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| Iraq, Antarctica, Reid Hoffman: Your Thursday Briefing | Iraq, Antarctica, Reid Hoffman: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| Good morning, | Good morning, |
| We start today with a look at President Trump’s visit to Iraq, a big day on Wall Street, and a major investigation into the effects of the administration’s environmental policies. | We start today with a look at President Trump’s visit to Iraq, a big day on Wall Street, and a major investigation into the effects of the administration’s environmental policies. |
| The president traveled on Wednesday with his wife, Melania, to Al Asad Air Base, where he visited U.S. troops and defended his decision to withdraw from Syria. It was the president’s first trip to troops stationed in a combat zone. | The president traveled on Wednesday with his wife, Melania, to Al Asad Air Base, where he visited U.S. troops and defended his decision to withdraw from Syria. It was the president’s first trip to troops stationed in a combat zone. |
| Mr. Trump said the U.S. might station commandos on Iraq’s border with Syria, to launch raids and other missions into that country, a strategy the Pentagon proposed after the American withdrawal was announced last week. | Mr. Trump said the U.S. might station commandos on Iraq’s border with Syria, to launch raids and other missions into that country, a strategy the Pentagon proposed after the American withdrawal was announced last week. |
| Explainer: With the U.S. withdrawal, Iran and Russia will be freer to flex their power in the region. We looked at how Syria’s nearly eight-year civil war is evolving. | Explainer: With the U.S. withdrawal, Iran and Russia will be freer to flex their power in the region. We looked at how Syria’s nearly eight-year civil war is evolving. |
| Stocks in the U.S. fell at the start of trading this morning, continuing Wall Street’s roller-coaster ride and reinforcing fears of a bear market. | |
| The losses today came a day after the S&P 500 had its best one-day performance since 2009 and the Dow Jones industrial average climbed 1,086 points, its biggest single-session point gain ever. | |
| Closer look: The S&P 500 looks set for its worst annual performance since the financial crisis a decade ago. Investors remain concerned by the Federal Reserve’s decision to continue raising interest rates. | |
| Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of homeland security, said on Wednesday that a “dramatic increase” of Central American migrants at the southwestern border was straining the system designed to handle them. | Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of homeland security, said on Wednesday that a “dramatic increase” of Central American migrants at the southwestern border was straining the system designed to handle them. |
| She also said that her agency would increase medical screenings of children after the death of a Guatemalan boy in detention this week. | She also said that her agency would increase medical screenings of children after the death of a Guatemalan boy in detention this week. |
| Catch up: Funding for President Trump’s border wall is at the center of a spending impasse that led to the partial government shutdown, which is entering its sixth day. Our reporters answered some common questions about the dispute. | Catch up: Funding for President Trump’s border wall is at the center of a spending impasse that led to the partial government shutdown, which is entering its sixth day. Our reporters answered some common questions about the dispute. |
| What’s next: Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill today to resume budget negotiations, although Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the majority whip, told House members that no votes were expected. Reaching a deal could hinge on semantics: What is a wall? | What’s next: Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill today to resume budget negotiations, although Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the majority whip, told House members that no votes were expected. Reaching a deal could hinge on semantics: What is a wall? |
| For nearly two years, President Trump has fought to free American businesses from what he and many of his supporters view as excessive environmental rules. | For nearly two years, President Trump has fought to free American businesses from what he and many of his supporters view as excessive environmental rules. |
| The story of the Trump administration’s deregulation efforts has largely been told from Washington, but an investigation by The Times shows how regular Americans are being affected. | The story of the Trump administration’s deregulation efforts has largely been told from Washington, but an investigation by The Times shows how regular Americans are being affected. |
