Welcome to The Short List!

Your smart overview of the news to know today.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Phaedra Trethan, a national correspondent for USA TODAY based in Southern New Jersey, is launching a new daily newsletter called "The Short List" that will provide a readable digest of the biggest news stories of the day, covering topics from politics to sports, entertainment to finance, and everything in between.

Why it matters

The Short List aims to give readers a concise, informative overview of the key news stories they'll want to discuss, share with friends, and think about, providing a valuable service for busy readers who want to stay informed without getting bogged down in lengthy articles.

The details

The Short List will be delivered to readers' inboxes every Monday through Thursday, with a quicker weekend briefing on Saturdays and Sundays. Trethan, who has over 25 years of journalism experience, will draw on the diverse reporting of USA TODAY's journalists to curate the most important and interesting news. Readers can expect a mix of serious national and global news, as well as stories spanning politics, sports, entertainment, finance, and more.

  • The Short List newsletter will launch on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Phaedra Trethan

A national correspondent for USA TODAY based in Southern New Jersey, with over 25 years of journalism experience, who is launching the new "The Short List" daily newsletter.

USA TODAY

A national news organization that Trethan has been working for since 2023, and whose diverse team of journalists will provide the content for "The Short List" newsletter.

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What they’re saying

“I'll mix in serious news from the USA and the world, and all across the United States, with stories from politics to sports, entertainment to finance, and everything in between from USA TODAY's talented and diverse journalists.”

— Phaedra Trethan, National Correspondent, USA TODAY (usatoday.com)

What’s next

Readers can sign up for the new "USA 250" weekly newsletter, which Trethan will be contributing to as part of USA TODAY's coverage of America's 250th anniversary in 2026.

The takeaway

The Short List newsletter aims to provide busy readers with a concise, informative overview of the day's most important news stories, curated by an experienced journalist, to help them stay informed without getting overwhelmed.