The 7 from The Washington Post

Get unlimited access for €0.50 a week You heard it here first. Read the rest with The Post. →

PUBLISHED BY

Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell">

By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Feb. 4, and Bianca Censori’s naked Grammys outfit has kicked up a lot of controversy — see what our reporters made of it here. Now let’s get to the news.

China hit back at President Donald Trump’s new tariffs.

The latest: The tariffs, which slap an additional 10% levy on all Chinese goods, took effect this morning. China swiftly responded with its own penalties, set to take effect Monday.
What else to know: Trump paused tariffs — effectively a tax on imports — on Mexico and Canada yesterday after talks. The decision caused whiplash in the stock market.

Read this story

Trump is preparing an order to dismantle the Education Department.

Why? It’s part of Elon Musk’s plan to slash government costs. At least some staffers at the billionaire’s DOGE group have gained access to multiple sensitive internal systems.
In related news: Trump’s team could abolish USAID — we explained its role here. And Trump signed an order to create a sovereign wealth fund — here’s what that means.
Zooming out: The Supreme Court could help Trump gain unchecked power.

Read this story

Republican-led states are pushing increasingly restrictive immigration measures.

Like what? Some Missouri and Mississippi lawmakers want to allow bounty hunters to detain undocumented migrants. The measures come as Trump is planning mass deportations.
In related news: Immigrant advocates filed a lawsuit against Trump’s asylum shutdown. And El Salvador made an extraordinary offer to jail “American criminals,” including U.S. citizens.

Read this story

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Trump today.

What to know: This is Trump’s first visit from a foreign leader. They will discuss the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which Trump said yesterday may not hold.
In other world news: Ukrainian troops are filming their interactions with Russians in Kursk, which Ukraine occupied last year. It’s an attempt to disprove Russian claims of abuse.

Read this story

The largest insurance company in California asked to raise rates by 22%.

Why? The Los Angeles fires have cost State Farm $1 billion and counting, the company told state regulators. An insurance crisis was already brewing in the state before last month’s fires.
In Northern California: The second of three consecutive atmospheric rivers is battering the region, dumping snow in the mountains and triggering flood watches.

Read this story

Our brains are filling with more and more microplastics.

What that means: Tiny pieces of plastic are passing the blood-brain barrier, and the amount of microplastics in the brain appears to be increasing over time, a new study found.
Why it’s worrying: It could have dangerous effects on your health and mental sharpness. If you want to reduce your exposure, there’s an easy way to get microplastics out of your water.
In other health news: The FDA approved pig organ transplant trials for kidney patients.

Read this story

Cannabis-infused drinks are becoming more popular.

Why? Consumers want a little buzz without a hangover from alcohol. They spent $382 million on the drinks last year, market research estimates — and that’s expected to grow.
The blunt truth: The drinks are derived from hemp, so they don’t have much of the active compound in marijuana. But that doesn’t mean they’re good for you.

Read this story

Before you go … is your boss exerting their power? What Trump’s crackdown could mean for your job