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Your Monday Briefing Donald Trump, Aleppo, Madonna: Your Monday Briefing
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Good morning.Good morning.
Here’s what you need to know:Here’s what you need to know:
• Transition’s next steps.• Transition’s next steps.
Rex W. Tillerson, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, is widely expected to be President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for secretary of state. An announcement could come this week.Rex W. Tillerson, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, is widely expected to be President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for secretary of state. An announcement could come this week.
Among Mr. Tillerson’s strengths are his close business ties with Russia. But that relationship could also make his Senate confirmation tougher, after U.S. intelligence agencies said Moscow had deployed hackers to influence the presidential election.Among Mr. Tillerson’s strengths are his close business ties with Russia. But that relationship could also make his Senate confirmation tougher, after U.S. intelligence agencies said Moscow had deployed hackers to influence the presidential election.
We compiled a list of Mr. Trump’s cabinet picks and the contenders for the remaining posts.We compiled a list of Mr. Trump’s cabinet picks and the contenders for the remaining posts.
• “I don’t believe it.”• “I don’t believe it.”
That was Mr. Trump in an interview on Sunday, responding to statements about Russian involvement in the election. He also indicated that he would not take the daily intelligence briefing that his predecessors did.That was Mr. Trump in an interview on Sunday, responding to statements about Russian involvement in the election. He also indicated that he would not take the daily intelligence briefing that his predecessors did.
Voices on both sides of the political spectrum, including Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, have publicly accused Moscow of election interference based on the C.I.A.’s findings.Voices on both sides of the political spectrum, including Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, have publicly accused Moscow of election interference based on the C.I.A.’s findings.
• Oakland fire investigation.• Oakland fire investigation.
The latest development in our inquiry into the deadly warehouse blaze that killed 36 people in California focuses on the family that owns the property.The latest development in our inquiry into the deadly warehouse blaze that killed 36 people in California focuses on the family that owns the property.
It’s unclear if they ever saw what our reporter described as the “jury-rigged staircase, a blocked exit upstairs, webs of extension cords, propane tanks used to heat water and piles of flammable debris.”It’s unclear if they ever saw what our reporter described as the “jury-rigged staircase, a blocked exit upstairs, webs of extension cords, propane tanks used to heat water and piles of flammable debris.”
• Toll of war in Syria.• Toll of war in Syria.
Syrians are streaming out of eastern Aleppo as government forces hit rebel-held neighborhoods with airstrikes, but some are staying. “We are dead either way,” one man told a nurse.Syrians are streaming out of eastern Aleppo as government forces hit rebel-held neighborhoods with airstrikes, but some are staying. “We are dead either way,” one man told a nurse.
With the government’s attention focused on that city, the Islamic State has retaken the ancient city of Palmyra.With the government’s attention focused on that city, the Islamic State has retaken the ancient city of Palmyra.
• Global migrant crisis.• Global migrant crisis.
One of our editors followed nearly a dozen migrants — and the man who decided their fates — through Italy’s overwhelmed asylum system. Read about their stories.One of our editors followed nearly a dozen migrants — and the man who decided their fates — through Italy’s overwhelmed asylum system. Read about their stories.
And the Op-Ed columnist Roger Cohen visited an island detention center where Australia sends refugees.And the Op-Ed columnist Roger Cohen visited an island detention center where Australia sends refugees.
The world, he writes, “knows no more sustained, sinister or surreal exercise in cruelty than the South Pacific quasi-prisons Australia has established for its trickle of the migrant flood.”The world, he writes, “knows no more sustained, sinister or surreal exercise in cruelty than the South Pacific quasi-prisons Australia has established for its trickle of the migrant flood.”
• The Federal Reserve is expected to announce on Wednesday that it will raise interest rates for the first time this year. We look at why an increase is expected.• The Federal Reserve is expected to announce on Wednesday that it will raise interest rates for the first time this year. We look at why an increase is expected.
• The latest in our series on how private equity investors influence daily American life focuses on the Twinkie.• The latest in our series on how private equity investors influence daily American life focuses on the Twinkie.
Our investigation into the financial maneuvering behind the snack’s revival found a blueprint for how a group of executives amassed some of the greatest fortunes of the modern era.Our investigation into the financial maneuvering behind the snack’s revival found a blueprint for how a group of executives amassed some of the greatest fortunes of the modern era.
• Harvard’s brand is taking a hit because of a rise in populist resentment, our writer says of his alma mater.• Harvard’s brand is taking a hit because of a rise in populist resentment, our writer says of his alma mater.
The merits of a Harvard education, he writes, are being reassessed “in an era of heightened self-consciousness over privilege.”The merits of a Harvard education, he writes, are being reassessed “in an era of heightened self-consciousness over privilege.”
• U.S. stocks were up on Friday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets.• U.S. stocks were up on Friday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets.