| How we know: As part of the investigation, our reporters traveled to four states — California, North Dakota, Texas and West Virginia — and found that residents and business leaders were often divided. Some said the Obama administration went too far with new environmental rules, while others worried that the Trump administration’s changes would hurt their families, particularly their children. | How we know: As part of the investigation, our reporters traveled to four states — California, North Dakota, Texas and West Virginia — and found that residents and business leaders were often divided. Some said the Obama administration went too far with new environmental rules, while others worried that the Trump administration’s changes would hurt their families, particularly their children. |
| Go deeper: Nearly 80 Obama-era regulations have been blocked, delayed or targeted for repeal, according to our analysis. Here are some other takeaways. | Go deeper: Nearly 80 Obama-era regulations have been blocked, delayed or targeted for repeal, according to our analysis. Here are some other takeaways. |
| A small team of health workers, accompanied by our reporter, risked their lives to get to a militia-controlled village in the Democratic Republic of Congo where a woman had died from Ebola. | A small team of health workers, accompanied by our reporter, risked their lives to get to a militia-controlled village in the Democratic Republic of Congo where a woman had died from Ebola. |
| But the lethal virus was not their biggest fear. “We’re scared of the Mai-Mai,” a vaccine expert said, using a local term for insurgents. “We’re afraid they might kill us.” | But the lethal virus was not their biggest fear. “We’re scared of the Mai-Mai,” a vaccine expert said, using a local term for insurgents. “We’re afraid they might kill us.” |
| Solo trip across Antarctica: Colin O’Brady, a 33-year-old American, became the first person to cross the continent from coast to coast alone, unsupported and unaided by wind. His 932-mile journey took just under two months. | Solo trip across Antarctica: Colin O’Brady, a 33-year-old American, became the first person to cross the continent from coast to coast alone, unsupported and unaided by wind. His 932-mile journey took just under two months. |
| Alabama election deception: Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn whose money funded Russian-style social media deception in a Senate race last year, has apologized, saying that he hadn’t approved the operation and didn’t support such tactics. | Alabama election deception: Reid Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn whose money funded Russian-style social media deception in a Senate race last year, has apologized, saying that he hadn’t approved the operation and didn’t support such tactics. |
| Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Supreme Court justice has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home after surgery last week to remove two nodules from her lung. | Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Supreme Court justice has been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home after surgery last week to remove two nodules from her lung. |
| Snapshot: Above, archaeologists unearthed a petrified horse, complete with military saddle, outside the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. The remains of two other horses were also found. | Snapshot: Above, archaeologists unearthed a petrified horse, complete with military saddle, outside the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, which was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. The remains of two other horses were also found. |
| In memoriam: Larry Eisenberg was one of the most prolific contributors of reader comments on The Times’s website, with more than 13,000, mostly in the form of limericks (!). He was 99. | In memoriam: Larry Eisenberg was one of the most prolific contributors of reader comments on The Times’s website, with more than 13,000, mostly in the form of limericks (!). He was 99. |
| Late-night comedy: The hosts are either off or in reruns this week. Our roundup will return. | Late-night comedy: The hosts are either off or in reruns this week. Our roundup will return. |
| What we’re reading: This timely, detailed look in The New Yorker at Iraq’s campaign of revenge against suspected jihadists. Steven Erlanger, our chief European diplomatic correspondent, says it “might make one wonder about the point of the American intervention there and the scale of inhumanity now compared to that under Saddam Hussein.” (There’s an audio version, too.) | What we’re reading: This timely, detailed look in The New Yorker at Iraq’s campaign of revenge against suspected jihadists. Steven Erlanger, our chief European diplomatic correspondent, says it “might make one wonder about the point of the American intervention there and the scale of inhumanity now compared to that under Saddam Hussein.” (There’s an audio version, too.) |
| Cook: This cheese-steak sub isn’t a regular sandwich: It’s a special treat. | Cook: This cheese-steak sub isn’t a regular sandwich: It’s a special treat. |
