By Haley Lyons
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Entertainment
Live Nation Accused of Hurting Music Fans as Antitrust Trial Begins
The Justice Department accused Live Nation, the concert company that owns Ticketmaster, of earning its profits illegally by using monopoly power to stifle competition, dominate the ticketing market, and extract money from fans through high ticket prices and surcharges. Live Nation denied the allegations, arguing that the company has minimal profit margins and fights for every deal in the highly competitive music business.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/arts/music/live-nation-antitrust-trial.html
Two Big Production Houses to Merge, Chaired by Jeff Zucker
Banijay Entertainment, a Paris-based company behind shows like “Peaky Blinders,” announced that it will combine with All3Media, the British company behind “The Traitors,” creating the world’s biggest independent production company valued at $8 billion. This merger comes less than a week after Paramount Skydance clinched a deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/business/dealbook/all3media-banijay-merger-media.html
Arts
Lawsuit Accuses Writer of Using Classmate’s Story in Best-Selling Memoir
A woman filed a lawsuit accusing writer Amy Griffin of using the story of her sexual abuse as the basis for abuse described in Griffin’s book “The Tell,” alleging invasion of privacy, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress. Griffin’s ghostwriter Sam Lansky and publishers Penguin Random House and The Dial Press were named as defendants.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/nyregion/amy-griffin-the-tell-lawsuit.html
Lawmaker asks court to block Trump from closing Kennedy Center
Representative Joyce Beatty asked a federal court to block President Donald Trump’s plan to close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years for “complete rebuilding.” The lawsuit argues that Congress has not authorized closing or demolishing the Center and seeks an injunction to prevent the closure.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/06/us/trump-news-updates#trump-kennedy-center-lawsuit
Top National Symphony Leader Quits in New Blow to Kennedy Center
Jean Davidson, the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, announced that she would step down after less than three years, due to her frustration with the turmoil at the Kennedy Center.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/arts/music/kennedy-center-national-symphony-orchestra-leader-quits.html
For the Friars, a Sad Sale of Their Club’s Last Vestige
Memorabilia from the shuttered New York Friars Club, including items belonging to entertainers like Jack Benny and Frank Sinatra, were sold at auction after the club’s building was in foreclosure. Former members expressed sadness and frustration that the artifacts of the historic comedy institution were sold to private buyers instead of being preserved in museums or returned to members.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/arts/for-the-friars-a-sad-sale-of-their-clubs-last-vestiges.html
ICE Detention of Teen Musicians Roils Texas Mariachi Community
Two teenage brothers from a South Texas high school mariachi band, along with their parents and younger brother, were detained by ICE and now face deportation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/us/teen-mariachi-musicians-detained-ice-texas.html
The Met Opera’s Desperate Hunt for Money
The Metropolitan Opera is facing a deep financial crisis due to declining ticket revenue, layoffs, debt, and large withdrawals from its endowment to cover operating costs. General manager Peter Gelb has pursued a range of funding strategies, including seeking support from Saudi Arabia and selling naming rights to the opera house. Despite these efforts, the opera’s financial challenges remain significant as it searches for new sources of revenue to sustain the organization.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/arts/met-opera-peter-gelb-finances.html
‘Cheap’ and ‘Appalling’: Trump’s Ballroom Plans Receive a Flood of Negative Comments
Roughly 32,000 messages were submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission about Trump’s White House ballroom project, and more than 98% of them were negative.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/politics/trump-ballroom-comments.html
Photographer in Dispute over “Napalm Girl’ Images Sues Netflix
Photographer Nick Ut filed a criminal defamation lawsuit in France against Netflix and the makers of the documentary “The Stringer” for claiming that a freelancer named Nguyen Thanh Nghe took the 1972 Vietnam War photograph “The Terror of War.” For more than a half-century, Ut had received credit for taking the photo and he says the film damaged his reputation and brought shame upon him by accusing him of being a fraud.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/movies/netflix-defamation-stringer-napalm-girl.html
Russia Returns to Venice Biennale, in Latest Sign of a Cultural Comeback
Russia will host a pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale, presenting a show called “The Tree Is Rooted in the Sky,” which will involve at least 38 artists and musicians. The move indicates the latest sign of the country’s effort to shed its status as a cultural and sporting pariah after its absence since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/arts/design/russia-ukraine-venice-biennale.html
After ‘Priceless’ Violin Flies on Lap, Lufthansa Changes Carry-On Rules
