Today's Headlines: Government Shutdown to Continue for Days as Senate Adjourns Until Thursday

For Trump, ‘a War Every Day,’ Waged Increasingly Alone View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [Most Popular]( | [Video]( | Subscribe: [Digital /]( [Home Delivery]( [My Account]( [The New York Times]( Sunday, December 23, 2018 IN THIS EMAIL: [Top News](#0) | [Editors' Picks](#2) | [Today’s Videos](#4) | [World](#5) | [U.S.](#6) | [Politics](#7) | [Business](#8) | [Technology](#9) | [Sports](#10) | [Arts](#11) | [New York](#12) | [Magazine](#13) | [Travel](#14) | [Real Estate](#15) | [Fashion & Style](#16) | [Obituaries](#17) | [Editorial](#18) | [Op-Ed](#19) | [CUSTOMIZE »]( [] Top News [Government Shutdown to Continue for Days as Senate Adjourns Until Thursday]( [Government Shutdown to Continue for Days as Senate Adjourns Until Thursday]( By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and KATIE ROGERS Senate Democrats said they would never accede to President Trump’s demand for $5 billion for a border wall, and the White House offered no early indication that the president would accept less. [For Trump, ‘a War Every Day,’ Waged Increasingly Alone]( [For Trump, ‘a War Every Day,’ Waged Increasingly Alone]( By PETER BAKER and MAGGIE HABERMAN At the midpoint of his term, the president has grown more sure of his own judgment and more isolated from anyone else’s than at any point since he took office. [In Gupta Brothers’ Rise and Fall, the Tale of a Sullied A.N.C.]( [In Gupta Brothers’ Rise and Fall, the Tale of a Sullied A.N.C.]( By NORIMITSU ONISHI and SELAM GEBREKIDAN An Indian family rose to the heights of power and fortune in South Africa with the help of eager officials in the legendary party of Nelson Mandela. For more top news, go to [NYTimes.com »]( ADVERTISEMENT [Get New York Today in Your Inbox]( [Get New York Today in Your Inbox]( What you need to know to start your day in New York, including news, weather, free events and a look at the lighter side of life. [Sign up »]( [] Editors' Picks [Heroin Addiction Explained: How Opioids Hijack the Brain]( U.S. [Heroin Addiction Explained: How Opioids Hijack the Brain]( By SHREEYA SINHA, ZACH LIEBERMAN and LESLYE DAVIS A look at how opioids hijack the brain, from temptation and tolerance to relapse and recovery. [What a Muslim Could Teach Trump Supporters About Jesus ]( Opinion [What a Muslim Could Teach Trump Supporters About Jesus]( By WAJAHAT ALI In Catholic school, I learned about compassion. Some Christians must have missed that part. [] QUOTATION OF THE DAY "Whether you are from the government, whether you belong to my party or you are my rival in politics, do not terrorize, do not intimidate, do not create fear in the voters. If you do that, I will go and arrest you myself. I will drag you and tie your neck to the wheel of an airplane." [PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE]( of the Philippines. [] Today’s Videos [How an Elite Nigerian Unit Killed Dozens of Protesters]( [[Video]Video: How an Elite Nigerian Unit Killed Dozens of Protesters]( By CHRISTOPH KOETTL, EMMANUEL AKINWOTU, MALACHY BROWNE, NATALIE RENEAU, AINARA TIEFENTHÄLER, DAVID BOTTI and WHITNEY HURST Nigeria’s military said it acted in self-defense. Our visual investigation shows that this claim doesn’t hold up, and reveals how an elite military unit used machine guns on unarmed marchers in October, killing dozens. [Earthrise: 50 Years Since Apollo 8]( [[Video]Video: Earthrise: 50 Years Since Apollo 8]( By DENNIS OVERBYE, JONATHAN CORUM and JASON DRAKEFORD On Christmas Eve, 1968, astronauts orbiting the moon saw Earth rising for the first time. [What Happens When the Government Shuts Down?]( [[Video]Video: What Happens When the Government Shuts Down?]( By SARAH STEIN KERR and AINARA TIEFENTHÄLER It’s official: The federal government is partially shut down. So how does this happen and who is affected? ADVERTISEMENT [] World [Mexico’s New President Promised a Revolution. Has It Begun?]( [Mexico’s New President Promised a Revolution. Has It Begun?]