Trump ousts at least 15 independent inspectors general in late-night purge  —  The dismissals appeared to violate federal law, which requires Congress to receive 30 days' notice of any intent to fire a Senate-confirmed inspector general.

Let's Get to the Marrow of What Trump Just Did  —  This is an edited transcript of an episode of “The Ezra Klein Show.”  You can listen to the conversation by following or subscribing to the show on the NYT Audio App, Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

McConnell sends a message  —  With a vote against Pete Hegseth, the former GOP leader makes clear he will be an unreliable ally of Donald Trump.  —  Mitch McConnell might not run the Senate anymore.  But he made clear on Friday night that he still knows how to wield power.

Trump's canceling of 50 security clearances is unprecedented and partisan, experts say  —  The move is meant to please Trump voters, punish perceived enemies and represents “the most politically saturated security action since the Oppenheimer case in the 1950s.”

Scientists at NIH can't purchase supplies for their studies after Trump administration pauses outside communications  —  Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have been told the communications pause announced by the Trump Administration earlier this week includes a pause on all purchasing …

C.I.A. Now Favors Lab Leak Theory to Explain Covid's Origins  —  A new analysis that began under the Biden administration is released by the C.I.A.'s new director, John Ratcliffe, who wants the agency to get “off the sidelines” in the debate.  —  The C.I.A. has said for years …

Keene man arrested for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 rejects Trump's pardon  —  On his first day in office this week, President Donald Trump pardoned all rioters at the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.  Jason Riddle served time in jail for his participation in the 2021 riot where he stole …

‘Hit Him Back Twice as Hard’: Canada's No. 1 Populist Has a Risky Trump Strategy  —  Eight years ago, Justin Trudeau was the face of Canadian resistance to Trump.  Not anymore.  —  “I'm a street fighter in politics,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said.  “If someone throws a punch at me, I'm going to hit him back twice as hard.”

Elon Musk appears on video at German far right campaign event  —  Elon Musk made a surprise appearance during Germany's AfD (Alternative fuer Deutschland) election campaign event in Halle in eastern Germany on Saturday, speaking publicly in support of the far right party for the second time in as many weeks.

China tells Rubio to behave himself in veiled warning  —  China's veteran foreign minister has issued a veiled warning to America's new secretary of state: Behave yourself.  Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed the message in a phone call Friday, their first conversation since Marco Rubio's confirmation …

JD Vance said ‘Trump and I will stop this,’ but Skyline Chili ice cream is still happening  —  A polarizing collaboration Vice President JD Vance promised to stop is moving forward.  —  Graeter's Ice Cream and Skyline Chili are releasing a new Skyline Spice Ice Cream flavor Monday, the two chains said in an announcement Friday.

Trump's Crypto Venture Divides the Industry He Aims to Support  —  The president's promotion of a speculative digital coin left some crypto investors feeling blindsided, while others saw it as a gimmick that undermined the industry's credibility.  —  Dressed in ball gowns, tuxedos and …

Deportation Fears Spread Among Immigrants With Provisional Legal Status  —  President Trump is targeting people who have been living in the country under Biden immigration programs that shielded them from deportation and allowed them to work.  —  Bearing Social Security numbers and employment authorization …

Pete Hegseth Is Confirmed as Defense Secretary By Slim Margin  —  Pete Hegseth has vowed to bring his “warrior” ethos to the Pentagon.  Democrats had assailed him as unfit for the job, and his confirmation came down to Vice President JD Vance serving as tiebreaker.