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Monday, February 23, 2026

Analysis-Novo's stumbles burnish Lilly's widening lead in weight-loss drugs

February 23, 2026
Analysis-Novo's stumbles burnish Lilly's widening lead in weight-loss drugs

By Maggie Fick and Bhanvi Satija

Reuters

LONDON, Feb 24 (Reuters) - With U.S. arch rival Eli Lilly streaking away on weight-loss prescriptions and valuation, the last thing Novo Nordisk needed was to give it a helping hand. Then came the latest trial data for the Danish company's ‌next-generation obesity drug.

Novo unveiled late-stage trial data for its CagriSema drug on Monday that not only showed it underperforming Lilly's rival Zepbound, but appeared ‌to show weight loss with Zepbound was better than even some of Lilly's own data had shown.

Novo's shares tanked 16% while Lilly jumped 5% as the trial data raised doubts about the Danish ​company's obesity drug pipeline and ability to claw back ground that it has lost in recent years as competition in the market has hardened.

"They literally ran a trial that said that Lilly's product is better," said BMO Capital analyst Evan Seigerman, adding that even with more trials ahead, it would be tough to win over investors after twin misses with CagriSema in just over a year.

"They've tried twice and they've now disappointed twice. So why should we believe that this is going to be any different?"

LILLY'S GRIP ‌ON OBESITY DRUG MARKET TIGHTENS

The disappointing outcome marks a ⁠setback in Novo's efforts to fight back against Lilly, and could deepen the U.S. company's dominance in the obesity market, which Novo pioneered with the launch of its Wegovy injection in 2021.

Wegovy drove Novo to become the most valuable listed European firm ⁠in 2024, but the two companies have diverged since, with Lilly gaining a trillion-dollar valuation, while Novo has battled profit warnings, leadership churn and stalling sales. It also lost a bidding war for obesity biotech Metsera last year.

The latest trial was designed to show CagriSema could be Novo's next obesity drug blockbuster, at least as effective as tirzepatide, the active ​ingredient ​of Zepbound, sold in Europe as Mounjaro.

Instead CagriSema achieved a 23% reduction in body weight over ​84 weeks compared with 25.5% for Eli Lilly's tirzepatide in ‌the trial. That was in line with earlier CagriSema data but higher than some Zepbound trials, albeit for shorter periods.

Novo's management tried to play down the data, citing trial design factors. CEO Mike Doustdar called Zepbound's performance an "abnormality" - which most analysts weren't buying.

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"The trial results are what they are," said one Novo shareholder, asking to speak anonymously, who dismissed management's argument as a "lame excuse".

Novo did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the investor's statement.

Deutsche Bank analysts wrote on Monday that the data meant that the diabetes and obesity market was "likely to coalesce around Lilly's portfolio", citing its strong range of products.

Lilly's Zepbound already has a clinical edge ‌on the Wegovy injection, though Novo has scored a point by getting its weight-loss pill ​first to market in the United States. Lilly expects U.S. approval for its rival pill in ​April.

NOVO MANAGEMENT CLASHES WITH ANALYSTS

JP Morgan analysts said it would now "be difficult ​for Novo to dislodge market share from Lilly, with Zepbound well entrenched".

"The trial seems to further raise the question of the value ‌proposition of CagriSema in the obesity market landscape," Rajesh Kumar, ​HSBC senior global life sciences & healthcare analyst, added ​in a note.

During an investor call with Novo, Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Papadakis asked whether CagriSema was now "obsolete" as a competitive upgrade to Wegovy. CEO Doustdar responded that, once approved, CagriSema would have the best label data.

Novo Chief Scientific Officer Martin Holst Lange added that patience was needed to ​see CagriSema's full potential.

But the latest news compounds earlier CagriSema ‌misses, and leaves Novo in a tough spot.

The results likely mean Novo will face an uphill battle in persuading patients to use and ​physicians to prescribe CagriSema over "more effective, better tolerated Zepbound", Barclays said in a note. This leaves "Novo little to compete on apart from ​price."

