Today's Headlines: Columbia Agrees to $200 Million Fine to Settle Fight With Trump

Attorney General Told Trump His Name Appeared in Epstein Files

View in browser July 24, 2025, 4:10 a.m. Eastern time Top News Columbia Agrees to $200 Million Fine to Settle Fight With Trump The White House had canceled more than $400 million in research funding to the university, saying it had failed to protect Jewish students from harassment. Attorney General Told Trump His Name Appeared in Epstein Files It was not clear what those documents were, or in what context the president's name was raised. Trump's A.I. Challenge: Focus on World's Most Dangerous Weapons or Woke-ism? In the Biden era, the government feared AI models would guide the spread of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. President Trump signed an order on "Preventing Woke A.I. in the Federal Government." Editors' Picks Free Shakespeare's Central Park Home Gets an $85 Million Glow Up The rickety, beloved Delacorte Theater, built in 1962, leaked and was popular with raccoons. Now it's a modern facility and still charmingly wild. Opinion | I Covered the Epstein Case for Decades. These Are the 9 Questions We Actually Need Answered. You needn't be a conspiracy theorist to have questions. World Aid Groups Blame Israel's Gaza Restrictions for 'Mass Starvation' More than 100 organizations, including Save the Children and Doctors Without Borders, added to growing calls for aid restrictions to be eased and the war to end. Facing Outcry Over Corruption , Zelensky Says He Will Reverse Course President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill limiting two Ukrainian anticorruption agencies. After street protests and other criticism, he said he would propose a new law restoring their independence. China Flexes Muscles at U.N. Cultural Agency, Just as Trump Walks Away Washington had been a buffer against China's efforts to use UNESCO to influence education, historical designations and even artificial intelligence. See more world news U.S. State Dept. Opens Investigation Into Harvard's Use of International Visas The Trump administration has continued to pressure the university despite continuing talks to settle a monthslong dispute over the federal government's role in higher education. Trump Administration Illegally Withheld Head Start Funds, Watchdog Finds It's the third time this year that investigators from the Government Accountability Office have determined the administration defied Congress on spending. The Many Political Interpretations of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy The release of National Archives documents is the latest attempt to define what the Civil Rights icon believed, and what that means now for the country. See more U.S. news Politics Supreme Court Lets Trump Fire Consumer Product Safety Regulators The court's order was the latest in a series of emergency rulings on the scope of the president's power over independent agencies. Targeting Obama, Trump's Retribution Campaign Takes Another Turn After focusing his second-term ire on other individuals and institutions, President Trump is again seeking prosecution of his most prominent rivals — this time with aides more inclined to carry out his wishes. Deferring to Trump, Senate Pulls Back on New Russia Sanctions Republican leaders said they were ready to vote as soon as this month on punishing penalties against Moscow but have paused after President Trump threatened to act unilaterally within weeks. See more political news Business Trump's Tariffs Are the Highest in a Century. But After His Threats, They Seem Like a Relief. The president imposed tariffs on Japan, one of America's closest allies, that would have been alarming just months ago. And markets went up. Behind Japan's Trade Deal: 8 Rounds of Talks and 'Hurrying Slowly' After months of fraught negotiations with the United States, Japan clinched a deal just days before punitive tariffs were scheduled to take effect. Chinese and European Leaders Meet Amid Grievances on Trade European Union officials are attending a summit in Beijing with China's top leaders. China's support of Russia and a long list of trade disputes are on the agenda. See more business news Technology Trump Plans to Give A.I. Developers a Free Hand With executive orders and an "A.I. Action Plan" to promote American dominance of the technology, President Trump declared that the United States needed to win the A.I. race. The Chatbot Culture Wars Are Here Conservatives, including President Trump, are accusing A.I. companies of left-wing bias, following a playbook that worked well against social media platforms. Chinese Hackers Are Exploiting Flaws in Widely Used Software, Microsoft Says The company said state-backed hacking groups were breaching systems through flaws in SharePoint, which is used by the U.S. government and companies around the world. See more technology news Arts The 'Home of Heavy Metal' Mourns Ozzy Osbourne In Birmingham, England, the singer's hometown, fans paid tribute by leaving flowers, beer and tequila. The rapper Drake was there to pay his respects, too. Nick Drake, Long a Folk Mystery, Is (Partly) Revealed A 42-track collection built around two found recordings helps illuminate the creative process of the revered but elusive icon, who died in 1974. A Deaf Actress Has a Message She Wants You to Hear Rose Ayling-Ellis, who stars in the TV crime drama "Code of Silence," wants the world to understand that deaf people live complex and varied lives. See more arts news New York Mamdani Victory Could Represent Expansion of