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Kash Patel’s Olympic outing sparks scrutiny 12:30 Report | 16 minutes ago

Opinion Here’s how we’re stopping DIY use-of-force investigations in Ohio Opinions - Criminal Justice | 24 minutes ago

Supreme Court to hear oil companies’ effort to toss local climate suit Energy & Environment | 46 minutes ago

FDA proposes new treatment approval pathway for ultrarare diseases Health Care | 50 minutes ago

Opinion American Olympians are supposed to speak their minds Opinions - Civil Rights | 54 minutes ago

Blood test could predict when Alzheimer’s symptoms will begin Health Care | 54 minutes ago

Netflix boss dismisses Trump's demand for Susan Rice to be fired Media | 1 hour ago

Abbott urges Texans to ‘stay alert’ amid chaos between US, Mexican drug cartels State Watch | 1 hour ago

Kash Patel’s Olympic outing sparks scrutiny

12:30 Report is The Hill’s midday newsletter. Subscribe here.

It’s Monday. I have never been more ready for a winter to end. The groundhog sure wasn’t joking around this year.

Patel’s Olympic locker room visit sparks controversy

Patel’s Olympic locker room visit sparks controversy

DHS reinstates TSA PreCheck after criticism

DHS reinstates TSA PreCheck after criticism

Blizzard paralyzes Northeast

Blizzard paralyzes Northeast

Violence flares in Mexico

Violence flares in Mexico

Americans in Mexico urged to shelter in place

Americans in Mexico urged to shelter in place

Is that … Kash Patel partying in the Team USA locker room?:

Yes, yes it was. FBI Director Kash Patel joined the U.S. men’s hockey team in the locker room to celebrate Team USA’s gold medal win.

The viral video shows him chugging a beer, spraying the remnants, jumping up and down and also chanting while wearing a player’s gold medal 🎥 Watch the viral video

This clip has gotten a lot of criticism, especially at such a frenzied time for the FBI. For example, a man was shot and killed by law enforcement for breaching the perimeter of President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort early on Sunday morning. Patel posted about the incident seemingly while at the game.

Democrats online bashed Patel for acting like a “frat bro” while the FBI is dealing with a number of serious and high-profile cases, such as the Epstein investigation files, the search for Nancy Guthrie and various national security matters.

Patel’s defense: Patel is a huge hockey fan and plays hockey recreationally. He posted a message “for the very concerned media,” explaining that players invited him to their locker room celebrations.

White House communication director Steven Cheung also pushed back on reports that Patel used government aircraft to travel to Milan, arguing that Patel was in Italy for work.

“Kash was also in Italy meeting with regional partners and security teams,” Cheung wrote. A spokesperson also said attendance at the Games was planned because “the FBI also has a major role in Olympic security,” per The Hill’s Dominick Mastrangelo and Rebecca Beitsch.

And Fox News host Will Cain argued that “no matter what the Left is trying to turn this into…every proud American is smiling through every second of this video. AWESOME!”

Tidbit: Trump called the team and joked around with them. He invited them to the White House, to which Patel responded, “I’m f—ing on it.”

Trump joked that he would also have to invite the women’s hockey team “or I’d be impeached.” 🎥 Watch Trump speak to the players in the locker room

Read more on the controversy: ‘Patel sparks outrage partying with Team USA as MAGA cheers him on’

➤ HOW MANY MEDALS DID TEAM USA WIN?:

The U.S. won a total of 33 medals — 12 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronzes. It’s the highest number of gold medals won by the U.S. at a Winter Olympics, surpassing the 10 won at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

🗯️ IN THE WHITE HOUSE

What’s on Trump’s mind today?:

Friday’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down his sweeping global tariffs. He fired off a number of Truth Social posts venting about the setback.

“Our incompetent supreme court did a great job for the wrong people, and for that they should be ashamed of themselves (but not the Great Three!),” he wrote in one post, intentionally not capitalizing the court’s name due to “a complete lack of respect!”

He also commented about another upcoming Supreme Court opinion: Trump predicted the court will also rule against him in the birthright citizenship case.

💬 Follow today’s live blog

How do we get out of this DHS shutdown, you ask?:

It’s a good question. *laughs nervously* Lawmakers are back in Washington this week to negotiate an end to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

There hasn’t been much progress in talks, but The Hill’s Al Weaver reports that some lawmakers hope Wednesday will be a pivotal moment.

