In Minneapolis, all-encompassing immigration story tests a newsroom in midst of digital transition

With the eyes of a nation fixed on the unrest in Minneapolis, the events haven't left local journalists overmatched.

Immigration Enforcement Minnesota

Over the past month, the Minnesota Star Tribune has broken stories, including the identity of theimmigration enforcement officerwho shotRenee Good, and produced a variety of informative and instructive pieces. Richard Tsong-Taatarii'sphotoof a prone demonstrator sprayed point-blank with a chemical irritant quickly became a defining image. TheICE actionshave changed how the outlet presents the news.

At a time when many regional newspapers have become hollowed-out shells due to thedecline in journalismas a business, the Star Tribune has kept staffing relatively steady under billionaireGlen Taylor, who has owned it since 2014. It rebranded itself from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and committed itself to a digital transformation.

It was ready for its moment.

"If you hadn't invested in the newsroom, you wouldn't be able to react in that way," said Steve Grove, publisher and chief executive.

Minnesota's robust journalism tradition

The Star Tribune hasn't operated in a vacuum. Minneapolis has a robust journalism tradition, particularly on public radio and television. Sahan Journal, a digital newsroom focusing on immigrants and diverse communities, has also distinguished itself covering President Donald Trump's immigration efforts and the public response.

"The whole ecosystem is pretty darn good," said Kathleen Hennessey, senior vice president and editor of the Star Tribune, "and I think people are seeing that now."

While national outlets have made their presence felt, strong local teams offer advantages in such stories. The Star Tribune's Josie Albertson-Grove was one of the first journalists on the scene afterICU nurse Alex Prettiwas shot dead on Jan. 24. She lives about a block away, and her knowledge of the neighborhood and its people helped to reconstruct what happened.

Journalists with kids in school learned about ICE efforts to target areas where children gather by hearing chatter among friends. While covering a beat like public safety can carry baggage, Star Tribune reporter Liz Sawyer developed sources that helped her, along with colleagues Andy Mannix and Sarah Nelson, report on who shot Good.

Besides those contacts, the staff simply knows Minnesota better than outsiders, Hennessey said.

"This is a place with a really, really long and entrenched tradition of activism, and a place with really deep social networks and neighborhood networks," she said. "People mobilize quickly and passionately, and they're noisy about it. That's definitely been part of the story."

A Signal chat tipped Tsong-Taatarii about a demonstration growing raucous on Jan. 21. Upon arriving, he focused his lens on one protester knocked to the ground, leaving the photographer perfectly placed for his richly-detailed shot. Two officers hold the man face-down with arms on his back, while a third unleashes a chemical from a canister inches from his face. The bright yellow liquid streams onto his cheek and splatters onto the pavement.

What some have called the sadistic cruelty involved in the episode outraged many who saw the photo. "I was just trying to document and present the evidence and let people decide for themselves," Tsong-Taatarii said.

'A badge to prove I belong'

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In one enterprising story, the Star Tribune's Christopher Magan and Jeff Hargarten identified 240 of an estimated 3,000 immigrants rounded up in Minnesota, finding 80% had felony convictions but nearly all had been through the court system, been punished and were no longer sought by police. Hargarten and Jake Steinberg collaborated on a study of how the size of the federal force compared with that of local police.

Columnist Laura Yuen wrote that her 80-year-old parents have begun carrying their passports when they leave their suburban townhouse, part of the "quiet, pervasive fear" in the Twin Cities. Yuen downloaded her own passport to carry on her phone. "A document that once made me proud of all the places I've traveled is now a badge to prove I belong," she wrote.

A piece by Kim Hyatt and Louis Krauss detailed the health consequences of chemical irritants used by law enforcement — or thought to be used, since questions about what specifically was deployed went unanswered.

"I really think they've done a commendable job," said Scott Libin, a veteran television newsman and journalism professor at the University of Minnesota. He praised the Star Tribune's story about the criminal backgrounds of immigrants as thorough and dispassionate.

Since Hennessey, a former Associated Press editor, began her job last May, the Star Tribune has experienced a run of big stories, including theshootingof two state lawmakers and agunman opening fireat a Catholic school in Minneapolis. And, of course, "we have a newsroom that still has muscle memory fromGeorge Floyd" in 2020, Grove said.

News compelled fundamental shifts in the way the Star Tribune operates. Like some national outlets, it has rearranged staff to cover the story aggressively through a continuously updated live blog on its website, offered free to readers. There's also a greater emphasis on video, with the Star Tribune doing forensic studies on footage from the Pretti and Good shootings, something few local newsrooms are equipped to do. Traffic to its website has gone up 50 percent, paid subscriptions have increased and the company is getting thousands of dollars in donations from across the country, Grove said.

"People have changed the way that they consume news," Hennessey said. "We see that readers are coming back. You know, they're not just waking up in the morning, reading the site and then forgetting about us all day long. They're coming back a couple of times a day to check in on what's new."

Most people in the newsroom are contributing to the story, including the Star Tribune's food and culture team, and its outdoor reporters. "There are no normal beats anymore," Albertson-Grove said.

A rapid transformation to a digital-first newsroom

Under Grove, a former Google executive, the Star Tribune has attempted a digital-first transition, turning over about 20% of its staff in two years. The paper shut its Minneapolis printing plant in December, laying off 125 people, and moving print operations to Iowa.

