Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Punxsutawney Phil is said to have seen his shadow, forecasting 6 more weeks of wintry weather
SUMMARY: Punxsutawney Phil’s handlers say he’s seen his shadow and is therefore predicting six more weeks of winter weather. Phil’s annual prediction occurred shortly after dawn Monday outside his tree stump in Gobbler’s Knob. The Pennsylvania festivities are among the many Groundhog Day rituals around the U.S. and beyond. Groundhog Day on Feb. 2 comes at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The tradition has roots in European agricultural folklore. Despite its silliness, the event remains a beloved tradition. Phil’s accuracy is debated, with federal weather officials saying he’s been right only about 40% of the time.
WORDS: 834 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 5:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSGroundhogDaythLdWritethru/eae03abf8be74df0c48f3082e2f91905/text___
5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and father return to Minnesota from ICE facility in Texas
SUMMARY: Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father have returned to Minnesota after being released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The father and young son were detained Jan. 20 in a Minneapolis suburb. Images of the boy wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack surrounded by immigration officers stirred outrage over the Trump administration immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. A judge on Saturday ordered the two released. The government said the boy’s father entered the U.S. illegally from Ecuador in 2024. But the family’s lawyer says the man has an asylum claim pending that lets him remain in the U.S.
WORDS: 912 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 4:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementBoyDetainedthLdWritethru/fc958185cd2b4e946b82081be11bc0f6/text___
More frigid temperatures expected in much of US after a weekend of heavy snow
SUMMARY: Forecasters warned that dangerous extra-cold conditions will persist for a huge swath of the U.S. from the Gulf Coast into New England. There were hundreds of weekend flight cancellations to North Carolina, snow flurries and falling iguanas in Florida, and more misery for thousands who are still without power from last month's ice storm in the South. About 150 million people were under cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings in the eastern portion of the U.S. on Sunday. Florida experienced its coldest air mass since 1989. Windchills near zero are expected in many states again Monday.
WORDS: 994 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 4:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherthLdWritethru/4b1aad9d5c8b380ae18e6e6c2e650dee/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump administration to create a strategic reserve for rare earths elements
SUMMARY: The Trump administration plans to deploy nearly $12 billion to create a strategic reserve of rare earth elements. This stockpile could counter China's dominance in these metals, which are crucial for various industries. The White House confirmed “Project Vault” on Monday. It would be funded by a $10 billion loan from the US Export-Import Bank and $1.67 billion in private capital. The reserve aims to protect manufacturers from supply chain disruptions. China controls about 70% of the world’s rare earths mining and 90% of processing, giving it significant leverage in trade talks.
WORDS: 258 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 2:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpRareEarthsstLdWritethru/8238230f2bd740af3d2668e1b56155b0/text___
Speaker Johnson faces tough choices on partial government shutdown and debate over ICE
SUMMARY: House Speaker Mike Johnson faces tough days ahead trying to pass a federal funding package and prevent a prolonged partial government shutdown. Democrats are demanding changes to rein in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations after the deaths in Minneapolis. But Republicans are making their own demands in support of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. A partial shutdown started over the weekend when funding lapsed for several agencies. Trump struck a deal with senators, who approved new funding, but only temporarily for Homeland Security until Feb. 13. That would give Congress time to consider new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Johnson needs Trump to help push that deal through the House.
WORDS: 919 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 5:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressShutdownstLdWritethru/bb4cfeaab5f3a17e2fde5c23bb27677f/text___
Kennedy Center to close for 2 years for renovations in July, Trump says, after performers' backlash
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts venue for two years starting in July for construction. Trump’s announcement on social media Sunday night follows a wave of cancellations by artists since Trump ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. Trump announced his plan days after the premiere of “Melania,” a documentary of the first lady, was shown at the storied venue. He says the proposal is subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies.
