Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.
Notable Republicans criticize investigation of Fed chairSeveral Republican lawmakers, including three senators, criticized the Trump administration today over its decision to open a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve chair. The backlash could constrain President Trump’s ability to dictate the central bank’s next steps, a power he has long coveted. Powell received the support of every living former Fed chair and several former Treasury secretaries. They signed a statement denouncing the investigation as an “unprecedented attempt” to undermine the Fed’s independence. The inquiry — the existence of which my colleagues revealed last night — is the first criminal investigation of a Fed chair in history. It revolves around Powell’s oversight of a $2.5 billion renovation of the central bank’s headquarters in Washington. And it represents a remarkable escalation in Trump’s pressure campaign against Powell, whom the president ridiculed as a “numbskull” and a “clown” for resisting his demands to more quickly cut interest rates. Powell tried for many months to avoid a fight as Trump sought to wrest more control over the Fed. But in a video message last night, Powell accused the administration of using legal threats as “pretexts” to coerce the central bank into ceding to the president’s demands. In other Trump administration news:
Iran said it is ready for war, but open to negotiateProtests in Iran that began two weeks ago over economic woes have snowballed over the past few days into a mass movement. Some experts consider it to be one of the gravest challenges to the country’s authoritarian rulers in decades. In response, authorities have aggressively cracked down, with rights groups reporting casualties in the hundreds. Videos published on Iranian social media channels on Sunday and verified by the Times showed dozens of what appeared to be body bags. In the videos, large crowds of people gather around the bags, with some people unzipping them to try to identify a loved one. Trump suggested last night that the situation had gotten so bad that the U.S. might intervene. He said the U.S. military was “looking at some very strong options.” Iran’s foreign minister responded today, saying that his country was prepared for conflict, but also ready to negotiate.
E.P.A. to stop using health to justify costs of limiting pollutionThe E.P.A. has for decades included the monetary value of preventing health problems and saving lives as part of the cost-benefit analyses it uses to determine environmental regulations. The Trump administration plans to end that. The change could make it easier to repeal limits on pollutants from coal-burning power plants, oil refineries and other facilities. It would most likely result in lower costs for companies, but dirtier air.
Democrats are debating who should vote firstThe Democratic Party has begun to puzzle over where to start its primary elections for the 2028 presidential race. Should it be in a battleground state, like Nevada? In what has been an early state, like Iowa or New Hampshire? Or perhaps somewhere with a higher percentage of Black voters, like South Carolina? States have until the end of the week to apply for an early position. Our political correspondent, Shane Goldmacher, explains why the choice could help decide the future of the party. In other politics news, Mary Peltola, a Democrat who had been a U.S. representative from Alaska, announced that she was running for the state’s U.S. Senate seat. More top news
We’re experimenting this week with sending you two or three videos from my colleagues at The Times in each newsletter. Some will feature expert analysis and reporting from around the world. Others will spotlight must-read books, a great song or a delicious recipe. Check them out below and let me know what you think.
Take a look behind the scenes at the Golden GlobesDespite a few strange production choices, last night’s Golden Globes were plenty of fun. Nikki Glaser put on a comedy clinic as host, roasting some of the biggest stars there. Fifteen striking outfits caught our eyes. And Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” won big. One of our photographers, Sinna Nasseri, was on the ground there, snapping stars’ candid moments. Another was backstage, photographing the winners. For more awards chatter: Our critics picked out the films that they think deserve Oscar nominations.
A new play experiments with the power of mixed realityLater this month, when “An Ark” opens at the Shed in Manhattan, Ian McKellen will look each audience member in their eyes and speak to them directly. “Don’t panic,” he will say. Except, McKellen won’t actually be in front of the crowd, at least not in flesh and blood form. The play is one of the first to use mixed reality, a technology that blends the real physical world with digital content. The audience will be wearing special glasses that allow them to see the actors, who recorded the performance beforehand. We talked to them about what it was like.
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