German violinist Carolin Widmann filed a complaint and publicly shared her experience after she was forced to remove her 1782 Guadagnini violin from its case and hold it on her lap during a Lufthansa flight. Lufthansa said it would adopt a more generous carry-on policy for small instruments after receiving backlash from musicians.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/travel/musical-instruments-travel-accommodations.html
Sports
Athletes reflect on 50 years of Winter Paralympics growth and the work still to do
Since the inaugural Winter Paralympics 50 years ago, the Games have expanded from fewer than 200 athletes from 16 countries to 665 athletes from more than 50 nations competing across six sports. While reflecting on its growth, athletes say there is still progressto be made toward greater resources, inclusion, and professionalism.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7081033/2026/03/05/paralympics-2026-winter-history-growth-progress-future/
Trump’s college sports roundtable: Two hours of talk, with few solutions
Trump hosted a roundtable at the White House that included more than 50 political, business and college sports leaders to discuss the future of college athletics and potential reforms, including the SCORE Act and an antitrust exemption for the NCAA. Trump said he would issue an executive order within a week to address the issues, though such an order would have limited impact and could face legal challenges in court. Despite nearly two hours of discussion, the meeting produced few clear solutions and highlighted the difficulty of passing federal legislation to reform college sports.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7095330/2026/03/06/trump-saving-college-sports-roundtable-executive-order-score-act/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/newsletter-image-likeness-vol-174-most-expensive-room-darren-heitner-9kuoe/
Ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore agrees to plea deal; 3 charges dismissed
Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of malicious use of a telecommunications device and trespassing as part of a plea deal that dismissed three other charges. The case stemmed from allegations that Moore sent unwanted communications and confronted a former staff member at her apartment after he was fired.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7094533/2026/03/06/sherrone-moore-michigan-plea-deal-charges/
Technology/Media
SCOTUS Denies Thaler’s Cert Petition in AI Copyrightability Lawsuit
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Dr. Stephen Thaler’s cert petition challenging the U.S. Copyright Office’s refusal to register a two-dimensional artwork generated by his AI system, the “Creativity Machine.” The case asked whether works created by an AI system without direct human authorship can receive copyright protection.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/030226zor_2d8f.pdf
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-449/392672/20260123191420573_25-449ThalerOpp.pdf
https://completemusicupdate.com/no-copyright-for-ai-generated-works-in-us-as-supreme-court-refuses-to-intervene-in-earlier-landmark-ruling/?ref=cmu-daily-newsletter
Pentagon Officially Notifies Anthropic It Is a ‘Supply Chain Risk”
The Defense Department officially notified Anthropic, an artificial intelligence company, that it has labeled the company a supply chain risk to national security after a dispute with the Pentagon over how its A.I. technology could be used on classified systems. The classification could prevent the start-up from doing business with the U.S. government.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/technology/anthropic-supply-chain-risk-defense-department.html
Judge Voids Mass Layoffs at Voice of America
Federal judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that Kari Lake’s appointment to lead the agency overseeing Voice of America was invalid, voiding mass layoffs she carried out at the government-funded news organization. The decision was a major setback to Trump’s efforts to dismantle the agency and could allow more than 1,000 journalists and staff members to return to their jobs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/us/politics/judge-kari-lake-voa-layoffs.html
Immigration Agents Detain a Reporter in Nashville
Immigration agents in Nashville detained Estefany Maria Rodriguez Florez, a Colombian journalist seeking asylum who reported on immigration arrests, accusing her of overstaying her visa. Her arrest raised concerns that she may have been targeted because of her reporting on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/us/immigration-ice-nashville-reporter-detained-tn-estefany-rodriguez-florez.html
Slurs Filled a Chat Created by a Republican Party Official in Florida
A leaked WhatsApp group chat created by the secretary of the Miami-Dade County Republican Party for students at Florida International University showed racist and antisemitic slurs against Black and Jewish people. The messages prompted calls for the official’s resignation and a criminal investigation by the university.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/florida-gop-slurs-group-chat.html
Trump Announces A.I. Industry Pledge to Pay for Power
Trump announced that artificial intelligence companies, including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI committed to pay for the power plants and grid upgrades needed to power their A.I. data centers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/technology/ai-energy-pledge-white-house-trump.html