(Reporting by Maggie Fick and Bhanvi Satija; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Jonathan Oatis)

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Videos from Puerto Vallarta show smoke, flames and chaos after killing of Jalisco drug kingpin

February 23, 2026
Videos from Puerto Vallarta show smoke, flames and chaos after killing of Jalisco drug kingpin

Smoke filled the sky as the swanky beach town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, erupted into chaos Sunday after the government killed a drug kingpin.

NBC Universal

Shops and cars were set ablaze, allegedlyby cartel members. Tourists and residents cowered in fear.

The Mexican military killedNemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known by his nickname "El Mencho,"the head of the New Generation drug cartel, Sunday in a shoot-out 180 miles east of Puerto Vallarta, in the same state of Jalisco. Mexico had a $15 million reward for his capture.

A day after the violence broke out, streets are deserted Monday as locals and tourists heed remain-in-place orders. Schools in several states canceled classes,The Associated Press reported.

Burned-out shells of vehicles remained on the streets, while damaged stores were heavily scorched from flames, videos showed.

"We saw the taxicabs all blown up and blocking the streets and people running down and towards us," Jim Beck, an American tourist who sheltered in his Puerto Vallarta hotel, told NBC's "TODAY" show. "After this morning was the first time we actually felt fear."

Firefighters work to extinguish flames from buses allegedly set on fire by members of organized crime in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026.  (Reuters)

Marcus Brady, a Chicago resident currently in Puerto Vallarta, shared videos of the violence with NBC News. He said he thought the cartel's intent was to send a message to the Mexican government and American and Canadian tourists that, "If we want to, we will take complete control of everything and everyone here, no one can stop us."

He said the violence happened in two waves starting early Sunday morning. First, a few cars were set on fire on the main road and bridges in and out of the Zona Romántica area of Puerto Vallarta, he said, with much of that taking place in an area behind foothills.

"When those fires were going out, everyone thought it was over. I know I did. So many of us thought it OK to venture out and I decided to walk down to the boardwalk, through the zone," Brady said.

But the second wave was the worst, targeted inside the zone, he said. Brady said he mistook buses and taxis positioned at intersections as barricades to prevent violence, but they had been put there by the cartel during the night. "And when the second wave started, they coordinated setting them on fire, so it would last all day. The intention was to terrify," he said.

Tourists stand outside and watch a column of smoke in the distance down a road (Stringer / Reuters)

A video from KXAS in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, showed several cars in the parking lot of a Costco set ablaze.

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Yoni Pizer told NBC Chicago that he, his husband and friends had to run for their lives to escape what he said were members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Puerto Vallarta.

"The gunmen were following us and they were shooting," Pizer said. "And they were attacking cars and pulling out drivers. At that point, we just ran as fast as we could." His SUV was torched, but a passerby helped them get away.

Video on social media from Sunday showed sirens blaring andpassengers and workers runningthrough the airport in Puerto Vallarta. It was unclear why the sirens went off or why people were running. Images showed a long line ofpeople hiding behind ticket counters.

Road closures affected some travelers' ability to get to airports, according to U.S. and Mexican embassy and consulate officials.

Steven Polito, a drag performer who divides his time between New York City and Puerto Vallarta, said in an essay forBusiness Insiderthat he was struck by how "unusually quiet it was" when he went to gym at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.

"When I left around 10:00 a.m., it was a very different scene," Polito said. "Everyday life was juxtaposed against horrendous property againsthorrendous property damage. There was an older woman sweeping leaves in the street, while burned-out car after burned-out car was in flames."

Over at the Guadalajara International Airport, officials saidthe violence in the nearby cities did not affect theiroperations. It said social media reports did not reflect what was happening at the airport.

But the violence was not confined to Puerto Vallarta.

Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara, appeared deserted Sunday night as civilians hunkered down. Authorities later announced they had cleared most of the more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states.

Omar Casillas was running a half marathon, about to cross the finish line when things became chaotic. He began getting texts from his family telling him to "barricade the door, pack all your stuff, be ready to leave if you need to, if you have the chance to," NBC Chicago reported.