WORDS: 915 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 11:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpKennedyCenterthLdWritethru/c6dba4a46e71b0d0e48d46501195366c/text___
Top Justice Department official plays down chance for charges arising from Epstein files revelations
SUMMARY: A top Justice Department official is playing down the possibility of additional criminal charges arising from the Jeffrey Epstein files. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on CNN on Sunday that the existence of “horrible photographs” and troubling email correspondence does not “allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.” Department officials said over the summer that a review of records from Epstein investigations did not establish a basis for new criminal investigations, a position that Blanche said remains unchanged even as a massive document dump since Friday has focused fresh attention on his links to powerful individuals around the world and revived questions about what, if any, knowledge the wealthy financier’s contacts had about his crimes.
WORDS: 1057 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 8:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSJusticeDepartmentJeffreyEpsteinstLdWritethru/28e917b173e0c371cff08946a24d2cd3/text___
Misconduct complaint dismissed against judge who handled El Salvador prison deportation case
SUMMARY: A federal appeals court judge has dismissed a misconduct complaint filed by the Justice Department against a judge who clashed with President Donald Trump’s administration over deportations to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The complaint against U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg was dismissed in December but the order only came to light this weekend. The department alleged that Boasberg said at a closed-door conference last year that the Trump administration would trigger a constitutional crisis by disregarding federal court rulings. Jeffrey S. Sutton, chief judge of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said the department didn't provide proof of that but also said such comments wouldn't violate ethics rules.
WORDS: 374 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 10:38 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBondiJudges/5a3f70937959f552f4f42e549c85c3c6/text___
Texas stunner: Democrat Taylor Rehmet flips Republican state Senate district Trump won by 17 points
SUMMARY: Democrat Taylor Rehmet has won a special election for the Texas state Senate and flipped a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. The labor union leader and veteran easily defeated Republican conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss in the Fort Worth-area district. Trump distanced himself from the loss Sunday, after urging votes for Wambsganss a day earlier. Rehmet was victorious with support from national organizations. Rehmet's win lasts only until early January. He is to face Wambsganss again in the November general election to decide the seat for a full four-year term.
WORDS: 827 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 5:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionTexasLegislaturethLdWritethru/c8cb6685c49696b8a607a8f93111ae2e/text___
Johnson says no quick House vote to end partial shutdown and blames Democrats for their ICE demands
SUMMARY: House Speaker Mike Johnson says it'll be a few days before a government funding package comes up for a vote in the House. That all but ensures the partial federal shutdown will drag into the week. Democrats are demanding changes to rein in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations. Johnson tells “Fox News Sunday” that he's relying on help from President Donald Trump to ensure passage, possibly Tuesday. Trump struck a deal with senators to separate the homeland security funding from a broader package. That gives two weeks for Congress to debate and vote on new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
WORDS: 825 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 5:24 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetrdLdWritethru/d90a24827e48c18fc1c14c76adfecda6/text___
What to know about the partial government shutdown
SUMMARY: The partial government shutdown is a lot different from the record-long shutdown in the fall. That’s mostly because the shutdown that began Saturday doesn't include the whole of government and because it may not last long, even as it drags into the new week. The House had hoped to pass legislation to end the shutdown when lawmakers return Monday evening. But House Speaker Mike Johnson now says it’ll be more like a Tuesday vote as he scrambles to find support. Funding is lapsing, at least temporarily, for the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security and others. Essential functions will continue, but workers could go without pay.
WORDS: 952 - MOVED: 01/31/2026 1:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/2dd3464f56295ff79f136c1c5c24a532/text___
Trump says US is 'starting to talk to Cuba' as he moves to cut its oil supplies
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says the United States is beginning to talk with Cuban leaders. That word comes as his administration puts greater pressure on the communist-run island and cuts off key oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico. He's suggesting his moves on oil would force Cuba to the negotiating table. Trump's goals with Cuba remain unclear. But he has turned more of his attention toward Cuba after his administration in early January captured Venezuela’s then-president, Nicolás Maduro. And Trump has been more aggressive in confronting nations that are American adversaries.
