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| Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Feb. 10, and we’re sure we’re not the only ones dreaming of our next vacation — here are five destinations for a cheaper spring break. Now let’s catch up. | |
 | Ghislaine Maxwell declined to answer lawmakers’ questions yesterday. | - In a closed-door deposition: Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime associate, convicted on sex trafficking charges in 2021, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
- Why? She will only talk if granted clemency by President Donald Trump, her lawyer said, adding she would then share the “unfiltered truth” about Epstein and his connections.
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 | The legality of Trump’s planned White House ballroom is in question. | | | A crane used in the ballroom construction hovers above the White House earlier this month. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post) | |
 | Trump and his Federal Reserve chair pick could clash over mortgage rates. | - Why? Trump wants lower mortgage rates. His Fed nominee, Kevin Warsh, could push rates higher by trying to shrink the central bank’s balance sheet — a fight could follow.
- How are you feeling about your future? The number of Americans who anticipate having “high-quality lives” in five years’ time has sharply dropped — look at this poll.
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 | Top Homeland Security officials will face questions from lawmakers. | | |
 | Climate change could turn Iceland into a glacier. | - In the next 100 years: Human-driven warming could disrupt an ocean current that carries heat north. Iceland could reach minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, models show.
- In the shorter term: There are signs that an El Niño climate pattern is on the way. That could trigger record global warmth — we broke down potential impacts for the U.S. here.
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 | Olympic figure skating is getting harder. | | |
 | Our columnist went in search of better ways to make coffee. | | | We’re wasting good money, and beans, on shoddy equipment. But there are ways to change that. (Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters) | - After water, coffee is America’s most popular drink: It elevates our mood and has lots of health benefits. But it also produces mountains of cups and other waste each year.
- Take action: Michael Coren recommends these buy-it-for life coffee setups to save money and reduce waste. Each option is affordable, repairable and designed to last for decades.
Before you go … should you feed a cold and starve a fever?
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