Today's Headlines: On Iran, Gabbard Turned Intelligence Duties Over to Trump
Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines

March 19, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

On Iran, Gabbard Turned Intelligence Duties Over to Trump

Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, was left to square the president’s comments about an imminent nuclear threat from Iran with a letter from one of her trusted aides.

Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years

An investigation by The New York Times found extensive evidence that the United Farm Workers co-founder groomed and sexually abused girls who worked in the movement.

Trump’s Homeland Security Pick Says He’d End Policy That Slowed Disaster Aid

The president’s nominee, Markwayne Mullin, said he would avoid “micromanaging” FEMA.

World

In Some Areas of Germany, the Far Right Is Part of the Fabric

The Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, is shunned in federal politics but is a regional force. This fall, it could win broader power for the first time.

Palestinian Man Recounts Brutal Sexual Assault by Israeli Settlers

The man said his attackers stripped him naked, beat him and zip-tied his genitalia, an account corroborated by family members and a rights activist who were also beaten.

The Tropical St. Patrick’s Day That Honors African History

Montserrat treats the holiday as both a national celebration and a more somber milestone: a commemoration of a failed slave rebellion.

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U.S.

F.A.A. Ends Use of ‘See and Avoid’ for Helicopters Near Busy Airports

The notice suspends the practice of allowing helicopter pilots to rely on visual separation to avoid striking other aircraft, as happened during last year’s deadly midair collision in Washington.

Joseph Duggar of ‘19 Kids and Counting’ Faces Child Sex Abuse Charges

Mr. Duggar, a former star of the TLC reality show, was arrested in Arkansas and was awaiting extradition to Florida, where the authorities said he molested a 9-year-old girl in 2020.

Family of Minneapolis Boy Detained by ICE Faces Fast-Track Deportation

The family of 5-year-old Liam Conejos Ramos, who became a symbol of Trump’s immigration crackdown, is appealing their accelerated removal.

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Politics

Bondi Doesn’t Commit to Deposition With House Panel Over Epstein Files

Under the rules of the oversight committee, Attorney General Pam Bondi received a subpoena requiring her to appear. The panel’s Republican chairman said he sent the summons reluctantly.

Following Trump, Republicans in Congress Propose to Ban Most Voting by Mail

A restrictive voter I.D. bill under consideration in the Senate could severely limit mail-in voting. Conservatives are pressing to end the practice outright, taking aim at an option that is widely used by voters.

F.B.I. Investigates Joe Kent, Whose Resignation Over Iran War Angered Trump

Mr. Kent is under investigation for a possible intelligence leak, according to people familiar with the situation. The inquiry is said to predate his resignation this week as the top U.S. counterterrorism official.

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Business

Fed Holds Rates Steady as War in Iran Upends the Economic Outlook

Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, emphasized the high degree of uncertainty stemming from the conflict as he acknowledged the potential for surging energy prices to lift inflation and dent growth.

Powell Says He Will Remain as Fed Chair Until Successor Is Confirmed

Jerome H. Powell, who leads the central bank, also said he would not leave the Fed until a criminal investigation into his handling of renovations was over.

Why Tech Giants Are Ditching the Power Grid

Seeking power for data centers, Meta and other companies plan to use equipment that is expensive and polluting.

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Technology

Silicon Valley Musters Behind-the-Scenes Support for Anthropic

Tech companies have been reluctant to directly confront Trump administration officials over their contract feud with the A.I. start-up.

Google Sits Pretty as A.I. Rivals Compete for Pentagon Favor

The tech giant has been rebuilding its relationship with the Defense Department and is poised to benefit as it sidesteps competitors’ controversies.

The Cost of the A.I. Boom: A Trade Deficit the President Detests

A recent surge of A.I.-related imports has become an impediment to the smaller trade deficit President Trump wants.

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New York

He Tried to Rob 6 Banks, Police Say. His Total Takings: $605.

A man is accused of handing tellers notes, demanding money at six Chase branches in five days. In three of the attempts, he left empty-handed.

N.Y.C. Teacher Is Accused of Having Child Sex Abuse Images and Meth Pipe

The teacher, Joseph Taylor McKeel, was arrested Wednesday morning as he was on his way to work.

After Vowing to Overhaul 911 Response, Mamdani Takes Cautious First Step

Mayor Zohran Mamdani is creating a Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, a pared-down version of a major campaign pledge with a smaller budget than promised.

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Arts

A Peek Into Trump’s Planning of America’s 250th Suggests a Religious Focus

A closed-door White House event included news about the National Garden of American Heroes and an emphasis on the role of religion in the founding.