Fraud in 2023, Homeland Security Sec. impeached, and Notre Dame.

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Big Stories

Fraudsters stole $10 billion in 2023.

American adults lost more than $10 billion to fraud in 2023, according to new Federal Trade Commission data.

• About 690,000 people were tricked into giving money to fraudsters, resulting in total losses of $10.02 billion, according to the FTC. The total was slightly higher than in 2022 when losses totaled $8.9 billion from around 624,000 reported cases. The median amount lost in these scams was approximately $500.

• Law enforcement often lacks the resources to pursue every fraud case, especially for smaller amounts. Scammers know this and target smaller sums to fly under the legal radar.

• Business imposter scams — where scammers pretend to be legitimate organizations — and fraudsters posing as government officials or services increased by 18% and 15% respectively.

• The FTC encouraged Americans to watch out for phishing emails, and suspicious phone calls, and to report any suspected scams. If you aren’t expecting communication from tech support or another business, it’s probably not them.

RJK Jr. apologizes for Super Bowl ad

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized to his family for a Super Bowl ad that resembled his uncle John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign.

• The ad, featuring Kennedy's uncle's campaign song and imagery, was funded by Kennedy's PAC, American Values 2024, costing $7 million. The ad's release sparked a complaint from the Democratic National Committee regarding campaign finance laws.

• The Kennedy family — who have historically aligned with the Democratic Party — have voiced support for President Biden instead of backing Kennedy’s independent bid.

• While Kennedy's candidacy may affect both Democratic and Republican candidates, recent polling suggests he draws more votes from Trump-aligned voters, which could help Biden's chances.

Senate approves foreign aid package

The Senate finally pushed through a foreign aid package after months of disagreement.

• A bipartisan majority in the US Senate voted 70-to-29 to advance a $95 billion foreign aid package. The package includes military support for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but does not address changes to US border policy.

• Initially, Republicans insisted on changes to border policies alongside foreign aid provisions, but a bipartisan border-plus-foreign-aid deal collapsed shortly after its unveiling last week. Now, House Republicans say they will also reject the stand-alone bill because they believe we should secure our own border before sending more aid around the world.

• President Biden urged House Republicans to immediately vote on the bill, warning that “failure to support Ukraine would never be forgotten.” Biden also pledged to defend NATO allies against Russian attacks.

Little Stories

• The House of Representatives voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his management of the US-Mexico border. This is the second time in US history that the chamber has impeached a Cabinet secretary. The vote was close, with 214 in favor and 213 opposed. Three Republicans sided with Democrats against impeachment. (More)

• The CDC is planning to drop its recommendation for a five-day Covid-19 isolation period for those testing positive, allowing people with mild symptoms to return to school or work if fever-free for 24 hours. This would be the first change to CDC guidelines since December 2021. (More)

• Stocks fell on Tuesday due to higher-than-expected inflation data for January, leading to increased Treasury yields. The news raised doubts about the Federal Reserve's ability to cut rates multiple times this year. The Dow lost 1.35%, its worst session since March 2023. The S&P 500 slid 1.37%, while the Nasdaq fell 1.8%. (More)

• The scaffolding covering the top of Notre Dame Cathedral which was put in place after a destructive fire in April 2019, is being removed. The cathedral's new spire is now visible and more is expected to be revealed in the coming days. The cathedral’s restoration received over $1 billion in global donations. (More)

• Former Democratic Representative Tom Suozzi has reclaimed his previous seat in the House of Representatives. Suozzi won the special election against Republican Mazi Pilip, filling the vacancy left by the expulsion of former Republican Representative George Santos. Santos was removed from office in December following criminal charges and false claims he made about his background. (More)

Extra Credit

Are cars getting too big for the road?

US national parks are beautiful (in photos).

Spruce up your home with a glow-in-the-dark plant.

Visualizing racial diversity in America’s 10 largest states.