Iran Protest Death Toll Tops 500 As Regime Says It's Open To U.S. Negotiations
Plus: DOJ Opens Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell & Olympic 2026 Preview
Good evening,
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan is less than four weeks away. Until then, here is some uplifting news as the athletes prepare:
Figure skater Maxim Naumov earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team Sunday, nearly a year after his parents were killed in the collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. in January 2025. His parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, were world champion Russian figure skaters who later coached in the U.S. Of the 67 people who died in the crash, 28 were connected to U.S. figure skating.
The 24-year-old, who finished third at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, will be one of the three men’s singles skaters headed to the Milan-Cortina Olympics next month.
❤️ Maxim’s final conversations with his parents focused on what it would take for him to reach the Olympics. His parents competed for Russia in two Olympic Games.
In skiing, 41-year-old Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn continued her remarkable comeback Saturday, winning her second World Cup downhill of the season after six years of retirement. During that time, her right knee was rebuilt using titanium implants.
Men’s hockey will see its North American stars return to the Games after 12 years (thank you, Heated Rivalry?), but the Santagiulia Arena they are set to play in still looks like a construction site.
The countdown begins: The opening ceremony is set for Friday, February 6.
Lauren
Producer
🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING
DOJ Opens Criminal Probe Into Fed Chair Jerome Powell
The U.S. attorney’s office in the District of Columbia has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, focused on whether he misled Congress regarding the $2.5 billion renovation of the Fed’s headquarters in Washington, DC. Powell responded that the investigation is an attempt by President Trump to influence the Fed to lower interest rates ahead of the midterm elections.
Powell speaks out: In a rare online video statement Sunday, Powell warned that the Justice Department’s probe threatens the Federal Reserve’s independence and suggested it is tied to Trump’s pressure campaign for interest rate cuts. Powell’s term as Fed chair ends in about four months.
It is the first time in history the DOJ is investigating a Fed chair. It was approved by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a close ally of President Trump.
On Monday, lawmakers from both parties and several former Fed chairs publicly pushed back against the investigation.
The president told NBC News Sunday he didn’t “know anything about” the probe and rejected claims that the investigation is tied to his long-running feud with “Too Late Powell.” That’s despite Trump saying in December that “we’re thinking about bringing a suit against Powell for incompetence” related to the high cost of construction on Fed HQ.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Back in July, Trump and Powell toured the renovation site of the updated Fed building, which is set to be completed in 2027. Trump and Powell bickered in front of the press over exactly how much money the renovation project would cost. Now it’s looking like it might cost $2.5 billion in total – exceeding the $1.9 billion budget first set. Note: The Fed renovations are paid for internally by the bank, which is not funded by Congress. Taxpayers are not on the hook.
Trump appointed Powell, a lawyer by training, to the Fed chair position during the president’s first term in 2017. Lately, Trump has become exceedingly critical of the Fed chair for not cutting interest rates fast enough.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly challenged the Fed’s independence — from attempting to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, a Biden appointee, to openly musing about firing Powell. The Supreme Court will weigh the legality of Cook’s attempted ouster next week.
PUSHBACK ON THE PROBE
Former Fed chairs, top economists, and ex–Treasury secretaries rallied behind Powell Monday in a statement. They cautioned that politicizing monetary policy could undermine economic stability. The probe also sparked concerns on Capitol Hill, even among Republicans.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is not seeking reelection and sits on the Banking Committee, said, “If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none.”
He vowed to block any future Fed confirmations, including the upcoming chair vacancy, “until this legal matter is fully resolved.”
How? He would create a 12-12 deadlock on the committee if he sides with Democrats.
Rep. French Hill (R-AR), chair of the House Financial Services Committee, called a criminal probe into Powell “an unnecessary distraction.”
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), one of Powell’s harshest critics, said he believes Powell has been a “bad Fed Chair,” but that he is not “a criminal.”
Democrats remain largely unified in condemning what they say is presidential overreach.
