Under the Microscrope

The fate of Georgia's top prosecutor hangs in the balance. February 16, 2024 Good morning. Donald Trump’s 2020 election interference trial could be thrown into disarray — we’ve got more on [the allegations surrounding the case’s prosecutor](, Fani Willis. Later on, we examine [the hidden cost of menopause]( and I share some [words of advice about dealing with loss](. On the lighter side, we’re previewing [the top 10 movies on Max]( and [the Presidents' Day sales we’re shopping]( this weekend. Away we go…   In the News [Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis]( Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis testifies during a hearing on Thursday. Getty Images Under the Microscope A judge is weighing a decision that could derail former President Trump’s 2020 election interference case in Georgia. Here’s [what we know so far](: The allegations: One of Trump’s co-defendants, Michael Roman, accused Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who’s overseeing Trump’s case, of an “improper” romance with prosecutor Nathan Wade. Roman’s calling for Willis to be disqualified over concerns that it created a financial conflict of interest. The rebuttal: While Willis and Wade acknowledged having a “personal relationship,” they denied any wrongdoing. On the stand, Willis adamantly pushed back at what she described as “lies” from prosecutors. “These people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. I’m not on trial no matter how hard you try,” Willis told Roman’s attorney Ashleigh Merchant. We’ve got more on the tense hearing, plus [what would happen if Willis is removed]( from the case. [READ MORE](   More Stories [Joe Biden hugs Hunter Biden]( President Biden hugs his son Hunter. (Getty Images) Politics: An ex-FBI informant has been charged with making up claims that President Biden and Hunter Biden sought bribes from a Ukraine business, undermining the GOP's impeachment inquiry into the president. Meanwhile, Donald Trump's New York criminal trial is set to begin on March 25, after a judge denied his bid to dismiss the [34 felony counts of falsification of business records]( against him. Tech: Artificial intelligence broke new ground on Thursday as OpenAI — [the creator of ChatGPT]( — announced a new text-to-video model called Sora. Sora can generate videos based on written prompts, such as: “A movie trailer featuring the adventures of a 30-year-old space man wearing a red wool knitted motorcycle helmet, blue sky, salt desert...” It's not publicly available yet, but potential [concerns around this tech]( already causing a stir. Back in the spotlight: Rachel Dolezal, the former NAACP leader who falsely claimed she was Black, has been fired by an Arizona school district over her OnlyFans account. Though non-subscribers can't view images on the page, captions refer to "nude" content. Dolezal, who'd been working as an after-school instructor, made headlines in 2015, when she was exposed for faking a heritage as a woman of color despite having White parents. Major milestone: Iowa Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA women's basketball all-time scoring record yesterday, topping the 3,527 career points held by former Washington star Kelsey Plum. Clark led Iowa to a 106-89 win over Michigan, scoring a career-high 49 points. Clark said it was “Just good to be in the same realm of a lot of really, really good players.”   In Focus [Protestors gather outside of Supreme Court]( Courtesy of Helene Cederroth Our spotlight on Rare Disease Month continues with the heartbreaking story of a mother who lost three children to a puzzling disease she still can't name. In partnership with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, we present an intimate interview in which she opens up about her tragic experience and shares insight into [research that could finally solve the mystery]( of the illness that took the lives of her loved ones. [READ MORE]( [Supported by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative](   Must-Reads [Woman holding a blue balloon with a sad face on it]( The Other Pink Tax Discriminatory pricing doesn't just hit menstrual products — people going through menopause shoulder unfair costs, too. [Read More »]( [Woman wearing bold blue suit sitting at laptop with rainbow lines coming out of it]( Make It Work Is a return to the office full-time inevitable, or are remote meetings here to stay? We're going inside the compromise that could be the future. [Read More »]( [Silhouette of man and woman holding hands but man's silhouette dissolves into butterflies]( Ask Me Anything Losing a spouse is something you never completely get over, but here's my advice for moving forward with your life. [Read More »](   What We're Loving Lately "I just started reading [The Joy of Funerals]( by Alix Strauss, about a lonely, single, thirty-something woman in Manhattan who attends strangers' funerals, looking for connection. It's kind of like if Netflix's Dead to Me met Love, Actually — and it's very entertaining. The book just celebrated its 20th anniversary, but its frank and funny treatment of loneliness is all too relevant for this moment." –Sara Levine, Newsletter Editor   Extra Credit Hot picks: From all-time classics to recent hits, Max is chock-full of top-notch entertainment. Here are [the 10 best movies to watch]( this month. Take a load off: Compression socks can relieve everyday aches and pains by giving your legs extra support and improving circulation. [Check out our review]( to see whether they might work for you (and if you're ready to give them a go, we like [this soft and comfy pair from Bombas](). Goodies galore: [Nordstrom's winter sale]( is happening right now, where you can find discounts on everything from SKIMS shapewear and apparel to UGG shoes. Overwhelmed? Don't be — we picked out [the 16 deals you can't miss](.   Sale Away [Maroon corduroy pants, black Kate Spade bag, pink Hoka sneakers on blue background]( KCM Get your closet spring-ready with [the best bargains in fashion happening right now]( — and continuing all throughout Presidents' Day weekend. - lululemon’s [We Made Too Much section]( is a treasure trove of savings, like high-quality leggings and tanks for less. - If you’re on the hunt for some new shoes, look no further than Zappos, where deals [start at 49% off]( and include [in-demand brands like]([HOKA](. - Madewell’s offering [an additional 30% off]( all kinds of styles, including [the corduroy pants I’ve been rocking]( for months. - Looking to treat yourself to a new handbag? Kate Spade’s sale section is full of [gorgeous gems that are up to 50% off](. - Diane von Furstenberg invented the wrap dress, and you can snag a deal on the iconic silhouette — or whatever else catches your eye — when you [use code PREZ20 for 20% off](.   One More Thing [Hands wearing bright green gloves scrubbing the Earth]( KCM We’re counting down the days until the launch of our environmentally focused newsletter, Ripple Effect, which will be hitting inboxes in two short weeks. If you care about the planet as much as we do and want to make an impact, [subscribe for free right here](!   [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! 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