Guest List for State of the Union Includes Epstein Victims, Erika Kirk and U.S. Olympic Hockey Players

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:51:27 +0000)

Democratic lawmakers invited victims of Jeffrey Epstein and of President Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown.

How The New York Times Covers the SOTU Under Intense Deadline Pressure

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:50:54 +0000)

The editor who oversees White House coverage for The Times talks about the challenges of tracking a major speech by a president who regularly goes off script.

House Narrowly Rejects Air Safety Bill After Pentagon Opposition

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:53:57 +0000)

A move to swiftly pass the bill failed by a single vote. It would have required aircraft to carry technology that officials said might have prevented a midair collision near Washington last year.

Pentagon Gives Anthropic an Ultimatum Over the Company’s A.I. Model

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:09:48 +0000)

Anthropic insists on limits on how its technology is used and could be labeled a supply chain risk if it fails to accept the military’s demands.

Mexico Is Caught Between Trump and the Cartels

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:46:24 +0000)

President Trump has demanded President Claudia Sheinbaum confront the cartels. The killing of El Mencho suggests it might be working — but could come at a cost.

What to Know About the Cartels Operating in Mexico

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:20:16 +0000)

Other criminal groups in Mexico may try to take advantage of the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, who ran the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico Right Now, Given the Cartel Violence?

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:19:52 +0000)

A wave of unrest after the killing of a cartel leader has rattled tourists in Mexico, prompting travelers to reconsider their plans. Here’s what to know.

Snowball Fight in New York Turns Chaotic After Police Arrive

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:59:38 +0000)

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers had been attacked at Washington Square Park. Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the episode looked like a snowball fight, not a crime.

Providence, R.I. Digs Out From Three Feet of Snow

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:23:44 +0000)

A day after the city got a record-breaking amount of snow, some residents clung to the magic. Others were gearing up for endless shoveling.

Blizzard Causes Major Airport Delays and Cancellations: What Travelers Should Know

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:34:24 +0000)

As major hubs in the Northeast dig out from up to three feet of snow, it could be days before some travelers get moving. Here’s where things stand.

The U.S. Men’s Hockey Team Has Arrived in Washington

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:31:19 +0000)

Two gold medal-winning U.S. hockey teams were invited to Washington for the State of the Union address. Only one came to town.

D.O.J. Sues U.C.L.A. After It Refused to Pay $1 Billion Fine

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:27:21 +0000)

The Trump administration accused the university’s Los Angeles campus of not doing enough to curb antisemitism, months after the government tried to cut research money and demanded more than $1 billion.

Trump’s New Tariffs Could Face Legal Challenges

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:27:38 +0000)

Critics are questioning the legality of the provision President Trump has used to replace his previous slate of tariffs, raising the prospect of yet another legal battle.

How Jeffrey Epstein Ingratiated Himself With Top Microsoft Executives

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:58:44 +0000)

For more than two decades, the convicted sex offender developed a network at the tech giant, making him privy to succession discussions and other business.

After Being Shoved in Front of a Train, He Has Returned to the Subway

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:00:54 +0000)

Joseph Lynskey was determined to overcome his fear and reclaim his life as a New Yorker who enjoys the city in full. On Tuesday, he filed a lawsuit against the city and the M.T.A.

How the Flood Fractured the Tightknit Camp Mystic Community

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:43:21 +0000)

The camp has been the foundation of an invisible network of status and power in Texas. Now, following the flood, that social web is beginning to fray.

Ukraine Battlefield Dead Could Reach 500,000 in Fifth Year, Estimates Suggest

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:42:26 +0000)

Russia has lost as many as 325,000 troops, according to some estimates, with more than 200,000 deaths verified by researchers.

Study Shows Xi’s Purges of China’s Military Run Deep

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:22:50 +0000)

Around 100 senior officers have been sidelined or vanished since 2022, hollowing out the top ranks and raising questions about the army’s capabilities.

Germany’s Leader Heads to China and Walks a Tightrope Between Xi and Trump

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:53:09 +0000)

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trip will test his ability to address tensions between the countries, at a time of strain between Europe and Washington.

After a Big Loss, What to Expect From Trump at the State of the Union

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:07:33 +0000)

The Supreme Court’s tariffs ruling could make for a tense night.

John Roberts Is Losing Patience With Trump

(Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:13:01 +0000)

How to read the gratuitous paragraph in the chief justice’s tariff opinion.

Trump Will Deliver His State of the Union Address

(Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:06:12 +0000)

Also, most teens use A.I. chatbots for schoolwork. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.

Paramount Raises Its Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:36:03 +0000)

Warner Bros. Discovery said Paramount’s new offer of $31 a share could lead to a “superior proposal” to the deal it signed with Netflix.

Éliane Radigue, Composer of Time, Silence and Space, Dies at 94

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:40:14 +0000)

Her Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practice and her experiments with synthesizers came together in vast, slow-moving works that drew wide acclaim.

Senator Blumenthal Opens Inquiry Into Iran Transactions on Binance

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:03:09 +0000)

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sent a letter to Binance asking about the flow of $1.7 billion from accounts on the crypto exchange to Iranian entities.

‘Abolish ICE’ Wins Chicago’s Snowplow Naming Contest

(Tue, 24 Feb 2026 22:33:42 +0000)

An annual contest usually draws lighthearted quips. This year, Chicagoans chose a political pun.