The Secret History of Gun Rights: How Lawmakers Armed the N.R.A.

They served in Congress and on the N.R.A.’s board at the same time. Over decades, a small group of legislators led by a prominent Democrat pushed the gun lobby to help transform the law, the courts and views on the Second Amendment.

A Climate Warning from the Cradle of Civilization

How extreme temperatures and dwindling water are pushing the Fertile Crescent toward the brink.

U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations

American intelligence officials believe the malware could give China the power to disrupt or slow American deployments or resupply operations, including during a Chinese move against Taiwan.

New York City Had a Migrant Crisis. It Hired a Covid Expert to Help.

DocGo, a medical services company, received a $432 million no-bid contract to move hundreds of asylum seekers outside the city. Many say they have been threatened, mistreated and lied to.

New Trump Charges Highlight Long-Running Questions About Obstruction

The accusation that former President Donald J. Trump wanted security camera footage deleted at Mar-a-Lago added to a pattern of concerns about his attempts to stymie prosecutors.

Fighting for Anthony: The Struggle to Save Portland, Oregon

The city has long grappled with street homelessness and a shortage of housing. Now fentanyl has turned a perennial problem into a deadly crisis and a challenge to the city’s progressive identity.

Wall St. Pessimists Are Getting Used to Being Wrong

The S&P 500 is up more than 19 percent this year, but some still warn that the future may not be as rosy as that implies.

Trump Faces Major New Charges in Documents Case

The office of the special counsel accused the former president of seeking to delete security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago. The manager of the property, Carlos De Oliveira, was also named as a new defendant.

Justice Dept. Opens Civil Rights Investigation of Memphis Police

The department will examine allegations of pervasive problems with excessive force and unlawful stops of Black residents that were amplified by the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.

Study of Elite College Admissions Data Suggests Being Very Rich Is Its Own Qualification

Elite colleges have long been filled with the children of the richest families: At Ivy League schools, one in six students has parents in the top 1 percent.

Amid Shared Pain Over Synagogue Massacre, Divisions on Death Penalty

Since the 2018 attack that left 11 people dead, Jews in Pittsburgh have weighed whether the government should seek the execution of the killer.

Fed Raises Rates After a Pause and Leaves Door Open to More

Federal Reserve officials lifted borrowing costs by a quarter-point after pausing in June. Rates could rise more, but the central bank is not ready to commit.

Judge Puts Hunter Biden’s Plea Deal on Hold, Questioning Its Details

Judge Maryellen Noreika sent the two sides back to try to work out modifications that would address her legal and constitutional concerns and salvage the basic contours of the agreement.

Gov. Abbott’s Policing of Texas Border Pushes Limits of State Power

The governor brought in razor wire, floating barriers and state troopers to deter unauthorized migration. The federal government mounted its first legal pushback this week.

Giuliani Concedes He Made False Statements About Georgia Election Workers

Rudolph W. Giuliani said he still had “legal defenses” in a case brought by two election workers who said he had defamed them as he asserted that the 2020 election was marred by fraud.

Education Dept. Opens Civil Rights Inquiry Into Harvard’s Legacy Admissions

An inquiry into admissions preference for family of alumni and donors began after the Supreme Court’s decision last month limiting affirmative action.

Biden Takes His Battle for Democracy Case by Case

President Biden’s decisions on when to speak out forcefully for democracy can prove tricky.

Warming Could Push the Atlantic Past a ‘Tipping Point’ This Century

The system of ocean currents that regulates the climate for a swath of the planet could collapse sooner than expected, a new analysis found.

How War Destroyed a ‘Long and Happy Marriage’

The conflict in Ukraine has split apart millions of families. The story of Andrii Shapovalov and Tetiana Shapovalova reveals how a couple’s bond can become a casualty.