Axios

President Trump called Olympic skier Hunter Hess "a real loser" Sunday after Hess described the "mixed emotions" of representing the U.S. at the 2026 Games.

Why it matters: While the Olympics traditionally unite Americans behind their athletes, the Milano Cortina Games have become the latest flashpoint, with the president once again targeting elite athletes representing the U.S. who have used their platform to criticize him.

As fans descend on the 2026 Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl this weekend, hackers are gearing up for their own high-stakes contest.

The big picture: Hackers love to target global sporting events, and newer AI tools have made it easier to scale phishing and vulnerability scanning, experts told Axios.

The opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Olympics drew over 21 million viewers for NBC and Peacock on Friday.

Why it matters: This year's Winter Games kick off what's expected to be a ratings bonanza for NBC's "Legendary February," during which it will broadcast the Olympics, Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game.

America's 250th anniversary is colliding with a renewed battle over Black history, just as the White House moves to both smooth over and narrow how race and equity are discussed nationwide with rollbacks of diversity initiatives.

Why it matters: Black History Month — in its 100th year since Carter G. Woodson's 1926 Negro History Week — arrives amid an administration actively shrinking institutions that preserve and teach that history.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved up his visit to Washington and is expected to meet with President Trump on Wednesday to discuss the negotiations with Iran, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Why it matters: The announcement of the urgent visit comes a day after Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations in Oman with Iran's foreign minister over a potential nuclear deal.

Legacy broadcasters are recruiting creators as on-air talent and promotional partners.

Why it matters: Networks are racing to win back younger audiences who have abandoned TV for YouTube and TikTok.

The U.S. wants Russia and Ukraine to sign a peace deal that ends the war by June, before President Trump pivots to focusing his energy on the midterm elections, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters.

Why it matters: The U.S. timeline Zelensky laid out is pretty ambitious, both because there are still significant gaps between Russia and Ukraine and because Ukraine will have to hold a referendum on the peace deal before it is signed — a process that can take several months.

The White House is planning a leaders meeting for the Gaza "Board of Peace" on Feb. 19, according to a U.S. official and diplomats from four countries who are on the board.

Why it matters: The White House wants to use the meeting to push forward the implementation of the second phase if the Gaza ceasefire deal and raise money for reconstruction.

President Trump said on Friday that the U.S. and Iran had "very good talks" in Oman on Friday and claimed the Iranian position is more favorable regarding a nuclear deal than it was before the 12-day war last June.

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