First Run News

AGUAS BUENAS, Puerto Rico — Federal agents with body armor and assault rifles stormed a small house in this hillside town on a dark October night two years ago, intent on arresting a retired National Guard captain suspected of an elaborate scheme to defraud the military. But in a sign of larger problems to come in the investigation, they raided the wrong house.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Monday that flew 280 miles and appears to have landed inside Japan’s economic zone where fishing and cargo ships are active, the South Korean military and the Japanese government said. President Moon Jae-in of South Korea called a meeting of his top security officials for later Monday morning to discuss the missile launch, coming a week after the North last tested a ballistic missile, and Prime Minister Shin

The political news cycle is fast, and keeping up can be overwhelming. Trying to find differing perspectives worth your time is even harder. That’s why we have scoured the internet for political writing from the right and left that you might not have seen. Has this series exposed you to new ideas? Tell us how. Email us at ourpicks@nytimes.com. • Jonathan S.

Eight months before Election Day, Donald J. Trump was about a half-hour into his stump speech at a convention center in Louisville, Ky., when several protesters interrupted his rally.

STERLING, Va.

WASHINGTON — John F. Kelly, President Trump’s homeland security secretary, on Sunday defended a reported effort by Jared Kushner, the president’s embattled son-in-law and key adviser, to establish a secret channel with Russia during the transition, calling it “a good thing.” “Any information flow into the government and then considered by the government, I won’t criticize that,” Mr.

And so we come to the end of what has been the longest and most comprehensive viewing of Melania Trump playing the role of first lady since her husband’s administration began: nine days, five countries, more than a dozen outfits, all of them photographed and recorded (and exclaimed over) for the historical record. “Melania did not wear a veil in Saudi Arabia!” “Melania did wear a veil to the Vatican!” “Melania changes outfits during flight!” Does it really matter? Of course. Because Mrs.

TAORMINA, Sicily — It’s hard to imagine President Trump ever introducing himself to a roomful of reporters as “the man who accompanied Melania Trump to Rome.” But Mr. Trump could have borrowed John F. Kennedy’s memorable line after he and the first lady visited the Vatican last week. Kennedy said it during a trip to Paris in June 1961 when his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, so dazzled the French that the president suggested, half in jest, that he was little more than a plus-one. “And I have enjoyed it,” he added. Mr.

BERLIN — Chancellor Germany, Europe’s most influential leader, has concluded, after three days of trans-Atlantic meetings, that the United States of President Trump is not the reliable partner her country and the Continent have automatically depended on in the past. Clearly disappointed with Mr.

The House Intelligence Committee's top Democrat called for a review of Jared Kushner's security clearance over questions of whether he was truthful about his contacts with Russia. President Trump, talked to the Russian ambassador about establishing a back channel for communications in December, before Trump took office. “If these allegations are true and he had discussions with the Russians about establishing a backchannel and didn't reveal tha