Today's Headlines: F.C.C. Approves Skydance’s $8 Billion Merger With Paramount
How a Frantic Scouring of the Epstein Files Consumed the Justice Dept.
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines

July 25, 2025, 4:10 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

F.C.C. Approves Skydance’s $8 Billion Merger With Paramount

The deal, which came under intense scrutiny by the Trump administration, was hailed by the F.C.C. chief, who welcomed “significant changes” at CBS, a unit of Paramount.

How a Frantic Scouring of the Epstein Files Consumed the Justice Dept.

There was a single goal in mind: find something — anything — that could be released to the public to satisfy President Trump’s supporters.

Israel and the U.S. Pull Back From Talks With Hamas

President Trump’s special envoy said that “we will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home,” though it was not clear that negotiations had halted.

Editors’ Picks

The Ghost in the Therapy Room

Therapists are cautious about sharing personal information. When they fall ill or die unexpectedly, the shock can be shattering.

Opinion | Obama Won Record Numbers of Nonwhite Voters. This Is How the Democrats Lost Them.

One in five voters who cast a ballot for Donald Trump in 2024 was a person of color. Why?

World

France Will Recognize Palestinian Statehood, Macron Says

The announcement sets France apart from the United States and most of its close allies, and could cause friction with President Trump.

Gazans Are Dying of Starvation

After 21 months of devastating conflict with Israel, Gaza’s most vulnerable civilians — the young, the old and the sick — are facing what aid groups say is impending famine.

Deadliest Clashes in a Decade Erupt Between Thailand and Cambodia

At least a dozen people were killed after the two countries exchanged fire after simmering tensions over a border dispute boiled over on Thursday.

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U.S.

Columbia and Penn Made Trump Deals. More Universities Could Be Next.

Trump officials hope deals with two Ivy League schools create a template that others, including Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Cornell and Northwestern, will follow.

Epstein’s Estate Includes Book Said to Have Note From Trump, a Lawyer Says

The lawyer, who represents victims of Jeffrey Epstein, said he believed the estate would turn the book over to the authorities if asked.

After Surge During Pandemic, Homicides Fall Significantly

An analysis released Thursday by the Council on Criminal Justice shows that the majority of crimes the council tracks are continuing to decrease in 42 U.S. cities.

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Politics

Ken Paxton Claimed Three Houses as His Primary Residence, Records Show

The attorney general of Texas, who is challenging Senator John Cornyn, could have secured favorable mortgage rates, and may have violated the law if he knowingly falsified loan documents.

Swallowing Reservations, Democrats Go On Offense on Epstein Files

Working to exploit a G.O.P. rift, Democrats are aggressively pushing charges of a coverup in the case of the accused pedophile, which many of them once dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

Trump Spars With Powell Over Fed’s Costly Renovations in Rare Visit

The administration has repeatedly criticized Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the central bank, for his handling of the economy and the cost of work on the institution’s headquarters.

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Business

Europe Nears U.S. Trade Deal, but Stands Ready to Retaliate

Nearly every member of the European Union supports a plan to hit back against President Trump’s tariffs if no agreement is reached.

How a Chinese Border Town Keeps Russia’s Economy Afloat

The flow of goods in Manzhouli, China’s main border crossing with Russia, underscores increasingly close ties between the two countries, complicating China’s relationship with Europe.

Trade Deal Could Give Japanese Cars a Leg Up in U.S. Market

President Trump’s 15 percent tariff on cars from Japan has angered U.S. automakers, which make cars in Canada and Mexico subject to 25 percent tariffs.

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Arts

Amy Sherald Cancels Her Smithsonian Show, Citing Censorship

The artist said that she made the decision after she said she learned that her painting of a transgender Statue of Liberty might be removed to avoid provoking President Trump.

In the Berkshires, Installing Art, Bearing the Consequences

Visitors can grab a map and follow the trail to outdoor sculptures at the Clark Art Institute. But be ready for a surreal encounter.

Another Director Leaves MOCA in Los Angeles

After four years leading the Museum of Contemporary Art, Johanna Burton will next head the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia.

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New York

Trump Administration Sues Adams and New York City Over Sanctuary Laws

Mayor Eric Adams, whose corruption charges were dropped so he could help with deportations, is among the defendants in the suit, which argues the federal government has sole power over immigration.

Alina Habba Is Named Acting U.S. Attorney in New Jersey

Ms. Habba’s tenure as interim U.S. attorney was slated to end this week, but the Trump administration’s appointment will allow her to remain the top law enforcement official in the state.