Today's Headlines: White House Requests More Disaster Aid but Also Seeks Cuts as Deficits Rise

[Top Russian Official Tried to Broker ‘Backdoor’ Meeting Between Trump and Putin]( | View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. | [Unsubscribe]( [The New York Times]( [Most Popular]( | [Video]( | [Today's Headlines]( Saturday, November 18, 2017 IN THIS EMAIL [NYT] [World](#worldNews) | [U.S.](#nationalNews) | [Politics](#politicsNews) | [Business](#businessNews) | [Technology](#technologyNews) | [Sports](#sportsNews) | [Arts](#artsNews) | [N.Y./Region](#nyregionNews) | [Travel](#dailyFeatureNews) | [Today's Video](#videoNews) | [Obituaries](#obituaries) | [Editorials](#editorialsNews) | [Op-Ed](#opinionNews) | [On This Day](#onthisdayNews) | [CUSTOMIZE »]( Top News [Damage from Hurricane Maria in Utuado, Puerto Rico, was still visible last week. The storm made landfall on Sept. 20.]( [White House Requests More Disaster Aid but Also Seeks Cuts as Deficits Rise]( By THOMAS KAPLAN The White House's latest disaster relief request pushed the total from this year's hurricanes and wildfires close to $100 billion, but it came with suggested cuts. [Alexander Torshin, the deputy governor of the Russian central bank, at a round table in Moscow in September 2016.]( [Top Russian Official Tried to Broker 'Backdoor' Meeting Between Trump and Putin]( By MATT APUZZO, MATTHEW ROSENBERG and ADAM GOLDMAN The overture came soon after the Trump campaign was told of Russian "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. As Donald J. Trump neared the Republican nomination, Moscow tried repeatedly to contact his campaign. [A screen shot from a 2005 recording, which captured Donald J. Trump speaking about women in vulgar terms to Billy Bush, then the host of ]( [In Mocking Franken Over Claims of Sexual Misconduct, Trump Joins a Debate He Started]( By PETER BAKER A typical politician with President Trump's history would stay far away from discussing someone else's behavior lest it dredge his own back into the spotlight. For more top news, go to [NYTimes.com »]( [Get the Morning Briefing in Your Inbox]( What you need to know to start your day, delivered Monday through Friday. [Sign up »]( ADVERTISEMENT Editors' Picks [Iraqi forces searched the site of a mass grave near Hawija, Iraq, this month. Officials have found more than 70 mass graves in territory once held by the Islamic State.]( WORLD [Crimes of the Caliphate: Iraqi Shepherd Bears Witness to ISIS Massacre]( By MARGARET COKER As Iraq liberates the last territory from the Islamic State, the country is starting to grapple with the extent of the group's destruction. [A Philadelphia judge sentenced the rapper Meek Mill to two to four years in prison for violating probation.]( OPINION | Op-Ed Contributor [Jay-Z: The Criminal Justice System Stalks Black People Like Meek Mill]( By JAY-Z The probation system considers the smallest misstep a reason to lock people back up. QUOTATION OF THE DAY "They were slaughtering people for all kinds of reasons, those caught using the Internet, those suspected of being witches." [SAAD AL-OMAR]( a shepherd who witnessed the execution of more than 60 of his neighbors by the Islamic State in Hawija, Iraq. [] Today's Videos [[Video] Video: Will the House Tax Plan Help the Middle Class?]( House Republicans have touted their tax plan as good for the middle class. The reality is more complicated. [Geraldine Pilgrim, 88, and Barbara Pilgrim, 82, at GRIOT Circle in Brooklyn, N.Y.]( [[Video] Video: 36 Questions That Lead to Love (Again)]( "Tell your partner what you like about them, and be very honest." We asked three couples who know everything about each other to try out Modern Love's 36 questions, intended to bring strangers closer. [[Video] Video: Embroidering With Björk's Maskmaker]( Step inside the home studio of Björk's co-creative director, James Merry, where he experiments with embroidery and sculpture to bring their artistic visions to life for her latest album, "Utopia." [] World [An election poster for Luca Marsella, the candidate for the neo-fascist party CasaPound who won a seat in the Roman suburb of Ostia.]( [In Italy, a Neo-Fascist Party's Small Win Creates Big Unease]( By JASON HOROWITZ CasaPound won a seat in a Roman municipal election, raising fears that Italy may be joining the ranks of countries where the far right is rising. [An elephant in Zimbabwe in 2012. ]( [For Now, Trump to Keep Ban on Importing Elephant Trophies]( By EMILY COCHRANE The president reversed his own administration's decision in an evening tweet, prohibiting trophies of killed elephants from being brought into the country. [Kevin Carrico, who teaches Chinese studies in Sydney, Australia, is concerned about professors being targeted for comments perceived as critical of China.]