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| Tax Plan, Amtrak, John Skipper: Your Tuesday Briefing | Tax Plan, Amtrak, John Skipper: Your Tuesday Briefing |
| (about 4 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. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • Vice President Mike Pence is postponing a long-planned trip to the Middle East to see the Republican tax overhaul “through to the finish line,” an aide said. (He also wants to be in place in case a tiebreaking vote is needed in the Senate.) | |
| The House is expected to take up the $1.5 trillion measure today. We’ll be tracking the vote as it happens. | The House is expected to take up the $1.5 trillion measure today. We’ll be tracking the vote as it happens. |
| Here’s a look at what’s in the final bill, and a calculator to help you determine how your taxes might change. | Here’s a look at what’s in the final bill, and a calculator to help you determine how your taxes might change. |
| • Ever felt sorry for the I.R.S.? (No, really.) Now might be the time. | • Ever felt sorry for the I.R.S.? (No, really.) Now might be the time. |
| • An Amtrak train that jumped the tracks south of Tacoma, Wash., was traveling 80 miles an hour in a 30 m.p.h. zone, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday night. | • An Amtrak train that jumped the tracks south of Tacoma, Wash., was traveling 80 miles an hour in a 30 m.p.h. zone, the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday night. |
| At least three people were killed and about 100 others injured as rail cars slammed into a busy highway. | At least three people were killed and about 100 others injured as rail cars slammed into a busy highway. |
| • The train was on the first run of a new service from Seattle to Portland, Ore. It was unclear whether technology that automatically slows trains if they exceed speed limits or approach dangerous conditions was in use. | • The train was on the first run of a new service from Seattle to Portland, Ore. It was unclear whether technology that automatically slows trains if they exceed speed limits or approach dangerous conditions was in use. |
| • President Trump used a campaignlike address on Monday to outline his strategy to protect the nation, calling again for a border wall with Mexico and praising the state of the economy. | • President Trump used a campaignlike address on Monday to outline his strategy to protect the nation, calling again for a border wall with Mexico and praising the state of the economy. |
| Warning of rising threats from China and Russia, he presented a plan that hints at a Cold War view of the world. Our correspondents note that the strategy “is animated by a single idea: that the world has been on a three-decade holiday from superpower rivalry; and it suggests that that holiday is now over.” | Warning of rising threats from China and Russia, he presented a plan that hints at a Cold War view of the world. Our correspondents note that the strategy “is animated by a single idea: that the world has been on a three-decade holiday from superpower rivalry; and it suggests that that holiday is now over.” |
| “America is in the game, and America is going to win,” Mr. Trump said. We assessed some of his claims. | “America is in the game, and America is going to win,” Mr. Trump said. We assessed some of his claims. |
| • Separately, the U.S. formally accused North Korea of being behind the cyberattack that placed ransomware on computers around the world and that briefly paralyzed the British health care system. | • Separately, the U.S. formally accused North Korea of being behind the cyberattack that placed ransomware on computers around the world and that briefly paralyzed the British health care system. |
| • A Republican research group has requested the emails of Environmental Protection Agency employees who criticized the organization or who mentioned its administrator, Scott Pruitt, or President Trump. | • A Republican research group has requested the emails of Environmental Protection Agency employees who criticized the organization or who mentioned its administrator, Scott Pruitt, or President Trump. |
| Now, the agency has hired a company to provide “media monitoring” of stories about E.P.A. operations. | Now, the agency has hired a company to provide “media monitoring” of stories about E.P.A. operations. |
| • The moves have created a wave of fear at the agency: “This is a witch hunt against E.P.A. employees, who are only trying to protect human health and the environment,” one worker in Philadelphia said. | • The moves have created a wave of fear at the agency: “This is a witch hunt against E.P.A. employees, who are only trying to protect human health and the environment,” one worker in Philadelphia said. |
| • Electric vehicles still have a tiny share of the market, but the auto industry is betting billions that they will soon be as cheap as conventional cars. | • Electric vehicles still have a tiny share of the market, but the auto industry is betting billions that they will soon be as cheap as conventional cars. |
| • Those who rely on tips are among the casualties of an increasingly cashless society. | • Those who rely on tips are among the casualties of an increasingly cashless society. |
| • The president of ESPN, John Skipper, announced his resignation on Monday, citing a “substance addiction” of “many years.” | • The president of ESPN, John Skipper, announced his resignation on Monday, citing a “substance addiction” of “many years.” |
| • U.S. stocks were up on Monday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were up on Monday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Don’t waste your time with bad resolutions. Do them right. | • Don’t waste your time with bad resolutions. Do them right. |
| • Save a bundle on your prescription drugs. | • Save a bundle on your prescription drugs. |