• Turkey is in mourning after two suicide bombings in Istanbul killed 39 people and wounded more than 150. A Kurdish militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks.• Turkey is in mourning after two suicide bombings in Istanbul killed 39 people and wounded more than 150. A Kurdish militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks.
“This is the new norm,” a taxi driver in the city said.“This is the new norm,” a taxi driver in the city said.
• Bob Dylan made good on his warning that he would not attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm to accept the literature prize. He sent along a statement accepting the honor instead.• Bob Dylan made good on his warning that he would not attend the Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm to accept the literature prize. He sent along a statement accepting the honor instead.
“Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, ‘Are my songs literature?’ ” he wrote. Read his full speech here.“Not once have I ever had the time to ask myself, ‘Are my songs literature?’ ” he wrote. Read his full speech here.
• Lamar Jackson, Louisville’s sophomore quarterback, won the Heisman Trophy.• Lamar Jackson, Louisville’s sophomore quarterback, won the Heisman Trophy.
• For the third straight week, “Moana” led the North American box office. Another musical, “La La Land,” also had a strong showing.• For the third straight week, “Moana” led the North American box office. Another musical, “La La Land,” also had a strong showing.
• Fleeing Boko Haram.• Fleeing Boko Haram.
Our 360 video takes you to the Niger-Nigeria border, where hundreds of thousands of people face food scarcity.Our 360 video takes you to the Niger-Nigeria border, where hundreds of thousands of people face food scarcity.
• Sisters in arms.• Sisters in arms.
Two of our editors look at how Madonna’s recent speech about sexism put Hillary Clinton’s candidacy in fresh perspective.Two of our editors look at how Madonna’s recent speech about sexism put Hillary Clinton’s candidacy in fresh perspective.
“Trailblazing is a solitary game,” one says.“Trailblazing is a solitary game,” one says.
• Hitting the gym isn’t everything.• Hitting the gym isn’t everything.
A recent study suggests that a vigorous workout may do little to counter the negative effects of prolonged sitting, while walking frequently, in addition to exercising, does seem to help.A recent study suggests that a vigorous workout may do little to counter the negative effects of prolonged sitting, while walking frequently, in addition to exercising, does seem to help.
“So much sitting seems to have made the men’s bodies exercise-resistant,” an author of the report said of the test subjects.“So much sitting seems to have made the men’s bodies exercise-resistant,” an author of the report said of the test subjects.
• Recipe of the day.• Recipe of the day.
Many tomatoes on sale at markets at this time of year are watery and mealy. Try roasting them to bring back their flavor.Many tomatoes on sale at markets at this time of year are watery and mealy. Try roasting them to bring back their flavor.
Last week, the so-called Pizzagate case escalated when a man fired a rifle inside a Washington restaurant falsely accused in fake news stories of ties to a child abuse ring.Last week, the so-called Pizzagate case escalated when a man fired a rifle inside a Washington restaurant falsely accused in fake news stories of ties to a child abuse ring.
The history of the “-gate” suffix begins with the 1970s Watergate scandal that led to President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation.The history of the “-gate” suffix begins with the 1970s Watergate scandal that led to President Richard M. Nixon’s resignation.
Since then, the suffix has been synonymous with political wrongdoing.Since then, the suffix has been synonymous with political wrongdoing.
The Times columnist William Safire, a former Nixon speechwriter, popularized the practice. He introduced readers to Nannygate, Scalpgate and Troopergate during the Clinton administration.The Times columnist William Safire, a former Nixon speechwriter, popularized the practice. He introduced readers to Nannygate, Scalpgate and Troopergate during the Clinton administration.
Mr. Safire later acknowledged that he might have been trying to minimize Nixon’s crimes.Mr. Safire later acknowledged that he might have been trying to minimize Nixon’s crimes.
But “-gate” scandals have not been limited to the United States.But “-gate” scandals have not been limited to the United States.
Britain has had its share, and in Germany, there was the 1987 Waterkantgate, a scandal around a West German politician that resulted in his mysterious death. India had snoopgate, and Malaysia had cowgate.Britain has had its share, and in Germany, there was the 1987 Waterkantgate, a scandal around a West German politician that resulted in his mysterious death. India had snoopgate, and Malaysia had cowgate.
Argentina and Venezuela’s relations soured over Valijagate — which, if you speak Spanish, you’d have guessed turned on the contents of a suitcase.Argentina and Venezuela’s relations soured over Valijagate — which, if you speak Spanish, you’d have guessed turned on the contents of a suitcase.
The unoriginal suffix even gets recycled now. Pizzagate was previously used to describe a soccer player’s use of the food as a weapon, and when New York’s mayor committed a no-no: using silverware to eat a slice.The unoriginal suffix even gets recycled now. Pizzagate was previously used to describe a soccer player’s use of the food as a weapon, and when New York’s mayor committed a no-no: using silverware to eat a slice.
Evan Gershkovich contributed reporting.Evan Gershkovich contributed reporting.
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