Republicans are gathering for their annual extravaganza.

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Republicans are gathering for their annual extravaganza.

What is it?

The 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The event, which kicks off today, brings together politicians, activists, and media to network and buy merch that says things like “Trumpinator.” This year, the headliner is former President Trump, who's expected to speak later this week. Since Trump is the clear front-runner in the GOP primary, the burning question at this CPAC is over who his running mate will be. Enter: the CPAC VP straw poll, which reportedly has 17 contenders, ranging from long shots like Tucker Carlson to more viable candidates like Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY). Then, there's Trump’s lone remaining opponent, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley.

Does Haley want to be Trump’s running mate?

In her words, that's “off the table.” While campaigning this week in her home state of South Carolina, Haley vowed to stay in the GOP race, at least until Super Tuesday. She also called out her fellow Republicans for being too scared to stand up to Trump, adding, “I feel no need to kiss the ring. I have no fear of Trump’s retribution.” Her comments come as one poll found Haley trails Trump by 23 points in South Carolina. There are at least 40 GOP primaries and nine GOP caucuses still left. However, Trump’s campaign projects he will claim enough delegates to secure the nomination by March 12.

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The annual gathering of conservatives appears to have put its support behind Trump as the GOP presidential nominee. Now, as the focus shifts to his potential VP pick, Haley is urging Republicans to not count her out yet.

Where there are updates…

Kansas City. Yesterday, Missouri prosecutors said they charged two men with second-degree murder for the deadly shooting after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade. The shooting last week killed 43-year-old Lisa Lopez-Galvan and injured about two dozen others, including at least nine children. Prosecutors said the two men pulled out their guns after an argument escalated. The two men, who suffered gunshot wounds, remain hospitalized and are each being held on a $1 million bond. They could face life in prison, if convicted. Authorities have also charged two teens in the case and said there could be more arrests.

Who people are talking about…

Ruby Franke. Yesterday, the former “8 Passengers” vlogger was sentenced to four consecutive prison terms for aggravated child abuse. Franke, who had more than 2 million followers on YouTube, was arrested last year after her 12-year-old son escaped. She pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse, admitting to denying her children food and water and to physically abusing them. During sentencing, a prosecutor said her children faced a “concentration camp-like setting.” Franke apologized to her children, reportedly saying, “I’ll never stop crying for hurting your tender souls.” She faces up to 30 years in prison. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will decide how much time she serves.

What’s got people playing Muse...

A massive black hole. Earlier this week, astronomers said they discovered the fastest growing black hole ever recorded. To review, a black hole is a huge concentration of matter from which not even light can escape. This one, located about 12 billion light-years away, is growing so fast that it basically eats one sun a day. Its mass also happens to be 17 billion times larger than the Earth’s sun. Big Leo energy.

Who TF is asking all the right questions…

Reesa Teesa. Over the weekend, the Atlanta-based woman entranced TikTok with a 50-part series called “Who TF did I marry?” Teesa explains how she married a “pathological liar” she met on Facebook Dating. Cue: all the binge-watching.

Who's apparently ready to kick it in Madrid...

Kylian Mbappé.

Who’s far away from those Bahamas days…

Sam Bankman-Fried.

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