Biggest news you missed this weekend
Trump blocked on travel ban (again)
A federal judge in Seattle on Friday issued a nationwide restraining order blocking the travel ban put in place by President Trump. The White House quickly responded, saying the federal government would challenge the judge's decision. Asking a federal court to overturn the judge's injunction, Trump called the ruling "ridiculous" and a "terrible decision." Early Sunday, a federal appeals court rejected a request by Trump's Justice Department to immediately restore the travel ban; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit based in San Francisco said a reply from the Trump administration is due on Monday. Meanwhile, refugees and some foreigners raced the clock to enter the United States after news of the travel ban's block.
Pro football's MVP, Hall of Fame class named ahead of Super Bowl
Ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl match-up between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan won the NFL’s top individual award, the AP Most Valuable Player. Also on Saturday, Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its 2017 class, comprised of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Terrell Davis, defensive end Jason Taylor and kicker Morten Andersen.
Here's your Super Bowl LI Sunday viewer's guide, including what to watch for between the Patriots and Falcons. And go behind the scenes at the Super Bowl with Lady Gaga, this year's halftime show performer.
Melissa McCarthy, barely recognizable, plays Trump spokesman on SNL
Melissa McCarthy had a big jacket to fill, but she did the job. The Ghostbusters actress made a surprise appearance as press secretary Sean Spicer during this weekend's Saturday Night Live, and she was barely recognizable. If SNL amps up its Trump satire this year, don't expect the same from South Park: That show's creators, citing Trump fatigue, plan to scale back on the number of Trump-centric storylines in the show's 21st season.
Trump: America is isn't so innocent
President Trump reiterated his desire to improve relations with Russia and dismissed concerns that Vladimir Putin is a “killer,” in a Fox News interview set to air Sunday before the Super Bowl. Putin is "a killer," O'Reilly said in the interview. "There are a lot of killers," Trump responded. "Got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country's so innocent?" The excerpts drew condemnation from some conservatives, including a Wall Street Journal editor, who tweeted that “Trump puts US on moral par with Putin's Russia. Never in history has a President slandered his country like this.”
Pence vows Democrats won't block vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee
Vice President Pence vowed Saturday that the Trump administration and Senate Republicans will prevent Democrats from blocking a vote on Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. Speaking in Philadelphia, Pence said the goal will be to assure Gorsuch "gets an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor one way or the other." By that, Pence implied that if Democrats try to prevent a vote by using their filibuster power, Senate Republicans should change the rules to strip away that authority.