Today's Top Stories from NBC News

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026

In today's newsletter: The House Rules Committee will meet about a spending package to end the partial government shutdown. Multiple artists make Grammy history in a night dominated by anti-ICE messages. And Egypt prepares to receive wounded Palestinians as the Rafah crossing opens.

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▼ The Lead

House Rules Committee to meet about government funding package

(Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The House Rules Committee will discuss the Senate-approved government funding package at its meeting this afternoon, according to an advisory from the committee. The package funds all of the government through September except for the Department of Homeland Security, which would operate on short-term funding for two weeks.

It comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the phone over the weekend, according to a spokesperson for Johnson. The spokesperson said that Jeffries indicated that House Democrats would not help Republicans pass the funding package under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process that requires a two-thirds vote on the floor.

Republicans would have needed roughly 70 Democrats to help pass the package if it came under suspension. Instead, the Rules Committee will now try to advance it, meaning Republicans will likely need to approve everything on their own.

On NBC News' Meet the Press yesterday, Johnson said he's "confident" there will be enough GOP votes to reopen the government by Tuesday.

The partial government shutdown, which went into effect on Saturday, has not had a significant impact. But any unforeseen delay in the House could drag it deeper into this week.

Follow live updates on our blog.

Related news:

Rep. Ro Khanna said he's a "firm no" on reopening the government and questioned how Democrats "in good conscience" can vote to continue ICE funding.

Liam Conejo Ramos, a 5-year-old boy who became a viral symbol of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, is back home after he and his father were released from an immigration facility in Texas.

Two detainees were infected with measles at the facility where Ramos was held, a DHS official said.

The 68th Grammy Awards last night, which comedian Trevor Noah helmed for the sixth and final time, was filled with firsts — and proved to be a political hot spot.

Bad Bunny made history when "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS" was crowned album of the year, the first time an all-Spanish-language album won the coveted category. The Puerto Rican artist also made perhaps the biggest statement of the evening against the Trump administration's immigration operations across the country.

"Before I say thanks to God, I gotta say: ICE Out," he said during one of his acceptance speeches. "We're not savage. We're not animals. We're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans."

It was a big night for Kendrick Lamar, who set a new record as the rapper with the most Grammy wins. He now has 27. And Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg joined the "EGOT" club. The accolade is for those who have won all four major awards — Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — a feat that has been achieved by less than two dozen people.

Read all our takeaways here.

More highlights from the 2026 awards:

History making hit: The animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" gave K-pop its first-ever win at the prestigious award show.

Artists call out ICE: Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean were among the dozens of artists who spoke out about immigration.

Fashion speaks: Personal style and political statements were on full display, with several artists sporting "ICE OUT" pins on the red carpet. As with past Grammys, many artists used the red carpet to also get creative with their looks.

Rafah crossing reopens between Gaza and Egypt

A key border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt partially reopened today, marking a major step in the ceasefire brokered in part by the U.S. The Rafah crossing has long been one of the only gateways to the rest of the world for Palestinians in the enclave, and is now considered a lifeline for the tens of thousands in need of medical treatment.

The limited reopening will allow some foot traffic in and out of the Palestinian enclave, enabling small numbers in need of medical aid to leave Gaza and letting some people return to the territory.

Egypt's health ministry said the level of preparedness at all healthcare facilities had been raised for the movement of patients and the wounded, and the return to Gaza of those who have recovered. Some 150 hospitals nationwide, nearly 12,000 doctors and between 250 and 300 fully equipped ambulances were on standby for crisis management, it said.

Read the full story here.

▼ Read All About It

The mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC's "TODAY" show, has been reported missing in Arizona, officials said.

Trump announced that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will close on July Fourth for a two-year renovation.

Demond Wilson, who starred as Lamont Sanford in "Sanford and Son," passed away at 79.

Three members of an Arizona fraternity are facing a hazing charge in connection with the death of a student during a pledge event.

Melania Trump's documentary, "Melania: Twenty Days to History," brought in $7 million despite criticism and poor reviews.

▼ Staff Pick

How the trans inclusive world of pinball was turned upside down

About a year ago, I received an email from a reader who said she appreciated my articles about transgender people, but, as a trans woman, she found them depressing. She suggested I do an article on the inclusive world of competitive pinball.

During my research, I learned that a trans woman was recently forced out of a women's restroom at a North Carolina pinball tournament. The way the incident was handled by the International Flipper Pinball Association, the governing body of competitive pinball, fractured the niche community.

What struck me is that most of those involved — including the woman who was forced out of the bathroom — still love pinball and plan to fight to keep it as inclusive as it's always been.

There's so much that wasn't included in this story, specifically about how pinballers love the game so much they will spout random trivia. For example: There's a 1990 game called FunHouse that features a creepy talking ventriloquist doll named Rudy. According to the pinball experts I spoke with, there's a version of the game in South Carolina that's believed to be haunted because Rudy will say things that aren't included in his original script.

— Jo Yurcaba, enterprise reporter

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Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Kayla Hayempour, with contributions from Amina Kilpatrick and Rufina Chow.

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