Trump’s State of the Union address is happening on Tuesday evening. And some Republicans think DHS employees’ first missed paycheck on Friday will pressure Democrats to negotiate.

Read more on where things stand: ‘Republicans eye opening for DHS deal this week as Democrats double down’

➤ WHAT’S GOING ON WITH TSA PRECHECK AND GLOBAL ENTRY?:

DHS announced over the weekend that Global Entry and TSA PreCheck would be suspended for the rest of the shutdown. Plus, courtesy escorts for members of Congress would also be put on hold.

But DHS later reversed the TSA PreCheck part: DHS was met with a lot of pushback from travelers and airline industry groups for shutting down TSA PreCheck, so officials reinstated it.

➤ HOW WILL DEMOCRATS HANDLE THIS YEAR’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS?:

The Hill’s Mike Lillis reports that “Democratic leaders scrambling to prevent repeat of last year’s rowdy State of the Union.” Remember when Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was ejected from the room for heckling the president?

The gist: Democratic leaders are encouraging their members to protest but to be more discreet about it this year.

Where in the world is Jim Cantore?:

Blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of the Northeast as it gets pummeled by snow in today’s winter storm.

Where is the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore?: The veteran meteorologist is in Plymouth, Mass. 🎥 Watch his live shot

🎥 Watch Cantore get surprised by thundersnow

What is wild about this storm: The Washington Post’s Ben Noll notes that “it has an eye-like feature and central air pressure that’s comparable to a Category 2 hurricane.”

📸 Incredible overhead view of the storm

🎥 High tide in North Wildwood, N.J.

🎥 Blizzard conditions in Long Branch, N.J.

🎥 Time-lapse from Long Island

📸 Snow in Ocean City, Md.

🎥 Car stuck in Copley Square in Boston

A Mexican drug lord was killed:

Mexican forces killed one of the world’s most powerful drug cartel leaders on Sunday. Violent clashes then erupted in several Mexican states.

Burning vehicles blocked roads, which The Associated Press reports is a common cartel tactic to disrupt military operations.

Americans in Mexico: The State Department issued a warning for U.S. citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place until further notice. Plus, several airlines have issued travel advisories or halted flights. 🔎 Read the State Department warning

What’s next for the drug cartel?: The New York Times’s Maria Abi-Habib writes that few think the killing of the cartel’s leader will end the group. Read the analysis from Mexico City

— Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joked that he will order a lot of pizza to throw off Pentagon watchers bracing for U.S. action on Iran. The theory is that a surge in takeout orders from area pizzerias happens when there’s a major event happening at the Pentagon.

— The Washington Post’s Yasmeen Abutaleb reports that some close friends of former President Biden are worried about his cancer fight. However, his aides say it’s going well.

The New York Times: Trump Claims a Historic Turnaround for the U.S. Here Are the Facts: Trends on jobs, inflation and crime that began before Donald Trump retook office continued, largely unabated, in his first year back.

The Wall Street Journal: Why Tariffs Aren’t Shrinking the U.S. Trade Deficit

The Atlantic: The Republican Party Has a Nazi Problem: How did the GOP become a haven for slogans and ideas straight out of the Third Reich?

The Wall Street Journal: This Is No Miracle—It’s Team USA History to Remember Forever

House and Senate votes are postponed because of the winter storm. President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST)

1 p.m. Trump participates in “executive time.”

9 p.m. Tuesday: Trump delivers his State of the Union address.

📧 In today’s Evening Report: Recapping the day’s big stories and what’s coming tomorrow. Click here to sign up & get it in your inbox.

🍌 Celebrate: Today is National Banana Bread Day. Or as I like to call it, we-have-overripe-bananas-and-don’t-want-to-throw-them-away bread.

🍫 No, don’t ruin protein bars for me!: The Atlantic’s Nicholas Florko writes about “The Protein-Bar Delusion.” Florko argues Americans are actually eating “candy in disguise.”

🧀 Did someone say free queso?: Chipotle is offering a free side of chips and queso today through Wednesday to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day. The code is CHIPS26.

Because you made it this far, let me leave you with the smartest cow in the herd. Work smarter, not harder!

📺 Miss the previous issue of this newsletter? Catch up with a 1-minute video.

I love hearing from you — send your feedback, tips and favorite cookie recipes to cmartel@thehill.com. Check out more newsletters here. See you next time!

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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