Happy Tuesday! — or what feels like a Monday for everyone who had a long weekend. Here’s what’s happening today: 

• The Supreme Court declined to hear several cases, including one on House Republican mask violations and a challenge to school admissions. 

• The most-read article on The Hill this morning is how “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary said he wouldn’t invest in the state of New York after former President Trump was ordered to pay a $355 million fine in his civil fraud trial. 

• Trump will participate in a Fox News town hall tonight at 7 p.m. 

I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-staging.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.  

The Supreme Court declined to hear several cases this morning. 

 
The court won’t undo sanctions on pro-Trump 2020 campaign lawyers: “The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to undo sanctions against several lawyers allied with former President Trump for filing a meritless lawsuit challenging Michigan’s 2020 presidential election results,” reports The Hill’s Ella Lee. Backstory on the case  

And it turned away a House GOP appeal over mask violations: “The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to revive a lawsuit from three House Republicans after their pay was docked for not complying with a pandemic-era mask requirement on the chamber floor.” Backstory on the case 

Plus, it won’t hear a case on race and school admissions : “The justices refused to review whether a revamped admissions policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ), one of the nation’s top-ranked high schools, discriminates against Asian Americans.” Reasoning and backstory on the case 

“Alabama’s Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are children under state law and subject to legislation dealing with the wrongful death of a minor, stating that it ‘applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location.’” Full story from The Hill’s Joseph Choi 

The House recessed for the Presidents Day holiday last week without having passed the Ukraine aid bill — or funding the government. The White House has seized on this, repeatedly slamming House Republicans for leaving town. 

Piling onto the storyline part 1: A day after House Republicans left town, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison. The questionable circumstances renewed criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has waged war on Ukraine. 

Piling onto the storyline part 2 : “Not long after the shocking news about Navalny’s death in prison, Russia earned a significant victory in the battle for Ukraine by taking the city of Avdiivka. It was Russia’s first meaningful battleground victory over Ukraine in nearly a year, and a warning sign for Ukrainian forces running low on arms.”  

Biden told reporters on Monday: “They’re making a big mistake by not responding,” referring to House Republicans. “The way they’re walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they’re walking away from NATO. The way they’re walking away from meeting our obligations. It’s just shocking. I mean, they’re wild. I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

In fact, Biden has made three separate public comments over four days about House Republicans leaving town.

When will the House return?: Feb. 28 

How this could play out politically, via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano and Brett Samuels 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky argued that delays to military aid are making life for Ukrainian troops “extremely difficult.” He also argued that Russians “are taking advantage of the delays in aid to Ukraine.” Zelensky’s full quote 

The Hill’s Laura Kelly explains how “former President Trump’s menacing rhetoric toward NATO is shining a light on what little power Congress has in protecting America’s commitments to the alliance.” (The Hill) 

Former President Trump was dealt a major blow on Friday when Judge Arthur Engoron ordered him to pay a whopping $355 million for conspiring to alter his net worth for tax and insurance reasons — and blocked Trump from engaging in New York business for three years.  

Keep in mind: Trump’s lead lawyer said he will “of course appeal” the verdict. 

The most-read article in The Hill this morning: “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary said he would no longer invest in the “loser” state of New York, citing what he called a “shocking” verdict. 📺 O’Leary’s full reasoning 

• ‘Trump’s $355 Million Fine Fits With New York Law’: Op-ed in The Wall Street Journal 
• ‘Here’s a look inside Donald Trump’s $355 million civil fraud verdict as an appeals fight looms’: AP  

GOP presidential candidate  Nikki Haley told The Associated Press that she will *not* drop out of the race regardless of the results of Saturday’s South Carolina primary.

Keep in mind: Haley is trailing former President Trump in South Carolina by 30.7 percent, according to  The Hill and Decision Desk HQ’s polling average. 

OK, but if she performs poorly in her home state, how long will she stick it out?: Until at least Super Tuesday on March 5.

In Haley’s words: “Ten days after South Carolina, another 20 states vote. I mean, this isn’t Russia. We don’t want someone to go in and just get 99 percent of the vote,” Haley said. “What is the rush? Why is everybody so panicked about me having to get out of this race?” 

Read the AP interview

Haley in a speech early this afternoon tore into Trump and President Biden over their age, policy positions and other issues, calling them “hugely flawed candidates.”

On Trump: “He’s so obsessed with his own demons from the past he can’t focus on delivering the future Americans deserve.”

On Biden:  “Every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like his mind is closing up shop.”

Election analyst Nate Silver, who founded FiveThirtyEight, offered some advice for President Biden: Reassure voters or stand down. 

Silver posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Biden needs to reassure the American public that he’s capable of handling public appearances that aren’t on easy mode. Or he needs to stand down. Or he’s probably going to lose to Trump.” Read Silver’s X post 

Plus: Silver criticized the Biden team for shielding him from the media spotlight. Read the Substack post — ‘It’s time for the White House to put up or shut up’ 

• ‘Trump will clinch majority of bound delegates in next four weeks, campaign asserts’: The Hill
• ‘Wall Street Is Already Placing Bets on the Biden-Trump Rematch’ The New York Times 

🍒 Celebrate: Today is National Muffin Day and National Cherry Pie Day. 

🍻 I can’t get enough of this series: X user @kenzianidiot has been posting a regular series,  captioned: “my dad goes to a bar with his friends every Friday and he makes a list of discussion topics.” Here is part 47 with Kenzi’s dad’s discussion topics for last week. What IS going on with the Bucks? And I personally also have thoughts on self-checkouts. 

Topics for the week of Feb. 2 

Topics for the week of Jan. 26 

Topics for the week of Jan. 19 — I appreciate the time allotted for “general discussion.”  

Topics for the week of Dec. 29  

🐶 ‘Why skipping your dog’s walk is a bigger deal than you think’: “For dogs, only hanging out in their backyard is like reading the same book again and again.” Aww, that metaphor is making me sad! ( The Washington Post) 

🧳 AA is raising checked bag fees: American Airlines is increasing the price of a checked bag from $30 to $35 or $40, depending on whether it was purchased online. (The Hill) 

The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in Washington, D.C., but is leaving for California this afternoon. Vice President Harris is in Pittsburgh today.  (all times Eastern)

• 12:40 p.m.: Biden leaves for Los Angeles.
• 1:05 p.m.: Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan deliver remarks in Pittsburgh about clean water. 💻 Livestream 
• 1:50 p.m.: Harris attends a campaign meeting in Pittsburgh. 
• 3:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters aboard Air Force One. 💻 Livestream 
• 7 p.m.: Former President Trump participates in a Fox News town hall with host Laura Ingraham. 
• 10:15 p.m.: Biden participates in a campaign reception in Los Angeles. 
• Feb. 26: The Senate meets next. 🗓️ The Senate’s pro forma schedule 
• Feb. 28: The House returns. 

To leave you smiling, here’s a baby elephant learning to walk . 

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