TOP STORIES
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BREAKING DOWN THE RUSSIA REVELATIONS AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR JEFF SESSIONS Pressure is growing for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the investigation into the Trump campaign’s contact with the Russian government after The Washington Post reported Sessions had contact with the Russian ambassador twice in 2016. During Sessions’ confirmation hearing, he stated he “did not have communications with the Russians.” Nancy Pelosi called for Sessions’ resignation, saying he lied under oath. And here’s what Sessions said about perjury during the Clinton impeachment investigation in 1999. [HuffPost]
‘OBAMA ADMINISTRATION RUSHED TO PRESERVE INTELLIGENCE OF RUSSIAN HACKING’ “In the Obama administration’s last days, some White House officials scrambled to spread information about Russian efforts to undermine the presidential election — and about possible contacts between associates of President-elect Donald Trump and Russians — across the government. Former American officials say they had two aims: to ensure that such meddling isn’t duplicated in future American or European elections, and to leave a clear trail of intelligence for government investigators.” [NYT]
WHITE HOUSE WANTS TO CUT 1 IN 5 EPA EMPLOYEES, SLASH A QUARTER OF ITS FUNDING The fiscal year 2018 budget also proposes “axing funding for a vast array of programs, including those aimed at low-income people, minorities and indigenous groups.” [HuffPost]
WIFE OF SLAIN KANSAS INDIAN MAN: ‘DO WE BELONG HERE?’ Sunayana Dumala, the widow of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, asked in a lengthy Facebook post what the U.S. government was going to do to address hate crimes. [HuffPost]
THE DATE FOR A ‘DAY WITHOUT A WOMAN’ HAS BEEN SET Here’s everything you need to know about the one-day strike for women around the world that will be held Wednesday, March 8. [HuffPost]
WHITE HOUSE CLEARS KELLYANNE CONWAY AFTER HER ON-AIR COMMENTS ABOUT IVANKA TRUMP’S BRAND Officials determined she “made the statement in question in a light, off-hand manner while attempting to stand up for a person she believed had been unfairly treated and did so without nefarious motive or intent to benefit personally.” [HuffPost]
BARBIE IS POPULAR AGAIN And it’s all due to diversity. After all, the best-selling doll in Barbie’s Fashionista line was a brunette Latina with a “curvy” build and brown eyes. [HuffPost]
WHAT’S BREWING
OPRAH IN 2020? The media mogul hinted she might be giving it some thought. She’s not the only one to float that balloon this week: Disney CEO Bob Iger could also be contemplating a run. [HuffPost]
CHECK OUT HUFFPOST’S WOMEN’S MONTH COVERAGE Women’s history is happening as we speak. [HuffPost]
CASEY AFFLECK VAGUELY ADDRESSES SEXUAL HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS AMID HIS OSCAR WIN “’I believe that any kind of mistreatment of anyone for any reason is unacceptable and abhorrent, and everyone deserves to be treated with respect in the workplace and anywhere else,’ Affleck told the Boston Globe, which noted that he answered ‘wearily.’” [HuffPost]
HAPPY THURSDAY Young photos of Justin Trudeau have taken over the internet, and no one is mad. [HuffPost]
THE CAST OF THE ‘BIG BANG THEORY’ IS TAKING PAY CUTS SO THEIR FEMALE CO-STARS CAN GET RAISES Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch currently make 20 percent of what their co-stars make. [HuffPost]
IT’S ABOUT TO GET HARDER TO BUY SALAD MIX As if you didn’t need more incentive to reach for the pizza instead... [HuffPost]
FACEBOOK FEED GOT YOU DOWN? The company does prioritize content that makes you “sad” or “angry” versus content you “like.” [HuffPost]
BEFORE YOU GO
~ Yes, there is a blizzard warning in Hawaii.
~ Snapchat beat investor expectations, raising a whopping $3.4 billion for a $24 billion valuation.
~ To no one’s surprise ― the accountants behind the Oscars flub have been removed from all Academy dealings going forward.
~ Is anyone that surprised that Kim Kardashian is playing tennis in heels?
~ Alicia Keys has perfected her Adele impression.
~ That didn’t take long: Nick Viall has been announced as part of the “Dancing with the Stars” cast.
~ Of course Alec Baldwin’s Trump impression now has its own book deal.
~ An ode to Judge Judy, who manages to make over $900,000 for all 52 days she works a year.
~ Connie Britton talks to HuffPost about THAT “Nashville” twist.
~ Disney will feature its first gay subplot in “Beauty and the Beast.”
~ A music video of just Bruno Mars dancing? Yes, please.
~ We are very, very disturbed about this story about people tricking folks into renting pets.
~ Did you know food tastes different at 30,000 feet? Airlines are working to develop meals that don’t taste like cardboard to combat the rebellion of your taste buds.
~ Awkward: The Hollywood Reporter cover about CNN being the future of news features five guys and zero women.