The Super Bowl could end in a ‘three-peat.’ Why that matters to a former NBA coach Pat Riley, the current president and former head coach of the Miami Heat, owns half a dozen trademarks related to the word “three-peat.” That could affect whether it appears on Super Bowl merch. Read more on NPR

Did you plan to buy a home — but found renting is cheaper? We want to hear from you As mortgage rates and home prices have risen, the rent vs. buy calculation has changed. If you’re renting when you’d planned to buy, tell us your story. Read more on NPR

Trump issues order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military The executive order speaks of transgender identity in sweeping and dismissive terms, and sets the stage for a policy that is more restrictive and punitive than the ban from Trump’s first term. Read more on NPR

DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a ‘Sputnik moment’ for AI? Buzz around DeepSeek built into a wave of concern that hammered tech stocks on Monday. Read more on NPR

Trump fires labor board officials, setting up legal fight President Trump fired National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo. In an unprecedented move, he also ousted Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox, leaving the board with no quorum. Read more on NPR

A new book explains what the color blue can teach us about Black history Imani Perry traces the history and symbolism of the color blue, from the indigo of the slave trade, to Coretta Scott King’s wedding dress, to present day cobalt mining. Her new book is Black in Blues. Read more on NPR

7 things about RFK Jr. you should know ahead of his Senate hearings Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has built his fortune and reputation on disparaging the government scientists and institutions he’s now in line to lead as HHS secretary. Read more on NPR

Not your average baby shark: An aquarium welcomes a pup from an all-female tank Yoko the swell shark was born in a habitat of all-female sharks who hadn’t seen a male in years. The aquarium has two possible explanations — and hopes to get confirmation in the coming months. Read more on NPR

Trump memo to halt federal funds triggers confusion and constitutional questions Washington is scrambling to interpret a new Trump administration memo that appears to halt funding for many programs. The impact of the short memo, released Monday, is causing widespread confusion. Read more on NPR

5 economic papers that lit up our brains — and what they say about our confusing world We at Planet Money are constantly reading the work of economists and other social scientists to glean ideas, evidence and insights about the economy, and, more generally, the confusing world around us. Welcome to the inaugural installment of…