the Left's Influence While business leaders are anxious over the prospect of Zohran Mamdani in City Hall, the Democratic Socialists of America are contemplating how they would wield power and influence policy. Lawler Will Seek Re-election to House, Forgoing Run for N.Y. Governor Representative Mike Lawler's decision clears a path for his Republican House colleague, Elise Stefanik, to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul. Man Built Bombs and Planned to Set Them Off in Manhattan, Officials Say The man, who the authorities said expressed dismay over immigration and made antisemitic comments, was accused of placing explosive devices on New York City rooftops and on the Williamsburg Bridge. See more New York news Food No One Parties Like Jacques Pépin, Even at 90 The beloved chef, who brought French cooking skills to the American masses, is celebrating his upcoming birthday with 90 parties around the country. These Lemon-Poppy Seed Bars Are the Stuff of Dreams These easy treats balance buttery shortbread and tangy curd. French Lentil Salad Forever It's one of our most popular new recipes of 2025 for a reason (that reason being it's easy, versatile and very delicious). See more food news Science U.S. Quietly Drafts Plan to End Program That Saved Millions From AIDS PEPFAR, the campaign to end H.I.V. globally, would morph into an effort to detect disease outbreaks and sell American products, according to documents obtained by The Times. A.I. May Be the Future, but First It Has to Study Ancient Roman History A software model from Google DeepMind put a more precise date on an important Latin text credited to a Roman emperor as a demonstration of its capabilities. Meta Unveils Wristband for Controlling Computers With Hand Gestures When you write your name in the air, you can see the letters appear on your smartphone. See more science news Magazine What if Everything We Know About Sacagawea Is Wrong? A growing body of evidence suggests she might have survived into old age — which would entirely change the story of America's most iconic Native forebear. How Do I Tell My Rich Friends to Stop Talking About Fleeing the Country? How do you tell a friend that you're tired of having the same conversation over and over? This Free-Form Pie Is Full of Treasures Peak-season plums star in this gorgeous pastry, inspired by southwest France. See more magazine news Well A Pill for Sleep Apnea Could Be on the Horizon Experts say that if the new drug gets approved, it may lead to a big shift in how we treat the condition. Escaping the Cycle of Perfectionism We asked therapists and researchers for the best books on learning to let go. See more on Well Travel Savoring Country Pleasures at 5 New Getaways Tired of the usual summer beach vacation? Try glamping near a rushing river, or luxuriating at a 300-year-old rural inn. 6 Beaches in Europe That Take the Sizzle Out of Summer Vacation Visiting Europe in the heat can mean sweating it out with no air-conditioning, but sea breezes beckon in these refreshing spots from Croatia to Norway. See more travel news Real Estate U.S. Homes Are Not Selling, and Prices Continue to Rise June, usually the height of the spring housing season, saw sales of existing homes drop from the previous month, according to the National Association of Realtors. $325,000 Homes in Pennsylvania, Texas and North Carolina A 1950s bungalow in Beaver, a midcentury-modern house in San Antonio and a cottage from 1900 in Wake Forest. See more real estate news Fashion & Style Their Superpower? Holding Things. Known as "the claw grip" online, women are making videos about how many objects they can hold without a purse or functional pockets. What is the larger message? Clothes That Celebrate the Elegance of Your Inner Weirdo With her fourth collection, Phoebe Philo's long game is becoming clear. See more fashion news Obituaries Eileen Fulton, Glamorous Villainess of 'As the World Turns,' Dies at 91 She was a mainstay of the long-running soap opera for 50 years — so long that she liked to say she led a double life. Zelig Eshhar, Who Engineered Immune Cells to Fight Cancer, Dies at 84 He made a conceptual leap in immunotherapy by creating a hybrid T-cell, known as CAR-T, that was genetically modified to destroy cancer cells. Gilda Cruz-Romo, Soprano Celebrated for Her Power, Dies at 85 Critics praised the natural way she used her voice to inject character into her roles. She had, one wrote, a sound "perfect for Verdi and Puccini." See more Obituaries Opinion Jamelle Bouie JD Vance Claims One of Our Worst Traditions as His Own The vice president envisions a world of tiered citizenship, where entry depends on heritage and status rests on obedience. Guest Essay I Watched It Happen in Hungary. Now It's Happening Here. The real danger of a strongman isn't his tactics; it's how others, especially those with power, justify their acquiescence. The Opinions A Genocide Scholar on the Case Against Israel An Israeli historian answers his critics and explains why his home country's conduct in Gaza constitutes genocide. 26 MIN LISTEN Guest Essay The Problem With Grocery Stores Isn't Profits. It's Reality. How would — or wouldn't — city-owned stores work? Jessica Grose The 'Boy Crisis' Is Overblown We're looking in the wrong places for answers to boys' struggles. Guest Essay Trump Is Building a Machine to Disappear People The president's use of migrants as bargaining chips will corrode international politics. See more Opinion If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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