State of the Union preview, pollution fight, moon mission: Catch up on the day’s stories

By Daniel Wine, CNN

Welcome to 5 Things PM! President Donald Trump will deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress tonight — and he warned that “it’s going to be a long speech.” Special coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET on CNN. These are four things to watch.

Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day.

5 things

1⃣ Pollution fight

The Trump administration delivered a serious blow to US climate policy by repealing the longstanding scientific finding that greenhouse gas pollution poses a danger to humans. Now come the court battles — and there are plenty of opponents.

2⃣ Mission on hold

Efforts to get NASA’s historic moon journey off the ground have stalled once again as engineers navigate a new problem with the rocket. The space agency is now targeting no earlier than April to launch Artemis II.

3⃣ A complicated past

Rottnest Island, a tourist hot spot off the coast of Perth in southwestern Australia, is famous for its beautiful beaches and cuddly quokkas. But there’s a dark history behind this island paradise.

4⃣ Parenting trends

You’ve probably seen a kid glued to their tablet at a restaurant while their parents enjoyed dinner. Some moms and dads want more real-world adventure and hands-on activities for their children.

5⃣ ‘Scrubs’ revival

The beloved hospital comedy returns with a new heartbeat — and the same old heart. You’ll recognize several familiar faces.

Watch this

‘Lava waterfall’: People flock to Yosemite National Park every February to see the “Firefall” phenomenon. When sunlight hits at just the right angle, the visual effect turns the waterfall a molten orange.

Top headlines

• Nancy Guthrie’s family offers $1 million for information leading to her recovery
• Father of Georgia school shooter said ‘Santa Claus’ bought his son a rifle
• Louvre museum director resigns in wake of ‘heist of the century’

Check this out

A whale of a photo: This image of a rare white humpback whale calf and its mother took top honors at the 2026 World Nature Photography Awards.

For CNN subscribers

• Trump’s riskiest move: What led Iran to this moment — and what happens next
• How Jasmine Crockett’s unconventional Senate campaign is testing Texas politics
• In a city bracing for ICE’s next surge, churches vow to offer sanctuary to migrants

Quiz time

Which tech company just pledged $50 billion to tackle AI inequality?
A. Microsoft
B. Google
C. Apple
D. Meta
Scroll down for the answer.

Thanks for reading

Most popular in yesterday’s newsletter: US tourists stranded in Mexico amid ‘really scary’ cartel violence following drug lord’s killing

Quiz answer: A. Microsoft said it will invest the money to help bring artificial intelligence to lower-income countries.

We’ll see you tomorrow.

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Today’s edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNN’s Kimberly Richardson and Jordan D. Brown.

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