Elon Musk Defends Social Media Posts in Twitter Shareholder Lawsuit
Elon Musk defended the social media posts he wrote before his 2022 acquisition of Twitter in federal court, saying he did not expect the comments to affect the company’s stock price. His testimony came during a shareholder lawsuit that accused him of trying to drive down Twitter’s share price to renegotiate the $44 billion deal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/technology/elon-musk-testifies-twitter-lawsuit.html
Grok posts about Hillsborough, Munich and Jota deleted after Liverpool and Man United complaints
The social media platform X removed offensive posts generated by xAI’s Grok chatbot after receiving complaints from Liverpool and Manchester United, which said the posts made vulgar remarks about the Hillsborough disaster, the Munich air disaster, and Liverpool player Diogo Jota.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7098659/2026/03/08/man-united-liverpool-grok-hillsborough-munich-jota-posts/
SEC Settles Its Case Against Justin Sun, an Investor in the Trumps’ Crypto Coins
The Securities and Exchange Commission settled a fraud case against crypto billionaire Justin Sun, whose company agreed to pay a $10 million penalty to resolve allegations that he carried out hundreds of thousands of fraudulent trades to manipulate cryptocurrency trading.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/politics/sec-justin-sun.html
Iranian TV and Social Media Project Defiant and Distorted View of the War
Iranian state television networks and affiliated social media accounts have projected a defiant image of the war despite thousands of strikes from Israel and the United States that have hammered Iranian cities, military bases, and political leadership. The campaign blends fact and fiction, often using unproven claims and fake videos generated with AI to exaggerate Iranian successes and distort the reality of the fighting.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/business/media/iran-state-tv-social-media-war-ai.html
China Bet on Technology to Resist U.S. Pressure
China announced a five-year plan to push resources into technologies such as AI nd quantum computing while also expanding the country’s military.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/world/asia/china-us-technology-trade-military.html
Indonesia to Block Children Under 16 From Social Media
Indonesia announced that it will block children under 16 from accessing social media starting on March 28 to protect children from threats including pornography, cyberbullying, and online fraud.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/world/asia/indonesia-social-media-ban.html
General News
Supreme Court Sides With Religious Parents, Blocking California’s Trans Student Policy
The Supreme Court temporarily blocked California from enforcing policies that prevent public school teachers from disclosing a student’s transgender status to their parents. The Court’s majority said that the religious parents challenging the policies were likely to succeed because the policies violate their religious beliefs.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/us/politics/supreme-court-california-trans-students.html
An Assertive Supreme Court Turns to Curbing State Courts
The Supreme Court issued emergency orders intervening in disputes over a New York congressional district and California school policies, pre-empting lower court proceedings. Liberal justices criticized the decisions, arguing that the Court expanded its use of the emergency docket and improperly interfered with state and lower courts.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/politics/supreme-court-emergency-docket.html
A Judge’s ‘Battle Royale’ With Trump and the Supreme Court
Federal Judge Brian Murphy ruled that the Trump administration’s practice of sending immigrants to countries they have no connection to was unlawful and said migrants must be given a chance to object. The ruling comes after repeated emergency orders from the Supreme Court rebuking the judge in the ongoing dispute over the administration’s immigration policies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/the-docket-judge-battle.html
Justice Dept., Under Pressure From Trump, Fails to Build Autopen Case Against Biden
The Justice Department investigated whether former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his aides broke the law by using an autopen to sign presidential documents, but failed to build a criminal case despite pressure from Trump.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/trump-biden-autopen.html
Trump Demands ‘Unconditional Surrender’ by Iran, Shifting U.S. Objective Again
Trump said he would accept nothing less than an “unconditional surrender” by Iran, expanding the goals of the U.S. and Israeli conflict and raising the possibility of a longer war because it is an unlikely scenario. The demand reflects a series of shifting goals for the conflict, leaving aides and congressional allies struggling to keep up.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/trump-unconditional-surrender-iran.html
Iran War Poses Test for Justice Dept. After Firings Deplete National Security Risks
After a year of firings, resignations and policy directives under the Trump administration have depleted the Justice Department’s counterterrorism and counterintelligence units, raising concerns about their ability to respond to potential terrorist reprisals by Iran during the war.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/trump-iran-war-doj-dhs-firings.html
