New Epstein Revelations, Brain Training Game & Olympic Medal Mishaps - Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Summary

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The NewsWorthy – February 10, 2026

Host: Erica Mandy
Episode Title: New Epstein Revelations, Brain Training Game & Olympic Medal Mishaps

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Episode Overview

Today's episode delivers swift, accessible coverage of major headlines, featuring updates on unreleased Epstein files and Ghislaine Maxwell's demands, the role of AI experts in a high-profile kidnapping case, new scientific findings on brain training and dementia risk, issues with Olympic medals at the Winter Games, and inspiring news from a group of peace-walking Buddhist monks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Epstein Files: Unreleased Names and Maxwell's Ultimatum

[00:00–02:46]

• Congress Members Examine Unredacted Files:
  For the first time, lawmakers viewed the unredacted Epstein files. Bipartisan lawmakers found at least six additional male names blacked out in the public version, claiming these men were "likely incriminated" in assaults of women and girls.
• Challenge to the Justice Department:
  Legislators challenge the DOJ, suggesting they may reveal the names themselves if action isn’t taken.
  • Quote:
    "They threatened to reveal the names if they have to." — Erica Mandy [00:35]
• Ghislaine Maxwell’s Refusal & Ultimatum:
  Maxwell attended a virtual closed-door deposition but invoked the Fifth Amendment, refusing all questions.
  Maxwell’s lawyer stated she will only reveal "everything she knows" if President Trump grants her clemency.
  • Quote:
    "She will only tell her full story, revealing everything she knows if President Trump grants her clemency." — Erica Mandy [01:47]
  • The lawyer also asserted both President Trump and former President Clinton are innocent in this matter, claiming only Maxwell can explain why.
• Political Reactions:
  While Trump hasn’t decided about pardoning, most lawmakers oppose clemency for Maxwell.

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2. Steve Bannon’s Case Dismissal

[02:46–03:30]

• DOJ seeks to dismiss charges against Steve Bannon after his four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress related to the January 6th committee.
  • The judge must still rule, but typically defers to DOJ decisions.
  • Bannon is expected to have his conviction removed from his record.

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3. Savannah Guthrie’s Missing Mother & The Role of AI in Investigations

[03:31–04:48]

• The ransom deadline passed with no sign of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
• FBI and authorities are using artificial intelligence experts to analyze ransom notes for authenticity and origins, since AI can now be used to author such messages.
  • Quote:
    "Now messages can be written by AI, adding even more complexity to this investigation." — Erica Mandy [04:26]
• Investigators continue fieldwork, including canvassing and searching physical locations; no major break has been reported.

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4. School Shooting in D.C. Suburb

[04:48–05:19]

• A 16-year-old boy survives a shooting at a top-performing D.C. suburb school. The suspect, also 16, is charged as an adult. Motive and details remain undisclosed.

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5. San Francisco Teachers Strike

[05:19–06:27]

• First SF teachers strike in nearly 50 years:
  Schools closed for ~50,000 students after union negotiations (raises, healthcare) break down.
• Potential Spread:
  Other California districts (LA, San Diego, Sacramento region) have authorized strikes but haven’t walked out yet.

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6. Brain Training Game & Dementia

[06:27–07:45]

• New Study:
  Largest evidence yet that certain brain “training games” reduce dementia risk.
• Details:
  Over 20 years, those doing “Double Decision” training (up to 23 hours over 3 years) cut dementia risk by 25%. The exercise is now available via BrainHQ.
• Expert Note:
  Still, dementia is complex; brain training should accompany other healthy habits (hearing/vision care, exercise, etc.).
  • Quote:
    "It has been found that people can lower, though not eliminate their risk..." — Erica Mandy [07:17]

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7. Buddhist Monks’ 2,300-Mile Peace Walk

[07:45–08:48]

• Inspiration Across the Country:
  19 monks and their dog walked from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, D.C., spreading a message of peace and nonviolence.
• Community Reach:
  Walk included daily wisdom sessions and grew in online and in-person followers.
  • Quote:
    "They speak about blocking out the noise of a messy world and finding tranquility." — Erica Mandy [08:16]
• After their D.C. arrival, the monks will return home by bus.