"We face every single headwind that every local news organization in the country does," Grove said. "But we do feel fortunate that we're the largest newsroom in the Midwest and it's part of the reason we're able to do this now."

As a reporter, Sawyer says the public response to the outlet's work, sharing stories and images, has lifted her spirits. Readers see it as public service journalism. Still, she could use a break. She and her husband, Star Tribune photographer Aaron Lavinsky, have a baby daughter and make sure to stagger their coverage. They can't both be tear-gassed or arrested at the same time; who makes the daycare pickup?

"I think both residents and journalists in this town are running on fumes," she said. "We're tired of being in the international spotlight and it's never for something positive. People are trying their best to get through this moment with grace."

David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him athttp://x.com/dbauderandhttps://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.

byGreen Magazine

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January 31, 2026

In Minneapolis, all-encompassing immigration story tests a newsroom in midst of digital transition

With the eyes of a nation fixed on the unrest in Minneapolis, the events haven't left local journalists overmatched. ...

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Black history centennial channels angst over anti-DEI climate into education, free resources

For academics, historians and activists, the past year has been tumultuous in advocating the teaching of Black history in the United States.

Despite last year proclaiming February as National Black History Month, President Donald Trump started his second term by claiming some African American history lessons are meant to indoctrinate people into hating the country. The administration has dismantled Black history at national parks, most recently removingan exhibit on slavery in Philadelphialast month. Black history advocates see these acts and their chilling effect as scary and unprecedented.

"States and cities are nervous about retribution from the White House," said DeRay Mckesson, a longtime activist and executive director of Campaign Zero, an organization focused on police reform. "So even the good people are just quieter now."

In the 100th year since the nation's earliest observances of Black History Month — which began whenscholar Carter G. Woodson pioneered the first Negro History Week— celebrations will go on. The current political climate has energized civil rights organizations, artists and academics to engage young people on a full telling of America's story. There are hundreds of lectures, teach-ins and even new books — from nonfiction to a graphic novel — to mark the milestone.

"This is why we are working with more than 150 teachers around the country on a Black History Month curriculum to just ensure that young people continue to learn about Black history in a way that is intentional and thoughtful," Mckesson said about a campaign his organization has launched with the Afro Charities organization and leading Black scholars to expand access to educational materials.

New graphic novel highlights history of Juneteenth

About three years ago, Angélique Roché, a journalist and adjunct professor at Xavier University of Louisiana, accepted a "once-in-a-lifetime" invitation to be the writer for a graphic novel retelling of the story ofOpal Lee, "grandmother of Juneteenth."

Lee, who will also turn 100 this year, is largely credited for getting federal recognition of theJune 19 holidaycommemorating the day when enslaved people in Texas learned they were emancipated. Under Trump, however, Juneteenth isno longer a free-admission dayat national parks.

Juneteenth helped usher in the first generation of Black Americans who, like Woodson, was born free. "First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth," the graphic novel, comes out Tuesday. It is the culmination of Roché's assiduous archival research, phone chats and visits to Texas to see Lee and her granddaughter, Dione Sims.

"There is nothing 'indoctrinating' about facts that are based on primary sources that are highly researched," said Roché, who hopes the book makes it into libraries and classrooms. "At the end of the day, what the story should actually tell people is that we're far more alike than we are different."

While Lee is the main character, Roché used the novel as a chance to put attention on lesser known historical figures like William "Gooseneck Bill" McDonald, Texas' first Black millionaire, and Opal Lee's mother, Mattie Broadous Flake.

She hopes this format will inspire young people to follow Lee and her mantra — "make yourself a committee of one."

"It doesn't mean don't work with other people," Roché said. "Don't wait for other people to make the changes you wanna see."

Campaign aims to train new generation of Black historians

When Trump's anti-DEI executive orders were issued last year, Jarvis Givens, a professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard, was thousands of miles away teaching in London, where Black History Month is celebrated in October. He had already been contemplating writing a book for the centennial.

Watching Trump's "attack" cemented the idea, Givens said.

"I wanted to kind of devote my time while on leave to writing a book that would honor the legacy that gave us Black History Month," Givens said.

The result is "I'll Make Me a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month," a book with four in-depth essays that comes out Tuesday. The title is a line from the 1920s poem "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson, whose most famous poem, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," is known as the "Black National Anthem."

Givens examines important themes in Black history and clarifies misconceptions around them.

The book and the research Givens dug up will tie into a "living history campaign" with Campaign Zero and Afro Charities, Mckesson said. The goal is to teach what Woodson believed — younger generations can become historians who can discern fact from fiction.

"When I grew up, the preservation of history was a historian's job," Mckesson said, adding his group's campaign will teach young students how to record history.

How the 'father of Black history' might feel today

Born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents, Woodson was among the first generation of Black Americans not assigned to bondage at birth. He grew up believing that education was a way to self-empowerment, said Robert Trent Vinson, director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The second Black man to earn a doctorate at Harvard University — W. E. B. Du Bois was the first — Woodson was disillusioned by how Black history was dismissed. He saw that the memories and culture of less educated Black people were no less valuable, Vinson said.

When Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, he was in an era where popular stereotypes like blackface and minstrelsy were filling in for actual knowledge of the Black experience, according to Vinson. This sparked the creation of Black history clubs and Woodson began inserting historical lessons "on the sly" in publications like the "Journal of Negro History" and the "Negro History Bulletin."

