The Headlines

Trump Faces Rare G.O.P. Revolt, and Democrats Mock Their Own Party’s Report

Plus, the Friday news quiz.  Here’s what we’re covering: In a Rarity, Republicans Stand Up to Trump [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/politics/senate-republicans-trump.html], by Luke Broadwater Republicans Delay Budget Votes as They Balk at Trump’s Fund [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/republicans-trump-loyalty.html], by Michael Gold and Carl Hulse G.O.P. Pulls Measure to End Iran War, Lacking Votes to Defeat It [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/iran-war-powers-trump-measure.html], by Megan Mineiro, Robert Jimison and Michael Gold D.N.C. 2024 Election Autopsy Reopens Wounds of Harris Loss [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/politics/dnc-autopsy.html], by Shane Goldmacher, Reid J. Epstein and Lisa Lerer Democrats’ Midterm Strength Masks Fierce Divides and Frustration, Poll Shows [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/politics/poll-democrats-midterms-house-senate.html], by Katie Glueck, Ruth Igielnik and Camille Baker San Diego Shooter So Alarmed Police in 2025, They Seized Father’s Guns [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/san-diego-mosque-shooter-guns.html], by Orlando Mayorquín, Tim Arango and Chelsia Rose Marcius In San Diego, a Final Prayer Before Laying Heroes to Rest [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/san-diego-mosque-shooting-funeral.html], by Orlando Mayorquín YouTube Is Crawling with Pirated Audiobooks Made Using A.I. [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/books/audiobook-piracy-youtube.html], by Alexandra Alter Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com [theheadlines@nytimes.com]. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Inside Trump’s Pressure Campaign on Cuba, and Why Food Banks Are Getting Squeezed

Plus, Stephen Colbert’s last show.  Here’s what we’re covering: The Indictment of Raúl Castro Is an Extraordinary Escalation of the Administration’s Pressure on Cuba [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/20/us/trump-news?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20260520&instance_id=175901&nl=breaking-news®i_id=306413263&segment_id=220159&user_id=1cd699f6e5698983afd2a8a4030b003b#raul-castro-cuba-doj-indictment], by Alan Feuer, Frances Robles and David C. Adams Rubio Moves Closer to Decades-Long Goal of Transforming Cuba [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/politics/marco-rubio-cuba.html], by Edward Wong Cuba Says It’s Ready to Negotiate [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/world/americas/guzman-cuba-us-negotiations-trump.html], by Jack Nicas News of U.S. Indictment Slow to Reach Cubans Waiting for a Breakthrough [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/world/americas/cuba-reaction-castro-indictment.html], by Emma Bubola A $5 Million Donation From Big Tobacco Preceded F.D.A. Vape Decision [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/politics/donation-big-tobacco-vaping.html], by Kenneth P. Vogel and Christina Jewett High Gas Prices Are Squeezing America’s Food Banks [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/food-bank-gas-prices.html], by Chris Hippensteel Ebola Outbreak Is Unlikely to Become Global Threat, W.H.O. Head Says [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/world/africa/ebola-congo-tedros-rubio.html], by Lynsey Chutel, Nick Cumming-Bruce and Ephrat Livni Efforts to Contain Ebola May Have Been Hindered by Lack of U.S. Involvement [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/health/ebola-congo-united-states-trump.html], by Apoorva Mandavilli and Stephanie Nolen End of a Colbert-a [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/arts/television/stephen-colbert-late-show-ending-cbs.html], by James Poniewozik Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com [theheadlines@nytimes.com]. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New Immunity for President Trump, and an Audacious Plan for Regime Change in Iran

