Axios

President Trump during the State of the Union on Tuesday revealed he is awarding Connor Hellebuyck, the Team USA goalie who helped the men's Olympic hockey team win gold at the 2026 games, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Why it matters: The award is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor and is usually presented to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields, per the Library of Congress.

The men's hockey final for the 2026 Winter Olympics was the most watched sporting event that started before 9am ET in U.S. history and NBC Sports' second-most watched hockey game ever, NBCUniversal said on Tuesday.

Why it matters: Team USA's 2-1 victory in overtime against Canada contributed to a ratings success for NBCUniversal's broadcast of the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the U.S., was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Monday amid an investigation sparked by the release of the Epstein files.

The big picture: Mandelson is one of several prominent figures whose careers have been derailed amid the global reckoning for those tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics delivered a ratings success for NBCUniversal with the highest Winter Games viewership since Sochi 2014 and up 96% from Beijing 2022.

Why it matters: After the Beijing Games posted a record low for primetime viewership, the Milan Cortina Games marked a strong rebound.

The U.S. State Department is urging American citizens in several parts of Mexico to shelter in place following an operation that led to the death of the country's most-wanted drug lord.

The big picture: Violence erupted across Mexico following the cartel leader's death, affecting flights and business operations.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine has been advising President Trump and top officials that a military campaign against Iran could carry significant risks, in particular the possibility of becoming entangled in a prolonged conflict, according to two sources with knowledge of those internal discussions.

Why it matters: There's an ongoing debate at the top levels of the Trump administration about how to handle the Iran standoff and what the consequences of each option would be. At the moment, several of the voices in Trump's circle are urging caution, though some sources think Trump himself is leaning towards a strike.

The Milan Cortina Olympics were a showcase for growth and inclusion in winter sports, but the infrastructure that keeps those sports alive is on thin ice.

Why it matters: If warming weather trends continue, the map of where people can learn to curl, play hockey, or ski will be limited.

Mexican security forces killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the country's most-wanted drug lord, following information from the U.S. that assisted in Sunday's operation, the Trump administration and Mexico's defense ministry said.

Why it matters: President Trump has for months pressed Mexican officials to target drug cartels and the U.S. had offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest of Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) — a designated terrorist organization in the United States.

U.S. intelligence provided "support to the Mexican government" to assist in an operation in the country Sunday that resulted in the death of the drug lord known as "El Mencho," White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on X.

The big picture: Leavitt noted in her Sunday statement that "'El Mencho," the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was "a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland."

America is celebrating its first U.S. men's hockey gold since the '80s, toppling Canada with a clutch overtime goal amid historically sharp tensions between the neighboring nations.

The big picture: The victory was extra sweet for the MAGA world, which swiftly seized the win as an opportunity to roast Ottawa — and uplift Team USA's star player Jack Hughes' patriotism after calling out other athletes for criticizing the current state of the country.