"Outside the formal school structure, they're having a separate school like in churches or in study groups," Vinson said. "Or they're sharing it with parents and saying, 'you teach your young people this history.' So, Woodson is creating a whole educational space outside the formal university."

In 1976, for the week's 50th anniversary, President Gerald Ford issued a message recognizing it as an entire month. There was pushback then over the gains the Civil Rights Movement had made, Givens said.

As for today's backlash over Black and African American studies, Vinson believes Woodson would not be surprised. But, he would see it as a sign "you're on the right track."

"There's a level of what he called 'fugitivity,' of sharing this knowledge and being strategic about it," Vinson said. "There are other times like in this moment, Black History Month, where you can be more out and assertive, but be strategic about how you spread the information."

Resistance to teaching Black history is something that seems to occur every generation, Mckesson said.

"We will go back to normalcy. We've seen these backlashes before," Mckesson said. "And when I think about the informal networks of Black people who have always resisted, I think that is happening today."

Tang reported from Phoenix.

byGreen Magazine

in

January 31, 2026

Black history centennial channels angst over anti-DEI climate into education, free resources

For academics, historians and activists, the past year has been tumultuous in advocating the teaching of Black history in...

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Chaka Khan, Cher, Whitney Houston, Fela Kuti get Grammys Life Achievement Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Chaka Khan,Cher,Carlos Santana,Paul Simon,Fela KutiandWhitney Houstonreceived the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy at theGrammysSpecial Merit Awards on Saturday night.

2026 Recording Academy's Special Merit Awards - Arrivals

"Music has been my prayer, my healing, my joy, my truth," Khan said as she accepted the award. "Through it, I saved my life."

She was the only Lifetime Achievement recipient who appeared at the ceremony at the small Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on the eve ofSunday's main Grammys ceremony.

She was preceded by a short documentary on her career that highlighted her hits as a member of the funk band Rufus and as a solo artist, including 1974's Stevie Wonder-written "Tell Me Something Good," 1983's "Ain't Nobody," 1978's "I'm Every Woman" and 1984's Prince-penned "I Feel For You."

Wearing a shimmering sea green gown, she thanked her many collaborators while admitting not all of them were entirely sane.

"Over 50 years I am blessed to walk alongside extraordinary artists, musicians, writers, producers and creatives," she said, pausing before adding, "and cuckoos."

Family accepted the Lifetime Achievement Awards for the Nigerian Afrobeat legend Kuti, who died in 1997, and the singing superstar Houston, who died in 2012.

"Her voice — that voice! — remains eternal," Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law, close friend and longtime manager, said. "Her legacy will live forever."

Three of his children accepted the award for Kuti, introduced as a "producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw and the father of Afrobeat." He's the first African musician to get the award.

"Thank you for bringing our father here," Femi Kuti said. "It's so important for us, it's so important for Africa, it's so important for world peace and the struggle."

The audience gave a collective moan of disappointment when academy President Harvey Mason Jr. said Cher wasn't there.

She spoke in a very short video.

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"The only thing I ever wanted to be was a singer. When I was 4 years old I used to run around the house naked, singing into a hair brush," she said. "Things haven't changed all that much."

Santana also spoke on video, after his son, Salvador, accepted his trophy.

"The world is so infected with fear that we need the music and message of Santana to bring hope, courage and joy to heal the world," Carlos Santana said.

Elton John's longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin paid tribute to Simon, calling him "the greatest American songwriter alive."

Taupin was there as one of the recipients of the Grammys Trustees Award, which honors career contributions outside of performing.

Despite co-writing the vast majority of John's hits, Taupin has somehow never won a competitive Grammy, though he's nominated for one Sunday.

"I've been waiting 57 years for one of these," he said, looking at his honorary trophy.

Taupin read a list of the songwriting principles he's always followed. They included "avoid cliches," "never write songs in cubicles" and "don't say you're going to die if she leaves you — because you're not."

Eddie Palmieri, a pianist, composer and bandleader who was a great innovator in Latin jazz and rumba, also got a Trustees Award.

Palmieri, who died last year at 88, became the first Latino to win a Grammy Award, in 1975.

Another trustees honoree was Sylvia Rhone, the first Black woman to head a major record label.

John Chowning, whose work as a Stanford professor in the 1960s was essential to the synthesizer sounds that dominated the 1980s, won the Technical Grammy Award.

Jennifer Jimenez, a band director from South Miami Senior High School, won the Grammys Music Educator Award, and "Ice Cream Man" by Raye got the Harry Belafonte Song for Social Change Award.

byGreen Magazine

in

January 31, 2026

Chaka Khan, Cher, Whitney Houston, Fela Kuti get Grammys Life Achievement Awards

LOS ANGELES (AP) —Chaka Khan,Cher,Carlos Santana,Paul Simon,Fela KutiandWhitney Houstonreceived the Lifetime Achievement ...

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February 2026 calendar: Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, more

February is only 28 days long, but it's jammed with holidays, events, and more.

From Groundhog Day to Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine's Day to Presidents Day, the shortest month of the year is filled with different holidays and celebrations. February is also Black History Month.

The Winter Olympics are also scheduled to begin in February.

