David M. Drucker: The GOP’s next leader will need more than populism

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President Donald Trump has always been just insider-enough to placate the Republican establishment and just outsider-enough to excite conservative populists. But keeping that political coalition together will be difficult for his successor in 2028.

Indeed, less than a year into Trump’s second presidency, the electoral consortium that made him only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms is showing signs of strain. That’s the best way to understand Republican infighting over Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein affair, as well as fresh fighting on the right over whether the GOP should tolerate antisemites and racists for the (presumed) sake of electoral expediency.

That’s also the prism through which to view the Republicans’ intraparty debate over extending Obamacare health insurance subsidies — and the fact that congressional Republicans are beginning to demand more information from the Trump administration about U.S. military strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.

“Trump has truly been a one-of-a-kind political figure,” Jeffrey Brauer, a political science professor at Keystone College, near Scranton, Pennsylvania, told me. “Cracks are beginning to emerge in the MAGA coalition.”

The “MAGA coalition,” aptly named for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, is often associated with the populist conservatives who have flocked to him. A significant percentage are low-propensity voters, or as Brad Todd and Salena Zito called them in their 2018 book, The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics, “Perot-istas.” Why?

Prior to 2016, many might not have pulled the lever for a presidential candidate since Ross Perot, another billionaire populist businessman and political outsider, was on the ballot. They might go dormant again after Trump, 79, fades from the scene.

But an often-disregarded ingredient in the president’s success and staying power has been consistent buy-in from establishment GOP figures and regular Republican voters.

While populists have seen Trump as the common-sense, street-fighting political outsider who would finally turn Washington on its head, rank-and-file Republicans influenced by the Reagan era have seen in Trump a boardroom businessman who would roll back government regulations, cut taxes and shrink government.

The big unknown for the Republicans: Can they find a standard-bearer in 2028 with Trump’s knack for attracting support from the two disparate wings of their party?

“Anytime a party loses a dominant figure as its leader there’s always anxiety whether the winning coalition will hold. It happened after Kennedy, Reagan, and Obama,” Republican media strategist Alfredo Rodriguez, who is based in Texas, told me, referring to Presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

“Whether the (MAGA) coalition holds together or fractures some is a legitimate question to ask,” Rodriguez conceded. But he added: “The idea the Republican Party is certain for doom without Trump on the ballot is way overblown.”

For now, most Republican insiders I talk to expect Vice President JD Vance, 41, to be the GOP’s 2028 nominee. That’s not rocket science. Vance will likely have the backing of Trump and key members of the president’s family — Donald Trump Jr. in particular — not to mention a growing political machine of his own.

Some party stalwarts speculate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, 54, is positioned to be selected as Vance’s running mate. (Rubio sought the White House in 2016 and was on Trump’s short list for vice president in 2024.)

Vance leading the GOP ticket would also suit a number of Republican operatives in the president’s political orbit. That fits; Vance has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Republican Party. However, he can at times ring more populist than Trump and has yet to demonstrate the president’s canny ability to also appease the Reaganite establishment. Still, the vice president’s boosters see a politician with the right political skill set — once he grabs the baton from his boss.

“To me, the bridge between the populists and the establishment — it can be done with humor. I really like what JD Vance did at Halloween, for example,” said Jack Kingston, a former Republican congressman from Georgia who is now a contributor at Newsmax. Kingston was referring to Vance showing some self-deprecating humor by dressing up as an Internet meme of himself.

I’m more interested in the answer to two questions: First, will any substantial, viable Republican dare challenge a Trump-backed Vance after watching what happened to the president’s GOP opponents in 2024? And if so, will any Republican on that list include a Reaganite politician who attempts to push the GOP away from big-government populism and back toward traditional, constitutional conservatism? Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, the runner-up for the nomination in 2016 and known to be interested in trying again, belongs on this watch list.

How Republicans fare in next year’s midterm elections could determine whether there’s a market for that — or at least, whether some enterprising Republican is willing to explore if such a market exists.

David M. Drucker is a columnist covering politics and policy. He is also a senior writer for The Dispatch and the author of “In Trump’s Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the Future of the GOP.”

