Republicans, Mika Brzezinski, Trump: Your Weekend Briefing – New York Times
Their bills projected plummet in Medicaid spending isnt helping matters for G.O.P. leaders. Even a proposal for $45 billion to fight opioid abuse is under fire, as addiction specialists say its simply not enough to counter the cuts.
Dean Heller, above, the Republican senator from Nevada who denounced his partys bill, is facing the wrath of Las Vegas titans and the states rank and file.
____
3. Newly unfettered by the Supreme Court, the Trump administration swiftly enacted portions of its travel ban, which bars entry to the U.S. by refugees and visitors from six predominantly Muslim countries. Heres who can get in, and who cant.
The court will hear arguments on the travel ban in October.
____
4. In a meeting on Miami Beach, where fighting rising seas is now routine, American mayors called on President Trump and Congress to rejoin the Paris climate accord, and they doubled down on their own efforts to combat climate change and commit to renewable energy.
According to a new study, Southern states will be hardest hit by global warming.
____
5. Combating climate change and bolstering international institutions are priorities as Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, above, prepares to host a G-20 summit meeting beginning Friday. She has her sights set on President Trump, predicting very difficult talks.
Mr. Trump will meet with Vladimir V. Putin on the sidelines. The White House wouldnt say whether Mr. Trump would press him on Russias meddling in last years election.
There was, however, some action on the election: A White House commission set up to examine unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud set off bipartisan furor with a sweeping request for the personal and public data of the nations 200 million voters. Many states said no.
____
6. Questions about President Trumps priorities grew pointed after a particularly crude explosion on Twitter.
Rebukes abounded, even in media usually friendly to Mr. Trump, after he lashed out at the often critical co-hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe, above, bashing Mika Brzezinskis appearance and intellect and calling Joe Scarborough psycho. The co-hosts then said the White House had told them that The National Enquirer would quash a story about their romantic relationship if they apologized to the president for criticizing him.
Our media columnist took the fracas as proof of TVs iron grip on the president.
____
7. Doctors and hospital staff moved quickly and worked furiously to help those shot during a rampage at a New York hospital on Friday. Had the injured not been treated where they fell, they might not have lived.
Six people were wounded and one doctor was killed before the gunman, a disgruntled doctor, committed suicide.
And a shooting at a nightclub in Little Rock, Ark., early Saturday left at least 25 people with gunshot wounds; all are expected to survive. The police said it appeared to be the result of a dispute.
Above, the scene in New York.
____
8. Disclosures that a venture capitalist, Justin Caldbeck, had preyed on female entrepreneurs prompted more than two dozen women to speak to our tech reporter about being sexually harassed by investors and mentors.
Ten named the investors involved, often providing corroborating messages and emails.
For instance, this Facebook message: I was getting confused figuring out whether to hire you or hit on you.
____
9. Turning our attention upward, a new initiative to beam messages into space may be our best shot yet at learning whether were alone in the universe.
But if were not, theres an important consideration. As Stephen Hawking once said, If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America.
Above, the astronomer Frank Drake at the Green Bank observatory in West Virginia in the 1960s.
____
10. Back down on Earth, Hong Kong also observed a major anniversary: the 20th of the territorys return from British rule.
President Xi Jinpings speech underscored Chinas tightening grip, and it came as mainland authorities refused to allow the democracy advocate Liu Xiaobo, a Nobel Peace laureate paroled from prison for cancer treatment, to go abroad for care, despite appeals to Mr. Xi, above, from dozens of prominent writers.
And China reacted with fury over the U.S. decision to sell $1.4 billion in arms to Taiwan, which one Chinese official said contradicted President Trumps agreements with Mr. Xi.
____
11. Bankers and economists are increasingly discussing whether artificial intelligence could permanently eliminate huge numbers of jobs.
The U.S. jobs numbers for June come out Friday. In the previous report, unemployment was at a 16-year low, but with stubborn weak spots, like lagging wage growth and a shrinking labor force.
____
12. Finally, welcome to Broadways biggest night for teenagers.
More than 70 of the countrys most talented theatrical hopefuls took the stage last week for the Jimmy Awards, the Tonys for teens. They warbled, kicked and smiled until their faces hurt, vying for scholarships, cash prizes, and maybe even the eye of a Broadway casting director.
We also went behind the scenes at the Met Opera just before a show, a wondrous maze. Here are the 12 rooms youll probably never see otherwise, featuring Misty Copeland, Toscaninis head, wigs, harps and a snow yak.
Have a great week.
_____
Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help.
Your Weekend Briefing is published Sundays at 6 a.m. Eastern.
And dont miss Your Morning Briefing, weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern, and Your Evening Briefing, weeknights at 6 p.m. Eastern.
Want to look back? Heres Fridays Evening Briefing.
What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com.
Original post:
Republicans, Mika Brzezinski, Trump: Your Weekend Briefing - New York Times
- Republicans cant stop doing the one thing they should fear most - vox.com - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Texas loss delivers stark warning to Republicans in critical election year - BBC - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Five Reasons Republicans Are Worried About This Texas State Senate Race - The Wall Street Journal - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- With an ACA fix uncertain in the Senate, Republicans replay old health care fights - NPR - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Texas Republicans shift messaging around ICE tactics amid election-year risks - Houston Public Media - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Trump urges House Republicans, Democrats to work together to end shutdown - The Hill - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Why some Republicans rediscovered their love of court packing - MS NOW - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Trumps Remarks That Republicans Should Take Over Voting Raises Concerns - Newsweek - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- House Republicans rake in funds as they seek to stave off midterm headwinds - Politico - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- How Republicans are responding to a Democrat winning a Texas election - Newsweek - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Texas bruising sends Republicans a message theyd better take to heart - New York Post - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Republicans play a numbers game in the House, and the number of the moment is 53 - Maryland Matters - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Senate Republicans try to regain footing on immigration after Minneapolis blowback - The Hill - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Are Republicans Headed for Texas-Sized Trouble This Fall? - FITSNews - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Johnson: Republicans OPEN To ICE Reforms As DHS Funding Feud Fuels Government Shutdown | TRENDING - NEWS10 ABC - February 2nd, 2026 [February 2nd, 2026]
- Republicans Struggle to Respond to Shooting, Reflecting Political Peril - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Disturbed and deeply concerning: Even Republicans want answers on the Minneapolis shooting - MS NOW - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Pence And Other Republicans Break With Trump Over Pretti Death: Deeply Troubling - Forbes - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Chaos, Candidates, and the Fight for Texas Republicans - houstonpublicmedia.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Morrow County Republicans call on Rep. Greg Smith to resign over ethics - salemreporter.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Wont Split the DHS Funding Bill as a Partial Shutdown Grows Likelier - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Some Republicans call for investigation after fatal shooting in Minneapolis - mprnews.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - sfchronicle.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Why Is the Press Treating Republicans Like Toddlers After Their Agents Killed an American Nurse? - Zeteo | Substack - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Why Republicans invented the myth of voter fraud to justify laws that keep American citizens from voting - milwaukeeindependent.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- ICE killings a watershed moment: Trump, Republicans risk breaking with the American people - France 24 - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans Ignore Democrats Demands on DHS Funding - NOTUS News of the United States - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- More Republicans call for investigation after Minneapolis shooting as it happened - The Guardian - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Native Americans Are Getting Swept Up by ICE; Republicans Say There Will be Mistakes - oklahomawatch.org - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Republicans appeal decision that threw out NYC's only GOP-controlled House district - lufkindailynews.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Are Republicans Growing a Little Uneasy About the ICE Raids? - The New York Times - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans move forward with plans for a midterm convention featuring Trump - CNN - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Johnson warns House Republicans to stay healthy as GOP majority shrinks to the edge - Fox News - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Georgia Republicans are Putting Themselves on the Path to Income Tax Elimination - Americans for Tax Reform - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats are crushing Republicans in this new poll, and Trumps approval numbers tell the whole story - oregonlive.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- This Week, Republicans Showed Us Who Theyre Really Working For: Anti-Abortion Extremists - Reproductive Freedom for All - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans narrowly fend off bid to limit Trump on Venezuela - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans fuss over name calling while ICE wreaks havoc - mainebeacon.