Despite how busy it is, there's only one holiday in the month that actually gives people the day off (unless your boss is really cool or super into groundhogs). Fortunately, Valentine's Day falls on the long weekend, giving lovebirds a chance to recover from their V-Day plans.

Here's what you need to know about the shortest month of the year.

February's federal holidays

There's only one federal holiday in February, according to theOffice of Personnel Management(OPM):

• Presidents Day/ George Washington's Birthday- Monday, Feb. 16.

There won't be another federal holiday until Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 25.

More news:Here's why people are celebrating the 'perfect February' calendar

Will banks be closed on Presidents Day?

Presidents Day is a bank holiday, so some organizations will likely be closed.

The United States Postal Service, schools, and most banks, like Wells Fargo, Citibank, Bank of America, Truist, and others, will also be closed on Feb. 16.

Other special dates in February 2026

Unfortunately, the only extra day off in February is Presidents Day, but here are a few more significant dates:

• National Freedom Day- Sunday, Feb. 1

• Imbolc- Sunday, Feb. 1

• Groundhog Day- Monday, Feb. 2

• Super Bowl Sunday- Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

• Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday)- Tuesday, Feb. 17

• Ash Wednesday- Wednesday, Feb. 18

• Valentine's Day- Saturday, Feb. 14

Celestial events taking place in February 2026

The followingcelestial eventswill take place in February:

• Snow Moon (February's full moon)- Sunday, Feb. 1

• New moon- Tuesday, Feb. 17

• Planetary parade- Saturday, Feb. 28

During the planetary parade at the end of the month, backyard astronomers will be able to see Mercury, Venus, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter, according toNASA. However, only four of the planets are visible with the naked eye. Those who would like to see Uranus and Neptune will need optical assistance. Mercury can also be hard to spot sometimes.

When is National Freedom Day? When is Black History Month?

National Freedom Daykicks off Black History Month on Sunday, Feb. 1.

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The day commemorates the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Feb. 1, 1865, according to theCalifornia African American Museum.

The amendment abolished "slavery across the United States and in every territory under its control, except as a criminal punishment," theRonald Reagan Presidential Library and Museumstated on its website.

Although it isn't a federal holiday, the president of the United States can issue a proclamation each year designating the day as National Freedom Day, according to theUnited States House of Representatives.

Black History Month takes place throughout February. This year marks the 100th year of national commemorations of Black history.

When are the Winter Olympics?

In 2026, the first day of the Winter Olympics will fall on Friday, Feb. 6, the weekend before superbowl. The opening ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Italy is hosting the games in 2026, and it will take place across the northeastern part of the country.

When is Super Bowl Sunday?

The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will face each other during the big game on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET.

When is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is on Saturday, February 14.

The best part is that it falls on a Saturday during a long weekend, so make sure to have any dinner reservations, hotel bookings, or flower deliveries squared away before then.

When is Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras season, or Carnival season, kicked off on Jan. 6. Actual Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday", is on Feb. 17 this year.

The day after Mardi Gras, a Christian holiday, is Ash Wednesday, which starts Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and fasting before Easter Sunday.

February 2026 National Days

There are also some notable National Days in February. They include:

• National Tater Tot Day (Feb. 2)

• National Pizza Day (Feb. 9)

• Galentine's Day (Feb. 13)

• Singles Awareness Day (Feb. 15)

• Random Acts of Kindness (Feb. 17)

• National Love Your Pet Day (Feb. 20)

• National Margarita Day (Feb. 22)

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:February 2026 calendar includes Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, more

byGreen Magazine

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January 31, 2026

February 2026 calendar: Super Bowl, Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, more

February is only 28 days long, but it's jammed with holidays, events, and more. From Groundhog Day to Super...

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Right-wing influencers are targeting Somali child care centers, leaving some fearing for safety

It all began after a viral video alleging fraud inSomali-run child care centersin Minneapolis: strangers peering through windows, right-wing journalists showing up outside homes, influencers hurling false accusations.

Education Somali Child Care Providers

In San Diego, child care provider Samsam Khalif was shuttling kids to her home-based center when she was spooked by two men with a camera waiting in a car parked outside, prompting her to circle the block several times before unloading the children.

"I'm scared. I don't know what their intention is," said Khalif, who decided to install additional security cameras outside her home.

Somali-run child care centers across the United States have become targets since the video caught the attention of the White House amid the administration'simmigration crackdown. Child care providers worry about how they can maintain the safe learning environments they have worked to create for impressionable young children who may be spending their first days away from their parents.

In the Minneapolis area, child care providers, many of them immigrants, say they're being antagonized, exacerbating the stress they face from immigration enforcement activity that hasengulfed the city.

One child care provider said she watched someone emerge from a car that had been circling the building and defecate near the center's entrance. The same day, a motorist driving by yelled that the center was a "fake day care." She's had to create new lockdown procedures, is budgeting for security and now keeps the blinds closed to shield children from unwanted visitors and from witnessing immigration enforcement actions.

"I can't have peace of mind about whether the center will be safe today," said the provider, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being targeted. "That's a hard pill to swallow."

How the focus on Somali child care centers started

The day after Christmas, right-wing influencer Nick Shirley posted a lengthy video with explosive allegations that members of Minneapolis's largeSomali communitywere running fake child care centers so they could collect federal child care subsidies.