| • Recipe of the day: How about smashed cucumbers with sesame oil and garlic, alongside takeout-style sesame noodles? | • Recipe of the day: How about smashed cucumbers with sesame oil and garlic, alongside takeout-style sesame noodles? |
| • Dancing down the years. | • Dancing down the years. |
| Today’s 360 video is the first in a series in which dancers of retirement age reflect on why they’re still practicing. At 79, Gus Solomons Jr. said, “I am playing the instrument as hard as it can be played.” | Today’s 360 video is the first in a series in which dancers of retirement age reflect on why they’re still practicing. At 79, Gus Solomons Jr. said, “I am playing the instrument as hard as it can be played.” |
| • Partisan writing you shouldn’t miss. | • Partisan writing you shouldn’t miss. |
| Writers from across the political spectrum discuss the investigation by Robert Mueller, the special counsel. | Writers from across the political spectrum discuss the investigation by Robert Mueller, the special counsel. |
| • 19 acts of heroism in 2017. | • 19 acts of heroism in 2017. |
| Many unheralded moments of courage, altruism and sacrifice lurk behind news stories. Here are some of our favorites. | Many unheralded moments of courage, altruism and sacrifice lurk behind news stories. Here are some of our favorites. |
| • A museum’s hard truths. | • A museum’s hard truths. |
| The new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum refuses to sugarcoat history. The results are riveting, our reviewer writes. | The new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum refuses to sugarcoat history. The results are riveting, our reviewer writes. |
| • Critics loved “The Last Jedi.” | • Critics loved “The Last Jedi.” |
| “Star Wars” fans, less so. (Spoilers ahead!) | “Star Wars” fans, less so. (Spoilers ahead!) |
| • Best of late-night TV. | • Best of late-night TV. |
| Trevor Noah looked back at 2017 in a year-end edition of “The Daily Show”: “Every day I wake up terrified at the notion that he’s president of the most powerful nation in the world, but I must admit, every day I also wake up knowing he’s going to make me laugh.” | Trevor Noah looked back at 2017 in a year-end edition of “The Daily Show”: “Every day I wake up terrified at the notion that he’s president of the most powerful nation in the world, but I must admit, every day I also wake up knowing he’s going to make me laugh.” |
| • Quotation of the day. | • Quotation of the day. |
| “Just because you’ve seen ‘My Cousin Vinny’ doesn’t qualify you to be a federal judge.” | “Just because you’ve seen ‘My Cousin Vinny’ doesn’t qualify you to be a federal judge.” |
| — Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, after video of him grilling a nominee for the federal bench last week spread online. The nominee, Matthew Petersen, was unable to answer many of the senator’s questions and withdrew his nomination over the weekend. | — Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, after video of him grilling a nominee for the federal bench last week spread online. The nominee, Matthew Petersen, was unable to answer many of the senator’s questions and withdrew his nomination over the weekend. |
| The National Hockey League wrapped up a yearlong celebration of its 100th anniversary on Saturday with an outdoor game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators. | The National Hockey League wrapped up a yearlong celebration of its 100th anniversary on Saturday with an outdoor game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators. |
| It commemorated a matchup between the teams on this day in 1917, when the first games in the league’s history were played. On the same night, the Canadiens beat the Senators, 7-4, and the Montreal Wanderers defeated the Toronto Arenas, 10-9. | It commemorated a matchup between the teams on this day in 1917, when the first games in the league’s history were played. On the same night, the Canadiens beat the Senators, 7-4, and the Montreal Wanderers defeated the Toronto Arenas, 10-9. |
| Now with 31 teams from South Florida to Vancouver, the N.H.L. started with four Canadian teams spread over less than 350 miles. The league was founded in a Montreal hotel in late November 1917, in the thick of World War I, when professional hockey was still fairly new. | Now with 31 teams from South Florida to Vancouver, the N.H.L. started with four Canadian teams spread over less than 350 miles. The league was founded in a Montreal hotel in late November 1917, in the thick of World War I, when professional hockey was still fairly new. |
| The Canadiens are now one of North America’s oldest professional sports franchises. The Arenas eventually became the Maple Leafs. And although the original Senators folded in 1934, the franchise returned as an expansion team in 1992. | The Canadiens are now one of North America’s oldest professional sports franchises. The Arenas eventually became the Maple Leafs. And although the original Senators folded in 1934, the franchise returned as an expansion team in 1992. |
| But the Wanderers are a blip in N.H.L. history. Their victory on opening night was their only win in the league. They lost their next five games and quit the league after their arena burned down on Jan. 2, 1918. | But the Wanderers are a blip in N.H.L. history. Their victory on opening night was their only win in the league. They lost their next five games and quit the league after their arena burned down on Jan. 2, 1918. |
| Naila-Jean Meyers contributed reporting. | Naila-Jean Meyers contributed reporting. |
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| Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated all morning. Browse past briefings here. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated all morning. Browse past briefings here. |
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