NYT Magazine | Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted

View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Saturday, January 26, 2019 [NYTimes.com »]( Feature [Mitch McConnell Got Everything He Wanted. But at What Cost?]( By CHARLES HOMANS [Mitch McConnell in the United States Capitol in December.]( Mitch McConnell in the United States Capitol in December. Damon Winter/The New York Times “I think the most consequential call I made was before President Trump came to office.”  —Mitch McConnell, referring to his decision to block Obama’s appointment to Scalia’s seat.  [For the profile of McConnell in this week’s Magazine]( Charles Homans interviewed McConnell for several hours over the course of two months, and also spoke to several dozen of his past and present staff members, Republican and Democratic senators, Trump and Obama White House officials and cabinet members. Here are some key takeaways: - Mitch McConnell takes credit for the Trump win in the 2016 election. - McConnell’s other decisions during the campaign, intentionally or otherwise, may have helped Trump. - McConnell was central to the Trump administration’s efforts to fill the judiciary with conservative judges. - Paul Ryan, the former House speaker, says that he and McConnell had agreed upon a plan for if Trump fired Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor. - James Mattis, the defense secretary until December, sent foreign leaders to see McConnell for reassurance. - Despite their working together for the past two years, McConnell rejects the idea that his own legacy is tied to Trump’s. [[Read the full profile of the Senate Majority Leader here.] Â]( ADVERTISEMENT [How Afghans Have Adapted to Life After Losing a Limb]( Ross McDonnell Photographs of prosthetics made by Afghans who had to rely on their own ingenuity when they were wounded in war. More from the Magazine: Damon Winter/The New York Times Issue 1.27.19 [Behind the Cover: Opportunity Cost]( For this issue, a look at Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader. Photo illustration by Derek Brahney/New Studio First Words [Is Being a ‘Minority’ Really Just a Matter of Numbers?]( By WESLEY MORRIS It feels like simple math: One group of people outnumbers another. But as those numbers change, this logic — and what it implies about power — falls apart. Illustration by Radio Tip [How to Become Less Angry]( By MALIA WOLLAN Understand what triggers your anger, then try some role-playing exercises. Don’t count on catharsis or pharmacology. Artwork by Vija Celmins/Matthew Marks Gallery Letter of Recommendation [Letter of Recommendation: Spider Webs]( By HENRY WISMAYER A chance to encounter the sublime — without having to leave your backyard. Stay in touch:  Follow us on Twitter ([@NYTmag](  Appreciated this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at [magazine@nytimes.com](mailto:newsletters@nytimes.com?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback%20NYT%20Magazine). Did a friend forward this to you? [Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter](  Check us out on[ Instagram]( where you’ll find photography from our archives, behind-the-scenes snippets from photo shoots, interviews on how we design our covers and outtakes that don’t make it into the issue. We’ve got more newsletters! You might like At War.  Learn more about the experiences and costs of war. [Sign up for the At War newsletter]( to receive stories about conflict from Times reporters and outside voices.  ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW NYTimes [Twitter] [@nytmag]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's The New York Times Magazine newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2019 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018