Friday’s top story: Barr was invited to meet DoJ officials on same day he submitted anti-Mueller memo. Plus, America’s first openly gay governor

Good morning, I’m Tim Walker with today’s essential stories.

Attorney general called Mueller report ‘fatally misconceived’

Justice department officials invited William Barr to a meeting last summer on the same day he submitted an “unsolicited” memo criticising the investigation by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, into Russian election meddling as “fatally misconceived” and “legally insupportable”. Three weeks later, Barr, who was then a private lawyer, met with the officials for lunch. He was nominated as Donald Trump’s attorney general six months after that.

Mueller findings. The New York Times reported this week that investigators from Mueller’s team believe their findings were more damaging to Trump than Barr made out in his recent summary of the special counsel’s report.

Trump backtracks on border closure threat

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The US-Mexico border crossing in El Paso. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Following criticism from his own advisers, Trump has stepped back from his threat to close the US-Mexico border, telling reporters his administration would instead give Mexico “a one-year warning, and if the drugs don’t stop or largely stop, we’re going to put tariffs on Mexico”. Seven days ago, in response to the rising number of migrants from Central America, the president vowed on Twitter to close the border this week unless Mexico “immediately stop ALL illegal immigration” into the US.

Students harassed. Two students from the University of Arizona who were charged over a protest against US border patrol officers say the backlash from the authorities and from rightwing groups means they no longer feel safe on campus.

US-Saudi dual citizens detained by Riyadh

Facebook Twitter Pinterest These are the first arrests targeting critics of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since the death of Jamal Khashoggi. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Two US-Saudi dual citizens are among eight people to have been detained in Saudi Arabia, as the regime cracked down on perceived critics of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for the first time since the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul in October. The US citizens Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, whose mother is the prominent women’s rights activist Aziza al-Yousef, were among the group, which also includes a pregnant woman.

Social reformers. None of those arrested are frontline activists, but all are believed to have quietly supported social reforms, specifically with regards to women’s rights.

May requests further Brexit extension to end of June

Facebook Twitter Pinterest How long, exactly? Donald Tusk had offered the UK a flexible extension of up to a year.

Photograph: Julien Warnand/EPA

The UK prime minister, Theresa May, has requested a further Brexit extension until 30 June for the British parliament to agree on an EU departure plan. The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, had offered a flexible extension of up to a year, but a longer delay would undoubtedly fuel outrage from Brexiters. With negotiations between May and Jeremy Corbyn ongoing, she is expected to make a written offer of a Brexit compromise to the Labour leader, which could include proposals for a second referendum.

Border promise. During a visit to Dublin, the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has pledged the EU’s support for averting a hard border in Ireland, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Crib sheet

The Amazon chief executive, Jeff Bezos, and his now ex-wife Mackenzie have finalised the biggest divorce settlement in history, with Jeff Bezos retaining 75% of the couple’s Amazon stock, leaving Mackenzie Bezos with an estimated $36bn at current market prices.

The curtains in the UN security council chamber have been opened for the first time since an attempted bazooka attack on the building in 1964, during a speech by Che Guevara.

Teachers in Montreal have said they will ignore a proposed law banning staff at primary and secondary schools in Quebec from wearing religious symbols, which the province’s premier has said will foster the “separation of church from the state”.

The man charged with the murder of the rapper Nipsey Hussle has pleaded not guilty in Los Angeles. Eric Holder, 29, is being represented by the defence attorney Chris Darden, best known for being part of the prosecution team at the 1995 OJ Simpson trial.

Must-reads

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Clients from the online talent agency Gleam Futures. Illustration: Gleam Futures/Guardian Design

Why the online influencer industry is going ‘authentic’

Influencer marketing has become a well-established brand tactic, but disasters such as Fyre Festival are forcing social media stars to forego the fakery in favour of “more honest portrayals of people’s lives”, as the fashion influencer Victoria Magrath tells Sophie Elmhirst.

Jared Polis, the first openly gay governor

Less than three decades ago, Colorado was considered a homophobic “hate state”. Today it is home to America’s first openly gay governor. David Smith spent two days shadowing Jared Polis and the state’s first first gentleman, Marlon Reis.

Israel’s left looks to ‘best of the worst’ as election nears

Israel was founded by socialists, but today its political left wing is in tatters. Which is why, after a decade of rightwing governance under Benjamin Netanyahu, progressive voters may turn to the least worst option at the upcoming election: Benny Gantz, a macho former head of the Israel Defense Forces. Oliver Holmes reports from Tel Aviv.

Why self-optimising can be suboptimal

One life hacker went on more than 150 dates in four months because he feared missing out on “the one”. Another gave himself severe diarrhoea by experimenting with megadoses of a compound he thought might increase his endurance. Naively optimising one’s life can be suboptimal, writes Joseph Reagle – and even dangerous.

Opinion

White supremacy poses a serious and urgent threat to political stability, security and social cohesion on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond, says Gary Younge. The political class must stop pandering to that bigotry, and start challenging it.

The presence of fascists in government in Europe is no longer noteworthy and neo-Nazi demonstrators have an advocate in the White House. White supremacy, and the violence that it spawns, can no longer be lampooned as a postgraduate talking point. It is unpicking the now very fragile fabric that’s keeping us all together.

Sport

This week Augusta National, a golf club that only accepted female players for the first time in 2012, is hosting the inaugural Augusta Women’s National Amateur. Once again, says Anya Alvarez, women and the LPGA are at the forefront of progress in a conservative sport.

Manchester City are still seeking a historic quadruple as they face relative minnows Brighton in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, while Liverpool are keeping their title hopes alive as they travel to Southampton on Friday. Those are two of 10 things to watch out for during a packed weekend of soccer fixtures.

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