Today’s Big Story

The Effects of Dry January

Here’s what happened during our month off of booze

More and more people have been participating in Dry January—the annual tradition where drinkers go sober for the first month of the year. For some, it’s a reset after all the indulgences and heavy drinking during the holidays. For others, it’s a clean way to kickstart the year in good health. I inadvertently participated this year after contacting an epic and unrelenting stomach bug over New Years.

The first few weeks of January, there was no way I was able to put alcohol in my body. But even after I recovered, I figured I’d stick with it and enjoy my unintentional detox abstaining from booze. The challenge certainly fits right into expert advice: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for health, the World Health Organization warns, so cutting it out is the healthiest option.

Still, Americans keep drinking. Almost 60% reach for alcoholic beverages, though 45% believe having one or two drinks per day is bad for health, according to Gallup. But participation in Dry January is growing, too. Over a quarter of Americans say they completed Dry January in 2024, according to CivicScience, an opinion analytics platform. Among those, young adults 21 to 24 years old were the most successful in avoiding alcohol all month long — 35% in this age group finished the challenge. Many people replaced alcohol with soda or seltzer.

According to George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, participating in Dry January can be a great way to learn more about your drinking habits, which can help you make healthier choices moving forward. And Dr. Peter Rice, chair of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, says that alcohol profoundly affects the brain, both in the short and long-term. “For many people who consume alcohol—not just heavy drinkers—reducing or stopping alcohol intake often results in enhanced concentration and better mental health, all of which indicate improved brain health.”

Other positive effects included improved sleep quality, potential weight loss, increased energy levels, better hydration (and clearer skin), not to mention improved mood and reduced anxiety. Plus, for regular drinkers, there’s a chance for your liver to rest and recover, leading to overall better health and well-being. That sample of sobriety is usually enough for most people to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol. I know I’ll be drinking less going further into 2025 and I’m sure I’ll be better off for it.

Trump’s Tariffs Are Coming on Saturday

The president announced tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but he’s still deciding whether to tax their oil

President Trump has said he will follow through with his threat to hit imports from Canada and Mexico with 25% border taxes, known as tariffs, on February 1st. But he added that a decision about whether this would include oil from those countries had not yet been made.

“We may or may not,” Trump told reporters Thursday in the Oval Office about tariffing oil from Canada and Mexico. “We’re going to make that determination probably tonight.” Trump said his decision will be based on whether the price of oil charged by the two trading partners is fair, although the basis of his threatened tariffs pertains to stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of chemicals used for fentanyl.

As you might remember, these tariffs are an import tax on goods that are produced abroad. In theory, taxing items coming into a country means people are less likely to buy them as they become more expensive. The intention is that they buy cheaper local products instead—boosting a country's economy. But the cost of tariffs on imported energy could be passed on to businesses and consumers, which may increase the prices of everything from petrol to groceries. For example, around 40% of the crude that runs through U.S. oil refineries is imported, and the vast majority of it comes from Canada.

Waymo Is Expanding

They’re driving on L.A.’s freeways and headed to 10 new cities

Waymo is broadening its self-driving vehicle testing to more than 10 new cities this year, reflecting growing confidence in its autonomous driving technology. The expansion will include testing in San Diego and Las Vegas, alongside existing trials in Truckee, CA, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Upstate New York. After testing the driverless taxis in multiple cities, the company says the technology is adapting successfully to new environments, leading to the expansion.

Additional cities will be announced later, the company said, but they did confirm that they’re slated to launch in Austin and Atlanta. And that the first international city will be Tokyo. According to AutoBody News, the Google-owned company plans to deploy fewer than 10 vehicles per city, initially operating them manually through high-traffic areas such as city centers and freeways. The process will span a few months before progressing to more advanced autonomous testing.

Last year, Waymo launched in Los Angeles, offering autonomous rides at a small scale, with a waitlist for interested customers. In November, the waitlist ended so any Angelenos could call for a ride. But for a sprawling city like L.A., having access to a highway is all but essential for getting around—so they’re now adding the ability to take the cars onto the freeways, which will no doubt mark a big improvement in how useful Waymo robotaxis will be there.

A Weekend Pairing

‘You’re Cordially Invited’ + a bottle of Prosecco

Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell star in this wedding-hijinks comedy as two warring wedding planners for their sister (Meredith Hagner) and daughter (Geraldine Viswanathan), respectively. The hook? They’re both booked at the same venue and wedding day. You might expect a rom-com, but Witherspoon and Ferrell’s dynamic in the trailer is giving more Seth Rogen vs. Zac Efron in Neighbors, which makes sense when you realize You’re Cordially Invited is also directed by that movie’s director, Nicholas Stoller.

The film, streaming now on Prime Video, has gotten mixed reviews, but as one critic points out: “It’s a comedy in the tradition of Judd Apatow, raunchy but kind of sweet, and this in particular take a few memorable surrealist swerves.” And as the Guardian says, “the real win here is watching Witherspoon and Ferrell show off, both unrestrained by a harder rating and a more raucous script than the norm.”

Keep Your Brain Sharp

Five things you can do today to help with focus, productivity and our overall mood

Your brain is your most powerful asset, and just like your body, it needs regular exercise and care to stay sharp. Whether you're looking to improve memory, boost creativity, or stay mentally agile as you age, there are plenty of ways to keep your brain in peak condition. And the good news is that it's not difficult at all—Marc Milstein, Ph.D., an international speaker on brain health and author of The Age-Proof Brain, says we can all do small things, easy lifestyle changes to boost our brain health. The dual benefit, he says, is that the things that slow down cognitive decline also help with focus, productivity, and our overall mood. Which means you get a benefit that day, but you also protect your brain down the road.

Get ready.