Stepping Down

Mitch McConnell plans to retire. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( [Wake-Up Call] [by Katie Couric Media] February 29, 2024 Good morning. Mitch McConnell is stepping down from his leadership role — we’ve got a look at [what this news could mean for the GOP](. Then, we’ll take a jaunt across the pond to answer the question on everyone’s minds: [Where is Kate Middleton?]( We’ll also share [the latest on King Charles’s recovery](. All that, plus a primer on [the wild marriage story the internet’s going nuts for]( and [the truth about collagen](, right this way!   In the News [Mitch McConnell in silhouette]( GOP leader Mitch McConnell is ending his record run. (Getty Images) Stepping Down It’s the end of an era: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he plans to exit his leadership role — which he assumed in 2007 — in November. The veteran lawmaker leaves behind a complicated political legacy. He’s had a formidable influence over the Republican party and helped advance GOP priorities, like tax cuts. But he also clashed with Donald Trump and some say the former president has made his job impossible. “McConnell detests Trump, but the Republicans are increasingly a Trumpist party, and McConnell would have faced a serious challenge if he tried to stay in power,” former Senate staffer Ira Shapiro tells us. We spoke to political strategists about [who could replace him]( and how his retirement will impact the Republican party. [READ MORE](   More Stories [Richard Lewis]( Getty Images Rest in peace: Richard Lewis, the beloved comedian and Curb Your Enthusiasm actor known for his self-deprecating humor, has died at 76 after battling Parkinson's disease. He passed away peacefully at his home. His Curb costar Larry David said: "Richard and I were born three days apart in the same hospital and for most of my life he’s been like a brother to me. He had that rare combination of being the funniest person and also the sweetest. But today he made me sob, and for that I’ll never forgive him.” Politics: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Donald Trump's presidential immunity claim in April, meaning his trial on charges of plotting to subvert the 2020 election is on pause. Over in Illinois, a judge has decided that the 14th Amendment's insurrectionist clause disqualifies Trump from the state ballot. And in Congress, bipartisan negotiators have struck a temporary deal to avoid a partial government shutdown tomorrow night. Impactful investment: The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health announced [a $48 million contract with Every Cure](, a nonprofit that works to repurpose FDA-approved medicines to treat more diseases than the drugs were originally conceived for. This huge step is fantastic news for patients everywhere — and for Dr. David Fajgenbaum, Every Cure's co-founder and president. I interviewed him [at a SXSW panel last year](, hosted in partnership with our friends at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.   Royal Dispatch [Kate Middleton from the back, turning her head so it's in profile]( Getty Images For those ~in the know~ about the royal family, there've been plenty of updates (and even more rumors) to keep up with lately. After Buckingham Palace announced in January that Kate Middleton would be undergoing abdominal surgery, she hasn't been seen since, which is rare. We've got more on [the Princess of Wales' mysterious whereabouts]( — and some theories behind her absence from the public eye. Meanwhile, King Charles has been staying on top of his royal duties as he receives cancer treatment. Here are [the details of his latest public appearance]( and updates on his recovery.   Best of February [glass of water on green background]( In the Running A number of names have been floated for Donald Trump's potential VP — and he's put forth some candidates of his own. [Read More »]( [White House with handwritten words in the background]( The O-val Office The President has certain urges, just like anyone else. We've got a peek at Warren G. Harding's love letters, and warning: They're pretty spicy. [Read More »]( [Grandmas shouting into a megaphone with flowers coming out]( Words of Wisdom In just a few short weeks, I'll be a grandma! So I turned to the Wake-Up Call community for their best pieces of advice — check them out. [Read More »](   Support System Roughly 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 every day for the next decade — and they're likely to enjoy longer lives than the previous generation. While that's great news, many of them won't be able to live independently during their later years, and elder care is increasingly falling on the shoulders of their loved ones. On this week’s Next Question, I’m unpacking [how to manage the cost of that undertaking]( with the help of Capital One and three caregivers who break down the sociological, financial, and personal aspects of this common conundrum. [LEARN MORE](   Extra Credit First-person: Today marks Rare Disease Day, and my friend Kathy Izard's husband suffers from Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, which affects just 1,200 people worldwide. She wrote an eye-opening essay about [what it's like living with daily medical uncertainty](. Good Taste: Did you know that Leap Day has an official cocktail? The Leap Day martini mixes sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier, and gin. If you prefer yours on the savory side, watch Kate Hudson teach me how to make the perfect dirty martini in this week's Good Taste, dropping this afternoon. [Sign up right here!]( Can't look away: The hottest new thriller isn't happening on TV — it's a multi-part TikTok series. Here's [the scoop on the wild tale]( that's gripping the internet. Extra deal: Richly soothing, luxuriously indulgent, and intensely hydrating, [Dermelect's new Savior Skin all-in-one repair balm]( treats and nourishes dry, cracked skin. Take 30% off the healing salve (no code required) just because it's Leap Day.   Hot Deals Collagen could be the secret to smoother skin. [This game-changing blend]( from Alaya Naturals contains five kinds of the protein and can be easily added to coffee, yogurt, and more to improve skin's elasticity. [Collagen Powder]( [READ MORE ABOUT ITS BENEFITS](   [Know it all, and help your friends catch up, too. Share Wake-Up Call and you'll earn some superb swag.]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. 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