Trump's Obamas post deleted; Epstein emails; Olympics opening ceremony

Your afternoon news update

ADVERTISEMENT View in Browser | APNews DONATE View in Browser | APNews DONATE AP Afternoon Wire Advancing the Power of Facts Policy changes, but facts endure. AP delivers accurate, fact-based journalism to keep the world informed in every administration. Support independent reporting today. Donate. By Amy Langfield February 06, 2026 By Amy Langfield February 06, 2026 Good afternoon and welcome to your afternoon news update from AP. Today, President Trump's racist post about the Obamas is deleted after a backlash; emails reveal Jeffrey Epstein helped arrange a White House visit for Woody Allen in 2015; and a man whose mother was found among 189 decaying bodies in Colorado tells his story. UP FIRST Former President Barack Obama talks with then President-elect Donald Trump as Melania Trump reads the funeral program before the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Trump's racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it President Donald Trump's social media post featuring former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle was deleted after a backlash from both Republicans and Democrats who criticized the video as racist. The Republican president's Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Accused militant is taken into custody in the deadly 2012 Benghazi attack, Justice Department says The US said a Marine could not adopt an Afghan girl. Records show officials helped him get her Iran and US hold indirect talks in Oman. America's military leader in the Mideast joins the talks With $48M in philanthropic backing, a division of USAID relaunches as nonprofit US stocks roar toward their best day since May as Dow surges 1,000 points and bitcoin stops plunging Newly obtained emails undermine RFK Jr.'s testimony about 2019 Samoa trip before measles outbreak Trump's aggressive tactics force a reckoning between local leaders and Washington In unusual move, Republican chairman scrutinizes companies tied to husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar California county and foster care agency reach $13.5M settlement with six abused Turpin siblings Jury awards $8.3 million to foster teen's family after his death at juvenile intake center Malcolm Gladwell's 'The American Way of Killing' to be released in September Civil War scholar and retired Gettysburg College professor Gabor Boritt dies at 86 Renée Fleming, Béla Fleck to perform together at Carnegie Hall after dropping out of Kennedy Center TOP STORIES Epstein emails show he helped arrange White House visit for Woody Allen Emails in the huge trove of Jeffrey Epstein records released by the Justice Department in recent days illustrate his relationship with Woody Allen in new depth. In 2015, Epstein used his connections to another friend who had been in President Barack Obama's administration to help get Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, a White House tour. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Norwegian crown princess apologizes to royals and all 'disappointed' by her Epstein contacts UK police search two properties linked to Peter Mandelson as part of Epstein probe The new season of 'Cross' is about corrupt billionaires. Aldis Hodge sees some parallels Man whose mother was found among 189 decaying bodies tells the story Derrick Johnson buried his mother's ashes in 2023 beneath a golden dewdrop tree with purple blossoms alongside his home on Maui's Haleakalā Volcano, fulfilling her wish of a final resting place looking over her grandchildren. One year later, the FBI called and told him those weren't his mother's ashes. Johnson's mother's remains were among nearly 200 bodies found decomposing inside a Colorado funeral home. The owners sent families fake ashes in an attempt to conceal their actions and were arrested and charged with abuses of corpses. One of those owners will be sentenced Friday and Johnson will be among the people who will confront him in court to tell him how much pain he's endured. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Colorado funeral home owner faces sentencing for abusing 189 bodies  WATCH: Man whose mother's body was among corpses stashed in funeral home speaks out ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show performer Bad Bunny departs after a news conference, Thursday, in San Francisco ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Super Bowl: Bad Bunny's halftime show: Here's some things to expect and what they mean Venezuela: A glimmer of hope for democracy as opponents test the limits of free speech Outskirts of Islamabad: Suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque kills at least 31  Nigeria: Extremists issued a call to prayer and then slaughtered those who turned up Los Angeles: 3 dead, 6 hurt after 92-year-old driver hits bicyclist and crashes into a grocery store  Contractors or employees debate: Uber found liable in sexual assault case and ordered to pay $8.5 million 'West Wing' actor: Timothy Busfield indicted on 4 counts of sexual contact with a child Quiz: Test your knowledge of this week's news WATCH: Jellyfish sleep similar to humans despite having no brain, study finds TRENDING Singer Mariah Carey performs during the Olympic opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Live updates: Milan Cortina Winter Olympics kicks off with a four-site, two-cauldron opening ceremony An unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Winter Olympics opening ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture has officially kicked off the Milan Cortina Games. Follow along with our live blog; check out the fashion; and see our Winter Olympics 2026 guide. You can also sign up for our daily Olympics newsletter, helmed by your regular Afternoon Wire writer, Sallee Ann Harrison. Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Amy Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Amy SUPPORT THE AP. DONATE. Manage preferences | Privacy policy | Unsubscribe   *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here. ADVERTISEMENT