Yearly Archives: 2026

figure skating, olympics, sports

Ilia Malinin leads Team USA to 2nd gold in Olympic figure skating team event

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Team USA Successfully Defends Olympic Figure Skating Team Event Gold at Milan Cortina 2026

Team USA defended its Olympic figure skating team event gold medal on Sunday, led by Ilia “Quad God” Malinin, who propelled the team to victory at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Malinin, a 21-year-old two-time World champion, attempted a total of five quad jumps, delivering a stellar performance that ultimately decided the podium placement.

Heading into the men’s free skate, the final event of the team competition, the U.S. and Japan were tied at 59 points. Malinin earned an impressive score of 200.03, topping Japan’s Shun Sato who scored 194.86. Sato had substituted for Yuma Kagiyama, who had outperformed Malinin in the short program on Saturday. The host country, Italy, secured the bronze medal.

The Olympic figure skating team event on Sunday comprised four segments: free ice dance, free pair skating, women’s single free skate, and men’s single free skate.

Amber Glenn Debuts on Olympic Ice

North Texas native Amber Glenn took to the ice in the women’s free skate event, which occurred before the men’s program on Sunday. At 26 years old, the first-time Olympian became the oldest U.S. women’s singles skater to compete at the Olympics in 98 years, according to U.S. Figure Skating. Additionally, Glenn made history as the first out LGBTQ woman to skate at the Olympic Games.

Despite shakily landing her hallmark triple axel, Glenn expressed mixed emotions in a post-performance interview with NBC. “I felt disappointed, but I am very proud of the fight. I just felt really not my best today, and I’m just really disappointed in that,” she said. Her performance earned the U.S. team eight points.

Pair Skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea Finish Fourth

The U.S. pair skating duo Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea placed fourth on Sunday, finishing behind teams from Japan, Georgia, and Italy. Their strong performance contributed seven points to Team USA’s overall score.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates Dominate Ice Dance

Following their rhythm dance triumph on Saturday, Madison Chock and Evan Bates delivered a commanding free dance victory on Sunday. The duo, skating together in their fourth consecutive Winter Olympic Games, once again showcased their prowess on the ice dance programs.

“We definitely skated great, and we’re very happy, as you saw when we finished. I think we both felt the excitement of just getting these Olympics underway,” said Bates. Both Chock and Bates are holdovers from the Beijing Games gold medal team, and as three-time world champions, they remain favorites to capture individual Olympic gold later in the Winter Games.

With these outstanding performances across all events, Team USA successfully defended their Olympic figure skating team event title, thrilling fans and setting a high bar for the remainder of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ilia-malinin-amber-glenn-us-olympics-figure-skating-team-event-result/

fiction, memoir

Margaret Atwood: The 60 Minutes Interview

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Margaret Atwood’s fiction often explores future worlds plagued by totalitarianism, environmental collapse, and global pandemics.

Now at the age of 86, she turns her gaze not forward, but backward—reflecting on her own life in a new memoir.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/margaret-atwood-60-minutes-video-2026-02-08/

cryptocurrency, finance

203,556,622 DOGE Slam Into Robinhood as Dogecoin Price Explodes 6%

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**Massive Dogecoin Transfer Signals Potential Market Shift**

On Saturday, a substantial transfer of Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) was reported, with 203,556,622 DOGE—valued at approximately $20,059,987—moved from an unknown wallet to Robinhood. This significant transaction coincided with a 6% rebound in Dogecoin’s price, marking a reversal from a recent downward trend.

Whale Alert noted that this isn’t the first time such a large transfer has occurred. On February 4, a similar move saw 277,731,894 DOGE, worth $29,491,644, transferred to Robinhood. These transactions have attracted attention amid a volatile cryptocurrency market.

### Cryptocurrencies Face Volatility Amid Market Sell-Off

Cryptocurrencies have been struggling since a severe sell-off in October, which undermined market confidence. This past week saw increased selling pressure due to the unwinding of leveraged bets and broader market volatility.

Dogecoin’s price fell for three consecutive days, hitting a low of $0.0799 on February 6 before rebounding to $0.10. Analysts attribute the drop to risk-off positioning and heavy derivatives speculation.

### What Does This Price Rebound Indicate?

Market depth for Dogecoin has also been affected, declining from approximately $12 million on January 1, 2026, to $10 million in early February. This reduction in liquidity can exacerbate price movements during volatile periods, making the market more sensitive to trades.

Traders are closely monitoring the $0.07 level as critical support for Dogecoin. Should the price break below this threshold, there is potential downside risk toward $0.05. Conversely, a sustained recovery may require a rebound above the $0.106 to $0.110 range.