The U.S. occasionally has seen fraud cases related to child care subsidies. But the Minneapolis video's central claims — that business owners were billing the government for children they were not caring for — were disproven by inspectors. Nonetheless, the Trump administration attempted to freezechild care fundingfor Minnesota and five other Democratic-led states until acourt orderedthe funding to be released.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted Somali immigrants with dehumanizing rhetoric, calling them "garbage" and "low IQ" and suggesting that Rep.Ilhan Omar, a Democrat who was born in Somalia, should be deported: "Throw her the hell out!" In Minnesota, 87% of foreign-born Somalis are naturalized U.S. citizens.

Trump has zeroed in on a years-old case in which asprawling network of fraudsters— many of them Somali Americans — bilked Minnesota of an estimated $300 million that was supposed to help feed children and families. His rhetoric intensified after Shirley's video was posted.

Activists take it upon themselves to investigate

In Federal Way, Washington, and Columbus, Ohio, both home to large Somali communities, right-wing journalists and influencers began showing up unannounced at addresses for child care operations they pulled from state websites.

In one video, a man arrives at a bungalow-style building in Columbus. He films through the glass front door, showing a foyer with cheerful posters that read "When we learn, we grow" and "Make today happy."

"It does not look like a child care center at all," the man said.

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Ohio dispatched an inspector to the address and found that it was, in fact, a child care center. Its voicemail was hacked, so parents calling heard a slur-laden message calling Somalis "sand rats" and saying they "worship a false religion of baby-raping terrorists,"according to WOSU-FM.

In Washington state, child care workers called police on the right-wing journalists who kept appearing outside their homes.

Journalists with the right-leaning Washington outlet Center Square filmed themselves pressing a woman for proof that she ran a child care center she was collecting federal subsidies for. She refused to answer questions.

"Are you aware of the Somali day care fraud? We're just trying to check out if this is a real day care," one of the journalists said. "Where are the children?"

Local officials discourage intimidation of child care providers

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson posted a statement on X saying she would not tolerate anyone trying to "intimidate, harass or film Somali child care providers." Then, Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, issued her own warning: "Asking questions/citizen journalism are NOT HATE CRIMES in America — they are protected speech, and if Seattle tries to chill that speech, @CivilRights will step in to protect it and set them straight!"

In Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine held a news conference to debunk a right-wing influencer's fraud claims about a Columbus child care center and assured people the state diligently monitored centers that receive public money. He said a child care provider refusing to let in a stranger should not be read as a sign of fraud.

"It shouldn't be a shock when someone sees something on social media, and someone is going, 'I can't get into this place, no one will let me in,'" DeWine said in a news conference in January. "Well, hell, no! No one should let them in."

Even after DeWine refuted the claims, Republicans in the Statehouse introduced legislation to more closely monitor child care centers, including one that would require those that take public money to provide live video feeds of their classrooms to state officials.

Advocates say fraud claims are a distraction

Child care advocates say the fraud allegations are detracting from other, more pressing crises.

Child care subsidy programs in many states havelengthy waiting lists, making it difficult for parents to return to work. The programs that subsidize child care for families that struggle to afford it are also facing funding threats, including from the Trump administration.

Ruth Friedman, who headed the Office of Child Care under President Joe Biden, accused Trump and Republicans of manufacturing a crisis for political gain.

"They are using it to try to discredit the movement toward investing in child care," said Friedman, who is now a senior fellow at the left-leaning Century Foundation.

Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon said in a statement that the department "rejects the claim that concerns about child care program integrity are manufactured." He urged people to report suspected fraud to the government.

The Associated Press' education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, alistof supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

byGreen Magazine

in

January 31, 2026

Right-wing influencers are targeting Somali child care centers, leaving some fearing for safety

It all began after a viral video alleging fraud inSomali-run child care centersin Minneapolis: strangers peering through ...

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Undercover investigation of Meta heads to trial in New Mexico in first stand-alone case by state

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits againstMetais getting underway in New Mexico, with jury selection starting Monday.

New Mexico's case is built on a state undercover investigation using proxy social media accounts and posing as kids to document sexual solicitations and the response from Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. It could give states a new legal pathway to go after social media companies overhow their platforms affect children, by using consumer protection and nuisance laws.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in 2023, accusing Meta of creating a marketplace and "breeding ground" for predators who target children for sexual exploitation and failing to disclose what it knew about those harmful effects.

"So many regulators are keyed up looking for any evidence of a legal theory that would punish social media that a victory in that case could have ripple effects throughout the country, and the globe," said Eric Goldman, codirector of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law in California. "Whatever the jury says will be of substantial interest."

The trial, with opening statements scheduled for Feb. 9, could last nearly two months.

Meta denies the civil charges and says prosecutors are taking a "sensationalist" approach. CEOMark Zuckerbergwas dropped as a defendant in the case, but he has been deposed and documents in the case carry his name.

In California, opening arguments are scheduled this week for a personal injury case in Los Angeles County Superior Court that could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out.

The allegations against Meta in New Mexico

Prosecutors say New Mexico is not seeking to hold Meta accountable for content on its platforms, but rather its role in pushing out that content through complex algorithms that proliferate material that can be addictive and harmful to children.

The approach could sidestep immunity provisions for social media platforms under a First Amendment shield andSection 230, a 30-year-old provision of the U.S. Communications Decency Act that has protected tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms.

