Today’s Big Story

February Was Hot

But for the first time since June 2023, it was not the warmest or second warmest ever recorded

Was your February unseasonably warm? I have to say mine was pleasantly spring-like at times. And that’s because the planet had its third-warmest February on record, following a surprise record-hot January, new data shows.

Global average surface air temperatures hit a balmy 13.36°C (56°F), making the month 0.63°C (1.13°F) hotter than the average for 1991 to 2020. This is the first month not to be the first or second-hottest on record since June 2023. It may indicate some slight cooling relative to the not fully explained, record-shattering heat of the past two years.

Global sea ice extent hit a benchmark low, however. According to the Washington Post, Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service reported that the daily global sea ice extent, which combines the amount of sea ice present in the Arctic and Antarctic, hit a new low in early February and remained below the previous record from 2023 for the rest of the month. In particular, researchers said, the Arctic has continued to experience steadily less sea ice over time. The region has warmed at several times the global average, and while sea ice in the Arctic usually reaches its annual peak each March, it recorded its lowest ever monthly extent for February last month.

Studies have shown that should the climate warm beyond it, which is almost certain at this point, the odds of potentially disastrous climate change effects become more likely. Scientists are not optimistic either. Of the 380 IPCC climate scientists interviewed by the Guardian, 77% think humanity is headed for at least 2.5°C of global warming. What a time for America to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, huh?

The persistent record heat which began in 2023 and may only now be letting up slightly, hasn't been fully explained by known factors in addition to human emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. According to Axios, other factors that may have contributed extra warming range from changes in marine shipping fuels to El Niño and La Niña and shifts in maritime cloud cover. Which means February’s dip in temperatures could be temporary, with more records resuming in the coming months.

Trump Administration Backtracks

Tariff exemptions, rehires and rethinking Guantánamo

Donalad Trump’s frenetic first month-and-a-half in office has Americans of all stripes feeling a sense of whiplash. Uncertainty about tariffs is causing some consumers to scrutinize both big-ticket and mundane purchases. So it may come as good news for anyone looking to buy a car that select American automakers just got a one-month exemption from the tariffs (with conditions). It’s the latest example of how some of the biggest moves from the administration are now being walked back—making some experts wonder if the White House bit off more than it can chew?

For instance, just 48 hours ago, the U.S. government was gearing up for one of the largest sales ever of commercial real estate. But by Wednesday morning, that sales process was suddenly in limbo. In an extraordinary reversal, the General Services Administration removed from its website about 440 federal buildings representing nearly 80 million square feet of space that only hours earlier it had listed for sale. And nearly 200 CDC employees who were laid off two weeks ago were just told they need to return to work.

Similarly, officials are now rethinking the Guantánamo Bay immigrant detention plan amid cost issues and power struggles. President Trump’s plan to use the Cuban naval base to detain 30,000 immigrants has been hitting major legal, logistical and financial hurdles ever since he surprised many in his own administration by announcing it. Trump is still pushing to use the base for detention, but a scaled-down version is the likeliest outcome, sources told NBC News.

Cutting Costs for In-Demand Weight Loss Drugs

Consumers can buy direct from drugmakers if they pay cash

The newest weight-loss drugs, Wegovy and Zepbound, are incredibly popular. The GLP-1 class of treatments have shown unprecedented results for helping people shed weight by decreasing appetite and boosting feelings of fullness. But they’re also incredibly expensive. Thankfully, they’re getting easier to buy and more affordable. On Wednesday the maker of Wegovy announced it would offer direct-to-consumer discounts for patients paying cash.

And it’s not just Wegovy’s parent company (Novo Nordisk). Eli Lilly, the maker of similar weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound also cut the monthly price of its starter dose of Zepbound to $349. The U.S. drugmaker is also offering larger doses available for $499 through its self-pay program. The goal is to make the drugs more accessible and affordable for the uninsured. According to the Associated Press, the price cuts come as supplies improve. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has moved both drugs off its list of medicines in shortage. The agency has said compounding pharmacies and other entities that have been allowed to make off-brand, cheaper copies of the drugs during the shortage will have to wind down production.

While health insurers often cover diabetes drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, they are less likely to cover medication for obesity. A 2024 survey by benefits consultant Mercer said less than half of large employers covered GLP-1 class drugs for obesity. That means consumers often face large bills for medicines that cost more than $1,000 per month before rebates or discounts.

ESPN Cancels ‘Around the Horn’

The show will end its nearly 23-year run in May

“Around the Horn”, an ESPN discussion and debate show that has been a staple on the sports network for more than two decades, will air its final episode on May 23, the company has announced. The program, which premiered on Nov. 4, 2002, with host Max Kellerman, produced more than 4,900 episodes. After Kellerman left ESPN for Fox Sports, Tony Reali took over in 2004 and has been at the helm ever since.

I’m sure you’ve seen an episode or two, but the show often features four panelists—mostly sports columnists—who tried to earn points and avoid being muted by Reali as they gave their opinions on the biggest sports stories of the day. Woody Paige, who holds the show record for most appearances and wins, posted on social media after the announcement, “My records will never be broken. But my heart is broken.”

According to the Hollywood Reporter, ESPN is in the midst of overhauling its schedule, adding new talent while it cuts other talent loose, canceling some shows but bringing on others, and perhaps most notable culling some sports rights in favor of others (the company last week dumped MLB). The network said a 30-minute edition of “SportsCenter” will air at 5 p.m. ET weekdays during the summer in its place.

The Long Read

Why Are We Paying Billions to Keep This Sport Alive?

Choose wisely.