### How Liquidity Challenges Could Shape Dogecoin’s Future

Declining liquidity is often a sign of market instability and can amplify price fluctuations. The current market environment suggests that investors are rotating out of riskier assets, leading to significant declines for many major cryptocurrencies.

Dogecoin’s recent price movements, coupled with large transfers to platforms like Robinhood, highlight ongoing shifts in the market dynamics. Traders and investors will be closely watching to see whether Dogecoin can maintain its recent gains or if further volatility lies ahead.

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Stay tuned for more updates on Dogecoin and the broader cryptocurrency market.
https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/26/02/50467998/203556622-doge-slam-into-robinhood-as-dogecoin-price-explodes-6?utm_content=taxonomy_rss

business, politics

‘Washington Post’ CEO resigns after going AWOL during massive job cuts

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**Washington Post Publisher and CEO Will Lewis Announces Departure After Tumultuous Tenure**

The Washington Post’s Publisher and Chief Executive, Will Lewis, announced on Saturday evening that he would be departing the paper after just two years at the helm. His tenure, intended as a period of transformation, was instead marked by controversy, crisis, and significant upheaval.

In his resignation note, Lewis described his time as “two years of transformation,” but many view his leadership as defined more by turbulence than by a clear, steady path forward. His departure comes on the heels of brutal job cuts that have sent shockwaves through the newsroom.

More than a third of the newsroom staff was laid off on Wednesday, a devastating blow following Lewis’ promises of radical innovation. Despite these promises, the paper struggled with annual financial losses in the tens of millions of dollars. At one point, losses surged to $100 million, as Lewis himself disclosed to staffers during a difficult all-hands meeting in June 2024—only five months into his leadership. That meeting would prove to be his last full-staff gathering.

During his tenure, Lewis was notably absent from key moments as the Post’s scope and journalistic ambitions underwent radical shifts and significant contractions. He played no visible role in announcing the layoffs during a mandatory Zoom call for the newsroom on Wednesday and did not publicly address the paper’s readers in the aftermath to ease their concerns.

Adding to the fallout, just a day after the layoffs were announced, Lewis was photographed walking a red carpet at a Super Bowl event in Northern California. This appearance only heightened the newsroom’s frustration and eroded trust in his leadership.

In recent weeks, the newsroom’s disenchantment reached a peak, prompting journalists to appeal directly to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns the paper. They pleaded for Bezos to intervene—to spare the paper from further cuts and help secure financial stability. As of now, Bezos has not responded to these urgent appeals.

In the wake of Lewis’ departure, the paper’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeff D’Onofrio, will serve as acting CEO while The Washington Post begins the search for new leadership.
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/07/nx-s1-5705413/washington-post-ceo-resigns-will-lewis

government oversight, law enforcement, politics

Memo from state’s attorney’s office to Chicago mayor’s office criticizes fed investigation order

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Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Pushes Back on Mayor Johnson’s Executive Order Targeting Federal Immigration Officers

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson’s recent executive order directing police to gather evidence and investigate federal immigration officers for alleged crimes is facing renewed criticism. This time, the pressure comes from the Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s Office.

ABC7 Chicago has obtained a copy of a memo that outlines serious concerns regarding the mayor’s directive. Since its signing last Saturday, the executive order has come under significant scrutiny.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has just completed a thorough and highly critical legal review that suggests the mayor’s order, in its current form, could be unenforceable.

Mayor Johnson’s Plan and the Legal Concerns

Last weekend, Mayor Johnson joined political allies and supporters to announce his plans to hold federal agents accountable if they violate the law during immigration enforcement operations, including last fall’s “Operation Midway Blitz” or any future actions.

The executive order mandates that police preserve evidence of criminal behavior by federal agents and, at the direction of the mayor’s office, refer such cases to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

However, according to the memo sent to the mayor’s office on Friday afternoon, the State’s Attorney’s Office argues that “inserting the Mayor’s office into the already well-established process for felony review of charges is not only wholly inappropriate, but it also jeopardizes our ability to effectively prosecute and secure convictions when federal law enforcement agents have committed a crime.”

Ron Safer, a former federal prosecutor, stated, “It is not the job of the executive branch, and elected officials in particular, to be telling the prosecutor which cases to prosecute, which cases not to prosecute.”

Mayor’s Office Responds to Criticism

Mayor Johnson has emphasized that his executive order is designed to ensure accountability. He said, “One thing that I’m not gonna do is interfere with justice; I’m just gonna make sure that justice is served.”