( [Chinese Nationalism Jostles With Academic Freedom in Australia]( By XIUZHONG XU Chinese students, an increasingly crucial source of revenue, are challenging what they see as anti-China slights, raising censorship concerns. For more world news, go to [NYTimes.com/World »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] U.S. [Senator Robert Menendez after his corruption trial ended in a mistrial on Thursday.]( [Why Are Corruption Cases Crumbling? Some Blame the Supreme Court]( By ALAN FEUER As a series of public figures have survived prosecutions, legal experts say that shifts in the law have eroded the government's ability to combat graft. [From left, Yaxandra Flores, Lizbeth Rosado and Rita Garcia played in their bedroom at Sahria Garcia's apartment in Orlando, Fla. Ms. Garcia bought the bunk beds when she learned that her brothers and their families would be coming from Puerto Rico.]( [A Great Migration From Puerto Rico Is Set to Transform Orlando]( By LIZETTE ALVAREZ Tens of thousands of new arrivals fleeing damage from Hurricane Maria have arrived. Many expect to stay - and they could reshape Florida and its politics. [Visitors watched a movie as part of the ]( [Years in the Making, Bible Museum Opens in Washington]( By EMILY COCHRANE The Museum of the Bible showcases ancient texts and artifacts, but critics say it ignores religions like Islam that draw from the Scriptures. For more U.S. news, go to [NYTimes.com/US »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Politics [Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey getting a pat on the back by Senator Cory Booker during a groundbreaking ceremony for the North Portal Bridge project in Kearny, N.J., in October. Mr. Booker is one of several prominent Democrats who have endorsed Mr. Menendez for re-election in 2018.]( [Democrats Show Support for Senator Menendez After His Mistrial]( By NICK CORASANITI The possibility of a competitive primary challenge against Senator Robert Menendez quickly dissipated as political power brokers endorsed his re-election. [Tax Fight Gets Personal as Senators Spar Over Bill]( By ALAN RAPPEPORT A daylong debate over taxes devolved into an angry shouting match as Senators Orrin Hatch and Sherrod Brown sparred over whether the bill favored the rich. [Kayla Moore, wife of Roy S. Moore, at a news conference on Friday outside the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery.]( [As Woman After Woman Accuses Roy Moore of Misconduct, One Leads His Defense]( By JESS BIDGOOD and CAITLIN DICKERSON Kayla Moore, the wife of the embattled Senate candidate, offered a spirited defense of him on Friday: "He will not step down." For more political news, go to [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [] Business [Charles Koch, left, and David Koch have long tried to shape political discourse through their support of nonprofit organizations, universities and think tanks. But they have expressed little interest in running a media company.]( [The Kochs Are Inching Closer to Becoming Media Moguls]( By SYDNEY EMBER and KENNETH P. VOGEL As Charles and David Koch back the Meredith Corporation's effort to buy Time Inc., some see a new way for them to advance their libertarian agenda. [The entrance to Nordstrom Local on Melrose Place in Los Angeles. Nordstrom, known for its upscale department stores, is trying a showroom-style store concept to attract shoppers.]( [Retailers Experiment With a New Philosophy: Smaller Is Better]( By TIFFANY HSU Department stores and other retailers struggling to beat back e-commerce are taking cues from online start-ups by experimenting with small showrooms. [Jay Hatfield of Infrastructure Capital Advisors in his New York office. He is planning to restructure his businesses in order to pay lower taxes and have more money to invest.]( Wealth Matters [Tax Cuts for Small-Business Owners? It's Complicated]( By PAUL SULLIVAN The House bill may seem like a tax cut for small businesses, but it is not likely to bring much relief to many business owners. For more business news, go to [NYTimes.com/Business »]( [] Technology [Cars made by GAC Group, the parent company of Trumpchi cars, on display at the Guangzhou auto show on Friday.]