The New York Times-The Evening

"American envoys negotiate in Geneva, a sewage spill pollutes D.C. area, plus, happy Mardi Gras!"

Views expressed in this World and U.S. news summary are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 18 April 2026, 0152 UTC.

Content and Source:  "The New York Times-The Evening."

 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQfBsnVqPBgjRZCjFSJjDPfMZsz

URL--https://www.nytimes.com.

Please check email link, URL, or scroll down to read your selections.  Thanks for joining us today.

Russ Roberts (https://trendsingeopolitics.blogspot.com).

February 17, 2026

	By Matthew Cullen

Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.

American envoys negotiate in Geneva A sewage spill pollutes the D.C. area Plus, happy Mardi Gras!

Jared Kushner, left, and Steve Witkoff in Switzerland last month. Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone, via Associated Press

Trump officials negotiate two high-stakes deals at once

This morning in Geneva, an American delegation led by two of President Trump’s most trusted envoys — his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the real estate developer Steve Witkoff — held indirect nuclear talks with Iranian officials. The discussions, during which U.S. negotiators were hoping to address concerns about Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, made “good progress,” Iran’s foreign minister said.

By afternoon, Kushner and Witkoff were sitting down with Russian and Ukrainian leaders in another room in Geneva, attempting to help broker a peace deal. Trump began his second term vowing to end the conflict, but in many ways the war has only worsened.

Expectations for a cease-fire in Ukraine are low, in large part because the sides are far apart on the two major issues: the fate of Ukraine’s borders and the extent to which Western countries will help defend Ukraine after the war.

The dueling talks in Switzerland were a stark example of Trump’s belief that the State Department and the National Security Council, which have coordinated negotiations over global crises for decades, are best left on the sidelines. My colleagues David Sanger and Anton Troianovski described the strategy as “diplomacy without diplomats.”

Five people who are facing repercussions in the wake of the release of the Epstein files.

The Epstein emails have rocked several industries

More than a dozen high-profile figures across politics, finance, entertainment, law and academia have been fired or pushed out of their positions after their ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged in the Justice Department’s latest release of files. A few have been charged with crimes or are under investigation. Today, we published a new page where we’re tracking the fallout.

One exception to the rippling repercussions seems to be Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary. The files showed that his interactions with Epstein went beyond how he had previously described them. So far, the White House has shrugged off their association.

For more: My colleague tried to understand why people close to Epstein didn’t say anything.

The New York Times; Associated Press; Getty Images

America pays tribute to Jesse Jackson (1941-2026)

Presidents, religious leaders and many others publicly mourned the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the charismatic civil rights leader who died today at 84. Trump called Jackson “a good man,” Joe Biden described him as a “a man of God and of the people,” and Al Sharpton described him as his mentor and “a transformative leader.”

The Times recalled some of the most important moments in Jackson’s life: his difficult childhood, his time as a protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., his populist vision of a “rainbow coalition” of the poor and forgotten, his influence over generations of Black Democrats, his self-inflicted controversies and his failed presidential campaigns. Read about them here, and check out Jackson’s life in pictures.

Andrew Leyden for The New York Times

D.C.-area sewage spill becomes a political fight

Hundreds of millions of gallons of raw human waste have gushed into the Potomac River just outside of Washington, D.C., since a major sewer line collapsed last month. The spill appears to be the largest discharge of its kind in the nation’s history, threatening the health of the river and the safety of those who use it. (It also smells terrible.)

Local officials have been working for weeks to stop the flow and assess the damage. Now, the spill has become entangled in national politics: Trump and Maryland’s governor, Wes Moore, are blaming each other for the disaster. FEMA said today that it was monitoring the situation.

