TOP STORIES
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WHITE HOUSE REPORTEDLY ASKED FBI TO DISPUTE STORIES ABOUT RUSSIA TIES “The White House asked the FBI to publicly dispute reports about President Donald Trump’s team communicating with Russian officials during last year’s presidential campaign, CNN and The Associated Press reported Thursday. Such communication would mark a breach in protocol intended to prevent the White House from meddling in the agency’s investigations.” [HuffPost]
WHITE HOUSE OPENS THE DOOR TO CRACKDOWN ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been a vocal opponent of the use of recreational marijuana. [HuffPost]
STEVE BANNON DOUBLES DOWN ON MEDIA ATTACKS The top White House strategist denounced the “corporatist, globalist media” for being “adamantly opposed to an economic nationalist agenda.” [HuffPost]
TRUMP WANTS TO MAKE NUCLEAR ARSENAL ‘TOP OF THE PACK’ “It would be wonderful, a dream would be that no country would have nukes, but if countries are going to have nukes, we’re going to be at the top of the pack,” Trump said. The president also outlined his support for the European Union in an interview with Reuters. [Reuters]
SESSIONS REVERSED OBAMA-ERA POLICY THAT CURTAILED USE OF PRIVATE PRISONS Citing the future needs of the federal correctional system. [HuffPost]
CAPTURING THE FINAL HOURS OF THE CAMP THAT LAUNCHED THE DAKOTA PIPELINE PROTESTS Photographer Josh Morgan showcases the waning hours of the largest opposition camp. [HuffPost]
KIM JONG UN’S HALF-BROTHER KILLED WITH NERVE AGENT The U.N. classifies VX, the nerve agent used, as a weapon of mass destruction. One of the suspects in the attack was also sickened by the nerve agent. [Reuters]
THIS MAP BREAKS DOWN THE AGES OF DAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY Are there any over 50 years old in your area? [NYT]
WHAT’S BREWING
RATES OF DEPRESSION ROSE 18 PERCENT IN THE PAST DECADE “More than 4 percent of the world’s population lives with depression, and women, youth and the elderly are the most prone to its disabling effects, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.” [Reuters]
THAT TIME JIMMY FALLON RUFFLED TRUMP’S HAIR May have cost him his spot as king of late night. [HuffPost]
BAD NEWS, BEYHIVE Beyoncé dropped out of Coachella, and fans aren’t happy (to put it nicely). The ticket resale market has only just begun. [HuffPost]
WHILE YOU MAY BE EXCITED FOR THE OSCARS Here’s why Trump won’t be watching. [HuffPost]
TRY NOT TO FREAK OUT But here are the risks ponytails and updos can create for your hair. [HuffPost]
WE KNOW IT’S WARM NOW But when we get a freak snowstorm again, Netflix is always waiting. Here’s what’s coming and going in March. [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
~ Caitlyn Jenner spoke out following the Trump administration’s decision to reverse federal guidance on transgender rights.
~ Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were reportedly key in eliminating language denouncing the Paris Accord in a forthcoming executive order.
~ These teenagers built a robotic arm to rescue a puppy from a well, which is more than we can say we did in high school on an average Friday.
~ The Razzies still have Trump’s 1991 trophy.
~ Olympian Simone Biles and Mr. T are headed to “Dancing with the Stars” this season.
~ Why Elmer’s Glue is flying off the shelves. And want more bizarre news? Check out our Weird News email.
~ Lorelai Gilmore is headed back to television.
~ Vanity Fair breaks down how the future of “The Today Show” relies on the rise of its main star ― Matt Lauer.
~ Rihanna’s having a week. The pop superstar was named Harvard’s Humanitarian of the Year.
~ Talking to Tucker Carlson, the newly reinvented face of Fox.
~ Here’s why your social media habits could be unduly stressing your mental health.
~ And you do what you must with the news that there’s a Kanye West Jesus statue in Hollywood.