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February 5, 2026

Illustration by George Douglas; source photographs by imageBROKER/Norbert Probst, via Getty Images

Notable

A law that could save the midterms. “Yes, a corrupt president may pardon the crooks and cronies who act on his behalf, but a modest change in the law could give them pause.”

— David French, Opinion columnist

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How much longer can Mexico walk Trump’s tightrope? “While Ms. Sheinbaum’s administration has insisted on a commitment to ‘zero impunity,’ it talks little about the political structures that assist crime organizations. This may reflect not only her personal political concerns, but also her awareness of how quickly chaos could erupt in much of the country.”

— Mary Beth Sheridan, a journalist specializing in Latin America

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I was arrested for doing my job as a reporter. “If we as a nation fail to defend that principle now, clearly and without compromise, we may soon find that there is nothing left to defend.”

— Georgia Fort, an independent journalist based in Minnesota

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Spotlight

Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Associated Press

The Conversation: Trump Brings Out the Worst in Everyone

Bret Stephens and Frank Bruni discuss Iran, the midterms and other topics.

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ICYMI

The inside story of my 11 interviews with Susie Wiles. “My theory is simple: People want to tell their stories. Every good biographer knows that most people, if you treat them with fairness and respect, will open up to you.”

— Chris Whipple, author of “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History.”

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Listen (or Watch)

The New York Times Interesting Times with Ross Douthat Why Ending Roe Wasn’t Enough for the Pro-Life Movement Activists won the legal battle. Are they losing the culture war? 1 HR 1 MIN LISTEN

More in Opinion

Guest Essay I’m the Prime Minister of Spain. This Is Why the West Needs Migrants. In Spain, it is our duty to become the welcoming and tolerant society our ancestors would have hoped to find on the other side of our borders. By Pedro Sánchez

jessica Grose Welcome to the Resistance, Public School Parents School communities are central to organizing against federal harassment. By Jessica Grose

David Wallace-Wells ICE’s New Surveillance State Isn’t Tracking Only Immigrants The nationwide nativist dragnet has a long list of targets. By David Wallace-Wells

The Opinions Maureen Dowd and Carlos Lozada on the Empty Propaganda of ‘Melania’ Glamour, silence and a very big hat. 37 MIN LISTEN

letters Erasing American History, the Trump Way Readers object to the National Park Service’s deletions at historic sites ordered by the Trump administration. Also: David Brooks’s farewell column.

In Your Words

Re: “The Evolutionary Brilliance of the Baby Giggle”

C’mon, admit it — all that supposed science was just an excuse to show us a bunch of irresistible baby videos, no? — A comment posted by ths907 from Chicago

Fascinating argument. If children learn through play, laughter and humor follow. Adults need to spend more time with babies and laughter. This is probably one of the keys to happiness and longevity. — A comment posted by Bronco Pete from the Great Midwest

Read more comments on the story here and check out our Letters to the Editor.

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