These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Michael Cohen Bombshell:** The special counsel reportedly has evidence that President Trump directed Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, to lie to Congress about a plan to build a tower in Moscow in order to obscure Trump’s involvement in the negotiations. Read more [here](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/trump-russia-cohen-moscow-tower-mueller-investigation?ref=bfnsplash). * **Poll Rigging:** Cohen, who is currently awaiting a prison sentence, earlier admitted that he paid a firm to rig online polls in his boss’ favor in the early days of the campaign “at the direction of and for the sole benefit of” Trump. Cohen also reportedly paid the firm to create a @WomenForCohen Twitter account to promote him as a sex symbol. Read more [here](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen/ex-trump-lawyer-rigging-polls-was-at-the-direction-of-trump-idUSKCN1PB1PZ). * **Shutdown: Day 28:** President Trump sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi denying her a military plane for a planned trip to visit U.S. troops, a day after she called on him to delay the State of the Union until the shutdown ends. The letter was made public hours before Pelosi was set to take off for Afghanistan on an unannounced visit. Trump said the speaker was welcome to fly commercial. Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/17/politics/donald-trump-nancy-pelosi-trip-cancel/index.html). * **Shutdown Impact:** While the nation’s leaders trade barbed letters, furloughed federal workers are now turning to food banks to feed their families. TSA sick-outs are going up, and air traffic controllers are worried they won’t be able to handle the increased traffic to Atlanta ー already some of the busiest airspace in the world ー when the Super Bowl comes to town in two weeks. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/all-bets-are-shutdown-s-impact-super-bowl-n959591). * **Major Storm:** A "blockbuster" blizzard is poised to potentially drop 40 inches of snow along the East Coast this weekend. The storm, which began in California, is first expected to drop heavy amounts of snow in states including South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas today. Frigid temperatures are expected after the storm moves out to shore on Sunday. Read more [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/17/winter-storm-east-coast-midwest-new-york-pennsylvania/2601621002/). * **Family Separations:** The White House’s zero-tolerance family separation policy likely kept thousands more migrant children from their parents than previously disclosed, according to a federal audit. The exact number of children separated is still unknown because of failures in tracking split-up families. Read more [here](https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/17/report-trump-administration-migrants-1093242). * **Target for Babies:** Target is expanding its in-house brand of baby products like wipes and diapers, with most priced under $10. Target is betting that, after Babies ‘R Us went out of business, it can increase its market share with new parents, considered some of the store’s most important customers. There’s at least one fan: Beyonce was recently spotted strolling the baby aisles at an L.A. Target. Read more [here](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/16/target-is-making-a-bigger-bet-on-baby.html). * **Amazon Milestone:** Amazon Prime has surpassed 100 million members, according to estimates from a consumer research group. The average Prime member spends $1,400 per year on Amazon, compared to $600 for the average non-Prime Amazon shopper. Read more [here](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-prime-membership-exceeds-100-million-2019-01-17). * **Championship Weekend:** The top four NFL teams battle for a Super Bowl berth in the conference championship games on Sunday. The Rams take on the Saints at 3 p.m., directly followed by the Patriots and Chiefs, who will play amid frigid temperatures in Kansas City. See the predictions [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/sports/nfl-playoffs-predictions-picks.html). * **Spotted:** Heidi Klum covered in snakes. Klum donned the snakes for a "Germany’s Next Top Model" photoshoot. See the pic [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6605987/Heidi-Klum-poses-lingerie-SNAKES-slither-sexy-GNTM-photoshoot.html). * **My Two Husbands:** In an appearance on Ellen (that was being hosted by Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn), Gwyneth Paltrow referred to ex Chris Martin and husband Brad Falchuk as “my two husbands.” She was talking about her honeymoon, or ‘familymoon,’ that included Falchuk and Martin. Read more [here](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6604277/Gwyneth-Paltrow-labels-Chris-Martin-Brad-Falchuk-two-husbands.html). * **Prince Philip:** The 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, was reportedly “very shocked and shaken” after the Land Rover he was driving crashed into another car and wound up overturned. The prince is said to be okay. Read more [here](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-46912691). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).

Share:
More In Politics
Federal Reserve cuts key rate by quarter-point, signals two more cuts
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. The only dissenter was Stephen Miran, the recent Trump-appointee.
Albania’s prime minister appoints an AI-generated ‘minister’ to tackle corruption
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama says his new Cabinet will include an artificial intelligence “minister” in charge of fighting corruption. The AI, named Diella, will oversee public funding projects and combat corruption in public tenders. Diella was launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the government's public service platform. Corruption has been a persistent issue in Albania since 1990. Rama's Socialist Party won a fourth consecutive term in May. It aims to deliver EU membership for Albania in five years, but the opposition Democratic Party remains skeptical.
Trump admin requests emergency ruling to remove Cook from Fed board
The Trump administration has asked an appeals court to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s board of governors by Monday, before the central bank’s next vote on interest rates. Trump sought to fire Cook Aug. 25, but a federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the removal was illegal and reinstated her to the Fed’s board.
Trump administration appeals ruling blocking firing of Fed Governor
President Donald Trump's administration is appealing a ruling blocking him from immediately firing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook as he seeks more control over the traditionally independent board. The notice of appeal was filed Wednesday, hours after U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb handed down the ruling. The White House insists the Republican president had the right to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations involving properties in Michigan and Georgia from before she joined the Fed. Cook's lawsuit denies the allegations and says the firing was unlawful. The case could soon reach the Supreme Court, which has allowed Trump to fire members of other independent agencies but suggested that power has limitations at the Fed.
Load More