Casillas' flight out of Guadalajara's airport was canceled.

Avideo posted onlineshows a customs booth in Reynosa, Mexico, about 5 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, filled with flames and smoke.

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'A far more complicated violence' for Mexico after cartel leader death

February 23, 2026
'A far more complicated violence' for Mexico after cartel leader death

Thepublic display of violence in Mexicofollowing theslaying of drug lordNemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes could continue for a few days or weeks given his stature within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the group's extraordinary military-style capabilities, veteran cartel watchers tell USA TODAY.

USA TODAY

The cartel produced a similar nationwide show of force in 2015, even using a rocket propelled grenade to shoot down a Mexican army helicopter, after the Mexican military tried to capture Oseguera Cervantes, more commonly known as "El Mencho."

In 2019, the rival Sinaloa Cartel waged war on the Mexican government when it tried to arrest one of the sons of its leader, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

"If past is prologue, what we've seen is that there will be at least a week, maybe more, of these sort of violent reprisals by the cartels. And then things will turn inward," Anthony Placido, former head of intelligence for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, told USA TODAY.

<p style=After Mexican officials announced a powerful Mexican cartel leader was killed during a military operation on Sunday, several regions of the country are grappling with ongoing security risks and unrest.
Police officers secure the area where vehicles were set on fire by organized crime members to block a road following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Zapopan, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as A bus set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, burns at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. A man extinguishes a burning truck set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation in Jalisco to arrest a high-priority security target, at one of the main avenues in Zapopan, state of Jalisco, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. <p style=Mexican Army personnel stand guard as passengers leave Guadalajara International Airport in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco State, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Mexican National Guard special forces patrol around the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO) headquarters in Mexico City on Feb. 22, 2026. This aerial view shows burned cars and trucks, allegedly set on fire by organised crime groups in response to an operation to arrest a high-priority security target, on a highway near Acatlan de Juarez, Jalisco state, Mexico on Feb. 22, 2026. A man riding a bicycle takes a photo of a burned truck, allegedly set on fire by organized crime groups in response to an operation to arrest a high-priority security target, on a highway near Acatlan de Juarez, Jalisco state, Mexico on Feb. 22, 2026. Firefighters work to extinguish flames from a vehicle used by organized crime members as roadblock following a series of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. A burned vehicle used as barricade by organized crime members, following a series of arrests by federal forces, stands in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. Police officers and civilians walk near the burned wreckage of a vehicle used as a barricade by members of organized crime following a series of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. A burned vehicle used as barricade by organized crime members, following a series of arrests by federal forces, lies in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Feb. 22, 2026. Firefighters work to extinguish flames from a vehicle used by organized crime members as roadblocks following a series of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. Police officers and civilians walk near the burned wreckage of a vehicle used as a barricade by members of organized crime, following a series of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. The burned wreckage of a truck, used as a barricade by members of organized crime following a series of detentions by federal forces, lies in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. Tyre puncture spikes lie on a street after being used by members of organized crime. following a series of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. Firefighters work to extinguish flames from a vehicle used by organized crime members as roadblock following a series of detentions by federal forces, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026. Soldiers check motorcycle drivers after organized crime burned vehicles to block roads following a federal operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as A bus used as a roadblock by organized crime burns following a federal operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as

Photos show Mexico unrest after cartel leader 'El Mencho' killed

After Mexican officials announced apowerful Mexican cartel leaderwas killed during a military operation on Sunday, several regions of the country are grappling withongoing security risks and unrest.Police officers secure the area where vehicles were set on fire by organized crime members to block a road following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, commonly known as "El Mencho," was killed, in Zapopan, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026.

Already, criminal violence has engulfed parts of Mexico after troops killed Oseguera Cervantes in a Feb. 22 shootout in the cartel's stronghold in the western coastal state of Jalisco.

The cartel's response was immediate, spreading outward from Jalisco and plunging much of Mexico into chaos and violence. CJNG soldiers set cars, buses and businesses on fire and blockaded roads inviolence that spreadto 20 states. Mexican authorities said at least 62 people were killed, including 25 National Guard members, and 70 were arrested.

