Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Trump officials negotiate two high-stakes deals at onceThis morning in Geneva, an American delegation led by two of President Trump’s most trusted envoys — his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the real estate developer Steve Witkoff — held indirect nuclear talks with Iranian officials. The discussions, during which U.S. negotiators were hoping to address concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, made “good progress,” Iran’s foreign minister said. By afternoon, Kushner and Witkoff were sitting down with Russian and Ukrainian leaders in another room in Geneva, attempting to help broker a peace deal. Trump began his second term vowing to end the conflict, but in many ways the war has only worsened. Expectations for a cease-fire in Ukraine are low, in large part because the sides are far apart on the two major issues: the fate of Ukraine’s borders and the extent to which Western countries will help defend Ukraine after the war. The dueling talks in Switzerland were a stark example of Trump’s belief that the State Department and the National Security Council, which have coordinated negotiations over global crises for decades, are best left on the sidelines. My colleagues David Sanger and Anton Troianovski described the strategy as “diplomacy without diplomats.”
The Epstein emails have rocked several industriesMore than a dozen high-profile figures across politics, finance, entertainment, law and academia have been fired or pushed out of their positions after their ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged in the Justice Department’s latest release of files. A few have been charged with crimes or are under investigation. Today, we published a new page where we’re tracking the fallout. One exception to the rippling repercussions seems to be Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary. The files showed that his interactions with Epstein went beyond how he had previously described them. So far, the White House has shrugged off their association. For more: My colleague tried to understand why people close to Epstein didn’t say anything.
America pays tribute to Jesse Jackson (1941-2026)Presidents, religious leaders and many others publicly mourned the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the charismatic civil rights leader who died today at 84. Trump called Jackson “a good man,” Joe Biden described him as a “a man of God and of the people,” and Al Sharpton described him as his mentor and “a transformative leader.” The Times recalled some of the most important moments in Jackson’s life: his difficult childhood, his time as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., his populist vision of a “rainbow coalition” of the poor and forgotten, his influence over generations of Black Democrats, his self-inflicted controversies and his failed presidential campaigns. Read about them here, and check out Jackson’s life in pictures.
D.C.-area sewage spill becomes a political fightHundreds of millions of gallons of raw human waste have gushed into the Potomac River just outside of Washington, D.C., since a major sewer line collapsed last month. The spill appears to be the largest discharge of its kind in the nation’s history, threatening the health of the river and the safety of those who use it. (It also smells terrible.) Local officials have been working for weeks to stop the flow and assess the damage. Now, the spill has become entangled in national politics: Trump and Maryland’s governor, Wes Moore, are blaming each other for the disaster. FEMA said today that it was monitoring the situation. More top news
The American figure skater Alysa Liu nailed her routine to put herself in medal contention. Her teammate, Amber Glenn, missed a jump and fell down the leaderboard. Here’s the latest from Day 11 in Italy.
It’s a day for celebrationIn New Orleans, it’s not just Tuesday; it’s Mardi Gras. The streets are filled with floats, feathers, beads and revelers decked out in purple, green and gold. Elsewhere, Fat Tuesday is celebrated with pancake races (in England), orange-throwing wars (in Belgium) and boisterous Carnival parties (in Rio de Janeiro). Today is also Lunar New Year, an occasion for fireworks, lion dancing and large meals with family. See images from celebrations ushering in the Year of the Horse, and follow along our second annual Dumpling Week. Also, Ramadan begins tonight. We have tips for quick and enjoyable ways to break your fast.
What if you could become a few inches taller?Aaron Trinh was 5-foot-6 and unhappy. An engineering student in his 20s, he constantly felt too short. So, last year, he used $140,000 from his father’s savings to get height surgery — his healthy femurs were broken and extended over a few months. He is now 5-foot-9. The procedure is similar to those long used to correct deformities. But cosmetic variations like Trinh’s have become increasingly popular, despite high risks. My colleague Isabella Kwai spoke to several men who have undergone height surgery to better understand why they do it.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Try Pastelón, a layered dish of plantains, cheese and picadillo that’s often called Puerto Rican lasagna. Read: In a new book, rigorous inspection shows what makes Toni Morrison’s work so great. Plan: For a family trip through the Northeast or Midwest, follow the syrup. |
