Your Friday Briefing

> Why trade talks fell apart. ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzQ3JmxheW91dD1tYXJxdWVlJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQkFFXzIwMTkwNTE3JmxpPU1CQUVXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA [The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RHaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfMjAxOTA1MTZXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RHaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfMjAxOTA1MTZXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi9icmllZmluZy90aGVyZXNhLW1heS1pbW1pZ3JhdGlvbi1pcmFuLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X2RrXzIwMTkwNTE2VwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Friday, May 17, 2019 | [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0R9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi9icmllZmluZy90aGVyZXNhLW1heS1pbW1pZ3JhdGlvbi1pcmFuLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfMjAxOTA1MTZXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Supported by Good morning, We’re covering why U.S.-China trade talks fell apart, a new immigration proposal from President Trump and the last voting in India’s huge election. By Katie Van Syckle War with Iran? ‘I hope not.’ Twice this week, President Trump has made clear that [he does not want to go to war with Iran](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2lyYW4tdHJ1bXAuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3c1cDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), pushing back against two of his most hawkish aides — the national security adviser, John Bolton, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — who have been at the vanguard of rising tensions. On Wednesday, during a morning meeting in the White House Situation Room, Mr. Trump told his acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan, he did not want war, according to several administration officials. Mr. Trump repeated the sentiment on Thursday, during a visit by the Swiss president, Ueli Maurer. U.S. intelligence: Three officials told our reporters that it was [photos of missiles](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNS93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L3VzLWlyYW4taW1hZ2VzLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3NXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) on small boats in the Persian Gulf that raised U.S. concerns about rising threats from Iran. The idea is that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could fire the missiles at U.S. ships. Reaction: The White House, the Pentagon, the C.I.A. and America’s allies are divided over how seriously to take the intelligence. Those in the [Middle East are watching with](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2lyYW4td2FyLWZlYXJzLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3NXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) “a mixture of disdain and weary exasperation,” our correspondent in Cairo writes. Catch up: [Our explainer](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2lyYW4tdGVuc2lvbnMtZXhwbGFpbmVyLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3NXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) covers where we are and how we got here. President Xi Jinping, speaking in Beijing on Thursday. Nicolas Asfouri/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images How the trade deal fell apart Weeks ago, China’s leader, Xi Jinping, seemed confident the trade war with the U.S. would subside. He suggested China would honor American demands to protect intellectual property, encourage foreign investment, and buy more goods and services from abroad. But then Chinese [negotiators sent a rewritten draft agreement](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL3RyYWRlLXhpLWppbnBpbmctdHJ1bXAtY2hpbmEtdW5pdGVkLXN0YXRlcy5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), a move that prompted President Trump to accuse Beijing of reneging on the terms of the deal. Now Mr. Xi, after apparently misjudging how far he could push the U.S. side, risks being backed into a corner, unable to compromise between his own positions and Mr. Trump’s. How we know: Our reporters interviewed more than a dozen people, including current and former officials, researchers, lawyers, and trade experts familiar with the deal and how it fell apart. What’s next: Mr. Trump said he would meet Mr. Xi during a Group of 20 leaders meeting in Japan next month, which would at best pave the way for more talks. Related: Mr. Trump’s latest move to restrict the Chinese technology giant’s ability to buy American components [takes a straight shot at Huawei’s global business](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2h1YXdlaS1iYW4tcHJlc2lkZW50LXRydW1wLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3NXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Trump announces new immigration plan President Trump [announced a new proposal](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXBuZXdzLmNvbS82YjE0YzVhNTIwYWI0MjcyOGFiODJlNDNkNjllNzc0Mz90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3c1cDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) in a speech in the Rose Garden that would scale back family-based immigration. The new focus would be a merit-based proposal, which he said would rely on a points system that would reward immigrants with skills and education. Response: Resistance from Republicans, and derision from Democrats. “It ain’t happening,” said the Senate’s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer Debris on a beach on one of 27 islands in the Cocos Keeling chain, off the coast of Australia. Silke Struckenbrock/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Our toothbrushes are littering the ocean A new study found that a chain of islands near Australia [was covered with mountains of plastic](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi9jbGltYXRlL3BsYXN0aWMtcG9sbHV0aW9uLWJlYWNoZXMuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3c1cDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) — some 414 million pieces that added up roughly to the weight of a blue whale. The ocean’s plastic problem is twofold: There’s a lot of it — the study’s authors estimate that there are more pieces of plastic in the ocean than there are stars in the Milky Way — and it kills marine life. If you’re following the Indian elections ... The bellwethers Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, India, last month. Adnan Abidi/Reuters Shortly after voting in India comes to a close on Sunday, the curtain will inch up the last act of the largest election in history. The official results won’t be announced until next Thursday, but local news media