Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday

Updated Feb 3, 2020 - Sports

9 memorable Super Bowl 2020 ads

Rebecca Falconer

Tom Brady in Hulu's Super Bowl commercial. Photo: Hulu

Super Bowl 2020 was watched by an estimated 194 million people on Sunday, according to the National Retail Federation.

The big picture: With figures like that, it's no wonder the clash between Jimmy Garoppolo’s San Francisco 49ers and Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs drew some of the biggest names in business, sports and politics during the commercial breaks. Here are some of the most memorable ads from the big event.

Days before the game, Tom Brady posted a photo of himself at a stadium on social media. It stirred speculation about the future of the 42-year-old, who's a free agent this year.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

All became clear on Sunday when it turned out the posts were teasing his Super Bowl commercial for Hulu:

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

President Trump's 2020 campaign touted his social justice credentials in a Super Bowl ad featuring Alice Marie Johnson. Trump commuted Johnson's life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense after her cause was championed by Kim Kardashian West:

Trump's new fierce 2020 Democratic rival Mike Bloomberg spent $11 million on a Super Bowl ad promoting gun safety measures to curb gun violence:

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Jeep got us all nostalgic for the 1993 comedy classic "Groundhog Day," as Bill Murray reprised his role as our favorite weather forecaster Phil Connors for the automaker's commercial:

Cheetos brought us further back in time with a cheesy ad featuring rapper MC Hammer and his 1990 classic song "You can't touch this":

Doritos called in big guns from the entertainment industry for its ad, with Lil Nas X and his insanely catchy chart-topper "Old Town Road" taking on Sam Elliott:

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Planters resurrected Mr. Peanut in a 30-second ad, titled "Tribute," showing the beloved character's funeral:

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

Google went with an emotional Super Bowl commercial featuring an 85-year-old grandfather who uses Google Assistant to keep his late wife's memory alive.

Hyundai went heavy on the star power and Boston accents in its commercial, with John Krasinski, Rachel Dratch and Chris Evans featuring in the "smaht pahk" special:

Go deeper:

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more ads.

Go deeper

1 hour ago - World

Army to award Purple Hearts to troops injured in Iran missile attack

Damage at Ain al-Asad military airbase housing U.S. and other foreign troops in the western Iraqi province of Anbar in January 2020. Photo: Ayman Henna/AFP via Getty Images

The Army has approved 39 more Purple Hearts for U.S. soldiers wounded in an Iranian military ballistic missile attack on an Iraq base in January 2020, the Army Times first reported Wednesday.

Why it matters: Most of these soldiers sustained brain injuries, per the Army Times. Then-President Trump dismissed their injuries at the time as "headaches" and "not very serious," sparking backlash from some veterans groups.

Go deeper (<1 min. read)

Sophia Cai, Stef W. Kight

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Scoop: U.S. begins denying Afghan immigrants

Afghan refugees on a bus bound for temporary housing after arriving in Greece. Photo: Byron Smith/Getty Images

The Biden administration has begun issuing denials to Afghans seeking to emigrate to the United States through the humanitarian parole process, after a system that typically processes 2,000 applications annually has been flooded with more than 30,000.

Why it matters: Afghans face steeper odds and longer processes for escaping to the U.S., despite the earlier sweeping efforts by the Biden administration to assist its allies. Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups say the government has set untenable barriers to a safe haven in the U.S.

Go deeper (2 min. read)

Alayna Treene, author of Sneak Peek

4 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Dems invoke Robert Byrd to sell Manchin on Senate rules changes

Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photos: Diana Walker, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A small group of Senate Democrats is privately invoking the legacy of late West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd in an effort to sway Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to support their plans to change the chamber's rules, Axios has learned.

Why it matters: Manchin — who holds Byrd's Senate seat — has often referenced his predecessor's strong moral conviction and insistence on preserving the Senate as an institution, as justification for some of his tough positions.

Go deeper (1 min. read)