Politics: All the Latest Headlines from The New York Times

Here is the latest Political News from The New York Times.

California Prepares for Long-Denied Star Turn in Presidential Race
The nation’s most populous state has almost always been an afterthought in the primaries, but this year’s Republican contest promises to change that.

Stricter Rules for Voter IDs Reshape Races
More than a dozen states will use the laws for the first time in a presidential election this fall, a step researchers say disproportionately affects minority voters.

Conrad Burns, Former U.S. Senator of Montana, Dies at 81
Mr. Burns was a plain-spoken former livestock auctioneer who had a meteoric rise in politics that was sometimes overshadowed by derogatory comments he made.

Mediator: Letting Stephen Colbert Be Stephen Colbert (Whoever That Is)
CBS says it brought in a new executive producer for “The Late Show” so Mr. Colbert could focus on hosting. Now the network has to give him room to do what he does best.

First Draft: Bernie Sanders Says Superdelegates Should Follow Voters’ Will in Landslide States
Mr. Sanders said on Sunday that the Democratic convention would be contested because was “virtually impossible” for Hillary Clinton to reach a majority of convention delegates with pledged delegates alone.

White House Letter: Malia Obama Rebels, Sort of, by Choosing Harvard
The president’s older daughter apparently disregarded her parents’ counsel that she need not choose a school with a big name and reputation.

Before Indiana, Ted Cruz Struggles as Donald Trump Revels in Lead
Two days before what is widely viewed as a must-win primary, a poll showed Mr. Trump with a lead of 15 points among likely Republican primary voters.

First Draft: On Sunday Talk Shows, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Preview Potential General Election Fight
Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton threw some practice jabs in interviews broadcast on Sunday, signaling a general election that could focus heavily on Mrs. Clinton’s gender and on her more hawkish foreign policy.

First Draft: Needing to Win, Ted Cruz Trails Donald Trump in Indiana by 15 Points, Poll Finds
A poll of Indiana Republicans shows Mr. Trump with 49 percent of the vote, Mr. Cruz with 34 percent, and Gov. John Kasich with 13 percent heading into the state’s primary on Tuesday.

Letter from Washington: Ignoring the Politics of Bad News
The candidates are portraying an America under threat from its challenges, which plays down progress made on many economic and social issues.

First Draft: Bernie Sanders’s Fund-Raising Plunges Amid Campaign Woes
Mr. Sanders, who announced last week he would lay off hundreds of workers, raised about $20 million less for his insurgent campaign in April than he did in March.

Malia Obama to Attend Harvard, but Not Until 2017
President Obama’s oldest daughter will defer her college career until after her father leaves office.

Ted Cruz’s Support Softens Among the Delegates He Courted
The gravitational pull of Mr. Trump’s recent primary landslides is drawing more Republicans toward him, threatening Mr. Cruz’s hopes of winning in a floor fight.

Indiana Economy Offers Caution and Inspiration as Primary Nears
Closed factories and lost jobs are driving economic themes as the state votes on Tuesday, but this Midwestern manufacturing hub is no image of decline.

Global Flavors and Asides to Obamas at White House Jazz Gala
An International Jazz Day concert at the White House, only the third of its kind, included performances by Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock and musicians from around the world.

Obama Needles Clinton and G.O.P. Field at Correspondents’ Dinner
The president turned repeatedly to Republicans’ nominating contest for comedic fodder at the annual press corps event.

Daniel J. Berrigan, Defiant Priest Who Preached Pacifism, Dies at 94
Father Berrigan, a Jesuit priest and poet, defiantly protested the Vietnam War and served time for his acts of civil disobedience.

Michael Bloomberg Says Both Parties Have Demagogues in Presidential Race
Without mentioning candidates by name, Mr. Bloomberg compared them to divisive figures of the past as he addressed graduates at the University of Michigan.

First Draft: Pete Wilson of California Backs Ted Cruz and Warns of Donald Trump
Former Gov. Pete Wilson of California used a surprise appearance before the state’s Republican convention Saturday to endorse Senator Ted Cruz, warning that the nomination of Donald J. Trump could lead to political ruin for the party’s candidates this November.