( [China to Export Trumpchi Cars to U.S., Maybe With a New Name]( By KEITH BRADSHER GAC Motor wants to lead an export push as China prepares the rest of its auto industry to go global and, in particular, target the American market. Your Money Adviser [Tech Companies Get High Marks for Covering Infertility Treatments]( By ANN CARRNS FertilityIQ analyzed benefits at 250 employers across several industries. Most, it said, have minimal or no coverage for treatments, which can cost $20,000 and up. [Apple introduced its HomePod speaker in June and had said the product would ship by the end of the year.]( [Apple Postpones Release of HomePod Speaker]( By BRIAN X. CHEN Apple had said its HomePod speaker, a response to Amazon's Echo, would debut this year. Now it won't be released till early next year. For more technology news, go to [NYTimes.com/Technology »]( [] Sports [Tony Harris's oil-painted portraits of N.H.L. legends, from left: Mike Gartner, Bobby Orr and Darryl Sittler.]( [The N.H.L. Needed 100 Portraits. So Tony Harris Got to Work.]( By STEPHEN SMITH For its 100th anniversary, the N.H.L. commissioned an Ottawa artist to paint all of the players voted as the top 100 in the league's history. [The Brazilian forward Malcom, who plays for Bordeaux in France's Ligue 1, took a selfie with Paris St.-Germain striker Neymar after their match on Sept. 30.]( On Soccer [French Rivals Hope P.S.G.'s Spotlight Has Room for Them]( By RORY SMITH In France's top league, a few teams argue that mere association with the biggest, richest team on the block will be good for business. [President Trump with the Penn State wrestling team on Friday.]( [N.C.A.A. Champs Visit the White House]( By THE NEW YORK TIMES Eighteen teams, from several sports, met with President Trump on Friday. For more sports news, go to [NYTimes.com/Sports »]( [] Arts Critic's Notebook [Puerto Rico Mattered at the Latin Grammys. So Did Salsa.]( By JON PARELES As anti-immigrant sentiments spread and natural disasters have torn through Latin America, the awards became a showcase for Latin pride and solidarity. [At a live taping of the podcast ]( [Science Is Dry, Obscure, Complex? Well, It Makes for Great Comedy]( By SONIA WEISER In podcasts and live shows, comedians are extracting the funny from astronomy, climate change and even the physics behind urinal cakes. [Michaela Martens, left, as Susan B. Anthony and Teresa Buchholz as Anne in Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson's ]( Critic's Notebook [Two Operas With Nothing in Common, Except Exhausted Women]( By ZACHARY WOOLFE "Thaïs" at the Met and "The Mother of Us All" in Hudson, N.Y., are unlikely partners in reflecting the difficult realities of female lives. For more arts news, go to [NYTimes.com/Arts »]( Movies [Blurred lines: Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman in ]( [Review: 'Jim & Andy,' When Carrey Became Kaufman]( By MANOHLA DARGIS In his documentary about Jim Carrey, Andy Kaufman and the making of "Man on the Moon," the director Chris Smith finds multiple realities and laughs. [Denzel Washington in ]( [Review: In 'Roman J. Israel, Esq.,' Denzel Washington as a Lawyer Out of His Element]( By BEN KENIGSBERG Dan Gilroy's new film about a socially awkward jurist misfires when it appoints him as a sort of angelic figure. [Julia Roberts and Jacob Tremblay in ]( [Review: In 'Wonder,' a Not-So-Ordinary Boy Makes His Way]( By GLENN KENNY Auggie, the little boy in this smart and warmhearted family film, is inspirational in his differences. For more arts news, go to [NYTimes.com/Arts »]( [] New York [Talk about the statues of Christopher Columbus dominated the first public hearing of the Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments, and Markers, but William Shakespeare also got some attention.]( [Amid Raging Debate Over Statues, a Calm Discussion in New York]( By WILLIAM NEUMAN New Yorkers offered thoughtful commentary at the first public hearing of a panel created to consider potentially offensive monuments. [Notes posted inside the newsroom of The Suffolk Times on Long Island, which, along with The Riverhead News-Review, recently published a 10,000-word special section on the disappearance of Louise Pietrewicz, nearly 50 years ago.]( [After Decades of Silence, Small-Town Newspaper Revives Missing Woman's Case]( By RICK ROJAS A daughter grasping for answers after her mother vanished moves closer to the truth after reporters re-examine the investigation. [Nine days after finishing sixth in the race for New York City mayor, Bo Dietl returned to his regular Thursday night table at Rao's, a restaurant in East Harlem known for, among many things, its exclusivity.]