New York Times

1. Keeping the House Absent, Johnson Marginalizes Congress and Himself

   The speaker’s decision to hold the House in an indefinite hiatus during the shutdown is his latest move to diminish the role of the legislative branch — and his own post.

2. An Obamacare Hot Spot Where Price Spikes Pose an Outsized Threat

   South Florida will feel some of the most intense reverberations if Congress allows the extra insurance subsidies it approved during the pandemic to expire.

3. Justice Department Will Monitor Elections in California and New Jersey

   The Trump administration said that monitors will watch polling in two states, led by Democrats, where key races or issues are on the ballot.

4. Trump Leaves Behind a Reeling Washington to Chase a Deal With China

   President Trump is embarking on a six-day diplomatic tour of Asia, testing his role as a statesman and negotiator as he pursues a trade deal with Beijing.

5. Asia, Caught in the Middle, Faces Trump and Xi’s Tug of War

   President Trump’s visit shows how the United States and China are vying for influence in Asia over trade, technology and the fate of Taiwan.