Today's Headlines: Intimidation, Pressure and Humiliation: Inside Trump’s Two-Year War on the Investigations Encircling Him

2 American Wives of ISIS Militants Want to Return Home 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]( Wednesday, February 20, 2019 IN THIS EMAIL: [Top News](#0) | [Editors' Picks](#2) | [Today’s Videos](#3) | [World](#4) | [U.S.](#5) | [Politics](#6) | [Business](#7) | [Sports](#8) | [Arts](#9) | [New York](#10) | [Food](#11) | [Obituaries](#12) | [Editorial](#13) | [Op-Ed](#14) | [CUSTOMIZE »]( [] Top News [Intimidation, Pressure and Humiliation: Inside Trump’s Two-Year War on the Investigations Encircling Him]( [Intimidation, Pressure and Humiliation: Inside Trump’s Two-Year War on the Investigations Encircling Him]( By MARK MAZZETTI, MAGGIE HABERMAN, NICHOLAS FANDOS and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT President Trump’s efforts have exposed him to accusations of obstruction of justice as Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, finishes his work. [2 American Wives of ISIS Militants Want to Return Home]( [2 American Wives of ISIS Militants Want to Return Home]( By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI and CATHERINE PORTER Held in a refugee camp in Syria, the two female recruits said they regretted joining the Islamic State and asked for a second chance. [Bernie Sanders, Once the Progressive Outlier, Joins a Crowded Presidential Field]( [Bernie Sanders, Once the Progressive Outlier, Joins a Crowded Presidential Field]( By SYDNEY EMBER Mr. Sanders, the runner-up in the 2016 Democratic primaries, is embarking on a bid that will test whether he can retain the anti-establishment appeal he enjoyed with liberals three years ago. 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 [Karl Lagerfeld, Designer Who Defined Luxury Fashion, Is Dead]( Obituaries [Karl Lagerfeld, Designer Who Defined Luxury Fashion, Is Dead]( By VANESSA FRIEDMAN “He represents the soul of fashion,” said Anna Wintour of Vogue, “restless, forward-looking and voraciously attentive to our changing culture.” [The Catholic Church Is Breaking People’s Hearts]( Opinion [The Catholic Church Is Breaking People’s Hearts]( By FRANK BRUNI It fires gay workers, vilifies gay priests and alienates parishioners who can’t make any sense of this. [] Today’s Videos [Inside Japan’s Chicano Subculture]( [[Video]Video: Inside Japan’s Chicano Subculture]( By EMILY RHYNE, WALTER THOMPSON-HERNÁNDEZ and ALEXANDRA EATON When I heard Chicano culture had spread to Japan, I wanted to see it for myself. Who knew the culture I grew up with had a home so far from California? [7 Children in Syrian Refugee Family Die in Fire in Canada]( [[Video]Video: 7 Children in Syrian Refugee Family Die in Fire in Canada]( By REUTERS The victims, who ranged in age from 4 months to 15 years old, were killed in a fire that destroyed their home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They immigrated in 2017. [Bernie Sanders Set the Agenda. But Can He Win on It?]( [[Video]Video: Bernie Sanders Set the Agenda. But Can He Win on It?]( By WHITNEY HURST, SARAH STEIN KERR and NATALIE RENEAU Senator Bernie Sanders is embarking on a second run for president. This time the field will be bigger, more diverse and filled with candidates who have adopted his progressive populist mantle. [] World [A European Army? The Germans and Dutch Take a Small Step]( [A European Army? The Germans and Dutch Take a Small Step]( By KATRIN BENNHOLD A German-led tank battalion with Dutch soldiers gives a glimpse of what a “real European army” may look like one day, though the obstacles are huge. [Russians, Feeling Poor and Protesting Garbage, Suffer Winter Blues]( [Russians, Feeling Poor and Protesting Garbage, Suffer Winter Blues]( By NEIL MacFARQUHAR Plans to ship Moscow’s trash to the provinces are aggravating economic unrest. Confidence in Russia’s direction and in President Vladimir V. Putin have dropped. [Becoming Greta: ‘Invisible Girl’ to Global Climate Activist, With Bumps Along the Way]( [Becoming Greta: ‘Invisible Girl’ to Global Climate Activist, With Bumps Along the Way]( By SOMINI SENGUPTA A Swedish girl’s solitary act of civil disobedience has turned her into a symbol for climate action. But her path hasn’t been easy. For more world news, go to [NYTimes.com/World »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] U.S. [Trump Administration Wants California to Pay Back $2.5 Billion for High-Speed Rail]( [Trump Administration Wants California to Pay Back $2.5 Billion for High-Speed Rail]( By ANNIE KARNI and JENNIFER MEDINA The move comes a day after California filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s emergency declaration over a border wall. [Trump to Tap