( By KIRK SEMPLE and PAULINA VILLEGAS Barely three weeks into his term, Andrés Manuel López Obrador has burst out of the gate with new initiatives, trying to fulfill his campaign vow to remake Mexico. [Video of Tourist’s Killing in Morocco Is Most Likely Real, Norway Says]( [Video of Tourist’s Killing in Morocco Is Most Likely Real, Norway Says]( By HENRIK PRYSER LIBELL, MARTIN SELSOE SORENSEN and AIDA ALAMI Nine more people have been detained in connection with the killings of Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway and Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, of Denmark. [At 14, She Hunts Wolves and Takes Selfies With Cherished Eagle in Mongolia]( Mongolia Dispatch [At 14, She Hunts Wolves and Takes Selfies With Cherished Eagle in Mongolia]( Photographs and Text by HANNAH REYES MORALES In western Mongolia, hunting for fur and food with trained eagles is an important part of the local culture — and a way for tech-savvy teenagers to connect with their elders. For more world news, go to [NYTimes.com/World »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] U.S. [Unpaid Agents, Dark Visitor Centers, Closed Trails: Effects of the Shutdown Beginning]( [Unpaid Agents, Dark Visitor Centers, Closed Trails: Effects of the Shutdown Beginning]( By JACK HEALY, ALAN BLINDER and RICHARD FAUSSET There were few disruptions on Saturday as the latest federal government shutdown began, but the consequences will spread if Washington’s impasse lingers. [Beyond the Wall at Mexico’s Border: Six Photojournalists’ Perspectives]( [Beyond the Wall at Mexico’s Border: Six Photojournalists’ Perspectives]( By DAVID SCULL The idea of building a border wall remains a central flash point of the Trump era. But as Times photojournalists have seen for themselves, a wall already exists, and it takes many forms. For more U.S. news, go to [NYTimes.com/US »]( [] Politics [Splitting With Trump Over Syria, American Leading ISIS Fight Steps Down]( [Splitting With Trump Over Syria, American Leading ISIS Fight Steps Down]( By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI and ERIC SCHMITT In an email announcing his accelerated resignation, Brett McGurk criticized President Trump’s recent decision to pull troops out of Syria. [The Wall and the Shutdown, Explained]( [The Wall and the Shutdown, Explained]( By EILEEN SULLIVAN President Trump’s demand that Congress provide money to build a wall along the Southern border threatens to shut down portions of the government. Here’s why. [Shutdown Might Not Have Much Immediate Impact on the Economy]( [Shutdown Might Not Have Much Immediate Impact on the Economy]( By ALAN RAPPEPORT and BINYAMIN APPELBAUM But a partial closing of the government could make life more difficult for millions of Americans in ways both big and small, and also add to the sense of worry on Wall Street. For more political news, go to [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [] Business [The Itsy-Bitsy, Teenie-Weenie, Very Litigious Bikini]( [The Itsy-Bitsy, Teenie-Weenie, Very Litigious Bikini]( By KATHERINE ROSMAN Who is the rightful inventor of the blockbuster swimsuit known as the Kiini? [Oh Please Stop Saying Please]( Work Friend [Oh Please Stop Saying Please]( By CHOIRE SICHA Please is over, people! [Lottery-Like Prizes Coax Savings. What’s the Risk in Expanding Them?]( Economic View [Lottery-Like Prizes Coax Savings. What’s the Risk in Expanding Them?]( By SEEMA JAYACHANDRAN Lotteries may exploit psychological biases, but that bug can become a feature when modified to nudge better behavior. For more business news, go to [NYTimes.com/Business »]( [] Technology [Willy Wonka and the Medical Software Factory]( [Willy Wonka and the Medical Software Factory]( By KATE KELLY The engineers at Epic Systems work on a campus full of childish whimsy but also sit in on open-heart surgery. Is this the indulgence of an oddball founder, or a better way to run an I.T. company? [Tristan Walker on the Roman Empire and Selling a Start-Up to Procter & Gamble]( Corner Office [Tristan Walker on the Roman Empire and Selling a Start-Up to Procter & Gamble]( By DAVID GELLES Frustrated with the “ethnic beauty” aisle and products that didn’t work, he built a company for the demographic future. [Facebook Closes 5 Accounts Tied to Russia-Like Tactics in Alabama Senate Race]( [Facebook Closes 5 Accounts Tied to Russia-Like Tactics in Alabama Senate Race]( By SCOTT SHANE Facebook acted in response to news reports that a group of social media experts had secretly used deceptive activity in the Alabama race in 2017. For more technology news, go to [NYTimes.com/Technology »]( [] Sports [From LeBron to Zaza, the 2003 N.B.A. Draft Class Survivors Share a Bond]( [From LeBron to Zaza, the 2003 N.B.A. Draft Class Survivors Share a Bond]( By SCOTT CACCIOLA LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kyle Korver, Zaza Pachulia and Carmelo Anthony would make a pretty good starting five. [For Mo’ne Davis, a Social Awakening and a Commitment to Hampton]( [For Mo’ne Davis, a Social Awakening and a Commitment to Hampton]( By JERÉ LONGMAN Davis, the first girl to pitch a shutout at the Little League World Series, said she would play softball next year at Hampton, partly influenced by her appreciation for black history. [The Whalers Are Back in the N.H.L. Sort Of.]