Members phkrause Posted December 10, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 10, 2023 December 8, 2023 Our focus today is the race to dominate artificial intelligence. My colleagues Karen Weise and Cade Metz, who are covering the story from the West Coast, will take it from here. — David Leonhardt By Karen Weise and Cade Metz Good morning. We’re also covering Israeli troops in southern Gaza, abortion in Texas and Krispy Kreme in Paris. Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A.I.’s big year Just before Thanksgiving, a Silicon Valley giant appeared to implode before our eyes. A boardroom coup at OpenAI, the world’s hottest artificial intelligence company, pushed out its charismatic leader, Sam Altman. At the time, the ouster — and Altman’s roller-coaster ride to reclaim his job as C.E.O. — seemed sudden. In reality, it was more than a decade in the making. A.I. had been simmering in the tech world, as powerful figures poured money into research and fought with one another over heady questions of humanity, philosophy and power. This week, with our colleagues Mike Isaac and Nico Grant, we published a series recounting the recent history of A.I. and looking ahead to its future. In today’s newsletter, we explain what we learned. Egos and breakthroughs Powerful tech leaders — including Altman, Elon Musk and the Google co-founder Larry Page — were developing A.I. systems for years before the technology went mainstream. The men bickered over whether it would end up harming the world; some, including Musk, feared that A.I. would turn dystopian science fiction into reality, with computers becoming smart enough to escape human control. At the heart of these disagreements was a brain-stretching paradox: The men who said they were most worried about A.I. were among the most determined to create it. They justified that ambition by saying that they alone had the morals and skill to prevent A.I. tools from becoming rogue machines that could endanger humanity. Eventually, these disputes led them to split off and form their own A.I. labs. Each schism created more competition, which pushed the companies to advance A.I. even faster. A ‘fatal error’ The newly formed A.I. labs improved their technology over years. But nothing captured the public’s attention like ChatGPT, OpenAI’s chatbot, which debuted last year. It was an enormous hit, attracting millions of users with its ability to write poetry, summarize research and mimic everyday conversation. Our reporting found that Altman and OpenAI did not appreciate what they were about to unleash when they released ChatGPT. Internally, the company called the chatbot a “low key research preview.” Researchers and engineers at OpenAI were instead focused on developing more advanced technology. ChatGPT’s popularity supercharged the competition at big tech companies like Google and Meta, Facebook’s parent company, which raced to get their own products into the world. Though the companies were concerned that their A.I. chatbots were inaccurate or biased, they put those worries to the side — at least for the moment. As one Microsoft executive wrote in an internal email, “speed is even more important than ever.” It would be, he added, an “absolutely fatal error in this moment to worry about things that can be fixed later.” A.I. has since sneaked into daily life, through chatbots and image generators, in the word processing programs you might use at work, and in the seemingly human customer service agents you chat with online to return a purchase. People have already used it to create sophisticated phishing emails, cheat on schoolwork and spread disinformation. Members of the European Parliament. Frederick Florin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Speed vs. safety Though OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit, Altman transformed it into a commercial operation that investors now value at more than $80 billion. As Altman raced to advance the technology, some directors on the nonprofit’s board worried he was not being honest with them and felt they could no longer trust him to prioritize safety. That one person could be so central to the future of A.I. — and perhaps humanity — is a symptom of the lack of meaningful oversight of the industry. A.I. systems are advancing so rapidly and unpredictably that even on the rare occasions lawmakers and regulators have tried to tackle them, their proposals quickly become obsolete, as our colleagues Adam Satariano and Cecilia Kang found. For example, European regulators proposed “future proof” rules in mid-2021 that limited how A.I. could be used in sensitive cases, such as in hiring decisions and law enforcement. But the regulations did not contemplate the advances behind ChatGPT, which was released a year and a half later. The absence of rules has left a vacuum. The leading A.I. companies have proposed some voluntary guidelines — like using watermarks to help consumers spot A.I.-generated material — but it’s not clear how much they will matter. European regulators this week are in marathon sessions to write the world’s strictest A.I. regulations, and they will be worth watching. In the meantime, companies continue to push ahead. On Wednesday, Google demonstrated a powerful new A.I. system called Gemini Ultra, even though Google hasn’t yet completed its customary safety testing. The company promised it would be out in the world early next year. Related: Artists are using A.I. to produce or augment their work. Read about one. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War The Israeli military said it had detained hundreds of people suspected of terrorism, including Hamas fighters. Israel has found information about Hamas’s attack plans on Oct. 7, as well as data about the group’s tactics and abilities. Israel accused Hamas of firing rockets from designated humanitarian zones where thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge. Criticism of Harvard, M.I.T. and Penn mounted after congressional testimony from their presidents about antisemitism. (Representative Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, has gone viral after her questioning.) Politics Donald Trump Doug Mills/The New York Times Donald Trump’s lawyers appealed a judge’s ruling that he is not immune from prosecution, part of Trump’s effort to delay his Jan. 6 criminal trial until after the 2024 election. A special counsel charged Hunter Biden with failing to pay taxes on millions in income. A super PAC backing Ron DeSantis’s presidential bid is running ads that liken Nikki Haley to Hillary Clinton. Here’s a fact-check of the claims. Congress Hard-right House Republicans are once again angry at Speaker Mike Johnson — this time for making a deal with Democrats to strip conservative provisions from a defense bill. The House censured Representative Jamaal Bowman, a New York Democrat, for setting off a fire alarm during a debate in September. Biden tied Ukraine aid to border security, and it backfired on him, Zolan Kanno-Youngs writes. International A plant in China. Qilai Shen for The New York Times China’s electric-car factories can’t hire fast enough to keep up with their rapid expansion. Britain said Russia had targeted its lawmakers in cyberattacks for years. A city-size iceberg is moving out of Antarctic waters and will eventually melt. Other Big Stories A Texas judge ruled that a woman whose fetus has a fatal condition could get an abortion, overriding the state’s strict ban. The Texas attorney general said the woman and hospital staff could still face prosecution. In a lawsuit, survivors of a sex cult accused Sarah Lawrence College of negligence for allowing a predator into their dorm. Catholic nuns with shares in Smith & Wesson are suing the gun company for selling an AR-15-style rifle. Meteorologists expect an odd weekend of weather in the eastern U.S., with unseasonal warmth and heavy rain. Opinions Canada’s new tech law makes the country a test case for a world where Google shares news without deciding which outlets succeed and which fail, Julia Angwin writes. Universities must resolve a double standard: They either punish antisemitism or accept all offensive speech, Bret Stephens writes. The House hearing on campus antisemitism confirmed people’s worst fears. But watching the whole hearing reveals the trap university presidents entered, Michelle Goldberg writes. A subscription to match the variety of your interests. News. Games. Recipes. Product reviews. Sports reporting. A New York Times All Access subscription covers all of it and more. Subscribe today. MORNING READS A 1926 typewriter once owned by Ernest Hemingway. Desiree Rios for The New York Times Heirloom: You can buy Hemingway’s typewriter. But would you use it? Turtle transit: They washed ashore in Massachusetts. To save them, private planes are taking them south. Scottish stink: This may be the world’s smelliest cheese. Modern Love: Divorce taught a lesson — never rely on a man for money. Lives Lived: Juanita Castro supported her brother Fidel when he led the uprising that toppled Cuba’s dictator in 1959. But she broke with him over his crackdown on dissent and went on to collaborate with the C.I.A. before fleeing Cuba in 1964. She died at 90. SPORTS N.F.L.: Bailey Zappe, an unlikely hero, led the Patriots to a 21-18 win over the Steelers. Basketball: The Pacers and the Lakers will play for the first N.B.A. Cup on Saturday, after Los Angeles walloped New Orleans and Indiana edged Milwaukee in the semifinals. Golf move: Jon Rahm is joining LIV. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Opening day at Krispy Kreme, Paris. Violette Franchi for The New York Times Haute cuisine: Hundreds of Parisians stood in line at dawn Wednesday, awaiting their first bite of a delicacy: a Krispy Kreme doughnut. The pastry chain opened its first restaurant in France, joining a market where American chains like McDonald’s, Starbucks and Popeyes are thriving. “This is all about American pop culture,” said Alexandre Maizoué, the director general of Krispy Kreme France. “They’ve seen all the American series. They like U.S. culture and the American art de vivre.” More on culture Sony said that purchased Discovery shows, including “MythBusters” and “Deadliest Catch,” would soon be deleted from PlayStation devices. Benjamin Zephaniah, a poet who wrote about social justice issues and helped inspire a generation of British poets, died at 65. Jon Fosse, who will receive the Nobel Prize in Literature this weekend, said that a childhood brush with death had influenced his literary work. Read a profile of him. Late-night hosts slammed Vivek Ramaswamy for pushing conspiracy theories. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Bake a round of brie for your next party. Make a great photo book. Shovel snow with the right tools. Take the news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were conflict and infliction. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 10, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 10, 2023 December 9, 2023 By Melissa Kirsch Good morning. It’s year-end list time. What are your favorites from 2023? María Jesús Contreras Record of the year Three weeks left in the year, but don’t be fooled: December has its own peculiar velocity. Weeks seem to pass more quickly as the month goes on, a downhill sled picking up speed. Depending on your orientation to the holidays, the end of 2023 or time’s passage in general, this could feel exciting or it could be bewildering. Here we go, ready or not! Into the small hours of the year, into the dawn of another one. One way to keep track of time is to keep track of how you spend it. What did you watch or read or cook or listen to or otherwise consume this year? This is one of the virtues of best-of lists. They’re a way to organize a year, and a generally positive one at that. You look back over 12 months and ask: “What did I love this year? What do I recommend?” I’ve already loaded my queues and playlists with picks from The Times critics’ year-end lists: the best movies, theater, comedy, albums. As much as I love these genre-specific lists, what I always long for are highly specific, culturally omnivorous inventories of personal favorites. I want a list that includes everything, regardless of genre: yes, the best thing you watched, but also the best thing you ate, the best advice you received, the best app you discovered, the best line you encountered in a movie, the best book you read that’s been sitting on your shelf for more than a decade, the best change you made to your evening routine. Last year, readers of The Morning sent in their own highly personal, category-free favorites, and the result was a rich trove of recommendations that I’ve been plumbing for the past almost-12 months. I hope you’ll indulge me again and share your personal recommendations from 2023. You can submit them here, and I’ll include a bunch in an upcoming newsletter. For more The cultural critic Fran Hoepfner requisitioned just such far-ranging lists from her friends and published them in her newsletter, Fran Magazine. One friend’s list includes a corn chowder recipe, a book about memory and Joseph Cornell’s boxes. Delightful. The best advice readers of The Morning received last year. All of The Times’s best of 2023 lists. Many more year-end lists from around the internet. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE WEEK IN CULTURE Karen Finley at Art Basel Miami Beach this week. Marian Carrasquero for The New York Times Conservatives called Karen Finley’s artwork obscene. Twenty-five years after she was involved in a Supreme Court ruling, she’s revisiting the subject at Art Basel Miami Beach. James Poniewozik, our television critic, writes that Norman Lear, the “All in the Family” producer who died Tuesday at the age of 101, made his sitcoms into a form of patriotic dissent. “Oppenheimer” will be released next year in Japan. Critics there had said the biopic’s cross-promotion with “Barbie” trivialized the U.S. nuclear attacks on Japan during World War II. A new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, “Women Dressing Women,” is the museum’s first to survey the work of only women. The composer Jay Schwartz’s latest orchestral work, born of the pandemic, loss and long swims in open water, is premiering in Germany. A new lawsuit accused the hip-hop mogul Sean Combs of participating in the gang-rape of an unnamed 17-year-old girl in 2003. He denied the allegations. Artforum lost most of its contributors and longtime staff after its top editor was fired for publishing an open letter on the Israel-Hamas war. Now the magazine’s future is in flux. Ryan O’Neal, who became an instant star with the 1970 blockbuster “Love Story,” died at 82. He had the face of a good guy and a gift for mixing innocence and wit, our critic writes. THE LATEST NEWS Displaced Palestinians set up a makeshift camp in the Al-Muwasi area of the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday. Fatima Shbair/Associated Press The U.S. blocked a U.N. resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, arguing that it would allow Hamas to regroup. The vote was 13 to 1, with Britain abstaining. The Texas Supreme Court temporarily halted a judge’s ruling allowing an abortion for a Dallas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition. An appeals court upheld but narrowed the gag order on Donald Trump in his Jan. 6 criminal case, letting Trump criticize Jack Smith, the federal prosecutor who brought the case. The F.D.A. approved two treatments for sickle cell disease, including the first therapy approved for humans that uses the gene editing tool CRISPR. The U.S. labor market is slowing but remains robust, adding 199,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent. The E.U. reached a deal on a new law that would set limits on artificial intelligence technology, one of the world’s first comprehensive attempts to regulate it. Tears, a boardroom brawl and shouts of a “coup”: Behind the scenes of Sam Altman’s ouster from, and return to, OpenAI. Don’t miss the best of Cookie Week. Subscribe to Cooking. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. CULTURE CALENDAR By Alexis Soloski 🎥 “Wonka” (Friday): Craving some lightly adulterated imagination? This film from Paul King (the auteur behind the marmalade-sweet “Paddington” films) offers a “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” prequel, imagining the early life of Willy Wonka, the culinary genius with a peculiar succession strategy. Hollywood’s boy prince Timothée Chalamet stars as the erratic chocolatier, with Hugh Grant as a grouchy and extremely orange Oompa Loompa. 