New York Times

1. Venezuela Oil Tanker Seized by U.S. Was Part of Effort to Finance Cuba

   Firms with ties to Cuba are getting a larger share of Venezuelan oil exports, as the island’s security agents boost President Nicolás Maduro’s defenses.

2. To Get to Oslo, Machado Skirted Military Checkpoints and Survived Rough Seas

   An American firm with experience in special operations spirited María Corina Machado, the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, out of the country in a secretive land, sea and air operation.

3. In Trump’s Justice Dept., Failing in Court Might Be Better Than Bucking the Boss

   This week demonstrated an emerging reality for President Trump: Commanding the Justice Department is not the same as controlling the justice system.

4. Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of Tina Peters Rejected by Colorado Officials

   The president’s stated intention to pardon Tina Peters, jailed for tampering with election machines in 2020, has set off a legal fight over the extent of Mr. Trump’s pardon powers.

5. Biden Has Raised Little of What He Needs to Build a Presidential Library

   His library foundation has told the I.R.S. that by the end of 2027 it expects to bring in just $11.3 million — not nearly enough for a traditional presidential library.