( [The Whalers Are Back in the N.H.L. Sort Of.]( By GARY SANTANIELLO The new owner of the Carolina Hurricanes is celebrating the franchise’s past. Hartford Whalers fans aren’t sure how to feel about that. For more sports news, go to [NYTimes.com/Sports »]( [] Arts [Will ‘Black Panther’ Help Redefine ‘Star’ Overseas?]( [Will ‘Black Panther’ Help Redefine ‘Star’ Overseas?]( By CARA BUCKLEY Minority filmmakers have long wanted studios to give them more international promotion. They are hoping some recent global success stories are signs of change. [Dick Van Dyke on ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and Dancing at 93]( [Dick Van Dyke on ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and Dancing at 93]( By MARGY ROCHLIN The actor who starred in the original film dislikes the new one’s animation and says the biggest challenge wasn’t the hoofing but finally getting the accent right. [Turning Back Time on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’]( [Turning Back Time on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’]( By TODD HEISLER and ALEXIS SOLOSKI The meticulous attention to detail in recreating New York in the 1950s for the Amazon show transcends the usual nostalgic kitsch. Our photographer spent three days behind the scenes. For more arts news, go to [NYTimes.com/Arts »]( [] New York [The Misadventures of an Idealistic Restaurant in Cut-Throat New York]( [The Misadventures of an Idealistic Restaurant in Cut-Throat New York]( By BRITTA LOKTING Raising the wages of servers might sound like the right thing to do. But can restaurants actually afford to do it? [They Bonded as Cabbies in the 1980s. Now One Is Helping his Ailing Friend]( [They Bonded as Cabbies in the 1980s. Now One Is Helping his Ailing Friend]( By ANDREW McCORMICK As Uber takes over New York, two men, who met when the sitcom “Taxi” was popular, watch out for each other, nostalgic for the city of their youth. [Legalized Pot Isn’t Going to Save Us]( Big City [Legalized Pot Isn’t Going to Save Us]( By GINIA BELLAFANTE As New York moves to legalize marijuana use, advocates envision a utopia of big tax revenues and shared equity. Are they high? For more New York news, go to [NYTimes.com/NewYork »]( [] Magazine [These Democrats Will Soon Have the Power to Investigate the White House. How Far Will They Go?]( Feature [These Democrats Will Soon Have the Power to Investigate the White House. How Far Will They Go?]( By JASON ZENGERLE In two weeks, congressional Democrats will return to Washington with the authority to investigate a White House that is suspected of foreign collusion, conflicts of interest and mismanagement of the federal government. [Is Denaturalization the Next Front in the Trump Administration’s War on Immigration?]( [Is Denaturalization the Next Front in the Trump Administration’s War on Immigration?]( By SETH FREED WESSLER The prosecution of naturalized United States citizens is a sign of a gathering storm. [After More Than Two Decades of Work, a New Hebrew Bible to Rival the King James]( Feature [After More Than Two Decades of Work, a New Hebrew Bible to Rival the King James]( By AVI STEINBERG The pre-eminent scholar Robert Alter has finally finished his own translation. For more magazine news, go to [NYTimes.com/Magazine »]( [] Travel [44 Islands and 42 Bridges: A Florida Keys Road Trip]( Road Trip [44 Islands and 42 Bridges: A Florida Keys Road Trip]( By ELAINE GLUSAC It’s only 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West, but take it slow and savor the subtropical, sometimes kitschy, flavor, of these fragile isles. [Adventures in ‘the Most Organized City’ in India ]( The 52 Places Traveler [Adventures in ‘the Most Organized City’ in India]( By JADA YUAN With only three more stops to go, our columnist takes in Chandigarh, Le Corbusier’s rigorously planned city, and, on the flip side, a fantastical rock garden, with a mirrored fun-house and waterfall. [ Opening a Door to a Secret Prague]( [Opening a Door to a Secret Prague]( By EVAN RAIL A new wave of off-the-radar art spaces are opening in former factories, military barracks and other historic structures in the Czech Republic’s capital city. For more travel news, go to [NYTimes.com/Travel »]( [] Real Estate [Hey Neighbor, Can I Buy Your Apartment?]