But as bad as things are in Mexico following Oseguera Cervantes' death, CJNG appears to have stopped short of unleashing anything close to the kind of violence it has shown it is capable of in the past.

U.S. counternarcotics officials have said in recent years the cartel has amassed so much firepower that it resembles more of asmall nation state's armythan a transnational crime syndicate.

The question now, experts say, is whether CJNG will de-escalate the sporadic violence and regroup, or ramp up its attacks on the Mexican government, the public and rival cartels fighting over the lucrative trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs into the United States.

Experts say the cartel will likely train its sophisticated arsenal of weapons on its rivals in an effort to get back to its main business − earning billions of dollars in annual drug revenue as what the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officially calls "one of thefive most dangerous criminal organizationsin the world."

'Nothing they do is going to bring Mencho back'

Most analysts say CJNG will regroup and focus on maintaining the global dominance over the drug trade that it has long shared with the rival Sinaloa cartel.

"Nothing they do is going to bring Mencho back," Placido said. "And so the most important thing for them is who's going to take over the cartel, and are the Sinaloa guys going to try and take their territory?"

"I don't have a crystal ball," Placido said. "But I would think that instead of these big public manifestations where they're burning vehicles and doing all kinds of stuff to protest against the government, they're going to rapidly become involved in sort of inter-cartel violence and warfare. And that will be more targeted."

In the short term, CNJG certainly has the capacity to wreak much more lethal violence on the Mexican government and the public – including American tourists who have been told to shelter in place.

Some past demonstrations of force by CJNG have included mass arson campaigns known as "narcobloqueos," even more simultaneous roadblocks across multiple states than it has currently – and high-profile assassination attempts.

Police cordoned off an area of where an assassination attempt was made on Mexico City's police chief. Officials have blamed Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and its fugitive leader, "El Mencho."  Attack7

A 'messy aftermath' before a cartel gets back to business

In an assessment Feb. 23, Mexico-based International Crisis Group analyst David Mora wrote that "claiming a top criminal scalp will not spare the government from a messy aftermath."

Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institution expert on nonstate armed groups including CJNG, said the current violence echoes that which followed the Mexican government'sattempt to capture Ovidio Guzmán López, a son of El Chapo, in its stronghold of Culiacán in 2019.

Within hours, heavily armed Sinaloa forces paralyzed the city,directly assaulted the militaryand forced the government to release him.

In the current case, Felbab-Brown told USA TODAY, the current violence is essentially CJNG's way of showing its capabilities, essentially an act of "retaliatory, demonstrative violence against the state."

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"They are saying, 'Hey Mexican government, we are punishing you. We are responding. You killed our leader. This is showing you what we can do,'" Felbab-Brown said.

"It's pretty enormous in geographic scope and scale," she said. "But it will die off in a matter of time."

That could take just a few days, or a few weeks, she said.

"And once this immediate violence settles, then the question is, what kind of other violence will break out within factions of CJNG and between them and their rivals?" Felbab-Brown said. "And that violence will be far more complicated and far more lasting."

What happened after El Chapo's capture

Once the initial explosion of publicly directed violence dies down, what happens next depends on a number of factors.

El Mencho left no clear heir, Mora said, and the remaining leaders could dispute control.

If CJNG doesn't quickly appoint a successor and close ranks, infighting among rival factions within it could consume the organization, Placido said.

That was the case after the capture of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the leader of the rival Sinaloa cartel a decade ago.

Since then, Sinaloa has been wracked by infighting and internal power struggles between the sons of "El Chapo" – known as the "Chapitos" – and factions loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, who is now in U.S. custody too.

Much of that violence is cartel-on-cartel though, and would not paralyze huge swaths of Mexico – and its important tourist industry – like the current situation, Placido and Felbab-Brown said.

In the case of CJNG, taking out El Mencho could slow his own cartel's rapid expansion within Mexico and internationally. But it is also likely to leave it weakened against the Sinaloa cartel on several fronts that could lead to bloody turf battles throughout Mexico and even in the United States, they said.

