New York Times

1. In Turkey, Middle Powers Ponder Diplomacy With a Rogue U.S.

   The U.S. remains an essential player. The problem, one analyst said, is how to deal effectively with a power that is “indispensable, coercive and unpredictable at the same time.”

2. Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington. They Invoked the Trump Name.

   The attempt by the Khayyats to influence foreign policy while discussions are underway about potential Trump family deals is an increasingly common feature of the president’s second term.

3. U.S. Military Strikes a Boat in the Caribbean, Killing 3

   The latest attack raised the death toll to at least 180 in the campaign by the United States against people it accuses of smuggling drugs at sea.

4. Democrats Eye a Broader Battlefield to Capture Congress in November

   Weighed down by President Trump’s approval ratings, some Republican incumbents are struggling to raise money while Democrats look for targets like a Tennessee seat south of Nashville.

5. Are Democrats Becoming a Party of Tax Cuts?

   As Democrats try to find a way back to power in Washington, some see tax cuts as a quick and easy way to address affordability. The wonks are freaking out.