CNN
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Something unusual occurred on the floor of the US House of Representatives a few days ago, and it had nothing to do with classified documents, committee assignments or the nation’s debt ceiling. A young congressman delivered a speech on a bill to advance research into artificial intelligence. What’s unusual about a politician making a speech? Nothing, except he didn’t write it … an AI chatbot did.
Here’s what else you need to know to Start Your Week Smart.
• Protesters over the weekend once again took to the streets to decry police brutality after the release of video depicting the violent Memphis police beating that led to the death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols.
• At least three people were killed and more than 800 injured when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Iran on Saturday night local time, according to Iranian news agencies.
• Six people died and three others were injured in a crash involving an express bus and a freight truck in upstate New York Saturday morning, according to authorities.
• Former President Donald Trump took aim at Ron DeSantis on Saturday, claiming the Florida governor and his team are “trying to rewrite history” regarding their Covid-19 pandemic response, and called the potential presidential run by his GOP rival “very disloyal.”
• Novak Djokovic beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets today to win his 10th Australian Open title. On Saturday, Aryna Sabalenka defeated Elena Rybakina to win the women’s final.
Monday
President Joe Biden is scheduled to begin the week traveling to Baltimore to highlight projects funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law, including the replacement of the 150-year-old Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel to improve the flow of rail traffic. The following day, he’ll head north to tout the Hudson River Tunnel project linking New York City and New Jersey.
Tuesday
Pope Francis is set to begin a long-delayed trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Africa is where some 20% of the world’s Catholics live, according to a Vatican spokesman.
Wednesday
The Federal Reserve will wrap up a two-day meeting on interest rates. The central bank is widely expected to slow the pace at which it’s hiking rates to a quarter of a percentage point, following a similar downshift in December, when it raised rates by half a point instead of three-quarters in an effort to fight inflation.
Wednesday also marks the beginning of Black History Month.
Thursday
February 2 is Groundhog Day. Also, February 2 is Groundhog Day…
Friday
The first monthly employment report of 2023 arrives at the end of the week. In December, the US economy added 223,000 jobs, capping a year of extraordinary job growth and marking the second-best year for the labor market in records that go back to 1939.
One Thing: Classroom clash in Florida
CNN Correspondent Leyla Santiago joins this week’s “One Thing” podcast to discuss Florida’s decision to block a proposed Advanced Placement course on African American studies. She explains how this compares to the debate around critical race theory and how parents, students and teachers are being impacted. Listen for more.
the victims of Saturday’s mass shooting in the California city.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1660″ width=”2500″/>
were charged with murder on Thursday, January 26. The criminal charges come about three weeks after Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was hospitalized after a traffic stop and “confrontation” with Memphis police that family attorneys have called a savage beating. Nichols died from his injuries on January 10, three days after the arrest, authorities said. The five police officers, who are also Black, had been fired for violating policies on excessive use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid, the department said.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1786″ width=”2500″/>
observed with the James Webb Space Telescope, was released on Monday, January 23.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”900″ width=”1600″/>
three-hour hearing, which examined whether Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, was too dominant in the music industry. Lawmakers grilled Live Nation president and CFO Joe Berchtold on the company’s market practices, with some claiming that it is monopolizing the market and hurting customers. Berchtold stressed the problem of bots and industrial scalping of tickets, which he claims also caused the recent Taylor Swift tickets fiasco.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
moving her past compatriot Lindsey Vonn for the most wins in women’s skiing.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
breaking off the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica on Sunday, January 22. Researchers said this event was expected and not a result of climate change.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”2500″ width=”2500″/>
later tweeted that McCarthy apologized to him. See the best photos from this NFL season.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
Viktor & Rolf couture show in Paris on Wednesday, January 25. Models walked the runway in tulle princess gowns and multitiered dresses that were flipped in every direction. This one walked with a fully upside-down dress, the hemline obscuring her face and her legs emerging from the sweetheart neckline.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
that they would send contingents of tanks to Ukraine, reversing their longstanding trepidation at providing Kyiv with offensive armored vehicles. ” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
The country’s weeks-long protest movement — which seeks a complete reset of the government — was sparked by the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo in December and fueled by deep dissatisfaction over living conditions and inequality in the country.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
See more photos of Lunar New Year celebrations.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
breaks down in tears at a news conference after she lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday, January 22.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1783″ width=”2500″/>
adorned with a faux lion’s head as she arrives for a Schiaparelli couture show in Paris on Monday, January 23.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
Chris Hipkins was sworn in as her successor.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
tornado moved through the area on Wednesday, January 25.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
are facing a shareholder lawsuit over a 2018 tweet in which Musk said that he was thinking about taking Tesla private for $420 a share and had “funding secured.” Those two words resulted in the CEO having to forfeit his position as Tesla’s executive chairman and pay millions of dollars in fines and legal fees. ” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
Others were barred as punishment for fights that had broken out in the stands at a match last year.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1668″ width=”2500″/>
tweeted this photo of him standing in front of his mural in Buffalo, New York, on Monday, January 23. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during a game against Cincinnati on January 2.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”3126″ width=”2500″/>
See last week in 34 photos.” class=”image_gallery-image__dam-img image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading” onload=’this.classList.remove(‘image_gallery-image__dam-img–loading’)’ height=”1667″ width=”2500″/>
The week in 33 photos
Check out more images from the week that was, curated by CNN Photos.
Ten days before the kickoff of Super Bowl LVII comes “80 for Brady,” a movie co-starring Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Lily Tomlin as a group of seniors who are hardcore Tom Brady fans and travel to Super Bowl LI. Brady also co-stars and serves as a producer on the film, which is based on a true story. “80 For Brady” hits theaters on Friday.
Not a Tom Brady Fan? Maybe a thriller is more your speed. “Knock at the Cabin Door” is the latest from director M. Night Shyamalan. Honestly though, after all the horrific things that have happened to movie characters vacationing in cabins in the woods, why would anyone ever plan that trip?
And the Grammy Awards are a week away. Trevor Noah will return as master of ceremonies for the third consecutive year, and will also serve as a producer for the 65th annual event on February 5. Beyoncé leads the pack with nine nods for her album “Renaissance,” while Kendrick Lamar scored eight nominations, and Adele and Brandi Carlile each got seven.
Football
The final four NFL teams left standing face off later today in the NFC and AFC Championship games. First up, the San Francisco 49ers play the Eagles in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. ET. Later, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals at 6:30 p.m. ET. Winners go to the Super Bowl on February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Take CNN’s weekly news quiz to see how much you remember from the week that was! So far, just over 16% of fellow quiz fans have gotten a perfect score. How will you fare?
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‘Groundhog Day’
Hey, did I already mention Groundhog Day is Thursday? (Click here to view)