( [Hey Neighbor, Can I Buy Your Apartment?]( By RONDA KAYSEN Expanding your home by acquiring the apartment next door is as much about luck and timing as it is about money in your bank account. [Starting Fresh in a Familiar Place]( On Location [Starting Fresh in a Familiar Place]( By TIM McKEOUGH As one woman in Portland, Ore., discovered, if you hire the right designer, you might not need to buy a new home. [A Piano Makes a Terrible Coffee Table]( Right at Home [A Piano Makes a Terrible Coffee Table]( By RONDA KAYSEN But beloved objects bring life to our homes, which is why we sometimes get irrationally attached to certain things, even when it makes no sense to keep them. For more real estate news, go to [NYTimes.com/RealEstate »]( [] Fashion & Style [PowerPoint Is the Most Efficient Way for Kids to Manage Their Parents]( [PowerPoint Is the Most Efficient Way for Kids to Manage Their Parents]( By KATHERINE ROSMAN The most solid method for kids to achieve their goals? An awesome presentation. [Fashion’s Year in Cultural Don’ts]( Unbuttoned [Fashion’s Year in Cultural Don’ts]( By VANESSA FRIEDMAN Why do companies keep making such offensive, and dumb, mistakes with their products? And can we stop it from happening next year? [The Mystery of the Holiday Fruitcake, Solved!]( Modern Love [The Mystery of the Holiday Fruitcake, Solved!]( By DAVID ROMPF My father resembled a fruitcake. He also sent fruitcakes. Mine never arrived. For more fashion news, go to [NYTimes.com/Fashion »]( [] Obituaries [Peter Masterson, 84, a ‘Best Little Whorehouse’ Creator, Is Dead]( [Peter Masterson, 84, a ‘Best Little Whorehouse’ Creator, Is Dead]( By RICHARD SANDOMIR Mr. Masterson helped turn a magazine article about a bordello into a hit Broadway musical. He later directed the movie “The Trip to Bountiful.” [Timothy C. May, Early Advocate of Internet Privacy, Dies at 66]( [Timothy C. May, Early Advocate of Internet Privacy, Dies at 66]( By NATHANIEL POPPER As the rabble-rousing leader of the Cypherpunks, his writings foreshadowed concerns about privacy and government control and movements like WikiLeaks. [James Rogers, 71, Dies; Utility Chief and Clean Energy Advocate]( [James Rogers, 71, Dies; Utility Chief and Clean Energy Advocate]( By JULIE CRESWELL As chief executive of Duke Energy, Mr. Rogers emerged as one of the industry’s most passionate supporters of sustainable energy. For more Obituaries, go to [NYTimes.com/Obituaries »]( [] Editorial [Trump After Mattis]( [Trump After Mattis]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD The Secretary of Defense worked to shield the world from President Trump’s worst impulses. But even he had his limits. [Judgment for Predatory Priests, Here and in the Hereafter]( [Judgment for Predatory Priests, Here and in the Hereafter]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD The Catholic Church says it is trying to hold itself accountable after years of abuse. For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( [] Op-Ed [Staying Catholic at Christmas]( [Staying Catholic at Christmas]( By ROSS DOUTHAT A Gospel reading for the scandal in the church. [Fighting Rent-to-Own Racism This Christmas]( [Fighting Rent-to-Own Racism This Christmas]( By AARON ROSS COLEMAN For low-income shoppers, the holiday season can be particularly precarious. [Small-Town America Is Dying. How Can We Save It? ]( [Small-Town America Is Dying. How Can We Save It?]( By RACHEL L. HARRIS and LISA TARCHAK Aging populations, unemployment, addiction: Readers talk about the obstacles to saving rural communities. [Notes on ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ ]( Loose Ends [Notes on ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’]( By YSABEL YATES Some feedback from your fiction professor. For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( Follow NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@NYTimes]( [Pinterest] [Pinterest]( [Instagram] [Instagram]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL This is an automated email. Please do not reply directly to this email from NYTimes.com. You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Today's Headlines newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018