The Morning: American children, in crisis

And Omicron may aggravate it. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP4QkAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPU5OJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGNTEyMDA2YzUtM2MwYy01NzM4LTkzOGItYzczMjU2MDEzNDJhJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0SsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) January 4, 2022 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvZGF2aWQtbGVvbmhhcmR0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) By [David Leonhardt](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvZGF2aWQtbGVvbmhhcmR0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Good morning. The pandemic has created a crisis for American children. Idle school buses in Detroit yesterday.Emily Elconin for The New York Times No way to grow up American children are starting 2022 in crisis. I have long been aware that the pandemic was upending children’s lives. But until I spent time pulling together data and reading reports, I did not understand just how alarming the situation had become. Today’s newsletter offers an overview of that crisis. The toll Children fell far behind in school during the first year of the pandemic and have not caught up. Among third through eighth graders, math and reading levels were all lower than normal this fall, [according to NWEA](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm53ZWEub3JnL2NvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDIxLzA3L0xlYXJuaW5nLWR1cmluZy1DT1ZJRC0xOS1SZWFkaW5nLWFuZC1tYXRoLWFjaGlldmVtZW50LWluLXRoZS0yMDIwLTIwMjEtc2Nob29sLXllYXIucmVzZWFyY2gtYnJpZWYtMS5wZGY_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), a research group. The shortfalls were largest for Black and Hispanic students, as well as students in schools with high poverty rates. “We haven’t seen this kind of academic achievement crisis in living memory,” Michael Petrilli of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute [told Politico](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP4QpAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnBvbGl0aWNvLmNvbS9uZXdzbGV0dGVycy93ZWVrbHktZWR1Y2F0aW9uLzIwMjEvMTIvMDYvdGhpcy1pcy1hLWRpc2FzdGVyLXNldmVyaXR5LW9mLWxlYXJuaW5nLWxvc3QtdG8tdGhlLXBhbmRlbWljLWNvbWVzLWludG8tZm9jdXMtNzk5Mjc4P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Many children and teenagers are experiencing mental health problems, aggravated by the isolation and disruption of the pandemic. Three medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recently declared [a national state of emergency in children’s mental health](~/AAAAAQA~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). They cited “dramatic increases in emergency department visits for all mental health emergencies.” Suicide attempts have risen, slightly among adolescent boys and sharply among adolescent girls. The number of E.R. visits for suspected suicide attempts by 12- to 17-year-old girls rose by 51 percent from early 2019 to early 2021, [according to the C.D.C.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2RjLmdvdi9tbXdyL3ZvbHVtZXMvNzAvd3IvbW03MDI0ZTEuaHRtP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Gun violence against children has increased, as part of a broader nationwide rise in crime. In Chicago, for example, 101 residents under age 20 were murdered last year, up from 76 in 2019. School shootings have also risen: The Washington Post counted 42 last year in the U.S., [the most on record](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL2RjLW1kLXZhLzIwMjEvMTIvMzEvMjAyMS1zY2hvb2wtc2hvb3RpbmdzLXJlY29yZC8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) and up from 27 in 2019. Many schools have still not returned to normal, worsening learning loss and social isolation. Once-normal aspects of school life — lunchtime, extracurricular activities, assemblies, school trips, parent-teacher conferences, reliable bus schedules — have been transformed if not eliminated. When The Morning asked parents and teachers about the situation in their local schools, we heard an outpouring of anguish: - “This is no way for children to grow up,” Jackie Irwin, a reader in Oklahoma, told us. “It is maddening.” - “For so many kids, school represents a safe, comfortable, reliable place, but not for nearly two years now,” Lisa Durstin of Strafford, Vt., said. - “A lot of the joy and camaraderie that signifies a happy, productive school culture has disappeared,” said Maria Menconi, a schools consultant and former superintendent based in Arizona. Behavior problems have increased. “Schools across the country say they’re seeing an uptick in disruptive behaviors,” [Kalyn Belsha of Chalkbeat reported](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbGtiZWF0Lm9yZy8yMDIxLzkvMjcvMjI2OTE2MDEvc3R1ZGVudC1iZWhhdmlvci1zdHJlc3MtdHJhdW1hLXJldHVybj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). “Some are obvious and visible, like students trashing