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Eighteen U.S. states plan to restrict how SNAP benefits can be used starting in 2026, blocking purchases of selected junk food items with federal nutrition funds. The measures will affect which products low-income households can buy with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, while allowing those items to remain available for purchase with other forms of payment. State agencies are working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and retailers to define restricted foods, update store systems and notify SNAP participants before the rules take effect. CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver has reported on the developing policy changes and the timeline for implementation.

Newly released security videos from the federal jail where Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 are drawing renewed scrutiny of the facility’s camera system. The footage, part of the expanding “Epstein files,” shows monitored areas near Epstein’s housing unit and is being examined for gaps, blind spots, and consistency with official timelines. Legal observers, journalists, and researchers are reviewing the material as questions persist about missing or unusable footage from the period surrounding Epstein’s death. The Bureau of Prisons faces ongoing inquiries over surveillance practices, video retention, and transparency.

Enhanced tax credits that lowered Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance premiums for four years expired at midnight, affecting millions of marketplace enrollees. Consumers who relied on the temporary subsidies may now face higher monthly costs or need to change plans as exchanges recalculate financial assistance. The original ACA tax credit system remains in place, but without the pandemic-era boosts that expanded eligibility and reduced premiums for many households nationwide.

Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s 112th mayor in a private midnight ceremony at the abandoned Old City Hall subway station, with New York Attorney General Letitia James administering the oath. The event, held as the new year began, took place away from the public and traditional inauguration sites such as City Hall. The historic but closed station provided a distinctive backdrop for the formal transfer of mayoral authority, while officials did not release additional details on attendees, broader inaugural events, or policy announcements linked to the ceremony.

The Trump administration has delayed planned tariff increases on imported furniture and kitchen cabinets for one year, citing affordability and housing-related concerns. The decision affects a wide range of finished furniture and cabinetry products and follows recent adjustments to other import duties. Industry groups, retailers, domestic manufacturers, and consumer advocates are assessing the impact of the postponement on prices, supply chains, and competitiveness across the U.S. housing and home improvement markets.