| Listen: “Whack World,” by the singer and rapper Tierra Whack, is the title song of one of the most praised releases of the year — a collection of 15 songs, each under a minute long and accompanied by a video. Perfect, our critic said, for “combat in the attention economy.” | Listen: “Whack World,” by the singer and rapper Tierra Whack, is the title song of one of the most praised releases of the year — a collection of 15 songs, each under a minute long and accompanied by a video. Perfect, our critic said, for “combat in the attention economy.” |
| Read: Books from long-running series by Lee Child, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson and Louise Penny maintained their stride over the holidays on our hardcover fiction best-seller list. | Read: Books from long-running series by Lee Child, Janet Evanovich, James Patterson and Louise Penny maintained their stride over the holidays on our hardcover fiction best-seller list. |
| Watch: John Mulaney’s standup special “Kid Gorgeous,” one of our critic’s picks for the best comedy of 2018. | Watch: John Mulaney’s standup special “Kid Gorgeous,” one of our critic’s picks for the best comedy of 2018. |
| Smarter Living: If you’re traveling abroad for the first time, a little planning will save you a lot of trouble. Apply for a passport early, and double check whether your destination country requires a visa. If you’re changing time zones, start resetting your circadian rhythm before you go, with an earlier or later bedtime. And spare yourself confusion: Have a travel plan from the airport at your destination. | Smarter Living: If you’re traveling abroad for the first time, a little planning will save you a lot of trouble. Apply for a passport early, and double check whether your destination country requires a visa. If you’re changing time zones, start resetting your circadian rhythm before you go, with an earlier or later bedtime. And spare yourself confusion: Have a travel plan from the airport at your destination. |
| We also have eight tips for living a smarter life in 2019. | We also have eight tips for living a smarter life in 2019. |
| The “Yellow Vests” are not the first rebel group in French history to be named after the outfits of the resistance. | The “Yellow Vests” are not the first rebel group in French history to be named after the outfits of the resistance. |
| Fashion has played a significant role in the heritage, economic development and identity of France, and dress has often signaled and symbolized change. | Fashion has played a significant role in the heritage, economic development and identity of France, and dress has often signaled and symbolized change. |
| In the late 18th century, during the French Revolution, a significant component of the uprising sported working-class pantalons — basically trousers — instead of the fancy knee breeches, or culottes, worn with heels and stockings by the male aristocracy. The insurgents went down in history as the “sans-culottes,” or “without breeches.” | In the late 18th century, during the French Revolution, a significant component of the uprising sported working-class pantalons — basically trousers — instead of the fancy knee breeches, or culottes, worn with heels and stockings by the male aristocracy. The insurgents went down in history as the “sans-culottes,” or “without breeches.” |
| In 1968, France’s student-led rebellions against capitalism and American imperialism (among other isms) redefined associations with berets, turtlenecks, boots and tartan. | In 1968, France’s student-led rebellions against capitalism and American imperialism (among other isms) redefined associations with berets, turtlenecks, boots and tartan. |
| In both cases, the visual messaging communicated allegiance as effectively as any slogan or protest poster — and became an export as successful as Brie or Champagne. | In both cases, the visual messaging communicated allegiance as effectively as any slogan or protest poster — and became an export as successful as Brie or Champagne. |
| That’s it for this briefing. See you next time. | That’s it for this briefing. See you next time. |
| — Chris | — Chris |
| Thank youTo Aisha Harris for the culture acumen and Kenneth R. Rosen for the Smarter Living encouragement. Vanessa Friedman, who directs our fashion coverage, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. | Thank youTo Aisha Harris for the culture acumen and Kenneth R. Rosen for the Smarter Living encouragement. Vanessa Friedman, who directs our fashion coverage, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. |
| P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode revisits a migrant family that was separated at the southwestern border.• Here’s today’s mini crossword puzzle, and a clue: Traditional garnishes for Coronas (5 letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • @nytimes, the main Twitter account of The Times, has 42.5 million followers. | P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode revisits a migrant family that was separated at the southwestern border.• Here’s today’s mini crossword puzzle, and a clue: Traditional garnishes for Coronas (5 letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • @nytimes, the main Twitter account of The Times, has 42.5 million followers. |