bathrooms, fighting over social media posts or running out of classrooms. Others are quieter calls for help, like students putting their head down and refusing to talk.” Kelli Tuttle, a teacher in Madison, Wis., told us, “There is a lot of swearing, vandalism and some fights.” A teacher in Northern California said she had witnessed the “meanest, most inappropriate comments to teachers” in her 15 years of working in schools. The Omicron variant is now scrambling children’s lives again. Most schools have stayed open this week, but many have canceled sports, plays and other activities. Some districts have closed schools, for a day or more, despite evidence that most children struggle to learn remotely, as [my colleague Dana Goldstein reports](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy91cy9zY2hvb2wtcmVvcGVuaW5nLWNsYXNzcm9vbXMtb21pY3Jvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Closings are taking place in Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Newark and several New York City suburbs, among other places. “It’s chaos,” Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, told Dana. “The No. 1 thing that parents and families are crying out for is stability.” Students outside Oxford High School in Michigan after a shooting last month.Nick Hagen for The New York Times Hard choices For the past two years, large parts of American society have decided harming children was an unavoidable side effect of Covid-19. And that was probably true in the spring of 2020, when nearly all of society shut down to slow the spread of a deadly and mysterious virus. But the approach has been less defensible for the past year and a half, as we have learned more about both Covid and the extent of [children’s suffering](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmJlci5vcmcvcGFwZXJzL3cyOTQ5Nz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) from pandemic restrictions. Data now suggest that many changes to school routines are of questionable value in controlling the virus’s spread. Some researchers are skeptical that school closures [reduce Covid cases](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0S8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYm1qLmNvbS9jb250ZW50LzM3Mi9ibWoubjUyMT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) in most instances. Other interventions, like forcing students to sit apart from their friends at lunch, may also have little benefit. One reason: Severe versions of Covid, including long Covid, are [extremely rare](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMC8xMi9icmllZmluZy9jb3ZpZC1hZ2Utcmlzay1pbmZlY3Rpb24tdmFjY2luZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) in children. For them, the virus resembles a typical flu. Children face more risk from car rides than Covid. The widespread availability of vaccines since last spring also raises an ethical question: Should children suffer to protect unvaccinated adults — who are voluntarily accepting Covid risk for themselves and increasing everybody else’s risk, too? Right now, the U.S. is effectively saying yes. To be clear, there are some hard decisions and unavoidable trade-offs. Covid can lead to hospitalization or worse for a small percentage of vaccinated adults, especially those who are older or immunocompromised, and allowing children to resume normal life could create additional risk. The Omicron surge may well heighten that risk, leaving schools with no attractive options. For the past two years, however, many communities in the U.S. have not really grappled with the trade-off. They have tried to minimize the spread of Covid — a worthy goal absent other factors — rather than minimizing the damage that Covid does to society. They have accepted more harm to children in exchange for less harm to adults, often without acknowledging the dilemma or assessing which decisions lead to less overall harm. Given the choices that the country has made, it should not be surprising that children are suffering so much. Related: Polls show that Americans are worn out and frustrated by the pandemic, Blake Hounshell and Leah Askarinam explain in [the first edition of the new On Politics newsletter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9taWR0ZXJtLWVsZWN0aW9ucy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). THE LATEST NEWS The Virus Goldman Sachs told U.S. employees to work from home until Jan. 18.Jeenah Moon for The New York Times - Omicron [upended plans](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy9idXNpbmVzcy9vbWljcm9uLXJldHVybi10by1vZmZpY2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) for workers to return to offices this month. - A federal judge blocked the Defense Department from [punishing Navy sailors who refuse to get vaccinated](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wNC91cy9sYXdzdWl0LXVzLXRyb29wcy12YWNjaW5lLWV4ZW1wdGlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). - Hug, fist-bump or wave? These wristbands let co-workers [know your preference](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wNC9idXNpbmVzcy9vZmZpY2UtY292aWQtcHJlZmVyZW5jZS13cmlzdGJhbmQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Politics Senator Chuck Schumer at the Capitol in December.Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times - Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, threatened to change Senate filibuster rules if Republicans [did not allow a vote on voting rights measures](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9zZW5hdGUtZGVtb2NyYXRzLWJpZGVuLWFnZW5kYS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). - Donald Trump [endorsed Viktor Orban](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1lbmRvcnNlcy12aWt0b3Itb3JiYW4taHVuZ2FyeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), Hungary’s far-right prime minister. (Related: How the E.U. let Hungary [become an illiberal model](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvaHVuZ2FyeS1ldXJvcGVhbi11bmlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~).) - The New York attorney general wants to question [Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy9ueXJlZ2lvbi9sZXRpdGlhLWphbWVzLWl2YW5rYS1kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtanItc3VicG9lbmEuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) as part of a civil investigation. - Congressional investigators are looking into the [1st Amendment Praetorian](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9maXJzdC1hbWVuZG1lbnQtcHJhZXRvcmlhbi10cnVtcC1qYW4tNi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), a right-wing paramilitary group that worked with pro-Trump forces. - Nearly a year on, the wounds of the Jan. 6 attack linger in the minds and bodies of Capitol Police officers. [The Times Magazine tells their stories](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wNC9tYWdhemluZS9qYW4tNi1jYXBpdG9sLXJpb3QtcG9saWNlLW9mZmljZXJzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Other Big Stories - Elizabeth Holmes was [found guilty of four counts of fraud](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2VsaXphYmV0aC1ob2xtZXMtZ3VpbHR5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) related to Theranos, her failed Silicon Valley start-up, and now awaits sentencing. - Apple is [worth $3 trillion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy90ZWNobm9sb2d5L2FwcGxlLTMtdHJpbGxpb24tbWFya2V0LXZhbHVlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) — more than Walmart, Disney, Netflix, Nike, Exxon Mobil, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, AT&T, Goldman Sachs, Boeing, IBM and Ford combined. - Jair Bolsonaro, the president of Brazil, was [hospitalized for stomach problems](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy9icmF6aWwtYm9sc29uYXJvLWhvc3BpdGFsaXplZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) that he said stemmed from a 2018 stabbing. Opinions The U.S. election system, which gives conservatives a structural advantage, is [to blame for the Capitol riot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wNC9vcGluaW9uL2NhcGl0b2wtcmlvdC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), Osita Nwanevu writes. Democrats are focused on voting rights. They’re [missing the bigger problem,](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy9vcGluaW9uL3ZvdGluZy1yaWdodHMtZGVtb2NyYXRzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Yuval Levin argues. Subscribers enjoy more. Stay fully informed with unlimited access to every article. [Subscribe to The Times today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OFVLWDgmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). MORNING READS Canids in Galveston Island State Park in Texas.Tristan Spinski for The New York Times Genetic ghosts: The DNA of these lanky canids could help [revive the endangered red wolf](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy9zY2llbmNlL3JlZC13b2x2ZXMtZG5hLWdhbHZlc3Rvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Wordle: His partner loved word games, so [he created one for her](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy90ZWNobm9sb2d5L3dvcmRsZS13b3JkLWdhbWUtY3JlYXRvci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). It’s a hit. Ready, set, go: The hot trend in running is [streaking](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMS9zcG9ydHMvcnVubmluZy1zdHJlYWstcmlzZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) — no, not like that. Virtual travel: Experience the celebration at the [Great Night of Shiva in Nepal](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy90cmF2ZWwvbmVwYWwtbWFoYS1zaGl2YXJhdHJpLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Never too late: They tried something new. Now they’re [encouraging you to try, too](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMS9zdHlsZS9uZXcteWVhcnMtcmVzb2x1dGlvbnMtcXVvdGVzLXRpcHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). A Times classic: Step inside a Hokusai picture that captures an instant on the south coast of Honshu, and [taste the salt in the air.