Overview of MN Body Cameras, Shutdown Showdown, Au Pair Affair Verdict and more
This CNN Podcasts episode (Five Things You Need to Know — Feb 2) briefs listeners on the top national stories: a federal decision to equip DHS officers in Minneapolis with body cameras, a partial federal shutdown and an upcoming House vote on a spending package, a major U.S.–India trade/oil development, the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, fallout from Grammy jokes and newly released Jeffrey Epstein files, and the guilty verdict in the “Au Pair Affair” murder trial. The episode also plugs CNN podcast episodes on oral health and generational reporting.
Top headlines (concise summaries)
DHS officers in Minneapolis to wear body cameras
- The administration announced that all Department of Homeland Security officers operating in Minneapolis — including ICE personnel — will be issued body cameras.
- The move responds to long-standing calls from advocates and critics of immigration enforcement to increase transparency.
Partial federal shutdown; House expected to vote on spending package
- A partial government shutdown began Saturday.
- The Senate passed a spending package on Friday; the House is expected to vote the following day.
- Speaker Mike Johnson says he’s confident the bill can advance but must clear procedural hurdles. Democrats are expected to oppose it; Johnson cannot afford to lose many GOP votes.
- President Trump urged House members on Truth Social to pass the deal promptly.
U.S.–India trade/tariff shift tied to oil purchases
- President Trump announced tariff cuts on India after the Indian prime minister agreed to stop buying Russian oil and replace some of it with Venezuelan supplies.
- Analysts note India is the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian oil (after China); reducing that flow could increase pressure on Russia’s economy and potentially influence its stance on the war in Ukraine.
Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie (Savannah Guthrie’s mother)
- Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing after not showing up at church; she has mobility issues and was without key medication, though family says she has no cognitive impairment.
- Pima County sheriff said homicide detectives were sent to the home and investigators "believe we do in fact have a crime scene," calling what they found “very concerning.”
- She was last seen Saturday evening; the family reported her missing Sunday.
Trevor Noah/Grammys joke, Epstein document releases
- Trevor Noah made a Grammy-era joke referencing “Epstein’s island” and Bill Clinton; President Trump called the awards “unwatchable” and threatened legal action on Truth Social.
- The Justice Department released more than 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, with some references to public figures including Trump and Clinton.
- Lawyers for Epstein survivors asked federal judges to force the DOJ to remove documents from public release, alleging inadequate redaction of survivors’ information. DOJ says it has redacted thousands of victims’ names.
“Au Pair Affair” verdict — Brendan Banfield convicted
- Brendan Banfield was found guilty of aggravated murder in the killings of his wife and a man nearly three years ago. He faces a mandatory life sentence in Virginia.
- Prosecutors say Banfield carried out the plan after an affair with the family’s au pair: they allegedly created fake accounts to pose as his wife on a fetish site to lure Joseph Ryan to the house, where Banfield stabbed his wife and shot Ryan, then staged the scene to suggest self-defense.
- Banfield admitted to the affair on the stand but denied planning the murders.
Notable quotes from the episode
- Pima County sheriff on the Nancy Guthrie investigation: “We believe now, after we've processed that crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime scene.”
- Trevor Noah joke (as read in the transcript): “That is a Grammy that every artist wants, almost as much as Trump wants Greenland... because Epstein's island is gone, he needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
- President Trump on the Grammys (Truth Social): called the show “unwatchable.”
Key takeaways and next actions
- Monitor the House vote on the Senate-passed spending package — the shutdown will likely continue until the vote clears the House.
- Follow updates from Pima County law enforcement on Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and any official findings from the crime scene investigation.
- Watch for developments in the Epstein document dispute about redactions and privacy concerns for survivors.
- The Banfield conviction carries an automatic life sentence; sentencing will affirm penalty under Virginia law.
- For deeper context:
- CNN.com for fuller reporting and live updates.
- Relevant CNN podcasts referenced: Chasing Life (oral health/fluoride discussion) and The Assignment (generational perspectives with Audie Cornish).
Other mentions / promos
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Chasing Life episode preview: interview with dentist/author Dr. Kami Haas on oral health, cavity prevention, and the fluoride debate.
- The Assignment (Audie Cornish) — a podcast episode discussing generational labels and media consumption differences (millennials vs. Gen Z).