Other Military Money for Wall Before Emergency Funds]( [Trump to Tap Other Military Money for Wall Before Emergency Funds]( By CHARLIE SAVAGE It’s not just the emergency declaration. President Trump is also siphoning more than $2 billion in military funds for his wall through another complex move. [An Alabama Editor Urges the K.K.K. to ‘Ride Again,’ and His Small Town Winces]( [An Alabama Editor Urges the K.K.K. to ‘Ride Again,’ and His Small Town Winces]( By RICHARD FAUSSET and NIRAJ CHOKSHI The editor, Goodloe Sutton, made a name exposing corruption in the 1990s, but his call for the Klan to “go up there and clean out D.C.” has prompted calls for his resignation. For more U.S. news, go to [NYTimes.com/US »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Politics [House Opens Inquiry Into Proposed U.S. Nuclear Venture in Saudi Arabia]( [House Opens Inquiry Into Proposed U.S. Nuclear Venture in Saudi Arabia]( By NICHOLAS FANDOS and MARK MAZZETTI House Democrats say a proposed nuclear power venture in Saudi Arabia could expose conflicts of interests in the Trump administration and possible violations of law. [House Democrats Prepare to Scrutinize DeVos’s Education Department]( [House Democrats Prepare to Scrutinize DeVos’s Education Department]( By ERICA L. GREEN After two years of aggressively overhauling education policy, the education secretary, Betsy DeVos, must now answer to lawmakers she has clashed with or ignored. [‘I Was Shocked,’ Says Campaign Consultant of Illegal Effort in House Race]( [‘I Was Shocked,’ Says Campaign Consultant of Illegal Effort in House Race]( By ALAN BLINDER The testimony came as the North Carolina State Board of Elections heard evidence that could lead to a new vote in the Ninth Congressional District. For more political news, go to [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [] Business [Housing Is Already in a Slump. So It (Probably) Can’t Cause a Recession.]( [Housing Is Already in a Slump. So It (Probably) Can’t Cause a Recession.]( By CONOR DOUGHERTY A decline in residential real estate has led several recessions. With construction still in a multiyear slump, it seems unlikely to be the culprit this year. [Democrats Want to Tax the Wealthy. Many Voters Agree.]( [Democrats Want to Tax the Wealthy. Many Voters Agree.]( By BEN CASSELMAN and JIM TANKERSLEY A proposal to tax wealth finds support across party lines, along with the premise that the government should combat inequality. [McKinsey Will Return $15 Million in Fees Over Disclosure Failures]( [McKinsey Will Return $15 Million in Fees Over Disclosure Failures]( By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH The consulting company settled with the Justice Department unit that oversees the bankruptcy system. But the creditor allegations that led to the settlement are still before a judge. For more business news, go to [NYTimes.com/Business »]( [] Sports [At Wisconsin High School, Accusations of Body Shaming at a Cheerleading Banquet]( [At Wisconsin High School, Accusations of Body Shaming at a Cheerleading Banquet]( By JULIET MACUR Members of a high school cheerleading squad received awards mocking their breasts, backsides and weight, prompting complaints from parents and a warning letter from the A.C.L.U. [Bayern Munich Holds Back Liverpool, and the Inevitable, for One More Night]( [Bayern Munich Holds Back Liverpool, and the Inevitable, for One More Night]( By RORY SMITH The best days of the current Bayern are behind it, but a scoreless draw at Liverpool pushed back the end. [For Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, the Solution Is to Stop Playing Games]( On Pro Basketball [For Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, the Solution Is to Stop Playing Games]( By MARC STEIN The N.B.A. had its reasons for forcing New Orleans to play its superstar after a trade request, but the risk is not worth the reward. For more sports news, go to [NYTimes.com/Sports »]( [] Arts [The Surprising Tale of One of Frank Stella’s Black Paintings]( [The Surprising Tale of One of Frank Stella’s Black Paintings]( By TED LOOS At 82, this titan of Modernism is talking about the past, taking stock and putting some of his works and part of his collection up for auction. [In ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ the Hard Work of Being Princess (or Prince)]( [In ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ the Hard Work of Being Princess (or Prince)]( By GIA KOURLAS We check in with Indiana Woodward and Anthony Huxley of New York City Ballet on a day of rehearsals and costume fittings for their debuts as Aurora and Désiré. [‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8: Here’s What We Know]( Game of Thrones [‘Game of Thrones’ Season 8: Here’s What We Know]( By JEREMY EGNER Here are a few details about the new season. And sign up for our preseason newsletter, which begins next week! For more arts news, go to [NYTimes.com/Arts »]( [] New York [Can a Republican Win a Citywide Race in N.Y.? Maybe, With Amazon’s Help]( [Can a Republican Win a Citywide Race in N.Y.? Maybe, With Amazon’s Help]( By JEFFERY C. MAYS and WILLIAM NEUMAN Eric Ulrich, one of two Republicans among 17 candidates for public advocate, may be well positioned to gather votes among those angry at Amazon’s exit. [Marijuana Tax in New Jersey? It Could be $42 an Ounce]( [Marijuana Tax in New Jersey? It Could be $42 an Ounce]( By NICK CORASANITI Gov. Philip D. Murphy reached an agreement with legislative leaders regarding marijuana legalization. But support in the state legislature is uncertain. [After New York City’s War With Amazon, Uber Could Be Next]( [After New York City’s War With Amazon, Uber Could Be Next]( By EMMA G. FITZSIMMONS Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to extend a cap on Uber vehicles. The tech giant is fighting back. For more New York news, go to [NYTimes.com/NewYork »]( [] Food [Nigella Lawson Was Never Just a Domestic Goddess]( [Nigella Lawson Was Never Just a Domestic Goddess]( By BESHA RODELL The culinary star looks back at her career and the international celebrity — and scrutiny — that came with it. [The Kings of the Dollar Slice Build a Better Pizza]( [The Kings of the Dollar Slice Build a Better Pizza]( By JULIA MOSKIN Looking for prestige, New York’s masters of the fast, cheap lunch have opened a slice shop that prizes fresh mozzarella, homemade sausage and sourdough starter. [My Lifelong Obsession With the McRib]( Culinary Arts [My Lifelong Obsession With the McRib]( By TONY WOLF One man’s dogged pursuit of a McDonald’s specialty sandwich. For more food news, go to [NYTimes.com/Food »]( [] Obituaries [Don Newcombe Dies at 92; Dodger Pitcher Helped Break Racial Barrier]( [Don Newcombe Dies at 92; Dodger Pitcher Helped Break Racial Barrier]( By RICHARD GOLDSTEIN Newcombe, a teammate of Jackie Robinson’s, was an overpowering righty as a rookie of the year, an M.V.P. and the first Cy Young Award winner. [Wallace Broecker, 87, Dies; Sounded Early Warning on Climate Change]( [Wallace Broecker, 87, Dies; Sounded Early Warning on Climate Change]( By JOHN SCHWARTZ Called by some “the grandfather of climate science,” he wrote a 1975 paper that asked, “Are We on the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?” [Albert Vorspan, 95, Is Dead; Rallied Reform Judaism for Social Justice]( [Albert Vorspan, 95, Is Dead; Rallied Reform Judaism for Social Justice]( By JOSEPH BERGER He was a catalyst in the movement’s embrace of the struggles for civil rights and against the Vietnam War, apartheid and continuing anti-Semitism. [Patricia Nell Warren, Novelist of Gay Romance, Dies at 82]( [Patricia Nell Warren, Novelist of Gay Romance, Dies at 82]( By DANIEL E. SLOTNIK Ms. Warren’s 1974 book, “The Front Runner,” portrayed a positive, open relationship between two men and sold millions of copies. [Donald Smith, Who Produced ‘The Silent Scream,’ Dies at 94]( [Donald Smith, Who Produced ‘The Silent Scream,’ Dies at 94]( By NEIL GENZLINGER His controversial anti-abortion documentary, professing to show a fetus expressing pain, became a formidable weapon for abortion opponents. For more Obituaries, go to [NYTimes.com/Obituaries »]( [] Editorial [Venezuela’s Border Standoff]( [Venezuela’s Border Standoff]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD The military should stand down and allow in urgently needed food and medical supplies. [Election Fraud the G.O.P. Won’t Stress About]( [Election Fraud the G.O.P. Won’t Stress About]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD North Carolina officials present evidence a Republican operative stole a House race. For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( [] Op-Ed [The Creeping Liberalism in American Islam]( [The Creeping Liberalism in American Islam]( By MUSTAFA AKYOL Far from spreading Shariah, as Islamophobes have suggested, America’s Muslim clerics are focusing on a more familiar trend: youngsters blending into American life. [Is America Becoming a Four-Party State?]( [Is America Becoming a Four-Party State?]( By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN Fractures are growing among both Democrats and Republicans. [Has Republican Resistance to Trump Collapsed?]( [Has Republican Resistance to Trump Collapsed?]( By LIZ MAIR William Weld has offered a glimmer of hope to NeverTrumpers. But many Republicans once opposed to the president are jumping on his 2020 bandwagon. 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