilling of Hegseth as a success. He'll demand the same for their treatment of Gabbard, HHS nominee RFK Jr. and FBI director nominee Kash Patel. — Hans Nichols, Stef Kight and Stephen Neukam 🥊 Jeffries vs. Johnson House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries put Speaker Mike Johnson on blast this afternoon, calling his removal of House Intel Chair Mike Turner "shameful" and "unjustified." Jeffries said the move is "likely being applauded by our adversaries in Russia and China." Between the lines: This is a sharp departure from the cordial relationship between Johnson and Jeffries over the past year. P.S. Johnson named Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) as the new Intel chair today. 🇺🇸 Johnson's imperialist caucus Data: Axios research and congress.gov; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals A surprising number of Johnson's House Republicans are on board with Trump's new flavor of U.S. expansion. Even more surprising: The backers cut across the sometimes-warring factions of the House GOP. Why it matters: "People who were snickering or laughing about it when it was first brought up are starting to actually realize it's a legitimate issue," centrist Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told us. "This is real," said Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), a member of the right-wing Freedom Caucus. "There are going to be some serious conversations." State of play: A trio of House GOP bills would codify each one of Trump's proposed moves to either expand U.S. territory or its international influence. Panama Canal: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) has introduced legislation that would allow Trump to enter into negotiations with Panama to try to reassert U.S. control. Greenland: Ogles introduced a similar bill to authorize negotiations with Denmark about purchasing Greenland. Gulf of Mexico: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has introduced a bill that would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America" on official maps and documents. Zoom out: A desire to counter China's international influence is at the heart of the effort, several co-sponsors told us. "We've been talking on the China Committee about ... China's growing influence on infrastructure across the globe, and I think the Panama Canal is hugely important to America," said Dusty Johnson. Lawler cited rare earth minerals and Arctic waterways as key factors in the push to acquire Greenland. Zoom in: "This is literally in our backyard, front yard, however you want to look at it," Ogles said. "'America First' is, simply stated: When you have a foreign adversary who arguably is our greatest existential threat — meaning China — when they're making moves towards Greenland, we can't just sit idly by." Babin noted that the U.S. controlled the Panama Canal until the 1970s: "This is not intervention. This is not adventurism. This is a U.S.-built canal. There wasn't even a Panama. That was part of Colombia." — Andrew Solender

History made: Blue Origin’s New Glenn reaches orbit on debut launch CAPE CANAVERAL — Blue Origin managed something no commercial rocket company has ever done successfully by reaching orbit on the first try with its New Glenn rocket during an overnight launch early Thursday. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/01/15/blue-origins-new-glenn-debut-could-face-poor-weather-for-planned-overnight-launch-attempt/? Starship SpaceX said Thursday that its Starship spacecraft — which was meant to lap Earth and splash down in the Indian Ocean — exploded not long after its 7th test flight took off from South Texas. The disintegration delayed some commercial flights in Florida as many on social media shared videos of purported debris from the vehicle raining over the Caribbean. Despite the mishap, SpaceX did successfully guide the Super Heavy booster back to a landing at the launch site — making a pinpoint, mid-air touchdown between two extended arms, or "chopsticks." The Elon Musk-owned company is likely going to have to wait a bit before its next test flight, as the FAA typically investigates when launches don't go as planned.

US says Gaza ceasefire to start as planned despite 'loose end' DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Gaza Strip ceasefire should begin on Sunday as planned, despite the need for negotiators to tie up a "loose end" at the last minute, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-ceasefire-accord-followed-by-airstrikes-gaza-residents-say-2025-01-16/

🖼️ Trump's official portrait President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance pose in their official portraits. Photo: Daniel Torok/courtesy of the Trump-Vance transition team These are the official portraits for President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance — "and they go hard," the transition said in a statement. With a raised eyebrow and a stone-faced stare, lit from below, Trump's portrait is reminiscent of his infamous mugshot, which became a powerful symbol for the MAGA faithful, Axios' Avery Lotz notes. 📷 The official portraits will hang in government offices across the country once Trump is sworn in.