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Tariff Retaliation, Groundhog Day, & a Mega Pod
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Grammy winners
Pennsylvania plane crash
How to make your time count
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Big Story
Tariff Retaliation

(The Canadian Press)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will respond to President Trump’s new 25% tariffs on Canadian imports by imposing 25% tariffs on American products.
The total tariffs on American products will be worth C$155 billion. The first wave of Canadian tariffs starts Tuesday and affects C$30 billion of goods. More will follow in three weeks. (See tariff explainer here)
Canada's tariffs will target many American products, including beer, wine, bourbon, fruits, juices, clothing, and sports equipment. Canada is also considering additional measures related to energy and mineral resources.
Meanwhile, China announced its own retaliatory measures for the 10% tariffs the US slapped on Chinese imports. Its government said it will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and take “corresponding countermeasures to safeguard its interests.”
Mexico, which was also included in Trump’s 25% tariff bracket, is planning retaliatory tariffs on US imports ranging from 5% to 20% on pork, cheese, fresh produce, steel, and aluminum. Almost a third of Mexico’s gross domestic product depends on exports to the US.
Big Story
Groundhog Day

(Alan Freed | Reuters)
On Sunday, Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Pennsylvania, saw his shadow during the annual Groundhog Day ceremony.
According to folklore, this means we can expect six more weeks of winter weather. The event took place in partly cloudy, cold conditions with temperatures around 20 degrees Fahrenheit at a location called Gobbler's Knob, just outside the town of Punxsutawney.
Groundhog Day originated from the German settlers in Pennsylvania who brought the tradition of Candlemas Day, where they originally used hedgehogs to predict weather patterns. They switched to groundhogs upon settling in America since hedgehogs weren't native to the region. The yearly tradition began in 1887, making 2025 the 139th celebration.
Looking at Phil's track record, he has predicted six more weeks of winter 107 times and early spring only 21 times since 1887. However, his accuracy is questionable - from 2013 to 2022, Phil was correct only four times out of ten.
Big Story
The Grammys

(Robert Gauthier | Los Angeles Times)
The 67th edition of the Grammy Awards was held at Los Angeles’ Crypto Arena Sunday night.
The show opened with a tribute to Los Angeles following the devastating wildfires, featuring multiple artists performing a revised version of "I Love L.A." The telecast also served as a fundraiser to support musical professionals and LA wildfire relief efforts.
Beyoncé finally won her first Album of the Year Grammy for "Cowboy Carter" after coming up short in four previous nominations. She also took home Best Country Album. The awards add to her record 32 wins and she also boasts the most nominations with 99.
Kendrick Lamar swept his categories, winning both Record and Song of the Year for "Not Like Us.” Sabrina Carpenter beat out Taylor Swift for Best Pop Vocal Album, and Chappell Roan won Best New Artist in a competitive category.
Quick Stories
US News
Another plane went down over the weekend. A medical transport Learjet crashed near Philadelphia's Roosevelt Mall, killing all six people aboard and one person on the ground. Nineteen others were injured, with many transported to local hospitals. (More)
Ken Martin, who previously led Minnesota's Democratic Party, has been elected as the new Democratic National Committee chair. He won decisively in Saturday's election, with strong support from DNC members following a challenging 2024 for the party. (More)
Netanyahu plans to discuss defeating Hamas, Iran containment, and Arab diplomacy with Trump at Tuesday's White House meeting. This is the first foreign leader visit since Trump’s return to office and comes as mediators work on extending Gaza's ceasefire. (More)
World
Rwanda-backed rebels seized Goma in eastern Congo, leading to calls for the EU to suspend its 2024 minerals deal with Rwanda that has been blamed for fueling the conflict. (More)
Syria's new transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visited Saudi Arabia's crown prince following his successful rebellion against the Iran-backed Assad regime. The meeting signals changing alliances in the region after Syria's 14-year war. (More)
After recent earthquakes up to magnitude 4.3 near Santorini, Greek officials ordered school closures today and warned against visiting certain ports. Experts say the seismic activity isn't volcanic-related but advised safety precautions. (More)
Business & Economy
US stock markets closed lower on Friday (S&P -0.50%, Nasdaq -0.28%, Dow -0.75%). President Trump’s announcement of aggressive tariffs against major US trade partners pulled markets down. (More)
Honda is investing over $1 billion to modernize its Ohio manufacturing facilities. The upgrade includes six Tesla-style giga presses and new battery case production systems as part of the company's push into electric vehicle production. (More)
Elon Musk and the DOGE team have joined the long-running fight to eliminate the penny, highlighting its economic burden. In fiscal 2024 the US Mint reported each 1-cent penny cost 2.72 cents to produce. (More)
Sports & Entertainment
In a major NBA trade, the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris from the reigning West champion Mavericks, while sending Anthony Davis and Max Christie to Dallas. Utah received draft picks and Jalen Hood-Schifino in the deal. (More)
John Calipari faced loud boos in his return to Kentucky as Arkansas's coach. Calipari got the last laugh as the Razorbacks upset the Wildcats 89-79, led by former Kentucky players Thiero and Wagner. (More)
The NFL is exploring electronic systems to improve first-down measurements after a disputed spot in the Bills-Chiefs playoff game. However, the proposed system would still rely on manual ball placement, not microchip technology. (More)
Science, Health, & Tech
Scientists discovered that ancient ear muscles, previously thought only useful for ear wiggling, activate when people focus on competing sounds. These auricular muscles may play a role in attention and listening. (More)
NFL reports concussions dropped 17% this season, reaching their lowest level since 2015. Officials credit players switching to newer, better-performing helmet models, with 35% of players upgrading their protective gear this year. (More)
A new study shows microplastics can block brain blood vessels, similar to blood clots. Chinese researchers tracked plastic particles in mouse brains and found these blockages led to reduced performance in movement, memory, and coordination tests. (More)
Extra Credit
⏳️ How we spend our time (and how to make it count).
🏎️ A vintage Mercedes grand prix car sold for $51.15M at auction.
🐬 1,500 dolphins swan together in a mega pod off California’s coast.
📦️ The top import partner in every US state.
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