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMC8wOC8wNy9hcnRzL2Rlc2lnbi9ob2t1c2FpLWZ1amkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Lives Lived: April Ashley rose from poverty to the heights of London society, rubbing shoulders with John Lennon and Mick Jagger — and all while fighting for legal recognition of her gender. Ashley became one of the first Britons to undergo gender confirmation surgery. [She has died at 86](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wMy93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvYXByaWwtYXNobGV5LWRlYWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). ARTS AND IDEAS Mushrooms grown indoors in Brooklyn.Chris Maggio for The New York Times What we’ll eat New year, new you, new … food trends? The Times’s Kim Severson rounded up what forecasters are predicting we will eat and drink in 2022. Among them: a new interest in mushrooms, a rethinking of chicken and coffee and a resurgence of 1980s cocktails. As far as the flavor of the year goes, look out for hibiscus, “which is adding its crimson hue and tart, earthy flavor to everything from cocktails and sodas to crudos and yogurt,” Kim writes. You may even start hearing entirely new words to describe tastes, like “swicy” and “swalty.” [Check it all out here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8yOC9kaW5pbmcvZm9vZC10cmVuZHMtcHJlZGljdGlvbnMtMjAyMi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). PLAY, WATCH, EAT What to Cook Sang An for The New York Times Another food prediction: Nostalgic treats from China and South Korea, like [this dalgona candy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TUaHR0cHM6Ly9jb29raW5nLm55dGltZXMuY29tL3JlY2lwZXMvMTAyMjYxOC1kYWxnb25hLWNhbmR5LXBwb3BnaT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), will make their way to U.S. shopping carts. What to Read In “Dante: A Life,” the historian Alessandro Barbero arrives at [some unconventional conclusions about the poet’s life](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wNC9ib29rcy9yZXZpZXcvZGFudGUtYS1saWZlLWFsZXNzYW5kcm8tYmFyYmVyby5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAxMDQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDkzNDQmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTc4NjAyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgphuxcv1GFaziXQUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). New York Institution Visit [a sweet shop straight out of childhood dreams](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMi8yOC90LW1hZ2F6aW5lL2Vjb25vbXktY2FuZHktbmV3LXlvcmsuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Late Night Seth Meyers weighs in on Marjorie Taylor Greene’s [expulsion from Twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMS8wNC9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vc2V0aC1teWVycy1tYXJqb3JpZS10YXlsb3ItZ3JlZW5lLXR3aXR0ZXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Now Time to Play ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was mortify. Here is today’s puzzle — or you can [play online](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Here’s [today’s Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), and a clue: Largest animal ever to exist on earth (five letters). If you’re in the mood to play more, find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David P.S. [David Fahrenthold](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0Y28uY29tL3ByZXNzL2RhdmlkLWZhaHJlbnRob2xkLWpvaW5zLXRoZS10aW1lcy8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), who won a Pulitzer at The Washington Post for his investigation of Trump’s philanthropy, is joining The Times. Here’s [today’s front page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0TUaHR0cHM6Ly9zdGF0aWMwMS5ueXQuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8yMDIyLzAxLzA0L255dGZyb250cGFnZS9zY2FuLnBkZj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMTA0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQ5MzQ0Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03ODYwMiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYbsXL9RhWs4l0FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). “[The Daily](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjtrQXP0S0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdGhlZGFpbHk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDEwNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00OTM0NCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9Nzg2MDImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmG7Fy_UYVrOJdBSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)” is about flawed prenatal testing. Kitty Bennett, Matthew Cullen, Natasha Frost, Tom Wright-Piersanti, Ashley Wu and Sanam Yar contributed to The Morning. You can reach the team at themorning@nytimes.com. 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