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Massie Criticizes Johnson on Recess as He Tries to Force Epstein Files Vote

“I don’t know why it should be politically painful to be transparent,” Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said on Sunday, referring to comments by Speaker Mike Johnson.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky has pushed to force a vote on the House floor to release the Epstein files.
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Plane With 3 Aboard Crashes Off California Coast

The plane has been located, the U.S. Coast Guard said, and two people have been found unresponsive. A search for the third person is continuing.

© KSBW 8

Flares were fired into the air in the area near the plane crash site, as emergency responders searched for debris in the Pacific Ocean.
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Denver Pastor and Wife Face Charges in ‘God-Inspired’ Cryptocurrency Scheme

The pastor, Eligio Regalado, and his wife, Kaitlyn Regalado, spent more than $1 million of investor funds on home renovations, plane tickets and au pair services, prosecutors said.
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What Will It Cost to Renovate Trump’s ‘Free’ Air Force One? Don’t Ask.

To hide the cost of renovating the plane Qatar donated to President Trump, the Air Force appears to have tucked it inside an over-budget, behind-schedule nuclear modernization program.

© Al Drago for The New York Times

The Boeing 747-8 from Qatar at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida after President Trump took a tour of the plane in February. Renovation will begin soon at a Texas facility known for secret technology projects.
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A Boston Suburb Removed Italian Flag Colors From a Street. Residents Rebelled.

Newton, Mass., replaced a street’s red, white and green centerline with standard yellow stripes, citing traffic safety concerns, weeks before an annual Italian American festival.

© Veasey Conway for The New York Times

A procession during the St. Mary of Carmen Society’s annual Italian American festival in Newton, Mass., this month.
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Alpha School, AI-Driven Education Founded in Austin, Is Coming to More Cities

At Austin’s Alpha School, students spend just two hours a day on academics, led by artificial intelligence tools. New Alpha schools are set to open in about a dozen cities this fall.

Alpha School, based in Austin, Texas, serves about 200 students from kindergarten through eighth grade and another 50 high schoolers across two campuses in central Austin.
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Right-Wing Influencers Say Ghislaine Maxwell Is Key to Unlocking Epstein Case

Some conservative influencers have celebrated the move to approach the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, but it comes with risks.

© Colin Hackley/Associated Press

David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Ghislaine Maxwell, at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Fla., on Friday. He was talking to reporters about Ms. Maxwell’s interview with Justice Department officials.
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Illinois Man Convicted in Killing of Palestinian American Boy Dies in Custody

Joseph Czuba, who was convicted of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi in 2023, died two months after a judge sentenced him to 53 years in prison. He was 73.

© Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press

Joseph Czuba entering the courtroom for his arraignment in the killing of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, in Joliet, Ill., in 2023.
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11 People Injured in Stabbing at a Michigan Walmart, Officials Say

One person was in custody after what the authorities said was a random attack at a store near Traverse City, Mich.

© Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle, via Associated Press

A person was in custody after multiple people were stabbed at a Walmart near Traverse City, Mich., on Saturday.
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What to Know About the Hack at Tea, an App Where Women Share Red Flags About Men

A data breach exposed photos and ID cards of women who signed up for a fast-growing app for women to share details of men they might date.

© Associated Press

Tea Dating Advice, an app that allows women to share information about the men they might date, surged in popularity this week.
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From Epstein to Obama, Trump’s Washington Is Consumed by Competing Conspiracies

President Trump is trying to divert attention from the Epstein conspiracy theory with a new-and-improved one about Barack Obama and treason.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Mr. Trump brought much of this on himself by encouraging dark views of the government that he derides as the “deep state,” views that prove hard to dispel now that the supposed deep state answers to him.
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A Clash Over a Promotion Puts Hegseth at Odds With His Generals

Suspicions about leaks and a mistrust of senior military officers have defined much of the defense secretary’s first six months on the job.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fostered an environment of uncertainty and mistrust that threatens to undermine the readiness and effectiveness of the military, officials said.
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This Democrat Wants Cognitive Standards in Congress. Her Colleagues Disagree.

Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez says age-related cognitive decline among elected officials is a major issue for voters.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The issue Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez wants to address is not new in Congress, where there are now more members than ever age 70 and older.
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A Kennedy Toils in Mississippi, Tracing His Grandfather’s Path

Joe Kennedy III, the grandson of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, says there is work to do in red states. He also has a few things to say about his uncle, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

© Karsten Moran for The New York Times

Joe Kennedy III is working to continue the political legacy of his famous family.
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Harvard’s Leader, Penny Pritzker, Faces Intense Scrutiny in Trump Fight

As Harvard and the government negotiate to end a conflict with billions of dollars on the line, some ask whether Penny Pritzker, the head of the school’s governing board, should step down.

