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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Fri Jan 31 2025

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

Investigators are searching for explanations for the rare mid-air collision that resulted in the nation's deadliest aviation disaster in more than two decades. USA TODAY tracked how Project 2025 is showing up in President Donald Trump's actions so far. The Grammy Awards are this weekend, and we've got everything you need to be ready for music's biggest night.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. "We can't forget about Ham."

'Black box' flight data recorder recovered in DC plane crash

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed to USA TODAY that investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the passenger airplane that collided in midair with an Army helicopter, leaving 67 people dead near Ronald Reagan National Airport.

What happens next: The agency said the recorders, a key component of determining the final moments and circumstances of air disasters, are at NTSB labs "for evaluation."

•	What is to blame? NTSB officials said it is too soon to know whether human error or other factors were at play in Wednesday night's collision.
•	The airspace near Reagan Washington National Airport has long been a concern. The airport's main runway is the single-busiest runway in the country.
•	What's President Trump's response? After calling for a moment of silence in the White House press briefing room on Thursday, Trump went on the attack, blaming the tragedy on his Democratic predecessors and their emphasis on diversity in hiring. Trump also said the helicopter crew "should've seen where they were going."

President Donald Trump speaks about the mid-air crash at the White House press briefing room on Thursday.

ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images

Figure skating community devastated over fatal DC plane crash

"I've never seen someone love skating as much as these two, and that's why I think it hurts so much. When you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it's even a bigger blow."

~ Two-time Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan revealed during a press conference on Thursday she knew at least two skaters on the plane − Spencer Lane and Jinna Hahn. Both Lane and Hahn's mothers, Molly Lane and Jin Hahn, were reportedly also on the flight. The skaters were returning from a national development camp following the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. The exact number of victims with ties to figure skating is still unknown.

They were parents, coaches, professionals, teenage athletes, soldiers and children: Read the stories of the lives lost in the DC area plane crash.

From left, Elis Schran, Tenley E. Albright and Nancy Kerrigan weep during a presser at the Skating Club of Boston on Thursday.

Marc Vasconcellos, The Enteprise via USA TODAY Network

More news to know now

•	The FBI told multiple senior leaders to resign or be fired.
•	Marion Bowman Jr. is set to be executed in South Carolina today.
•	Read takeaways from the RFK Jr., Gabbard and Patel Senate confirmation hearings.
•	President Trump expects to end birthright citizenship.
•	The economy slowed late last year but still turned in a solid performance.
•	Trump faces a choice ahead of a Saturday target date for his tariffs to begin kicking in.

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

Project 2025 is turning up in Trump's actions

President Donald Trump distanced himself from the conservative project known as Project 2025 on the campaign trail, but many policies he's choosing to enact already align closely with it. Project 2025, led by policy experts at the conservative Heritage Foundation, has provided the Republican presidential administration with a blueprint of policy ideas. Some of the language in Trump's executive orders mirrors language from Project 2025. In other cases, he's calling for the same actions that authors in Project 2025 also said the next Republican president should take. From gender to hiring to foreign aid, here's how Project 2025 is showing up in the White House so far.

•	A Senate Budget Committee advanced Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget, for a floor vote.

Californians could sue oil and gas firms for wildfire damages

Two California Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation that could allow people and insurers to sue oil and gas companies for damages sparked by climate change-related disasters such as wildfires and mudslides. The Affordable Insurance and Climate Recovery Act accuses fossil fuel companies of misleading the public about the impact of their products on climate change. The bill comes during the very early recovery stages of the devastating wildfires in Southern California earlier this month which have killed at least 28 people and burned more than 35,000 acres. If the measure passes, California would be the first state in the U.S. to allow for such legal action.

Today's talkers

•	NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade revealed a shocking cancer diagnosis.
•	"You did this to yourself!": A$AP Relli testified against A$AP Rocky.
•	Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes sets the NCAA freshman single-game scoring record with 53 points.
•	Karla Sofía Gascón apologized for controversial posts on George Floyd.
•	Is Michigan football just a common cheat?

Are you Grammys-ready?

We're on vocal rest until Sunday. The 67th annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles ( here's how to watch), and we'll be singing along as music's major acts take the stage for awards and performances. Ahead of music's biggest night, USA TODAY has all you need to know:

•	Here's a quick history of the prestigious music award.
•	Who is performing?? Hint: She sings "Espresso".
•	Beyoncé has the most nominations at the Grammys: Here's every award she's up for in 2025.
•	Taylor Swift has six nominations and is a confirmed presenter!
•	Wait — what's the difference between album and record of the year?!
•	We made our boldest Grammy Award predictions.

Photo of the day: Red Hot for Los Angeles

Thursday night's FireAid benefit concert will go down in history not only because it featured some of the biggest names in music on the same stage, but for the message of hope artists spread: The performances raised a monumental sum to aid those affected by wildfires in California. Donations can be made at fireaidla.org.

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and drummer pound out a song at the FireAid benefit concert in Inglewood, California, on Thursday.

Scott Dudelson, Getty Images for FIREAID

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

In photos: DC plane collision victims remembered

Photographs of athletes Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova, all of whom died in the crash of American Eagle flight 5342 in Washington, DC, are displayed at the Skating Club of Boston in Norwood, Massachusetts, U.S., January 30, 2025.

Students, athletes, parents, and military members are just some of the over 60 victims of Wednesday's deadly midair collision between a passenger jet and helicopter in Washington, D.C. The gallery will be updated as more photos are shared.

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