WATCHING TODAY:

1. Symbol of stability: Queen Elizabeth marks 70 years as monarch: CSM reports Queen Elizabeth II has always provided a sense of constancy to her people through changing times – from the Suez Crisis to the 2005 London attacks, Brexit, and the pandemic. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch will mark 70 years as queen, on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022.

2. After crypto’s cold winter, expect springtime for Web3: Niall Ferguson opines long-run financial history suggests that negative interest rates are not unusual and that DeFi is a bona fide revolution.

3. ‘Taking the voters out of the equation’: How the parties are killing competition: NYT reports the number of competitive House districts is dropping, as both Republicans and Democrats use redistricting to draw themselves into safe seats.

4. You can’t simply decide to be a different person: Amanda Mull writes forming new habits isn’t impossible, but it’s much easier for some people than others.

5. ESPN: Days before 50th birthday, surfing great Kelly Slater wins Billabong Pro Pipeline in Hawai'i