Trump Bets on Diplomacy Without Diplomats

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:16:00 +0000)

President Trump’s most trusted envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are at the center of the Iran and Ukraine negotiations.

U.S. and Iran Make ‘Good Progress’ in Geneva Talks, Foreign Minister Says

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:18:50 +0000)

The Iranian minister, Abbas Araghchi, said both sides had agreed on a “set of guiding principles.” President Trump has called on Iran to make an immediate accord or face a possible U.S. attack.

Trump Said He’d End the War in Ukraine in a Day. It’s Harder Than He Thought.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 17:49:09 +0000)

Russian attacks and Ukrainian civilian deaths rose as President Trump’s peace talks dragged on during his first year back in the White House.

Mamdani Threatens 9.5% Property Tax Increase if Wealth Tax Is Not Passed

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:28:51 +0000)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his proposal to raise New York City property taxes was a “last resort” to close a budget gap.

Mamdani Ushers in a New Tradition: Ramadan in City Hall

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:20:38 +0000)

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, will observe Ramadan as he runs the nation’s largest city, blending his faith into his public life.

Trump Sought Vast Budget Cuts. Congress Granted Few.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:03:00 +0000)

In a series of deals over the past three months, lawmakers rejected some of the president’s most aggressive attempts to whittle down the government.

Obama Took On Recession, Health Care and Iraq. What He Didn’t See Coming Was Trump.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:18:30 +0000)

A new set of oral history interviews documents how Barack Obama and his advisers missed the shifting mood of the country that would ultimately replace him with a successor they considered a “con man,” “clown” and “laughingstock.”

Colbert Slams Trump Administration After CBS Pulls Talarico Interview

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:12:31 +0000)

Stephen Colbert said he had to drop an interview with James Talarico from his Monday broadcast because of new F.C.C. guidance that targeted political interviews on late-night shows.

Jesse Jackson’s Death Arrives at a Crucial Moment for Black Political Power

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:21:50 +0000)

There are more Black senators than ever before, but a major Supreme Court ruling could reduce Black representation in the House.

Jesse Jackson, Charismatic Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 84

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:10:32 +0000)

An impassioned orator, he was a moral and political force, forming a “rainbow coalition” of poor and working-class people and seeking the presidency. His mission, he said, was “to transform the mind of America.”

Jesse Jackson Changed Chicago. And It Changed Him.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:40:22 +0000)

Mr. Jackson, who spent much of his life in the city, died at his home there on Tuesday. “He ushered in new politics in Chicago,” one longtime organizer said.

White House Shrugs Off Lutnick’s Epstein Ties

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:32:13 +0000)

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has acknowledged traveling to Jeffrey Epstein’s island and meeting him on another occasion.

Daniel Radcliffe on Returning to Broadway in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:02:20 +0000)

The Tony winner returns to the stage in “Every Brilliant Thing,” an interactive monologue with a message of hope “that might be vital for somebody to hear.”

The Price of Admission to Epstein’s World: Silence

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:16:58 +0000)

There were plenty of signs that something wasn’t right with Jeffrey Epstein. Why didn’t anyone say something?

California Wealth Tax Opponents Intensify Efforts Before Bernie Sanders Visit

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:49:27 +0000)

The opponents’ latest moves include online ads tied to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a crypto-related push to raise money and competing ballot measures.

Potomac Sewage Spill Becomes Ecological Disaster and Political Fight

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:17:23 +0000)

A D.C. utility had been working for weeks to repair a collapsed sewer line when the president blamed Maryland’s governor for the contamination on Monday.

Goldman Sachs to Drop D.E.I. Criteria for Board Members

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:25:02 +0000)

The move would be the Wall Street firm’s latest retreat from diversity mandates that its chief executive, David Solomon, had once made a priority.

Height Surgery for Men Can Add Inches But Has Risks

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:01:12 +0000)

Limb-lengthening can add inches to a person’s stature. But its risks have made it controversial.

Book Review: ‘On Morrison,’ by Namwali Serpell

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:02:53 +0000)

A new study by the novelist and scholar Namwali Serpell subjects the Nobel laureate’s work to rigorous inspection — with thrilling results.

Toni Morrison’s Best Books: A Guide

(Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:01:32 +0000)

Her novels reveal a deeply American desire for freedom and adventure, and one of her work’s great joys lies in always finding something new to discover. Here’s where to start.

Netanyahu Plays Trump and American Jews for Fools — Again

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:55:32 +0000)

Netanyahu has gotten Trump to focus on Iran and ignore the destructive things Bibi is doing in Gaza, in the West Bank and inside Israel.

Trump Officials Hold High-Stakes Talks in Geneva

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:18:08 +0000)

Also, the Epstein emails have rocked several industries. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.

Are You a New Yorker with a Unique Parking Situation? We Want to Hear It.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:11 +0000)

We want to hear from New Yorkers who rent driveways or have surprising parking garage arrangements.

California Forecast: Storms to Bring More Snow and Rain

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:19:50 +0000)

Several people were missing after heavy snow caused an avalanche in the Sierra Nevada, the authorities said. Heavy rain and wind lashed other parts of the state.

It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This Year, the Party Might Be a Bit Greener.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:06 +0000)

Carnival can generate more than 1,000 tons of trash every year. A coalition of nonprofit groups, city officials and scientists has a plan to clean it up.

Shia LaBeouf Charged With Battery in New Orleans

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:45:00 +0000)

The actor, known for his roles in “Transformers” and “Megalopolis,” was arrested early Tuesday after reportedly assaulting two people, the authorities said.

Peru Votes to Impeach President José Jerí

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:41:01 +0000)

Peru’s Congress voted to impeach President José Jerí, four months after he replaced Dina Boluarte, who had also been removed from the presidency.