Inside Wealth: One Top Taxpayer Moved, and New Jersey Shuddered
The hedge fund manager David Tepper’s relocation to Florida is a case study in how tax collection changes when income becomes concentrated in the hands of a few.

Ad of the Week: In Nod to a Bernie Sanders Ad, Hillary Clinton Seeks His Fans’ Support
Mrs. Clinton’s latest ad pays her rival a high compliment, in an unmistakable homage to the emotional message of Mr. Sanders’s “America” commercial.

Run on a Ticket With Donald Trump? No, Thanks, Many Republicans Say
A remarkable range of leading Republicans have been emphatic publicly or privately that they do not want to be considered as Donald J. Trump’s running mate.

The 2016 Race: Insults and Ads: How Gender Hurts Trump but Doesn’t Lift Clinton
Research comparing two campaign ads, both on the theme of women, finds one far more effective at stirring up emotion and changing views of the candidates.

Joe Biden Speaks About Faith and Curing Cancer at the Vatican
The vice president’s attendance at a Vatican-sponsored conference on regenerative medicine was a confluence of his embrace of science and faith.

First Draft: Battle Over Bernie Sanders Team’s Use of Voter Data Is Over at Last
The battle between the Bernie Sanders campaign and the Democratic National Committee over the use of the D.N.C.’s voter data officially ended Friday, with the campaign withdrawing its lawsuit against the party.

Mocking Critics, Donald Trump Says He Can Win Without Republican Unity
After walking through a field to avoid protesters, Mr. Trump spoke at a meeting of Republicans in California and wavered on whether he wanted to heal the party.

Protest Turns Rowdy as Donald Trump Appears at California G.O.P. Convention
Chants, signs and a human chain greeted the candidate, who is closing in on his party’s nomination and was set to address conservative activists.

First Draft: Bernie Sanders Rails Against Relocation of Indiana Factory
Bernie Sanders, making a late push ahead of Tuesday’s primary voting, spoke out Friday against a company’s plans to move hundreds of local jobs to Mexico.

First Draft: Microsoft Will Not Donate Money to Republicans’ Convention
The tech giant will not provide cash donations to the Republican convention this summer, the company announced in a blog post on Friday.

Green Beret Who Beat Up Afghan Officer for Raping Boy Can Stay in Army
The Army made the decision after lawmakers called for the full reinstatement of Sgt. First Class Charles Martland, who helped beat up the commander in 2011.

Justices Leave Texas Voter ID Law Intact, With a Warning
The Supreme Court said it might intercede if a federal appeals court in New Orleans did not act promptly on a challenge to the law.

Obama Puts His Weight Behind Smart Gun Technology
An initiative to spur development of smart guns is intended to confront firearms violence amid opposition to broader gun control measures.

Congressional Memo: Another Chance for Bipartisan Achievement Slips Away
The end of a presidential term usually inspires deals, but old distrust and spending battles are rising in Congress, with each party blaming the other.

Obama-Netanyahu Rift Impedes U.S. Offer of Record Aid Deal for Israel
President Obama has proposed the largest package of military aid ever provided by the United States, but Israel has insisted on more generous terms.

First Draft: Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana to Endorse Ted Cruz as Primary Nears
Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana intends to throw his support to Senator Ted Cruz Friday, handing Mr. Cruz a much-needed endorsement before the state’s crucial primary.

First Draft: James Mattis, Retired General, Decides Against Independent Presidential Bid
James N. Mattis, the retired Marine Corps general who was wooed by conservative leaders for a possible independent presidential candidacy, has ruled out a bid for the White House in 2016.

Ted Cruz’s Father Worked With Supplements Maker Sued by Investors
The elder Cruz was a salesman for Mannatech, a religiously inspired company whose history of questionable health claims has already popped up in the presidential race.

Protest Turns Violent at Donald Trump Rally in Costa Mesa, Calif.
The crowd smashed a police car, the authorities closed nearby streets and officers arrested about 20 people.

In-box: Readers Pick America’s Greatest Year
Commenters wrote in with their own views on when America was at its greatest. They picked 1491, 1933, 2000 and … tomorrow.

First Draft: Republicans Make Early Rush to California
The courtship of Californians officially begins on Friday, with the kickoff of the state Republican Party convention in Burlingame, and the event will be studded with political stars this year.

