The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Tue Feb 3 2026

Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer

Sorry, it's still winter . Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

•	Could the federal government "seize" elections from states?
•	It's less likely this shutdown will drag on indefinitely as the last one did.
•	Meet Hilary Knight, captain of the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team.

Nicole Fallert here, shopping Valentine's gifts for my pet. We have the news to know on Tuesday, from the search for Savannah Guthrie's mother to dueling Super Bowl halftime shows. Plus, USA TODAY Sports got a tour of the Olympic village in Italy.

Savannah Guthrie's mother 'taken' from her home, authorities say

The 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and authorities in Arizona say they are investigating her disappearance as a kidnapping.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department in southern Arizona received a 911 call reporting Nancy Guthrie was missing from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, around noon local time Feb. 1. The following day, during the afternoon on Feb. 2, law enforcement confirmed investigators believed Nancy Guthrie "was taken from the home."

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that Nancy Guthrie "didn't just walk out " of her home, which is being considered a crime scene. Nanos noted Guthrie has limited mobility and "couldn't walk 50 yards by herself."

More news to know now

•	Alex Pretti's death was ruled a homicide. Homeland Security officials have not identified the agents involved in the incident, but in a report obtained by USA TODAY, the agency said two agents fired guns during the fatal encounter with Pretti.
•	The Clintons agreed to testify about Epstein. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have agreed to give depositions to a House committee about accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, defusing a potential showdown between the legislative and executive branches.
•	Turning Point USA unveiled an alternative Super Bowl halftime show. Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert and Lee Brice will headline Turning Point USA's alternative halftime show , airing as Bad Bunny takes the Super Bowl halftime show stage Sunday. And the NFL's Roger Goodell addressed Bad Bunny's "ICE out" Grammys speech.

Olympics

Getting gold medal sleep

Airweave is the Japanese-based company supplying the beds in the Olympic Village.

Jordan Mendoza/USA TODAY

Athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics get to design their preferential mattress for their sleep conditions. Photos of the athletes are taken using an AI model to find the right fit of length and firmness of the mattress. Once they find the right fit, they then take the beds to their rooms. Here's what else USA TODAY Sports saw on a tour of the Olympic Village.

Health & Wellness

There's a massive shortage of estogren patches

A shortage in estrogen patches — due to manufacturing issues and some brand discontinuation — has been exacerbated by an increase in prescriptions for estrogen since the Food and Drug Administration removed its black box warning label last fall. The shortage has left women exhausted, frustrated and scrambling each month, calling pharmacies for the medicine they need to treat their menopause symptoms.

Before you go

•	USA TODAY found thousands of underage bettors are caught annually by legalized sportsbooks.
•	Kylie Kelce shares how she handles her kids' questions about sex.
•	The "Wuthering Heights" press tour just keeps getting weirder.