Today's Headlines: Barr Defends Handling of Mueller Report Against Withering Rebukes

With Maduro Still in Power, Questions About the U.S. Role in Venezuela 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]( Thursday, May 2, 2019 IN THIS EMAIL: [Top News](#0) | [Editors' Picks](#2) | [World](#3) | [U.S.](#4) | [Politics](#5) | [Business](#6) | [Technology](#7) | [Sports](#8) | [Arts](#9) | [New York](#10) | [Media & Advertising](#11) | [Fashion & Style](#12) | [Obituaries](#13) | [Editorial](#14) | [Op-Ed](#15) | [CUSTOMIZE »]( [] Top News [Barr Defends Handling of Mueller Report Against Withering Rebukes]( [Barr Defends Handling of Mueller Report Against Withering Rebukes]( By PETER BAKER Attorney General William P. Barr faced blistering criticism from Democrats about his characterizations of the Mueller report, but told the Senate Judiciary Committee he had been truthful. [With Maduro Still in Power, Questions About the U.S. Role in Venezuela]( News Analysis [With Maduro Still in Power, Questions About the U.S. Role in Venezuela]( By MARK LANDLER and JULIAN E. BARNES While the Trump administration got off to a sure-footed start, rallying dozens of countries against the Venezuelan leader, critics say its response had become haphazard and chaotic as the crisis has dragged on. [Biden Faces Conflict of Interest Questions That Are Being Promoted by Trump and Allies]( [Biden Faces Conflict of Interest Questions That Are Being Promoted by Trump and Allies]( By KENNETH P. VOGEL and IULIIA MENDEL As vice president, Joe Biden played a key role in the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor who had opened an investigation of a company employing Mr. Biden’s son. 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 [Her Father Was Executed for Murder. She Still Wants to Know if He Did It.]( U.S. [Her Father Was Executed for Murder. She Still Wants to Know if He Did It.]( By JIM DWYER Sedley Alley went to his death based on scant physical evidence and a confession he said had been coerced. His daughter hopes DNA testing will provide answers. [James Comey: How Trump Co-opts Leaders Like Bill Barr]( Opinion [James Comey: How Trump Co-opts Leaders Like Bill Barr]( By JAMES COMEY Accomplished people lacking inner strength can’t resist the compromises necessary to survive this president. [] World [Denisovan Jawbone Discovered in a Cave in Tibet]( Matter [Denisovan Jawbone Discovered in a Cave in Tibet]( By CARL ZIMMER Until now, fossils of the ancient human species had been found in just one Siberian cave. The discovery suggests that Denisovans roamed over much of Asia. [In a Warming World, Evidence of a Human ‘Fingerprint’ on Drought]( [In a Warming World, Evidence of a Human ‘Fingerprint’ on Drought]( By JOHN SCHWARTZ A new study finds human-caused global warming has affected patterns of drought going back to the the turn of the 20th century. [A Broken Skull, a Dubious Paper Trail: Australian Justice for One Aboriginal Man]( [A Broken Skull, a Dubious Paper Trail: Australian Justice for One Aboriginal Man]( By DAMIEN CAVE and BROOK MITCHELL Medical records obtained by The New York Times suggest Patrick Cumaiyi was a victim of police brutality that fits a pattern in Australia — including a cover-up. For more world news, go to [NYTimes.com/World »]( [] U.S. [U.N.C. Charlotte Student Couldn’t Run, So He Tackled the Gunman]( [U.N.C. Charlotte Student Couldn’t Run, So He Tackled the Gunman]( By DAVID PERLMUTT and JULIE TURKEWITZ Two students were killed and four others were injured when a gunman opened fire inside a classroom on the final day of classes. Police charged a 22-year-old student with murder. [L.A.’s Elite on Edge as Prosecutors Pursue More Parents in Admissions Scandal]( [L.A.’s Elite on Edge as Prosecutors Pursue More Parents in Admissions Scandal]( By JENNIFER MEDINA and KATE TAYLOR New parents have been told that they are under investigation, while others worry that they will be. “This is the only thing they can think about,” one lawyer says. [Swarthmore Fraternities Disband After Uproar Over ‘Rape Attic’ Documents]( [Swarthmore Fraternities Disband After Uproar Over ‘Rape Attic’ Documents]( By JULIE TURKEWITZ The move comes after the release of more than 100 pages of internal documents in which members of Phi Psi discussed sexual misconduct. For more U.S. news, go to [NYTimes.com/US »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Politics [When the Mueller Investigation Ended, the Battle Over Its Conclusions Began]( [When the Mueller Investigation Ended, the Battle Over Its Conclusions Began]( By MARK MAZZETTI and MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT A richer picture emerged on Wednesday about the dispute between the attorney general and the special counsel