President Donald Trump and his aides spent the weekend arguing that the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani made the world safer for Americans. Hardly cowed by sanctions or the assassination, Iran remained defiant and continues to pledge revenge. U.S. allies have been lukewarm in their support of Trump and there is confusion over U.S. policy in the region. While some fear more U.S. troops will be sent to the Middle East, there are now reports America may be mulling a withdrawal from Iraq (no decision has been made, one official said). After Iraq urged the U.S. to go, Trump threatened to sanction the ally and seek billions of dollars in reimbursement. He also repeated his threat to bomb Iranian cultural sites, widely condemned as a promise to commit a war crime. —Josh Petri

Here are today’s top stories

Soleimani led Iran’s push to build influence in the Arab world. The focus is now on the void he leaves behind.

Investors have (so far) kept their cool over the Iran situation. U.S. stocks even advanced on Monday. So what would it take for markets to crater?

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said he is willing to testify if subpoenaed during Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate.

Trump’s acquittal in the Republican-controlled Senate may seem like a sure bet. His re-election is not.

In 2011, the $1 billion Crescent Dunes solar plant was to be the biggest installation of its kind. By the time it opened in 2015, it was already obsolete.

Harvey Weinstein on Monday was charged with sex crimes in California. He’s about to be tried on charges of rape and predatory sexual assault in New York.

What’s Joe Weisenthal thinking about? The Bloomberg news director is watching stocks fluctuate as tensions rise between the U.S. and Iran. On some gut level, he says, you could make the case that markets are vulnerable to a significant slide. Last year was an extraordinary year for stocks, and it certainly felt euphoric by the end. That said, as good as 2019 was for investors, Joe says maybe it wasn't such a wild party after all.

What you’ll need to know tomorrow

Gold and oil both surged amid the U.S.-Iran confrontation.
Two major U.S. milk producers recently filed for bankruptcy.
Venezuela's latest problem is there are now too many dollars.
Yum! Brands is adding a burger chain to its menu of restaurants.
New Jersey train stations are drawing New York gamblers.
Boeing shares fell after reports of further issues with its 737 Max.
Netflix was snubbed and Hollywood skewered at the Golden Globes.

What you’ll want to read tonight

How Nissan’s Carlos Ghosn Escaped Japan

On its face, it must have seemed like a ridiculous idea: Spiriting one of the most recognizable businessmen in Japan, Carlos Ghosn, out of the country. Yet a former U.S. Army Green Beret and a veteran of the 2003 invasion of Iraq got the former Nissan leader out of Tokyo, using nothing more than the nation's own bullet train and a large black case to hide the executive from Japanese police.

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