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🚨 ONE THING WE’RE FOLLOWING
Death Toll Surges In Iran As Regime Signals It’s Ready To Negotiate With Trump
The Iranian government is violently cracking down on nationwide anti-regime protests. U.S.-based human rights groups say nearly 600 have been killed and more than 10,000 people arrested as demonstrations stretch into a third week. The death toll could be much higher, though, given a media and information blackout in the country following a nationwide internet shutdown.
State television channel IRIB broadcast footage Sunday of a large number of bodies in bodybags at a morgue in South Tehran, describing them as victims of “rioters.”
Experts note the Islamic Republic appears to be publicizing killings to dissuade others from joining in – something they’ve never done before, despite brutal crackdowns on protests in the past.
It comes as Iran's foreign minister said Monday that the nation is “prepared for war.”
President Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran not to kill protesters and threatened U.S. intervention. On Monday, he announced a 25% U.S. tariff on Iran’s trade partners. The day before, he told reporters that Tehran is ready “to negotiate” with the U.S., which Iran’s foreign minister confirmed Monday.
ON THE GROUND
There are reports of government snipers positioned on rooftops in multiple cities. Hospital staff in the country say they have been overwhelmed with dead or injured patients from the protests. Iranians gathered to identify bodies.
Protesters have been heard chanting slogans against the ruling theocratic regime, calling for the removal of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled since 1989.
On Monday, pro-government counter-protesters also took to the streets.
The government has cut internet access and telephone lines since Thursday. Trump said on Sunday that he plans to speak with Elon Musk about restoring internet in Iran through his Starlink service, which is already being used there – but currently can be jammed by the state.
WHAT’S NEXT
Trump is set to meet with senior advisers Tuesday to discuss options for intervention.
Measures under consideration: targeted military strikes on regime sites, cyberattacks on Iranian infrastructure, expanded sanctions, and boosting anti-regime messaging and communication tools.
As of now, Trump had not made a final decision on what the U.S. will do, but the Wall Street Journal reports: “Trump currently favors attacking Iran.”
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
Around 1,000 more immigration officers headed to Minneapolis, sources say, as tensions flare after fatal ICE shooting (CNN)
Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals (NBC)
Donald Trump threatens to veto Obamacare subsidies bill (NEWSWEEK)
3 inmates dead, 12 hurt after “major fights” at Georgia prison, authorities say (CBS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
Trump’s move to pull U.S. from key UN climate treaty may be illegal, experts say (GUARDIAN)
China says US shouldn’t use other countries as ‘pretext’ to pursue its interests (ABC)
Five severed heads found hanging on Ecuador beach amid escalating gang clashes (FOX)
Hong Kong court hears arguments on sentencing of former publisher Jimmy Lai; no decision yet (AP)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Malaysia and Indonesia become the first countries to block Musk’s Grok over sexualized AI images (AP)
Credit card stocks sink after Trump proposes interest rate cap (AXIOS)
Meta names Dina Powell McCormick, a former Trump adviser, as president and vice chairman (CBS)
Apple teams up with Google Gemini for AI-powered Siri (CNN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
49ers down defending champion Eagles in NFC wild-card game (ESPN)
Mattel adds an autistic Barbie to doll line devoted to showcasing diversity and inclusion (AP)
Box office: ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ continues winning streak with $21M (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)
US bobsled driver Kris Horn survives scary ride in World Cup race as teammates fail to get into sled (USA TODAY)
ICYMI FROM THE 📲
In case you missed it… The 83rd Golden Globe Awards were held last night — and if past ratings are any indication, most of you probably missed it.
Comedian Nikki Glaser returned as host. Here are some of our favorite moments:
Glaser poked fun at Leonardo DiCaprio dating younger ladies, before adding: “Leo, I’m sorry I made that joke, it’s cheap. You know what, I tried not to, but like, we don’t know anything else about you, man. Like, there’s nothing else, like open up!”
Amy Poehler won the inaugural Golden Globes podcast award, and joked in her speech: “I have great respect for everyone I am nominated with. … Except for NPR: just a bunch of celebs phoning it in. Try harder.”
Heated Rivalry breakout stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams presented at their very first Golden Globes, joking about the show’s viral popularity.
‘Golden’ from the smash-hit KPop Demon Hunters won for best original song.
Here’s the list of last night’s winners!