Sunday, February 8, 2026

Today's Paper

Demanding Support for Trump, Justice Dept. Struggles to Recruit Prosecutors

Some offices are so decimated that the Justice Department has sent in military lawyers. More recently, officials asked for volunteers from other offices who can quickly deploy to places in desperate need.

By Glenn Thrush, Alan Feuer, Mimi Dwyer, Ernesto Londoño and Michael S. Schmidt

image: The Justice Department lost about 8 percent of its work force between November 2024 and November 2025, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management.

For $1 Million, Donors to U.S.A. Birthday Group Offered Access to Trump

A new organization blessed by the president is raising money for events and projects that will put a Trumpian spin on the nation’s semiquincentennial.

By Kenneth P. Vogel, Lisa Friedman and David A. Fahrenthold

image: Freedom 250’s events for the country’s semiquincentennial will feature a traveling “Freedom Truck” show, which included the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps at a state fair in Tampa, Fla., this month.

Epstein Files Reveal Scope of Ghislaine Maxwell’s Role in Clinton Circle

Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime companion helped advise on the kickoff of the Clinton Global Initiative and arranged for $1 million in funding for it, emails show.

By Danny Hakim

image: A photograph released by the Justice Department showing former President Bill Clinton with Ghislaine Maxwell. Newly released emails show Ms. Maxwell’s behind-the-scenes role in helping to start the Clinton Global Initiative, one of Mr. Clinton’s signature post-White House endeavors.

Starmer’s Chief of Staff Resigns, Citing Role in Hiring Friend of Epstein

The Labour official was ensnared in a scandal after helping appoint Peter Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the U.S.

By Michael D. Shear

image: Morgan McSweeney in December. He served as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s chief of staff until Sunday.

Why the N.F.L. Booked Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl

League executives may be nervous about the Latin superstar’s outspoken stance on immigration, but their priority is attracting popular halftime performers.

By Ken Belson

image: Bad Bunny performing in Mexico City in December. The choice of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime performer was, from a musical standpoint, an obvious one.

The Super Bowl Ads (So Far), Ranked

Here is our critic’s survey of this year’s Super Bowl commercials, from best to worst to A.I.

By Mike Hale

image: George Clooney pitches Grubhub in one of two Super Bowl ads directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

7 Days, No Suspects: The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

The mother of the “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie has not been heard from since an evening of dinner and games with family members.

By Reis Thebault and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

image: Investigators searched Nancy Guthrie’s home near Tucson on Friday.

Americans at the Olympics Can’t Escape the Politics at Home

A backlash to Trump administration policies has followed U.S. athletes to Italy. One skier’s comments drew a furious response from the president himself.

By Motoko Rich, Tariq Panja, Heather Knight and Juliet Macur

image: Politics inevitably encroaches on the Olympics, despite the International Olympic Committee’s best efforts to cast the Games as an athletic interlude free from conflict.

Polar Plunge Persists in the Northeast as Low-Temperature Records Are Set

Punishing winds have combined with low temperatures to produce dangerously cold conditions across the Northeast. Forecasters say, though, that relief is on the horizon.

By Adeel Hassan and Nazaneen Ghaffar

image: Pedestrians in Brooklyn on Saturday. An extreme cold warning was in effect on Saturday and part of Sunday in New York as punishing winds combined with low temperatures produced dangerously cold conditions, officials warned.

More Snow in Florida Than Utah? Why Weird Weather Has Dominated This Year.

While iguanas were stunned by freezing cold in Florida, would-be skiers were looking at dirt on Utah’s slopes. Here’s what’s going on, and when it will finally end.

By Amy Graff

image: A rare snowfall in Holt, Fla., on Jan. 18.

Is Wallace Shawn the Only Avant-Garde Artist Who Gets Stopped in Times Square?

He’s most commonly recognized for his screen roles as a plotting hit man and an unlikely Lothario, but it’s his work as a playwright that shows more of his true self.

By Susan Dominus

image: The playwright and actor Wallace Shawn, photographed at New York’s Chelsea Square Diner on Dec. 11, 2025.

If You Hate Bad Bunny, I Have Bad News for You

American pop culture is global pop culture, and vice versa.

By Noah Shachtman

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Seven Pages of a Sealed Watergate File Sat Undiscovered. Until Now.

Seven pages of grand jury testimony from Richard Nixon were deemed so incendiary that they were hidden from the public for years.

By James Rosen

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Are You ‘Biohacking’ to Perform Better at Work? We Want to Hear From You.

Please tell us what changes you’ve made to your health and wellness practices to improve your brain function and job performance. We may include your experiences in an article.

By Noam Scheiber

image: Some people track their sleep quality or heart rate variability through an Apple Watch and try to improve them.

Japan’s Leader Wins in a Landslide, Clearing Way for Hard-Line Agenda

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a sweeping mandate from voters for her economic agenda and tough stances on immigration and China.

By Javier C. Hernández, River Akira Davis, Kiuko Notoya and Hisako Ueno

image: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan received a resounding mandate for her economic policies and tough stance on immigration and China after snap elections on Sunday.

Portugal Votes for President, With Leftist Set to Beat Surging Far Right

Exit polls predicted a comfortable victory for António José Seguro, but a nationalist’s presence in the runoff showed that Portugal is not immune to Europe’s rising nationalist tide.

By Jason Horowitz

image: António José Seguro, who has wide establishment support, campaigning for president in Porto, Portugal, on Friday.

Seeking Stability, Thai Voters Decisively Reject Progressive Party

It was the first time in years that a conservative party preaching nationalism, patriotism and respect for the monarchy came out on top.

By Sui-Lee Wee

image: Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, in Bangkok on Sunday.

4 Dead in Mushroom Poisoning Outbreak in California

State health officials discouraged foraging this year, saying that toxic mushrooms can easily be confused with safe ones to eat.

By Amanda Holpuch

image: Complications from death cap mushroom poisoning can include liver and kidney failure and seizures.