Today's Headlines: Trump Wants Universities to Show Him the Money, or No Deal

How Europe Learned to Speak So Trump Would Listen

View in browser August 20, 2025, 4:10 a.m. Eastern time Top News Trump Wants Universities to Show Him the Money, or No Deal President Trump has personally stipulated that hefty financial penalties be part of agreements his administration is negotiating with the elite universities. Critics call it extortion. How Europe Learned to Speak So Trump Would Listen The leaders of Germany, France, Britain and other supporters of Ukraine have come together in exceptional ways to help sway the U.S. president. ICE Wrongly Suggests Lawmaker Doxxed Agents, and Racist Threats Follow A state representative in Connecticut had posted on Instagram about immigration enforcement efforts in his district but did not give detailed information. Editors' Picks Seeking Tales and Sipping Whiskey in a Shack Floating Down the Bayou The shanty boat was bound for New Orleans, but the destination mattered less than the challenges, chance encounters and lessons learned along the way. Opinion | The Playbook Used to 'Prove' Vaccines Cause Autism Data can easily be manipulated to show causation that doesn't exist. World Sabotage Shows How Russia's Hostility Toward Europe Goes Beyond Ukraine The Kremlin's goal is to destabilize Europe, and attacks on infrastructure are a preferred weapon, a new report said. Israel Says It Killed a Hamas Militant Involved in Yarden Bibas Kidnapping Mr. Bibas, his wife and their two small children were abducted and taken to Gaza. Only he survived. After Defying Back-to-Work Orders, Air Canada Employees Reach Tentative Deal The airline planned to restart operations after a strike that disrupted half a million travelers. The agreement would reshape how flight attendants are paid. See more world news U.S. The Politics of Crime Are Perilous for Left and Right Alike President Trump has latched on to concerns about crime, as liberals point to its decline. The politics often flip when it comes to mass shootings. North Carolina Beach Towns Brace for a Surge of Dangerous Seas Most of the tourists have left Ocracoke Island, and the surfers are watching closely as deadly rip currents lurk below the waves. Pirro Orders Office to Maximize Criminal Charges on Street Arrests The instruction amounts to a declaration that the understaffed U.S. attorney's office will seek to ramp up criminal charges arising from the president's takeover of law enforcement in the capital. See more U.S. news Politics In Pursuing Trump Rival, Weaponization Czar Sidesteps Justice Dept. Norms Edward R. Martin Jr.'s conduct is part of a pattern in which top administration officials try to use the vast powers of the government to cast the specter of criminality on President Trump's enemies. California Republicans File Suit Seeking to Block Newsom Redistricting Plan Republican state lawmakers argue that Democratic lawmakers violated 30-day disclosure rules in the California Constitution. Night at the Capitol: One Democrat's Unexpected Protest Grips Texas Nicole Collier, a state representative, slept in the Capitol rather than agree to police surveillance imposed by Republicans after a Democratic walkout. "I am resisting," she said. See more political news Business Economic Data Has Taken a Dark Turn. That Doesn't Mean a Crash Is Near. Inflation is up and job creation down, but the U.S. economy could still pull through without too much pain. How One American Brand Stays Ahead of Trump Tariff Whac-a-Mole Keen Footwear has limited its exposure to supply chain trouble and opened a plant in Kentucky. But the trade upheaval has strained its adaptive strategy. Why Were Air Canada Flight Attendants Striking? Boarding Pay Was a Big Issue. The strike, which ended on Tuesday, focused attention on why many airlines don't start paying flight attendants until the plane doors are shut. See more business news Technology Mark Zuckerberg Shakes Up Meta's A.I. Efforts, Again Meta internally announced a new restructuring of its artificial intelligence division amid internal tensions over the technology, people with knowledge of the matter said. The Day ChatGPT Went Cold When OpenAI released a new version of ChatGPT, people were quick to protest its colder responses. Acknowledging the emotional attachment with chatbots, the company quickly backtracked. OpenAI in Deal Talks That Would Value the Company at $500 Billion At $500 billion, OpenAI would become the world's most valuable privately held company. See more technology news Arts Who's in Charge of Trump's Cultural Realignment? Here Are Key Players. These five people are among those leading the president's efforts to put his stamp on national cultural institutions, buildings and policies. Young People of Color Flocked to This Show. It Made Them Feel Seen. The exhibition "Beloved Suburbs" drew more than 150,000 visitors to France's Museum of the History of Immigration. "We really recognize ourselves in the exhibition," one said. When Musical Directions