CNN: “It’s a blowout… not even close… Pope Leo absolutely crushing Trump when it comes to how popular they are.”

Mamdani hasn't had time to really think about all that space he now has, because he spends most of his time at City Hall and around New York City. He tries to keep a semblance of his old life by getting around the city on foot, by bike or train. "If you spend every single day driving around in a tinted window security detail, you will have a very specific view of the city," he said. "You actually meet other New Yorkers and you break out of the bubble that so many have come to expect of politics, where politicians only seem to be spending time with other politicians or the people who donated to make them politicians."

I'd say that this applies to anyone traveling in a car in any city. Being in a car versus walking, riding, or taking transit fundamentally changes how you view a place and your relationship to it. I wish more leaders set this kind of example.

www.npr.org/2026/04/16/n...

Shortlist: 2025 Nonfiction Award | China Books Review Announcing the jury’s shortlist of five books for the Baifang Schell Book Prize: Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Book on China or the Sinophone World.

Here's the shortlist for this year's Baifang Schell Book Prize for non-fiction on China selected by @chinabooksreview.com and @asiasociety.org. The subjects range across Chinese identity, adoptions, delivery workers, Xi Jinping's father and, yes, King Lear. chinabooksreview.com/2026/04/02/s...

"Magyar wasn't engaging in a policy debate... His framing was Viktor Orbán and Fidesz are a criminal organization and we need to dismantle this... he connected the impact of the criminal organization to these rural Hungarians' experience."

@ambpressman.bsky.social on how Magyar beat Orbán.

Rubio Emphasizes Trump’s Support for Leader of Hungary Before Tight Elections

Vance wasn’t the only top Trump aide who went to Hungary to try to boost Orban before the election. Rubio traveled there in February and promised more economic support to Hungary if Orban remained in power. Here’s my story from Budapest: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/w...

He was surrounded by people, but Mr. Trump was somehow an isolated figure. People mostly circulated around him, checking in with updates and then leaving again. For the most part, Mr. Trump sat and impassively watched blood and saliva sprayed out from the fighters beating each other silly in front of him.

Wow. This is a well-crafted and insightful paragraph by Katie Rogers.
“Mr. Trump sat and impassively watched blood and saliva sprayed out from the fighters beating each other silly in front of him.”

U.S. Pushes Allies to Chase a New Terrorism Target: The Far Left

NEW: The Trump administration aims to use the tools of counterterrorism to go after what it calls antifa and leftist groups. It lists antifa as a priority in an internal intelligence document. Some US officials worry this means more domestic surveillance. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/u...

U.S. Pushes Allies to Chase a New Terrorism Target: The Far Left

NEW: The Trump administration aims to use the tools of counterterrorism to go after what it calls antifa and leftist groups. It lists antifa as a priority in an internal intelligence document. Some US officials worry this means more domestic surveillance. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/u...

NEW: Trump and his aides aim to try to get concessions from Iran in upcoming talks because they've failed to meet most of the five war goals he stated on Feb. 28. That included total obliteration of Iran's missiles and regime change, which haven't happened. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/u...

These are the two key posts by PM Shehbaz Sharif on X on Tuesday. He tagged Trump, his aides and top Iranian officials in both of them. The second post said Lebanon is part of the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, but Israel rejected that and is carrying out large-scale attacks.

White House Knew About Pakistan’s Cease-Fire Post on X Before It Was Sent

The NY Times reports the White House signed off on the post by PM Sharif of Pakistan asking Trump to delay by 2 weeks any action on his threat to wipe out Iranian civilization. Sharif’s next post announced a ceasefire, including Lebanon — which Israel keeps bombing. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/w...

Front page of the print NYT: Trump Revels in Making Emphatic Threats to Commit War Crimes. He said he'll send Iran back to the "Stone Ages." Today he argued he can destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure to pressure the government because "they're animals." Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/u...

How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran

Colleagues Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman have new insider details of how Trump decided to go to war with Iran, including Netanyahu's hard sell that Iran was ripe for "regime change." That's also the title of their upcoming new book on Trump. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/u...

Front page of the print NYT: Trump Revels in Making Emphatic Threats to Commit War Crimes. He said he'll send Iran back to the "Stone Ages." Today he argued he can destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure to pressure the government because "they're animals." Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/u...

It is the wound in Time. The century’s tides, chanting their bitter psalms, cannot heal it. Not the war to end all wars; death’s birthing place; the earth nursing its ticking metal eggs, hatching new carnage. But how could you know, brave as belief as you boarded the boats, singing? The end of God in the poisonous, shrapnelled air. Poetry gargling its own blood. We sense it was love you gave your world for; the town squares silent, awaiting their cenotaphs. What happened next? War. And after that? War. And now? War. War. History might as well be water, chastising this shore; for we learn nothing from your endless sacrifice. Your faces drowning in the pages of the sea. Carol Ann Duffy, ‘The Wound in Time’ (2018)

War. And after that? War. And now? War. War.
History might as well be water, chastising this shore.

