August 26, 2026, 4:50 p.m. Eastern time

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This newsletter includes coverage you might be interested in, based on what you've read. It might also include stories that are local to you.

Today's Top Pick for You

Anna Rose Layden for The New York Times At Trump’s IndyCar Race, a V.I.P. Invitation Became a Diplomatic Snub Foreign ambassadors were promised free food and drinks, misting fans and shaded seats during the event. Then some of them were uninvited. Read more

Personal profiles

‘It’s Bonkers’: Jennifer Hegseth’s Hands-On Role in Her Husband’s Pentagon After an 18-year career at Fox News, she is now her husband’s most influential adviser and de facto producer, shaping the job as no Pentagon spouse has before.

She Wrote About Other People’s Sex Lives, Then Wrote a Movie Based on Her Own Karley Sciortino’s story of an erotic discovery became the basis for a film starring Olivia Wilde — updated with a Gen Z twist.

Dolly Parton Had the Voice, and Concerns, of an Earth Angel Parton gave hopeful expression to songs she wrote about the hard times and hard-won triumphs of her life.

A Charming Farmhouse Kitchen Is a Celebration of Craft Eny Lee Parker and Soren Ferguson brought an 1870s farmhouse in Connecticut back to life using scraps from its past.

U.S. Citizen Who Deleted Phone’s Data Says His Prosecution Puts Privacy at Risk Samuel Tunick, who faces a felony charge for deleting his phone’s data during an airport customs search, called the government’s peering into people’s private lives “creepy.”

Tomorrow: From Health
Every day we'll feature stories from a different section. Check back daily.

More to discover

Can ‘Lymphatic Workouts’ Really Help With Bloating or Swelling? Some influencers promote specific exercise routines, like walking or jumping, to reduce puffiness. Here’s what to know.

Fetterman’s Popularity With Republicans Surges as He Angers the Left, Poll Finds Pennsylvania Republicans now view John Fetterman, the state’s Democratic senator, more favorably than its sitting G.O.P. senator, a New York Times/Philadelphia Inquirer/Siena poll found.

Which States Vote by Mail the Most? Nearly 30 percent of voters nationwide use mail ballots. President Trump is seeking greater federal control of mail voting.

Conservative Gay Rights Group Ends Support for Trans Causes The Log Cabin Republicans, which is dedicated to gay causes, says that trans rights advocates focus too much on minors.

Silence, Wolves and the Wild East: Hiking in Portugal’s Côa Valley A trek in a remote corner of the Iberian Peninsula brought a writer face-to-face with ancient oaks, rewilding efforts and prehistoric cave art.

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