Headlines

February 7, 2026

NBC News

An Authentic Italian Opening

The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Italy celebrated the nation's cultural heritage with performances, music, and art, highlighting traditional dances, classical melodies, and historical landmarks, while promoting unity and global cooperation in the Olympic spirit.
Read Full Story
CNBC

Dow Breaks 50,000 for 1st Time

Stocks surged on Friday as technology stocks recovered following several days of heavy selling in the sector and bitcoin rebounded following a rout that took the popular cryptocurrency down more than 50% at one point.
Read Full Story
CNN

Feds Investigate New Guthrie Message

With multiple media outlets now receiving purported ransom notes from Nancy Guthrie’s alleged abductor, a former senior FBI crisis negotiator says the possible open line of communication is a welcomed development.
Read Full Story
AP News

Trump Won’t Apologize for Post

President Donald Trump’s racist social media post featuring former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle was deleted Friday after a backlash from both Republicans and Democrats who criticized the video as offensive.
Read Full Story
Politico

Court Upholds Detention Policy

A federal appeals court Friday night backed the Trump administration’s policy to lock up the vast majority of people it is seeking to deport without offering a chance for bond, even if they have no criminal records and have resided in the country for decades.
Read Full Story
TS2 Tech

Uber Stock Slides After Verdict

Shares of Uber Technologies slipped 1.5% to $74.08 by midday Friday, adding to a volatile week for the ride-hailing company. Investors grappled with concerns over legal risks while assessing Uber’s fresh efforts in the robotaxi space. Earlier in the session, the stock dropped as much as 3.3%
Read Full Story
Axios

U.S./Iran Talk in Oman

These were the first face-to-face talks between the U.S. and Iran since the 12-day war last June. They take place amid a massive U.S. military buildup in the Gulf, and with President Trump warning he could pivot to military action if a deal can't be reached quickly.
Read Full Story
NPR

“A Party and a Protest”

Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny will headline the Super Bowl halftime show on February 8, 2026, bringing his energetic performances and genre-blending music to a global audience, with fans speculating on possible guest appearances by J Balvin and Rosalía.
Read Full Story
Sky News

Police Search Mandelson Property

Two of Peter Mandelson's properties have been searched by police investigating claims of misconduct in a public office. Boxes were seen being carried from his property in Camden, north London, on Friday evening, while police cars were parked in the driveway of Mandelson's Wiltshire house.
Read Full Story
MPR News

DHS Moves To Deport Family

The Department of Homeland Security has filed a motion to expedite deportation proceedings against Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, raising concerns among immigration advocates and supporters.
Read Full Story
Review Journal

Bettor Secures $4.9M Profit

A Las Vegas sports bettor has strategically hedged substantial wagers on both Super Bowl teams to ensure a $4.9 million profit, a common practice in high-stakes betting during major events.
Read Full Story
Las Vegas Sun

Bovino Removed From Vegas Bar

Days after being removed from his post in Minneapolis, Bovino headed to Sin City, where he was spotted drinking wine at the multi-level Bottled Blonde sports bar on the Las Vegas Strip. A representative from the establishment told the Daily Beast that the 55-year-old officer is no longer welcome there.
Read Full Story
KTLA

Kid Rock Lyrics Stir Debate

Concerns have been raised over Kid Rock's lyrics referencing underage girls, as critics argue they clash with the values of a faith and family event by Turning Point USA, while supporters defend them as artistic expression.
Read Full Story
NY1

Mangione Speaks Out in Court

Luigi Mangione spoke out in court Friday against the prospect of back-to-back trials over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, telling a judge: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.”
Read Full Story
Ars Technica

NASA Allows iPhones in Space

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced that astronauts on the Crew-12 and Artemis II missions can now bring iPhones, marking a shift to incorporating modern consumer technology to improve mission documentation and streamline approval processes.
Read Full Story
People

Elizabeth Smart’s Father Has Oped

Ed Smart, father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, praises Savannah Guthrie's family for directly addressing abductors in their emotional plea for their missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, emphasizing the approach's potential effectiveness in resolving abduction cases.
Read Full Story
Mental Floss

Favorite Super Bowl Wing Flavors

Mental Floss reveals that Buffalo wings are America's top Super Bowl choice, leading in 39 states, while states like Georgia and New Mexico prefer Lemon Pepper and Ranch flavors respectively, with traditional bone-in wings being favored by most.
Read Full Story
TechCrunch

Altman Reacts to Anthropic Ads

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed irritation over Anthropic's Super Bowl ads, which mock OpenAI's ChatGPT by suggesting it promotes ads deceptively, a portrayal Altman deems dishonest and authoritarian.
Read Full Story
NFL

Legendary QB Sonny Jurgensen Dies

Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, known for his exceptional passing skills and celebrated NFL career from 1957 to 1974, passed away at 91. His family honored his remarkable achievements and loving nature, while Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter praised his masterful gameplay.
Read Full Story

Looking for previous newsletters?

Independent doesn’t mean indecisive.

Join our community of over 140K independent minds

Subscribe to the FREE Smerconish.com Daily Newsletter

The most important news of the day, delivered right to your inbox.

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Mailchimp.

The Latest News from Smerconish.com in Your Inbox

Join our community of over 100k independent minds

If you can’t find the confirmation email in your inbox, please check your junk or spam folder. 

 

We will NEVER SELL YOUR DATA. By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Smerconish.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Aweber