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| Donald Trump, Asia Argento, Simone Biles: Your Monday Briefing | Donald Trump, Asia Argento, Simone Biles: Your Monday Briefing |
| (about 2 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: |
| • That’s what President Trump’s lawyers were left wondering after The Times reported this weekend that Donald McGahn, the White House counsel, had cooperated extensively with the Russia investigation by Mr. Mueller, the special counsel. | • That’s what President Trump’s lawyers were left wondering after The Times reported this weekend that Donald McGahn, the White House counsel, had cooperated extensively with the Russia investigation by Mr. Mueller, the special counsel. |
| The president’s lawyers said on Sunday that they were confident that Mr. McGahn had said nothing harmful about the president during 30 hours of interviews that began in November. But they realized they hadn’t been given a full accounting of what Mr. McGahn had told investigators. | The president’s lawyers said on Sunday that they were confident that Mr. McGahn had said nothing harmful about the president during 30 hours of interviews that began in November. But they realized they hadn’t been given a full accounting of what Mr. McGahn had told investigators. |
| Mr. McGahn has repeatedly made clear to the president that his role as White House counsel is to protect the presidency, not Mr. Trump personally. People close to Mr. McGahn have said he fears that Mr. Trump will set him up to take the blame for any possible wrongdoing. | Mr. McGahn has repeatedly made clear to the president that his role as White House counsel is to protect the presidency, not Mr. Trump personally. People close to Mr. McGahn have said he fears that Mr. Trump will set him up to take the blame for any possible wrongdoing. |
| • Separately, prosecutors are said to be considering fraud charges against Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former personal lawyer. Investigators are focused on more than $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that Mr. Cohen and his family own. | • Separately, prosecutors are said to be considering fraud charges against Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former personal lawyer. Investigators are focused on more than $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that Mr. Cohen and his family own. |
| • The actress and director Asia Argento was among the first women in the movie business to publicly accuse the producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. | • The actress and director Asia Argento was among the first women in the movie business to publicly accuse the producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault. |
| But after her revelations about Mr. Weinstein in October, Ms. Argento quietly arranged to pay $380,000 to an actor and musician who said she sexually assaulted him years earlier in California, when he was 17 and she was 37. The state’s age of consent is 18. | But after her revelations about Mr. Weinstein in October, Ms. Argento quietly arranged to pay $380,000 to an actor and musician who said she sexually assaulted him years earlier in California, when he was 17 and she was 37. The state’s age of consent is 18. |
| The accusation by Jimmy Bennett, and the arrangement for payments, are laid out in documents between lawyers for Ms. Argento and Mr. Bennett that were sent to The Times. | The accusation by Jimmy Bennett, and the arrangement for payments, are laid out in documents between lawyers for Ms. Argento and Mr. Bennett that were sent to The Times. |
| • Three people familiar with the case said the documents were authentic. Ms. Argento and her representatives have not responded to multiple requests for comment. | • Three people familiar with the case said the documents were authentic. Ms. Argento and her representatives have not responded to multiple requests for comment. |
| • California is having one of its worst fire seasons ever, with one million acres burned so far this year. | • California is having one of its worst fire seasons ever, with one million acres burned so far this year. |
| Investigators are finding that the blazes almost always begin with a human, whether intentionally or by mistake. | Investigators are finding that the blazes almost always begin with a human, whether intentionally or by mistake. |
| • Many scientists say climate change and rapid development contribute to ever more destructive fires. But “95 percent of these fires are caused by humans, and they could have been prevented somehow,” a California official said. | • Many scientists say climate change and rapid development contribute to ever more destructive fires. But “95 percent of these fires are caused by humans, and they could have been prevented somehow,” a California official said. |
| • The North Korean leader said over the weekend that his people were engaged in “a do-or-die struggle” against “brigandish sanctions,” which he said were seriously hurting the economy. | • The North Korean leader said over the weekend that his people were engaged in “a do-or-die struggle” against “brigandish sanctions,” which he said were seriously hurting the economy. |