An undercover investigation by the state created several decoy accounts for minors 14 and younger, documented the arrival of online sexual solicitations and monitored Meta's responses when the behavior was brought to the company's attention. The state says Meta's responses placed profits ahead of children's safety.

Torrez, a first-term Democrat elected in 2022, has urged Meta to implement more effective age verification and remove bad actors from its platform. He's also seeking changes to algorithms that can serve up harmful material and criticizing end-to-end privacy encryption that can prevent the monitoring of communications with children for safety.

Separately, Torrez brought felony criminal charges of child solicitation by electronic devices against three men in 2024, also using decoy social media accounts to build that case.

How Meta has responded

Meta denies the civil charges while accusing the attorney general of cherry-picking select documents and making "sensationalist, irrelevant and distracting arguments."

In a statement, Meta said ongoing lawsuits nationwide are attempting to place the blame for teen mental health struggles on social media companies in a way that oversimplifies matters. It points to the steady addition of account settings and tools — including safety features that give teens more information about the person they're chatting with and content restrictions based on PG-13 movie ratings.

Goldman says the company is bringing enormous resources to bear in courtrooms this year, including New Mexico.

"If they lose this," he said, "it becomes another beachhead that might erode their basic business."

Many other lawsuits are underway

More than40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuitsagainst Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms. The majority filed their lawsuits in federal court.

The bellwether trial underway in California against social video companies, including Meta's Instagram and Google's YouTube, focuses on a 19-year-old who claims her use of social media from an early age addicted her to technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. TikTok and Snapchat parent company Snap Inc. settled claims in the case that affects thousands of consolidated plaintiffs.

A federal trial starting in June in Oakland, California, will be the first to represent school districts that have sued social media platforms over harms to children.

In New Mexico, prosecutors also sued Snap Inc. over accusations its platform facilitates child sexual exploitation. Snap says its platform has built-in safety guardrails and "deliberate design choices to make it difficult for strangers to discover minors." A trial date has not been set.

The jury weighs guilt, but a judge has final say on any sanctions

A jury assembled from residents of Santa Fe County, including the politically progressive state capital city, will weigh whether Meta engaged in unfair business practices and to what extent.

But a judge will have final say later on any possible civil penalties and other remedies, and decide the public nuisance charge against Meta.

The state's Unfair Practices Act allows penalties of $5,000 per violation, but it's not yet clear how violations would be tallied.

"The reason the damage potential is so great here is because of how Facebook works," said Mollie McGraw, a Las Cruces-based plaintiff's attorney. "Meta keeps track of everyone who sees a post. … The damages here could be significant."

byGreen Magazine

in

January 31, 2026

Undercover investigation of Meta heads to trial in New Mexico in first stand-alone case by state

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The first stand-alone trial from state prosecutors in a stream of lawsuits againstMetais getting un...

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'SNL' takes on Minneapolis as Pete Davidson plays border czar

Pete Davidsonreturned to "Saturday Night Live" and addressed the ongoing political turmoil surrounding immigration in the show's cold open.

The former cast member returned to play White House border czarTom Homanin a sketch tackling the political unrest happening in Minneapolis.

In the sketch, Davidson's Homan spoke to a room full of confused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and grew frustrated while trying to explain why they should not use force against protesters or destroy evidence.

After Davidson's Homan said that ICE's mission in Minneapolis is to "detain and deport illegal immigrants who have committed crimes," one of the agents said this is "literally the first I'm hearing of that."

When he asked the agents what they're looking for in Minneapolis, an ICE agent responded, "Epstein files?"

"No, we actually just released those to distract from this," Davidson as Homan said. "Which is ironic, because we did this to distract from those." The Justice Department on Jan. 30 releasedanother 3 million pagesofJeffrey Epstein files, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

More:3 million more Epstein pages with 2,000 images publish, ending review

'SNL' cold open with Pete Davidson tackles ongoing ICE raids, Don Lemon's arrest

Homan then stressed that ICE agents should not use force, asking, "The job, ultimately, is about keeping America safe from what?"

"This could be wrong, but Don Lemon?" an ICE agent responded, referring to the arrest of theformer CNN anchor.

Lemon, who now works as an independent journalist,was arrestedon Jan. 29 over his coverage of immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota earlier in the month. Lemon said his "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done."

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos

Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon hasbeen arrestedon Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.

'SNL' cold open comes as more Americans protest against ICE

Davidson's Homan also addressed agents who say that protesters shouldn't be able to have guns, asking, "How many of you went to a 'stop the steal' protest with a loaded automatic weapon?"

James Austin Johnson's ICE agent character eventually concluded, "You hired a bunch of angry, aggressive guys, gave us guns and didn't train us, so this is maybe what you wanted to happen?"

The sketch ended with Davidson giving an inspirational speech to the agents, asking if they can do their jobs "without violating anyone's rights as Americans," to which an agent played by Kenan Thompson simply replied, "No."

"Well, I had to ask," Davidson's Homan said. "Maybe just try not to get filmed?"

Tonight's "SNL" cold open comes amid continued anti-ICE demonstrations in the United States following the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good amid immigration action in Minneapolis.

Vigils held for Alex Pretti, killed in Border Patrol related shooting

Theprevious episodeof "SNL" on Jan. 24 opened with a sketch in whichJohnson's PresidentDonald Trumphosted an awards show reminiscent of the Oscars. The episode received backlash from some fans over the way it largely sidestepped the killing of Pretti, who was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis earlier that same day.