More top news

Latin America: Peru impeached its president, removing him from office four months after the previous leader was ousted. Business: Warner Bros. said it would restart talks with Paramount, which is trying to outbid Netflix to acquire the legendary studio. Boat strikes: The U.S. military blew up three more boats it claimed were carrying drugs, killing 11 people. New Jersey: Commuters into Manhattan are facing a month of potential delays because of construction involving a century-old bridge. Television: Stephen Colbert said his network, CBS, barred him from airing an interview with a leftists Democratic Senate candidate. Weather: A series of powerful storms is battering California with heavy snow and rain. Arizona: Investigators said that DNA from gloves found near Nancy Guthrie’s house did not return a computer match. Follow the story here for the latest updates. Obama: Newly released interviews with the former president and his staff suggest that they missed the shifting mood of the country that led to Trump’s election.

Downing Street: Palmerston, a cat who served as the “chief mouser” for Britain’s diplomatic service, died. He was roughly 12 years old.

THE LATEST FROM THE OLYMPICS

Alysa Liu during her routine today. Doug Mills/The New York Times

The American figure skater Alysa Liu nailed her routine to put herself in medal contention. Her teammate, Amber Glenn, missed a jump and fell down the leaderboard. Here’s the latest from Day 11 in Italy.

Parents of some winter Olympians are terrified watching their children speed down mountains or go over big jumps. Fans in Milan have become obsessed with these little plush dolls.

TIME TO UNWIND

Boi Tolo in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Dado Galdieri for The New York Times

It’s a day for celebration

In New Orleans, it’s not just Tuesday; it’s Mardi Gras. The streets are filled with floats, feathers, beads and revelers decked out in purple, green and gold. Elsewhere, Fat Tuesday is celebrated with pancake races (in England), orange-throwing wars (in Belgium) and boisterous Carnival parties (in Rio de Janeiro).

Today is also Lunar New Year, an occasion for fireworks, lion dancing and large meals with family. See images from celebrations ushering in the Year of the Horse, and follow along our second annual Dumpling Week.

Also, Ramadan begins tonight. We have tips for quick and enjoyable ways to break your fast.

Aaron Trinh after his surgery. Matthew Leifheit for The New York Times

What if you could become a few inches taller?

Aaron Trinh was 5-foot-6 and unhappy. An engineering student in his 20s, he constantly felt too short. So, last year, he used $140,000 from his father’s savings to get height surgery — his healthy femurs were broken and extended over a few months. He is now 5-foot-9.

The procedure is similar to those long used to correct deformities. But cosmetic variations like Trinh’s have become increasingly popular, despite high risks. My colleague Isabella Kwai spoke to several men who have undergone height surgery to better understand why they do it.

Robert Duvall in 1983. Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

Dinner table topics

Less is more: Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor who died on Sunday at 95, had a message for directors: “Get out of my way.” Lost and found: The sea stole her prosthetic leg. Ten months later, a fossil hunter returned it. Acres of space: If you look in the right place, you can buy an entire compound for less than $1 million.

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Linda Xiao for The New York Times

Cook: Try Pastelón, a layered dish of plantains, cheese and picadillo that’s often called Puerto Rican lasagna.

Read: In a new book, rigorous inspection shows what makes Toni Morrison’s work so great.

Plan: For a family trip through the Northeast or Midwest, follow the syrup.

Brew: Making beer at home is easier than you’d think.

Test yourself: Take the latest Flashback history quiz.

Play: Here are today’s Connections, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.

ONE LAST THING

Yuvraj Khanna for The New York Times

New York’s hottest restaurant is … in a theater

Manhattan’s West Village is home to the historic Cherry Lane Theater, where Samuel Beckett’s “Happy Days” premiered in 1961. Step inside its lobby tonight and you might smell sausages and oysters alongside the popcorn.

The playhouse now features a restaurant tucked behind heavy drapes. The spot, called Wild Cherry, has no sign. But its 12 tables have quickly become one of the city’s most sought-after reservations. The ambience is somewhere between a Parisian boîte and a Wisconsin supper club. Our reviewer describes the mood as “forever midnight,” though guests must be ushered out by 11 p.m.

Have an elegant evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow — Matthew

Eli Cohen was our photo editor.

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.

Writer: Matthew Cullen Editor: Whet Moser

If you received this newsletter from someone else, subscribe here. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018