Plus, Tesla’s big bet on big rigs.  Here’s what we’re covering: I.R.S. to Drop Audits of Trump and Family [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/trump-irs-doj-lawsuit-audit.html], by Alan Feuer, Andrew Duehren and Glenn Thrush Blanche Defends $1.8 Billion Fund as Skepticism Mounts [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/blanche-congress-compensation-fund.html], by Devlin Barrett Trump Crushes Republican Dissent: 8 Takeaways From Tuesday’s Primaries [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/trump-massie-primary-takeaways.html], by Reid J. Epstein Early War Goal Was to Install Hard Line Former President as Iran’s Leader [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/iran-israel-us-leader-ahmadinejad.html], by Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes, Farnaz Fassihi and Ronen Bergman Senate Votes to Take Up Measure to Force Trump to End Iran War [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/politics/senate-iran-war-authorization.html], by Megan Mineiro The San Diego Mosque Shootings Were a Crime Made for and by the Internet [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/san-diego-mosque-cain-clark-caleb-vazquez.html], by Tim Arango, Chelsia Rose Marcius, Madison Malone Kircher and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs San Diego Victims Saved Students and ‘Did Not Die in Vain,’ Police Say [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/us/san-diego-mosque-shooting-victims.html], by Christina Morales, Jill Cowan and Neil Vigdor Tesla’s Newest Electric Vehicle Could Jolt the Trucking Industry [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/business/energy-environment/teslas-semi-truck.html], by Jack Ewing Driverless Big Rigs Are Coming to American Highways, and Soon [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/business/self-driving-semi-trucks-texas-us.html], by Jim Motavalli Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com [theheadlines@nytimes.com]. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trump’s New $1.8 Billion Pot of Money, and a Deadly Mosque Attack in California

Plus, a North Korean soccer team hits the road.  Here’s what we’re covering: Justice Dept. Sets Up $1.8 Billion Fund That Could Funnel Money to Trump Allies [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/trump-irs-lawsuit.html], by Glenn Thrush, Andrew Duehren and Alan Feuer Trump Threatens Iran and Then Pulls Back, All in the Same Day [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/trump-iran-strikes.html], by Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt The Iran War Is Crippling One of the World’s Wealthiest Nations [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/business/qatar-economy-iran-war.html], by River Akira Davis Suspect’s Mother Warned Police of Missing Guns Before Mosque Attack [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/05/18/us/san-diego-islamic-center-shooting], by Tim Arango, Neil Vigdor and Pooja Salhotra Elon Musk Loses $150 Billion Suit Against OpenAI and Sam Altman [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/technology/elon-musk-lawsuit-openai-sam-altman.html], by Cade Metz and Mike Isaac A North Korean Soccer Team Makes a Rare Visit to South Korea [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/world/asia/north-korea-naegohyang-soccer-football.html], by Choe Sang-Hun Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com [theheadlines@nytimes.com]. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trump’s Approval Rating Hits New Low, and Ebola Outbreak Declared a Global Health Emergency

Plus, inside the closed-door talks over Greenland.  Here’s what we’re covering: Trump’s Approval Sinks Amid Unpopular War, Darkening G.O.P. Prospects [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html], by Lisa Lerer, Ruth Igielnik and Camille Baker Trump Tightens Grasp on G.O.P. as Cassidy Loss Shows Cost of Defiance [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/us/politics/trump-cassidy-midterms-louisiana-primary.html], by Tim Balk Over 100,000 Family Separations in Deportation Push, Report Estimates [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/brookings-institution-report-family-separations.html], by Miriam Jordan and Jeff Adelson In Closed-Door Talks, U.S. Demands a Major Role in Greenland [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/world/europe/in-closed-door-talks-us-demands-a-major-role-in-greenland.html], by Jeffrey Gettleman, Maya Tekeli, Anton Troianovski and Eric Schmitt W.H.O. Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/world/africa/ebola-congo-uganda-who-public-health-emergency.html], by Yan Zhuang, Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Apoorva Mandavilli App-Driven Birding Attracts Flocks of Enthusiasts to Colombia [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/world/americas/colombia-birding-app-merlin-ebird-tourism.html], by Max Bearak Tune in every weekday morning, and tell us what you think at: theheadlines@nytimes.com [theheadlines@nytimes.com]. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts [http://nytimes.com/podcasts] or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher [https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher]. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.