Tuesday Briefing

Fears of a U.S. constitutional crisis

The Trump administration yesterday stonewalled a federal judge seeking answers about whether it had violated his order by deporting more than 200 Venezuelans over the weekend. The hearing in Washington escalated a conflict that threatened to become a constitutional crisis.

A Justice Department lawyer refused to answer any detailed questions from the judge about the deportation flights to El Salvador, arguing that President Trump had broad authority to remove immigrants from the United States with little to no due process under an obscure wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The judge, James Boasberg, told the lawyer, Abhishek Kambli, to certify in writing by noon today — under seal, if necessary — that no immigrants had been deported after his written order took effect.

Context: The legal battle was the latest and perhaps most serious flashpoint yet between federal courts, which have sought to curb many of Trump’s executive actions, and an administration that has repeatedly come close to openly refusing to comply with judicial orders.

Putin and Trump will discuss Ukraine today

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Trump are scheduled to speak by phone today, the Kremlin said, as questions swirled over comments made by Trump about their agenda.

It will be the first known conversation between the leaders since Ukraine agreed to support a U.S.-backed monthlong cease-fire, if Russia did the same. Trump said he expected to discuss territorial issues and the fate of Ukrainian power plants with Putin, noting that there had already been talk about “dividing up certain assets.”

While Trump has said he wants to broker some sort of truce as quickly as possible, Putin seems to be trying to exploit the moment to win more concessions. Putin has not agreed to the cease-fire and has laid out conditions that could delay or derail one.

Crimes against Ukraine: The U.S. is withdrawing from a multinational group created to investigate leaders responsible for the invasion of Ukraine, including Putin, a letter shows. It is the latest indication that the White House is moving away from a commitment to hold Putin accountable.

Comfort food: Sushi has long been popular in Ukraine, and for people in the frontline town of Sloviansk, it provides a sense of normalcy.

Background: The Ukrainians lost an important bargaining chip when they were pushed out of most of Russia’s Kursk region.

Israel carried out ‘extensive strikes’ in Gaza

Israel launched a large-scale attack across the Gaza Strip early this morning, its first major assault on the territory in months. It was unclear whether the strikes effectively ended the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas that took effect in mid-January.

At least 44 Palestinians, including five children, were killed and more than 50 were injured, according to the Gazan Ministry of Health. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said the strikes were in response to a “repeated refusal” by Hamas “to release our hostages.”

MORE TOP NEWS

• South Sudan: After less than a decade of fragile peace, the country is again on the brink of war. Here’s what to know.

• Rwanda: In response to E.U. sanctions for fueling the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Belgium, its former colonial ruler.

• Economy: A new report forecasts that policy uncertainty and the growing trade war will drag down growth around the world.

• Social media: Pavel Durov, the Telegram founder who was charged in France last year with a range of crimes, was allowed to temporarily leave the country.

• Education: Harvard said it would offer free tuition for students whose families earn $200,000 or less.

• North Macedonia: The authorities have detained government officials in connection with a nightclub fire that killed at least 59 people.

• U.S.: Calls to a clinic indicated that Betsy Arakawa, who was found dead last month with her husband, Gene Hackman, lived longer than investigators had believed.

• Syria: Sectarian-driven civilian killings show that the new government is struggling to control its own forces and affiliated fighters.

• Tech: As companies chase the dream of artificial intelligence, data centers are popping up around the globe. Here’s a look at the supercomputers behind A.I.

• Film: Émilie Dequenne, who at 17 was named best actress at the Cannes Film Festival, died on Sunday. She was 43.

• Entertainment: Conan O’Brien was invited back to host the Oscars next year.

SPORTS NEWS

• Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton said his Ferrari race debut felt like a “crash course.” He finished a chaotic Australian Grand Prix in 10th place.

• Golf: This is how Rory McIlroy dealt with the pressure to win another Players Championship.

• Baseball: Japanese talent in the sport is entering a golden era.

MORNING READ

Where do you retire if you’re a penguin? Ideally, to your own island.

Six geriatric African penguins at a Boston aquarium are enjoying their golden years on an island designed to meet their needs, segregated from younger, more boisterous penguins and given buckets of fish to feast on at their own pace.

Lives lived: Lee Shau-kee, a Hong Kong billionaire who made his fortune building apartments for middle-class descendants of refugees from mainland China, died at 97.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• Off with his …: The head of a King George V statue in Australia had vanished without a trace. Then it showed up onstage.

• Land of jaguars: In the Pantanal of Brazil, the world’s largest wetlands, the normally shy animals are remarkably easy to observe.

• Exercise trends: Are vibration plates a scam?

ARTS AND IDEAS

Patrick Schwarzenegger gets rich quick

On the set of the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” the director Mike White had a repeated note for the actor Patrick Schwarzenegger: “Patrick, be richer.”

That might sound like a funny thing to tell the eldest son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. But he appears to have taken it to heart: Read how Schwarzenegger channeled his real-life experience with privilege into his finance-bro character.