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8. Gordie Howe International Bridge: U.S.-Canada Dispute

[08:48–09:51]

• Bridge Completion:
  The long-planned $4.7 billion bridge between Detroit and Windsor, fully funded by Canada, is almost ready.
• Political Tension:
  President Trump threatens to block the opening, demanding new negotiations and compensation for the U.S.
  • The future of the bridge is uncertain, but the project has bipartisan support and was initiated by a Republican governor.

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9. Eddie Bauer Bankruptcy & Business Moves

[09:51–10:24]

• The iconic retailer files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the third time. Closures expected, but online operations to continue. The brand faces issues familiar to the retail sector: supply chain, tariffs, declining sales.

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10. ChatGPT to Introduce Ads

[10:24–10:59]

• OpenAI Announcement:
  Free and Go plan ChatGPT users will see ads, which may be shaped by chat topics.
  • Advertisers won’t have access to users’ exact histories/personal data.
  • Under-18s won’t see ads.
  • Quote:
    "Ads could be targeted based on the topic of your conversation with the chatbot or past chats." — Erica Mandy [10:49]

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11. Winter Olympics: U.S. Medal Wins & Medal Mishaps

[11:00–12:13]

• Team USA Highlights:
  • Women dominate hockey, facing Canada next.
  • Mixed Doubles curling reaches final for the first time; guaranteed silver or gold.
• Medal Mishaps:
  Multiple athletes reported medals physically breaking during celebrations. Notably, Breezy Johnson’s medal "didn't even survive the medal ceremony," snapping during festivities.
  • Quote:
    "Don't jump in them." (Advice from Breezy Johnson to fellow athletes) — Erica Mandy [12:02]
• Organizers are investigating; overall, Norway and Switzerland lead in golds.

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12. Trivia Tuesday & Fun Facts

[12:20–end]

• Trivia Tease:
  "Who has won gold in both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games?"
  (Answer on next week’s show.)
• Last Week’s Answer:
  Pope Francis was once a nightclub bouncer, a detail that surfaced in 2013 and contributed to his “common touch” reputation.
  • Quote:
    "The revelation sparked a lot of jokes online, but it also helped explain his reputation as a pope with a common touch..." — Erica Mandy [13:14]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the public interest of the Epstein files:
  "They threatened to reveal the names if they have to." — Erica Mandy [00:35]
• On brain health findings:
  "It has been found that people can lower, though not eliminate their risk..." — Erica Mandy [07:17]
• On Olympic medal mishaps:
  "Don't jump in them." (Advice from Breezy Johnson to fellow athletes) — Erica Mandy [12:02]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Epstein revelations & Maxwell’s ultimatum | 00:00–02:46| | Steve Bannon’s case dismissed | 02:46–03:30| | Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother & AI investigations| 03:31–04:48| | School shooting in D.C. suburb | 04:48–05:19| | SF teachers strike | 05:19–06:27| | Brain training game & dementia | 06:27–07:45| | Buddhist monks’ peace walk | 07:45–08:48| | U.S.-Canada bridge dispute | 08:48–09:51| | Eddie Bauer bankruptcy | 09:51–10:24| | ChatGPT to include ads | 10:24–10:59| | Winter Olympics medal wins and mishaps | 11:00–12:13| | Trivia Tuesday and Pope Francis fact | 12:20–end |

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Tone

True to Erica Mandy’s signature style, the episode maintains an informative, balanced, and conversational tone—quick-paced yet friendly, laced with curiosity, and occasionally lighthearted, even when relaying serious news.

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Conclusion

This episode offers a compact, engaging roundup spanning politics, health, tech, education, and feel-good stories. The most impactful segments focus on new revelations in the Epstein case and the intersection of technology and investigations, while lighter moments—like Olympic trivia and monks on a cross-country trek—underscore the show’s commitment to fast, fair, and fun news.