( [Who Needs City Hall, Anyway? Bo Dietl Still Has His Table at Rao's]( By J. DAVID GOODMAN At the Italian restaurant famed for its exclusivity, Bo Dietl, whose loud and expensive mayoral campaign garnered few votes, is still a favored son. For more New York news, go to [NYTimes.com/NewYork »]( [] Science [Island Nations, With No Time to Lose, Take Climate Response Into Their Own Hands]( By BRAD PLUMER and LISA FRIEDMAN Island states that are least responsible for global emissions but most vulnerable to storms and rising seas are looking outside the United Nations process for aid. [Watching the Perseids meteor shower in Britain in 2015.]( [The Leonids Meteor Shower and More That Will Light Up Night Skies]( By NICHOLAS ST. FLEUR All year long, Earth passes through streams of cosmic debris. Here's our list of major meteor showers and how to spot one. [A group of 19 ]( [A Close-Up on Mysteries Made of Stone in Saudi Arabia's Desert]( By NICHOLAS ST. FLEUR Structures that may have been created by ancient tribes could only be studied using Google Earth. Saudi officials finally invited an archaeologist to observe them via helicopter. For more science news, go to [NYTimes.com/Science »]( []Obituaries [Mr. Baker on Capitol Hill after he appeared before the Senate Rules Committee in 1964.]( [Bobby Baker, String-Puller Snared in Senate Scandal, Dies at 89]( By NEIL GENZLINGER Mr. Baker was a significant behind-the-scenes player in the 1950s and early '60s for Lyndon Johnson, until an investigation felled him. [Salvatore Riina was placed behind bars in the courtroom during a trial in Rome in April 1993.]( [Salvatore Riina, Italian Mafia's 'Boss of Bosses,' Dies at 87]( By JASON HOROWITZ Known as the Beast, the brutal and murderous leader of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra was serving 26 life sentences. [Gemze de Lappe, left, in a rehearsal for Joseph Stein and Marc Blitzstein's 1959 Broadway musical ]( [Gemze de Lappe, 95, Dies; Keeper of the Agnes de Mille Flame]( By RICHARD SANDOMIR She performed de Mille's choreography and later became and expert at restaging it. She was, one admirer said, "the potter's clay for Agnes." For more obituaries, go to [NYTimes.com/Obituaries »]( [] Editorial Editorial [Virginia Makes Every Voter Count]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD Its governor restored the voting rights of thousands of disenfranchised felons, something all states should do. [A lofty goal: To have a proper address number displayed on each building in Manhattan.]( Editorial [Those Maddening Mystery Tours of New York]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD A modest proposal: Why not put addresses on the buildings? For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( [] Op-Ed [Robert Mugabe, center, in 2008, the year the University of Massachusetts decided to rescind his honorary degree.]( Op-Ed Columnist [Mugabe and Other Leftist Heroes]( By BRET STEPHENS Why do progressives keep falling for tyrannical liberators? [If the price of a plate of eggs varies from state to state, shouldn't the minimum wage?]( Op-Ed Contributors [A Smarter Minimum Wage]( By JONATHAN COWAN and JIM KESSLER Prices are different all over America. Regional minimums should be, too. Op-Ed | Arthur C. Brooks [Let's Restart the Adoption Movement]( By ARTHUR C. BROOKS Too many children still need parents. Why did we stop making them part of our families? [Kate Webb earned a reputation as a fearless reporter during the Vietnam War.]( Vietnam '67 [The Women Who Covered Vietnam]( By ELIZABETH BECKER There were dozens of female war correspondents and photographers. Today they are largely forgotten. For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( [] ON THIS DAY On Nov. 18, 1976, Spain's parliament approved a bill to establish a democracy after 37 years of dictatorship. [See this Front Page]( | [Buy this Front Page]( FOLLOW US: [Facebook] [Facebook]( | [Twitter] [@NYTimes]( | [Pinterest] [Pinterest]( | [Instagram] [Instagram]( [NYT]( Access The New York Times from anywhere with our suite of apps: [iPhone®]( | [iPad®]( | [Android]( | [All]( [.] Save 15% at [The NYTimes Store »]( [.] Have questions? [Help Section »]( [.] Visit our mobile website at [m.nyt.com »]( About This Email This is an automated email. Please do not reply directly to this email. 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