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The angry queries from GOP legislators over possible U.S. military war crimes in the Caribbean are welcome. Yet, too many Republicans avoid the urgent question that hangs over the killing of more than 80 people allegedly smuggling drugs in small boats: Why is a massive American armada hovering off Venezuela in the first place?

The official response that this is a war to destroy criminal drug cartels who are poisoning Americans and thus undermining U.S. security is a transparent lie and a clumsy cover-up.

So, if drugs are only an excuse, is President Donald Trump really seeking regime change in Caracas (and has age dimmed his memory of his rants against regime change in Iraq and Libya)? Is he hoping for a domino effect on Cuba? Or is he fulfilling his self-appointed role as master of the Western Hemisphere (and perhaps of Venezuelan oil)?

As the United States faces domestic strife and serious conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Asia, Americans need to know why Trump is obsessed with war on Caracas. Congress must demand answers, now.

First, let us dispense with the myth that a mighty U.S. fleet is needed to combat Venezuelan drug cartels.

The vicious drug that claims thousands of U.S. victims and is at the center of U.S. drug interdiction efforts is fentanyl. But Venezuela neither makes nor exports fentanyl. Fentanyl comes nearly entirely from Mexico, where it is manufactured from precursors procured from China.

Venezuela is a pass-through country for cocaine exports by criminals — not major cartels. But cocaine is mainly manufactured in Colombia and reaches the U.S. primarily via the Pacific Ocean. Only about 8% of the cocaine that enters our country comes via the Caribbean; the U.S. Coast Guard had been doing a fine job interdicting small boats and arresting smugglers before Trump’s current war.

Yet the most obvious reason Trump’s “drug war” is phony is his pardon last week of the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in 2024 in a U.S. court of conspiring to import more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. (His brother was convicted in 2019 of helping import another 200 tons of cocaine.)

Trump claimed Hernández received an unfair shake under President Joe Biden because “he was the president of the country,” making clear he saw the Honduran as a fellow victim of the Democratic administration. Yet, it was Trump’s own former criminal defense lawyer, Emil Bove III, who, as a top U.S. Department of Justice official, pursued the conviction of Hernández and his Honduran drug ring, for which the trafficker received a sentence of 45 years.

“If there was any belief in Venezuela that (Trump) was threatening Venezuela on account of drugs, the pardon of Hernández makes clear that is not true,” I was told by Venezuelan-born Carolina Jiménez Sandoval, president of the human rights think tank WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), and also a distinguished fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House, a global affairs center.

WOLA opposes the U.S. killings of more than 80 mostly Venezuelan civilians without any judicial process, as well as the current, cruel U.S. treatment of Venezuelan refugees.

Jiménez Sandoval, who left Caracas in 2010 but still visits, is eager to see the end of the repressive regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who refused to recognize a massive electoral victory by the Venezuelan opposition in 2024.

She hopes Maduro can be convinced to leave office through negotiations. So far, Trump has had no luck.

However, the Venezuelan activist is deeply worried that Trump may oust Maduro by force, which she fears would only lead to more disaster in Venezuela and the region. “Our concern is it would set a terrible example for the rest of Latin America,” she says.

Moreover, although Venezuelan opposition groups claim they are ready to take over, Jiménez Sandoval points out that “Venezuela is a complex country, whose institutions have been greatly weakened under Maduro. And many armed groups are operating in the country.”

There is no guarantee Maduro’s large army would melt away. Moreover, sizeable numbers of paramilitary groups, known as colectivos, as well as Colombian guerrilla fighters. are present in Venezuela. They have a strong interest in protecting their corrupt control of natural resources. As Jiménez Sandoval put it, “There are too many questions about the day after.”

I can’t help recalling how certain George W. Bush was that the exiled Iraqi opposition would quickly take over the running of Iraq once Saddam Hussein was ousted. Instead, the returning exiles, along with U.S. troops, got mired in an Iraqi civil war between competing factions.

Despite the societal differences between Iraq and Venezuela, Trump should mind the famous Pottery Barn rule former Secretary of State Colin Powell derived from America’s disastrous involvement in Iraq: If you break it, you own it.

