Good Morning. If you’ve got snow and ice outside your window, scroll down to our Get Better section for tips to stay warm and cook meals, even in a blackout.

Plus, the government’s problem with diet sodas, how AI could change healthcare, and the man who invented 800 toys (forwarded this email? Join 523k readers).

A major winter storm threatens 180 million Americans across the country, canceling thousands of weekend flights and causing widespread power outages. Heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain stretch from the Rocky Mountains to New England. President Trump approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states Saturday.

Approximately 140,000 power outages were reported, including 58,000 in Louisiana and 50,000 in Texas. Ice accumulation caused tree branches to snap and down power lines. Meteorologists warn slow-melting snow and ice will hinder recovery efforts for days. 23 states declare state of emergency.

FEMA pre-positioned supplies, staff, and search-and-rescue teams across affected states. New Jersey implemented commercial vehicle restrictions and 35 mph highway speed limits. Officials urged residents to stay home as conditions could rival hurricane-level damage in ice-affected areas. Electric grid stressed.

New federal dietary guidelines recommend limiting artificial sweeteners including aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose. The Trump administration's updated guidance cites research linking these sugar substitutes to cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and other conditions (evidence certainty ranges from low to moderate).

The beverage industry disputes the recommendations, noting 60% of U.S. beverages contain zero sugar. Studies show mixed results. Some link sweeteners to health problems and gut microbiome dysfunction, while others demonstrate weight loss benefits when replacing sugar.

Major soda companies declined to comment. The FDA maintains its position that aspartame remains safe under approved conditions. Several states now prohibit food-stamp purchases of beverages like soda, increasing pressure on the soft-drink industry.

Tech leaders at the World Economic Forum warned artificial intelligence risks becoming an economic bubble if benefits stay concentrated in tech firms rather than spreading across industries. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized AI must reshape workflows and productivity economy-wide, not just add new tools.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described AI as foundational infrastructure requiring massive physical buildout of energy, chips, and data centers. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei criticized U.S. decisions allowing advanced AI chip sales to China, calling it a national security risk comparable to selling nuclear weapons to North Korea.

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis cautioned that multibillion-dollar seed rounds for startups without products appear unsustainable, though underlying AI demand remains strong. OpenAI confirmed plans to launch dedicated AI hardware in late 2026, seeking greater control over user experience beyond software platforms.

The U.S. spends twice what other nations spend on healthcare but lacks doctors in rural areas and faces critical GP shortages nationwide.

AI can democratize healthcare by:

Three major changes coming: Most-favored-nation drug pricing matches European costs while maintaining innovation. Mandatory data interoperability gives you true ownership of health records. AI bridges the access gap in underserved communities.

The investment mindset: Helping Americans work one additional year adds $3 trillion to the economy, justifying transformation focused on outcomes over spending.

Podcast | Notes

With half the country covered in snow and ice, here are some simple survival tips:

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▲ Denmark's Dog Sled Patrol defends Greenland with huskies and WWI rifles in minus 55C conditions

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