In today's newsletter: Elon Musk's DOGE team gained new access to internal systems at the Education Department. Most of the victims killed in the Los Angeles wildfires were 65+ or disabled, making it difficult for some to move quickly without assistance, NBC News found. And how you can catch the rare seven-planet alignment.

Here's what to know today.

The rapid deployment of Elon Musk's aides across multiple agencies has raised concern from federal officials, lawmakers and watchdog groups that his team has gained access to information and is leading a purge of government workers.

NBC News verified that Akash Bobba and Ethan Shaotran, both 22 and identified as members of DOGE, have obtained "administrator" email accounts at the Department of Education, just as President Donald Trump announced that Musk would soon be taking a look at the agency.

One longtime employee at the Department of Education who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal sentiments said there is an urgent and deep worry sweeping across the agency’s career staff as DOGE sets its sights on them. The person said they were especially concerned that Musk and his team would use information from the national student loan database to target Americans, push career employees out and hamper the government’s ability to collect on federal loans.

A group of House Democrats attempted to enter the Education Department headquarters to meet with acting Education Secretary Denise Carter after 95 signed a letter expressing concern about the administration’s plans to possibly seek to close the department. The representatives were stopped by security and denied entry, sparking a chaotic scene as lawmakers clamored to get in.

It isn’t unusual for a new administration to set priorities with how the billions of dollars in grants are doled out. What is unusual, and could bring a torrent of legal challenges, is the potential to reopen grants that have already been awarded, said a former senior education official.

Read the full story here.

More politics news:

Families of L.A. wildfire victims confront the failures that prevented escape

Most of the victims killed in the Los Angeles, California wildfires were aged 65 and older, or disabled, making it difficult for some to move quickly without assistance, NBC News found.
More than half did not receive evacuation orders until it was nearly too late.
Jackie McDaniels tried to make it to her brother-in-law before dawn on Jan. 8. He’d called to tell her the fire had reached his house, where he was stuck inside with his son Justin, who had cerebral palsy and couldn’t get out of bed unassisted. No one was there with them, so they’d called for emergency help. By the time McDaniels arrived, the garage was burning. She flagged down a firefighter who told her that whoever was inside was likely already dead and that he wouldn’t be able to get in or out alive. McDaniels said she almost didn’t make it out; the smoke was so thick she could barely see an inch in front of her. As she drove away from her brother-in-law’s home, she said she felt helpless.
It’s just one of the many stories of those who were caught off guard by the monstrous wildfires. One month later, the public and California’s government are being forced to confront weaknesses in their approach to disasters.

Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury make for a skywatching spectacle

Five bright planets are lighting up the night sky and visible to the naked eye all February long — with two other planets also detectable for skywatchers with special equipment.
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury are all currently visible for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere. Uranus and Neptune are also part of this month’s planetary showcase but are harder to spot because they require binoculars or a telescope to see. These events occur because all of the planets in the solar system orbit the sun on a relatively flat, disc-shaped plane — akin to cars on a racetrack. The bright planets can all be seen through the end of February, and skywatchers should pick a clear night in the coming weeks to enjoy the scene.

Here's what to know ahead of the planet parade.

If the Chiefs beat the Eagles, is this the greatest dynasty in NFL history?

The 2025 Super Bowl is nearly here. By the end of the weekend we'll either be talking about the Kansas City Chiefs remarkable three-peat or the Philadelphia Eagles revenge tour and Saquon Barkley's incredible arc. Sports reporter Andrew Greif previews the storylines to watch for during Sunday’s matchup:

🏈Does a Chiefs win make them the greatest NFL dynasty? If they win, Kansas City will have authored an unprecedented five Super Bowl appearances in six seasons and three consecutive titles, at a time when years-long domination should be harder to achieve than ever. This isn't to short the incredible consistency of the New England Patriots dynasty over a longer span, but a Chiefs title would be remarkable for the sheer focus, and lack of complacency, required to win year after year.

🏈 Who has the most to gain on Sunday? Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, whose contract is up after the 2025 season. A title would offer quite the leverage in those negotiations.

🏈 Biggest matchup to watch Philadelphia’s offensive line against Kansas City’s rush defense. Patrick Mahomes has entered the GOAT conversation among quarterbacks, Travis Kelce has joined Jerry Rice among the most prolific pass-catchers in NFL history, and coach Andy Reid is getting his due as a historically great coach — and yet, the most underappreciated pillar holding up the Chiefs dynasty is defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. His knack for a well-timed blitz has fooled offenses for years.

🏈Who will hoist the Lombardi Trophy? The Eagles have the deeper defense, the league’s dominant offensive line and Saquon Barkley, the most valuable offseason addition in the NFL. And yet, until the Chiefs are beaten in a close game, I’ll continue to pick Kansas City.

NBC Sports’ Patrick Daughtery and reporter Rohan Nadkarni also shared their thoughts ahead of this weekend’s game. Read the full story here.

Which animal did scientists use IVF to create an embryo?

A. Panda
B. Snow leopard
C. Kangaroo
D. Blue whale

Find out the answer and test your knowledge of this week's most-read stories. (The answer to the question is also at the bottom of this newsletter.)

Under the Bay Bridge

When tech titan Bob Lee was fatally stabbed on a street in San Francisco, it rocked Silicon Valley. But the loss was personal for those who knew him best. Now more than a year and a half after the slaying and a murder trial, Lee’s children are speaking. “Dateline” talked to the children and those who know the case best.

— Jamie Knodel, news editor

Forgetting to clean your humidifier can lead to a build-up of potential bacteria and mold growth. The NBC Select team spoke with experts to find the best way to clean your humidifier. If you’re looking to upgrade your home theater? We also found a soundbar at its lowest price ever during Amazon’s Sonos sale.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Both.

By the way, the answer to the quiz question above is C. It was a kangaroo.

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