Senate Republicans Block War Powers Limits as Mideast Crisis Widens
Republican lawmakers blocked a measure that invoked the 1973 War Powers Act and would have limited Trump’s ability to continue military action against Iran without congressional authorization. The vote reflects a partisan divide on the war in Iran.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/04/world/iran-war-israel-lebanon-trump
Pentagon Announces Seventh U.S. Death in War with Iran
The Pentagon announced that another American service member died from injuries sustained in an Iranian strike on a Saudi military base, bringing the number of U.S. troops killed in the war with Iran to seven.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/world/middleeast/american-soldier-killed-iran-war.html
How War in the Middle East Is Choking Off the World’s Oil and Gas
The war in the Middle East has sharply reduced tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and significant natural gas supplies. The disruption has already pushed oil and natural gas prices higher and threatens global energy supplies if the conflict continues.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/03/business/iran-war-oil-gas-strait-of-hormuz.html
Republicans Toil to Avoid Saying ‘War’ as Iran Conflict Widens
Republican lawmakers avoided calling the widening conflict with Iran a “war,” instead describing it as a “mission,” “major combat operation,” or “hostilities” as they are faced with the political and legal questions raised by the military action in Iran without congressional approval.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/politics/iran-war-republicans.html
Noem Defends Describing Minneapolis Protesters’ Actions as Domestic Terrorism
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem declined to apologize for suggesting that two U.S. citizens killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis appeared to commit acts of domestic terrorism. Lawmakers from both parties criticized her remarks and questioned her department’s handling of immigration enforcement operations.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/politics/kristi-noem-senate-hearing.html
The inspector general for D.H.S. accuses Noem of obstructing his work
The Homeland Security Department’s inspector general, Joseph V. Cuffari, accused Noem of systematically obstructing his office’s investigations by blocking access to department databases and information systems. Noem denied the claims during congressional testimony, saying the inspector general can still access the department’s records but must first provide a scoping memo outlining his requests.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/04/us/trump-news-updates#noem-dhs-inspector-general
Noem Review Delayed Disaster Aid by Weeks, Senate Report Finds
A recent report found that Noem’s policy requiring review of FEMA expenditures over $100,000 delayed disaster aid approvals by an average of three weeks and left hundreds of Federal Emergency Management Agency projects pending. The report concluded that the review slowed housing, unemployment assistance, and other relief efforts for victims of fires and storms. The Department of Homeland Security denied systemic delays in disaster aid.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/climate/noem-dhs-fema-delays.html
Kristi Noem Survived Many Crises. Then She Crossed a Trump Red Line
In making her the first cabinet official to be pushed out of a job in his second term, Trump did not condemn the mass deportations and aggressive tactics Noem enthusiastically embraced under the watchful eye of Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s immigration agenda. He did not signal a shift for the department, which administration officials have said will continue to advance the same goals under Senator Markwayne Mullin, the Republican of Oklahoma tapped to replace Noem. The decision instead appeared driven by an eagerness to distance Trump from the person who had become politically untenable.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/trump-noem.html
ICE Officials Must Acknowledge Court Orders Writing, Judge Says
A federal judge in New Jersey ordered ICE officials to acknowledge court orders in writing after migrants were repeatedly transferred out of state in violation of those directives. Judge Michael E. Farbiarz warned that the agency could face criminal contempt if the violations continue.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/nyregion/ice-nj-judge-order-immigration.html
Justice Dept. seeks to stall states’ disbarments of its lawyers
The Justice Department is seeking to intervene in state bar disciplinary proceedings against its lawyers by requesting that state bar associations pause investigations while the department conducts its own review.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/justice-department-state-bar-associations-lawyers.html?smid=url-share
Trump Administration, in Reversal, Tries to Continue Fight Against Law Firms
The Trump administration announced its plan to renew its defense of executive orders that targeted law firms, just one day after asking the court for permission to abandon the fight. The Justice Department filed a motion with the appeals court in Washington to withdraw its earlier request to dismiss the cases against four firms that had successfully challenged the orders in district court.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/politics/trump-law-firm-orders-reversal.html
Nine Law Firms Surrendered. Four Law Firms Won.
Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, Ferkins Coie, and WilmerHale won a temporary victory after federal judges struck down Trump’s executive orders aimed at punishing firms for representing and employing people he deemed “political enemies.” Nine other firms struck deals with the administration that included promises to perform millions of dollars of pro bono work for Trump-friendly clients.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/opinion/law-firms-resistance-trump.html
Trump Keeps Finding New Ways to Withhold Money Even After 198 Lawsuits
Trump attempted to withhold billions of dollars in federal funding to pressure states, universities, and other groups to adopt his policies, which led to at least 198 lawsuits against his actions. Courts have repeatedly tried to stop the administration by issuing injunctions or ruling against it.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/03/upshot/trump-funding-lawsuits.html
States Sue to Stop Trump From Reviving Steep Tariffs
Two dozen states filed a lawsuit against Trump to invalidate the new 10% tariff on imports from around the world, arguing that he did not have the power to impose the tax.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/politics/states-lawsuit-trump-tariffs.html
Trump Wants to ‘Take Over’ Elections. These States Are Prime Targets.
Trump suggested nationalizing elections and allowing Republicans to take control of voting procedures in parts of the country while making unfounded claims of election fraud. Experts say swing states such as Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Pennsylvania could be targets, raising concerns about possible attempts to influence election rules or oversight ahead of the midterm elections.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/us/politics/trump-elections-fulton-county-ballots.html
Senate Democrats block D.H.S funding again over new enforcement guardrails
For a third time, Senate Democrats blocked a spending bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and insisted that they would not approve the bill without new curbs on immigration enforcement. Democrats demanded requiring immigration officers to show visible identification, blocking them from wearing masks, and adopting stricter use-of-force policies.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/05/us/trump-news#section-713535409
Meeting on U.S. Measles Status Is Delayed Until November
The meeting scheduled to review whether the United States should lose its measles elimination status has been postponed until November, after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked for more time to analyze measles data.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/02/well/measles-elimination-status-us.htm
How Kennedy Is Trying to Revamp Medical School
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured dozens of American medical schools to make their curricula include more on nutrition after threatening funding cuts and promising public recognition. Critics say parts of his proposed curriculum draw on ideas from the Make America Healthy Again movement that deviate from established science.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/rfk-jr-medical-school-nutrition.html
Sea Levels Are Already Higher Than Many Scientists Think, New Study Shows
New research found that many previous studies have underestimated coastal sea levels, showing that the water is already higher than many maps and models indicate. Hundreds of millions more people worldwide may be living closer to rising oceans than previously estimated as a result.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/climate/sea-level-underestimated.html
Nature Report, Killed by Trump, IS Released Independently
After Trump canceled a first-of-its-kind federal assessment of the health of nature in the United States, scientists continued research independently and released an 868-page draft for public comment and scientific review. The report finds that marine and terrestrial ecosystems are degraded and that an estimated 34% of plant species and 40% of animal species are at risk of extinction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/climate/trump-nature-assessment.html
House Panel Votes to Subpoena Pam Bondi Over Epstein Files
Five Republicans in the House Oversight Committee joined Democrats in a 24 to 19 vote to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and its release of related investigative materials.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/pam-bondi-subpoena-epstein-files.html
Justice Department Releases Missing Interview With Woman Who Made Claims Against Trump
The Justice Department released F.B.I. interview summaries with a woman who accused Trump of sexual assault. Officials said the documents were previously withheld because they were mistakenly classified as duplicates in the Epstein files.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/us/politics/trump-epstein-interviews-woman-justice-department.html
‘No Tax on Overtime’ Isn’t All It Seems for Some Workers
Trump’s policy promoting no tax on overtime has limitations that have created confusion among workers and companies during the current tax filing season. Only people who are paid time and a half for working over 40 hours in a week can claim it, and only the additional “half” portion of time and a half overtime pay is exempt from federal income tax, while payroll taxes and some state taxes still apply.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/business/no-tax-on-overtime-tax-returns.html
U.S. Employers Cut Jobs in Sign of a Shakier Economy
Employers in the United States cut 92,000 jobs in February, raising the unemployment rate to 4.4% and signaling unexpected weakness in the labor market. The job losses cut across nearly all major sectors and dimmed the outlook for a quick resurgence in hiring.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/06/business/jobs-report-economy
Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump
