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In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Civil rights leader and former presidential candidate Jesse Jackson died this morning at the age of 84. That's according to a statement from his family and the organization he founded, the Rainbow Push Coalition. President Trump acknowledged Jackson's death in an online post this morning. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
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Trump called Jackson, quote, a good man with lots of personality, grit and street smarts. The president also made Jackson's death largely about himself in the post touting criminal justice reform and HBCU funding he enacted last year. The administration gave extra funding to HBCUs days after cutting funding to other minority serving colleges. Trump also complained about how he is, quote, falsely and consistently called a racist by the scoundrels and lunatics on the radical left. In addition, he managed to swipe at former President Obama in the post. Two weeks ago, at the National Prayer Breakfast, Jackson's son, Democratic Representative Jonathan Jackson, led a prayer that seemed to swipe at Trump and his policies. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
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The Department of Homeland Security remains partially shut down. Congress has yet to pass a funding bill. As NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports, the stalemate continues.
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Congressional Democrats sent a counteroffer to the White House late last night. Details on the trading of offers between Republicans and Democrats have been kept under wraps. Top congressional Democrats have only dismissed the White House's plan as not substantive enough. In the wake of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis by federal agents, Democrats are demanding significant changes to the policies of dhs, specifically immigration and Enforcement. The latest counteroffer comes as both chambers of Congress are out this week on recess. Barbara Sprent, NPR News, Washington.
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The board of Warner Bros. Discovery is unanimously recommending that shareholders approve the sale of studio and streaming assets to Netflix. The day for the vote is March 20. And yet, as NPR's David Folkenflick reports, Warner is also inviting Paramount to make a best last bid for the entire company.
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The Netflix deal, valued at nearly $83 billion, involves HBO, Max, Warner Brothers Studios and DC Comics. Paramount has bid $108 billion for the whole shebang, including such cable properties as CNN, TBS and Discovery, offering sports and news. Warner has repeatedly rebuffed the bids from Paramount, which is led by David Ellison his father, Oracle co founder Larry Ellison, is one of the richest people on Earth and an advisor to President Trump. Trump says he won't play a role, but but the Ellisons have privately suggested they can get around serious antitrust concerns that have cropped up in the US And Europe. Netflix retains the right to match any such offer from Paramount, but has shown no such interest in Warner's cable TV properties. David Folkenflick, NPR News.
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On Wall street, stocks are lower. The Dow Jones industrial average is down more than 120 points. This is NPR. Winter storm warnings and advisories are up for large parts of the west this morning. There are avalanche warnings in northern Idaho and Montgo. Heavy snow is falling on some mountains in California, Nevada and Utah. The Islamic holy month of Ramadan starts tomorrow in many nations. Officials in Saudi Arabia declared they have observed the crescent moon launching the religious observance. Ramadan is marked with fasting, prayer and good works for others. This year, Ramadan coincides with the start of the Christian season of Lent. It also is observed with prayer, fasting and good works for others. Today also marks the first day of Lunar New Year for many in Asia and the beginning of the year of the horse. Ashish Valentine reports a manufacturing defect in China has left Internet users there cackling.
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A sad looking plush toy has gone viral in China. A factory in the manufacturing city of Yiwu was supposed to make thousands of smiling horse dolls just in time for the new year. But apparently a worker sewed many of the horses smiles upside down, making them crying instead of smiling. Customers who found the horses started taking photos, and a hashtag related to the horses has garnered over 100 million views so far. One commenter said, the horse looks so sad and pitiful, just the way I feel at work. Young people in China often call themselves Nioma, a term that literally means cattle horse, but refers to being overworked and undervalued. Many netizens are hoping the horse brings some good humor and luck in the new year. For NPR News, I'm Ashish Valentine in Taipei.
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