Today's Headlines: Harvard Secures a Court Victory in Its Fight With Trump
States Go Their Own (and Contradictory) Ways on Vaccine Policy
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines

September 4, 2025, 4:10 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

Judge Rules Trump Administration Illegally Canceled Harvard Funding

The ruling was a victory for the university in its battle with President Trump, but the judge’s decision may not be the final word.

States Go Their Own (and Contradictory) Ways on Vaccine Policy

California, Oregon and Washington said they would work together to review scientific data, saying the C.D.C. could no longer be trusted. But Florida said it would abolish all vaccine mandates.

Trump Advisers Have Discussed a Job for Adams if He Quits Mayor’s Race

The conversations have also involved finding a place for Curtis Sliwa with the goal of giving Andrew Cuomo a better chance of defeating Zohran Mamdani in November.

Editors’ Picks

The Communist Warrior Stranded for Decades in an ‘American Colony’

Ahn Hak-sop was captured during the Korean War by the South and imprisoned for more than 40 years. Now 95, he wants to return to the North to die.

Opinion | This Is the Moment We Find Out if Trump Is for Real

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World

China’s Latest Missiles, Drones and Submarines, Up Close

At its military parade on Wednesday, China showcased hypersonic missiles to sink ships, drones that serve as wingmen and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that can strike the continental United States.

Need a Lift? Putin Takes His ‘Limo Diplomacy’ to China

Rides in his hulking bulletproof Aurus with the Indian and North Korean leaders offered the Russian leader an ideal setting for deepening ties.

Far-Right Israeli Minister Calls for West Bank to Be Annexed

Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should take over most of the territory, partly in response to growing international moves to recognize a Palestinian state.

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U.S.

Florida Moves to End Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren

The state would be the first to scrap requirements that children be vaccinated to attend school, among other rules.

In Texas, a Senate Race Turns Brutal Before It’s Even Declared

Attorney General Ken Paxton is waging “legal war” against Beto O’Rourke, a possible Democratic rival, threatening jail and an investigation that could bankrupt his organization.

Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport Venezuelans

The case appears set to return to the Supreme Court in a decisive battle over President Trump’s use of the 18th-century law to deport migrants.

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Politics

G.O.P. Thwarts Epstein Disclosure Bill as Accusers Plead for Files

Jeffrey Epstein’s accusers went to the Capitol to ask Congress to get behind their calls for more disclosures, but momentum for a bill demanding it appeared to stall.

Federal Courts Slow to Fix Vulnerable System After Repeated Hacking

After a 2020 breach thought to be Russia’s work, the courts told Congress that they would harden a system storing sealed documents. Five years later, the system was hacked again.

Senator’s Visit to Spy Agency Was Canceled After Laura Loomer Complained

Senator Mark Warner’s visit was classified and not intended to be publicized. It was to include a meeting with the head of the agency and a briefing on the agency’s use of artificial intelligence.

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Business

Google, Meta, Visa: A Guide to a New Era of U.S. Antitrust Cases

Here are 16 major cases brought by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission since late 2020, under both Presidents Trump and Biden, as antitrust enforcers have promised to sue monopolies and block big mergers.

The Biggest U.S. Oil Companies Are Eliminating Thousands of Jobs

ConocoPhillips of Houston on Wednesday announced plans to reduce its global work force by up to 25 percent.

Trump’s Pick for the Fed Says He Will Uphold the Central Bank’s Independence

Stephen Miran is scheduled to face members of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday as the administration steps up its attacks on the Federal Reserve.

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Technology

The Message for Big Tech in the Google Ruling: Play Nice, but Play On

A federal judge ordered steps in the search monopoly case that will restrain Google but not break it up, signaling a cautious antitrust approach by courts.

Amazon Pares Back Free Shipping Perk on Prime Membership

The e-commerce giant is ending a program that let Prime members share free shipping with a family member who lives somewhere else. Here’s what to know.

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Arts

The Met Opera Turns to Saudi Arabia to Help Solve Its Financial Woes

The Met, which has withdrawn $120 million from its endowment since the pandemic, reached a lucrative deal to perform in Saudi Arabia for three weeks each winter.

Thought Hollow Knight Was Hard? Try Waiting for Its Sequel.

Fans of the challenging indie game have been ready for Hollow Knight: Silksong since its reveal in 2019. Their time is almost here.

What Is Swedish Culture? IKEA? Yes. Abba? Not This Time.

A government initiative to create a Swedish “cultural canon” concerned many in the country’s cultural world. The final list has sparked debate over the choices.

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New York