An Ignoble Experiment: The 7: Trump’s obscene gesture; RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel pick; how much red meat to eat; and more

All of The Post: $1 a week. Billed as $4/four weeks for the first six months, then $14/four weeks. Pricing subject to change. Cancel anytime. →

PUBLISHED BY

READ ONLINE

By Jamie Ross and Hannah Jewell

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It's Wednesday, Jan. 14, and you could lower your credit card interest rate with one phone call today — just follow this script. Now let's get to the news.

President Donald Trump said he'll assist anti-government protesters in Iran.

The latest: The president said "HELP IS ON ITS WAY" in a social media post yesterday. Top officials are weighing military options, but some Trump allies warned against a strike.
A rare account of the crackdown: One woman told The Post there is "full-on war" in Iran. Some photos emerged from the protests despite a government blackout — take a look.

Read this story

Multiple prosecutors in D.C. and Minneapolis quit their jobs.

Why? The departures are linked to the Trump administration's handling of an ICE agent's fatal shooting of Renée Good. Some left after demands to investigate Good's widow.
The latest: Good's relatives hired an attorney who represented George Floyd's family.
What else to know: Prosecutors often spend years on cases, but Trump keeps pardoning high-profile defendants. Some veteran prosecutors expressed their frustrations.

Read this story

Trump made an obscene gesture and mouthed an expletive at a factory worker.

The incident: The employee shouted at Trump during a tour of a plant in Michigan yesterday. A video captured Trump raising his middle finger at the heckler — watch here.
The worker spoke to The Post: TJ Sabula, 40, said he was suspended from his job but has "no regrets whatsoever."
In other Trump news: People seeking jobs at the military newspaper Stars and Stripes are being asked to take a "loyalty" test about how they would support Trump's policies.

Read this story


	A new federal vaccine panel pick called herself an "anti-vaxxer."

Meet Kimberly Biss: The OB/GYN said in a 2022 interview that she was previously not anti-vaccine, but she went "down the rabbit hole" during the coronavirus pandemic.
Why it matters: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expanded a federal vaccine advisory panel to include Biss and others who contradict mainstream medical guidance.

Read this story

A Post analysis revealed what executives really think of the economy.

This fall, executives used words like "volatility" much less than they did over the summer and words like "strengthen" much more. (The Washington Post)

What to know: We analyzed hundreds of earnings calls, in which executives discuss company performance with investors, and found leaders grew more optimistic as 2025 progressed.
Meanwhile: The age of the average new hire rose in 2025, data shows, as boomers keep working and Gen Z struggles to break through. The rise of AI is one reason for the trend.

Read this story

Temperatures are about to tumble in many states.

What to expect: Waves of frigid air are about to spill into central and eastern parts of the country, forecasts show. The first will reach the East Coast tomorrow.
Then what? The second and third waves will arrive this weekend into next week, bringing widespread subzero temperatures to the north.
Will it be cold where you are? Find out with this map.

Read this story

How much red meat should you eat? We asked three nutrition experts.

Red meat has carcinogenic and pro-inflammatory compounds that may increase your likelihood of developing cancer and Type 2 diabetes, one expert said. (iStock)

Last week: The government reversed advice to cut back on red meat in new dietary guidance. It also advised cutting ultra-processed foods — take this quiz to learn more.
What the experts said: Find their advice here. It's generally fine to eat a "moderate" amount of red meat or full-fat dairy, they say, but you should try more plant proteins.

Read this story

Before you go … if that has made you rethink your diet: Here are 11 science-backed tips to help you eat healthier. A great start: Try making this nourishing sweet potato bowl.

One more good read: She made a Facebook comment about her mayor. Then the police arrived.

We want to hear from you: Do you have questions about stories you've seen in The 7? Send them here. We'll find the right person to answer them and share responses in our weekend edition.

And finally … take a game break: