Edition: U.S. / Global

Monday, April 6, 2015

Politics

President Obama in an interview Saturday at the White House. The president emphasized to Israel that “we’ve got their backs.”
Todd Heisler/The New York Times

President Obama in an interview Saturday at the White House. The president emphasized to Israel that “we’ve got their backs.”

In an interview, President Obama called last week’s preliminary agreement a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to curb the spread of nuclear weapons in a dangerous region while reassuring critics.

Diplomatic Memo

Outline of Iran Nuclear Deal Sounds Different From Each Side

A review of the statements released by the United States and Iran shows some significant divisions over the terms of the accord.

Supporters of the challenger, Jesus G. Garcia, known as Chuy, at a rally in a Chicago church on Saturday. A runoff election is to be held Tuesday.
Joshua Lott for The New York Times

Supporters of the challenger, Jesus G. Garcia, known as Chuy, at a rally in a Chicago church on Saturday. A runoff election is to be held Tuesday.

Labor is vital to the chances of Jesus G. Garcia in Tuesday’s runoff. But Mayor Rahm Emanuel is receiving a surprisingly solid amount of union support.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Raises Partisanship Concerns

Ahead of the vote on Tuesday, out-of-state money has poured in, and harsh advertisements have filled the airwaves.

Istanbul Journal

Old Haunt of U.S. Spies Becomes a Playground for Istanbul’s Elite

The United States has become the landlord to the private club empire Soho House, as part of a deal initially intended to keep a historic building as a space to foster relations with the Middle East.

G.O.P.’s Israel Support Deepens as Political Contributions Shift

Republicans are more fervently pro-Israel than ever, partly a result of ideology, but also a product of a surge in campaign spending on their behalf by a small group of wealthy donors.

Jeb Bush as Inevitable Choice? Republicans Say Not So Fast

Three months into what allies once called a “shock and awe” drive to dominate the Republican presidential field, Jeb Bush’s early campaigning looks like the juggernaut that wasn’t.

Business Owners in Brooklyn Heights Start Subtle Lobbying of Clinton Campaign

As the presumptive Democratic candidate for president moves into Brooklyn Heights, the neighborhood merchants are rolling out the welcome mat.

Washington Governor Puts Focus on Climate Goals, and Less on Debate

Working quietly, Gov. Jay Inslee is promoting an unusual plan to levy fees on carbon emissions and use the money for education and transportation.

Election in Scarred Ferguson Carries Hope of ‘New Tomorrow’

Activists in Ferguson, Mo., are looking to City Council elections on Tuesday to change the face of the mostly black city’s predominantly white political leadership.

Obama Ventures Into Red States to Pitch His Economic Goals

The president stuck to less polarizing themes like job training during stops in Kentucky and Utah, the latest of several Republican-leaning states he has recently visited.

News Analysis

A Foreign Policy Gamble by Obama at a Moment of Truth

For a president whose ambitions to remake the world have been repeatedly frustrated, the possibility of a deal with Iran seems within reach, though critics worry that he is giving up too much.

Senator Robert Menendez, second from right, arrived at federal court on Thursday in Newark.
John Minchillo/Associated Press

Senator Robert Menendez, second from right, arrived at federal court on Thursday in Newark.

The indictment of Senator Menendez is the first significant corruption case since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which loosened restrictions on campaign contributions.

Senator Menendez Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Accusations

Mr. Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, appeared in federal court on the day after he was accused of exploiting his political influence.

Political Memo

Parties Trade Places in Culture Wars Over Rights Measures

After years of enduring Republican attacks on social issues, the Democrats have the upper hand for a change.

Harry Reid Hopes to Ensure Democrats’ Success as Tenure Winds Down

The Senate minority leader, who announced his retirement last week, vowed to deploy all of his resources to make sure Democrats hold on to his seat.

A Base in Texas Is No Guarantee of Lone Star Status for Ted Cruz

It remains to be seen is whether Senator Ted Cruz can translate his popularity into votes when Texas holds its presidential primary.

The Upshot

In a Short Time, Ted Cruz Has Raised Big Money From Small Donors

Early strength in large numbers of people giving small amounts bolsters his grass-roots credentials. The question is, can he maintain this pattern?

Religion Laws Quickly Fall Into Retreat in Indiana and Arkansas

After Indiana changed what was billed as a religious freedom law to say it would not authorize discrimination, Christian conservatives lamented the setback to their cause.

Indiana and Arkansas Revise Rights Bills, Seeking to Remove Divisive Parts

Lawmakers in the two states changed bills promoted as religious freedom measures and criticized as anti-gay, to remove the most contentious language, though in different ways.

Q&A

Context for the Debate on ‘Religious Freedom’ Measures in Indiana and Arkansas

Legislation in Arkansas and Indiana has caused a firestorm and also confusion, as the meaning and potential impacts of the laws have changed over time.

Chicago’s Odd Couple: Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a Billionaire Republican Investor

Mr. Emanuel’s challenger, Jesús Garcia, is raising questions about the Democratic Chicago mayor’s top supporter, Kenneth Griffin, a Reagan-Republican billionaire.

First Draft

Senator Kirk Adds Another Republican Vote for Lynch for Attorney General

Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois announced that he would vote to confirm Loretta E. Lynch as the next attorney general, meaning she almost certainly has the votes needed for confirmation.

Rhode Island Settles Lawsuit on Union Pension Overhaul

Six of the nine unions that sued over the state’s 2011 pension system overhaul agreed to the tentative settlement, which affects 59,000 current and past workers.

John Paul Hammerschmidt, 92, Dies; Congressman Defeated Clinton

Mr. Hammerschmidt won his first race for Congress in 1966, making him the first Republican in Arkansas to win a federal election in the 20th century.

Hillary Clinton Joins Chirlane McCray to Promote Child Care Effort in New York

They jointly announced the “Talk to Your Baby” campaign, a public awareness push to increase cognitive development in young children.

Former I.R.S. Official Won’t Be Charged for Refusing to Testify

Federal prosecutors said they did not agree with House Republicans’ claims that Lois Lerner had waived her Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate herself at hearings on the agency’s treatment of conservative groups.

Obama Expands Options for Retaliating Against Foreign Hackers

President Obama signed an executive order that would impose financial and travel sanctions against foreign-based hackers targeting the United States.

Trucking and Rail Industries Turn State Troopers Into Unwitting Lobbyists

A proposal to allow bigger trucks on highways, which could be costly to railroads, has put law enforcement officers at the forefront of a safety debate.

Scott Walker, Allergic to Dogs, May Run Against Political History

In his likely candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, Gov. Walker of Wisconsin faces a different sort of constitutional challenge: overcoming his aversion to man’s best friend.

Campaign Finance Complaints Filed Against 4 Presidential Hopefuls

Two groups said Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Rick Santorum and Martin O’Malley violated rules for undeclared candidates.

The Opinion Pages
Editorial

Justice Kennedy’s Plea to Congress

In a recent hearing, he was right to remind lawmakers of America’s “broken” criminal justice system.

Opinion

Let Prisoners Take College Courses

We watch TV for hours, but crave education.

Who Is Running for President (and Who’s Not)?

At least a dozen Republicans and a handful of Democrats have expressed an interest in running for their party’s 2016 presidential nomination.

Letter From Washington

Gay Rights Still an Issue for G.O.P. Base

Heading into a presidential election, the powerful conservative right can be expected to set litmus tests for Republican candidates, Albert R. Hunt writes.

This Woman’s Job Is to Recast Hillary Clinton’s Image

Can Kristina Schake help Hillary Rodham Clinton come across as more than “likable enough”?

Economic Scene
The False Hope of a Limited Government, Built on Tax Breaks

Protected from democratic accountability, the government developed into a Rube Goldberg contraption that has a weak claim to a defensible social purpose.

White House Memo
Wanted at the White House: A Fence That Says Halt! (With Curb Appeal)

As the White House fence is altered to boost security, the Secret Service must balance a design that thwarts intruders but that doesn’t introduce a prison or Soviet style.

From the Magazine
Talk
Tom Cotton Is Not Mailing It In

The junior Arkansas senator talks about his time at Harvard, enjoying a daily slice of birthday cake and that open letter to Iranian mullahs.

The Upshot

The House Democrats Who Are Voting With Republicans More Often

A small group of representatives is distancing itself from its own party,

The C.I.A. Interrogations

Graphic: 7 Key Points From the C.I.A. Torture Report

Among the report’s findings: The C.I.A.’s interrogation techniques were more brutal and the number of detainees higher than the agency portrayed.

Graphic: Does Torture Work? The C.I.A.’s Claims and What the Committee Found

The report undercut the C.I.A.’s claims that its tactics thwarted plots and led to the capture of terrorists.

Is the Affordable Care Act Working?

A year after it was fully in place, the Affordable Care Act has largely succeeded in delivering on President Obama’s main promises, even as it fell short in some ways and gave birth to a new and powerful conservative movement.

A Perfect Fit for Some, but Not Others

For the past year, The New York Times has asked readers to share their experiences purchasing and using health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Here is a selection of their stories.