GOP leaders — angry at being stiffed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and at his careless handling of critical information — should stand tough and demand the details on this fake war he is refusing to provide.

Most importantly, Democrats and Republicans alike should warn Trump that they will oppose efforts to expand a war on Venezuela that has no legal or congressional justification and is based on the threat of a fictional drug war with Caracas.

Trump has huge leverage to exert on Maduro beyond a dangerous game of military chicken. The Venezuelan leader is unpopular in Latin America, and the U.S. should be allying with Venezuela’s neighbors in pushing Maduro toward recognition of the 2024 election results and exile.

GOP members will be severely punished at the polls if they let Trump blunder into an illegal military regime change based on ignorance of Venezuela and a tangle of lies about drugs.

Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member  for The Philadelphia Inquirer, P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, Pa. 19101. Her email address is trubin@phillynews.com.

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Seven cookies that will be the life of every party

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What’s better than a Dark ’n’ Stormy cocktail, buzzing with ginger and lime and rum? Maybe nothing — or maybe a ginger cookie that distills all that drink’s flavors into big, chewy bites.

Popcorn bucket cookies. This recipe takes all the fun of your favorite concession-stand players and bakes them right into and atop a simple sugar dough. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

Cookie Week, New York Times Cooking’s annual holiday baking tradition, is back. This year, we’re baking our favorite sweet and savory cravings into seven festive treats.

Delight in brownies that taste like Vietnamese iced coffee, savor the flavors of a coconut cake in a bright, bite-size package, or treat yourself to some mint chocolate chip (shortbreads, not ice cream). But don’t forget to have fun — the holidays are all about having your cookie and eating it, too.

Popcorn Bucket Cookies

These candy-studded cookies take all the fun of your favorite concession stand players and bake them right into and atop a simple sugar dough. Toffee bits feature in a supporting role, never overshadowing the stars (the popcorn and candy, of course). If using gummy candy, be sure to save them for the top; otherwise, the cookies will spread too much as they bake. Feel free to play around with the mix, but make sure your popcorn (microwave or stovetop) is freshly popped for a crisper and more even coating.

By Vaughn Vreeland

Yield: 30 cookies

Total time: About 1 hour, plus chilling and cooling

INGREDIENTS

For the Dough:

2 1/2 cups/320 grams all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup/226 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup/160 grams packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup/100 grams sugar
1 egg plus 1 yolk, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups movie theater candy, such as Raisinets, M&Ms, Kit Kats, Reese’s Pieces, cut into smaller pieces if in bars (See Tips)
3/4 cup/120 grams toffee bits, such as Heath

For Forming:

1/4 cup/56 grams unsalted butter, melted
4 cups popped popcorn (See Tips)
More candy, if desired (See Tips)
Flaky sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the butter and both sugars on medium speed for about a minute until evenly combined and noticeably lighter in color.

2. Add the egg and yolk, and mix on medium-high speed for another minute, until the mixture is fluffy and the sugars have mostly dissolved. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low until most of the flour has been incorporated, with a few dry pockets remaining. Add the candy and the toffee bits, and mix in with a spatula or wooden spoon by hand until evenly distributed and all the flour has been absorbed into the dough.

3. Using a 2-tablespoon/1-ounce scoop, scoop a heaping (about 50-gram) amount of dough and place on a rimmed baking sheet or other flat surface. Once all of the dough has been scooped, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and brush them with the melted butter. Place popcorn in a large mixing bowl and, using your hands, coarsely crush it so the pieces are about the size of peas (some variance is fine). Working one scoop of dough at a time, brush the top of the mound with melted butter, press the buttered side into the crushed popcorn to coat the top and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, placing each ball on the pan about 2 inches apart. (There should be 8 per half-sheet pan, but any remaining prepared dough can be covered and put back in the refrigerator until ready to bake.) Bake for 12 to 16 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cookies have spread slightly and start to take on golden-brown edges.