over the Mueller report’s findings. [Is an Attorney General Independent or Political? Barr Rekindles a Debate]( News Analysis [Is an Attorney General Independent or Political? Barr Rekindles a Debate]( By CHARLIE SAVAGE Friction over how Attorney General William P. Barr handled the Mueller report underscored a gap between the ideal and political reality of his post. [In Combating Democratic Investigations, Trump Borrows From an Old Playbook]( [In Combating Democratic Investigations, Trump Borrows From an Old Playbook]( By MAGGIE HABERMAN and NICHOLAS FANDOS The tactic is a simple one Donald J. Trump learned as a young real estate developer: sue. For more political news, go to [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] Business [How a Canadian Chain Is Reinventing Book Selling]( [How a Canadian Chain Is Reinventing Book Selling]( By ALEXANDRA ALTER Indigo is expanding to the United States with its new model for how a big bookstore chain can thrive in the era of online retail. [Employers Who Talk Up Gender Equity, but Silence Harassment Victims]( [Employers Who Talk Up Gender Equity, but Silence Harassment Victims]( By EMILY STEEL The woman leading Australia’s inquiry into workplace sexual harassment is trying to overcome nondisclosure agreements that prevent victims from talking. [They Want It to Be Secret: How a Common Blood Test Can Cost $11 or Almost $1,000]( [They Want It to Be Secret: How a Common Blood Test Can Cost $11 or Almost $1,000]( By MARGOT SANGER-KATZ Huge price discrepancies like that are unimaginable in other industries. Also unusual: not knowing the fee ahead of time. For more business news, go to [NYTimes.com/Business »]( [] Technology [Facebook Set to Create Privacy Positions as Part of F.T.C. Settlement]( [Facebook Set to Create Privacy Positions as Part of F.T.C. Settlement]( By CECILIA KANG Talks include creating a new committee and an external assessor that would scrutinize how well the social network protects user data. [It’s Time to Use Your Imagination With Bluetooth Trackers. We Did.]( Tech Fix [It’s Time to Use Your Imagination With Bluetooth Trackers. We Did.]( By BRIAN X. CHEN The tiny tags are typically used to find valuables like house keys, but they are far more versatile than that. [Tech Is Changing New York, but Not How He Reports on the City]( Tech We’re Using [Tech Is Changing New York, but Not How He Reports on the City]( By J. DAVID GOODMAN J. David Goodman, a metro reporter, has chronicled the Google and Amazon invasions. But the most effective technology for reporting on the city is still coffee. For more technology news, go to [NYTimes.com/Technology »]( [] Sports [Caster Semenya Loses Case to Compete as a Woman in All Races]( [Caster Semenya Loses Case to Compete as a Woman in All Races]( By JERÉ LONGMAN and JULIET MACUR The South African, a two-time Olympic champion at 800 meters, had challenged proposed limits on female athletes with naturally elevated levels of testosterone. [Warriors Are Rolling and Rockets Are Rocked After Game 2]( On Pro Basketball [Warriors Are Rolling and Rockets Are Rocked After Game 2]( By MARC STEIN A series that threatened to devolve into complaints about a referee picked up when Stephen Curry and James Harden fought through injuries to inject some much-needed nobility into the proceedings. [Justin Gimelstob Will Leave Tennis Board]( [Justin Gimelstob Will Leave Tennis Board]( By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY After an assault conviction, he said he would resign from the ATP board of directors immediately instead of seek another term. For more sports news, go to [NYTimes.com/Sports »]( [] Arts [#MeToo Is All Too Real. But to Better Understand It, Turn to Fiction.]( Critic’s Notebook [#MeToo Is All Too Real. But to Better Understand It, Turn to Fiction.]( By PARUL SEHGAL A recent wave of remarkably various books reminds us of the kind of touchy ethical explorations the novel makes possible. [An All-Latino Cast? Hollywood Passed, but ‘El Chicano’ Is Coming]( [An All-Latino Cast? Hollywood Passed, but ‘El Chicano’ Is Coming]( By CARA BUCKLEY Filmmakers had to get financing from Canada to make the Mexican-American superhero movie. [Broadway Stars React to Their Tony Nominations]( [Broadway Stars React to Their Tony Nominations]( By JOSHUA BARONE and ELIZABETH A. HARRIS We spoke with five actors to see how they were feeling after hearing about their Tony Award nods. For more arts news, go to [NYTimes.com/Arts »]( [] New York [The Tax Break Was $260 Million. Benefit to the State Was Tiny: $155,520.]( [The Tax Break Was $260 Million. Benefit to the State Was Tiny: $155,520.]