The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Thu Feb 12 2026

Nicole Fallert
Reporter & Newsletter Writer

Thursday's Olympic schedule | Medal count | Chloe Kim goes for gold

Morning! Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here's the news:

•	A Heritage Foundation report pitches "marriage camps" in America.
•	"Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek has died at 48.
•	Do full-body MRIs actually find cancer?

Nicole Fallert here, attempting a perfect cup of coffee. We have Thursday's news, from a bill that could curtail voting rights to viral moments from Attorney General Pam Bondi's Capitol Hill hearing. And a dramatic finale to ice dancing at Milano Cortina.

What the SAVE Act means for your vote

The Republican-led House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill favored by President Donald Trump to mandate proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

The bill, called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America Act, would require voters show a government-issued photo ID to cast their ballots. This element could potentially prevent millions of Americans from voting due to gaps in accessing an ID, according to independent experts and voting rights groups.

Another factor for Americans: Millions of women whose married names don't match the surname on their birth certificates or passports could face extra hurdles to register to vote and cast their ballots, according to the Brennan Center.

The legislation faces an uncertain future in the GOP-controlled Senate. Trump has indicated he would sign the bill if it fully passes.

More news to know now

•	Trump lost on tariffs. The GOP-led House of Representatives voted to overturn the president's tariffs on Canada after six Republicans joined with House Democrats.
•	Lawmakers accused AG Pam Bondi of a DOJ cover-up on Epstein: In what was a raucous House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, lawmakers of both parties accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of overseeing a Justice Department cover-up of bombshell allegations in the latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein documents — and failing to protect women who alleged he abused them.
•	How do you protect senior parents from afar? Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping highlights the challenges families face when elderly loved ones live alone.

2026 Winter Olympics

Silver sparkle for ice dancing duo

Olympics Figure Skating Mixed Ice Dance Free Dance

USA's Madison Chock and Evan Bates received silver medals on Wednesday.

James Lang-Imagn Images

In a result that sent shockwaves through the figure skating world, Madison Chock and Evan Bates — one of the most decorated duos — were upset Wednesday. The Americans took silver as the controversial French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron were crowned Olympic champions.

Something to talk about

'It took a village to free the sea cow'

An over 400-pound juvenile male manatee, dubbed "Melby" by some local officials, is on the mend at SeaWorld Orlando after being trapped in a storm drain and rescued by multiple agencies. A fast response from local, state and federal agencies saved Melby's life.