{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftodays-news.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Ftodays-news-february-4-5-2026-0zR97Wqt","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Today's News, February 4-5, 2026","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/01f7d4b2-716c-43f9-8a03-c96056c76782/441f5ca8-47c4-4c6f-891d-e86e04dcde68/wwop-todays-20news-20cover.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/1ae74dd4-2b99-4740-8435-c066a202f519\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"Today&apos;s News, February 4-5, 2026\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"President Trump’s tariffs pressured Canada, Mexico, and China into negotiations, while El Salvador agreed to house U.S. criminals. The Trump administration uncovered massive corruption at USAID, started downsizing the EPA and CIA, and initiated purges in the FBI and Department of Education. Senate confirmations progressed, and military recruitment surged post-election. Illegal immigrants began being sent to Gitmo, while a bill proposed holding sanctuary cities accountable. Economic shifts saw declining investment in green energy, New York rejecting battery storage, and Ohio emerging as an affordable housing hub. Internationally, Trump halted South African aid over land seizures, pressured Panama to cut China ties, and froze WHO funding. Marvel and Amazon Prime faced struggles, and studies further discredited COVID vaccines."}