Transcript

[A]

Today is Tuesday, February 10th. We'll tell you what lawmakers now say about what wasn't included in the version of the Epstein files released to the public and the ultimatum from Ghislaine Maxwell. Also, why AI experts are now getting involved in the search for Savannah Guthrie's mother. Plus, which game has been found to protect aging brains, why Olympians are being told to use caution around their newly earned medals and how a group of monks ended up inspiring people all over the country. Those stories and even more news coming up. Welcome to the Newsworthy. All the day's news in less than 15 minutes. I'm Erica Mandy. Thanks so much for being here. Let's do this. Members of Congress have started viewing the unredacted Epstein files. They got access for the first time yesterday. And already a couple of bipartisan lawmakers say they've spotted at least six names of men who are likely incriminated but but were blacked out. In the files released to the public. They didn't say who those men are yet and instead challenged the Justice Department to do something that said they threatened to reveal the names if they have to. It's not clear exactly how those men are implicated, but the lawmakers say they're after people who actually assaulted women and girls. Also yesterday, lawmakers got the chance to question Jeffrey Epstein's longtime accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. She appeared virtually from prison for a closed door deposition, but Maxwell did not actually answer any questions and instead invoked her Fifth Amendment right. Remember, Maxwell was already convicted and is serving a 20 year prison sentence for helping recruit and groom underage girls children for Epstein. And now one of her lawyers says she will only tell her full story, revealing everything she knows if President Trump grants her clemency. One thing the lawyer did say was that both President Trump and former President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing. And he said only Maxwell can explain why. At this point, President Trump hasn't said if he'll consider pardoning Maxwell in the past. He said he would not rule it out. But many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are making it clear they don't think she should be pardoned. To be continued. The U.S. justice Department moved to dismiss a criminal case against one of President Trump's longtime allies. We're talking about Trump's former chief strategist and current conservative activist Steve Bannon. A federal jury found Bannon guilty in his contempt of Congress trial because he refused to cooperate with the January 6th committee. Bannon already served four months in federal prison, but the case is still open since he's kept appealing his conviction, arguing the congressional subpoena he ignored was politically motivated and not legitimate. Well, yesterday President Trump's DOJ asked a federal judge to let the government dismiss the case. Technically, the judge will still have to rule, but but judges generally don't have much authority to overrule the Justice Department's.

[B]

Decision to withdraw charges.

[A]

So Bannon is expected to have the conviction removed from his record. A crucial deadline set by Nancy Guthrie's alleged kidnappers has now passed without her return. And at last check, the FBI said it was not aware of any communication between an abductor and Nancy's daughter, Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie or anyone else in her family. A ransom note gave the Guthrie's a deadline of yesterday Evening to pay $6 million in Bitcoin for 84 year old Nancy's return. It's not clear if any ransom was paid, but the note did reportedly warn about extreme consequences. Savannah posted another video yesterday asking the public to report anything that may seem strange, hoping for any clue that may.

[B]

Lead to her mother.

[A]