( By NICK CORASANITI and MATTHEW HAAG How a lawyer with deep connections to Democratic politicians in New Jersey helped to dole out hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax credits. [Trump Fan Who Made Racist Death Threats to Obama and Maxine Waters Receives 46-Month Sentence]( [Trump Fan Who Made Racist Death Threats to Obama and Maxine Waters Receives 46-Month Sentence]( By MICHAEL GOLD Stephen J. Taubert said he threatened to kill the former president and the congresswoman because he was upset about “people knocking” President Trump. [Measles Outbreak: Why a Bid to End Religious Exemptions for Vaccines Has Stalled]( [Measles Outbreak: Why a Bid to End Religious Exemptions for Vaccines Has Stalled]( By JESSE McKINLEY Despite a growing measles outbreak in New York, a long-stalled bill to eliminate religious exemptions for vaccinations has not captured much momentum in Albany. For more New York news, go to [NYTimes.com/NewYork »]( [] Media & Advertising [L.G.B.T. Households are Now Nielsen Families, and Advertisers and Producers Get a Valuable Tool]( [L.G.B.T. Households are Now Nielsen Families, and Advertisers and Producers Get a Valuable Tool]( By JOHN KOBLIN “Game of Thrones” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race” are especially popular among the newly counted group. At the other end of the spectrum, there’s “Hannity.” The No. 1 show? “The Conners.” [Times Disciplines Editor and Cancels Cartoon Contract Over Anti-Semitic Drawing]( [Times Disciplines Editor and Cancels Cartoon Contract Over Anti-Semitic Drawing]( By TIFFANY HSU In the wake of widespread criticism, The Times said it would no longer run syndicated cartoons and update its bias training, the paper’s publisher said. [Disney and Universal Shore Up Their Benches]( [Disney and Universal Shore Up Their Benches]( By BROOKS BARNES Alan Bergman was promoted to co-chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and Alan Horn, chairman, extended his contract. In a separate move, the producer Amy Pascal will leave Sony for Universal. For more media & advertising news, go to [NYTimes.com/Media »]( [] Fashion & Style [Should These Clothes Be Saved?]( [Should These Clothes Be Saved?]( By VANESSA FRIEDMAN Thousands of articles of everyday women’s clothing are being preserved in lockers in a college basement. But where, exactly, does their value lie? [There Are New Options in Trans Underwear]( [There Are New Options in Trans Underwear]( By NICOLE PAJER Companies find inventive ways to accommodate surgical procedures and sizing challenges while also challenging “heteronormative ideas of sexy.” [Are You Ready for Drive-Thru Botox?]( Skin Deep [Are You Ready for Drive-Thru Botox?]( By COURTNEY RUBIN A new wave of beauty bars aims to make injectables as easy as a Drybar blowout. For more fashion news, go to [NYTimes.com/Fashion »]( [] Obituaries [Quentin Fiore, Who Made the Medium His Message, Dies at 99]( [Quentin Fiore, Who Made the Medium His Message, Dies at 99]( By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE A graphic designer, he interpreted Marshall McLuhan’s famous phrase in a visual way, amplifying its message. [Ellen Tauscher, Congresswoman and Diplomat, Is Dead at 67]( [Ellen Tauscher, Congresswoman and Diplomat, Is Dead at 67]( By DAVID STOUT Ms. Tauscher had a career on Wall Street before being elected to the House as a Democrat. She later helped negotiate a nuclear arms treaty. [Phil Solomon, Leading Experimental Filmmaker, Is Dead at 65]( [Phil Solomon, Leading Experimental Filmmaker, Is Dead at 65]( By NEIL GENZLINGER He subjected found footage to what a colleague called “a chemical and optical alchemy,” creating haunting films that he thought of as a form of painting. [H. Johannes Witteveen, 97, Dies; Steered I.M.F. Through Turbulent Era]( [H. Johannes Witteveen, 97, Dies; Steered I.M.F. Through Turbulent Era]( By PAUL LEWIS As its managing director, he inherited a dispirited International Monetary Fund in 1973 but revived it, in part by tapping into a surge of oil wealth. For more Obituaries, go to [NYTimes.com/Obituaries »]( [] Editorial [Bob Mueller’s Extraordinary Letter to Bill Barr]( [Bob Mueller’s Extraordinary Letter to Bill Barr]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD The special counsel publicly upbraided the attorney general for his sketchy summary of the Trump investigation. For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( [] Op-Ed [Your Gas Stove Is Bad for You and the Planet]( [Your Gas Stove Is Bad for You and the Planet]( By JUSTIN GILLIS and BRUCE NILLES To help solve the climate crisis, we need to electrify everything. [The Uber I.P.O. Is a Moral Stain on Silicon Valley]( [The Uber I.P.O. Is a Moral Stain on Silicon Valley]( By FARHAD MANJOO Ride-sharing was a good idea ruined by a deeply misguided start-up culture. 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