Gary Bauer's End of Day Report

02-23-2026
You’d have to be a hermit to not know that the U.S. men’s hockey team beat Canada 2 to 1 in overtime yesterday to win the gold medal at the Winter Olympics. Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, told reporters, “This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. . .  I’m so proud to be American today.” Members of Team USA celebrated in the locker room by singing Toby Keith’s hit song, “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue.” Quinn Hughes, Jack’s brother, praised U.S. troops for keeping America free and making it possible for him to play hockey. The U.S. hasn’t won a gold medal in hockey since the 1980 Winter Olympics. On the way to the gold, we defeated the Soviet Union 46 years ago to the day—February 22, 1980. There’s been a lot of celebration over yesterday’s victory, and there are a lot of things here worth thinking about.