| Since late June, Mr. Kim has devoted almost all of his public appearances to visiting factories, farms and construction sites — rather than the military sites he inspected last year — and he has been calling out poor management. | Since late June, Mr. Kim has devoted almost all of his public appearances to visiting factories, farms and construction sites — rather than the military sites he inspected last year — and he has been calling out poor management. |
| • His message, experts say, is directed as much at the U.S. as at his own people, since his pledge to deliver economic prosperity depends on persuading Washington to ease sanctions. | • His message, experts say, is directed as much at the U.S. as at his own people, since his pledge to deliver economic prosperity depends on persuading Washington to ease sanctions. |
| • President Trump is expected to propose rolling back regulations on emissions from coal plants on Tuesday. We looked at the role of the top air pollution official at the Environmental Protection Agency, who once represented the industries that would stand to benefit from the change. | • President Trump is expected to propose rolling back regulations on emissions from coal plants on Tuesday. We looked at the role of the top air pollution official at the Environmental Protection Agency, who once represented the industries that would stand to benefit from the change. |
| • Greece officially ends a decade’s worth of bailouts today. Years after one of Europe’s biggest financial crises, over a third of the Greek population is in poverty, unemployment remains high, and wages have tumbled. | • Greece officially ends a decade’s worth of bailouts today. Years after one of Europe’s biggest financial crises, over a third of the Greek population is in poverty, unemployment remains high, and wages have tumbled. |
| • A woman’s lifelong earnings and how much she works are influenced by the levels of sexism in the state where she was born, new research shows. | • A woman’s lifelong earnings and how much she works are influenced by the levels of sexism in the state where she was born, new research shows. |
| • Netflix calls them promotional videos. Subscribers call them ads. | |
| • The U.S. is set to resume trade talks with China this week, one of the headlines to watch. | • The U.S. is set to resume trade talks with China this week, one of the headlines to watch. |
| • U.S. stocks were up on Friday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets today. | • U.S. stocks were up on Friday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets today. |
| Tips for a more fulfilling life. | Tips for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Finding it hard to focus? Maybe it’s not your fault. | • Finding it hard to focus? Maybe it’s not your fault. |
| • Think twice before you flush your disposable contacts. | • Think twice before you flush your disposable contacts. |
| • Recipe of the day: Herb and radish salad with feta is light and refreshing. | • Recipe of the day: Herb and radish salad with feta is light and refreshing. |
| • At least 12 people were killed after two earthquakes struck the Indonesian island of Lombok, just two weeks after an earthquake in the region killed at least 460 people. | • At least 12 people were killed after two earthquakes struck the Indonesian island of Lombok, just two weeks after an earthquake in the region killed at least 460 people. |
| • President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan proposed a conditional cease-fire with the Taliban during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha this week. | • President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan proposed a conditional cease-fire with the Taliban during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha this week. |
| A Times correspondent who has been reporting on Afghanistan since 1979 explained the long-running conflict. | A Times correspondent who has been reporting on Afghanistan since 1979 explained the long-running conflict. |
| • Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church faced their congregations for the first time since the release of the report that detailed 70 years of sexual abuse by hundreds of priests in Pennsylvania. | • Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church faced their congregations for the first time since the release of the report that detailed 70 years of sexual abuse by hundreds of priests in Pennsylvania. |
| • Rescue efforts are underway in the Indian state of Kerala, after the worst floods in nearly a century killed more than 300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. | • Rescue efforts are underway in the Indian state of Kerala, after the worst floods in nearly a century killed more than 300 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. |
| • At the U.S. gymnastics championship, Simone Biles, 21, became the oldest women’s all-around champion since 1971. | • At the U.S. gymnastics championship, Simone Biles, 21, became the oldest women’s all-around champion since 1971. |