The Jan. 24 opening sketch only alluded to the events in Minneapolis when Johnson, as Trump, said he was trying to distract from "what all my little freaks and psychos in ICE have been doing."

Later in the Jan. 24 show, Minneapolis was briefly referenced on "Weekend Update" and in a sketch depicting a PBS news program. "To have basically no mention of the absolute horror of today and the past month is a slap in the face,"one fan wrote on the "SNL" subredditafter the episode aired, drawing thousands of upvotes.

"SNL" further discussed Minneapolis during tonight's "Weekend Update," with anchor Colin Jost saying he doesn't see Homan "calming things down" after Trumpsent him to Minnesotatolead immigration enforcement operations

"This feels like trying to quit cocaine by taking up crack," Jost quipped.

In 'SNL' cold openTrump distracts from 'freaks and psychos' in ICE

Who else was on 'SNL'?

Alexander Skarsgård made his "SNL" hosting debut on the Jan. 31 episode, joined by Cardi B as the musical guest.

Skarsgård is starring in the new Charli XCX mockumentary "The Moment" and the dark comedy "Pillion," while Cardi B is coming off the release of her album "Am I the Drama?" in September.

New year, new star sightings. With the Oscar nominations in sight, celebrities are kicking off 2026 on the awards circuit, stepping out at events like the Palm Springs International Film Awards, Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of January so far, starting with, from left, Sara Murphy, Teyana Taylor, Paul Thomas Anderson and Chase Infiniti at the Golden Globes on Jan. 11, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Margot Robbie attends a photo call for "Wuthering Heights" in Beverly Hills on Jan. 28, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and Emerald Fennell

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Emerald Fennell, Margot Robbie and Charli xcx

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jacob Elordi attends the world premiere of "Wuthering Heights" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Jan. 28, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Margot Robbie

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Charli xcx

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Chanel Pysnik, Alysa Nahmias and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the "Cookie Queens" premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theater on Jan. 25, 2026, in Park City, Utah.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Prince Harry

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Prince Harry

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Michael Dweck, Alysa Nahmias, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Gregory Kershaw pose with the cast and crew at the "Cookie Queens."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jenna Ortega, Natalie Portman and Charli xcx attend "The Gallerist" premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Amy Redford and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Charli xcx attends "The Moment" premiere at Sundance Film Festival.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Charli xcx attends "The Gallerist" premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Natalie Portman attends "The Gallerist" premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jenna Ortega attends "The Gallerist" premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Dave Franco attends "The Shitheads" premiere.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> The Sundance Institute hosted its annual fundraiser, "Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford," taking place at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, on Jan. 23, 2026. The evening honored Sundance Institute's Founder Robert Redford, paying tribute to his legacy, vision, and enduring mission to support independent storytellers for over four decades. The night also featured appearances by Ethan Hawke and more Hollywood notables.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ethan Hawke and Woody Harrelson at the fundraiser "Celebrating Sundance Institute: A Tribute to Founder Robert Redford."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry attend UFC 324 presented by Paramount+ at the T-Mobile Arena on Jan 24, 2026, in Las Vegas.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amanda Pacheco and Wilmer Valderrama attend UFC 324 presented by Paramount+ at the T-Mobile Arena on Jan 24, 2026, in Las Vegas.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brandon Sklenar attends UFC 324 presented by Paramount+ at the T-Mobile Arena on Jan 24, 2026, in Las Vegas.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Patrick Schwarzenegger enjoys a Ketel One cocktail while attending the Variety Cover Party at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, presented by United Airlines,on Jan. 24, 2026, in Park City, Utah.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Elizabeth Debicki, Alexander Skarsgård and Andri Snær Magnason attend the Variety Cover Party, sponsored by Ketel One, at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Alexander Skarsgård celebrates his Variety cover with Ketel One.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> "Yellowjackets" star Samantha Hanratty attends the 4th annual GLAAD Celebration at Sundance hosted by Meredith Marks on Jan. 24, 2026, in Park City, Utah.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Reid Marks, Olivia Katz and Meredith Marks

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sophia Umansky rang in her 26th birthday with an intimate celebration in Los Angeles, surrounded by friends and family. Her birthday soiree also featured cocktails from Aspen Vodka and Saint James Iced Tea.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paris Hilton Fragrances, with Ulta Beauty, hosted an exclusive screening of the star's music documentary "Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir" on Jan. 24, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lele Pons and Paris Hilton at a screening of "Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paris Hilton at a screening of "Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ali Ahn at The Hollywood Reporter Studio held at Pendry Park City with BOGNER during Day 2 of the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 24, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Olivia Colman

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rob Lowe

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gordon Ramsay, Macy Gray and Sheila E. at HexClad's Rise & Dine LA, an exclusive fundraising dinner at the Riviera Country Club, on Jan. 24, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jenny Slate and Chris Pine attend the Ketel One Vodka celebration of the cast of "Carousel" during the Sundance Film Festival at Velvet Room on Jan. 22, 2026, in Park City, Utah.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jenny Slate

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> David Lipper, Jenny Slate, Chris Pine and Rachel Lambert

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jenny Slate, Chris Pine and Rachel Lambert

