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Today’s Top Stories from NBC News

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

Good morning, NBC News readers.

Today marks one year since President Joe Biden took office — but the celebrations may be muted as he faces new setbacks and poor poll numbers.

Here's what we're watching this Thursday morning.

One year in, Biden confronts the limits of his power

One year ago, President Joe Biden took office with his party in full control of Congress after historic victories in the Georgia Senate runoffs.

The possibilities for change seemed limitless, with Biden pursuing a multitrillion-dollar agenda to tackle a host of economic problems and progressives looking to abolish the Senate's 60-vote filibuster to pass a range of ambitious legislation.

Now that euphoria has turned to dread as the pursuit of "bold" change runs headlong into harsh realities.

The latest setback arrived Wednesday as Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona voted to block a rules change needed to pass two major election overhaul bills.
And in a new NBC News poll, Americans give Biden low marks on overall job approval and the pandemic, while 6 in 10 said they disapprove of his handling of the economy.

Read more here.

Thursday's Top Stories

Biden predicts Russia will invade Ukraine

President Joe Biden predicted Wednesday that Russia will "move in" on Ukraine, just as the United States launched a fresh effort to resolve the standoff and Moscow continued to mass troops on its neighbor's doorstep.

They fought critical race theory. Now they’re focusing on ‘curriculum transparency.’

Conservative activists want schools to post lesson plans online, but free speech advocates warn such policies could lead to more censorship in K-12 schools.

Why are airlines squaring off against wireless companies over 5G?

The battle is raging over whether the radio spectrum used by the new wireless service poses a risk to the altimeters of airplanes and helicopters.

OPINION

'Bachelor in Paradise' alums Raven Gates and Adam Gottschalk had a baby by C-section. Great.

What matters far more than a well-curated birthing tableau are the baby’s health and the following years of care, writes Terri Gerstein, director of the State and Local Enforcement Project at the Harvard Labor and Worklife Program.

Also in the News

Supreme Court won't block release of Trump documents to Jan 6 committee

CIA says 'Havana Syndrome' not result of sustained global campaign by hostile power

Republicans 'all in' for Ron Johnson's Senate re-election fight in Wisconsin

Michelle Go's subway death amid record rise in anti-Asian attacks leaves community reeling

Snapchat makes it harder for kids to buy drugs

Rep. Henry Cuellar says he'll 'cooperate with any' probe amid reports of FBI raid at Texas home

Editor's Pick

Hamsters and mail: China, Hong Kong identify new Covid threats despite doubts

Faced with outbreaks that threatened to overshadow next month’s Winter Olympics, officials turned to new measures that have drawn dismay from residents and experts.

Select

A bread maker is a versatile kitchen appliance that can also cook pizza dough and soup and bake cakes.

One Fun Thing

Nicholas Fraser, the 'Why you always lying?' Vine star, never stopped creating content

If you remember Vine, the 6-second video app that brightly but briefly lit up online culture in the last decade, you may also remember Nicholas Fraser.

Back in 2015 he went mega-viral with a short clip of his song "Why You Always Lying?" and spawned an internet meme so powerful he became ubiquitously known as the "Why You Always Lying" guy.

NBC News caught up with him as part of our series of features on former Vine stars and where they are now.

"What made that Vine so successful, and so timeless, is the realness and the simplicity behind its message: Everyone knows someone who lies, and everybody in their life has lied," Fraser said. "You’re always going to be able to connect that song to somebody."

Read the full story here.