Don't Say What to Do, but How to Be What is the purpose of a poem, an illustration or a nonsensical phrase in a score? If it makes musicians stop and think, that's a good start. See more arts news New York Adams Asks Trump Administration to Stop Courthouse Migrant Detentions Federal prosecutors dropped charges against Mayor Eric Adams of New York so that he could help with deportations. But the administration and the city have been jousting in court. At Hamptons Fund-Raiser, Cuomo Predicts Help From Trump Is on the Way Andrew M. Cuomo, who trails in the polls for New York City mayor, is said to have told a crowd of donors that he believed President Trump would help smooth his path to victory. Abrego Garcia's Lawyers Accuse Justice Dept. of Vindictive Prosecution It was the second time that Mr. Abrego Garcia's lawyers have sought to hold the Trump administration accountable over its handling of his expulsion to El Salvador and its aftermath. See more New York news Food New England Seafood With a Side of Punk, at Smithereens This quirky East Village newcomer conjures a thoughtful, sometimes dark, take on traditional coastal cooking. Also, doughnuts and Japanese city pop. This Sauce Is Good on Everything Made with summer fruit and tart seasonings, chamoy is a Mexican condiment that brings a tangy zip to sweet and savory dishes alike. High-Protein Dinners That Make High-Protein Lunches Cowboy caviar, baked chicken meatballs and coconut curry tofu pack up nicely in lunchboxes. See more food news Science Are Marathons and Extreme Running Linked to Colon Cancer? A small, preliminary study found that marathoners were much more likely to have precancerous growths. Experts aren't sure why. A Debilitating Virus Surges Globally as Mosquitoes Move With Warming Climate Chikungunya, which can disable victims for years, is spreading rapidly, including in China and other places that have not seen it before. Trump's Get-Tough Approach on Homelessness May Sweep Up Veterans The administration has pledged to end support for Housing First, the approach behind the V.A.'s greatest housing success story. See more science news Well Do Food Expiration Dates Really Matter? Labels on food are confusing for all kinds of reasons. Here's what they mean. What Are the Best Exercises for Back Pain? The condition is hard to treat. But moving can help, if you do it right. See more on Well Travel Need a Labor Day Getaway? Six Alternative Destinations From theaters and museums to kayaking and hiking, here are some of our favorite spots within a two-hour radius, by plane or train, from six major U.S. cities. A.I. Travel Tools Are Everywhere. Are They Any Good? A.I.-powered tools can help you plan trips, squeeze value out of loyalty programs and translate languages. But don't give up Google Flights just yet. See more travel news Fashion & Style Thick Bands, 'The Shoulder Pads of Jewelry,' Are Back in Style After the pop star Dua Lipa endorsed the look this year, stylish yet practical chunky engagement rings have taken off in popularity. Wardrobes Shaped by Music A couple's style took cues from Wu-Tang Clan and Anita Baker. See more fashion news Obituaries Richard Lee, Activist Who Founded a Pot 'University,' Dies at 62 After he was paralyzed in an accident, his use of marijuana for medical purposes led him to become one of the nation's most influential cannabis activists. Mike Castle, Bipartisan Delaware Congressman, Dies at 86 A fiscal conservative who supported gun control and other liberal causes, he was the last Republican elected to serve his state as governor and to represent it in the House. See more Obituaries Opinion Katherine Miller, Margie Omero and Adrian J. Rivera 'They're Just Waiting to Just Get Back on Their Phone': 12 Teachers on What's Changed in Schools The group discusses artificial intelligence, phones and how students have changed over time. Guest Essay The Mind-Boggling Intrusiveness of Donald J. Trump The president is driving the tentacles of the federal government deep into the nation's economy, culture and legal system. Thomas L. Friedman Ukraine Diplomacy Reveals How Un-American Trump Is Trump doesn't feel any gut need to bring Ukraine into the West or understand that Putin's invasion of that country was just his latest march to break up the West. M. Gessen The Real Meaning of the Zelensky Summit Was Not as It Appeared And while we're at it, let's think about the phrase "land swap." Guest Essay Silicon Valley Is Drifting Out of Touch With the Rest of America Science has yet to find a clear path to building intelligence that surpasses that of humans. Guest Essay The Man Who Saw the Future of Africa As the world's powers turn away from the continent, Kwame Nkrumah's vision for Africa may hold the key to realizing its potential today. 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. You received this email because you signed up for Today's Headlines from The New York Times. To stop receiving Today's Headlines, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018