Regarding the legal review, Johnson stated, “When that probable cause has been established, we will make sure that it gets to the state’s attorney for full prosecution.”

State’s Attorney’s Office Warns of Political Interference Risks

The legal review warns that involvement from the mayor’s office could complicate prosecutions. Defense attorneys might argue that any prosecution of a federal immigration agent is politically motivated, suggesting the investigations were “directed” by the Mayor’s Office.

Safer added, “I think it is critically important to keep political concerns out of criminal prosecution at every level of government; our system depends on the impartiality of the prosecutor.”

Possibility of Reworking the Executive Order

When asked whether the executive order could be revised to better support police and prosecutors investigating potential criminal activity, including two recent shootings in Cook County, Safer responded, “I think it could be redrafted. I will tell you that my view is it’s a bad idea.”

State’s Attorney’s Office Statement

In a statement, the State’s Attorney’s Office affirmed its commitment to fully supporting and reviewing law enforcement investigations involving federal agents under the law. However, it cautioned that the mayor’s executive order introduces significant hurdles to this process.

The Mayor’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the memo.

https://abc7chicago.com/post/memo-cook-county-states-attorneys-office-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-criticizes-federal-investigation-executive-order/18555854/

music, sports

Bad Bunny to be first artist performing at Super Bowl entirely in Spanish

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Coming off a historic Grammy win, Bad Bunny is gearing up to make even more history at this weekend’s Super Bowl.

The musician is set to be the first Super Bowl headliner to perform entirely in Spanish, marking a significant milestone in the event’s history.

Leila Cobo, co-chief content officer at Billboard, joins “The Daily Report” to discuss the impact of Bad Bunny’s groundbreaking performance and what it means for the music industry.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/bad-bunny-be-first-artist-performing-super-bowl-entirely-spanish/

general

Hogs Close with Thursday Losses

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Lean hog futures closed with losses ranging from 7 to 70 cents across the front months on Thursday. The USDA’s national base hog price was reported at $86.58 on Thursday afternoon, down 24 cents from the day prior. Meanwhile, the CME Lean Hog Index was 23 cents higher on February 3, settling at $86.06.

The weekly Export Sales report indicated that 35,107 metric tons (MT) of pork were sold in the week ending January 29. This figure is down 37.3% from the previous week and 30.7% below the same week last year. Mexico was the top buyer, purchasing 13,800 MT, followed by China with 5,200 MT.

Export shipments for the week totaled 37,622 MT, representing a 4.7% increase compared to the same week last year. Mexico received 16,900 MT, while Japan was shipped 4,300 MT.

USDA’s pork carcass cutout value, reported on Thursday afternoon, rose by $2.27 to $95.27 per hundredweight (cwt). The rib primal was the only cut reported lower, whereas the belly led the gains with an increase of $6.38.

USDA estimated federally inspected hog slaughter on Thursday at 450,000 head, pushing the weekly total to 1.903 million head. This was 38,000 head more than last week but 26,824 head fewer than the same week last year.

Lean hog futures closed as follows:

– February 2026 Hogs: $87.30, down $0.70
– April 2026 Hogs: $98.375, down $0.075
– May 2026 Hogs: $101.50, down $0.25

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**Disclaimer:** On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not hold positions (either directly or indirectly) in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data presented are solely for informational purposes. For more details, please review the [Barchart Disclosure Policy](https://www.barchart.com/disclosure).

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**Additional Market Insights:**
– Live and feeder cattle rally on USDA COF report; lean hogs show strong technical signals.
– Analysis of cattle and hog trends in Q4 2025 and prospects for Q1 2026 and beyond.
– Lean hog prices climbing amid record-high beef prices—exploring potential upside.
– Cattle and hog prices appear to have bottomed; prepare for potential gains ahead.

*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Nasdaq, Inc.*
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/hogs-close-thursday-losses

finance, technology

New Files Show Jeffrey Epstein Invested in Buzzy Startups Long After His Conviction

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Despite being a convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein amassed more than $600 million in assets and maintained a lavish lifestyle until his arrest in 2019, according to a financial audit included in court documents.

Epstein’s connections to Silicon Valley and high-profile startups date back to the dot-com era, long before his criminal activity became public. Even as scrutiny over his abuse of teenage girls and young women intensified, Epstein continued— with the help of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and communications professionals—to source and invest in prominent deals.

