Iran’s Regime May Survive, but the Middle East Will Be Changed

A badly weakened Iran will no longer intimidate or threaten its neighbors in the same way. The regional impact could be comparable to the collapse of the Soviet Union.Iranians mourning the killing of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday.

S Steven Erlanger

Stakes Quickly Rise for U.S. in Iran War, With 3 Service Members Killed

The grim toll signaled that Iran was more prepared for war than the Trump administration anticipated, U.S. military officials said.Smoke rose on Sunday near Erbil International Airport, which hosts U.S.-led coalition troops in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.

H Helene Cooper and Eric Schmitt

Why the Epstein Investigations Took So Long and Did So Little

Decades of tips and investigations yielded charges against only two people. A combination of missed chances, narrow laws and prosecutors’ limited focus helps explain why.An undated photo of Jeffrey Epstein released by the Justice Department.

B Benjamin Weiser, Matthew Goldstein and Mike Baker

How The Times Is Digging Into Millions of Pages of Epstein Files

Two dozen journalists. A pile of pages that would reach the top of the Empire State Building. And an effort to find the next revelation in a sprawling case.A photo of Jeffrey Epstein with other faces redacted by the Justice Department.

P Patrick Healy, Steve Eder, Andrew Chavez, Kirsten Danis and Dylan Freedman

How Talks Between Anthropic and the Defense Dept. Fell Apart

The Pentagon and Anthropic were close to agreeing on the use of artificial intelligence. But strong personalities, mutual dislike and a rival company unraveled a deal.In January, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth published a memo calling on A.I. to be widely integrated across the military and for A.I.

S Sheera Frenkel, Cade Metz and Julian E. Barnes

The Texas Senate Primary Offers a Test Case for Each Party

Should Democrats concentrate on swing voters or their base? Can more traditional Republicans win in the MAGA era? Tuesday’s Senate primary in Texas will show the direction the parties are taking.Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a four-term Republican Senator, is spending record sums to try to fend off

L Lisa Lerer and J. David Goodman

F.B.I. Investigating if Shooting at a Bar in Austin Has Terrorism Connection

The F.B.I. said it was too early to determine a motive in the shooting that killed two at an Austin bar, but added that the Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved in the investigation.Three people, including the shooter, were pronounced dead at the scene in Austin, Texas, the police said.

S Sonia A. Rao, Ramón Ramirez and Ali Watkins

Joe Randall, Chef Who Celebrated Black Cooking Traditions, Dies at 79

He helped bring the African American cooking of the Carolina Lowcountry to the world and became known as the “dean of Southern Cuisine.”Chef Joe Randall, executive chef and owner of his self-titled cooking school, in 2016. “He made it clear that Black foodways are foundational to American cuisine, n

C Clay Risen