The Secrets of Debate Swag Oh, the games campaigns play with political merch. They may surprise you.

In a Hot Job Market, the Minimum Wage Becomes an Afterthought The federal wage floor of $7.25 is increasingly irrelevant when even most teenagers are earning twice that. But what happens when the economy cools?

Beyond the Debate, Republicans Are Deep in the 2024 Ad Wars Many of the party’s presidential candidates have spent heavily as they try to introduce themselves to voters. Ads for Donald Trump, meanwhile, look ahead to a matchup with President Biden.

What to Watch for at Wednesday’s Republican Debate Former President Donald J. Trump won’t be on the stage in Milwaukee, but his rivals still need to make a case to be the alternative.

Witness in Trump Documents Case Changed Lawyers, and Then Testimony Federal prosecutors described the shift in a court filing that highlighted conflicts of interest in the overlapping legal representation of witnesses and defendants in the case.

Trump Condemns Hunter Biden’s Foreign Business. He’s Quiet on His Own. Donald J. Trump has berated Joseph R. Biden Jr. for his son’s overseas deal making, despite plenty of overseas deal making by the Trump family.

Questions for Republican Debate: What Readers Want to Learn More than 850 readers sent us their questions for the Republican candidates. Donald Trump was a hot topic, but not the only: “I don’t want to ask about the past,” one said.

Legal Battles Begin in Case Against Trump and Allies in Georgia Several of Mr. Trump’s co-defendants in the state racketeering case over election interference are seeking to have the matter transferred to federal court or dismissed entirely.

Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell Challenges Rick Scott for Senate in Florida Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, the first South American immigrant elected to the House, is one of several Democrats who have entered the 2024 race.

How Mark Meadows Pursued a High-Wire Legal Strategy in Trump Inquiries The former White House chief of staff, a key witness to Donald J. Trump’s efforts to remain in power after his 2020 election loss, maneuvered to provide federal prosecutors only what he had to.

What to Expect From G.O.P. Candidates in First Primary Debate Republican presidential candidates will face off in the first televised debate of the 2024 campaign. Jonathan Weisman, a New York Times political correspondent, reports on their debate style and experience on stage.

‘I Froze’ Why some rape victims freeze rather than scream or fight back.

Ramaswamy’s Foreign Policy Approach Offers Rivals a Line of Attack As Vivek Ramaswamy rises in the polls, fellow Republican presidential candidates are keying in on a number of policy pronouncements that veer far from the G.O.P. mainstream.

Prosecutors Criticize Trump’s Request for 2026 Trial Date in Jan. 6 Case Defense lawyers had said they needed years to wade through 11 million pages of evidence, but the Justice Department, which is seeking to go to trial in January, said they were exaggerating the burden.

Nuclear War Could End the World, but What if It’s All in Our Heads? Some experts want to apply recent neuroscience research to the decision making that could lead to doomsday.

Biden Visiting Hawaii to Inspect Wildfire Damage After remaining secluded since Friday, the president will break away from his vacation for a brief trip to Maui, where flames have demolished a town and killed more than 100 people.

Maui Fires Present a Huge Test for Hawaii’s Governor Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii sees lessons far beyond the islands in the disaster that has unfolded on Maui.

Tennessee Governor’s Gun Law Proposal Is Spurned by GOP Allies Tennessee’s Republican governor called a special session to address public safety in the wake of a school shooting, but his own party is set to thwart his key measure.

Caroline Kennedy Visits Solomon Islands Where J.F.K. Survived an Ordeal Ms. Kennedy’s recent swim in the Pacific waters where J.F.K. survived a wartime ordeal shows how her family legacy informs her work.

How Many Republicans Have Qualified for the Debate? It’s Still Unclear. Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas said Sunday that he had met the criteria, which would make eight candidates onstage. Or nine. Or 10. The Republican National Committee isn’t saying.