5. If desired, carefully press any leftover candy sparsely into the tops of the freshly baked cookies, while they’re still hot, for a more aesthetic look. Sprinkle with flaky salt and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Tips: Chocolate-coated and hard-shell candies (such as M&Ms or Reese’s Pieces) work best as mix-ins for the dough. Gummy candies, such as gummy bears and Sour Patch Kids, should not be mixed into the dough. Instead, they should be pressed into the tops of the freshly baked cookies (per Step 5), since they will melt and cause the cookies to spread unevenly.

While any popped popcorn will work, freshly popped works best. Movie-theater-style microwavable popcorn is preferred for its salty, buttery taste, as well as its freshness, but stovetop or store-bought popcorn works great, too.

Mortadella Cookies

Mortadella cookies. Don’t worry: These cookies only look like slices of mortadella. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

Don’t worry: These cookies only look like slices of mortadella, getting their slightly chewy texture and marzipan flavor from almond paste and almond extract. It joins the tradition of fashioning “sausage” cookies, from chocolate kolbasa in Eastern Europe to the salami cookie that Brooks Headley has served at Superiority Burger in New York. Freeze-dried strawberries give them color and fruity contrast, and the dough comes together easily in a food processor, making it a one-bowl endeavor.

By Claire Saffitz

Yield: 24 cookies

Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes, plus at least 2 1/2 hours’ freezing and cooling

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup/2 1/2 ounces raw macadamia nuts, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
3 tablespoons raw pistachios, chopped into ⅛-inch pieces
1 1/4 cups/163 grams all-purpose flour
1 1/2 ounces freeze-dried strawberries (about 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or 1/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (such as Morton)
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup/113 grams unsalted butter, chilled, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
4 ounces almond paste, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
2/3 cup/83 grams powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 large egg white, divided
1/3 cup/60 grams sanding sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Toss the macadamia nuts and pistachios on a cutting board or work surface to combine, then lift the pieces into a small bowl, leaving behind any very fine bits (reserve bits for stirring into yogurt or oatmeal, or adding to any batter). Set the nut pieces aside.

2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, freeze-dried strawberries, salt and baking powder. Process until the strawberries are completely ground into the flour and the mixture is a uniform pink color, about 45 seconds. Sift the flour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer onto a piece of parchment paper that’s at least 14 inches long, discarding any bits of strawberry left in the strainer. Set aside the flour mixture.

3. In the food processor bowl (no need to wash), combine the butter, almond paste, powdered sugar and almond extract, and process, pausing once to scrape down the bowl, until the mixture is completely smooth. In a small bowl, beat the egg white with a fork until it’s broken up and just a little bit foamy, then measure out 1 tablespoon and add to the food processor (reserve the remaining egg white for a later step; see Tips). Process until smooth, scrape down the bowl, then add the flour mixture (reserve the parchment paper). Process again until a ball of dough forms around the blade, about 20 seconds, scraping halfway through.

4. Turn the dough out onto the reserved parchment paper and knead briefly to bring it together and eliminate any streaks. Pat down the dough until it’s about 3/4-inch thick, then sprinkle the reserved nuts over the top. Knead the dough again until all of the nuts are evenly distributed, then form the dough into a 10-inch-long log oriented lengthwise on the parchment paper. Roll the log over the parchment into a smooth cylinder, then press any larger nut pieces on the surface of the cylinder into the center, pinching the dough around it to seal. (This will make the cookies easier to slice.)

5. Fold the end of the parchment paper farthest from you down and over the log, and place a bench scraper over the parchment, angled slightly downward but nearly parallel to the work surface. Push the scraper along the length of the log to force it into a cylinder shape, packing the cylinder tightly, until you have a log that’s about 12 inches long and a little less than 2 inches in diameter.

6. Roll up the log into the parchment paper, then tightly wrap it in two layers of plastic wrap, leaving some overhang. Grasping the excess parchment paper and plastic wrap on both ends of the log, twist until the dough is tightly compacted into a firm cylinder. Refrigerate until the dough is cold and firm, at least 2 hours. (See Tips.)

7. Sprinkle the sanding sugar across a clean work surface or cutting board. Remove the log of dough from the refrigerator and unwrap. Brush the surface of the log all over with the reserved egg white, then roll the log in the sanding sugar, pressing firmly so the sugar adheres, until it’s completely coated. Place the log on a small cutting board and freeze until very firm but not frozen solid, 15 to 20 minutes.

8. Heat oven to 300 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

9. Remove the dough from the freezer and use a sharp knife to slice off one end, then slice the log into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, placing them on the prepared baking sheet about 1/2-inch apart (the cookies will spread slightly). As you slice, rotate the log to maintain a round shape. Refrigerate any slices of dough you weren’t able to fit on the baking sheet.

10. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven (center rack) and bake until the cookies are just barely golden brown at the edges, 16 to 19 minutes. Let cool for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack, then bake any remaining cookies as you did the first batch.

Tips: If you want a deeper pink color in your end result, add a few drops of red gel food coloring in Step 3.

Dough log can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months (coat in sanding sugar just before slicing). Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator for 24 hours before slicing. Baked cookies will keep in an airtight container for several days (they will soften slightly over time).

Coconut Cake Snowballs

Coconut cake snowballs. Samantha Seneviratne’s Cookie Week entry takes the essentials of a towering coconut cake – the buttery crumb and billowy frosting – and shrinks them down into the cutest tiny treat. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

These holiday cookies take all the best parts of a towering coconut cake — the buttery, yellow cake and billowy cream cheese frosting — and shrink them down to the cutest tiny treat. Sweetened shredded coconut and unrefined coconut oil (for the most coconutty essence) in the dough is the source of their signature flavor, while a finish in glaze and more shredded coconut — tinted in whatever color you like — gives them their bright flourish. If you’re tight on time, though, skip the frosting and drizzle the cookies with some melted chocolate or toss them in powdered sugar to finish. They’ll still look like they’re ready to party.

By Samantha Seneviratne

Yield: About 40 cookies

Total time: 1 hour, plus 2 hours’ freezing and cooling

INGREDIENTS

For the Cookies:

2 cups/256 grams all-purpose flour

3/4 cup/64 grams toasted sweetened, shredded coconut

3/4 cup/72 grams almond flour

3/4 cup/87 grams powdered sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

3/4 cup/170 grams salted butter, preferably European, cut into pieces and at room temperature

1/4 cup/57 grams unrefined coconut oil, softened

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the Topping:

3 cups/255 grams sweetened, shredded coconut (untoasted)

2 to 3 drops gel food coloring

4 ounces/113 grams full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

3 cups/369 grams powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

6 tablespoons/90 grams whole milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the cookies: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, coconut, almond flour, powdered sugar and salt, and process until it’s well mixed and the coconut is finely ground, about 1 minute.

2. Add the butter, coconut oil and vanilla, and process until a dough forms, about 1 minute.

3. Portion the dough into 1-tablespoon/15-gram scoops and roll into balls. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet or plate and wrap well with plastic. Freeze the balls until firm, at least 1 hour.

4. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Set the frozen balls onto the prepared sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake the cookies, rotating the pans on the oven racks halfway through, until they are golden brown and set, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer the sheets to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining frozen dough, if necessary.

5. While cookies cool, prepare the topping: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the coconut and the food coloring. (You can also do this in batches, dyeing the coconut in multiple colors.) Pulse until the coconut is finely ground and the color is evenly dispersed. Transfer the coconut to a small bowl.

6. Prepare the glaze: In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and salt until smooth, scraping after each addition. Add the vanilla and beat until smooth. Beat in the whole milk.

7. To finish the cookies, dip each into the glaze, dome side down, and shake off the excess glaze. Immediately dip the glazed side into the colored coconut. Set the cookies on a large plate, flat side down, and wait for glaze to set before serving, about 1 hour. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the fridge. (Baked, unglazed cookies can be frozen for up to 1 month.)

Tips: For a nice, even coating on your cookies, dry out the coconut on a sheet pan for at least 6 hours, then proceed with Step 5.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mint chocolate chip cookies. Eric Kim’s easy, fun-to-make cookies taste and feel as if you’re eating mint-chip ice cream, thanks to peppermint extract and its icy cooling effect. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

These easy, fun-to-make cookies taste and feel like you’re eating mint chip ice cream, thanks to the peppermint extract and its icy cooling effect. A crisp-tender sugar cookie base — made without a mixer — is topped with a layer of minty white chocolate that’s thinned out with olive oil. Dark chocolate shavings lend bitterness to balance the sweetness.