Joseph Schwartz, who served only three months of a three-year sentence for tax crimes tied to a collapsed nursing home empire, secured a pardon from Trump after spending nearly $1 million on lobbyists, lawyers, and political operatives with connections to Trump’s circle. His case has fueled debate and encouraged other inmates to pursue similar strategies, although it is often unclear which advocates can deliver results.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/schwartz-trump-pardon-industry.html
A Trump Order Protected a Weedkiller and also a Weapon of War
Trump issued an executive order compelling the production of glyphosate, the weedkiller known as Roundup, due to national security concerns tied to the U.S.’s only domestic supply of white phosphorus, a chemical also used in military munitions. The order faced criticism because glyphosate has been linked to cancer, and Bayer, a company that makes glyphosate, has faced thousands of lawsuits over the product.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/climate/bayer-white-phosphate-glyphosate-roundup-trump-executive-order-munition.html
Labor Secretary’s Top Aides Forced Out
Two top aides to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, chief of staff Jihun Han and deputy chief of staff Rebecca Wright, were forced out after the White House told department leaders to fire them amid an internal investigation into misconduct at the Labor Department.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/politics/labor-department-secretary-aides-resign.html
Lutnick Agrees to Testify in House Epstein Investigation
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agreed to do an interview with the House Oversight Committee regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. This agreement follows the recent release of documents from the Justice Department showing a continuous relationship between Lutnick and Epstein after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/politics/lutnick-epstein-investigation.html
Congestion Pricing Wins in Court After Lengthy Battle With Trump
A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration had unlawfully tried to end New York’s congestion pricing toll. The ruling preserves, for now, the toll that charges most drivers $9 to enter Manhattan below 60th Street and rejects the federal government’s attempt to reverse approval of the plan.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/nyregion/nyc-congestion-pricing-ruling.html
180,000 New Yorkers May Lose Food Stamps Under Trump’s Changes
Nearly 180,000 New York City residents could lose or see reductions in their food stamp benefits following stricter eligibility rules from Trump’s domestic policy law, which requires more recipients to work, volunteer or enroll in job training to receive their benefits.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/nyregion/snap-food-stamps-work-requirements.html
U.S. Authorities Are Investigating Device Thrown Near Gracie Mansion
Federal authorities are investigating a homemade bomb that emitted smoke but failed to detonate after it was thrown during a protest near Gracie Mansion. Officials said the device contained shrapnel and was designed to kill or maim.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/nyregion/gracie-mansion-bomb-investigation.html
Father’s Murder Conviction in School Attack Puts New Onus on Parents
A Georgia jury found Colin Gray guilty of murder and manslaughter after he gifted his son, Colt, an assault-style rifle that the teenager used to open fire at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia in 2024, killing two students and two teachers. The case reflects a growing effort by prosecutors to hold parents criminally responsible when their children are accused of carrying out mass shootings.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/colin-gray-verdict-apalachee-shooting.html
Trump Tightens Pressure on Cuba as U.S. Pushes for Charges Against Leaders
The U.S. attorney in South Florida ordered an investigation into Cuba’s leaders and Communist Party officials for crimes including drug trafficking, immigration violations, economic offenses, and violent crimes, as the Trump administration increased pressure on the country. The move comes as Trump has imposed sanctions and pressured for a regime change while Cuba faces a worsening economic and a humanitarian crisis.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/06/us/politics/justice-dept-orders-cuba-investigation.html
U.S. Opens Military Action in Ecuador Against ‘Terrorist Organizations’
The United States and Ecuador launched joint military operations targeting “designated terrorist organizations.” U.S. Special Forces are advising and supporting Ecuadorean commandos on raids against suspected drug shipment facilities. The operations mark an expansion of U.S. military involvement in the region as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/us/politics/us-ecuador-trump-military-operations.html
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Son Emerges as Leading Choice to Be His Successor
The senior clerics that will select Iran’s next supreme leader deliberated and said that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the clear front runner. If selected, analysts say his appointment could signal that a more hardline Revolutionary Guard side of the regime is now in charge.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/world/middleeast/iran-mojtaba-khamenei-successor.html
Iceland Defeats Iceland: A U.K. Supermarket Ends a Trademark Dispute
Iceland, the country, prevailed over the British supermarket chain Iceland, in a decade-long trademark dispute after a European Union court canceled the grocer’s trademark for the name “Iceland.” The European Union’s General Court concluded that the public could be misled into thinking that products labeled “Iceland” came from the country rather than the British supermarket chain, and that geographical names must be available for public use.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/05/world/europe/iceland-supermarket-trademark.html