WORDS: 320 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 3:35 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpCubastLdWritethru/b4237de7a66adc4524a2abade5e0df38/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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British politician Peter Mandelson faces pressure to quit House of Lords over Jeffrey Epstein ties
SUMMARY: Friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has already cost Peter Mandelson the post of Britain’s ambassador to Washington. Now, Mandelson is facing demands he come clean about his relationship with the late sex offender after new revelations. Mandelson resigned from the governing Labour Party on Sunday following new claims he received payments from Epstein two decades ago. Mandelson said he was stepping aside to avoid causing “further embarrassment,” even as he denied the allegations. The accusations stem from a trove of more than 3 million pages of documents relating to Epstein released by the U.S. Department of Justice. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging Mandelson to also resign from the House of Lords.
WORDS: 994 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 1:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APJusticeDepartmentJeffreyEpsteinMandelsonrdLdWritethru/454af816bc89e4d66aad00a107662890/text___
The first medical evacuees from Gaza enter Egypt as the Rafah crossing reopens
SUMMARY: The first medical evacuees from Gaza have entered Egypt as the Rafah crossing reopens. Monday’s opening is a key step in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas but mostly symbolic as few Palestinians will be allowed to cross in either direction daily. No goods will pass through. About 20,000 Palestinian children and adults needing medical care hope to leave devastated Gaza via the crossing, according to Gaza health officials. Thousands of other Palestinians outside the territory hope to enter and return home. The crossing had been closed since Israeli troops seized it in May 2024.
WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 7:36 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsthLdWritethru/b78d6a15790148a697634cd303c3b5a9/text___
Son of Norway's crown princess arrested on new allegations ahead of his rape trial
SUMMARY: Police say that the eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been arrested on new allegations just before his trial opens on charges including rape in a case that has been an embarrassment to the royal family. Police said Monday that Marius Borg Høiby was arrested on Sunday evening and is accused of assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order. The Oslo district court granted their request to keep him in detention of up to four weeks on the grounds of a risk of reoffending. He’s due to go on trial Tuesday. The indictment includes 38 counts including rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner and acts of violence against another.
WORDS: 738 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 6:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUNorwayRoyalsthLdWritethru/cff32cdfd942028d45f7a7ba2db52752/text___
Iran summons EU ambassadors to protest Revolutionary Guard being listed as a terror group
SUMMARY: Iran says it has had summoned all of the European Union ambassadors in the country to protest the bloc’s listing of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terror group. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told journalists on Monday that the ambassadors had been summoned the previous day. The EU listed the Guard as a terror group last week over its part in the crackdown on nationwide protests in January. The move is largely symbolic. But it does add to the economic pressure squeezing Iran.
WORDS: 1075 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 7:42 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranthLdWritethru/d38bc397f1bb54d7352879401449b50b/text___
A mix of hope and fear settles over Venezuela after US-imposed government change
SUMMARY: Thirty days after the U.S. captured then-President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela remains in turmoil. Many citizens are unsure about the current situation, with fears of further attacks and government repression. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez faces questions about her autonomy and potential U.S. influence. Despite promises of wage increases, uncertainty prevails. Maduro supporters view his capture as a kidnapping, while opposition leaders cautiously reemerge. Rodríguez's new oil sector policies mark a shift from a pillar of the self-proclaimed socialist movement that has governed Venezuela for more than two decades. Venezuelans are balancing hope for economic improvement with fear of instability, as they navigate this complex political landscape.
WORDS: 1327 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 5:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaUSMoodstLdWritethru/978b680e56f5dad8841793c553f281ba/text___
Russian drones kill at least 12 in Dnipro as Zelenskyy says more Russia-Ukraine talks next week
SUMMARY: A Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed at least 12 people, according to Ukrainian emergency services. The strike hit a bus carrying mineworkers and injured seven more. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy company, accused Russia of a terrorist attack on its mines. This incident occurred just hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced upcoming peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. Meanwhile, Russian drones also struck a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia, injuring six people. Peace talks initially scheduled for Sunday in Abu Dhabi have been postponed to next week. There was no immediate comment from U.S. or Russian officials.