will immediately begin to talk about the exit polls conducted over the weeks of voting. Expect lots of predictions. And here are a few things to look out for in the tangle of headlines. First, watch for results from Valsad, Gujarat, and West Delhi. These two constituencies have voted for the overall winner in every election since 1977, according to “The Verdict: Decoding India’s Elections.” “Interestingly, there is not one bellwether constituency among the southern states of India,” write the co-authors, Prannoy Roy and Dorab Sopariwala. That exemplifies the south’s political difference from the rest of the country. Second, look at voter turnout figures. Mr. Roy and Mr. Sopariwala found that the governing Bharatiya Janata Party performs better in constituencies where turnout dips below 60 percent. That may reflect the B.J.P.’s focus on organization. The party has large numbers of ground-level volunteers who mobilize supporters on voting day. — Alisha Haridasani Gupta Send us your feedback or questions on this series [here](mailto:briefing@nytimes.com?subject=IndiaFeedback&te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_MBAE_p_20190516§ion=longRead). PAID POST: A MESSAGE FROM CAMPAIGN MONITOR Email Marketing 101: Never Sacrifice Beauty for Simplicity A drag-and-drop email builder, a gallery of templates and turnkey designs, personalized customer journeys, and engagement segments. It's everything you need to create stunning, results-driven email campaigns in minutes. And with Campaign Monitor, you have access to it all, along with award-winning support around the clock. It's beautiful email marketing done simply. [Learn More](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2FtcGFpZ25tb25pdG9yLmNvbS9lbWFpbC1tYXJrZXRpbmctc29mdHdhcmUvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZGlzcGxheSZ1dG1fc291cmNlPW55dCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249MDQwMjE5JnV0bV9jb250ZW50PW5hdGl2ZVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Here’s what else is happening Britain: After months of shrugging off parliamentary defeats, negotiating failures and calls from her own lawmakers to resign, Prime Minister Theresa May promised to [set a date to step down](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SGaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvdWstdGhlcmVzYS1tYXkuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2VXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) as the country’s leader. Australia: Bill Shorten,[Labor’s front-runner](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNS93b3JsZC9hdXN0cmFsaWEvYmlsbC1zaG9ydGVuLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) to become prime minister after Saturday’s elections, sees trade with China as crucial to fulfilling his economic promises. Critics fear he could make concessions that increase China’s sway. Hong Kong: An appeals court ruling sends the pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong [to prison for two months, rather than three](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2pvc2h1YS13b25nLWhvbmcta29uZy1wcm90ZXN0cy5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), for his role in the 2014 protests known as the Umbrella Movement. China: The authorities brought [spying charges against two Canadian men](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLWNhbmFkaWFuLWFycmVzdGVkLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) detained since December, a move that is likely to increase tensions with Canada. The Philippines: President Rodrigo Duterte [recalled his country’s ambassador to Canada](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNS93b3JsZC9hc2lhL3BoaWxpcHBpbmVzLWNhbmFkYS10cmFzaC5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) after Ottawa missed a deadline to take back containers of trash that had been mislabeled as recyclables. U.S. presidential race: Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York [announced his candidacy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi9ueXJlZ2lvbi9iaWxsLWRlLWJsYXNpby1wcmVzaWRlbnQuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2VXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), becoming the 23rd Democrat to enter the race. He faces major deficits in polls and fund-raising, and the daunting fact that the country has never lifted a sitting mayor to the presidency. Linh Pham for The New York Times Snapshot: Above, [Thich Nhat Hanh](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL3RoaWNoLW5oYXQtaGFuaC12aWV0bmFtLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) receiving visitors in Hue, Vietnam, in March. After living in exile for more than five decades and suffering the effects of a major stroke, the Zen Buddhist monk, 92, has quietly returned to his home temple to end his days. = I.M. Pei: The Chinese-born American architect, best known for designing the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C and the glass pyramid that serves as an entry for the Louvre in Paris, [has died. He was 102.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi9vYml0dWFyaWVzL2ltLXBlaS1kZWFkLmh0bWw_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) No joke: [A China dog breeder was arrested](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2NoaW5hLWRvZy1hcnJlc3RlZC5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) after posting on social media that he had named his lazy, thieving animals after local police officials — City Officer and Traffic Warden. What we’re reading: [This book review in The Atlantic](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0ShaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL21hZ2F6aW5lL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAxOS8wNi9lYXQtZm9vZC1hbGwtdGhlLXRpbWUtbW9zdGx5LWp1bmsvNTg4MDUyLz90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2VXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). “Laura Shapiro, a respected food historian and advocate of home cooking who believes cake mixes should be treated like controlled substances, discusses a shocking idea,” writes our national food correspondent, Kim Severson. “It might be time to jettison a long-held belief that the best way to counter the food industry is to actually cook meals from scratch.” ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzUyJmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAxOTA1MTdXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzU0JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAxOTA1MTdXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzU3JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAxOTA1MTdXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA Now, a break from the news Con Poulos for The New York Times Cook: This lightened-up Ina Garten recipe for [cheesy cauliflower toasts](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SGaHR0cHM6Ly9jb29raW5nLm55dGltZXMuY29tL3JlY2lwZXMvMTAyMDE4OC1jaGVlc3ktY2F1bGlmbG93ZXItdG9hc3RzP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj1hQnJlYWtXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) makes a perfect vegetarian dinner. Watch: Season 2 of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s horribly funny show “Fleabag” returns on Amazon Prime Video on Friday. [Here’s where we left off](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNS9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vZmxlYWJhZy1hbWF6b24tc2Vhc29uLTEtcmVjYXAuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Go: Merciless comedy shades to delicate tragedy in the Off Broadway show “[BLKS](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8wOS90aGVhdGVyL2Jsa3MtcmV2aWV3LWF6aXphLWJhcm5lcy5odG1sP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj1hQnJlYWtXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA),” by the poet and performer Aziza Barnes. Read: Danielle Steel returns to our [hardcover fiction](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYm9va3MvYmVzdC1zZWxsZXJzLzIwMTkvMDUvMjYvaGFyZGNvdmVyLWZpY3Rpb24vP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj1hQnJlYWtXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) and [combined print and e-book fiction](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYm9va3MvYmVzdC1zZWxsZXJzLzIwMTkvMDUvMjYvY29tYmluZWQtcHJpbnQtYW5kLWUtYm9vay1maWN0aW9uLz90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) best seller lists with “Blessing in Disguise.” Smarter Living: There are easy ways to [green your housecleaning](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNS9jbGltYXRlL255dC1jbGltYXRlLW5ld3NsZXR0ZXIuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). In the U.S., you can look for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice label, and other countries may have similar signals of safe ingredients and sustainable production and packaging. Or make your own cleaners. A spray bottle of vinegar and water can take care of most of the house, and for the shower, mix baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap. And biodegradable sponges can replace disposables. And [these baking tools](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wNS8xNi9zbWFydGVyLWxpdmluZy81LWNoZWFwLWlzaC10aGluZ3MtdG8tbWFrZS10aGUtcGVyZmVjdC1waWUuaHRtbD90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) can help perfect your culinary techniques. And now for the Back Story on … The bicycle In the U.S., it’s [Bike to Work Day](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SFaHR0cDovL3d3dy5jaGlmZi5jb20vaG9tZV9saWZlL2hvbGlkYXkvbmF0aW9uYWwtYmlrZS13b3JrLWRheS5odG0_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPWJhY2tTdG9yeVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), an annual challenge to get people out of cars and onto human-powered wheels. In its honor, we’re republishing a cycle-centric Back Story from our archives. Bicycle makers of yore — meaning in the 1800s — had yet to discover gearing. In the hunt for speed, “velocipedes” came to [rely on one huge wheel](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SsaHR0cHM6Ly90cml2aWFoYXBweS5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZXMvdGhlLWVsZXZlbi1tb3N0LWNvbW1vbi1xdWVzdGlvbnMtYWJvdXQtb2xkLWZhc2hpb25lZC1iaWN5Y2xlcy1pbmNsdWRpbmc_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPWJhY2tTdG9yeVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), with a second wheel for stability and balance. Cycling events are popular around the world. Last week, London held its annual Tweed Run, a group bike ride in traditional dress. Simon Dawson/Reuters That was the style Britain dubbed the penny-farthing, because it looked like a giant penny paired with the much smaller farthing coin. It offered a thrilling but forbiddingly dangerous ride. But the 1800s were a time of invention. An Englishman named John Kemp Starley introduced a radical improvement in 1885: the “Rover safety bicycle,” with two same-sized wheels. A few innovations later, he had the basics of what has been called [“the most influential piece of product design ever”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9FdUN5Y2xpc3RzRmVkL3N0YXR1cy85ODY1MDMzNzAzNDQxMDM5MzYvcGhvdG8vMT90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249YmFja1N0b3J5VwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) — a bike with a triangular frame, and pedals that power the even-sized wheels with a chain and gearing. The bicycle has become the most popular personal transport in the world. Estimates of the number of bikes in use around the globe run [upward of two billion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0SIaHR0cHM6Ly9ibG9ncy53b3JsZGJhbmsub3JnL3B1YmxpY3NwaGVyZS9jeWNsaW5nLWV2ZXJ5b25lLXMtYnVzaW5lc3M_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPWJhY2tTdG9yeVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). That’s it for this briefing. See you next time. — Katie Thank you To Mark Josephson, Eleanor Stanford, Chris Harcum and Kenneth R. Rosen for the break from the news. You can reach the team at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing+pm@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback&te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_MBAE_p_20190516§ion=endNote). P.S. • We’re listening to “[The Daily](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdGhlZGFpbHk_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPWVuZE5vdGVXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA).” Our latest episode is about the U.S.-China trade war. • Here’s our [Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_dGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDE5MDUxNiZzZWN0aW9uPWVuZE5vdGVXA255dEIKACTW491cDEQz81IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), and a clue: Color of honey (5 letters). [You can find all our puzzles here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcz90ZT0xJm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMTkwNTE2JnNlY3Rpb249ZW5kTm90ZVcDbnl0QgoAJNbj3VwMRDPzUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). • NYT Parenting, a new site from The New York Times, has [a free newsletter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRewGjWP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvcGFyZW50aW5nP3RlPTEmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAxOTA1MTYmc2VjdGlvbj1lbmROb3RlVwNueXRCCgAk1uPdXAxEM_NSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) that brings its evidence-based guidance and support for parents and prospective parents to your inbox. Were you sent this briefing by a friend? 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