Host Lindsey Vernick opens the Daily Starcast with a groggy sponsor shoutout and chats about waking up early with Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen to play NYT games.

The episode covers a deadly Stockton birthday party shooting that left four people dead and many wounded, a controversial internal FDA memo alleging COVID vaccines harmed children and the backlash from experts, and courtroom developments in the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.

She also touches on major winter storms, a cooking tip about sell-by dates, and a light personal moment about texting a crush before signing off.