President Trump, Karl Lagerfeld, Bernie Sanders: Your Wednesday Briefing
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Version 0 of 1. (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) Good morning. An inside look at President Trump’s war on the investigations around him, the death of Karl Lagerfeld and a new presidential run for Bernie Sanders. Here’s the latest: For two years, President Trump has waged a very public assault on federal law enforcement over the various investigations that have consumed his presidency, including the special counsel’s inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election. But an examination by The New York Times reveals the extent of more secretive maneuvers. When federal prosecutors in New York began investigating Mr. Trump’s role in paying women hush money during the 2016 campaign, the president asked his acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, to give control of the inquiry to a Trump ally who had already recused himself. Mr. Trump called that account “fake news.” Here are takeaways from our investigation. How we know: Times reporters interviewed dozens of current and former government officials and others close to Mr. Trump and reviewed confidential White House documents, finding numerous unreported episodes of pressure and intimidation that may expose the president to accusations of obstruction of justice. Other troubles for the White House: House Democrats are investigating an administration effort to bring nuclear power plants to Saudi Arabia in defiance of repeated internal legal and ethical warnings. The plan, which risks spreading nuclear weapons technology, may still be circulating at the White House. The luxury fashion designer, with his signature dark glasses and powdered white ponytail, was one of the most recognizable faces in an industry he helped define. Our director of fashion coverage, Vanessa Friedman, called Mr. Lagerfeld the most prolific designer of the 20th and 21st centuries. Creative director at Chanel since 1983 and Fendi since 1965, he also had his own line. He moved heritage brands into the present “with a healthy dose of disrespect and a dollop of pop culture.” In his 80s, when most of his peers were retiring, Mr. Lagerfeld was designing almost 14 new collections a year. He was variously referred to as a “genius,” the “kaiser” and “overrated.” Read the full obituary. Famous (and infamous) quotes: Among the aphorisms and quips that were eventually collected in a book, “The World According to Karl”: “Sweatpants are a sign of defeat.” He could also be crude, especially about women’s appearances. Succession plan: Virginie Viard, described by Chanel as Mr. Lagerfeld’s “closest collaborator for more than 30 years,” is the new creative director of the fashion house. Fendi says it will name a successor later. Remembrances: Mr. Lagerfeld’s peers, including the designers Giorgio Armani and Donatella Versace, offered reflections. “Today, the world has lost an icon and a genius,” Ms. Versace said. An estimated 20,000 people demonstrated against anti-Semitism in Paris on Tuesday night, summoned by the country’s major political parties and Jewish organizations, and above all by pervasive fear that France is becoming a dangerous place for Jews. Some of the concern was directed at the Yellow Vest movement, whose fringes have evinced anti-Semitism. Almost no members of the movement were visible in attendance. The night before the rally, 96 tombs were spray-painted with blue swastikas at a Jewish cemetery in a northeastern village. President Emmanuel Macron visited the cemetery on Tuesday and vowed punishment. Quote: “Anti-Semitism is profoundly rooted in French society,” Prime Minister Édouard Philippe told Parliament, making a diagnosis rarely enunciated in public. “It takes incredibly varied forms. I don’t think it’s the preserve of any particular group.” “Long live Italian Istria and Italian Dalmatia.” Those words from Antonio Tajani, the president of the European Parliament, have prompted lawmakers in Slovenia and Croatia to call for him to step down — they hear a disturbing nationalist provocation from the Italian. His remarks came at a memorial service for Italians who were murdered in a retributory slaughter at the end of World War II. History: As many as 4,000 ethnic Italians living in Istria and Dalmatia, regions that were part of Italy during the war but are today part of Slovenia and Croatia, were killed after Italy’s defeat because they were viewed as collaborators. But Croatians and Slovenians are extremely sensitive to any remarks like Mr. Tajani’s that discount the brutalization of their countries by Italian fascism. Impact: Prominent European lawmakers introduced a petition last week demanding Mr. Tajani’s resignation. He has apologized but is refusing to resign. Women in ISIS: The family of a woman who married an Islamic State fighter said Britain intended to revoke her citizenship. And at a refugee camp in Syria, two American women who married militants said they were deeply sorry for joining the Islamic State and asked for a second chance. McKinsey: The global consulting firm operates a secret $12.3 billion hedge fund, prompting questions about conflicts of interest. The firm says the fund is completely separate from its consulting arm and doesn’t benefit from any inside knowledge. India: A report by Human Rights Watch found that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, attacks on religious minorities have spiked and the authorities have blocked investigations into homicides or even filed charges against victims’ families. Egypt: Officials detained a veteran New York Times correspondent, David Kirkpatrick, after he arrived in Cairo, holding him for seven hours before sending him back to London. The case exemplifies the increasingly severe crackdown against the news media under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. China: A new Zara ad featuring the model Jing Wen’s freckled face has created an uproar in a country that views freckles as blemishes. Some online users even accused the Spanish fashion brand of imposing Western beauty standards on Chinese women. Russia: Plans to ship Moscow’s garbage to the provinces have set off widespread protests at a time when President Vladimir Putin’s standing is slipping in those areas. Bernie Sanders: The Vermont senator and Democratic primary runner-up in the 2016 presidential election has embarked on a run for 2020, bringing his liberal populist agenda to an increasingly crowded field. In memoriam: Wallace Broeker, an American scientist who warned in a landmark 1975 paper of impending global warming — a term he popularized — has died at 87. Tips for a more fulfilling life. Recipe of the day: Dates add a welcome touch of sweetness to savory sesame chicken with cashews. Want a flattering selfie? Here’s how to find your good side. If someone you know is in mourning, here’s what to say (and what not to say). Did Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize? Mr. Trump says he did, but Mr. Abe has declined to comment, citing a Nobel policy of 50 years of secrecy for the process. But an insider could always write a tell-all book. In 2015, the longtime secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Geir Lundestad, did just that, infuriating the committee. Among his revelations: The controversial decision to honor Barack Obama just months into his presidency was intended to strengthen his campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons. And Mr. Obama considered not going to Norway to accept the award, but realized that would only create more uproar. Back to Mr. Trump — he is definitely in the running this year. Two Norwegian lawmakers have said that they nominated him after his Singapore meeting with Kim Jong-un of North Korea. The Nobel is announced in October. Andrea Kannapell, the briefings editor, wrote today’s Back Story. Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. Check out this page to find a Morning Briefing for your region. (In addition to our European edition, we have Australian, Asian and U.S. editions.) Sign up here to receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights, and here’s our full range of free newsletters. What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. |