© Annegret Hilse/Reuters

Penny Pritzker has led Harvard’s board during several difficult times, including campus protests and a legal battle with the Trump administration.
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Venezuelan Youth Baseball Team, Denied Visas, Is Left Out of Tournament in U.S.

The team had apparently been swept up in the severe travel restrictions that President Trump has placed on more than a dozen countries.

© Dylan Buell/Getty Images

The team, Cacique Mara, has been denied the visas necessary to attend the Senior League World Series in the United States.
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2 Crew Members Are Hurt as Southwest Plane Plunges Abruptly After Takeoff

The sudden maneuver was made during a Friday flight out of California after two collision safety alerts sounded in the cockpit, causing the pilots to take evasive action, the airline said.

© Mario Tama/Getty Images

A Southwest Airlines plane abruptly descended during its initial climb out of Hollywood Burbank Airport in Southern California, the airlines said.
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Republicans Begin Effort to Sell Tax Law in Trump Policy Bill to Las Vegas Voters

With lawmakers out of Washington for a five-week summer recess, a field hearing in a swing state gave G.O.P. lawmakers a controlled environment for pitching a measure that polls show is unpopular.

© Ian Maule for The New York Times

Members of the House Ways and Means Committee gathered at the Las Vegas warehouse of an electronic sign factory to highlight President Trump’s new domestic policies, including one to eliminate taxes on some tip income and overtime pay.
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Two Democratic Governors Say if Texas Redraws Congressional Maps, They May Too

After meetings with Democrats from the Texas House, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker suggested their states could counter a gerrymander by Texas Republicans.

© Jordan Vonderhaar for The New York Times

A Texas House Committee on Congressional Redistricting hearing at the Capitol in Austin on Thursday.
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Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Illinois Sanctuary Measures

The Justice Department had sued the leaders of Illinois, Chicago and Cook County over policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration officials.

© Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times

Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago, center, has defended the city’s immigration policies.
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After Ghislaine Maxwell Interview, Concerns Mount Over Possibility of a Trump Pardon

President Trump, asked whether he would consider pardoning her, said, “I’m allowed to do it, but it’s something I haven’t thought about.”

© Colin Hackley/Associated Press

Justice Department officials on Friday interviewed Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein’s, in Florida, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
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Ethics Panel Rebukes Congressman for Wife’s Stock Trade in Firm He Helped

The panel rebuked Representative Mike Kelly, Republican of Pennsylvania, for failing to prevent the appearance of self-dealing and then stonewalling its efforts to investigate.

© Ian Maule for The New York Times

Representative Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania was the subject of a four-year investigation into a stock trade found that he had violated the House’s official code of conduct.
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New Reports on Russian Interference Show Trump’s Claims on Obama Are Overblown

The administration’s claims are overblown, but newly declassified information provides some messy details about a January 2017 intelligence assessment of Moscow’s election interference.

© Alexander Nemenov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

A January 2017 assessment said that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had ordered a multifaceted information operation targeting the U.S. election in 2016.
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Trump Administration Plans Changes to H-1B Visas and U.S. Citizenship Tests

In an interview with The New York Times, the new director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the test to become a U.S. citizen was too easy.

© David Ryder/Getty Images

Participants reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens in Seattle earlier this month.
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Outrage After Alabama 3-Year-Old Dies in Hot Car While in State’s Care

The boy, who was in foster care, was being transported between a supervised visit and day care, his aunt said. State lawmakers said they were seeking answers and the police were investigating.

© Family photo

Ke’Torrius Starkes, Jr., 3, died in a hot car while in the care of the state on Tuesday, according to family members and the authorities.
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Trump Administration to Release $5.5 Billion in Frozen Schools Funding

The Trump administration had faced growing pressure from within his own party to release the money.

© Whitney Curtis for The New York Times

The Department of Education said that it would begin sending the money to states next week.
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9-Year-Old Girl Dies in Wave Pool at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania

Lifeguards noticed that the girl was in distress and tried to rescue her, according to the park, which said that the pool remained closed on Friday.

© Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

The water park at Herseypark in Hersey, Pa., in 2016. The amusement park said it had 100 trained life guards on duty in the water park at the time of the child’s death.
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Justice Dept. Officials File Suit, Saying They Were Dismissed Unlawfully

The lawsuit argues that employees who were fired for political reasons have no recourse, after President Trump neutralized a board that handles federal labor disputes.

© Jason Andrew for The New York Times

The Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington.
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Under Siege From Trump and Musk, a Top Liberal Group Falls Into Crisis

Scrambling to pay legal fees, Media Matters has dialed back its criticism, trimmed its staff and contemplated closing entirely.

© Gabriella Demczuk

Angelo Carusone, the president of Media Matters, at his office in 2019. The liberal advocacy group has been hobbled by a legal onslaught from Elon Musk and investigations by President Trump’s Federal Trade Commission and Republican state attorneys general.
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U.S. Conducts Rare Raid in Syria, Killing a Senior Islamic State Leader

The military gave few details on the ground operation, but counterterrorism raids have typically involved helicopter-borne Special Operations commandos.

© Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York Times

Near the Citadel of Aleppo in May.
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First Deportation Flights Depart From Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Gov. Ron DeSantis said hundreds of immigration detainees had departed a state-run detention center in the Everglades on planes, some for federal facilities, and others out of the country.

© Marco Bello/Reuters

An aerial view of the state-run detention center built on the site of a former training airport in Ochopee, Fla.
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Texas Democrats Confer With California and Illinois Governors on Redistricting

Two groups of Democrats left Texas to meet with Govs. Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker, who have suggested their Democratic-controlled states could counter a Texas Republican gerrymander.

© Jordan Vonderhaar for The New York Times

A Texas House Committee on Congressional Redistricting hearing at the Capitol in Austin on Thursday.
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Trump Flies to Scotland, Leaving Chaos Swirling in Washington

The five-day visit will be a mix of personal business and golf, with some diplomacy thrown in.

© Eric Lee for The New York Times

President Trump departed Friday morning for Scotland.
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6 Trump Voters on If They Trust President’s Handling of Epstein Case

President Trump and his allies stoked conspiracy theories around Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, but then backtracked and declared an end to the investigation. Backlash ensued.
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A Drag Queen Leaves the Stage on Her Own Terms

Kai Lee Mykels often said her goal was to make straight men uneasy, but that was a gag. Her creator had a bigger goal in mind.

Kai Brown, performing as Kai Lee Mykels, in Colorado Springs.
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States Look to Europe to Improve U.S. Prison Conditions

States of all political stripes, including Oklahoma, North Dakota and Massachusetts, have sent officials to tour prisons in Germany in search of ways to improve conditions for American inmates.

© Lena Mucha for The New York Times

At Tegel Prison in Berlin, maximum-security prisoners have many of the same freedoms as minimum-security prisoners in the United States.
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Ahead of Shutdown Deadline, Democrats Face a Dilemma on Spending

Democrats are leery of supporting Republican spending measures after the White House forced through clawbacks of funding already approved by Congress.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

“No one wants a shutdown, and the way we avoid that shut down is by working together,” said Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.
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She Tended to Patients Across 4 States. But She Wasn’t a Nurse, Police Say.

A woman who the Pennsylvania State Police say worked under multiple aliases faces multiple criminal charges. The authorities still aren’t sure of her real name.

© Georgia Board of Nursing

The Pennsylvania State Police say this woman used aliases and fake documents to pose as a nurse at four states across the country.
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Trump’s Name Is on Contributor List for Epstein Birthday Book

The Times also reviewed other records of the president’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, including an inscription in which the future president called him “the greatest.”

© Davidoff Studios/Getty Images

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She Tended to Patients Across 4 States. But She Wasn’t a Nurse, Police Say.

A woman who the Pennsylvania State Police say worked under multiple aliases faces multiple criminal charges. The authorities still aren’t sure of her real name.

© Georgia Board of Nursing

The Pennsylvania State Police say this woman used aliases and fake documents to pose as a nurse at four states across the country.
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Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow NIH to Cut DEI-Related Grants

A district court judge declared some of the administration’s cuts ‘void and illegal.’

© Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

A rally against the Trump administration’s health care policies in front of the National Institutes of Health Gateway Center in Bethesda, Md., in May.
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Powell Tells Trump He Was Wrong About Renovation Costs During Fed Visit

President Trump is used to world leaders bowing down to him, and to cabinet members fawning over him. Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, took a different approach.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

President Trump toured the Federal Reserve’s renovation site on Thursday with Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair.
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