Ted Cruz, Attacking Donald Trump, Uses Transgender Bathroom Access as Cudgel
Campaigning in Indiana, which is all but a last stand for Mr. Cruz, he has seized on a once-obscure issue with a proven power to inflame conservatives.

U.S. to Curb Queries on Criminal Histories of Government Job Seekers
A regulation being proposed by the Obama administration would remove a barrier that discourages many freed prisoners from applying for jobs

First Draft: John Kasich Tells Oregon Voters His Wife Agreed: Keep Going
The Ohio governor took time at an event in Portland, Ore., to explain his decision to stay in the Republican race, saying that his wife, Karen, told him, “The people need a choice. And if you don’t give them a choice, who will?”

New Jersey Congressman, Citing Fraud, Calls on Congress to Investigate FEMA
Representative Tom MacArthur said the agency’s process to re-examine insurance claims from Hurricane Sandy, following allegations of fraud, was itself plagued by fraud.

White Powder Is Mailed to Donald Trump’s Campaign Office
Six people were being evaluated by medical workers after the substance was found at Trump Tower, and the Fire Department was awaiting tests to determine whether the powder was dangerous.

Student Journalists Get Obama Access That Professionals Might Envy
A group of college journalists were treated to a surprise presidential news conference with President Obama in the White House briefing room.

What’s in a Name Change? Politics, Some at George Mason University Fear
The planned renaming of a law school after Justice Antonin Scalia is creating worries among faculty and students that the public university is becoming an ideological outpost.

Unpaid Annual Taxes Rise to $458 Billion, I.R.S. Reports
The agency attributed the increase to better estimates, but Senator Orrin G. Hatch called for it “to get smarter about guaranteeing tax compliance.”

About New York: Faulting de Blasio for Walking a Beaten Path in Elections
A state election official has accused the mayor and his allies of “willful and flagrant” campaign finance violations, but the illegality she suggests doesn’t necessarily exist.

First Draft: Bernie Sanders, Shifting Tone, Takes On Democratic Party
The Vermont senator laid out in more detail than usual his views for shaping the Democratic Party’s agenda and the need for elected officials to focus on more progressive politics.

WASHINGTON MEMO: Obama Lobbies for an Appreciation of His Legacy
In interviews, the president stresses big achievements without big mistakes. But a low-key approach and public perceptions are hampering him.

Out of Office, Ex-Speaker John Boehner Gleefully Releases Mute Button
As a former House speaker, Mr. Boehner can go public with insults he usually leveled behind closed doors, as he did in talking about Senator Ted Cruz.

Donald Trump’s Attacks on Hillary Clinton Have a Calculated Risk
Mr. Trump, the Republican favorite, has already proved willing to attack Mrs. Clinton in ways that many women find sexist and that her supporters consider out of bounds.

First Draft: Campaigns and ‘Super PACs’ Spend Millions on Indiana Ads
The presidential candidates have already spent millions of dollars on television advertising ahead of Tuesday’s Indiana primary, which campaigns like Senator Ted Cruz’s consider a must-win to stop Donald J. Trump from edging closer to the Republican presidential nomination.

First Draft: Ted Cruz’s ‘Alliance’ With John Kasich Hits New Low Point
An agreement between Senator Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich to each focus on certain states, in an effort to stop Donald Trump, appears to be in tatters.

The 2016 Race: Donald Trump Doesn’t Need Indiana Anymore
After strong showings in the Northeast, the state no longer looks like a must-win to capture the Republican nomination without a contested convention.

First Draft: John Boehner Describes Ted Cruz as ‘Lucifer in the Flesh’
During a forum at Stanford University in which he discussed the presidential election and his time in office, former House Speaker John A. Boehner’s harshest assessment was saved for Senator Ted Cruz, who he has not forgiven for spearheading the 2013 government shutdown.

Chris Wallace, In-House Moderate at Fox News, Has Less Predictable Targets
At a tricky moment for Fox, Mr. Wallace has been allowed leeway, even including criticizing his own network.

Colorado Weighs Replacing Obama’s Health Policy With Universal Coverage
A ballot measure has put conservative critics in the unusual position of defending the Affordable Care Act against an assault from the left.

