A surprise congressional standoff remind us that big, discordant change could be coming.

© Philotheus Nisch for The New York Times

A surprise congressional standoff remind us that big, discordant changes could be coming.

Yes, people want justice — as long as justice costs them nothing or very little.

Americans have counted on the indispensability of a constitutionally alert military. Will that continue?

The onslaught of awful makes bad look good.

Hegseth, too, wants to fight the “enemy within.”

Only a handful of Republicans are needed to stand up for the Senate’s right to advise and consent on nominations.

Readers discuss what one calls a “boom-or-bust precipitation cycle.” Also: Pete Hegseth’s mother’s accusation; what opera needs; Elon Musk and Mars.

President-elect Donald J. Trump is assembling a team of aides bent on confrontation with China. But he also has advisers who do business there, including Elon Musk.