WORDS: 782 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 11:49 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/cfc323e160c058891604be05ca8c56f9/text___
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RACE AND ETHNICITY
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Black History Month centennial channels angst over anti-DEI climate into education, free resources
SUMMARY: Despite proclaiming last February as National Black History Month, President Donald Trump's second term has been marked by what critics say are attacks on Black history in the United States. The administration has dismantled Black history at national parks, most recently a slavery exhibit in Philadelphia. In the 100th year since the nation's earliest celebrations of Black history, the current political climate has energized civil rights organizations, artists and academics to engage young people on a full telling of America's story. Hundreds of lectures, teach-ins and new books are planned to mark Black History Month, which originated as historian Carter G. Woodson's idea for a Negro History Week in 1926.
WORDS: 1179 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 5:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBlackHistoryMonthBeginsstLdWritethru/ac6c93af68ff95738e2a8caa5de19906/text___
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BUSINESS
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Stocks, gold and silver steady following wild swings overnight
SUMMARY: Wild swings that swept through financial markets overnight eased as trading headed westward to Wall Street. U.S. stocks rose Monday following sharp drops in Asia and then gains in Europe, while gold and silver prices rallied back from severe earlier losses. The S&P 500 added 0.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 439 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8%. Silver erased a 9% loss from the overnight hours, while gold pulled nearly back to even after briefly dropping below $4,500 per ounce. Oil prices fell, while Treasury yields held relatively steady following a report on U.S. manufacturing that was better than economists expected.
WORDS: 806 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 3:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/585ed1a8046d34fa3dedbb4854451681/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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The Grammys had lots of Mars, Carpenter soaring and a near-naked Bieber. Here are some key moments
SUMMARY: The Grammy Awards featured memorable performances, including Bruno Mars and Rosé kicking off the night with their high energy hit “APT.” Lady Gaga delivered a unique performance of “Abracadabra” while Sabrina Carpenter turned the stage into a busy airport with her performance of “Manchild.” Justin Bieber performed “Yukon” in a stripped-down set that stood out from the other busy performances. The in memoriam section rocked with tributes to Ozzy Osbourne, D'Angelo and Roberta Flack, featuring performances by Post Malone and Ms. Lauryn Hill. The best new artists performed in a block, with Chappell Roan, last year’s category winner, then anointing her successor — Olivia Dean.
WORDS: 1106 - MOVED: 02/02/2026 8:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTGrammyAwardsMomentsstLdWritethru/b2cf7a948629a602168eaf8cd56cdde1/text___
Bad Bunny wins album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards, a first for a Spanish-language album
SUMMARY: The 68th annual Grammy Awards took placed Sunday in Los Angeles. Bad Bunny has won album of the year, the first time a Spanish-language album has taken the Grammys' top honor. Ms. Lauryn Hill returned to the Grammys stage to pay tribute to the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack. Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Jelly Roll and Lady Gaga were among the night's winners. Olivia Dean won best new artist. Kendrick Lamar won the first televised award for best rap album and record of the year. That brings him to a total of 27 career Grammys, the most of any rapper. Many artists used their time on stage to spread a pro-immigration and anti-ICE message.
WORDS: 1421 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 5:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTGrammysthLdWritethru/4d631de5d968b51276a8f06b76580e20/text___
‘Melania,’ panned by some film critics, opens with strong ticket sales for a documentary
SUMMARY: Promoted by President Donald Trump as “a must watch,” the Melania Trump documentary “Melania” debuted with a better-than-expected $7 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The release of “Melania” was unlike any seen before. Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for the rights, plus some $35 million to market it, making it the most expensive documentary ever. While the result would be a flop for most films with such high costs, “Melania” was a success by documentary standards. It’s the best opening weekend for a documentary, outside of concert films, in 14 years. The Sam Raimi-directed survival thriller “Send Help” was No. 1 with $20 million.
WORDS: 807 - MOVED: 02/01/2026 5:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTFilmBoxOfficestLdWritethru/e200bb50d83dd910d079b671bdf79a2c/text___
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