By Eric Kim

Yield: About 18 pieces

Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes, plus cooling

INGREDIENTS

For the Cookie Base:

1/2 cup/113 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
1 1/2 cups/180 grams powdered sugar
1 large egg white, at room temperature
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1 cup/130 grams all-purpose flour

For the Topping:

1 ounce bittersweet dark chocolate
4 ounces/113 grams white chocolate (see Tip)
1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 drops blue food coloring (not gel)
1 drop yellow food coloring (not gel)

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the cookie base: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (using a butter wrapper is especially easy here). Line the pan with parchment paper so there’s overhang on two sides.

2. In a medium bowl, using a flexible spatula or wooden spoon, cream together the butter and the powdered sugar until smooth. Whisk in the egg white, peppermint and vanilla extracts, and salt until smooth. Switch back to the spatula or spoon, and stir in the flour until just combined.

3. Spread the dough as evenly as you can across the prepared pan. Bake, rotating halfway through, until lightly golden on top with golden-brown edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Let the cookie cool completely in the pan, about 1 hour. (It will harden as it cools.)

4. Prepare the topping: Using a sharp knife, finely chop the dark chocolate into thin chips, like wood shavings. Heat the white chocolate in 15-second intervals in the microwave, stirring between each, until melted and smooth. Stir in the olive oil, peppermint extract and food colorings. You should have a minty blue-green color. Using a small offset spatula, spread this evenly across the top of the cooled cookie, leaving a 1/2-inch border. (You’ll slice them off later.)

5. Top the cookie with the dark chocolate chips while the white chocolate is still wet. (Alternatively, you can grate the chocolate over using the largest holes of a box grater.) Refrigerate or freeze the pan until the white chocolate is fully set.

6. Remove the cookie from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Slice off the four naked edges to discard or to snack on later. Cut the remainder into long, irregular shapes, starting at the corners. These cookies keep fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Tips: Both white chocolate chips and a quality white chocolate bar work well, but if at any point in the melting process, your chocolate seizes or wants to firm up, dribble in a little more olive oil to smooth it out.

Peanut Brown-Butter Cookies

Peanut brown-butter cookies. Inspired by Payday bars, Sue Li’s simple treat mimics the flavor of the candy’s caramel nougat center through a brown butter-infused dough. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

Inspired by the Payday bar, this simple cookie mimics the flavor of the candy’s caramel nougat center through a brown butter-infused dough. Once shaped, the dough is then rolled generously in salted roasted peanuts for crunch and an irresistible nod to the candy.

By Sue Li

Yield: 32 cookies

Total time: 45 minutes, plus cooling

INGREDIENTS

For the Cookies:

1/2 cup/113 grams unsalted butter
1 packed cup/220 grams dark brown sugar
2/3 cup/187 grams creamy peanut butter
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups/192 grams all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Coating:

1 large egg
2 1/2 cups/350 grams salted roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
Flaky sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare the cookies: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. When it starts to bubble, lower the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring constantly with a spatula, until the butter browns, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer, scraping up the butter solids, into a small bowl and set aside to cool to room temperature.

2. Once the butter is cooled, scrape it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. (Or move it to a large bowl and use a hand mixer.) Add the dark brown sugar and peanut butter, and beat on medium speed until the mixture is pale, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat again until the mixture is smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Add the flour, salt and baking soda, and mix on low until combined, scraping the bottom as you go.

3. Arrange the racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

4. Roll the dough into roughly 1 1/2-tablespoon-size balls and place them on a plate.

5. Prepare the coating: Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Spread the chopped peanuts on a large plate.

6. Dip each dough ball into the egg mixture and roll and press the peanuts into each ball. (Use some pressure to make sure the peanuts really stick. The dough may crack slightly when pressed, and that is fine. Just add peanuts into the cracks.) Space the dough balls about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets, and, using your hand, press them gently until they’re ½-inch thick. Sprinkle each with flaky sea salt.

7. Bake the cookies until they are golden brown on the edges, 13 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack before serving.

