Morning Briefing: Trump Gets To Work; Storms Take A Toll; Oscars Nominees

Good morning, Patchers. We've got the Oscar nominees named today, another round of Cabinet appointment hearings and more.

And the Oscar Nominees Are ...

The 2017 Oscar nominations are out. You knew you'd see "La La Land" nominated. See the other nominees.

And the Losers Are ...

Take a look back through some of the worst flicks of the year gone by. The Razzies nominees have been named for 2o16, including a high-budget superhero franchise that fizzled and a sequel that already deserves a "eugoogly." (Patch)

Donald Trump Gets to Work

It's been a busy few days for the newly inaugurated president, so don't feel bad if you missed a thing or two. Monday alone, he issued three executive orders of note, and that's to say nothing of the Cabinet-appointment process proceeding apace in the Senate. (Patch)

Up Next

Monday saw Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson advance toward appointment, a signal that Republicans will fall in line with Trump despite public reservations. Up Tuesday are two congressmen considered for White House budget director and for secretary of Health and Human Services. Also having a hearing today is Linda McMahon, the former WWE exec nominated to head Trump's small business administration. (Patch and New York Times)

Up Again?

Meanwhile, Trump's nominee for the Department of Education continues to face scrutiny, with Democrats formally demanding a second hearing for Betsy DeVos on Monday. The Republicans who hold the keys, however, indicate it's unlikely. (Patch)

QUICK HITS

Super Bowl 51: Can You ID These NFL Stadiums From Outer Space? (Patch)

Top 10 Most Colorful Signs From Women's March On Washington (Patch)

Sierra Nevada Beer Recall Affects Select Bottles With 'Packaging Flaw' (Patch)

Crossing the Line

A Twitter joke targeting President Trump's youngest reportedly got an SNL writer suspended and brought Chelsea Clinton rushing to the defense. The now-deleted Inauguration Day tweet joked that 10-year-old Barron Trump "will be this country's first home-school shooter," sparking a swift backlash. (Patch)

Tornadoes by the Dozen

The Southeast United States is picking itself up after getting hammered by nearly four dozen possible tornadoes in just three days. At least 20 people were killed by the storms, and President Trump is pledging federal assistance. (Patch)

Nor'easter A-Blowin'

Meanwhile, to the north, heavy winds and flood-causing rains are rolling in to many states along the coast. On Long Island alone, thousands were without power Monday night as a nor'easter lashed the region with strong winds and heavy rain. (Patch)

'The Last Jedi'

The next Star Wars movie got a title and a teaser Monday, and people have got a bad feeling about it. A teaser image for "The Last Jedi" was released, and aside from the ominous name itself, fans are obsessed with the fact that the logo is forbiddingly Darth Vader-light-saber red. (Wired)

Good News for 41

After days spent in the hospital, former President George H.W. Bush has reportedly been moved out of the ICU. His wife, former First Lady Barbara Bush, was also briefly hospitalized and has now been released. (Patch)

Did We Get It Right?

Oscar nominations are out today, and Patch has its own picks for the top slots. How did they line up with your predictions? Did we at least guess some of the Academy's picks? Find out here. (Patch)

Here's to a day spent mulling the important questions about the next Star Wars sequel and mooning over this year's Oscar nominees. And, perhaps, getting a little work done? We'll see you tomorrow.

Photo credit: Philippe Antonello for Paramount Pictures