Good morning. It's Saturday, Jan. 24, and in this weekend edition, we're covering an Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin, how whales are learning to share, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.6 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here).
And, as always, send us feedback at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
|
Former Olympic snowboarder and FBI most-wanted fugitive Ryan Wedding, 44, was arrested in Mexico and transported to the US yesterday. He faces charges tied to an alleged transnational drug ring.
Wedding, who represented Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in March 2025, months after allegedly ordering the killing of a federal witness. Federal authorities accuse Wedding of coordinating the importation of roughly 60 metric tons of cocaine annually from Mexico to the US and Canada, generating about $1B in profits per year. Reports suggest Wedding was introduced to drug networks a few years after placing 24th in the men's parallel giant slalom snowboarding Olympic event. In 2010, he was sentenced to prison in the US on cocaine-related charges and is believed to have begun working with Mexican drug cartels, including the Sinaloa cartel, after his release in 2011.
Wedding, who faces separate charges in Canada, is expected to appear in federal court Monday.
Learn how the Olympian allegedly turned from the slopes to the cartels here. |
|
|
|
In partnership with ButcherBox |
|
... Yes, you read that right. New ButcherBox customers will get their choice of organic ground beef, chicken breast, or ground turkey in every box for a year—for free (up to a $602+ value).
We know that these days, it feels nearly impossible to find quality, affordable meat and seafood at the grocery store. And figuring out where exactly it came from? Good luck. But with ButcherBox, each box of free-range, antibiotic-free meats is traceable back to the farm it came from, and at rates that won’t break the bank. Grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, crate-free pork, wild-caught seafood … ButcherBox lets you pick and choose, and delivers them directly to your door. It’s the simpler, stress-free way to feed your family high-quality protein.
For the next 48 hours, sign up for ButcherBox, and you’ll score a mouth-watering deal. Get your favorite protein FREE in every box for a year (choose between 2 lbs organic ground beef, 3 lbs chicken breast, or 2 lbs ground turkey), PLUS $100 off ($17 off your first 6 boxes!) with code 1440HEALTH. |
|
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
|
US, Russia, and Ukraine talk in the United Arab Emirates.
The two-day meeting, which began yesterday, marks the first trilateral convening since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Previous talks have largely stalled due to the Kremlin and Kyiv’s competing claims on Ukraine’s Donbas region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this new round of talks after meeting with US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week. |
Japan's prime minister dissolves parliament, paving way for snap elections Feb. 8.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the 465-member lower house of parliament yesterday, about three months after becoming Japan's first female leader. Analysts say the move is an attempt to help her Liberal Democratic Party regain seats by capitalizing on her popularity. The party has lost ground after a series of scandals; meanwhile, Takaichi—a conservative—has a roughly 70% approval rating. |
NFL playoffs' conference championship round begins tomorrow.
The Denver Broncos face the New England Patriots tomorrow at 3 pm ET without their quarterback, Bo Nix, who's out with an ankle injury. The winner will be crowned the AFC champion and earn a spot in the Super Bowl (Feb. 8). Then, at 6:30 pm ET, the Los Angeles Rams travel to the Seattle Seahawks to contend for the NFC title and a chance at the Super Bowl. |
South Koreans repatriated from Cambodia over online scam allegations.
Seventy-three South Koreans were returned to their home country yesterday to face investigations into online scams that allegedly swindled $33M from fellow Koreans. Among them was a couple accused of operating a deepfake romance scam that collected $8.2M from roughly 100 victims. Cambodian authorities say they've detained 5,106 suspects from 23 nationalities over the past seven months in a crackdown on online scam networks, which have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic. |
Intel shares plunge as chipmaker warns of supply shortage.
Shares fell 17% yesterday, after executives cited supply constraints Thursday when projecting first-quarter revenue of $11.7B to $12.7B and breakeven earnings per share. Analysts had expected $12.5B in revenue and earnings of 5 cents per share. Intel's foundry unit, which makes chips for other companies, also continues to trail competitors. |
Whales may ration resources to adapt to ecosystem changes.
Researchers analyzed over 1,100 skin samples from humpback, fin, and minke whales in the North Atlantic, collected between 1992 and 2019, to see how their diets shifted amid warming waters and increased human activity. The data shows all three species have shifted toward more fish-based diets as krill populations dwindled. But, the overlap in the fish each species eats has narrowed over time. |
|
|
|
Washington state couple begins an artisan candle company that employs recently resettled refugees. (More) |
Chicago crossing guard carries students across a flooded icy road. (More, w/video) |
Women holds newborn for the first time since autoimmune flare-up that impacted her mobility. (More, w/video) |
Farm-to-table partnerships provide more nutritious lunches to Kentucky public school students. (More) |
Eight-year-old boy sobs after opening a gift box, revealing the puppy he's wanted for years. (More, w/video) |
Travis and Jason Kelce support the first Black woman to make the US Olympic hockey roster as she prepares for the Milano Cortina Winter Games. (More) |
|
|
|
In partnership with EnergyX |
|
Exxon Has an Unlikely New Competitor |
|
|
|
|
Dear readers—We cherish reading and spotlighting your stories of kindness. In the same spirit of human connection, we're taking a brief intermission next month to feature your love stories—from meet-cutes and comical first dates to lessons learned over decades of marriage. Have a story to tell? Make us smile, cry, or giggle here.
Today, we're sharing a kindness story from reader Cary S. in Hillsville, Virginia.
"My wife was leaving a shopping center and noticed a gentleman at the back of his truck arranging flowers. A closer look showed that he had two vases and was building two arrangements. She commented on how beautiful they were.
"He said his father is in a rehabilitation center and when visiting him he met two ladies with no visitors or signs that anyone was interested in brightening their day. He decided to remedy that the next time he visited his father." |
|
|
|
|
Introducing: 1440 Health & Medicine |
|
Dear readers,
We have some exciting news! This Wednesday, we'll be launching the next in our weekly deep-dive emails, 1440 Health & Medicine.
This series complements our Daily Digest—instead of focusing on news, we'll deliver evergreen and foundational knowledge to help you better navigate our ever-evolving world. Topics will range from the science of goose bumps and aging to innovations like CRISPR, mRNA vaccines, and more. Helmed by award-winning health and science journalist Dina Fine Maron, we'll provide you with important context and background and point you to resources that will pique your curiosity and allow you to delight your friends and neighbors!
Join the waitlist here and keep an eye out for the first edition Wednesday. Have a topic you want to see covered? Email it to us at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
"What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through." |
|
|
Behind the Name. In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone.
Want to connect with 4.6 million insatiably curious minds? Become a 1440 partner here.
Need a breather? Snooze this email for 30 days. |
|
*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for EnergyX's Regulation A+ Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energyx.com/. |
|
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2026 1440 Media, All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
