Davos, Penguin Breeding, and Peanut Butter Pay Raises

 Need To Know 

Greenland Dominates Davos

President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the World Economic Forum today in Davos, Switzerland. The summit comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and Europe over Trump’s push to acquire Greenland from Denmark.

This year is the WEF’s biggest gathering yet, with nearly 3,000 delegates in attendance, including business leaders and 64 heads of state. European leaders have gathered on the sidelines to discuss Trump’s threat of 10% tariffs on eight countries beginning Feb. 1. Trump said the tariffs will increase to 25% on June 1, unless the US is able to purchase Greenland (see why Trump wants the island here). Europe is considering invoking the Anti-Coercion Instrument—a so-called trade bazooka, which could restrict US companies’ access to the EU market.

Trump’s speech—reportedly centered on how to make housing more affordable for Americans—will begin at 8:30 am ET (2:30 pm local time). Watch it here.

Learn more about Davos here. 

Trump v. Cook

The Supreme Court will hear arguments today over President Donald Trump’s effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in a case that tests presidential power over independent agencies and the central bank’s insulation from politics.

Trump announced Cook’s firing on social media in August, citing mortgage fraud allegations involving home loans that predate her 2022 appointment, which she denies. Cook sued, arguing the Federal Reserve Act allows removal only “for cause”—the law restricts presidential removals but does not explicitly define the term “cause”—and that her Fed seat is a protected property interest requiring notice and a chance to respond under the Fifth Amendment. A federal district judge temporarily blocked the firing in September.

Trump’s lawyers say the limits infringe on his constitutional authority under the unitary executive theory, while Cook’s team argues the allegations are untested and unrelated to her duties. A decision is expected by late June.

Penguin Calendars Clash

Penguins’ breeding cycles are shifting earlier at a record pace, according to a study published yesterday. Researchers say rising temperatures are the most likely cause of the change, which could push two species to extinction by the end of the century.

The study followed three penguin species in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic over a decade. Gentoo penguins bred an average of 13 days earlier in 2022 than in 2012, while Adélie and chinstrap penguins bred about 10 days earlier. Meanwhile, average temperatures across all breeding grounds rose by roughly 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit. More aggressive gentoo penguins now nest at the same time as the other two species, intensifying food competition. The study’s lead author warns Adélie and chinstrap penguins—who also face competition from commercial fisheries for their primary food source—could be extinct by the end of the century.

Scientists previously documented a 15-day shift in European great tits’ breeding cycle, but this occurred over roughly six decades rather than one.

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Judge denies Duke University's request to block quarterback Darian Mensah from entering the transfer portal; Mensah has a contract with Duke until Dec. 31 (More) | Carlos Beltran, Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (More) 

> Sabrina Carpenter to perform at Grammy Awards Feb. 1; she's the first of several acts expected to be announced in the coming days (More)  

> Thirty-year-old music magazine Pitchfork launches $5-per-month subscription, enabling users to score albums and comment on reviews (More) 

Science & Technology

> OpenAI introduces age prediction feature to ChatGPT, automatically applying additional protections to accounts flagged as belonging to minors (More) 

> Researchers confirm brains use frequency waves to recruit ad hoc groups of neurons for cognitive tasks; process enables fast and flexible thinking (More) 

> NASA captures near-infrared image of Helix Nebula, offering new insights into how stars recycle material back into the cosmos (More, w/ photos)

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -2.1%, Dow -1.8%, Nasdaq -2.4%); all three indexes post worst session since October (More) 

> Netflix amends $82.7B bid for Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming assets to an all-cash deal amid Paramount's hostile pursuit (More) | Netflix's revenue and earnings rise in Q4; streamer reaches new milestone of 325 million global paid subscribers (More) 

> AI startup Humans& raises $480M at nearly $4.5B valuation in seed round; three-month-old company—founded by alums from Anthropic, xAI, and Google—aims to develop AI that enhances human collaboration (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Justice Department subpoenas five Democratic leaders in Minnesota, including Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) as part of investigation into alleged impeding of immigration enforcement (More)

> Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Hawaii's so-called "vampire rule," requiring gun owners with concealed carry permits to ask permission before entering private property open to the public, including restaurants and stores (More) 

> National Weather Service warns of major winter storm beginning Friday that could weigh down trees and trigger power outages from Texas to the Carolinas (More) 

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