Investigators aren't giving up either. As the Los Angeles Times reports, authorities are now consulting with artificial intelligence experts to examine ransom notes, hoping to find out if they're legitimate and where they came from. The Times explains that for decades FBI profilers and veteran detectives have been able to evaluate grammar and syntax and ransom notes to find clues like a person's education level or socioeconomic background. But now messages can be written by AI. Adding even more complexity to this investigation, investigators have also been canvassing the area, including nearby homes, gas stations and even a septic tank. But so far no major findings have been announced. Another school shooting is now under investigation, this time in an affluent suburb of Washington, D.C. a 16 year old boy was shot but survived. Another 16 year old boy was arrested and officials say he will be charged as an adult. Police say they are both students at a top performing school. But so far information about what led to the shooting, like how the student got the gun, has not been released. San Francisco teachers went on strike this week for the first time in nearly half a century. So with that, public school is now canceled for roughly 50,000 students. The teachers walked out after their union could not reach an agreement with the school district on raises and health care costs despite nearly a year of negotiations. As of this morning, those negotiations continue, but the walkout has no end date and more strikes could be coming soon. Educators in Los Angeles, San Diego and 2 Sacramento Area School districts have also authorized strikes as part of their ongoing contract negotiations, but at this point it's not clear if it will come to that Everywhere Researchers have found the strongest evidence yet that a brain training game can lower a person's risk of developing dementia. A large long term study confirmed the results first found in earlier trials. It looked at people who did a specific kind of cognitive training for up to 23 hours over three years, and it found after 20 years they had a 25% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and other types of dementia as compared to a control group. The training game used in the study was designed by psychologists who used grants from the National Institutes of Health. People who play are asked to identify objects on a screen quickly and make a decision about them, and it's now being recommended to people outside of trials. Still, it's important to point out dementia is complicated with no singular fix. It has been found that people can lower, though not eliminate their risk by doing things like getting their hearing and vision screened, managing their cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, exercising and more, as well as this game. It's now available as an exercise called Double Decision through an online subscription program called BrainHQ. We have more news for you in just a moment, but first a quick break for our sponsor.

[B]

Here's something that may surprise you. I still look forward to getting the mail every day. In fact, it's kind of a fun.

[A]

Thing my son likes to do with us.

[B]

He'll run out to the mailbox and loves to turn the key and see what's inside. Plus there's just something about that physical personal touch. But you might be asking Erica, what about the junk mail? Yeah, I know. No thanks. That's why I'm a fan of Gunders. They create smart, targeted direct mail that people actually want. It's not junk, it's intentional, well crafted mail going to the right audience for the products and services they need. And you know what? There's a level of trust and attention with physical mail. In a world full of AI generated content and sketchy digital ads, this is something real hand delivered by a human. And here's the kicker.

[A]

Direct mail response rates are way higher.

[B]

Than digital, often more than 30 times the response rate of email and other digital ads. So if you're a business owner, CMO or marketing manager and want to reach better customers and cut through the noise of digital clutter, check out Gunder. And don't miss their free 2026 direct mail lookbook packed with over 500 real creative examples that drive response. Just visit trustdirectmail.com and get yours free hand delivered, of course. That's trustdirectmail.com now back to the news.

[A]

19 Buddhist monks and their dog have now walked 2,300 miles in the spirit of peace. They started their journey in October in Fort Worth, Texas. Since then, they've walked through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. At times, they've faced bad weather and critical injuries, but they've kept going. And today, they plan to arrive at their final destination, Washington, D.C. the whole point of the walk is to spread their message of compassion and nonviolence. They speak about blocking out the noise of a messy world and finding tranquility. Every day they walk 20 miles, but they stop for lunch to share wisdom with anyone gathered. And as their walk has continued, the gatherings have gotten bigger and bigger, and millions more follow them online. They've reached people of multiple religious and political backgrounds. The monks plan to spend a couple of days in the nation's capital. Then they'll head back to Texas and by bus. A new bridge between the US And Canada is set to open soon. Work has been underway on the Gordie Howe International Bridge since 2018. It's set to connect Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, which by some measures is the busiest trade crossing in North America. And all the major construction is now complete. But there's one President Trump is now threatening to block it. The President says he'll keep it from opening until Canada, quote, treats the United States with the fairness and respect we deserve. He also says the US Needs to be fully compensated for, quote, everything we have given them. So he wants negotiations to start now. The $4.7 billion bridge has been fully financed by the Canadian government, but the plan is for it to be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Canada and Michigan. It was first negotiated by the former Republican governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder. And it's had widespread bipartisan support. Now, it's not clear how President Trump would try to keep the bridge from opening. So far, no comment from the White House. Also no comment from the Canadian government. Stay tuned. The outdoor apparel store Eddie Bauer has declared bankruptcy. This is actually the third time in the company's 106 year history that it's filed for Chapter 11. This time, it says it will close some stores, but not all of them. And its online business should not be impacted at all. Like many other retailers in recent years, Eddie Bauer has faced dwindling sales, supply chain issues, and and what the CEO cited as tariff uncertainty. Now, the company says it's lined up a restructuring agreement with secured lenders so it can stay in business and it's starting liquidation sales. ChatGPT is getting ads OpenAI says people using the free version or the Go plan, which costs $8 a month, may start seeing advertisements. The company is looking for new ways to make money from its popular chatbot beyond paid subscriptions. So how will this work? OpenAI says ads won't change or influence how ChatGPT answers questions, and users will be able to clearly tell what's a normal response and what's an ad. But ads could be targeted based on the topic of your conversation with the chatbot or past chats. For example, someone asking for a recipe at some point might then see an ad for a meal kit or grocery delivery service. OpenAI says advertisers will not have access to users, exact chat histories or personal information, and users believed to be under 18 will not see ads. It's another big day for Team USA at the Winter Olympics Today. Americans are competing in hockey, figure skating, luge and skiing, but the US Team.