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Ellis Brown, Tristan Borders, Keegan-Michael Key, Caleb Williams, Casper Kelly, Madison Skyy Polan and Luke Speakman attend the "Buddy" premiere party hosted by Acura at Acura House of Energy on Jan. 22, 2026, in Park City, Utah.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Topher Grace

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cristin Milioti

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Keegan-Michael Key, Casper Kelly and Cristin Milioti

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 50 Cent attends the "Moses The Black" on Jan. 20, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Demi Lovato, Paris Hilton and Lizzo attend Hilton's premiere of her upcoming documentary "Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir" on Jan. 20, 2026, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Heidi Klum

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kathy Hilton

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lizzo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Heidi Klum

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Demi Lovato

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lizzo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tiffany Haddish

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paris Hilton and Demi Lovato

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> London Marilyn, Paris Hilton and Phoenix Barron

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Chase Hudson and Sara Waisglass attend the premiere for Tubi's "How to Lose a Popularity Contest" at Scarr's Pizza on Jan. 17, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Joe Alwyn, Noah Jupe, Chloe Zhao, Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal and Jacobi Jupe attend the Golden Globes on Jan. 11, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Timothee Chalamet

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rose Byrne

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Teyana Taylor

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Wagner Moura

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jennifer Lawrence

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rhea Seehorn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hailee Steinfeld

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ariana Grande

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amal Clooney, left, and George Clooney

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Julia Roberts

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Emma Stone

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jennifer Garner

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Nikki Glaser

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Selena Gomez

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Leonardo DiCaprio drew quite the crowd as he moved through the ballroom at the Four Seasons during the annual BAFTA Tea Party on Jan. 10, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gwyneth Paltrow attends the 2026 BAFTA Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on Jan. 10, 2026, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kate Hudson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tramell Tillman

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kristen Stewart

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rashida Jones

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Adam Sandler accepts the Career Achievement award at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jackie Sandler kisses Adam Sandler as he wins the Career Achievement award at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Delroy Lindo accepts the Best Supporting Actor award for "Sinners."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Noah Wyle accepts the Best TV Actor award for "The Pitt" next to George Clooney.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Chase Infiniti

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul Mescal

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jessie Buckley

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kathy Bates

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mindy Kaling attends the 2026 WWD Style Awards presented by Women's Wear Daily at Regent Santa Monica Beach on Jan. 9, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hairstylist Adir Abergel and Kristen Stewart

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cindy Crawford

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Pamela Anderson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paris Hilton

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Hailey Bieber

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Noah Wyle attends the Los Angeles premiere of "The Pitt" on Jan. 7, 2026, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Shabana Azeez

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Isa Briones

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Patrick Ball

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Gerran Howell

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Katherine LaNasa

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Shawn Hatosy

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Supriya Ganesh

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Taylor Dearden

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Fiona Dourif

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Cary Elwes attends the premiere of "Dead Man's Wire" in Los Angeles on Jan. 7, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Al Pacino

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Pierce Brosnan attends a screening of "Giant" on Jan. 7, 2026, in London.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tom Hiddleston attends the premiere of "The Night Manager" Season 2 on Jan. 7, 2026, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Emily Bader attends the premiere of "People We Meet on Vacation" on Jan. 6, 2026, in Los Angeles.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tom Blyth

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sarah Catherine Hook

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Lukas Gage

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jameela Jamil

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Holly Hunter attends the premiere of "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" on Jan. 6, 2026, in New York City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul Giamatti

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Bill Nye

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Paul Thomas Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro attend the Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on Jan. 4, 2026, in Santa Monica, California.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jessie Buckley

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kylie Jenner, left, and Timothée Chalamet

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul W. Downs, left, and Megan Stalter

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amy Madigan

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jacob Elordi

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Shawn Hatosy, Katherine LaNasa, Noah Wyle and Patrick Ball

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rhea Seehorn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> From left, Seth Rogen, Chase Sui Wonders and Ike Barinholtz

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jean Smart

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Janelle James

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Tramell Tillman

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sebastian Maniscalco, left, and Marcello Hernández

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sarah Snook

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Ariana Grande

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Odessa A'zion

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kristen Stewart attends the Variety Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors to Watch during Palm Springs International Film Festival on Jan. 4.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Dwayne Johnson, left, and Colman Domingo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Chase Infiniti

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Timothée Chalamet with his Spotlight Actor of the Year Awards on Jan. 3 at Palm Springs Film Awards.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Teyana Taylor

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Miley Cyrus

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Amanda Seyfried

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mia Goth

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jacob Elordi

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Oscar Isaac

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Kate Hudson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Renate Reinsve

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Jessie Buckley

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Paul Mescal

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Michael B. Jordan

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Elle Fanning

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Rose Byrne, left, and Meghann Fahy

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie and more in the best celebrity photos of January

New year, new star sightings. With the Oscar nominations in sight, celebrities are kicking off 2026 on the awards circuit, stepping out at events like the Palm Springs International Film Awards, Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards.Scroll through for the best celebrity photos of January so far, starting with, from left, Sara Murphy, Teyana Taylor, Paul Thomas Anderson and Chase Infiniti at the Golden Globes on Jan. 11, 2026.

Who's hosting 'SNL' next?

"SNL" will return on Feb. 28 with host Connor Storrie and musical guest Mumford & Sons.

Contributing: Melina Khan and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

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