Nancy Guthrie search, Lindsey Vonn crash, Iran protests

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By Elizabeth Both

February 08, 2026

By Elizabeth Both

February 08, 2026

 
 

Good morning and welcome to the Sunday edition of Morning Wire, where we give you the weekend rundown to get ready for the week ahead. Today, Savannah Guthrie has told the potential kidnappers of her mother that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return, Lindsey Vonn crashed early in the Olympic women’s downhill, and a beautician filmed the violent crackdown on protests in Iran. 

But first, a look at how President Trump received rare blowback from Republican lawmakers over his social media post that included a racist image of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, depicted as primates. 

 

UP FIRST

AP Morning Wire

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he flies aboard Air Force One from Joint Base Andrews, Md., to West Palm Beach, Fla., on Friday. (AP Photo/ Mark Schiefelbein) 

Republicans rarely criticize Trump in his second term. A racist post briefly changed that

President Donald Trump received rare blowback from Republican lawmakers over a video posted to social media that included a racist image of former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, depicted as primates. Since Trump’s return to the White House, Republican lawmakers have treaded carefully when disagreeing with the president, often communicating their concerns in private for fear of suffering his wrath. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Congressional Black Caucus chair says Trump’s post on the Obamas shows a ‘bigoted and racist regime’
  • Voters are worried about the cost of housing. But Trump wants home prices to keep climbing
  • Trump praises Nexstar-Tegna broadcast television deal he once opposed
  • Appeals court affirms Trump policy of jailing immigrants without bond
 

TOP STORIES

Nancy Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday. (AP Photo/ Ty ONeil) 

‘We will pay,’ Savannah Guthrie says in desperate video plea to potential kidnappers of her mother

Savannah Guthrie told the potential kidnappers of her mother Nancy Guthrie on Saturday that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return, as the frantic search for the 84-year-old Arizona resident has entered a seventh day. The “Today” show host was referencing a message that was sent to the Tucson-based television station KOLD on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI office in Phoenix. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Sheriff searching for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom calls lack of video a disappointing setback
  • Armchair detectives flood social media as search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom continues
  • Savannah Guthrie’s demand for mom’s ‘proof of life’ is complicated in this era of AI and deepfakes

She filmed Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters. Now she is afraid to go outside

A 37-year-old beautician's videos and messages provided a raw account of the exuberance that protesters in Iran felt taking to the streets last month — and the shock that has paralyzed many after the bloodiest crackdown ever inflicted by the Islamic Republic. The beautician expressed despair that change can happen and a sense of abandonment by the world. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • Iran sentences Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi to 7 more years in prison
  • Trump turns to US military leaders for diplomatic efforts on Iran and Ukraine
  • Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Wednesday about Iran talks
 

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IN OTHER NEWS

This combination of images shows the United States’ Lindsey Vonn crashing during an alpine ski women’s downhill race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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