Today's Headlines: How the $1.8 Billion Trump Fund May Violate Past Practice and Policy
Justice Dept. Charges Former Cuban President in Fatal Downing of Planes
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines
May 21, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

How the $1.8 Billion Trump Fund May Violate Past Practice and Policy

The fund that could offer payouts to Trump allies who accuse the government of mistreatment is not only highly unusual but also appears to violate the administration’s own policies.

Justice Dept. Charges Former Cuban President in Fatal Downing of Planes

The indictment was an extraordinary escalation of the Trump administration’s multifaceted pressure campaign against Cuba’s Communist government.

Musk’s SpaceX Reveals Its Finances for the First Time

Mr. Musk’s rocket and satellite maker disclosed its financial performance as it prepares to go public in what is set to be one of the largest offerings to date.

World

Military Fraternity Running Iran Has Long History of Hard-Line Positions

Decision making in Iran is guided by a small group of men associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Efforts to Contain Ebola May Have Been Hindered by Lack of U.S. Involvement

Aid cuts by the Trump administration have shut down crucial disease surveillance networks and medical supply chains in East Africa.

Cuba Says It’s Ready to Negotiate

Cuba’s ambassador to the United Nations said in an interview that Havana wanted to talk but the Trump administration was creating pretexts for military action.

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U.S.

Harvard Caps A’s as Selective Colleges Attack Grade Inflation

Faculty members overwhelmingly approved a limit on the number of top grades they can give to about a fifth of their undergraduate classes.

He Was Jailed Over a Charlie Kirk Post. The Sheriff Now Owes Him $835,000.

Larry Bushart sued a Tennessee sheriff who claimed he wanted to incite hysteria with a post after Mr. Kirk’s killing and jailed him for 37 days.

Despite Problems, Boeing Sought Less Inspection of Part Involved in UPS Crash

The National Transportation Board has been investigating the cause behind a plane crash in Louisville, Ky., that killed 15 people last year.

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Politics

Colorado Governor Censured for Commuting Sentence of Election Denier

The Colorado State Democratic Party, reflecting the anger of rank-and-file Democratic voters, rebuked Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday over his decision to release Tina Peters from prison.

Trump Called Spencer Pratt ‘MAGA.’ That Could Doom Him in Liberal L.A.

Democrats have been trying to portray Mr. Pratt, a former reality TV star, as a MAGA Republican in the mayor’s race. President Trump just gave them a helping hand.

Trump’s Government Moves to Spare an Unhappy Taxpayer Named Trump

No president has ever used the federal government to advance his own personal interests and those of his family and allies as expansively and openly as Mr. Trump has.

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Business

China’s Housing Slump Shows Signs of Bottoming Out. We’ve Been Here Before.

Property prices in Shanghai, in particular, are rebounding, but the national market still faces an enormous overhang — 90 million empty or unfinished apartments.

Nvidia’s Profit Hits $58.3 Billion as A.I. Boom Gathers More Steam

The chip maker said its profit in its most recent quarter jumped 211 percent from a year earlier thanks to extreme demand from other big technology companies.

Jeff Bezos Praises Trump’s Second Term as ‘More Mature’

The Amazon founder and owner of The Washington Post also rejected the idea that he has made changes at his companies to gain favor with the president.

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Technology

OpenAI Prepares to File to Go Public in Coming Weeks

OpenAI would be one of the most highly anticipated potential initial public offerings, in what is set to be a major year of I.P.O.s for Silicon Valley.

Meta Lays Off 8,000 Employees, as A.I. Casualties Mount

Employees have signed petitions against being tracked by A.I. and were trying to figure out who had been let go on Wednesday, as the Silicon Valley giant tries to transform into an A.I.-first company.

Soundtrack to 8,000 Job Cuts: A Meta Worker’s Layoff-Themed A.I. Songs

On a dark day of layoffs at Meta, one employee responded by creating an internal radio station that plays songs about job cuts — generated by artificial intelligence, of course.

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New York

Mother Who Drowned 3 Children at Coney Island Is Sentenced to 20 Years

Erin Merdy, 34, pleaded guilty to murder in the 2022 killings of her children, ages 7, 4 and 3 months.

A May-December Romance for 2 Fifth Avenue Hawks

The last mate of Pale Male, a celebrity hawk, has returned to their Upper East Side address with a new partner, and a baby chick has been seen.

For Columbia’s Class of 2026, a Toasty Graduation Day Caps Years of Heat

They encountered demonstrations and ultimatums from the Trump administration. At Wednesday’s commencement, it was all about the sweltering weather.

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Arts

Was a Story That Just Won a Literary Prize A.I.-Generated?

A respected literary magazine has published an award-winning short story many readers believe to be generated by artificial intelligence. Experts aren’t all so sure.

An Artist Re-Examines Her Catholic Upbringing

In a major new solo show, Michaela Yearwood-Dan’s kaleidoscopic paintings blend religious references with lines from her own diary.