Axios

The Winter Olympic Games are just beginning, but some athletes are already speaking out against the Trump administration and its immigration enforcement tactics.

The big picture: While the Olympic Charter prohibits political, religious or racial demonstrations at Olympic sites, athletes have used early interviews and social media posts to express their concerns.

President Trump's post of a racist video of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama underscores how imagery long recognized as among the most explicit racist tropes in U.S. history has become normalized in the Trump era.

Why it matters: For decades, such imagery routinely ended careers. But even the harshest denunciations from Trump allies suggested they just want an apology, not further accountability.

The U.S. and Iran held several hours of nuclear negotiations in Oman on Friday, and officials from both countries indicated they expect further meetings in the coming days.

• During the talks, Trump's advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met directly with Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, two sources briefed on the meeting said.

Why it matters: These were the first face-to-face talks between the U.S. and Iran since the 12-day war last June. They take place amid a massive U.S. military buildup in the Gulf, and with President Trump warning he could pivot to military action if a deal can't be reached quickly.

The first Olympic match at Milan's brand new and oft-delayed Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena went off without a hitch Thursday, with the Italian women's team defeating France 4-1.

Why it matters: Construction delays brushed up right up against this week's deadline — but most fans in the crowd probably couldn't tell just how close a shave it was.

The Winter Olympics return this week in Italy, where a six-hour time difference will shape two weeks of early-morning medal events and late-night finishes for U.S. viewers.

The big picture: The Milano Cortina Games feature 116 medal events across 16 disciplines and eight sports.

The Trump administration is moving forward with a field test of a citizenship question as part of early 2030 U.S. Census planning, raising fresh alarm that the question could make a comeback after being blocked in 2019.

Why it matters: The change is part of a broader push to reshape how the U.S. counts its people, and reduce the practice of counting undocumented immigrants to determine congressional apportionment, Electoral College votes, and the distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funds.

Press freedom groups denounced Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's declaration this week that a journalist was "down another source" after her department "caught another prolific leaker," whom she'll refer for criminal prosecution.

Why it matters: The Trump administration's escalating efforts to find and prosecute government sources who leak to reporters reflects a broader effort to assert control over information flow, which Committee to Protect Journalists' Katherine Jacobsen on Thursday called "terrifying."

The U.S. and Russia are closing in on a deal to continue to observe the expiring New START arms control treaty beyond its expiration on Thursday, three sources familiar with those talks tell Axios.

• Two of the sources cautioned that the draft plan still needed approval from both presidents. An additional source confirmed that negotiations took place in Abu Dhabi, but not that an agreement had been reached.

Why it matters: New START is the last major guardrail constraining the nuclear arsenals of the two countries that together hold some 85% of the world's warheads.

This weekend kicks off a historic month for NBCUniversal, which will broadcast the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, the Super Bowl and the NBA All-Star Game, all within a span of 17 days.

Why it matters: "Legendary February," as the network is calling it, will show off the unique staying power of the broadcaster, streamer and news provider.

President Trump discussed AI, immigration, the Fed, and more as he sat down with NBC News' Tom Llamas on Wednesday.

The big picture: NBC released an extended version of his "NBC Nightly News" interview on Wednesday night, ahead of more excerpts airing during the network's Super Bowl LX pre-game show Sunday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and counterpart Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) released 10 policy demands to "rein in ICE" in a letter Wednesday to Republican leadership amid a standoff over DHS funding.

Why it matters: Congress members have two weeks to negotiate a deal to keep the Department of Homeland Security funded after more than 20 House Democrats voted with Republicans to reopen the government on Tuesday after a partial shutdown.