Good morning. It's Thursday, Feb. 29, and we're covering rapidly spreading wildfires across the Texas panhandle, the end of an era on Capitol Hill, and much more. First time reading? Sign up here. |
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a disaster declaration this week for 60 counties as the Smokehouse Creek Fire became the second-largest in Texas history. Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate as the wildfire remains 3% contained and other wildfires burned, leaving at least one person dead (see updates).
The Smokehouse Creek Fire broke out Monday and is one of multiple wildfires burning across Texas and into Oklahoma. As of this writing, it has grown to over 1,300 square miles (850,000 acres), larger than the state of Rhode Island, and has threatened homes, businesses, and farms. Wildfires have also caused the country’s main nuclear weapons assembly facility to temporarily shut down.
Texas has two wildfire peaks, one in the summer and winter, but they fall short of distinct seasons. This week, high temperatures and winds combined with dry, dead grass is believed to have fueled the spread of the fire. Those conditions are expected to ease in the coming days as winds ease. See photos of the fires here. |
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced yesterday he would step down from the position following the 2024 election, two years ahead of the end of his current term. McConnell assumed the post in 2006 and is the longest-serving Senate leader from either party.
The decision kick-starts a highly anticipated race to replace the 82-year-old Kentuckian. Candidates include a trio of Johns from his leadership team—former Majority Whip John Cornyn (TX), current Minority Whip John Thune (SD), and Caucus Chair John Barrasso (WY). The GOP enjoys a favorable electoral map this cycle, with the five most likely seats to flip held by four Democrats and independent Kyrsten Sinema (AZ), increasing the likelihood the winner becomes majority leader.
The decision comes amid reports McConnell is deliberating over whether to endorse former President Donald Trump. The pair reportedly haven't spoken directly since 2021.
In related news, lawmakers reportedly struck a short-term deal to avert a government shutdown ahead of tonight's midnight deadline. The bill must pass both chambers today before going into effect. |
Today is leap day, Feb. 29, a date observed only once roughly every four years in the international standard Gregorian calendar. While the extra day serves a technical function, its uniqueness prompts celebrations around the world—especially by the estimated 5 million Leaplings born on the rare day.
Leap years are necessary because the Earth takes slightly longer than 365 days to revolve around the sun—roughly five hours and 48 minutes more (see explainer). For millennia, agricultural societies using a solar calendar to schedule plantings and harvests saw the seasons drift over time and instituted the extra day to compensate. The Romans made the current leap year approach official under Julius Caesar, but that calendar was overhauled 1,500 years later by Pope Gregory XIII because the seasons had drifted off by roughly 10 days. Learn how this prompted the disappearance of 10 days in 1582 here.
In contrast, China's cultural calendar utilizes a leap month every three years. Learn how other non-Gregorian cultures approach leap years here. |
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