A less likely but still possible scenario: all-out war

A less likely scenario is that CJNG will launch a longterm war against the Mexican government to avenge the death of its longtime leader.

Over the past half century, Mexican drug cartels and criminal gangs haveengaged in protracted skirmishesover its sporadic counternarcotics crackdowns. Colombian cartels did the same thing in the 1990s with car bombs, assassinations and attacks on the military.

If that happens, CNJG is capable of inflicting significant damage, given its arsenal of heavy weapons,many of them obtained from U.S. gun manufacturers,according to a USA TODAY investigation.

Most analysts predict that won't be the case because CJNG, like Sinaloa and other cartels before it, would prefer a détente with the government that allows it to focus on its global business operations.

"In many ways, it's just a waste of resources. El Mencho is dead, so there is nothing to bargain for" like there was after the arrest of El Chapo's son, Felbab-Brown said.

Some public violence is needed, she said, "to show how fearless they are, how they can act with more brazenness, more brutality, more violence than anyone" in order to keep Mexican authorities at bay.

But in the end, Placido said, "It's all about the money. It's always been about the money."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mexico faces 'more complicated violence' after 'El Mencho' death

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Kyle Pitts, George Pickens franchise tag impact: Top remaining free agents

February 23, 2026
Kyle Pitts, George Pickens franchise tag impact: Top remaining free agents

Free agency is weeks away but two major players might not be at the negotiating table.

USA TODAY Sports

Tight endKyle Pittsand wide receiverGeorge Pickensare the major prizes of free agency on offense. Teams besides theAtlanta FalconsandDallas Cowboys, respectively, could be out of luck for negotiating with them.

Atlanta is reportedly using the franchise tag on Pitts andCowboysco-ownerStephen Jones inferred that was likelyfor Pickens as well.

"I wouldn't put any timeframe (on a contract)," Jonestold reporters. "Once you have a tag, you have a tag. We know George is going to be here."

The franchise tag is a tool teams can use to prevent one player per year from reaching free agency. The tag is a one-year, fully guaranteed contract calculated using other salaries at the position.

It prevents the player from securing a longer-term deal from another team at the cost of a fully guaranteed salary.

Non-quarterbacks rarely play a season with the franchise tag. Instead, it's often used as a tool to keep the player at the negotiating table for their original team for longer. Jones' quote points to the Cowboys using the franchise tag to keep Pickens in the building to iron out a contract before the start of 2026. If not, he'll play the season on that one-year deal.

Here's what it means for the rest of free agency at their positions if Pickens and Pitts aren't free to negotiate league-wide:

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WR free agency without George Pickens

Pickens is by far the top wide receiver available in this free-agent class. Second-team All-Pro wide receivers rarely are available - especially ones who haven't hit their second contract yet. That's why the Cowboys are motivated to keep him in-house.

If Pickens stays with Dallas, that moves all of the other free agents up a spot in the rankings and with it likely a bump in pay.

Fellow 2022 draftees Alec Pierce and Rashid Shaheed will become the top free agents at wide receiver. Both offer excellent speed on the outside and Shaheed's a dynamic threat in the return game. Jauan Jennings offers a more possession-based skillset but could get a bump in salary with Pickens off the market as well.

Here's the top 10 free agent wide receivers by projected average annual value (AAV) of their future contracts after Pickens, perSpotrac:

  1. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers: $22.61 million

  2. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts: $20.24 million

  3. Wan'dale Robinson, New York Giants: $17.64 million

  4. Deebo Samuel, Washington Commanders: $15.77 million

  5. Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins: $15.07 million

  6. Rashid Shaheed, Seattle Seahawks: $14.12 million

  7. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $13.31 million

  8. Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers: $12.00 million

  9. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers: $6.81 million

  10. Hollywood Brown, Kansas City Chiefs: $5.5 million

TE free agency without Kyle Pitts

Pitts has draft pedigree as the No. 4 overall pick in the2021 NFL Draft, as well as recent production with his second-team All-Pro award in 2025.

