An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: A possible cause of the biggest L.A. blaze; Bannon vs. Musk; NFL playoffs; and more

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By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell

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Good morning. It's Monday, Jan. 13, and if you're starting the week feeling exhausted, you should check out these new science-based tips for better sleep. Now let's get to the news.

Three active wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles.

The latest: The death toll has risen to at least 24 people. And new evidence points to a possible cause of the biggest blaze. See an hour-by-hour timeline of that fire here.
What else to know: Dangerous winds are set to return this week. Meanwhile, Republicans are blaming Democrats for the disaster, and experts say several key factors left L.A. exposed.

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Donald Trump's inauguration is one week away.

What to expect: It should be unusually routine — applications for protest permits have been slow, and demand for tickets is high. Find out more about preparations in D.C. here.
This week: Some of Trump's incoming Cabinet will have confirmation hearings in Congress. Tomorrow, Defense pick Pete Hegseth will face tough questions about his past.
One more thing: Steve Bannon had some harsh words for fellow Trump ally Elon Musk.

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President Joe Biden discussed a Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel's prime minister.

This weekend: Hopes were revived for a deal that would involve 34 living hostages being released over a 42-day ceasefire, officials said. The leaders spoke yesterday.
What else to know: Israel, concerned over its reliance on U.S.-made weapons, is moving to make its own heavy bombs. And Iran is bracing for a second Trump term.

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The U.S is on track to ban TikTok as soon as this weekend.

Why? The Supreme Court signaled Friday that it will uphold a law to ban or force a sale of TikTok. But it's not clear how a ban would work, and Trump has vowed to save the app.
In other tech news: Meta is ending its employee diversity and equity programs. CEO Mark Zuckerberg told podcaster Joe Rogan he thought corporate culture had been "neutered."

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A new pain pill, which is billed as nonaddictive, could soon be approved.

What to know: The long quest for powerful non-opioid drugs that treat pain without risk of addiction is nearing a milestone. The FDA could approve suzetrigine within weeks.
In other health news: Americans are drinking less and less alcohol, data shows. The trend began long before the surgeon general's recent warning on the cancer risks of alcohol.

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Three divisional-round matchups in the NFL playoffs are set.

The Washington Commanders celebrate the winning field goal yesterday in Tampa. (Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post)

Last night: The Washington Commanders upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the buzzer for their first playoff win in 19 years. It was the latest step in a magical transformation.
Tonight: The L.A. Rams host the Minnesota Vikings in a match relocated to Arizona. The winner faces the Philadelphia Eagles in the next round — find the full bracket here.

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Bats use storm fronts to "surf" the skies, a study found.

What to know: Researchers using tracking devices discovered that nocturnal bats tend to set out ahead of warm fronts on their 1,000-mile annual migrations.
Why they do it: Air movements accompany changes in temperature, which the bats can ride like spooky surfers as they journey each spring to roost.

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Before you go … egg prices keep climbing: Here's what's going on. Plus: Why it's harder than ever to find reliable product recommendations online.

One more good read: Brodie the dog was attacked and left with a crooked face. Now he's a social media star.

And finally … test your news knowledge with The Post's daily quiz, On the Record. Click here to play. Or try our word games, Keyword and the brand-new Wridges.

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow.