Trump's Dangerous Escalation in a Losing War  —  There are certain moments in sports when, right after the game ends, you instantly know it has a place in history.  Last night was one of those moments.  The Knicks came back from 29 points down to defeat the Spurs in the final seconds and take a 3-1 series lead.

Trump says he will nominate Jay Clayton to succeed Tulsi Gabbard as the DNI  —  If White House officials are expecting this nomination to advance without controversy, they're going to be disappointed.  —  Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, has maintained a rather high profile lately.

US authorities investigate huge ‘8647’ marking on grounds of National Mall in Washington  —  The U.S. Department of the Interior said on Thursday it is investigating what appeared to be a large tracing of “8647” into the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Judge finds Lander not guilty in 26 Federal Plaza obstruction case … “No offense to Mr. Lander,” the judge said.  —  Lander — who entered the courtroom in good spirits and holding a Knicks hat — told reporters after the verdict: “I didn't feel tired.”  —  “I felt an urgency to show …

The Senate: The Race for the Majority is Not a Toss-up, But the Races That Will Decide It Are  —  KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE  — We are making three Senate rating changes this week, all in favor of Democrats.  North Carolina moves to Leans Democratic, and Alaska and Ohio are now Toss-ups.

Former ‘60 Minutes’ Staffers Unload on Bari Weiss: 'Everything She's Touched Has Turned to S—'  —  As Bari Weiss lays waste to “60 Minutes,” six former staffers sound off on the damage she's inflicted upon the crown jewel of CBS News.  —  Staffers have taken to calling it “Black Thursday.”

Trump Isn't Giving Up on His Slush Fund  —  Sign up for Inside the Trump Presidency, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump term.  —  When Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before Congress last Tuesday, senior administration officials hoped that his testimony …

Women Who Fled Iran Are to Be Deported to Central African Republic, Lawyers Say  —  The women are among nearly two dozen people slated to be sent to a country where the U.S. government has advised “Do not travel for any reason.”  —  The Trump administration is preparing to deport nearly …

At Least Six States Have RSVP'd ‘No’ to Trump's State Fair  —  Some states say the Freedom 250 birthday bash is too expensive, too rushed and too politicized.  — Copy  —  President Donald Trump's big birthday bash for America is hitting more speedbumps, as at least six states plan to sit out the Great American State Fair.

Oil executives warn White House that gas prices will get worse  —  Grim predictions add to the problems of a president already facing a sharp rise in inflation.  —  Summary  —  Oil and gas executives have warned the White House that gasoline prices could surge in coming months …

Mike Johnson Just Made a Grave Political Error  —  Social Security is popular.  Cutting it is not.  —  ∙ Paid  —  I scream social  —  Mike Johnson did something very out of character Monday.  Normally coy in public, the speaker of the House openly admitted to a radio interviewer …

Vance's chief of staff to leave Trump administration  —  Jacob Reses, who has been with Vance since his successful 2022 Senate campaign in Ohio, is expected to remain close to the vice president's team.  —  Jacob Reses, the chief of staff to Vice President JD Vance, will leave the administration …

Postal Service Issues Proposal to Block Mail Ballots in States That Don't Turn Over Data  —  Democrats and voting-rights groups have challenged the proposed rule as a harmful federal intrusion that could affect millions of voters who cast their ballots by mail.

Meth Scandal Rocks Nascent Greg Bovino 2028 Campaign  —  The Meth-Tied GOP Operative Behind Bovino 2028  —  Just five months after being fired from his leadership role in Donald Trump's mass-deportation campaign, former U.S. Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Greg Bovino is eyeing a run for president.

‘Vegas’ on the South Lawn: Trump Unveils the U.F.C. ‘Claw’  —  The towering claw will be the site of an Ultimate Fighting Championship cage match on Sunday, which is President Trump's 80th birthday.  —  Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times  —  They came to see the Claw.

The U.S. welcomed this child of the Vietnam War.  Why did he die in ICE custody?  —  Tuan Van Bui's bad luck arguably started the day he was born in 1970 in the city then known as Saigon — the child of a Vietnamese woman and one of the thousands of U.S. soldiers who fought in Southeast Asia for nearly two decades.

2 former city employees in Utah face federal charges for allegedly helping someone evade ICE  —  Two former Logan City employees face federal charges after authorities said they helped an immigrant lacking permanent legal status evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Trump Opens Protected Pacific Ocean Areas to Commercial Fishing  —  President Donald Trump on Thursday opened protected Pacific Ocean waters to commercial fishing, lifting restrictions that barred the activity within three marine national monuments.  —  With a presidential proclamation signed …

Senate panel approves Department of War name change  —  The Senate Armed Services Committee voted this week to formally change the Pentagon's name to the Department of War, moving a significant step closer to solidifying President Donald Trump's rebrand of the Defense Department as permanent.

Social Security is Facing a Political Crisis  —  America can afford to keep paying full benefits.  But will we?  —  On Tuesday the Social Security Trustees released their latest report on the system's finances.  The numbers didn't change much: Unless something is done …

What Ever Happened to DOGE?  The “OMBification” of the Trump-Musk Payments Crisis  —  Dear readers: My deepest apologies for my absence.  I got the so-called “Super-Flu” that hit New York in December, then I followed that up with a very debilitating bout of food poisoning in January.

Man who killed Minnesota lawmaker and her husband pleads guilty to murder in federal case  —  The man who killed a former Minnesota House Speaker and her husband, and who seriously injured another lawmaker and his wife, agreed to a deal with federal prosecutors Thursday, ensuring he will not be put to death.

Can't Pay Medical Bills?  Trump Officials Suggest Getting a Loan. … Kathleen Capetta's family of five is paying an additional $750 a month this year for its Obamacare plan premium.  She was already paying off debt from cancer treatment.Cig Harvey for The New York Times

Hawley pushes Blanche to settle abortion pill case  —  Todd Blanche's path to becoming the next attorney general was already going to be rocky, with at least two Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee noncommittal on supporting him.  Now, a third Senate Judiciary Republican …