I only listed those two events because they were so obvious that I was surprised you hadn't considered them. There are, of course, far more events that people remember.
As far what was happening in January/February:
Pretty sure the government shut down at some point, I think that was around then.
I also remember a lot of news about the stock market breaking records and some post analysis on the tax bill which I think had already passed by then. I could have that timeline wrong on that though.
I think the Alabama Senate election was around then. That might have been earlier though, but I think there were still headlines about it in January.
That's all I remember off the top of my head. I follow political news more closely than other news lately.
As far what was happening in January/February:
Pretty sure the government shut down at some point, I think that was around then.
I also remember a lot of news about the stock market breaking records and some post analysis on the tax bill which I think had already passed by then. I could have that timeline wrong on that though.
I think the Alabama Senate election was around then. That might have been earlier though, but I think there were still headlines about it in January.
That's all I remember off the top of my head. I follow political news more closely than other news lately.