Vietnamese Coffee Swirl Brownies

Vietnamese coffee swirl brownies. Melissa Clark took the bittersweet elements of Vietnamese coffee – espresso and sweetened condensed milk – and turned them into brownies. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

These ultra-fudgy brownies take the bittersweet elements of Vietnamese coffee — espresso and sweetened condensed milk — and turn them into dessert. For the most pronounced coffee flavor, there’s instant espresso in the brownie batter, plus some ground espresso (or coffee beans) speckling the milky cream cheese swirl. To get the neatest, most crumb-free slices, chill the cooled brownies for an hour or so before slicing them upside down. Use a sharp knife and wipe it down between slices. These brownies last for up to a week when kept refrigerated in an airtight container, and they freeze well, too.

By Melissa Clark

Yield: 16 brownies

Total time: About 1 1/2 hours

INGREDIENTS

1 cup/225 grams unsalted butter, plus more for pan
8 ounces/225 grams unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cups/400 grams sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch-process
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup/125 grams all-purpose flour
1/2 cup/85 grams bittersweet chocolate chips (optional)

For the topping:

2/3 cup/170 grams cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 teaspoons ground espresso or dark roast coffee beans
Flaky sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of overhang on two sides to use as handles later.

2. In a large heavy saucepan set over medium-low heat, combine the butter, chopped chocolate, instant espresso powder and salt. Let butter and chocolate melt, stirring occasionally. (Alternatively, using the microwave, melt the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl, in 30-second increments, until smooth, stirring between increments.)

3. Whisk in sugar and cocoa powder until smooth, then whisk in eggs and vanilla. Finally, whisk in flour until no streaks remain. Using a spatula, fold in the chocolate chips, if using.

4. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.

5. To prepare the topping, using a whisk, beat together cream cheese and condensed milk in a small bowl until very smooth. Use a spatula to mix in ground espresso beans until just combined. (Don’t overmix: You want to see speckles.) Dollop on top of brownie batter in the pan and swirl with a knife or spatula, pulling up some of the brownie batter from beneath the topping for a marble effect. (For best results, both topping and brownie batter should be about the same temperature.) Sprinkle lightly with flaky sea salt.

6. Bake until the top is set, the center is soft and the edges start pulling away from the pan, 30 to 40 minutes. (Ceramic and glass pans will take about 5 minutes longer.) The top should look dry and firm when done, but a toothpick inserted into the center should come out slightly gooey.

7. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. To get the neatest pieces, chill the brownies for 1 hour, then invert the whole slab of brownie onto a cutting board, peel off the parchment, and slice them, still upside down, into bars.

Dark ’n’ Stormy Cookies

Dark ‘n’ Stormy cookies. Cayenne joins the classic spice mix of ginger, cloves and cinnamon, and candied ginger, infused with dark rum, is mixed in. Props styled by Megan Hedgpeth. Food styled by Samantha Seneviratne. (Rachel Vanni/The New York Times)

The Dark ’n’ Stormy is a festive and fiery cocktail made with spicy ginger beer, warm dark rum and a refreshing hint of lime — a welcome wake-up call for your taste buds. This cookie recipe is no different. Cayenne joins the classic spice mix of ginger, cloves and cinnamon, and candied ginger, infused with dark rum, is mixed in, adding chewiness and sweetness. It’s all finished with a tart, refreshing lime-and-rum glaze. But perhaps the best part is that, unlike the cocktail, there is no limit to how many you should consume.

By Dan Pelosi

Yield: 24 cookies

Total time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

INGREDIENTS

For the Cookies:

1 packed cup/160 grams finely chopped crystallized ginger
1/4 cup/60 grams dark rum
3 cups/384 grams all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1 cup/220 grams lightly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup/100 grams sugar, plus about 1/2 cup/100 grams more for rolling
1/2 cup/113 grams unsalted butter, softened and cut into 8 tablespoons
1/3 cup/80 grams unsulphured molasses
2 large eggs

For the Glaze:

2 cups/244 grams powdered sugar
2 tablespoons dark rum
2 tablespoons lime juice
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
2 limes

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Prepare the cookies: In a small bowl, combine the chopped crystallized ginger and rum, and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 90 seconds or until the rum starts to boil. Stir, cover again and set aside.

