News Wrap: Trump Urges Pardon for Netanyahu, Fed Bank President Retires, Last Penny Minted

Middle East Political Developments

• 🇺🇸 President Trump is urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial.
• ⚖️ Trump characterized the prosecution as "criminally unjustified" in a letter to Herzog, following a similar plea made at the Knesset.
• ⚠️ Prime Minister Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
• 💥 Israeli President Herzog issued a rare condemnation of violence in the West Bank after masked Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians.

US Political and Economic News

• 🏛️ A former aide to California Governor Gavin Newsom, Daniel Williamson, has been indicted on 23 charges related to an alleged scheme to steal campaign money.
• 💰 The scheme involved diverting approximately $201,500 from a dormant political campaign for personal use.
• 🏦 The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Rafael Bostic, is retiring in February, opening a seat on the committee that sets national interest rates.
• 🪙 The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia pressed its last penny today, following President Trump's order to cease production, which is expected to save $56 million.

Weather and Market Updates

• ❄️ Large parts of the nation are beginning to thaw after a record cold spell hit the Southeast, with millions under freeze warnings.
• 🌌 Clear skies in other parts of the country allowed for dazzling displays of the northern lights, visible as far south as Kansas.
• 📈 Stock markets ended mixed, with the Dow Jones adding over 300 points while the NASDAQ slipped and the S&P 500 remained virtually flat.

Notable Events and Retirements

• 🎶 In Melbourne, Australia, a record-setting bagpipe bonanza saw 374 pipers play AC/DC's "It's a long way to the top."
• 🏈 Pro football star Rob Gronkowski is retiring for good, signing a one-day contract with the Patriots to retire with the team where he became a three-time Super Bowl champion.