Daily Briefing: The billionaire behind the Resolute Desk

President Donald Trump, joined by Elon Musk in the Oval Office, ordered up big cuts in the federal workforce. American school teacher Marc Fogel has been released by Russia after more than three years in custody. Paste BN has sourced the top 44 restaurants in the nation.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. What did we do to deserve a demure half-naked Pete Davidson on Valentines Week?!

Trump, with Musk in tow, orders up big cuts in federal workforce

Elon Musk, wearing a black MAGA hat and joined by his son, X, stood next to Donald Trump, who was seated behind the Resolute Desk on Tuesday when the president signed an executive order that seeks to significantly reduce the size of the government.

Why the image matters: The joint Musk-Trump appearance marked the first time the billionaire CEO has publicly answered reporters' questions since he's assumed power in Trump's second term. 

• What the new order says: It directs for a federal "workforce optimization initiative" created by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is rapidly slashing federal departments.
• What Musk said: He insisted he won't engage in work that poses potential conflicts of interest — though Musk has billions of dollars in SpaceX contracts with the Pentagon.
• What federal workers say: Thousands of workers have already signed up for Trump's buyout program, while others are heeding calls from unions and advocates that there's no guarantee Trump can or will stick to the program.

American teacher released from Russian prison

Marc Fogel touched down on American soil and met with President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening following his freedom from over three years in Russian custody. His release came as part of an agreement between Washington and Moscow that the U.S. said came about amid talks to end the war in Ukraine. Fogel, 63, who is from Butler, Pennsylvania, was arrested in Moscow in August 2021, when he entered the country on a teaching assignment while in possession of marijuana that his family said was prescribed to him by a doctor to treat chronic pain. Read more

More news to know now

• The U.S. did not co-sign a European statement that says AI should be inclusive, open, ethical and safe.
• The Education Dept. will shield federal student aid data from Musk's DOGE – for now.
• Should Greenland be renamed "Red, White and Blueland"?
• A Nevada dairy worker was infected with a new bird flu strain.
• Black History Month, Pride Month and other public holidays no longer appear on Google Calendar.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Messy snow and ice are coming

A second winter storm sets in on parts of the Midwest on Wednesday, with Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City, Missouri, among places likely to be pounded with snow. The latest storm will cause snow to accumulate for almost 2,000 miles from Colorado to Michigan and Maine, AccuWeather said. School closures and dangerous road conditions could abound nationwide, with freezing conditions or flooding threatening commuters and travelers. Paste BN is tracking the winter weather near where you live.

Measles cases growing in West Texas

The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed dozens of measles cases in the state, with the majority of cases occurring in children. Local vaccine clinics are opening to stave off infections, according to the Paste BN Network in Texas. But the offering of shots comes against the backdrop of repeating false and misleading claims about measles jabs, including debunked claims by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Here are the symptoms of measles to look for.

Today's talkers

• Happy 216th birthday to Abe Lincoln!
• Duolingo grieves the death of Duo the Owl.
• Paul McCartney gave a surprise once-in-a-lifetime show.
• Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin are a ski dream team.
• In our dreams we're front row with Martha Stewart at New York Fashion Week.
• "Pretending we got into Harvard because we're bored."

WARNING: Do not read this if you're hungry

Once you've had a snack, proceed:

Teams of journalists across the Paste BN Network set out to spotlight the best places to eat across America. Now, we're serving up the 2025 Paste BN Restaurants of the Year, and we didn't select the spots you would find on your average roundup of best foodie spots. It’s a celebration of local flavors and stories, curated by reporters who actually live across the country and know an Italian dinner in Mamaroneck can be just as rewarding as one in Manhattan. Check out Paste BN's 2025 Restaurants of the Year.

Photo of the day: Monty is the pup on top

Monty the Giant Schnauzer was named Best in Show on Tuesday, besting more than 2,500 dogs across 200 breeds at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. At least the competition was cute.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at Paste BN, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.