Special Counsel Speaks

... and Biden hits back. February 9, 2024 Good morning. We’ll start off in Washington to unpack why President Biden won’t face charges related to his handling of classified documents and where the Supreme Court stands — so far — on removing Donald Trump from the ballot. Later on, we’re sharing [a warning about AI you can’t afford to ignore](. All that, plus [our favorite Super Bowl commercials](, coming right up!   In the News [President Joe Biden]( Getty Images Special Counsel Speaks After a yearlong probe, special counsel Robert Hur has decided not to bring charges against President Biden over his handling of classified documents — but the 345-page report contains some unflattering details. What did they find? The special counsel found evidence that Biden “willfully retained" sensitive material about Afghanistan and other national security matters after his time as VP and shared some of it with a ghostwriter who worked on his 2017 memoir. Why isn’t he being charged? Hur determined that Biden may have believed he had the right to keep some of the material. He added that it was possible that he would “present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview, as a sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.” The bigger picture: The report details incidents when the president failed to recall significant events, such as when his VP term ended and when his son Beau died. Biden retorted forcefully last night, asking: "How in the hell dare he raise that?" "I don’t need anyone to remind me when he passed away," he added. According to FOX News Digital, GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) wrote to AG Merrick Garland last night to suggest he "explore proceedings" to remove Biden under the 25th Amendment — which allows for a president to be replaced in the event of incapacitation.   In Focus [Protestors gather outside of Supreme Court]( Getty Images After more than two hours of oral arguments on Thursday, the Supreme Court appeared deeply skeptical of Colorado’s decision to remove former President Trump from the state’s primary ballot because of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Justices on the left and the right raised questions about the ramifications of letting individual states decide whether a candidate is an insurrectionist. “I think that the question that you have to confront is why a single state should decide who gets to be president of the United States," said liberal Justice Elena Kagan. So far, the court hasn't offered a timetable for its decision.   More Stories Also on the radar: Donald Trump has won the Nevada Republican caucuses, coming one step closer to what seems an all-but-inevitable GOP nomination. Trump's also seized on the Biden report from special counsel Robert Hur, saying the fact he's been [charged with mishandling classified docs]( proves he's being unfairly targeted. Meanwhile, a federal judge affirmed the $83 million in damages he was ordered to pay to E. Jean Carroll last month. World news: An interview between former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Russia's President Putin was released online last night. There weren't many surprises, but Putin didn't rule out freeing jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. President Biden called Israel's assault in Gaza "over the top," and delegates from Hamas are in Cairo to discuss the possibility of another ceasefire.   Must-Reads [Shadows stand in front of DNC 2024 projected on a screen]( Called Off The Democratic primary field just got a little smaller, as one of Biden's challengers — who was a long-shot anyway — just dropped out. [Read More »]( [TV screens showing a screengrab from famous Super Bowl commercials.]( Ad Break We're days away from Super Bowl LVIII, and we can't wait for the commercials. Here are some of our favorite spots from years past. [Read More »]( [Collage of mouths and fruits like bananas and grapefruits]( Closing the Gap Data shows heterosexual women are less likely to orgasm during sex than their male partners — and no, it's not because of biology. [Read More »](   A Closer Look [Taylor Swift in front of pixellated digital rainbow]( Getty Images / KCM You might remember when we reported on [the risk of AI being used to create sexually explicit images]( almost a year ago. Or maybe you first became aware of this issue a few weeks ago, when X was flooded with deepfake images of Taylor Swift. Journalist Laurie Segall has been covering tech for 15 years, and she's sounding the alarm on this nefarious tech: "The implications of this move beyond women and girls into democracy, misinformation, and public safety," she writes. Here's more on the threat AI poses and [what needs to happen next](. [READ MORE](   Turn the Page We've got your next read right here: My friend Jeffrey Blount has a new book out called Mr. Jimmy From Around The Way. It's full of twists and turns and touches on failure, self-discovery, and redemption (and, as with all his books, it's full of powerful descriptions that stick with you). You won't be able to put this one down, so don't say I didn't warn you — [pick up a copy right here](.   Good Buys [Oui the People body gloss, stemless wineglasses, briogeo curl charisma on teal background] KCM You don't have to wait until February to buy from Black-owned brands — here are a few stellar businesses we're shopping now and year-round: - A while back, a friend gifted me a pair of [stemless wine glasses from]([Estelle]( and now their pastel-colored drinkware is one of my go-to home gifts! - Briogeo's founder and CEO, Nancy Twine, left the world of finance to launch a natural haircare brand whose [clean and clinically tested products]( are made for all hair types. - Buying a couch, especially online can be a total nightmare — that is, until you've tried Albany Park. If you need further convincing, KCM's commerce editor [wrote a glowing review](! - OUI the People has a dedicated following of fans, and it's easy to see why: Among other standouts, they've got [a body oil that makes you feel like a million bucks]( and a [sleek safety razor]( that promises a smooth finish.   One More Thing Picking out the perfect piece of jewelry for your special someone is a delicate art, so let At Present be your guide. The curated jewelry brand has classic and one-of-a-kind pieces from established and emerging designers alike — in other words, there's really something for everyone. And as a special gift to Wake-Up Callers, we're giving you [15% off your purchase](!   [Know it all, and help your friends catch up, too. Share Wake-Up Call and you'll earn some superb swag.](   Thank you for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.cominfo@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] [For the best experience, read in browser.]( Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2023 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.