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Assembly Republicans approve stewardship reauthorization, with less money and more oversight - wpr.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans tried to snag Jack Smith on technicalities. But they didnt engage with the facts. - Politico - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Republicans tax cuts, election reform, and more - alohastatedaily.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Michigan House Republicans threaten judicial funding over proposed court rule on ICE arrests - michiganadvance.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Republicans holding midterm convention this year | Campaign News | 2news.com - 2news.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Maine Republicans call for investigation into DHHS over claims of MaineCare fraud - wgme.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Tennessee Republicans want a Houston-style takeover of Memphis schools. What does that mean? - Chalkbeat - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Louisville Republicans hope to gain Metro Council majority for the first time - lpm.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Jack Smith to defend Trump investigations to House Republicans - opb.org - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Democrats leave Jack Smith hearing thrilled and frankly stunned Republicans let him testify - MS NOW - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- House Republicans vote to lift 20-year ban on mining near pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area - wcax.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- A Better Wisconsin Together: Wisconsin Republicans couldve helped lower your property taxes this week. They didnt. - wispolitics.com - January 24th, 2026 [January 24th, 2026]
- Why Are Republicans in Congress Sticking With Trump on Greenland? The Numbers Tell the Story. - Cook Political Report - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Opinion | Brett Kavanaugh reminds Republicans: What goes around comes around - The Washington Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Video Republicans cut Greenland-shaped cake with American flag at Kennedy Center party - ABC News - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans will be hard-pressed to pass Trumps Great Healthcare Plan - Politico - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- State officials say Republicans SNAP changes are running the program into the ground - signalohio.org - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- More than 60 West Texas Republicans endorse Cornyn for reelection - oaoa.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans Cut Into Greenland Cake in Shocking Kennedy Center Party - The New Republic - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- SHOT/CHASER/LIME: Shocker - Big Pharma and Republicans Lied About the Inflation Reduction Act - Protect Our Care - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- ICE Debate Wont Tank Homeland Funding Bill, Republicans Say - NOTUS News of the United States - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Iowa Republicans move to expand gender, sexuality instruction ban to high schools - thegazette.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans took control of education. Can Democrats take it back? - The Washington Post - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Republicans' Top Senate Recruit in Minnesota Says There Is Room for Her Pro-Choice Politics - NOTUS News of the United States - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- Dumbest thing Ive ever heard: Republicans amp up their resistance to Trumps Greenland push - Politico - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans push to hold Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - news9.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - wbbjtv.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - wxxv25.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- This Is Trumps Dark Threat to Republicans: Wolff - The Daily Beast - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- House Republicans begin push to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress over the Epstein probe - king5.com - January 22nd, 2026 [January 22nd, 2026]
- The issues that are causing Republicans to break with Trump - MS NOW - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Megabill 2.0? These House Republicans have some ideas. - Politico - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- The Republicans Breaking Ranks With Trump Over Powell Investigation: We Dont Need It - Time Magazine - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans vow to hold Bill Clinton in contempt as he skips Epstein testimony - BBC - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Trump and the Republicans Struggle to Stay on Economic Message - Bloomberg.com - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans Punt on a DHS Funding Fight with Democrats After Minnesota ICE Shooting - NOTUS News of the United States - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Missouri Republicans Admit They Skewed Ballot Language to Protect a Rigged Map - Independent Voter News - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Kentucky Republicans push to eliminate income tax as Democrats propose taxing the wealthy - WDRB - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Clintons refuse to testify in Epstein investigation, Republicans seek to hold them in contempt - localnewslive.com - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Republicans are speaking out on behalf of the Fed. Not Banking Chair Tim Scott. - Politico - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Ohio Democratic U.S. reps joined by three Ohio Republicans to restore Affordable Care Act subsidies - Ohio Capital Journal - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]
- Clintons refuse to testify in House Epstein probe as Republicans threaten contempt proceedings - WTOP - January 14th, 2026 [January 14th, 2026]