This Week’s Issue: William Barr, Trump’s Sword and Shield

Plus: Women who kill their abusers, the past and future of the Earth’s oldest trees, and Cole Porter. View in browser | Update your preferences Profiles William Barr, Trump’s Sword and Shield The Attorney General’s mission to maximize executive power and protect the Presidency. By David Rohde Letter from Alabama How Far Can Abused Women Go to Protect Themselves? Fighting back against rapists and abusers is a valid legal defense. But women with persuasive self-defense claims continue to be charged with murder. By Elizabeth Flock Annals of Nature The Past and the Future of the Earth’s Oldest Trees Bristlecone pines have survived various catastrophes over the millennia, and they may survive humanity. By Alex Ross Comment Donald Trump’s Iran Problem The killing of General Qassem Suleimani has undermined the Trump Administration’s top goals in the Islamic Republic. By Robin Wright Books Have We Outgrown the Need for Affirmative Action? The past and the future of a long-embattled policy. By Louis Menand A Critic at Large Pinegrove Stages a Complicated Comeback In the wake of a scandal, the indie band must prove that it has atoned. By Kelefa Sanneh Books The Pleasure and Pain of Being Cole Porter Almost inhumanly prolific, the songwriter produced a new kind of American lyric—and language. By Adam Gopnik Humor from The New Yorker Shouts & Murmurs Zillow Listings of New York City Here’s one in our price range: great light, updated appliances. It’s a handicapped bathroom in a WeWork. Only a block off the 6 train! By Jen Spyra Cartoons From The Issue Cartoons from the Issue Drawings and drollery from this week’s magazine. Sign up for more newsletters from The New Yorker. Visit The New Yorker shop. Question about your subscription? Contact Customer Care. New Yorker digital subscribers get unlimited access to everything on newyorker.com. Log in to your account here. We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please send your thoughts and suggestions to TNYinbox@newyorker.com. This e-mail was sent to you by The New Yorker. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, NewYorker@newsletters.newyorker.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2019. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.