Like Pickens, there's a mix of options beyond him at the position, either veterans or second-contract players. Teams will have to decide if they value more youth or production at the position with handing out money in this free-agent cycle. Without Pitts, there's a chance the other players have a chance to make more money but the overall tight end market isn't on the same level as wide receiver. Teams aren't as willing to spend big on the position in the same way.

Here's a look at the top 10 free agents at the position without Pitts, per Spotrac projected AAV:

  1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: $10.77 million

  2. David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: $9.99 million

  3. Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens: $8.81 million

  4. Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans: $7.96 million

  5. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $7.91 million

  6. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: $6.00 million

  7. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams: $5.35 million

  8. Tyler Conklin, Los Angeles Chargers: $3.33 million

  9. Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals: $3.22 million

  10. Darren Waller, Miami Dolphins: $3.21 million

All the NFL news on and off the field.Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition:Top 100 free agents for 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Pitts, Pickens franchise tags' impact on NFL free agency at WR and TE

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Winter Olympics 2026: Team USA women's hockey declines President Donald Trump's invite to State of the Union

February 23, 2026
Winter Olympics 2026: Team USA women's hockey declines President Donald Trump's invite to State of the Union

Team USA's women's hockey team was asked to attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, but declined that invite Monday.

Yahoo Sports

In a statement, a USA hockey spokesperson said the team was grateful for the invite, but had "previously scheduled academic and professional commitments," per NBC News.

"We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women's Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement," a USA Hockey spokesperson said. "Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate."

"They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment," the spokesperson added.

Trump drew some criticism Sunday after video emerged of him congratulating the men's hockey team for also winning the gold medal at the 2026 Olympics. Toward the end of the call, Trump laughed as he told players, "We'regoing to have to bring the women's team, you do know that. I do believe I probably would be impeached." That comment drew laughs from players in the locker room.

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FBI director Kash Patel also drew criticism forflying to Italy and celebrating with the men's hockey team. He was the one who called Trump following Team USA's win.

While Trump chuckled about the suggestion on the phone, the invite was ultimately extended to the women's team. And the women's team opted to decline.

The women took home the gold medal last Thursday,defeating Canada in overtime 2-1. The women's team trailed late in the contest before Hilary Knight deflected the puck into the goal with roughly two minutes to play. Megan Keller then pulled off a tremendous move on a defender before scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to give Team USA the win. It wound up beingthe most-watched women's hockey game of all time.

Three days later, the men defeated Canada in overtime 2-1 in eerily similar fashion. With the contest tied 1-1, Jack Hughes scored in overtime togive the men the walk-off, gold-medal win. It marked the first time since the "Miracle on Ice" team that the U.S. men took home gold in hockey at the Olympics.

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Jack Hughes Predicted He'd Win Olympic Gold with His Brother in Resurfaced Letter from 2019

February 23, 2026
Jack Hughes Predicted He'd Win Olympic Gold with His Brother in Resurfaced Letter from 2019

Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty; Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty

People Jack Hughes 2019 NHL Draft; Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty; Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty 

NEED TO KNOW

  • Jack Hughes predicted his gold medal win with Team USA men's hockey at the Winter Olympics

  • The NHL star penned a letter to himself seven years ago, which has resurfaced after his golden goal on Sunday, Feb. 22

  • He wrote the letter for ESPN ahead of becoming the first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft at age 18

Jack Hughesmanifested his gold medal at the2026 Winter Olympics.

The NHL star, 24, turned his dreams into a reality when he scored the game-winning goal forTeam USA's thrilling win over Canadaat the Games on Sunday, Feb. 22. In doing so, he achieved a feat he literally predicted in a note to himself seven years ago.

Hughes penned aletter to his future selffor ESPN at age 18, shortly before he was selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft. In it, the athlete reflected on his journey while also writing what he hoped to accomplish in his ice hockey career.