First Draft: F.E.C. Tries to Bridge a Gap Between ‘A’ and ‘The’
After failing to agree on the issue this month, commissioners with the Federal Election Commission will consider on Thursday whether to tweak an existing regulation by changing the time frame to “a calendar year” from “the calendar year.”

First Draft: Ted Cruz Unveils a Campaign Surprise, but It May Not Be Enough
Mr. Cruz has taken the highly unusual step of picking Carly Fiorina as an early running mate as he looks to block Donald J. Trump from winning the Republican nomination. But will Mrs. Fiorina matter?

Republicans Hope Voters in Key Races Will Split Tickets, Bucking Trend
Senators running in swing states need voters who reject Donald J. Trump to nonetheless pull the levers for the party’s other candidates.

Notebook: What Obama Really Thinks About His Economic Legacy
The president sat down with Andrew Ross Sorkin to speak candidly about his administration’s efforts to rebuild the U.S. economy after the 2008 financial crisis. Here’s what we learned.

Cruz and Trump, as Clock Ticks Down, Hustle for Crucial Indiana Win
For all the attention Senator Ted Cruz and Donald J. Trump are creating, there is widespread uncertainty about how the state’s primary will transpire.

First Draft: Senate Republicans to Name Names in Effort to Rekindle Criminal Justice Bill
Hoping to restore momentum for a criminal justice overhaul, Senate sponsors of the legislation plan to go public on Thursday with the names of new Republican supporters and the changes made in the package to appease party critics.

After Losses, Ted Cruz Picks Carly Fiorina as Running Mate and Bernie Sanders Retrenches
Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Ted Cruz abruptly reordered their campaigns, aiming to preserve some hope of primary victories.

Editorial: Voting Rights Lose in North Carolina
A federal judge upheld the most regressive new voting law in the country, despite there being no good rationale for it.

Contributing Op-Ed Writer: How the Other Fifth Lives
The self-segregation of a privileged fifth of the population is changing the American social order and the American political system.

The Money Issue: Where Did the Government Jobs Go?
Long a ticket to the middle class, especially for African-Americans, they have become increasingly difficult to find.

First Draft: James Inhofe, Once a Merrick Garland Backer, Remains Opposed to His Nomination
The Oklahoma senator met with Mr. Garland, President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, but said there was no way he would support the nomination.

Op-Ed Columnist: Bernie Sanders’s Legacy
It’s over, but the cause lives. The issues his campaign has raised are likely to resonate with the progressive left for decades, if not forever.

Editorial: Donald Trump’s Strange World View
In his first formal foreign policy speech, Mr. Trump says he would tell global allies and foes that it’s his way or the highway.

First Draft: Carly Fiorina Pulls Out All the Stops, and Lyrics, in Joining Ted Cruz
After the senator said he would make Mrs. Fiorina his running mate if he is the Republican presidential nominee, she defended him and sang a song to his daughters.

Marco Rubio Quietly Undermines Affordable Care Act
A provision slipped into a 2014 spending law by the Florida senator has tangled up the Obama administration and sent tremors through health insurance markets.

After Making Enemies, Ted Cruz Tries to Make Friends
Mr. Cruz has vaulted into the top tier of the Republican race as the consummate Washington bomb thrower, but now he is taking an almost academic approach to achieving likability.

First Draft: Harvard Poll of Millennials Finds Integrity Means More Than Experience
Ben Carson and Donald J. Trump are locked in a statistical tie for the youth vote, the poll says, while Senator Bernie Sanders enjoys a 41 percent-to-35 percent advantage over Hillary Clinton.

First Draft: Donald Trump Solidifies His Lead, but Leaves Many Nervous
Mr. Trump commands the support of 35 percent of Republican primary voters, but nearly two-thirds of American voters say they are concerned or frightened about the prospect of a Trump presidency, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News nationwide poll.

The 2016 Race: The ‘Women’s Card’? We Measured, and It’s Not Worth Much
Perhaps Donald Trump is playing the men’s card: The U.S. is positioned between Greece and Bangladesh in one metric of women’s success in politics.

Transcript: Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy Speech
A transcript of Donald J. Trump’s foreign policy remarks, as transcribed by the Federal News Service.