[B]

Has already seen success.

[A]

For example, the American women are dominating in hockey. Yesterday they secured a second straight shutout victory, and they're hoping for more of the same today when it's Team USA versus Canada. Another highlight yesterday came when Team USA pulled off an upset in mixed doubles curling. The Americans have never meddled in that event, but now they've advanced to the final, meaning they'll take home either gold or silver at this point in the Winter Games. Norway and Switzerland are leading the gold medal count with three each. The US has two, but of course there's a lot of competition left to go before the closing ceremony on February 22nd. By the way, there's a new warning for any athletes who do win a medal. Be gentle with them. At least four athletes have reported problems with their medals, seeing them snap, shatter or split. In fact, American alpine skier Breezy Johnson's prize didn't even survive the medal ceremony. It fell off during her celebration and broke into two pieces. So now she's telling her fellow competitors, don't jump in them. Organizers of the Games say they're investigating the mishaps. That's it for the main news today. So now it's time for Trivia Tuesday, when we ask a different trivia question every week. But first, this episode is brought to you by Blueland. Most people have heard of microplastics and know they don't want them around, but yet don't realize they're still bringing them into their homes every day. That's why I've made the switch to Blueland across all of my cleaning products in my home, especially at the start of the year when I'm rethinking routines and trying to build more sustainable habits at home. Certified by Cradle to Cradle Blueland products meet the highest standard of clean. They're effective yet gentle on people and the planet. From cleaning sprays and toilet bowl cleaner to dishwasher and laundry detergent tablets, Blueland's 100% microplastic free EPA Safer Choice certified formulas are safe to use around my child, my pet and even our plants. I love not having to choose between the safe option and what actually gets my house clean and I want that to be the norm for everyone, not the exception. And I really do love all of their products. The spray cleaners, for example, include a lot of different options, multi surface, glass and mirror. The list goes on. And they all work well. They smell super nice without being overpowering and the color coded refillable bottles make it fun and sustainable. Blueland has a special offer for listeners right now. Get 15% off your first order by going to blueland.comnewsworthy. you won't want to miss this blueland.comnewsworthy for 15% off. That's blueland.comnewsworthy to get 15% off. I highly recommend these products. Okay, now back to Trivia Tuesday and today's trivia question is who has won gold in both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games? Listen again next Tuesday for the answer and explanation. As for last week's trivia question, which pope was once a nightclub bouncer? The answer is Pope Francis. Long before he became the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, worked a series of regular everyday jobs to support himself. And yes, one of them was working the door at a nightclub. The detail first came out when he became Pope in 2013 as he casually shared his life story. He talked about sweeping floors, working in a chemical lab, teaching high school, and at one point, kicking troublemakers out of clubs. The revelation sparked a lot of jokes online, but it also helped explain his reputation as a pope with a common touchsomeone who understood real life because he lived it. Thanks for joining us to get caught up on the news today. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest news to know. Until then, have a great day.