I’m back. Still freezing all across the south. More political bullsh*t. Bad Bunny IS bad. A version of the Epstein filles have been released. Redacted, except for compromising pictures of young women. Read about the Buffalo Soldiers and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall here. Support NPR and PBS. Here is useful information from the Freedom of the Press Foundation for maintaining digital security. Freedom isn’t free. 1,082 more days.
Kintsugi 2/2/26
411…
Costco has issued a recall for a popular bakery item sold at select club stores between Jan. 16 and Jan. 30. If you have tree nut allergies, pay attention. The Mini Beignets, which recently returned to the bakery section, were labeled as caramel-filled, but the package contained chocolate-hazelnut-filled beignets instead.
Friends in Costa Rica are enjoying the warm weather. You know who you are. I’m so jealous.
The Super Bowl is coming. I can’t wait, well, I will wait, but don’t want to. Bad Bunny, who won a Grammy for album of the year, will be performing. Here is a recipe for entertaining.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ingredients
-
Cooking spray
-
2 tablespoons (30 ml) sweet relish
-
1 tablespoon (15 ml) mayonnaise
-
2 tablespoons (30 ml) whole-grain mustard, divided
-
1 (12-ounce; 340 g) package Hawaiian sweet rolls (such as King’s Hawaiian), halved crosswise with buns all still attached
-
8 ounces thinly sliced deli ham (about 15 slices)
-
4 slices Swiss cheese (about 3/4 ounce; 21 g each)
-
3 tablespoons 45 ml) honey or hot honey
-
2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
-
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh chives
-
1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, such as Maldon
Directions
-
Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Coat a 9×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. In a small bowl, stir together sweet relish, mayonnaise, and 1 tablespoon of the mustard to combine.
- Place bottom halves of rolls, cut side up, in bottom of prepared pan; spread mayo mixture evenly over bottom halves of rolls. Arrange ham slices in even layer over mayo mixture, and place cheese slices in an even layer over ham. Drizzle honey evenly over cheese. Place top half of rolls, cut-side down, to close the sandwich.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake until warmed through and cheese is beginning to melt, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and remove foil.
- While sliders are baking, in a small bowl, stir together butter, chives, and remaining 1 tablespoon mustard until well combined. After removing foil, use a pastry brush to brush prepared butter on top of rolls. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake until tops are golden brown and cheese is melted, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately.
The Kennedy Center will be closed for about 2 years, starting July 4, 2026.
RIP, Richard Smallwood. Wes Moore is not Barack Obama, but he is doing his best – and that’s pretty damn good.
Coca-Cola’s new cherry float flavor is headed to a store near you! Let me know how you like it.
The president wrote that he plans to sue Noah for “plenty$” after the comedian joked about his relationship with the late convicted sex offender.
How do NFL players feel about Bad Bunny playing the Super Bowl halftime show? When asked if they liked the choice, 58% said yes and 41% said no. “I don’t even know who Bad Bunny is,” said an NFC offensive player. “I always think it should be an American (emphasis added). I think they’re trying too hard with this international stuff.” (more)
Where can you watch films nominated for Best Picture at the 2026 Oscars?
Bugonia (Peacock)
F1 (Apple TV)
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Hamnet (In theaters)
Marty Supreme (In theaters)
One Battle After Another (HBO Max)
The Secret Agent (In theaters)
Sentimental Value (VOD)
Sinners (HBO Max)
Train Dreams (Netflix)
BOOK BREAKS: February 8, 2026
Allen C. Guelzo joins us Sunday at 2 pm ET to discuss The Political Writings of Abraham Lincoln
Editor and historian Allen C. Guelzo presents texts spanning Abraham Lincoln’s earliest political activity as an Illinois state legislator in the 1830s through his presidency. Together, these documents offer fresh insight into how Lincoln understood liberty, union, and executive power at moments when the nation’s survival hung in the balance.
Allen C. Guelzo is professor of humanities in the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida. His many books include Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment.
Do you pay attention to Groundhog Day? Punxsutawney Phil’s weather predictions are mostly tradition, boasting only about a 35% to 40% accuracy rate, often performing worse than a coin flip. Staten Island Chuck in New York boasts an 85% success rate, while Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee has an 80% accuracy rate.
Do you remember your junior high geography?
What I’m Watching
Season 4 of Bridgerton is out on Netflix. Harrison Ford is back in Shrinking on Apple+ TV. The Pitt is on HBO Max, and Idris Elba is back with Hijack on Apple+ TV. Hulu/Disney+ is adding Paradise.
New series include:
- Wonder Man (Disney+)
- Memory of a Killer (Fox)
- His & Hers (Netflix)
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Paramount+)
- The Night Manager (Amazon Prime)
The 2026 Grammys
Individual Performances: High-quality clips of live performances and acceptance speeches are available on the official GRAMMY YouTube Channel and at live.GRAMMY.com.
- Album of the Year: “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS ” – Bad Bunny
- Song of the Year: “Wildflower” – Billie Eilish.
- Record of the Year: “luther” – Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA.
- Best Pop Solo Performance: “Messy” – Lola Young.
- Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: “Defying Gravity” – Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande.
- Best Rap Album (featured songs): “GNX” – Kendrick Lamar.
- Best Alternative Music Performance: “Alone” – The Cure.
Are you thinking more about AI these days? Join a conversation with UChicago faculty exploring how our deepening intimacy with technology may redefine authentic connections and restructure our social and emotional dynamics. The Bot and Me: How AI Is Reshaping Human Connection Tuesday, February 10, 2026
6–7 p.m. (CST)
See the full list of 2026 Oscar nominations here. Sinners received 16 nominations! Yea!
Read the full transcript here:
Key Dates for the 2025 Tax Year (Filed in 2026)
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of tax year | January 1, 2025 |
| End of tax year | December 31, 2025 |
| IRS begins accepting returns | January 26, 2026 |
| Tax filing deadline | April 15, 2026 |
| Extension deadline (if filed) | October 15, 2026 |
Do you have someone in your life who lives alone and far away? Are you going on vacation because you need a break from caregiving? (yes) Here are some free ways to help check on them while you’re away:
- https://buddyhelp.org/ Offers free emotional support through volunteer listeners and also provides access to professional online therapy.
- https://www.snugsafe.com/ A free app that sends daily check-in reminders. If you don’t respond, your emergency contacts are notified.
- https://checkinbee.com/ Sends daily text messages asking for a simple reply. If no response, designated contacts are notified.