WASHINGTONPOST (Tim Craig) - As local politicians face threats, the cost of security sparks debate
From hardened SUVs to home upgrades, officeholders are going to new lengths to protect themselves. The question is: Who pays?
WASHINGTONPOST (Cat Zakrzewski) - Trump is running out of options to contain gas price backlash
The rising cost of oil is becoming a major political concern for the White House, as the stalemate between President Donald Trump and Iran drags on.
REDSTATE (Adam Turner) - House Redistricting Strategery – the Endgame?
NPR (Kate Bartlett) - New Netflix documentary reexamines Winnie Mandela's divisive legacy
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is one of the most revered — and controversial — women in South African history. In a new documentary her granddaughters examine the liberation icon in all her complexity.
AXIOS (Dave Lawler) - The year that shook the Gulf
The United Arab Emirates is leaving OPEC . Saudi Arabia is ending its splashiest foreign sports venture. The two U.S. allies are in the midst of a messy divorce, even as both face fire from Iran . Why it matters: One year after President Trump's grand tour of the Gulf, the region's vision of a geopolitically stable post-oil future — powered by tourism, AI and American capital — has taken a major blow. - The trillions of dollars in investment pledges that Trump secured on his trip are in limbo. - So is the American "golden age" he claimed would be bankrolled in part with Gulf money. The big picture: Trump's trip may prove the high-water mark for the idea that the future of artificial intelligence, global investment and geopolitics…
NYTIMES (Stephen Castle) - A 5-Month Wait and a 50% Fail Rate: It’s Hard to Get a British Driving License
The average wait for a test in England and Scotland has hit 22 weeks, up from five weeks before the pandemic, leading to frustration and attempts to jump the line.
NYTIMES (Max Bearak and Adriana Loureiro Fernandez) - After Trump’s Ousting of Maduro, Little Has Changed for Most Venezuelans
U.S. officials say they will “unleash prosperity” by commandeering the oil industry. Many people in Caracas say it will take far more than that.
NYTIMES (David Peisner and Meghan Marin) - Ashley McBryde Saved Her Own Life. Now She’s Rocking Out Her Way.
The prolific country singer and songwriter has never quite fit the country music mold. Her upcoming album, “Wild,” revels in her individuality, and her sobriety.
NYTIMES (Emma G. Fitzsimmons and Asmaa Elkeurti) - Do Higher Taxes Drive the Rich Away? Mamdani’s Plan Revives the Question.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to raise income taxes on New York City’s millionaires. Tax increases elsewhere have not led to an exodus, but some worry the city is reaching a tipping point.
NYTIMES (Mihir Zaveri and Benjamin Oreskes) - Can a Second-Home Tax Work in New York? The Numbers Don’t Add Up Yet.
The tax proposal is being held up as a generational attempt to make the ultrawealthy pay more to society and potentially raise $500 million a year for New York City.