Jack Hughes, the first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft. Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty

Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty

"I'm writing this to you as draft day nears, and it feels like so much has built up to this moment," Hughes began his letter, which was re-shared by ESPN after Team USA won 2-1 in overtime at the Milan Winter Games.

"Your brothers made you who you are on and off the ice," he continued, referencing his siblings, Luke Hughes, 22, andQuinn Hughes, 26, both of whom are professional hockey players in their own right. "I hope they'll be able to say you did the same for them and that they had great NHL careers too."

This next part of the note is where it becomes prophetic.

"Maybe you even suited up with them a couple of times in the NHL," Jack continued. "Maybe we all represented the United States at the Olympics or World Championships. Maybe we won a gold medal (or medals) together. What an honor that would be."

Jack and Quinn did play together on Team USA in their gold-medal victory. All three of the Hughes brothers have also transitioned into the NHL; Quinn plays for the Minnesota Wild, while Luke suits up alongside Jack for the Devils.

Quinn,who spoke about how "proud" he is over his younger brother, revealed after his team's win that Jack predicted the golden goal the night before the big game (the brothers were roommates in the Olympic Village).

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"At 12:30 a.m., I want over to [Jack] and said, 'You up?' " Quinn recalledvia NHL media. "And he said, 'Yeah, dreaming about scoring the game winner.' "

Jack Hughes seconds after scoring the golden goal for Team USA against Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Elsa/Getty

The gold medal win was monumental for the U.S. men's hockey team. It marked their first Olympic victory sinceLake Placid in 1980, when the team defeated the Soviet Union in a matchup that would go down as one of the most famous victories in history.

Jack was the hero of the day, as he scored the winning goal just under two minutes into overtime. He did so without his front tooth, which was knocked out after he took Canadian Sam Bennett's hockey stick to the face.

In an interview after the win, Jack wasfilled with enthusiasm for his country and his teammates.

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Jack and Quinn Hughes of Team USA celebrate winning the gold medal over Canada in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Elsa/Getty

"This is all about our country right now. I love the U.S.A. I love my teammates, it's unbelievable," Jack told NBC. "The USA Hockey brotherhood, it's so strong. We had so much support from ex-players, and I'm so proud to be American today."

The New Jersey Devils star also shouted out U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 out of 42 shots during the game.

"It's an unbelievable game by Hellebuyck. He was our best player tonight by a mile, unbelievable game, unreal game by our team," he said. "Just a ballsy, gutsy win. That's American hockey right there."

He concluded, "That's a great Canadian team, but we're USA, we're so proud to be Americans. This night was all for our country."

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Feds investigate shooting at New Hampshire-Canada border crossing; suspect hospitalized

February 23, 2026
Feds investigate shooting at New Hampshire-Canada border crossing; suspect hospitalized

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A person was shot near the Canadian border in New Hampshire early Sunday by a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was returning fire, investigators said Monday.

Associated Press

The person was taken to a hospital, officials said.

The FBI said the shots were fired around 1 a.m. Sunday in Pittsburg, a town of about 800 people at the border with Canada. The agency did not provide a name of the suspect, but said the person was receiving medical attention at a hospital.

The Border Patrol agent, whom the FBI also did not name, was unharmed, an agency spokesperson said.

Pittsburg is a rural community that is home to the state's sole border crossing with the Canadian province of Quebec.

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The shots were fired near the port of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said. The FBI's Boston field office will be investigating the shooting along with the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of New Hampshire, authorities said.

"Initial reports indicate that the subject opened fire on the agent at which time the agent returned fire," Scott said in a statement. "CBP is cooperating fully with investigators."

Officials with the FBI, CBP and U.S. Attorney's Office declined to provide more detail on the suspect or the circumstances that led to the exchange of gunfire. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement that information would be released if charges are brought against the person.

Pittsburg is about 150 miles (241 kilometers) north of the state capital of Concord. The town borders Maine and Vermont as well as Canada. The shooting took place near a usually quiet crossing in the only town in New Hampshire that borders Canada. That international border stretches for close to 60 miles (97 kilometers).

Whittle reported from Scarborough, Maine.

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