-Carol Ann Duffy, The Wound in Time, written on the occasion of the centenary of the first World War.
#everynightapoem

Trump Revels in Threats to Commit War Crimes in Iran

NEW: Trump revels in threats to commit war crimes by destroying Iran's civilian infrastructure and sending it back to the "Stone Ages." He and his aides scorn laws on using force — obvious from strikes on civilian boats to Hegseth's talk of "no quarter." Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/05/u...

Trump Officials Try to Fight Foreign Disinformation They Once Dismissed

NEW: Trump aides gutted offices that aimed to counter anti-American disinformation by foreign powers. Now the US finds itself embattled in an info war with Iran, Russia and China. The State Dept. tells diplomats to use X and work with Pentagon psyops teams. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/b...

Trump Officials Try to Fight Foreign Disinformation They Once Dismissed

NEW: Trump aides gutted offices that aimed to counter anti-American disinformation by foreign powers. Now the US finds itself embattled in an info war with Iran, Russia and China. The State Dept. tells diplomats to use X and work with Pentagon psyops teams. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/b...

Trump Laid Out Five Goals for the Iran War. Here’s Where They Stand.

NEW: Trump has met only a couple of the 5 goals he laid out for the Iran War. The US and Israel have destroyed much of Iran's navy and missiles. But Iran still has nuclear material and coordinates with regional militias. And there hasn't been regime change. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/u...

Iran Is Skeptical About Diplomacy for Now, U.S. Intelligence Says

NEW: US intelligence assessments say Iran isn't willing yet to engage in substantial talks with the US over ending the war. That could complicate any US plans for an endgame. Iran thinks it has the upper hand, and doesn't trust Trump after earlier attacks. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/u...

Trump Redefines ‘Regime Change’ in Iran War

NEW: Regime change has occurred in Iran. Or it hasn’t. It is a goal of the war. Except it isn’t. Trump brags about having done "regime change" in Iran, but other US officials are doubtful. It's personnel change — Iran remains theocratic and authoritarian. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/u...

F.B.I. Said to Dig Up Old Investigative Files on Democratic Lawmaker

NEW: Trump officials are rushing to collect decade-old FBI files on Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democratic candidate for governor of CA, and Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese spy. The Justice Dept. never brought charges. Scores of FBI agents are working on it. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/u...

F.B.I. Said to Dig Up Old Investigative Files on Democratic Lawmaker

NEW: Trump officials are rushing to collect decade-old FBI files on Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democratic candidate for governor of CA, and Christine Fang, a suspected Chinese spy. The Justice Dept. never brought charges. Scores of FBI agents are working on it. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/28/u...

Trump and Modi Had a Call About the Iran War. Elon Musk Joined Them.

NEW: Elon Musk was on a call between Trump and Modi this week. The two leaders talked about the Iran War started by Trump and Israel and the resulting energy crisis. Musk has business interests in the Middle East and wants a foothold in India. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/u...

U.S. May Label Brazilian Gangs as Terror Groups, After Push by the Bolsonaros

NEW: Trump aides weigh designating two criminal groups in Brazil foreign terrorist organizations, against the wishes of Lula. The sons of Bolsonaro, now in prison, are lobbying the US on this. It could help son Flávio Bolsonaro in his run against Lula. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/27/w...

Rubio Says Allies Should Help Secure Strait by Iran for Oil and Gas Ships

Before flying to France to meet with US allies, Rubio said partner nations need to do more to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. But other countries were not consulted by Trump on the war he and Netanyahu started with Iran. Now Trump needs help. Story: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/26/w...

Trump Had His Eye on China, Then Plunged Into a New Mideast War

NEW: Trump vowed to make the China challenge a priority. But by getting mired in war with Iran, he has given China a stronger hand and has shaken the confidence of Asian allies. He's sending Marines from Japan and missiles from South Korea to the Mideast. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/u...

Trump Had His Eye on China, Then Plunged Into a New Mideast War

NEW: Trump vowed to make the China challenge a priority. But by getting mired in war with Iran, he has given China a stronger hand and has shaken the confidence of Asian allies. He's sending Marines from Japan and missiles from South Korea to the Mideast. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/25/u...

Israel Thought It Could Spur Rebellion Inside Iran. That Hasn’t Happened.

NEW: Netanyahu embraced a Mossad plan to ignite a regime change uprising in Iran for a quick victory. He used it to help convince Trump to start the war — despite doubts among some senior US and Israeli officials. It was a critical flaw in war plans. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/22/u...

Administration Bypasses Congress to Sell Weapons to U.A.E., Kuwait and Jordan

NEW: Trump aides declare an emergency over the Iran War to bypass Congress to sell $23 billion of arms to Arab nations. NYT obtained a list with weapons the State Dept. hasn't announced, including Chinook helicopters to the UAE. The US did this with Israel. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/u...