| • “Crazy Rich Asians,” the first major Hollywood film in 25 years led by Asian stars, earned $25.2 million and the top spot at North American theaters. We spoke with Kevin Kwan, the author on whose best-selling novel the film is based. | • “Crazy Rich Asians,” the first major Hollywood film in 25 years led by Asian stars, earned $25.2 million and the top spot at North American theaters. We spoke with Kevin Kwan, the author on whose best-selling novel the film is based. |
| • In memoriam. | • In memoriam. |
| Kofi Annan, a soft-spoken diplomat from Ghana, redefined the United Nations as secretary general for 10 years and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He was 80. | Kofi Annan, a soft-spoken diplomat from Ghana, redefined the United Nations as secretary general for 10 years and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He was 80. |
| • Winter is coming … | • Winter is coming … |
| And that’s a relief for the residents of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Every summer, tourists and “Game of Thrones” fans overrun the ancient coastal city, which is the setting for the fictional King’s Landing on the hit HBO show. | And that’s a relief for the residents of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Every summer, tourists and “Game of Thrones” fans overrun the ancient coastal city, which is the setting for the fictional King’s Landing on the hit HBO show. |
| • For cleaner streets, fewer trash cans | • For cleaner streets, fewer trash cans |
| New York City’s Sanitation Department removes containers if they’re used for household or commercial trash, saying it cuts improper trash disposal. Residents say the policy has left a mess. | New York City’s Sanitation Department removes containers if they’re used for household or commercial trash, saying it cuts improper trash disposal. Residents say the policy has left a mess. |
| • Quotation of the day | • Quotation of the day |
| “Truth isn’t truth.” | “Truth isn’t truth.” |
| — Rudolph Giuliani, President Trump’s lawyer, explaining why he feared an interview with the special counsel, Robert Mueller, might be a “perjury trap” for Mr. Trump. | — Rudolph Giuliani, President Trump’s lawyer, explaining why he feared an interview with the special counsel, Robert Mueller, might be a “perjury trap” for Mr. Trump. |
| • The Times, in other words | • The Times, in other words |
| Here’s an image of today’s front page, and links to our Opinion content and crossword puzzles. | Here’s an image of today’s front page, and links to our Opinion content and crossword puzzles. |
| • What we’re reading | • What we’re reading |
| Michael Roston, a senior staff editor for Science, recommends this piece on Medium: “Lindsay Robertson’s series about taking responsibility for aging or ill parents is highly useful. Especially if you feel you’re just getting the hang of managing your own life. This entry, on final conversations with a dying parent, is moving, too.” | Michael Roston, a senior staff editor for Science, recommends this piece on Medium: “Lindsay Robertson’s series about taking responsibility for aging or ill parents is highly useful. Especially if you feel you’re just getting the hang of managing your own life. This entry, on final conversations with a dying parent, is moving, too.” |
| Chirping crickets. A baby cooing. Crashing waves. A greeting from President Jimmy Carter. | Chirping crickets. A baby cooing. Crashing waves. A greeting from President Jimmy Carter. |
| Those were some of the contents of the so-called Golden Record that was attached to NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, which was launched 41 years ago today to scout Jupiter and Saturn. Voyager 1, which launched on Sept. 5, 1977, carries a similar record. | Those were some of the contents of the so-called Golden Record that was attached to NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, which was launched 41 years ago today to scout Jupiter and Saturn. Voyager 1, which launched on Sept. 5, 1977, carries a similar record. |
| The spacecraft were to explore the outer solar system, but the records (made of gold-plated copper) also carried a message to any extraterrestrials that might find them: sounds and images that best represented humankind and life on Earth. In addition to sounds of nature, there were musical pieces and greetings in 55 languages. | |
| The astronomer Carl Sagan led the effort to compile the record, an ambitious process that was fraught with indecision. In addition to the technical issues of creating a record that could withstand the pressures of space, there was the philosophical burden of how to paint a picture of our planet. | The astronomer Carl Sagan led the effort to compile the record, an ambitious process that was fraught with indecision. In addition to the technical issues of creating a record that could withstand the pressures of space, there was the philosophical burden of how to paint a picture of our planet. |
| Voyagers 1 and 2 are now more than 11 billion miles from Earth, each carrying a record that Dr. Sagan called a “bottle in a cosmic ocean.” | Voyagers 1 and 2 are now more than 11 billion miles from Earth, each carrying a record that Dr. Sagan called a “bottle in a cosmic ocean.” |
| Alisha Haridasani Gupta wrote today’s Back Story. | Alisha Haridasani Gupta wrote today’s Back Story. |
| _____ | _____ |
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