3. To a large bowl, add the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, cayenne and salt, and stir to combine. Set aside.

4. To a second large bowl, add the brown sugar, sugar, butter and molasses. Use a wooden spoon to beat until the mixture becomes light in color, 4 to 5 minutes.

5. Add the eggs to the large bowl one at a time, mixing to incorporate each time. Add the dry ingredients in 3 batches, stirring after each to combine.

6. Strain any liquid from the bowl of crystallized ginger and discard, then add the ginger to the cookie dough and stir to evenly distribute.

7. Place about 1/2 cup sugar on a plate. Roll 2 tablespoons of cookie dough in the sugar to coat it completely. Transfer to the baking sheet and gently press to slightly flatten. Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving 1 inch of space between cookies, with 8 cookies total on each baking sheet. Bake for exactly 12 minutes, and let cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

8. Make the glaze: To a medium bowl, add the powdered sugar, dark rum, lime juice and a big pinch of kosher salt. Whisk until smooth. Place the cooling rack on top of the parchment-lined baking sheet and line up all cookies so they touch. Dip the cookies face down into the glaze, then zest limes over to finish. Allow the glaze to dry fully before serving.

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Editorial: Costco’s lawsuit puts Trump’s tariffs on trial at the kitchen table

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Costco has become a symbol of American abundance.

A place where you can buy a 10-pound rack of ribs, Christmas lights, a new winter coat, shoes for your kids, a flat-screen TV or those delicious gluten-free macarons. You can get a massive slice of pizza for $1.99. If you’re a hungry high schooler, you can buy the whole pie for about $10.

A handful of viral videos on TikTok and X show people from communist countries such as Cuba, as well as former Soviet bloc nations, having emotional reactions as they first experience the store’s aisles of plenty, wandering awestruck amid cases of oversized meats, prepared food and clothing.

To some degree, most of us feel that sense of wonder when we walk into one of these warehouses.

Point is, Costco is a beloved part of American culture. A place where you can get a good deal and a good meal — and about a thousand other things. And President Donald Trump’s tariffs are on their naughty list this holiday season.

Costco is suing the Trump administration, asking the courts to overturn the sweeping tariffs imposed beginning in February under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and arguing the law doesn’t actually give the president authority to levy import duties without the approval of Congress. The retailer is also seeking refunds of tariffs it has already paid this year on imported goods.

Costco has not publicly disclosed the cost it has incurred due to Trump’s trade wars, but it’s certain to be a lot of money. And when one of America’s biggest retailers is forced to shoulder substantial new tariff costs, a fair chunk of those expenses show up in its price tags. Ordinary Americans ultimately pay that freight.

Americans trust Costco with a kind of bipartisan affection that’s increasingly rare in today’s politically fraught consumer landscape. The chain symbolizes value, fairness, stability and competence — traits many voters feel our politics lack. When a brand with that sort of credibility publicly challenges a president’s signature economic policy, it punctures Trump’s narrative that his tariffs primarily hit foreign governments rather than American consumers and businesses.

In short, Costco has loads of clout with suburban families, small business owners and other middle-income shoppers who watch prices closely. What they say and do matters.

The mega retailer isn’t the only company that’s challenged Trump’s tariffs. Learning Resources LLC, a Vernon Hills toymaker, also filed suit, as did Revlon and Kawasaki Motors. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments on the challenge by Learning Resources and another plaintiff and is expected to decide within the next few months. If the court rules against Trump, it would deal a major blow to what has become a central plank of the president’s trade agenda.

No matter what the courts decide, shoppers are already feeling the consequences. Even with inflation cooling, prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels, giving warehouse clubs a bigger role in helping families stretch their budgets.

And if the brand on which you rely for necessities points the finger at tariffs, you’re more likely to listen.

Trump can shrug off criticism from economists or Democrats. But when one of the country’s most beloved brands says his trade policy is misguided, it risks shifting the conversation from ideology to everyday life — where Trump’s message is most vulnerable.

— The Chicago Tribune

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