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| Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Jan. 13, and if your partner is always bugging you on vacation, maybe it’s time to consider an “airport divorce.” Now let’s get to the news. | |
 | The U.S. used a secretive military aircraft in a boat strike in September. | - Key details: The aircraft was painted to look like a civilian plane, officials confirmed to The Post yesterday. Eleven people were killed, including two who survived the initial attack.
- Why it matters: The law of armed conflict forbids combatants from feigning civilian status then attacking with explicit intent to kill or wound targets, according to legal experts.
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 | The Trump administration’s investigation of Jerome Powell sparked backlash. | - What to know: At least three key Senate Republicans criticized the investigation against the Federal Reserve chair. Experts warn the probe threatens the rule of law — here’s why.
- Big picture: Find a list of probes into officials President Donald Trump has criticized here.
- Yesterday: Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) sued Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging he is being unlawfully punished for a video reminding troops they can refuse illegal orders.
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 | Minnesota sued federal immigration authorities yesterday. | | |
 | It could be a pivotal day for state bans of trans athletes in women’s sports. | - Why? The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a pair of cases on whether such bans violate the Constitution. One case focuses on the only trans student-athlete in West Virginia.
- Potential impact: The ruling, expected this summer, could determine what happens with similar laws in more than half the country. It’s one of the Supreme Court’s major cases this term.
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 | U.S. carbon emissions increased in 2025, reversing a downward trend. | | | Net CO2-equivalent emissions. Source: EPA, Rhodium Group (2024 and 2025 are Rhodium estimates.) (The Washington Post/TWP) | - Why? Coal plants, power-hungry data centers, cryptocurrency mining and colder winter temperatures drove an estimated 2.4% rise, according to a new report.
- In related news: The EPA yesterday weakened emissions standards for new power plants and said it will no longer consider health impacts of some of the deadliest pollutants.
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 | Is your kid too sick for school? Take our quiz to find out. | | | Click this graphic to take the quiz. (Shikha Subramaniam/Washington Post illustration) | - The dilemma: Since the pandemic, parents have been more likely to keep their kids home at the first sign of sniffles, officials say. But school leaders say routine attendance is critical.
- We can help: Plug your child’s symptoms into our quiz to consider fevers, sore throats and more. (But remember, the quiz is a guide and not a substitute for medical care.)
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 | Eight professional organizers shared tough love advice for your clutter problems. | - Is your home full of stuff? You’re not alone. We all have complicated relationships with our possessions. When faced with getting rid of things, you might feel overwhelmed or guilty.
- But there are ways to overcome that: Find our experts’ 16 tips here. They include narrowing your definition of “special,” starting small and prioritizing the current version of yourself.
Before you go … fed up of winter? These eight, staff-approved recipes will keep you cozy. If you’re feeling sick: Eating ginger might help — here’s why. One more compelling read: A $2,500 full body scan said he was healthy. Then he had a catastrophic stroke. We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you’ve seen in The 7? Send them here. We’ll find the right person to answer them and share responses in our weekend edition. And finally … take a game break: | |
Jamie Ross and 
