McConnell to Step Down as Leader at the End of the Year

The long-serving Republican leader said he would step aside from the role at the end of his term but remain in the Senate, acknowledging that his views on national security had put him out of step with his party.

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Trump’s Immunity Claim, Setting Arguments for April

The former president’s trial on charges of plotting to subvert the 2020 election will remain on hold while the justices consider the matter.

Biden’s Gaza Challenge Will Persist, but Michigan May Have Been Unique

Democratic unease with the president’s handling of the Mideast war will continue to trail him, but his allies hope that no other state on the primary calendar will present the same challenges.

The East Coast Is Sinking

New satellite-based research reveals how land along the coast is slumping into the ocean, compounding the danger from global sea level rise.

A major culprit: overpumping of groundwater.

Lead-Tainted Applesauce Sailed Through Gaps in Food-Safety System

Hundreds of American children were poisoned last year. Records show how, time and again, the contamination went unnoticed.

Kremlin Warns Against NATO Ground Intervention in Ukraine

The warning came in response to comments by President Emmanuel Macron of France, who said “nothing should be ruled out” when asked about the possibility.

After U.S. Strikes, Iran’s Proxies Scale Back Attacks on American Bases

Tehran, wary of igniting open warfare with Washington, has told militia groups it backs to curtail assaults on targets such as military installations, Iranian and American officials say.

G.O.P. Leaders Optimistic on Spending Deal After Meeting With Biden

Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Mitch McConnell were upbeat about efforts to avert a government shutdown. “We are making some real headway,” Mr. McConnell said.

The NATO Welcoming Sweden Is Larger and More Determined

The alliance’s expansion, with Finland last year and soon Sweden, was a consequence from the invasion of Ukraine that Russia’s president may not have calculated.

Weary but Determined, Ukrainians Vow Never to Bow to Russia

Despite death, destruction and deprivation, nearly 90 percent still believe in Ukraine’s ultimate victory — as long as Western aid continues.

Housing Costs Are Running Hot, but Is the Data Missing a Cooling Trend?

Pandemic disruptions may have muddled the measurement of home prices in inflation data. That could complicate the Fed’s course on interest rates.

$1 Billion Donation Will Provide Free Tuition at a Bronx Medical School

Ruth Gottesman, a longtime professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is making free tuition available to all students going forward.

The Spy War: How the C.I.A. Secretly Helps Ukraine Fight Putin

For more than a decade, the United States has nurtured a secret intelligence partnership with Ukraine that is now critical for both countries in countering Russia.

Supreme Court to Decide How the First Amendment Applies to Social Media

Challenges to laws in Florida and Texas meant to protect conservative viewpoints are likely to yield a major constitutional ruling on tech platforms’ free speech rights.

Gretchen Whitmer’s Biggest Electoral Test: Can She Deliver Michigan for Biden?

The Michigan governor, who has taken a prominent role in the president’s campaign, is popular in her state. But as the Democratic coalition frays, some wonder if that will be enough.

Abortion Shield Laws: A New War Between the States

Doctors in six states where abortion is legal are using new laws to send abortion pills to tens of thousands of women in states where it is illegal.

Haley’s Loss to Trump in South Carolina Fuels More Doubts About Her Viability

Donald Trump swept yet another early nominating contest, delivering Nikki Haley a crushing home-state loss at the hands of voters who were arguably the most familiar with her politics.

Waiting for Serhiy

After nearly two years and only scraps of information, a Ukrainian family still hopes their son, a marine captured by the Russians in Mariupol, will come home soon.

A Marketplace of Girl Influencers Managed by Moms and Stalked by Men

Netanyahu Issues First Plan for Postwar Gaza

The proposal, which calls for indefinite Israeli military control and buffer zones in the territory, rankled Arab nations and was rejected by Palestinians.

How Did Haley’s South Carolina Become Trump Country? Ask the Tea Party.

Veterans of the conservative, grass-roots movement see the state’s presidential primary as a fight between a “crazy uncle” and a “snowflake niece.” They’ve made their choice.

Alabama Lawmakers Move to Protect I.V.F. Treatments

A court ruling declaring frozen embryos to be legally considered children has set off a scramble among leaders in both parties to preserve access to a crucial reproductive treatment.

N.R.A. Stung by Corruption Verdict Tied to Millions of Misspent Dollars

A Manhattan jury found that the National Rifle Association’s former leader, Wayne LaPierre, had used the group’s funds to pay for lavish personal expenses, including vacations and luxury flights.

Leaked Files Show the Secret World of China’s Hackers for Hire

China has increasingly turned to private companies in campaigns to hack foreign governments and control its domestic population.

A U.S.-Built Spacecraft Lands on the Moon for the First Time Since 1972

Odysseus was the first privately built vehicle to make it to the moon, and points to a future in which NASA, companies and others rely on commercial lunar delivery services.

For Women Undergoing I.V.F. In Alabama, What Now?

Some women wonder whether they will now have to pay to keep extra embryos stored permanently, or face criminal charges if they are disposed of.

Instagram’s Uneasy Rise as a News Site

In this year’s presidential election, more people are turning to Instagram for news, even as the platform tries de-emphasizing “political content.”