The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Feb 26 2026

Nicole Fallert
Newsletter Writer & SEO Editor

Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's what's breaking this morning:

•	'RHOSLC' star Mary Cosby's son Robert has died at 23.
•	These truckers could lose their licenses.
•	Frozen blueberries were recalled due to listeria risk.

Nicole Fallert here, bringing you the news to know on Thursday, beginning with a former president questioned about Epstein ties. Brides are worried about weddings in Mexico and the fallout of Trump's controversial hockey joke continues.

Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify on Epstein ties

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton are set to give depositions to a House committee this week as part of its investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The depositions will take place near the Clintons' house in Chappaqua, New York. Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify Thursday, followed by Bill Clinton on Friday.

The former president is among many prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business who have appeared in the files — both before and after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges.

USA TODAY is tracking the latest on the Epstein files fallout:

•	Bill Gates admitted to affairs and apologized for his Epstein relationship, WSJ reported.
•	Larry Summers will resign from Harvard due to an Epstein connection.
•	More than a dozen Democrats invited survivors as guests to the State of the Union.

More news to know now

•	Gunfight off Cuban coast: Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for an investigation after Cuban patrol forces killed four people and injured six others aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat Wednesday.
•	Is it safe to have Cancun nuptials? After hearing about the military operation in Puerto Vallarta, many Americans with weddings scheduled in Cancun over the next year have been panicking — even though the cities are more than 1,100 miles apart.
•	Sexpionage: Espionage officials and experts told USA TODAY America's adversaries are employing every spy tactic imaginable, from infiltrating U.S. colleges to old-fashioned seduction.

Health & Wellness

Trump's surgeon general pick grilled

Casey Means testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Kylie Cooper, REUTERS

It didn't take long for the topic of vaccines to come up in surgeon general nominee Dr. Casey Means' confirmation hearing to be the nation's top doctor Wednesday. Here's what Means said on measles and flu vaccines.

Hockey fallout

'We should have reacted differently. We know that we are so excited for the women's team. We have so much respect for the women's team, and to share that gold medal with them is something that we're forever grateful for.'

~Team USA men's hockey backup goalie Jeremy Swayman voiced his support for the U.S. women's team. The U.S. men's hockey team has drawn an icy reception from some fans for attending the State of the Union address after Trump made a controversial comment about the women's team. Hilary Knight responded to Trump's "distasteful joke."