Today’s Big Story

The Flu Is Fierce This Year

24 million cases have been reported so far this season and the virus is still spreading widely

If it seems like everyone around you is sick with the flu, you're not alone. The United States is facing what appears to be one of the most intense flu seasons in over a decade. Doctor's office visits for influenza symptoms have hit their highest level in 15 years, since the 2009 swine flu pandemic rocked the nation.

The latest wave of flu is overwhelming hospitals around the country and forcing dozens of schools to close temporarily. “Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated and continues to increase across the country,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last Friday in their latest FluView report.

More than one in three flu tests performed by laboratories nationwide came back positive during the week ending Feb. 1, per CDC data—up from about 18% in mid-January. And nearly all cases are influenza A, which tends to be more aggressive in adults.

According to the New York Times, there have been at least 24 million cases in the United States in the last three months. The CDC estimated that there have been as many as 650,000 hospitalizations, which would make it the highest hospitalization level since 2017. The high case counts right now are striking, given that this is the time of year when flu typically starts to slow down, said Dr. Susan R. Russell, medical director at the medical intensive-care unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. But Dr. Russell said she was still seeing a flood of patients in the hospital sick with the flu.

Traditionally, flu season peaks around mid-February, so maybe we’ll start seeing things slow down. But overall, 43 states reported high or very high flu activity last week. Currently flu illnesses were the most intense in the South, Southwest and Western states. To avoid getting sick (especially if you missed out on a flu shot this year), doctors say you should avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because germs can spread that way. You should also wash your hands with soap and water, clean frequently touched surfaces and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Calls for Deepfake A.I. Ban After Viral Video

The likenesses of several Jewish celebrities—including Drake, Scarlett Johansson and Adam Sandler—were used without permission

Scarlett Johansson is calling on the government to pass a law limiting the use of A.I. after a video featuring an A.I. deepfake of the actress circulated online. In a statement to People, Johansson said, “It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of A.I.”

The video in question shows Johansson, along with other Jewish celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Mila Kunis, Jack Black, Drake, Jake Gyllenhaal, Adam Sandler, and others, wearing a t-shirt that shows the name “Kanye” along with an image of a middle finger that has the Star of David in the center. As we mentioned earlier in the week, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) returned to X last week to post antisemitic comments and began selling shirts with a swastika on his website, which has since been taken down.

“I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind,” Johansson said. “But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by A.I. is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it—we must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.” You might remember, Johansson has been outspoken about artificial intelligence for a while now. In 2023, she sued an A.I. app developer for using her name and likeness in an online ad. She later called out OpenAI for using a voice that sounded a lot like hers in ChatGPT, leading OpenAI to stop using the voice.

A Gigantic Winter Storm (Again)

From coast to coast, weather is making a mess of things

Here we go again: A large winter storm system is crossing over the central and eastern United States today, triggering winter storm warnings in 14 states. Starting Thursday, snow will start accumulating east of the Rockies, extending nearly 2,000 miles from Colorado to Michigan and Maine. Accuweather says this will likely be the biggest winter storm of the year and warns that major travel disruptions will occur as snow and sleet falls on some of the busiest roads and airports in the nation.

According to EarthSky, the winter storm is caused by the southerly movement of a high pressure system from the Arctic, moving cold weather across the contiguous U.S. as moisture from the Gulf moves north. Mixing together in a low-pressure area, triggering a winter storm, with its coldest (and thus most-likely-to-produce-snow) side towards the north.

And over on the West Coast, Los Angeles got rain, but heavier precipitation is due for today. The forecast prompted warnings from the Los Angeles County sheriff that evacuations could be ordered because of mudslides in areas that were burned by devastating wildfires in January. The risk of flash flooding is highest for communities in or near recently burned areas. Ahead of the storm, wildfire clean up crews worked at “unprecedented” speed to remove structural debris from the destructive Eaton and Palisades fires, reports NPR. And while the severe weather is a nuisance for many, for arctic animals at zoos, it’s welcome treat.

Black History Month

It hits a little different this year, but there are also significant anniversaries to celebrate

It’s Black History Month—a time for celebrating the struggles, triumphs and contributions of our nation’s African American citizens. Born in February was President Abraham Lincoln, 19th century civil rights crusader Frederick Douglass, “Mother of the Movement” Rosa Parks and John Lewis, a youthful disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. who went on to be elected a U.S. congressman called “the conscience of Capitol Hill” before his death in 2020.

But this year, the annual celebration arrived amid a series of fierce attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives by the current administration. A flurry of executive orders have rolled back DEI programs across federal agencies and contracting firms. President Trump has claimed that diversity is weakening the nation’s military, while new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—apparently in conflict with Trump’s Black History Month proclamation—has banned Black History Month programs and ceremonies in the federal government’s largest agency. In corporate America, many large companies have followed suit, rescinding their own pledges to promote diversity within their workforces.

Black History Month has, for decades, presented parents an opportunity to educate their children about the history, culture and achievements of Black Americans. This year undoubtedly hits a little different but there are also significant anniversaries to celebrate. The month started with the 65th anniversary of the lunch counter sit-in protests in the South that began on Feb. 1, 1960. And 2025 falls on the 60th anniversary of many crucial moments of the Civil Rights Movement that would transform the nation—from the last days of Malcolm X to the climatic marches in Selma, Alabama, to the Watts Riots foreshadowing what was to come—Axios has images of joy, tragedy and triumphs of 1965.

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