One notable example is Coinbase. Epstein became an early investor in Coinbase in 2014, when the company was still a two-year-old startup building a platform for buying and selling Bitcoin. Crypto entrepreneur Brock Pierce introduced Epstein to the company. Pierce later sent Epstein updates on the business that were signed by Coinbase founders Fred Ehrsam and Brian Armstrong, according to the New York Times.

In a 2014 message to associates, Ehrsam wrote that it “would be nice to meet him if convenient,” referring to Epstein, who was preparing to invest $3 million in the company. At the time, Epstein was already a convicted sex offender, but Coinbase accepted his money nonetheless.

As Coinbase grew into a leading cryptocurrency platform, Epstein’s stake multiplied in value. In 2018, he sold half of his holdings to Brock Pierce for $15 million, though it remains unclear when or if he sold the rest.
https://www.inc.com/leila-sheridan/new-files-show-jeffrey-epstein-invested-in-buzzy-startups-long-after-his-conviction/91298373

general

Will Giants’ John Harbaugh try to persuade coaching legend to join him in East Rutherford?

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The Giants’ preferred choice for their next offensive line coach may have just become a free agent, but it’s apparently going to be a tough sell getting him to East Rutherford.

After being stripped of his run-game coordinator role in the middle of last season, Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland announced on social media Wednesday night that he will not remain a part of coach Nick Sirianni’s staff in 2026.

Here’s what Stoutland said:
“Philadelphia, I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end. When I arrived here in 2013, I did not know what I was signing up for. I quickly learned what this city demands. But more importantly, what it gives back. The past 13 years have been the great privilege of my coaching career. I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”

The Eagles wanted Stoutland to remain on the coaching staff, but he was not going to regain the role of run-game coordinator that had been given to him in 2018 after the team won its first Super Bowl.

Stoutland turns 64 next week, but nowhere in his statement did he mention retirement. Anyone who watched him coach last season knows that he still has the energy required to handle the rigors of being an NFL coach. It is believed, however, that he intends to remain with the Eagles in an alumni capacity for the 2026 season.

It is known that the Giants would be very much interested in hiring Stoutland if he decides to remain in coaching next season. New Giants coach John Harbaugh is still in the midst of filling out his coaching staff after hiring Matt Nagy to be his offensive coordinator over the weekend. The two most important vacancies remaining are offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach.

Stoutland has long been considered one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, helping the Eagles win two Super Bowls over the last 13 seasons. He has also mentored seven different players who have participated in a combined 25 Pro Bowls.

Juan Castillo, another former Eagles offensive line coach, is also under consideration for the job with the Giants, according to NorthJersey.com’s Art Stapleton. Castillo, 66, worked as the offensive line coach under Harbaugh in Baltimore and worked with Nagy in Kansas City.

He was recently hired as Syracuse’s offensive line coach after spending the last three seasons at the college level. Castillo was the Eagles’ offensive line coach from 1998 through 2010. Castillo and Harbaugh were the only coaches retained by Andy Reid after he replaced Ray Rhodes as the Eagles’ head coach in 1999.
https://www.nj.com/giants/2026/02/will-giants-john-harbaugh-try-to-persuade-coaching-legend-to-join-him-in-east-rutherford.html

general

FLASHBACK: Pizzagate 2.0? Wayfair denies its insanely priced cabinets and pillows are a front for child trafficking

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A new conspiracy theory involving products advertised by the home goods and furniture retailer Wayfair has recently gained attention on social media. This theory echoes previous unsubstantiated allegations, such as the infamous Pizzagate conspiracy, which claimed a global pedophilic sex trafficking ring operated among the economic elite.

The Wayfair conspiracy theory went viral on Friday, originating from a post on the Conspiracy subreddit. This subreddit, which has over a million subscribers, is known for promoting user-submitted conspiracy theories—many of which lack substantial evidence.

In the post, a user named PrincessPeach1987 questioned whether Wayfair was involved in human trafficking linked to their WFX Utility collection. The user wrote:
“Is it possible Wayfair involved in Human trafficking with their WFX Utility collection? Or are these just extremely overpriced cabinets? (Note the names of the cabinets) this makes me sick to my stomach if it’s true.”

The post included a screenshot from Wayfair’s mobile website showing four storage cabinets named Neriah, Yaritza, Samiyah, and Alyvia. These cabinets were listed at prices ranging from $12,699.99 to $14,499.99, unusually high for such products, which sparked suspicion among some social media users.

While this theory has attracted considerable attention online, it remains unsubstantiated and should be approached with skepticism.
https://www.sott.net/article/437886-Pizzagate-2-0-Wayfair-denies-its-insanely-priced-cabinets-and-pillows-are-a-front-for-child-trafficking