First Draft: Ted Cruz’s Early Vice-Presidential Pick Has Echoes of Ronald Reagan
Ted Cruz’s early naming of Carly Fiorina as his running mate has grounding in history, when Ronald Reagan used a vice-presidential pick to try to boost his lagging political fortunes in 1976.

First Draft: President Obama Will Visit Flint, Mich., Where Tap Water is Tainted
President Obama will visit the Michigan city where the tap water was found to be tainted with lead next week.

Donald Trump, Laying Out Foreign Policy, Promises Coherence
“We’re going to finally have a coherent foreign policy, based on American interests and the shared interests of our allies,” Mr. Trump pledged.

Bernie Sanders to Cut Hundreds of Staff Members and Turn to California
A day after losing four of five states, the Vermont senator said he would remain in the race but needed to channel his resources into the states ahead.

Borrowing From an Old Playbook to Fight Texting at the Wheel
Policy makers and road safety experts are reaching back to tested strategies: They want to treat distracted driving like drunken driving.

Justices Weigh Corruption Case of Bob McDonnell, Ex-Governor of Virginia
The Supreme Court seemed ready to side with Mr. McDonnell, who is appealing his conviction on public corruption charges for which he faces two years in prison.

First Draft: Tom Coburn, Ex-Senator, Says Merrick Garland Should Get a Vote
Tom Coburn, the former Republican senator from Oklahoma known for his often contrarian views, said Judge Merrick B. Garland should get a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee, going against his old colleagues who have staunchly opposed even considering President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.

Spending Bill Falters in Clash Over Amendment Tied to Iran Nuclear Pact
Democrats and the White House said the addendum, barring America’s purchase of Iranian heavy water supplies, would have undermined the arms accord.

In Pennsylvania, Unbound Delegates Remain Wary of Donald Trump
Mr. Trump could still need votes by free-agent convention delegates, from a state he dominated, to achieve a majority and win the Republican nomination.

Ted Cruz to Name Carly Fiorina as His Running Mate
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, desperate to alter the course of a presidential primary fight in which Donald J. Trump is closing in on victory, will announce Wednesday afternoon that Carly Fiorina will be his running mate if he wins the Republican nomination, two campaign advisers confirmed.

Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy Speech: Highlights
Donald J. Trump called for an “America First” foreign policy in his address in Washington on Wednesday.

The 2016 Race: Donald Trump Beat Expectations Everywhere, Suggesting a Broad Shift
Wherever he could squeeze out additional delegates Tuesday, he did, and the nomination seems well within reach.

First Draft: Donald Trump Keeps Playing ‘Woman’s Card’ Against Hillary Clinton
Donald J. Trump, the Republican front-runner, raised eyebrows by suggesting in a postelection news conference that Hillary Clinton was leading in the Democratic race because of her gender. Mr. Trump continued to press the point the morning after his five state primary victories.

Minnesota T.S.A. Manager Says He Was Told to Target Somali-Americans
An assistant federal security director said he considered the instructions racial profiling and reported them to officials in Washington.

First Draft: An ‘Evolving’ Donald Trump to Discuss Foreign Policy in Washington
Mr. Trump, his campaign said, plans to touch on global trade, and economic and national security policies in a speech that comes as he tries to transition into general election mode.

What to Look for in Wednesday’s Sentencing of Dennis Hastert
The former House speaker could face up to five years in prison or no time for what prosecutors say was part of an effort to cover up sexual abuse of high school wrestlers he coached.

The Path to a Sentence for Dennis Hastert
Court documents leading to the sentencing hearing Wednesday of J. Dennis Hastert, the former speaker of the House.

Primary Takeaways: Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton Edge Closer to Nominations
The two were looking for a convincing five-state romp in the East that would quiet skeptics and marginalize rivals. He pulled it off. She fell slightly short.

The 2016 Race: Why Donald Trump Is Probably Two Pivotal States From Victory
After a big night on Tuesday, and given his polling leads in other states, he may need only victories in Indiana and California to avoid a contested convention.

Chris Van Hollen Wins Democratic Primary for Senate in Maryland
The tough contest between a white man and a black woman, Representative Donna Edwards, exposed rifts between Democrats over race, gender and class.