Your weekend long reads 🗞

Posted by Anonymous on January 29, 2022

Saturday, January 29

Good morning, friends of The Short List! It's John, here again with some of the best work of the week from the USA TODAY Network. Let's dive in:

Ukraine crisis: Tension remains high between the U.S. and Russia amid fears of a new Russian invasion of its eastern European neighbor. USA TODAY reporters give important background on the conflict:

►Why should Americans care about the fate of a nation roughly the size of Texas? Michael Collins examines why Ukraine is important to the United States.

►Respect, fear, power: Maureen Groppe looks at the dynamics motivating Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Ukraine crisis.

►What are Joe Biden's options with Russia in Ukraine? Tom Vanden Brook explains how a conflict might play out. And if there's fighting, here's how Russia and Ukraine's militaries compare.

A few other timely topics:

Tax season is here: The Internal Revenue Service is now accepting and processing 2021 tax returns. Here's what you need to know before you file. (Whatever you do, don't throw away this key document.)

Dry January: If you've taken the annual no-alcohol challenge this month, congratulations! January is nearly in the rear-view mirror. With a little effort – and, more importantly, a good plan – you can keep those healthy habits going all year.

NFL playoffs: The AFC and NFC Championship games are Sunday, but it's hard to imagine they'll be as memorable as last week's Chiefs-Bills classic. Here's where Kansas City's epic overtime win ranks among the 22 greatest playoff games.

There are more great reads below.👇 See you next weekend!