📺 “The Crown” (Thursday): Since it debuted on Netflix in 2016, “The Crown,” Peter Morgan’s lightly fictionalized survey of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, has courted adoration and controversy. Luxurious, measured and mildly provocative, it has invited many of England’s finest actors to pass the roles among them, like batons in an opulent relay race. These final episodes, the latter half of the show’s sixth season, nudge the monarchy toward the present, with story lines including Prince William’s courtship of Kate Middleton. God save. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECIPE OF THE WEEK David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. By Melissa Clark Chicken Thighs With Sweet Potatoes and Dates Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah and need a main course, or are just on the lookout for a delightful dinner, my braised chicken thighs with sweet potatoes and dates are just the thing. Based on tsimmes, the Ashkenazi dish of root vegetables sweetened with dried fruit, I added chicken, leeks and orange juice to turn what is usually a side dish into a festive and colorful one-pot meal. And, conveniently, you can make it a day or so in advance, then reheat it just before serving. Mound it on top of a bed of polenta, or spoon some next to latkes or some crusty bread: You’ll want something absorbent to catch all the lovely, fragrant sauce. REAL ESTATE The semiautonomous commune of Christiania in Copenhagen. Betina Garcia for The New York Times We built this city: The semiautonomous Danish community of Christiania was created as a post-’60s anarchistic paradise. But violence and drugs may spell its end. What you get for $450,000: A one-bedroom cottage in Ridgefield, Conn.; a four-bedroom bungalow in Durham, N.C.; and a three-bedroom condominium in an 1896 building in Pittsburgh. The hunt: With the proceeds from an apartment sale and a dream of making wine in Napa Valley, a buyer looking for an investment property put down $700,000 in California. How much house would it buy? Play our game. Rocking the house: Hip-hop got its start in a Bronx apartment building 50 years ago. The concept of home has been at the center of the genre ever since. LIVING City Hall in Vienna. Florentina Olareanu for The New York Times 36 hours in: Vienna, the Austrian capital, beckons as a wintry escape that nonetheless clings to tradition. Skim milk: Are low-fat dairy products really healthier? Growing old: Genes that boost fertility can also shorten our life. Enter Sandman: Sharing a bed with a restless sleeper doesn’t have to be torture, experts say. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Gifts that will last forever The best gifts delight in the moment, sure, but they prove their real worth in the days, months and years ahead. As Wirecutter’s gifts editor, I’m both professionally and personally opposed to buying junk. You won’t find a gag gift or a one-and-done trinket in any of Wirecutter’s gift guides. What you will find, however, are gifts that just might last forever. I’ve gifted a majestic stovetop popcorn popper to all my nearest and dearest. I enjoy my spoils from a Vermont-hewn hardwood bowl that also makes an everlasting gift. And I’ll never tire of giving socks, but only when they’re the very best hiking socks money can buy. You can find all of those and more in our guide to gifts that will last forever. — Hannah Morrill Need gifting help? Text Wirecutter’s experts. Using one word only, describe your recipient (try “Dad” or “Kid”) to (646) 350-0385 and receive a handpicked recommendation. GAME OF THE WEEKEND LeBron James in the semifinal game in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers, N.B.A.: This is the championship game of the N.B.A.’s In-Season Tournament, a new midyear competition akin to those in European soccer. The matchup is a great one: The Pacers are a young, fast team with an emerging superstar in Tyrese Haliburton. The Lakers are led by LeBron James, who at age 38 is still — when he musters the energy — the best basketball player on earth. James is certainly going to bring the energy tonight, with a trophy — and a $500,000 prize — on the line. 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were doornail and ordinal. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 11, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 11, 2023 December 11, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We’re covering the rise in U.S. traffic deaths — as well as Harvard’s president, corporate profits and “The O.C.” Karsten Moran for The New York Times Outlier status For most of the automobile’s first century of existence, it became safer. In the 1920s, the death toll from vehicle crashes was so high that gruesome photos of accidents were a staple of newspaper coverage. By 2010 — thanks to better design of roads and vehicles, the addition of seatbelts and greater awareness of drunken driving, among other things — the death rate from crashes had fallen almost 90 percent from its 1920s level. By The New York Times | Source: National Safety Council But the progress ended about a decade ago, or at least it did in the United States. Even as vehicle deaths have continued falling in most counties, they have risen in this country. Here’s a stark way of thinking about the problem: If the U.S. had made as much progress reducing vehicle crashes as other high-income countries had over the past two decades, about 25,000 fewer Americans would die every year. By The New York Times | Source: OECD My colleagues Emily Badger, Ben Blatt and Josh Katz have published a story this morning that tries to solve one part of the mystery of this country’s outlier status. Emily, Ben and Josh focus on a specific part of the problem: Pedestrian deaths have surged at night. The smartphone Many of the potential explanations for the trend don’t seem to fit. Cars in this country are large, but they have become only slightly larger since the early 2000s. Drunken driving has not become more common, and roads have not become more dangerous. But there has been one major change in driver behavior: the use of smartphones. “Smartphones have become ubiquitous with remarkable speed, overlapping closely with the timeline of rising pedestrian deaths,” Emily, Ben and Josh write. “Apple’s iPhone was introduced in 2007. Within a few years, one-third of American adults said they owned a smartphone.” Smartphones have also become ubiquitous in other countries, of course. But American drivers seem to be addicted to their phones in ways that drivers elsewhere are not. Surveys suggest Americans spend more time on their phones while driving than people do in other countries. In part, this phenomenon may reflect this country’s culture, which emphasizes professional success and immediate gratification. It also partly reflects vehicle technology. Nearly all cars in the U.S. are automatic transmission, freeing drivers’ hands (or so they may think) to use phones. In Europe, almost 75 percent of cars still have gears that a driver must change manually. “The adoption of smartphones for the past 15 years — where we are today, being addicted on social media and other apps — absolutely contributes to the increase in fatalities on our roads,” Matt Fiorentino, a vice president at Cambridge Mobile Telematics, which tracks dangerous driving for carmakers, insurers and regulators, told Emily. Karsten Moran for The New York Times Pot and sidewalks, too Smartphones aren’t the only likely cause of the trend, Emily, Ben and Josh write. The spread of legal marijuana may also play a role, as may the rise in opioid addiction. In one recent federal study, half of the drivers involved in serious accidents tested positive for at least one active drug. The continued growth of the population in the Sun Belt, where roads often lack sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes, may also be a factor, as may the recent increase in homelessness. People living on the streets are especially vulnerable to being hit by a car. Some of these problems are difficult to solve. For others, however, there are promising solutions that state and local governments have simply chosen not to try. Building safe sidewalks, as Europe has done, is relatively cheap. Using traffic cameras to identify drivers who are texting — and imposing significant fines on them — would not be difficult, either. Instead, the U.S. has chosen to accept a vehicle death rate that is almost three times higher than that of Canada, Australia or France, more than four times higher than that of Germany or Japan and more than five times higher than that of Scandinavia, Switzerland or Britain. Among the recent victims of America’s uniquely high vehicle-death toll: A woman died after being hit by a vehicle while crossing a street in east Las Vegas on Friday and then being hit by a second car while she was on the ground. A person in Redmond, Wash., died on Wednesday night after being struck by a driver in a gray Nissan Pathfinder who then fled the scene. Another pedestrian died in a hit-and-run accident in Colorado Springs on Friday. And on Thursday night, mourners gathered at a ShopRite parking lot in Stamford, Conn., to remember Marie Jean-Charles, a 74-year-old cashier who had worked at the supermarket for 25 years. She was killed by a speeding driver while she was crossing the street to go to work. For more: The Times story is full of charts that show how dangerous nighttime has become for pedestrians. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War A view from southern Israel. Menahem Kahana/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel said it had taken control of the area around the former Hamas headquarters in Gaza City and that its forces were fighting in three areas where the group still had strongholds. Thousands of Palestinians are seeking refuge each day in Rafah, near Gaza’s southern border, raising fears of a mass displacement into Egypt, U.N. officials said. “If we don’t go back there, there’ll be no state”: The Oct. 7 attacks devastated Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Some displaced residents see rebuilding it as a barometer for Israel’s future. More than 500 Harvard faculty members signed a petition backing the university’s president, who faces mounting pressure to resign over her answers on antisemitism at a congressional hearing. The question of whether anti-Zionism is antisemitic has created division among Democrats, on college campuses and among Jews. Politics Donald Trump decided not to return to the witness stand as scheduled in his civil fraud trial today. The Biden administration chose the military contractor BAE Systems to get the first grant under its program to encourage computer chip manufacturing in the U.S. Border officials in Arizona closed a crossing to legal arrivals to focus on unlawful ones, threatening disaster for businesses that depended on its traffic. Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington tomorrow to lobby for billions of dollars for Ukraine’s war effort. International Kiana and Ali Rahmani Fredrik Varfjell/NTB, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the human-rights activist Narges Mohammadi, is serving a long prison sentence in Iran. Her 17-year-old twins accepted the award in Oslo on her behalf. Saudi Arabia is trying to block a global deal to phase out fossil fuels at the United Nations climate summit, negotiators said. The anticorruption campaigner who won Guatemala’s presidential election faces a barrage of legal attacks aimed at keeping him from taking office in the next few weeks. Tech Elon Musk has allowed the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones back onto X, five years after he was banned from the platform. Scammers are using QR codes to direct people to websites that can harvest their data, the F.T.C. has warned. A year ago, Sam Bankman-Fried and Changpeng Zhao ran the largest crypto companies. With both facing prison time, entrepreneurs and regulators are jostling to control the industry’s next chapter. Other Big Stories In Madison, Tenn. Kevin Wurm/Reuters Residents in Tennessee are reckoning with the damage caused by severe storms and tornadoes that killed at least six people. Big retailers are finding new ways to test higher prices. Scientists are investigating whether the psychological collapse of a man who shot 18 people to death in Maine was linked to brain damage from his time in the Army. The U.S. has built very few huge clean energy projects, partly because officials and energy developers misjudged how difficult it would be. Opinions Universities must accept that the best answer to bad speech is better speech, not censorship, David French writes. Distrust of China as a state is causing anti-Chinese sentiment in the U.S. It’s not the first time, Mae Ngai writes. Gail Collins and Bret Stephens discuss university presidents and Hunter Biden. Last chance before the holidays. Subscribe to Cooking. A Cooking subscription answers “What’s for dinner?” deliciously, every day. Explore more than 4,000 five-star recipes. Save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS At the Chateau Marmont. Bob Riha Jr./Getty Images “Coroner to the stars”: The L.A. County medical examiner’s office investigates sudden celebrity deaths. In a region still defined by Hollywood culture, it is often in the spotlight. Television history: Norman Lear, through shows like “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons,” reshaped how America saw Black families. Climate quiz: As the U.N. climate summit comes to a close, test your knowledge. Metropolitan Diary: Finding a cure for loneliness. Modern Love: Before moving in with your partner, ask these financial questions. Lives Lived: Dr. Gao Yaojie defied government pressure in exposing an AIDS epidemic that devastated rural China through reckless blood collection. She died at 95. SPORTS Sunday Night Football: The Cowboys outlasted the Eagles, 33-13, in a matchup of two of the N.F.C.’s top teams. Around the N.F.L.: The Ravens beat the Rams in overtime to take the lead in the race for the A.F.C.’s top playoff spot. And the Chiefs lost to the Bills after a jaw-dropping potential game-winner was called back because of a flag (watch the play). See more takeaways here. W.N.B.A.: The Indiana Fever scored the top pick in next year’s draft, putting them first in line to get the Iowa star Caitlin Clark. M.L.B.: Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the L.A. Dodgers is evidence that Japanese players are among the best in an increasingly international game, Ken Belson writes. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Mischa Barton and Ben McKenzie in “The O.C.” J. Trueblood/Fox Right back where they started from: When “The O.C.,” with its mixture of glossy nighttime soap and quirky teen comedy, first aired on Fox in the summer of 2003, it was a sensation among younger viewers — and made tabloid phenomena of its stars like Mischa Barton. But while the first season burned bright, the show fizzled out with a shortened fourth season. “The O.C.” lived on through the admiration of new generation, and for its 20th anniversary, its creators joined the Rolling Stone TV critic Alan Sepinwall to collaborate on an oral history. More on culture “The Boy and the Heron” is number one at the North American box office, a first for the 82-year-old Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Washington Post reports. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times Try this viral chicken dish, our most popular recipe of this year. Listen to Times critics discuss the albums that defined 2023. Choose a meaningful gift for a child. Buy a hair dryer that’s a longtime Wirecutter top pick. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was halcyon. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 12, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 12, 2023 December 12, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We’re covering the debate over speech and safety on college campuses — as well as the Texas Supreme Court, Jack Smith and NASA’s logo. The Harvard University campus. Kayana Szymczak for The New York Times Feeling welcome The Hamas-Israel war has caused so much turmoil on campuses partly because it has highlighted a tension that university administrators haven’t fully acknowledged. Many colleges have embraced broad notions of safety in recent years, promising to make their students feel comfortable and welcome. The goal is in many ways understandable, especially for students who find campuses to be uneasy places because they are among the first in their families to attend college. One way to make students feel safe, schools have decided, is to restrict speech that upsets students. By now, you have no doubt heard about some of the examples, most of which involve sanctions on conservative expression. M.I.T., for instance, disinvited a geophysicist from giving a lecture because he criticized aspects of affirmative action. But there have also been restrictions on left-leaning expression: Late in the Covid pandemic, M.I.T. barred students from asking others to wear a mask. Expression is safety Either way, a basic tension exists. Maximizing everybody’s sense of safety and comfort is often impossible. On many of society’s biggest political issues, the expression of certain views will make some students feel uncomfortable. Yet the restriction of those same views will make others feel uncomfortable — because the ability to speak honestly about important issues is a part of feeling welcome in a community. The Covid mask debate is a useful example. Being around unmasked classmates who might spread germs makes some students feel uncomfortable. And being pressured to cover your face with a mask for months on end makes others feel uncomfortable. Neither group is necessarily wrong. Each has different priorities. There are plenty of other examples. Debates over affirmative action are often struggles about whether colleges should enroll more or fewer students from different groups — Asian, Black, Hispanic and white. Strong opinions will make some students feel more or less welcome on a campus. These tensions have remained somewhat sublimated until recently, partly because the debates are often one-sided. Fewer than 20 percent of students at most selective colleges identify as conservative, according to surveys by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The conservative share is below 10 percent at dozens of colleges, including Brown, Colgate, Emory, Grinnell, Johns Hopkins, Middlebury, Oberlin, Penn, Pomona, Williams and the University of Vermont. This war is different Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, at a Shabbat service held in solidarity with Israel. Sophie Park for The New York Times The Hamas-Israel war has brought these tensions to the fore because both sides in the debate have large campus constituencies. Many Jewish students — and conservatives — believe that colleges have hypocritically allowed celebrations of Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre and antisemitic calls for future violence. (This belief underpinned the tough questioning of three university presidents last week by Elise Stefanik, a Republican congresswoman, which led to apologies from two of the three and the resignation of one, as my colleague Nicholas Confessore has explained.) At the same time, many Palestinian students — and their allies, who tend to be on the political left — believe they are at risk of harassment, and the loss of future jobs, for making principled arguments about human suffering and democratic rights. The problem for universities is that they can’t always make both sides feel safe. Pro-Palestinian students, for instance, may understandably feel unwelcome if they cannot criticize Israel as an occupying power that has seized Palestinian land in the West Bank and has killed thousands of people in Gaza since Oct. 7. These students may advocate a “free Palestine from the river to the sea” or a “right of return” as ways to express support for a single nation that incorporates all of Israel and its occupied territory. Pro-Israel students, for their part, may understandably hear these statements as calls for the elimination of the world’s only Jewish nation, to be replaced by yet another Muslim-dominated one. They may point out that many college activists seem to care more about the human rights record of Israel than, say, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Hamas. In recent years, U.S. colleges have indeed focused more on restricting speech that upsets liberals than conservatives. That inconsistency — which Jewish students and their allies have highlighted — has put university leaders in an awkward position. Whatever their own politics, they are uncomfortable publicly defending one standard for one ideology and another for a different ideology. Many are now trying to figure out what to do. The answers are not easy. Some political speech does cross the line into harassment or even advocacy for violence. And universities, especially private ones, have the right to adopt a more restrictive standard than the First Amendment does. But university leaders do face a basic choice. Do they want to expand the list of restricted speech to include more statements that make conservatives, Jewish students and others feel unsafe? Or do they want to shrink the list and tell all students that they will need to feel uncomfortable at times? For more Harvard’s governing board is expected to announce today whether the university’s president, Claudine Gay, should remain in her job. In Times Opinion, Maureen Dowd, Michelle Goldberg, David French and Bret Stephens have each written columns on campus speech. “The anti-Israel activists complain that their critics stop caring about free speech when the speech is pro-Palestinian, while the pro-Israel activists accuse the pro-Palestinian left of abandoning its commitment to safety and tolerance when the victims are Jewish,” Jonathan Chait wrote in New York magazine. “Both criticisms have a lot of truth.” Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War U.S. officials said the Iranian-backed Houthi militia struck a Norwegian commercial ship with a cruise missile in the Red Sea. The Biden administration is looking into reports that Israel used U.S.-supplied white phosphorus illegally in Lebanon. Diseases are spreading in Gaza because of dirty water and overcrowded shelters. Power and cellphone troubles leave many Gazans struggling to track Israel’s evacuation orders. Those who can see them often find them contradictory and confusing. Israeli strikes have flattened neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip. Here are before and after images. Politics Jack Smith, the special counsel, asked the Supreme Court to rule quickly on Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune to prosecution for attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The Texas Supreme Court ruled against a woman who sought a court-approved abortion. She plans to leave the state for the procedure. Two Georgia election workers are seeking as much as $43 million in defamation damages from Rudy Giuliani over claims about their work in 2020. Oregon’s governor has a plan to clean up Portland: more police enforcement, and a ban on public drug use. War in Ukraine In Chasiv Yar, Ukraine. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times With U.S. help, Ukraine is searching for a new strategy after its counteroffensive failed to retake much territory. Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Washington to push for additional aid. He is expected to meet with President Biden and U.S. lawmakers today. International Aleksei Navalny, Russia’s jailed opposition leader, missed a court date. His allies expressed concern, saying they have not heard from him in days. Xi Jinping, China’s leader, arrived in Vietnam, on a rare trip abroad to strengthen ties and counter U.S. influence. Iran has put an E.U. official from Sweden on trial. One charge could carry the death penalty. Poland’s Parliament chose a new prime minister, stopping an effort by right-wing forces to stay in power after an election defeat. Health Care Black women say doctors often neglect them. The consequences can be deadly — they die of pregnancy-related complications two to three times as often as white women. Pediatricians are skeptical about prescribing anti-obesity medicines to teenagers, citing a lack of data on long-term effects. People who stop using one new anti-obesity drug regain most, but not all, of the weight they lost, a study found. Other Big Stories Jessica Jones and her three daughters. Elizabeth Bick for The New York Times Many Americans now spend at least half their income on shelter, leaving less for everything else. A jury ruled that Google violated antitrust laws to extract fees and limit competition from developers on its mobile app store. A Texas judge upheld a ban on state employees using TikTok on government devices and networks. Lawyers argued that the rule violated the First Amendment. The United Automobile Workers union accused Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen of interfering with unionizing efforts at U.S. plants. The Air Force disciplined 15 military personnel for failing to stop an Air National Guardsman from posting classified documents online. The Nation, a progressive magazine, will soon publish monthly instead of every other week. Opinions The economy is strong. And journalists too often search for bad news to justify Americans’ negative perceptions, Paul Krugman writes. Texas’ treatment of a woman who sought a court-approved abortion shows that cynical exemptions in anti-abortion laws do little to protect women, Michelle Goldberg writes. Last chance before the holidays. Subscribe to Cooking. A Cooking subscription answers “What’s for dinner?” deliciously, every day. Explore more than 4,000 five-star recipes. Save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS The worm logo on a jet engine. Squirmy letters: The “worm,” a logo that NASA dumped over 30 years ago, is experiencing a renaissance inside and outside the agency. “Whamageddon”: A December tradition challenges people to go as long as possible without hearing the Wham! song “Last Christmas” before Christmas Day. M3gan and boygenius: Here are 24 things that our colleagues on the Culture desk couldn’t stop thinking about this year. Strange toy: Cookeez Makery has beguiled children and adults by combining elements of Build-a-Bear and the Easy-Bake Oven. Lives Lived: Dr. John A. Talbott championed the care of vulnerable mentally ill people, especially the homeless. He died at 88. SPORTS Monday Night Football: The New York Giants earned some possible playoff positioning with a fun win over the Green Bay Packers, 24-22. The Tennessee Titans mounted a comeback to upset the Miami Dolphins, 28-27. M.L.B.: Shohei Ohtani will defer most of his $700 million contract, giving the Dodgers unexpected flexibility to spend elsewhere. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS At the Musée d’Orsay. Elliott Verdier for The New York Times Bonjour Vincent!: The Musée D’Orsay in Paris has undertaken a bold attempt at championing Vincent Van Gogh’s legacy: an A.I. reconstruction of him, based on his letters and early biographies, that fields questions from visitors. The most common questions so far relate to his suicide in 1890. Read more here. More on culture The Golden Globes nominations are out: “Barbie” leads the movie category with nine, followed by “Oppenheimer” with eight. Here are the surprises and snubs. A co-defendant of the rapper Young Thug was stabbed in jail, delaying a racketeering and gang conspiracy case in Atlanta. All seven members of the K-pop group BTS are now undertaking mandatory military service in South Korea. Some fans say they should be exempt. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … James Ransom for The New York Times Roast salt-and-pepper chicken thighs atop sweet, buttery brioche. Make more time for yourself during work hours. Choose the right Xbox. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was laundry. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow.— David P.S. Today’s paper is the 60,000th print issue of The Times. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 14, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 14, 2023 December 13, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We’re covering the next stage of the war in Ukraine — as well as COP28, Harvard’s president and Wu-Tang Clan. Ukrainian soldiers. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times The Crimea model After a disappointing second half of 2023 for Ukraine’s war effort, the U.S. and Ukraine don’t fully agree about what to do next. Ukraine’s leaders would prefer to be aggressive and continue trying to retake territory that Russia holds. U.S. officials worry that approach is unrealistic. But there are also signs of compromise — and potential consensus, as my colleagues have reported. In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain what the coming year could bring. The big picture: Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, hopes that 2024 will be the year when the U.S. and Europe lose patience with the war and allow him to claim large parts of Ukraine permanently. “Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine,” President Biden warned at the White House yesterday, while standing beside Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president. If Russia gains the upper hand, it would be a blow to European democracy and a potential sign that the world has entered a new period of military aggression. Ukraine’s leaders and their allies hope they can prevent further Russian advances and inflict enough damage to make a stalemate seem like Putin’s best outcome. The military situation After Russia invaded in February 2022, Putin, and much of the world, expected that his military would quickly march to Kyiv and topple Ukraine’s government. That didn’t happen, but Russia did make significant advances. It now controls almost 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimea peninsula, which it seized in 2014. Source: Institute for the Study of War | Map is as of Dec. 11. | By The New York Times The goal of Ukraine’s counteroffensive this past summer was to reclaim enough of that territory to cause Putin to fear that his forces were on the verge of collapse. That didn’t happen either. Ukrainian forces failed to break through Russia’s fortified lines in eastern and southern Ukraine, partly because Russia used drones, often supplied by Iran, to monitor Ukrainian attacks and respond quickly. It was another example of an old military lesson: Seizing territory in war is far harder than holding it. Still, Ukrainians did have one meaningful accomplishment in recent months. They battered Russian ships in Crimea. As my colleagues Julian Barnes, Eric Schmitt, David Sanger and Thomas Gibbons-Neff write: It was, some officials said, a major naval victory by a country without a navy. Longer-range British Storm Shadow missiles significantly damaged targets in Crimea. On Sept. 22, a hail of Storm Shadow missiles struck the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. Days later, Russia withdrew parts of the fleet from Crimea. The operations allowed Ukraine to export grain from Odesa and kept some shipping lanes open, a critical victory, but they changed little in the overall course of the war and did not allow Ukraine to retake any territory. Ukraine’s leaders still hope to reclaim territory in 2024. U.S. officials think that a more realistic aim may be to prevent Russia from making advances while Ukraine rebuilds its battered military — and launches more attacks like those in Crimea. Targets could include arms factories, weapons depots and train lines for moving munitions. As Julian, Eric, David and Thomas explain, “The goal would be to create enough of a credible threat that Russia might consider engaging in meaningful negotiations at the end of next year or in 2025.” The political risks President Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky. Doug Mills/The New York Times Zelensky spent yesterday in Washington, meeting with Biden and members of Congress, hoping to persuade them to continue sending his country weapons, vehicles, ammunition and other equipment. Without continued U.S. aid, Ukraine could run out of important items next year. Biden and most Democrats in Congress support the additional aid. Many Republicans do as well but say they will approve it only if the legislation includes measures to reduce the surge of illegal immigration during Biden’s presidency. The bill would also include aid for Israel and Taiwan. Zelensky’s presence in Washington underscores his fear that American support is fragile. While polls show that most Americans support continued aid to Ukraine, many Republican voters do not. Donald Trump has suggested that if he returned to the White House in January 2025, he might cut off aid and pressure Ukraine to negotiate a settlement. Putin seems to be hoping for such an outcome. Western Europe’s support is also less than solid. Hungary is poised to veto an E.U. aid package, and Germany’s government is struggling to fund its own pledge. “Some senior European defense officials quietly acknowledge that the weapons and ammunition that Europe is currently sending to the war can’t match what Ukraine is burning through,” my colleague Lara Jakes, who is reporting the story from Europe this week, told me. “That means Ukraine could run out of some weapons early next year if the United States fails to approve the additional aid.” As Matthew Kaminski writes in Politico, “Putin thinks the West is dissolute and will come apart on its own.” Many U.S. and European officials, including strong supporters of Ukraine, believe that a negotiated settlement is the only plausible outcome in the end. But there is a big difference between a settlement based on the possibility that Ukraine could collapse and one based on the expectation of a protracted stalemate. Related: Read more about Putin’s bet for outlasting Ukraine and its allies. More on Ukraine Last year, Congress hailed Zelensky as a hero. This year, Republicans told him Ukraine’s challenges were not their focus. More than $75 billion in cash and equipment: Here’s what the United States has given Ukraine so far, and what it still has to offer. Russia bombarded Kyiv for the third time in a week. Ukraine said it had shot down all the missiles, but that debris wounded dozens. A cyberattack on Ukraine’s largest mobile operator interrupted service. Many Ukrainians rely on phone alerts to warn of Russian strikes. Since the beginning of the war, Russia has lost a staggering number of troops, U.S. intelligence shows. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Climate Summit In Dubai. Kamran Jebreili/Associated Press At COP28, diplomats from nearly 200 countries agreed to transition away from fuels like oil, gas and coal, a first at U.N. climate talks. Past deals urged countries to cut emissions but avoided mentioning fossil fuels. The agreement comes during the hottest year in recorded history. Climate observers worry the Arctic is being left out of international discussions, even as temperatures there rise four times as fast as in the rest of the world. Israel-Hamas War Biden warned Israel’s leaders that they were beginning to lose international support for their war. Israel’s military has begun pumping seawater into some of Hamas’s tunnels, The Wall Street Journal reports. The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of a cease-fire. Israel recovered the bodies of two hostages in Gaza. Two service members, officials said, were killed in the operation to locate them. “She gave me hope”: Read about a Thai worker’s friendship with a young Israeli girl while they were in captivity. Zara took down an ad campaign over criticism that it was insensitive to Gazans. The ads featured mannequins wrapped in white plastic. Higher Education Claudine Gay Will Oliver/EPA, via Shutterstock Harvard’s board voted to keep Claudine Gay as university president, rejecting calls for her removal over the congressional hearing on antisemitism. The billionaire investor William Ackman mounted a high-profile battle against Gay on the issue — but long-held personal grievances also played a role. At the University of Pennsylvania, where the president resigned over her comments at the hearing, the dean of the medical school will fill the role temporarily. Economy and Business Consumer prices in November were only 3.1 percent higher than a year ago, another sign that inflation has cooled. Microsoft agreed to remain neutral if any of its 100,000 U.S. workers seek to unionize. Google’s loss in an antitrust lawsuit from Epic Games could indicate how it might fare in two bigger cases next year. International King Misuzulu in September. Rajesh Jantilal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A judge in South Africa rescinded the president’s recognition of the Zulu king, restarting a fight over the heir to the country’s largest traditional kingdom. The British Parliament backed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda in a key vote. The proposal still faces several hurdles. Errant airstrikes by the Nigerian military in its campaign against militants and armed gangs have killed hundreds of civilians. Other Big Stories New York’s top court ordered the state to redraw its congressional map. The new map could flip six House seats to Democrats. A group of prisoners are suing Alabama over its prison labor system, which they called modern-day slavery. The rise of A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT has not increased cheating in high schools, Stanford researchers found. A Russian-speaking man is facing a federal charge that he flew from Copenhagen to Los Angeles with no ticket or passport. Two men shot about 3,600 eagles in Montana in an illegal “killing spree,” prosecutors said. Opinions To solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the United States first needs to revive its dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Israel, Thomas Friedman argues. Many Americans depend on addiction treatment. But the system is riddled with gaps, Jeneen Interlandi writes. What is antisemitism? Bret Stephens offers a guide. MORNING READS Sukeban wrestling in Miami. Martina Tuaty for The New York Times Sukeban: A unique form of Japanese women’s wrestling has arrived in the U.S. Best American dishes: A crab doughnut in Seattle and a brisket taco in San Antonio are among the 23 best meals our colleagues ate this year. Read the full list. Lives Lived: Andre Braugher was best known for playing stoic police officers on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Homicide.” Elsewhere, he portrayed Shakespeare’s Henry V and an executive editor of The New York Times. He died at 61. Last chance before the holidays. Subscribe to Cooking. A Cooking subscription answers “What’s for dinner?” deliciously, every day. Explore more than 4,000 five-star recipes. Save 50% on your first year of Cooking. SPORTS M.L.B.: The San Francisco Giants signed the Korean star Jung Hoo Lee to a six-year, $113 million contract. N.F.L.: NBC will leave Al Michaels out of its playoff commentary team. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Members of Wu-Tang Clan. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images Enter the Wu-Tang: The Wu-Tang Clan will begin a Las Vegas residency in February — a rarity for a hip-hop group. Though not all of the dates have been announced yet, the first shows will coincide with the Super Bowl, which Las Vegas is hosting for the first time. The goal is “to show that hip-hop can go where any other art form has gone before,” said RZA, the group’s leader. More on culture Impressive rapping and baffling melodies: Read Jon Caramanica’s review of Nicki Minaj’s fifth studio album, “Pink Friday 2.” Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” and Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” are among 25 movies selected for preservation this year in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry. A stage musical about Paddington, the lovable bear, is set to open in Britain in 2025. Late night hosts joked about Rudy Giuliani’s defamation trial. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Mark Weinberg for The New York Times Use Greek yogurt for a smooth, light cheesecake. Treat adult acne. Keep warm with these cold-weather essentials. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was enviable. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 15, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 15, 2023 December 14, 2023 By German Lopez Good morning. We’re covering the mixed results of police cameras — as well as the Fed, the Supreme Court and video games. The body camera of an officer in Worcester, Mass. Kylie Cooper for The New York Times Mixed results In 2017, New York City police officers killed Miguel Richards in his own apartment. They claimed that the killing was justified because Richards was holding a knife and what looked like a gun. The officers’ cameras recorded the incident. But for years, no one outside of the New York Police Department could view the full footage. In 2019, a judge ordered the release of the videos. They showed no sign that Richards was holding a firearm, and revealed that the officers didn’t take basic steps to de-escalate the situation and did not administer immediate aid after shooting him. The N.Y.P.D. has not disciplined the officers for the shooting. The story demonstrates the mixed results of police-worn body cameras: Many people hoped they would help hold police officers accountable for wrongful shootings. But there has been a basic problem, as Eric Umansky found in an investigation for The Times Magazine and ProPublica: Police departments have often prevented the public from seeing the footage and failed to act when it showed wrongdoing. The promise of cameras Michael Brown Sr., center, attends a memorial service for his son, Michael Brown Jr. Whitney Curtis for The New York Times Over the past decade, police departments have equipped their officers with body-worn cameras. The policies came largely in response to public backlash to police killings, particularly the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. The idea was straightforward: Cameras would help hold police officers accountable. If they did anything wrong, the cameras would catch it. And officers would be deterred from doing anything wrong because they would know they were on video. That logic has not held up in many cases, such as Richards’s. The key problem is that police departments largely control the footage. They can decide what to release, as well as when to do so. So they will often show only videos or parts of videos that corroborate an officer’s story or help justify a shooting. “We just said to police departments, ‘Here’s this tool. Figure out how you would like to use it,’” Seth Stoughton, a former police officer who’s now a law professor at the University of South Carolina, told Eric. “It shouldn’t be a surprise that they’re going to use it in a way that most benefits them.” Consider the N.Y.P.D.’s policy. In 2013, a federal judge ordered New York officers to start piloting the use of cameras. Surveys indicated that the public supported the idea. But when the N.Y.P.D. established the policy, it decided that no video would automatically become public. To obtain footage, people would have to submit a request through an opaque and slow process. The N.Y.P.D. would decide what to release. Refusal to release An officer turning off his body camera in New York last year. Bryan R. Smith/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Some places make it easier to obtain police videos, or at least use them to hold officers accountable. In Chicago, the civilian oversight board has direct access to police camera footage and can release it publicly. The board has cited such videos in the firing of several officers for misconduct. But that is not the norm. In June 2022, 79 police killings were captured by police cameras nationwide. In the year and a half since, the police has released video in only 42 percent of those incidents. Police departments can refuse to release videos for longer, if ever. Five years after an officer in Montgomery, Ala., sicced his dog on a burglary suspect and killed him, the department still has not released the footage, citing the potential for “civil unrest.” And three years before Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 by kneeling on his neck, police cameras recorded Chauvin using the same tactic. But officials did not release that video until six years later, after Floyd’s death. “Chauvin should have been fired in 2017,” said Robert Bennett, a lawyer who represented previous victims. The widely seen video of Floyd’s killing came from a bystander, not a police camera. Read Eric’s full investigation, which includes more examples and thoughts from experts about how to improve the situation. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Economy The Federal Reserve signaled it would cut interest rates next year as its effort to reduce inflation shows signs of success. Stocks surged after the Fed announcement, and the Dow Jones industrial average reached a new high (though it was somewhat higher last year after adjusting for inflation). Business Tesla recalled nearly all cars it has manufactured in the U.S. since 2012. Regulators have urged the company to make sure drivers remain attentive while using its Autopilot system. Roofing is dangerous work, and federal law bars anyone under 18 from doing it. Yet migrant children perform the job across the U.S., a Times investigation found. Climate Near Stockton, Calif. Nathan Weyland for The New York Times As the world warms, California is re-examining water claims that have gone unchallenged for generations. Oil industry executives largely backed COP28’s agreement to move away gradually from fossil fuels. Supreme Court The justices agreed to hear a case that would determine access to the abortion pill mifepristone. The court also agreed to hear a case considering the scope of an obstruction law used in Jan. 6 rioter cases. It could invalidate many of those convictions — and delay the federal case against Donald Trump. More on Politics House Republicans voted to approve a formal impeachment inquiry of President Biden, despite having found no evidence of crimes in their yearlong investigation. The Senate approved an $886 billion defense bill in a bipartisan vote. It includes a 5.2 percent pay raise for military personnel and rejects right-wing policy demands from the House. A federal judge froze Trump’s trial on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. Trump’s lawyers asked an appeals court to move slowly in considering his claim that he is immune from prosecution. Israel-Hamas War In Rafah, Gaza. Mustafa Thraya/Reuters Displaced Gazans are pressuring Egypt to open its border. A top Biden adviser, Jake Sullivan, is traveling to Israel to try to ease tensions with the U.S. and to encourage peace talks to restart. International Vladimir Putin is giving a big annual news conference. He will take questions, but they will be tightly controlled. Japan wants to build a stronger military to counter threats from China and North Korea. Its aging population poses an obstacle. The Korean War displaced hundreds of thousands of North Koreans seven decades ago, and they haven’t been able to return. The Washington Post photographed their lives. Other Big Stories Researchers pinpointed what they believe is the primary cause of morning sickness in pregnant women: a single hormone. Pharmacies have been sharing patient records with law enforcement without a warrant, a congressional investigation found. The Education Department added six colleges to its investigation into campus discrimination. Opinions Biden’s dedication to a bipartisan democracy while his approval numbers languish show Americans want an authoritarian, Charles Blow argues. Giorgia Lupi recounts her nearly 1,400 days living with long Covid and documenting her symptoms. Here are columns by Pamela Paul on authors’ identities and Carlos Lozada on Liz Cheney. All encompassing. Entertaining. Appetizing. Discerning. And sporting. No matter what you’re into, it’s all in The Times. Subscribe today to enjoy everything we offer. MORNING READS Jean Patrick Niambé, known as Dofy, recording in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Arlette Bashizi for The New York Times Old world, young Africa: Africans are contributing to the evolution of the French language — one joke, rap and book at a time. Social Qs: “How can I stop my in-laws from making impromptu visits?” PowerPoint: Some kids are presenting their Christmas lists on slide decks. Family history: Here’s what to know about how alcoholism runs in families and how to guard against it. Lives Lived: Acclaimed in Britain, Michael Blakemore had the unique distinction of winning Tony Awards for best direction of a musical and best direction of a play in a single season, for his Broadway productions of “Kiss Me, Kate” and “Copenhagen.” He died at 95. SPORTS N.B.A.: The league suspended Draymond Green of the Warriors for striking the Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. Green’s future with his team is in doubt. New record: Giannis Antetokounmpo set a franchise record with 64 points in the Bucks’ win over the Pacers, but a postgame controversy marred the night. College athletes: A federal judge in West Virginia issued a temporary restraining order against the N.C.A.A., granting some transfers immediate eligibility. Football: The N.F.L. announced it would stage a first game in Brazil next year. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Watching a PlayStation VR demo in 2018. Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press End of an era: The annual E3 expo, a major video game showcase, is shutting down. For years, the event attracted tens of thousands of visitors who came for the chance to play coming games and meet the developers who made them. In recent years, though, the conference lost its relevance. Major companies like Nintendo and Sony stopped going, instead announcing their new games through social media, and the internet allowed fans to try new games from home. More on culture Oprah Winfrey, who has discussed dieting publicly for decades, revealed she has been using a prescription weight-loss drug. “Its most distinctive quality is that it’s nice”: Read a review of “Wonka,” a musical origin story about the first business ventures of the young chocolatier. Late night hosts have questions about the Biden impeachment inquiry. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Linda Xiao for The New York Times Bake a cheesy spinach gratin. Sleep better with the right sleeping pills. Freshen up your laundry routine. Be the best secret Santa. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was magazine. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — German Correction: In yesterday’s newsletter, we misstated the charges against two men accused of killing birds in Montana. They were charged with shooting 3,600 birds, including eagles; not with shooting 3,600 eagles. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 16, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 16, 2023 December 15, 2023 In today’s newsletter, we go behind the scenes of the Supreme Court. My colleague Jodi Kantor explains. — David Leonhardt By Jodi Kantor Reporter, Investigations Good morning. We’re also covering Ukraine, Gaza and our 2023 Faces Quiz. President Donald Trump and Amy Coney Barrett. Al Drago for The New York Times Dismantling Roe The Supreme Court deliberates in secret. Insiders who speak can be cast out of the fold. Learning about the justices’ internal debates over cases can require decades-long waits for their papers to become public. But today we’re publishing an inside account, by Adam Liptak and me, of how the justices overturned Roe v. Wade. The answer has seemed obvious: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the court’s foremost defender of abortion rights, died and was replaced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a favorite of the anti-abortion movement. That version is incomplete. We discovered that Barrett, whom President Donald Trump appointed to lock in the court’s conservative supermajority, opposed even hearing the case. When the jurists were debating Mississippi’s request to hear it, she said the timing was wrong, and she eventually voted against granting the case. Four justices — the minimum necessary, and all of them male — greenlighted the lawsuit that the state of Mississippi had brought, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Stephen Breyer had also opposed the court’s taking the case, and they later worked together to narrow the results and preserve some portion of Roe v. Wade. Breyer, a lifelong liberal, was even willing to cut back the right to abortion in order to save it. A leak cut off those hopes, our article shows. Whatever the leaker’s motive, Politico’s publication of Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion in May 2022 had the effect of cementing the votes in place. Our story includes other revelations as well, including about how Ginsburg’s death hung over the case. The court delayed announcing its decision to hear the case, creating the appearance of distance from Ginsburg’s passing. Our account is based on interviews with court insiders who had real-time knowledge of the events, notes, and documents. We’re also publishing excerpts from the justices’ internal messages to one another, so readers can see for themselves how court’s members communicate. As they take on one contentious issue after another — and wade right back into the abortion debate — we hope this article will help illuminate an institution that sets the rules for us all. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS War in Ukraine In Brussels. Virginia Mayo/Associated Press Hungary blocked the European Union from approving a financial aid package for Ukraine, but European Union leaders agreed to open membership talks with Kyiv. In Washington, Senate Democrats will delay their holiday break to allow time for a compromise on Ukraine aid and immigration. Vladimir Putin said that Western support for Ukraine was slowing and commented on Russia’s arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, in a four-hour news conference. Ukraine is using coercive tactics to recruit some soldiers, including confiscating passports and taking people from their jobs. Israel-Hamas War The Biden administration told Israel it wanted the country to scale down its ground campaign in Gaza within weeks, suggesting that Israel instead use smaller, targeted attacks. On a visit to Israel, a top Biden adviser, Jake Sullivan, said the countries expected the fighting to slow down eventually. Israel said it recovered the bodies of three hostages in Gaza. Israeli forces killed at least 12 people during a three-day raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. There has been an uptick in Israelis applying for private gun licenses after Oct. 7. Republican state legislators voted to withhold millions of dollars from the University of Pennsylvania’s veterinary school amid an uproar over the school’s response to antisemitism on campus. Politics A bipartisan group in the House passed an $886 billion defense bill, maneuvering around far-right members upset over the omission of abortion and diversity restrictions. Tucked into the defense bill is a measure directing the National Archives to collect documents relating to U.F.O.s and to make the records public within 25 years. Dozens of members of Congress have announced plans to leave their seats in the House. See who is retiring. In an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, Republicans are searching for evidence of bribery, misconduct and obstruction. The new C.D.C. director is on a national media campaign to restore faith in the agency. Space In Truth or Consequences, N.M. Adria Malcolm for The New York Times A launchpad for commercial space travel in rural New Mexico has cost more than $200 million in state and local funds. Many residents are still waiting for the payoff. Scientists have detected a poisonous gas emanating from a small moon of Saturn, hinting at the potential for life there. A new NASA program allows researchers to calculate how much planet-warming carbon forests are keeping out of Earth’s atmosphere. Economy and Business The Fed appears to be creeping closer to its goal to lower inflation without prompting a recession, surprising economists. TikTok quietly changed its terms of service this summer. Lawyers say it could make it harder for legal action to be brought against the company. Entertainment studios removed their shows from Netflix to build their own streaming services. Facing cash troubles, some are now reversing course. Other Big Stories On the tracks in Newark. Javier Perez New Jersey Transit service was delayed when a long-horned bull got loose on the tracks in Newark. The animal was eventually captured and sent to a sanctuary. Brazil’s Congress approved a law that would make it harder for Indigenous tribes to block deforestation. The U.S. Army is training troops in the Hawaiian jungle on the skills needed for a potential clash with China. A British boy who disappeared six years ago was found in France. A storm system is forecast along the Eastern Seaboard this weekend, but its path is uncertain. Opinions Classes about free speech, not updated codes of conduct, are the key to balancing debate and censorship in universities, Sophia Rosenfeld writes. The U.S. should join the majority of the world in recognizing the state of Palestine to keep the possibility of a two-state solution alive, R. David Harden and Larry Garber write. Arguments for supporting Ukraine should inspire hope and resolve, not merely incite fear or rage, David French writes. Here are columns by Jamelle Bouie on Trump and Paul Krugman on free speech on campus. All encompassing. Entertaining. Appetizing. Discerning. And sporting. No matter what you’re into, it’s all in The Times. Subscribe today to enjoy everything we offer. MORNING READS A tug boat at a harbor in the Netherlands. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images NorthSeaTok: People are watching videos of towering waves. Experts say the waters off Europe aren’t as scary as they seem. Bucking tradition: Couples are swapping out traditional receptions for raves and all-night dance parties. Early (human) risers: Are you a morning person? You might have Neanderthal genes to thank. Lives Lived: The journalist and author Ted Morgan straddled two cultures. He was born Sanche de Gramont, the son of a French count, but when he became an American citizen — “Ted Morgan” was an anagram of his surname — he claimed to shed his European elitism. He died at 91. SPORTS N.F.L.: The Las Vegas Raiders walloped the visiting Los Angeles Chargers, 63-21, in a game that could force the latter franchise to do a complete organizational reset. A comment: Steve Kerr, the Warriors coach, said he understands the logic behind Draymond Green’s suspension and hopes his star player uses the time away to “make a change” in his life. The Crimson Tide: Alabama hired a former Michigan coach three weeks before the two teams play in the College Football Playoff. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Can you name them all? You’ve seen their faces before. Some lead world powers, or rose to new positions in Washington. Some sold out stadiums, or topped the pop charts, or broke through on the big screen. Some died this year, after long and storied careers. This morning we’re publishing our annual Faces Quiz. In the game, we’ll show you faces of people who made news this year, and you tell us their names. Some will be universally recognizable; others may be tricky. There are hints, if you need them. (Note, our Weekly News Quiz is taking the week off.) More on culture Andre Braugher, the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” actor who died this week, was diagnosed with lung cancer a few months ago. The “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig will lead the jury at next year’s Cannes Film Festival. Trevor Noah will host the Grammys for the fourth consecutive year, Variety reports. Late night hosts discuss the president and Hunter Biden, his son. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Bake a big chocolate tart. Escape the winter blues with a cruise. Wear a comfortable pair of slippers. Improve leg circulation with an under-desk footrest. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was mandolin. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 17, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 17, 2023 December 16, 2023 Today I’ve invited my colleague Stella Bugbee, the Styles editor at The Times, to introduce you to Simbarashe Cha, our new street style photographer. I’ll be back next Saturday. — Melissa By Stella Bugbee Good morning. We’re writing about style that shines off the runway, and the little details that help it stand out. As people rush to shows, a photographer sometimes has only a moment — but that was all it took to capture this exquisite skirt in Paris. Simbarashe Cha for The New York Times Quirks of personality Have you ever admired a particularly stylish stranger at close range? Maybe the color of their overcoat popped out in a crowd, or you noticed the way they stacked fancy rings in a “What, these old things?” kind of way. Whatever draws your eye, and no matter how you think about good personal style, you probably know it when you see it. I like to think of those kinds of details as “the exuberance of individual choices” — all the small decisions that go into getting dressed, coalescing into a unique package. These are the magic moments we try to capture in “Style Outside,” a column by the newest member of our team, photographer Simbarashe Cha. Last February, Simbarashe and I sat down to dinner in Paris, after a long day spent covering fashion shows. He told me about his passion for portraiture and the joy of walking around and observing people; how the toss of a scarf, the fade of a haircut, or the way the cuff of a man’s pants hits his ankle was the manifestation of attitude. A local artist spotted early one morning in Dakar, Senegal. The red hat was the cherry on top. Simbarashe Cha for The New York Times A double dose of doubled-up waistbands outside the Diesel show in Milan. Simbarashe Cha for The New York Times Men in Milan somehow always manage to make tailoring feel relaxed. Simbarashe Cha for The New York Times Simbarashe said he appreciates the way someone looks, but also how they respond to being asked for a photograph, especially when they aren’t necessarily posing. He also told me of a fateful day, in early 2012, when he was walking in Riverside Park after a snowstorm. He stopped a woman and asked if he could take her picture. She said yes, then told him, “You’re like Bill Cunningham.” But Simbarashe, a self-taught photographer (and former banker) was not familiar with the legacy she was referring to; Cunningham was a New York Times photographer who chronicled people on the street and at parties for the paper for nearly 40 years. The woman insisted he go home and watch the documentary about Cunningham that night. He did, and decided then and there he’d devote his life to this medium. Platinum-gray, sleek and easy. What’s not to smile about? Simbarashe Cha for The New York Times Her palette of browns came alive as she stepped into the sunlight while walking through Tokyo. Simbarashe Cha for The New York Times Following in that tradition of fashion reportage, in which clothes come alive off the runways as much as on, Simbarashe is out and about, all over the world, snapping pics of whomever he finds interesting. It’s a hobby I share with him: forever noticing the tender quirks of personality on display all around me, though I’m not holding a camera. I recently met a Milanese woman who wore a single long strand of cobalt beads over an orange dress covered in tiny monkeys, paired with New Balance sneakers. I would never have thought to combine those items! Her sensibility was so specific to her that it felt revelatory — she was the embodiment of “sprezzatura,” as the Italians call that type of studied casualness — and I was captivated. When I raved about her style, she told me the name of the shop in Sardinia where she had bought the dress (it’s called “Foresta G”). A compliment had turned into a tip for a reporting mission. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE WEEK IN CULTURE A lost work by Raymond Chandler, best remembered for his hard-boiled detective novels, was found. It’s a poem. Four months after the British Museum fired a curator suspected of stealing from its Greek and Roman stores, the institution said about 1,500 objects were missing. Gold taken from some other items has probably been sold to scrap metal merchants. The Brooklyn Academy of Music’s dance-heavy upcoming season will feature a rock opera by the performance artist Taylor Mac and a film retrospective of the actor Jeffrey Wright. The actor Andre Braugher died this week at 61. Stream seven of his memorable performances, including “The Tuskegee Airmen” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Cardi B announced that she had separated from her husband, the rapper Offset, Billboard reports. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” will officially end after season 12 next year, Variety reports. A judge ruled that there was sufficient proof that Prince Harry’s phone was hacked by a U.K. tabloid. In Miami, Kanye West previewed his first album since a string of antisemitic comments threatened to end his career last year. Onstage he wore a pointed black hood that resembled a Ku Klux Klan robe. THE LATEST NEWS Rudy Giuliani leaving the courthouse in Washington. Bonnie Cash/Reuters A jury ordered Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million to two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, whom he falsely accused of trying to steal votes from Donald Trump. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages during combat with Hamas in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said. An autopsy found that the “Friends” star Matthew Perry died from the “acute effects of ketamine,” the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said. Material from the investigation into 2016 Russian election interference went missing in the final days of Trump’s presidency, people familiar with the matter said. Several women at the fast-growing real estate firm eXp said they had been drugged and assaulted by two star agents, and that the company long ignored their complaints. “It’s a suicide mission.” For two months, Ukrainian marines have fought over a muddy patch of land along the Dnipro River. Soldiers say the combat is brutal, with little to show for it. Sheikh Nawaf, the emir of Kuwait, who took power in the oil-rich state during political infighting in 2020, died. He was 86. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Readers of The Morning can save 50% on a Cooking subscription for the first year. Search by ingredient or explore editors’ collections to easily find the right recipes. CULTURE CALENDAR By Andrew LaVallee Arts & Leisure Editor 🎬 “American Fiction” (Out Now): Jeffrey Wright stars in this lacerating satire as Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, an underappreciated novelist who, under a pseudonym, releases a book stuffed with “deadbeat dads, rappers, crack” and other Black literary clichés that he has long resisted. To his amusement, then horror, it’s a hit. For bonus points, check out “Erasure,” by the great Percival Everett, which the movie is adapted from. 📺 “Maestro” (Wednesday): In the microgenre of classical-music dramas, last year we had Lydia, and this year we have Lenny. After a brief theatrical release, this biopic is now streaming on Netflix, with Bradley Cooper as a larger-than-life Leonard Bernstein (Cooper also directed and co-wrote the script) and Carey Mulligan as his wife, Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECIPE OF THE WEEK Chris Simpson for The New York Times By Melissa Clark Miso soup During the chaotic excess of the holiday season, it’s often the simplest dishes that hold the greatest appeal. Eric Kim’s brothy miso soup is just the thing to simultaneously satisfy your appetite and calm your spirit. It has the deep umami flavors of kombu and wakame, rounded out with a little bit of sake and mirin for complexity, and a dollop of soft tofu for texture and heft. Sip the soup as is, or use the recipe as a base for all kinds of additions. As Eric notes, sliced shiitakes, fried tofu, clams, chicken or even a tiny bit of butter can be delicious stirred into this gentle, warming soup. REAL ESTATE Anderson Cooper Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times Object by object: How Anderson Cooper deals with grief and memorializes his family at home. What you get for $1.1 Million: A circa 1720 stone house in Kerhonkson, N.Y., a 1912 Colonial Revival home in Wilmette, Ill., and a 1926 Craftsman cottage in Seattle. The hunt: Homing in on Lenox Hill, could a young couple find a one-bedroom on the Upper East Side for less than $1 million? Play our game. Female renters: A new study puts a spotlight on the challenges faced by single women living alone, who are more rent burdened than single men. LIVING Italy’s Dolomite mountains. Francesco Guerra for The New York Times Genius loci: As travel boomed again this year, we offered new takes on classic destinations as well as surprising coverage of some lesser-known places. Here are some of your favorites. Pain: Getting an IUD hurts. Why aren’t more women offered pain relief? E-commerce: With retailers like Shopify rolling out chatbots, this holiday shopping season might be the first to be powered by A.I. Losing hair, gaining followers: Hair-loss influencers say they are destigmatizing an insecurity. Critics say they are cashing in on a vulnerable audience. Quiet superfood: Flaxseeds have many potential benefits, from boosting heart health to lowering inflammation. But they can’t do everything. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Two essential tools for cookies If you’ve got big holiday cookie plans this year (and how could you not, with this recipe lineup from NYT Cooking?), a couple handy little tools will make the messy, sugar-dusted operation go smoother. As the senior editor of Wirecutter’s kitchen coverage, I swear by a good bench scraper and nimble offset spatula from our guide to holiday cookie baking gear. Use the bench scraper to divide dough, scoop up a pile of chopped nuts, level a measuring cup or scrape your counter clean. The offset spatula can deftly smooth frosting, spread jam or pry a delicate cut-out cookie from the counter. — Marguerite Preston GAME OF THE WEEKEND Nebraska’s volleyball match in August. Terry Ratzlaff for The New York Times Texas vs. Nebraska, N.C.A.A. volleyball championship: Early this season, Nebraska became the center of the volleyball universe when the team drew more than 92,000 fans to a match — setting a world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event. They have lived up to the hype since then, going 33-1 and earning the No. 1 overall seed in the N.C.A.A. tournament. After sweeping Pitt in the semifinals, Nebraska will face Texas, last year’s champions, in the finals. The teams have met in the championship twice before — in 2015 and 1995 — and Nebraska won both. Tomorrow at 3 p.m. Eastern on ABC. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was paycheck. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 17, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 17, 2023 December 17, 2023 By Josh Katz and Aatish Bhatia Good morning. We’re covering lessons from the past year of Wordle — as well as Israeli hostages, Donald Trump and “Sailor Moon.” Eden Weingart/The New York Times Half a billion People like playing Wordle. In the past year, millions have played the game every day, and then shared, discussed and debated how they tried to win. For the first time, we’ve analyzed how people played in half a billion of those Wordle games and compared them with the strategies that our WordleBot recommends. Below are four things we learned. 1. Of the top 30 starting words, ADIEU is the most popular but least efficient. Many, many words have been written about the best opening word for Wordle. Answering this question, in fact, was one of the motivations behind WordleBot’s development. In its robot brain, a handful of words — SLATE, CRANE, TRACE — are best. For human Wordle players, the most popular opening word by some margin is ADIEU. AUDIO, another four-vowel word, is the fourth-most popular. The strategy seems to make sense: Figure out the vowels, and the other letters will fall into place. Our new analysis shows, though, that starting with ADIEU or AUDIO puts human players at a disadvantage. How much of one? On average, players who started with ADIEU needed about a third of a turn more to solve their Wordles compared with players who started with SLATE. Based on 515 million Wordle games completed between Dec. 1, 2022 and Nov. 30, 2023. Even worse: While 1.7 percent of SLATE starters failed to solve a Wordle on average, the chance of failure with ADIEU more than doubles, to 3.6 percent. 2. People like holiday words: PARTY, HEART, BUNNY and GHOST. The bot always recommends starting with SLATE, which we realize can be boring. Human players, freed from the burdens of mathematical precision, can and do change their Wordle openers throughout the year. (Players often explain their daily selection in the Wordle Review.) Here are the top words that jumped in popularity on specific days: Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2022): MERRY, GIFTS, PEACE New Year’s Day: YEARS, PARTY, HAPPY, FRESH Valentine’s Day: HEART, LOVER, CUPID St. Patrick’s Day: LUCKY Easter: RISEN, BUNNY Coronation of Charles III and Camilla (May 6): CROWN, ROYAL Halloween: GHOST Thanksgiving: THANK, GRAVY, FEAST Another fun pattern: PARTY has a little spike every weekend. 3. The most difficult words for players often started with “J.” The hardest words to solve tend to be those that start with J, end in Y or have a double letter somewhere. The five most difficult words of the past 12 months, as measured by turns to solve: JAZZY (June 1): 5.82 turns to solve JOKER (April 25): 5.69 turns NANNY (June 3): 5.68 turns JUDGE (Dec. 26): 5.57 turns RIPER (Feb. 22): 5.52 turns If you look by solve rate, the hardest Wordle puzzle was JOKER, with only 71 percent of players finding the solution. 4. SLATE is on the rise, while CRANE is getting less popular. People are still changing their starting words. SLATE, STARE and ADIEU have grown, while CRANE has fallen. Even top words still see spikes: ADIEU was featured in the Mini Crossword in August, for example, and jumped in popularity. Read our story to see more data, as well as three other things we learned, and try WordleBot for your daily Wordle score and analysis. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS Israel-Hamas War Protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images The Israeli military said three hostages mistakenly killed by its troops had been unarmed and bearing a makeshift white flag. The killings could force Israel to reconsider its strategy in Gaza. The U.S. defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, will visit Israel this week as the U.S. pushes leaders there to scale back the military campaign. The foreign secretaries of Britain and Germany advocated a “sustainable” cease-fire in a joint opinion article for The Sunday Times of London. Gaza is experiencing its longest phone and internet blackout of the war, leaving Palestinians virtually cut off. The U.S. and Britain shot down more than a dozen attack drones over the Red Sea, many fired from militant-controlled areas of Yemen. Years before Oct. 7, Israeli agents shared secrets about sources of Hamas funding with the Israeli and American governments. Nothing was done to stop the flow of money. Politics As President Biden considers sweeping migration restrictions, polls show growing support for such measures from Democrats — a sign of how drastically the politics of the issue have shifted. At a rally in New Hampshire, Donald Trump quoted Vladimir Putin to support his case that the criminal indictments he faces are political payback. The chief strategist for the leading Ron DeSantis super PAC resigned. The group has been consumed by infighting. A national consensus on abortion remains elusive because Republicans are trying to keep the issue away from voters, Kate Zernike writes. International In North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Arlette Bashizi for The New York Times A looming election is sharpening tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where decades of conflict and humanitarian crisis have killed and displaced millions. At least 61 people, including women and children, drowned in the shipwreck of a migrant boat near Libya. A Vatican court sentenced a once-powerful cardinal to five and a half years in prison for financial crimes. Chileans vote today on a new constitution that could pull the country to the right. Putin has turned the exit of major Western companies from Russia into a financial windfall for the state and its elites. Other Big Stories Because of a powerful geomagnetic storm, the northern lights may be visible further south in the U.S. this weekend, including in New York and Washington. A Memphis elementary school said it couldn’t bar an after-school club sponsored by The Satanic Temple from renting a space in its building. Each year, The Times asks teenagers to send us their college application essays about work, money or social class. Here are four, from California to Cambodia. FROM OPINION “The Crown” is a lesson in how the British monarchy exercises power through social influence, Arianne Chernock writes. In forcing a pregnant woman to cross state lines for an abortion, the United States has followed Ireland’s long history of punishing women, Maureen Dowd writes. Here is a column by Ross Douthat on U.F.O.s. The Sunday question: Should Biden compromise with Republicans on immigration to win Ukraine aid? “U.S. support for Ukraine must be attentive to the perspectives and interests of the Global South,” which is already critical of Biden’s priorities, Antonio De Loera-Brust writes for The Washington Post. But the border crisis hurts Biden’s re-election chances, and a compromise with Republicans would present “an opportunity to show they can work in good faith on a major issue that the public badly wants addressed,” The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board writes. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Readers of The Morning can save 50% on a Cooking subscription for the first year. Search by ingredient or explore editors’ collections to easily find the right recipes. MORNING READS At a workshop in Charlotte, N.C. Jesse Barber for The New York Times Lessons in anatomy: Fitness professionals like yoga instructors are taking cadaver workshops to better understand the body. Vows: They celebrated their marriage at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Lives Lived: Dr. Michael Stone sought to define evil, and devised a 22-category scale to differentiate killers’ motives. He died at 90. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT TALK | FROM THE TIMES MAGAZINE Ro Khanna T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times By David Marchese I recently spoke with congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, about how his party might better connect with voters on the economy. When you talk about manufacturing and economic concerns, do those ideas resonate for voters who feel culturally alienated from the Democratic Party? Joe Biden talks about those things, and if you look at polling, it doesn’t seem like voters give him credit. Where is the disconnect? One, we have to start by acknowledging people’s anger, a sense that the system is not working for them. Don’t try to tell them that they should think that we’re in a great place. The second thing is: Let’s ask people in these communities what they want. If you go to Warren, Ohio, they’re not saying, “We want semiconductor factories.” They’re open to it, but they want steel. And your feeling is that Biden is not doing that? I think he could do more. Every person in D.C. loves Lyndon Johnson’s record, right? But every street in this country is named after John F. Kennedy, because Kennedy captured the public imagination. What we have to do as Democrats is not just think legislatively, but think, How do we capture the public imagination? I was reading your first book [2012’s “Entrepreneurial Nation”] and saw a blurb from Elon Musk. What do you make of his political turn? As an entrepreneur and innovator, he is unparalleled in genius. I wish he realized that there has to be a more inclusive benefit to innovation. He can be schizophrenic, as a lot of entrepreneurs are. I had an hourlong conversation with him, with Mike Gallagher, chairman of the China committee, on A.I., and he was thoughtful. Then you see his tweet that’s like a seventh grader. It’s a lot that you can’t defend. Read more of the interview here. More from the magazine The anime “Sailor Moon” is about friendship, yes, but also liberation that does not match the world’s expectations of femininity. Tamar Shamir and Mohamed Abu Jafar had worked for years as peace activists, bringing Jews and Palestinians together. Oct. 7 changed everything. Read the full issue. BOOKS David Mamet Pam Susemiehl Put that coffee down: In David Mamet’s new memoir, the filmmaker and playwright shares his opinions on Hollywood past and present. Our editors’ picks: “The Mystery Guest” by Nita Prose, a murder mystery featuring the neurodivergent hotel housekeeper Molly Gray, plus six other books. Times best sellers: “Oath and Honor” by Liz Cheney, the former congresswoman from Wyoming, enters the hardcover nonfiction best-seller list at No. 1. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Spend 36 hours in Joshua Tree. Gift a kid the right Lego set. Play a different kind of card game. THE WEEK AHEAD What to Watch For Serbia holds parliamentary elections today. Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy publishing tycoon, goes on trial tomorrow under Hong Kong’s national security law. Congo holds elections on Wednesday. Argentina’s next payment to the International Monetary Fund is due Thursday. What to Cook This Week James Ransom for The New York Times In this season of best-of lists, Emily Weinstein turned to The Times’s most popular recipes of the year for this week’s Five Weeknight Dishes newsletter. Her picks include ginger chicken with sesame peanut sauce, rosemary white beans with frizzled onions and Eric Kim’s gochujang buttered noodles. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were clenching and leeching. Can you put eight historical events — covering the Mona Lisa, the coffee trade and the protection of free speech — in chronological order? Take this week’s Flashback quiz. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 18, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 18, 2023 December 18, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We’re covering the debate over immigration policy in Congress — as well as Israeli hostages, Jimmy Lai and office holiday parties. In the Rio Grande. Adrees Latif/Reuters The surge at the border The debate over border security in Congress is ultimately about whether the United States should accept much more immigration than federal law allows. To many Democratic politicians and immigration activists, the answer is yes. They believe that the U.S. has a humanitarian responsibility to admit millions of migrants who live in countries that are poorer or beset by turmoil. These immigration proponents believe that the proposals in Congress to toughen border security are cruel and xenophobic, needlessly turning away people who are eager to contribute to American society. To many Republican politicians — and most voters, polls suggest — the porous southern border is an urgent problem. Since President Biden took office, the number of people apprehended at the border (a proxy for flows of illegal immigration) has risen more than fourfold compared with the average level in the 2010s. The data suggest that thousands of people are entering the country illegally each day. This surge has created chaos in parts of southern Texas and Arizona and has strained resources as far away as Chicago, Denver and New York. Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection | By The New York Times The Senate has remained in session this week, rather than starting its holiday recess, so that its members can continue to negotiate over border security measures. Republicans have said that they will not pass a package of aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan unless it includes policies to tighten the southern border. In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain two issues: first, why migration has surged in recent years, and, second, how the current proposals would address it. 1. Why the surge? When experts try to explain why immigration rises and falls, they talk about “push” and “pull” factors. Push factors are those such as war, famine or economic crisis that cause people to leave their home countries and seek a new home. Pull factors are those that can lure people to a new country, such as an economic boom in that country or a more lax immigration policy. Both push and pull factors have played a role in the surge of migration to the U.S. Venezuela has descended into disarray in recent years, and Nicaragua’s government has become more repressive. But push factors don’t explain the entire surge — and maybe not even most of it. There have been no recent wars in Latin America, and the region’s poverty rate has been flat. Pull factors have also been important. During Biden’s presidential campaign, he spoke in much more welcoming tones than not only Donald Trump but also Barack Obama. “We’re a nation that says, ‘If you want to flee, and you’re fleeing oppression, you should come,’” Biden said during a 2020 campaign debate co-hosted by Univision, which has a large audience in Latin America. Federal policy, even before Biden’s presidency, has played a role, too. A 2015 ruling by a federal judge, for example, made it easier for children to enter the country. (Some of them go on to work dangerous jobs — such as roofing — in the U.S., as The Times has documented.) Together, these changes have caused many potential migrants to believe that their chances of being able to enter the U.S., and stay, are better than they used to be. “The pull factors are so much of what is happening now,” said Doris Meissner, who was the commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service under Bill Clinton and now works at the Migration Policy Institute. 2. What might happen? The Republican border proposals are an attempt to make illegal entry to the U.S. more difficult and, by extension, to change perceptions in Latin America. Today, migrants who manage to set foot on U.S. soil can often claim asylum. Some genuinely qualify because they have a credible fear of repression in their home countries. Many others do not qualify, but they have learned that claiming asylum allows them to remain in the U.S. for months, if not years, while their case is heard. Congressional Republicans favor several measures to change this system. One would temporarily shut the border — allowing almost no new asylum claims — if migration flows were to rise above a certain level. Another measure would make it easier for U.S. officials to detain and deport migrants who did not have credible asylum claims. A third would require migrants to have first applied for asylum in countries through which they traveled, like Mexico. Critics of these ideas have used extreme language to describe them — words like drastic, seismic and severe. But Meissner, the former immigration commissioner, told me that she thought the concerns about the migration surge were “fair” and “legitimate.” The recent rise in undocumented migration has also been drastic, after all. “The deeper issue here is our immigration laws have not been updated in 30 years,” Meissner said. The ideal solution, she and many other experts believe, would combine stronger border enforcement, more resources to decide cases quickly and clear new ways for people to apply for legal immigration. Of course, experts have been making the same arguments for years, without Congress acting. The two political parties remain too far apart on the issue to pass any comprehensive bill. But Biden’s push for Ukraine aid — combined with the Republicans’ focus on reducing illegal immigration — could lead to a narrower bill in coming weeks that tightens the border. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War As the war continues without resolution and many Israeli hostages remain in custody in Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu’s grip on power seems shakier than ever, Steven Erlanger writes. The Israeli military released more details about the three hostages killed by its soldiers in Gaza. They appeared to have used leftover food to create signs calling for help. Netanyahu said Israel would “fight to the end” as international allies in the U.S., Britain and Germany urge restraint. Israel took reporters to what it said was the biggest Hamas tunnel found since the invasion of Gaza. See inside. The Astal clan is an influential southern Gazan family. More than 100 members have been killed in the war. International Jimmy Lai Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The trial of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong tycoon who published an antigovernment newspaper, has begun. He faces up to life in prison under a Beijing-imposed national security law. Chileans rejected a new constitution that would have pulled the country to the right. A man was abducted by a Chinese gang and forced to work in an online scam operation in Myanmar. He shared photos and videos of his experience with The Times. In Germany, voters elected a far-right city mayor — a sign of the surging popularity of the nationalist party Alternative for Germany. A new form of protest against the government is rocking Iran: a viral dance craze set to an upbeat folk song. Politics The New York City Council is expected to approve a bill banning solitary confinement in city jails in most cases, over the objections of Mayor Eric Adams. Florida Republicans stripped their chairman of most duties as he faces a sexual assault investigation. The right-wing advocacy group Moms for Liberty transformed education issues into a Republican rallying cry. It now faces a sex scandal as its political influence wanes. Other Big Stories After a tongue-tie release. Jackie Molloy for The New York Times Lactation consultants are encouraging a procedure that snips under babies’ tongues to help them breastfeed, despite risks. A coastal storm is pounding parts of the Northeast, where officials are warning of flooding and power outages. The United Methodist Church, America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, is divided over L.G.B.T.Q. policies. The Transportation Department has fined Southwest Airlines $140 million over travel disruptions that affected about two million people last winter. Michigan State University will pay $15 million to the families of three students who were shot to death on campus in February. Opinions Trump’s success depends on his ability to portray himself as an unpredictable moderate, Matthew Schmitz argues. Why are some liberals turning to conservatism? Partly because the left is less welcoming than the right, Michelle Goldberg writes. Gail Collins and Bret Stephens discuss the economy and abortion rights. Here is a column by David French on Rudy Giuliani. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Readers of The Morning can save 50% on a Cooking subscription for the first year. Search by ingredient or explore editors’ collections to easily find the right recipes. MORNING READS In Yonkers, N.Y. Janice Chung for The New York Times Church lunches: After-service meals are key spaces for first-generation Korean immigrants. At Christmas, their children join them. Always sick: Post-pandemic, winter can feel like one big blur of coughs and colds. Did something change? Loneliness: If you’re feeling lonely, admit your need for connection and seek out meaningful relationships. Metropolitan Diary: Nap, interrupted. Lives Lived: Guy Stern fled rising antisemitism in Nazi Germany at 15 for a new life in the U.S. He later returned to interrogate Nazis. He died at 101. SPORTS Sunday Night Football: The Baltimore Ravens clinched a playoff spot with a 23-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Around the N.F.L.: The Buffalo Bills dominated the Dallas Cowboys, 31-10. And the Miami Dolphins beat the New York Jets, 30-0. See more takeaways. “The Passing Paisan”: Tommy DeVito, the Giants’ rookie quarterback, is New Jersey’s hometown hero in an era of teams without roots. M.L.B.: The New York Mets are making a push for Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who ate dinner at owner Steve Cohen’s house over the weekend. Volleyball: Texas upended No. 1 Nebraska to win the N.C.A.A. national championship, the second title in a row for the Longhorns. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Alcohol at a work party is becoming an endangered sight. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Office parties: The work holiday party is changing — boozy nighttime events are seemingly out and conference room lunches are in. One reason: The pandemic and hybrid work have made employees increasingly resistant to the idea of being away from home in the evenings. More on culture “Not a drug to be taken at home": Learn more about ketamine, which was cited in Matthew Perry’s autopsy report. A vase bought at Goodwill in Virginia for $3.99 sold for more than $100,000. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks. Prepare a celebratory seafood pasta for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Explore a European Christmas market. Wear a pair of Wirecutter’s favorite black tights. Try a solid alternative to liquid shampoo. Take our 2023 Faces Quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was impatient. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow.— David Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 19, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 19, 2023 December 19, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We’re covering the Year in Pictures — as well as Lloyd Austin, Pope Francis and Christmastime in the cosmos. Images of 2023 Until 1910, The New York Times never ran photographs on its front page. Until 1997, those photos were always black and white. For the last several decades, however, photography has been central to our journalism. And the internet has allowed us to show readers more photos than we ever could in print alone. Photography shapes most major parts of our report, including this newsletter. A signature part of our coverage is our Year in Pictures feature, published every December. The 2023 version is now available. As Marc Lacey, one of The Times’s two managing editors, writes in an introduction: Every year, our photo editors try to capture the best photojournalism in one intense presentation. The Year in Pictures is a way to commemorate the big news events from January to December: the ones that traumatized us — and there are many of those — mixed in with some moments of bliss. Below are a selection of 10 photos from the Year in Pictures, with brief captions. Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times Evgenia Simanovich ran to her home’s concrete shelter in Ashkelon, Israel, moments after a rocket siren sounded on Oct. 7. Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times Palestinian children playing in a courtyard in Gaza City paused to look skyward at the sound of airstrikes on Oct 7. Tamir Kalifa for The New York Times Caitlyne Gonzales, 11, danced to Taylor Swift songs at the grave of her friend Jackie Cazares, who was one of the 19 students killed last year in a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Amir Hamja/The New York Times Fans dressed in their “Renaissance” best, right down to the manicure, for the Beyoncé concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 30. Dave Sanders for The New York Times The Brooklyn Bridge, along with much of the Midwest and East Coast, was shrouded in reddish haze from wildfires in Quebec and Ontario on June 7. New York experienced its worst air quality on record. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times Ukrainian soldiers rested inside a destroyed building on the outskirts of Blahodatne on June 15. The newly liberated but desolate village was one of a handful that Ukraine said it had retaken during the first weeks of its counteroffensive against Russia. Damon Winter/The New York Times From left, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy were among the seven candidates who sparred in the second Republican presidential primary debate in Simi Valley, Calif., on Sept. 27. Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The New York Times Hundreds of migrants at a makeshift camp waited to be processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection during a wind storm on May 10. Todd Heisler/The New York Times Migrants from Afghanistan passing the Statue of Liberty en route to Ellis Island to fill out asylum applications on Aug. 16. Arezo Mohammadi, at rear in a white head scarf, texted her sister, “She’s very big, you can see her, she’s incredible.” Mette Lampcov for The New York Times Visitors admired the sunset at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park on Nov. 1. A lake formed in the normally dry salt bed earlier this year when Tropical Storm Hilary dumped 2.2 inches of rain, the most that had ever fallen in the park in a single day. You can find the rest of the Year in Pictures here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War Lloyd Austin, left, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of Israel. Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, visiting with Israel’s leaders, urged them to protect civilians in Gaza. The C.I.A. director met with Israeli and Qatari officials to discuss restarting hostage and prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas. Most voters disapprove of President Biden’s handling of the war, a New York Times/Siena College poll finds. And many more Americans sympathize more with Israel than with Palestinians. Global oil prices rose after BP said it had stopped sending tankers through the Red Sea. Iran-backed Yemeni rebels have been attacking ships there. Many Israelis, disenchanted with the prospect for peace following the Oct. 7 attacks, are becoming more conservative in their politics. “They looked like shadows of children”: Doctors treating Israeli children freed from Hamas said that many spoke in whispers and that some regressed developmentally, The Wall Street Journal reports. Tech Google said that it would allow app developers to collect payments directly from consumers and that it would pay $700 million to settle an antitrust suit brought by a group of state attorneys general. A judge sentenced the founder of Nikola, an electric truck start-up, to four years in prison for inflating his company’s value with extravagant, false claims. The E.U. is investigating X, accusing it of lax moderation of illicit content and disinformation. Apple will pause the sale of new versions of its smartwatch, after the company lost a patent dispute over technology used to detect pulse rates. More on Business U.S. Steel, formed by J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie over a century ago, agreed to a sale to the Japanese company Nippon Steel. Drugs like morphine and insulin have been in short supply. American officials have discussed price floors and government manufacturing to address the shortages. A jury ordered Monsanto to pay $857 million to students and parent volunteers who were exposed to dangerous chemicals at a school in Washington State. Politics Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed a law that lets the police arrest migrants who cross the border from Mexico. Senators continue to negotiate over immigration policy. Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, said a deal was still far from complete. Judges rejected Mark Meadows’s effort to move the Georgia election case against him to federal court. Organizers of the rally preceding the Jan. 6 attack knew that Donald Trump would urge his supporters to march to the Capitol but lied about it to federal officials, an inspector general investigation found. The Chinese government increased its efforts to influence American politics during the 2022 elections, an intelligence report said. International A view from Reykjavik. Brynjar Gunnarsson/Associated Press After weeks of warning, a volcano in southwestern Iceland began erupting. The size of the eruption was larger than expected, but it currently poses no risk to people. An earthquake in northwestern China killed at least 120 people, crumpling buildings while residents slept inside. Russia is using secretive shipping workarounds to avoid export restrictions. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi won a third term as Egypt’s president. He had the advantage of his authoritarian grip on the country, and the war in Gaza also helped him. Other Big Stories Pope Francis will allow priests to bless couples in same-sex relationships, though the Roman Catholic Church still does not recognize same-sex marriages. American Catholics are split. Chimpanzees and bonobos can recall faces of other apes that they have not seen for years, a study suggests. One bonobo recognized a face after 26 years, a record for nonhuman species. A judge halted the removal of a confederate statue from Arlington National Cemetery. Opinions Henry Kissinger’s critics forget that his brand of diplomacy brought results, Charles Kupchan writes. Democrats have long taken advantage of Black Americans. Instead of blaming Trump, they have to look at their own faults, Mara Gay writes. Here’s a column by Paul Krugman on the economy. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Less mess, less stress. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS The Christmas Tree Galaxy Cluster. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI. A cosmic Christmas: How astronomers find holiday cheer — and scientific wonder — in the cosmos. Late-night leftovers: Researchers say it’s worth reconsidering your midnight snack. In memoriam: The first female Supreme Court justice and a convention-flouting Brazilian musician are among the notable figures who died this year. See the full list. Lives Lived: Jeanne Hoff, perhaps the first openly transgender psychiatrist, shared the experience of her transition in a documentary to encourage her patients, many of whom were also transgender, to live openly and confidently. She died at 85. SPORTS N.F.L.: The Seattle Seahawks scored in the last minute to hand a third straight loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Soccer: The National Women’s Soccer League expansion draft for its two new franchises is drawing ire from stars and coaches. College football: Dylan Raiola, a top quarterback prospect, flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska, where he has family history. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS A magazine cover. Charities Aid Foundation America Wartime satire: For two years, during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Curt Bloch, a German Jew, lived in a tiny crawl space of a Dutch home. In addition to food and care, his helpers also provided him with pens, glue and newspapers. Bloch used the materials to create 95 issues of a satirical poetry magazine called Het Onderwater Cabaret, or The Underwater Cabaret, between August 1943 and April 1945, when he was liberated. Now, decades later, the magazine will be exhibited in a museum in Berlin. More on culture “House of Representatives or House of Gucci?”: George Santos sat down for a 17-minute interview with Ziwe Fumudoh, who is known for her uncomfortable questions. Marvel Studios dropped the actor Jonathan Majors after a jury found him guilty of assault and harassment for attacking his girlfriend. The late-night hosts discuss a jury’s ordering Rudy Giuliani to pay $148 million in defamation damages. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Braise chicken with white wine, mushrooms and leeks. Play the year’s best video games. Grab a gift at the grocery store. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was occupant. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David P.S. The Republican-led House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton 25 years ago today. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 21, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 21, 2023 December 20, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We’re covering the strategic goals of both Hamas and Israel — as well as Donald Trump, the Red Sea and the Year in Social Media. Rafah, Gaza. Fatima Shbair/Associated Press The Battle of Khan Younis The next few weeks of the war in Gaza may be especially important because the Biden administration is pressuring Israel to shift to a less intensive approach by late January. In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain what both Israel and Hamas hope to accomplish between now and then. Hamas’s strategy The primary short-term goal of Hamas’s leaders is survival. More than half of Hamas’s battalions may have already stopped fighting, having surrendered, fled or been killed. But Hamas’s top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, have apparently survived, and the group is still strong enough to fight Israeli troops in much of Gaza. Hamas hopes the same will be true several weeks from now. To make that happen, it is focusing on two main objectives: 1. Kill or wound more Israeli soldiers — and weaken Israeli support for the war. Before Oct. 7, Israeli fears of troop casualties and kidnappings was one reason that Israel’s leaders never ordered a full invasion of Gaza to fight Hamas. “Oct. 7 changed everything,” as my colleague Ronen Bergman, who covers Israeli intelligence and defense, said. The brutality of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks made the Israeli public much more willing to tolerate military casualties. But that willingness may not be permanent. In one battle last week, Hamas killed nine Israeli soldiers in Shajaiye, a neighborhood in Gaza City. Israeli forces mistakenly killed three hostages in the same neighborhood on Friday, causing some Israelis to question the current strategy. “The continued fighting in the current format will mean a steady trickle of news about soldiers dying,” Amos Harel, a correspondent for Haaretz, the liberal Israeli newspaper, wrote this week. “Broad public support for a ground incursion, which was strong in the aftermath of the Hamas massacre, is now being gradually mixed with concern and skepticism.” 2. Ensure that civilian deaths in Gaza increase international pressure on Israel. As Ronen told me, “Hamas’s goal is to survive in the tunnels while international pressure, because of civilian casualties, forces Israel to evacuate.” If Hamas’s leaders can survive several more weeks and Israel then accepts a cease-fire, the leaders can declare victory, he added. Hamas has long hidden its fighters and weapons in and under populated civilian areas, such as hospitals and mosques. It does so partly to force Israel to make a gruesome calculation: To fight Hamas, Israel often must also harm civilians. Since Oct. 7, Israel’s leaders have decided to accept that trade-off, primarily by attacking Hamas with powerful airstrikes that have killed thousands of civilian Gazans. International criticism of this approach has been intense. Top officials in the U.S., Israel’s most important ally, have said that the war strategy needs to change soon and that Israel needs to do more to avoid civilian deaths. Hamas’s leaders hope to survive long enough for the political pressure to force Israel to pull back. They also would like to win the release of more Palestinian prisoners. The funeral of Capt. Rotem Yoseff Levy, a 24-year-old Israeli Army reservist who was killed in Gaza. Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters Israel’s strategy Israel’s two main military goals are, in many ways, the mirror image of Hamas’s: 1. Finish taking control of Hamas’s remaining strongholds in northern Gaza — and assert more control over the south. Hamas forces remain active enough in the tunnels below parts of northern Gaza — including Shajaiye — that they can launch attacks like the one that killed nine Israelis last week. If Israel can complete its control over the north, it can devote more attention to the south, especially the area around Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, which Israel says has become Hamas’s headquarters. By The New York Times Israeli officials think that many of Hamas’s leaders, including Sinwar and Deif, are operating from tunnels below Khan Younis. (Both Sinwar and Deif grew up in Khan Younis refugee camp.) The Israelis think many remaining hostages are in the area, too. “Israel believes that if the fighting forces of Hamas in Khan Younis stop fighting — are captured or are killed — it more or less ends the battle on the ground,” Ronen said. Hamas then would be without its organizational structure, and the remaining fighters might release hostages in exchange for their own survival. But Israel remains far from achieving this goal. “Israel has set a very high bar for this conflict: destroying Hamas,” as Michael Eisenstadt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy told me. 2. Remain flexible and keep the U.S. from imposing a strict time limit on this phase of the war. The last few weeks of the war don’t seem to have gone as well as Israeli leaders hoped. “The time frame for Israel defeating Hamas militarily is longer than they thought,” Ronen said. These struggles are one reason that Israeli officials now seem more interested in another exchange of hostages and prisoners. It is possible that Israel will not be able to destroy Hamas and will eventually pull back from Gaza without having done so. For now, though, Israeli leaders remain committed to the goal. One key to achieving it is likely to be continued U.S. support for aggressive military action, even if Israel also tries harder to reduce civilian casualties. U.S. officials have spoken only in general terms about the changes they want to see to Israel’s military strategy, rather than making specific demands, like the withdrawal of troops. And uncertainty is important to Israel’s military plan. If Hamas’s leaders know that Israel’s operations are winding down, they may able to hunker down for a few more weeks. If Hamas is instead facing an unpredictable, extended war, it may need to take risks — such as bringing more supplies into the tunnels or moving from one place to another — that could expose its leaders to danger. Related: “President Biden and his top aides have engaged in an increasingly awkward dance in recent days, prodding Israel to change its tactics in the war in the Gaza Strip while still offering it robust public support,” my colleague Eric Schmitt writes from Tel Aviv. Eric and Helene Cooper also look at Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s role in pressuring Israel. More on the war Israel said it had sent thousands more troops to Khan Younis. Israel’s military said that it had taken control of Jabaliya, an area it considers a Hamas stronghold. The Iran-backed Houthi militia’s attacks against ships in the Red Sea could hurt global trade as vessels take longer routes. The U.S. will lead a multinational mission to try to protect the waterway. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Colorado Ballot Donald Trump Doug Mills/The New York Times Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Donald Trump is disqualified from holding office again because of his actions leading up to Jan. 6. The ruling bars Trump from appearing on Colorado’s Republican primary ballot next year. “We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” judges wrote. Trump’s campaign immediately said it would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which means the justices may decide the basic contours of the election. Read what could happen next. The ruling is a preview of a 2024 campaign entangled in Trump’s legal troubles, Politico writes. Most voters believe Trump has committed serious crimes, a new Times/Siena College poll found, but he is still dominating the Republican primary. More on Politics The Senate will adjourn this week without a compromise deal to secure the southern border and aid Ukraine. The current Congress is the least productive in decades: It passed just 27 bills that became law this year. Senators confirmed nearly a dozen top military officers after Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, dropped his blockade. “A pioneer”: Biden spoke at a memorial service for Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court. Migration European Union countries agreed to overhaul their migration system, making it easier to deport failed asylum seekers and limiting entry into the bloc. El Paso County and two immigrant rights groups sued Texas over a law that allows state and local police to arrest migrants crossing from Mexico. Migrants heading to the U.S. are using TikTok and YouTube to document their journey. International Sea drones. Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times In a tough year on land for Ukraine, drones have given the country some success at sea. Five African countries are battling outbreaks of anthrax. Some experts are worried that patients may have another disease with similar symptoms. Spectators filled a highway in Iceland to view scenes from a volcanic eruption. See photos of the lava. A popular chef drew the wrath of the official Chinese media and internet after posting an egg fried rice recipe. His experience shows how Beijing restricts free speech, Li Yuan writes. Economy and Business Investors are spending millions of dollars on FTX bankruptcy claims, hoping the firm’s new leaders will recover the money that Sam Bankman-Fried misappropriated. West Hollywood has America’s highest minimum wage. Business owners are concerned about whether they can survive. The newest union members are undergrads. South Korean A.I. firms lag behind U.S. counterparts, but their focus on non-English languages helps them to compete. Other Big Stories In Manhattan. James Estrin/The New York Times A day after Pope Francis announced that Catholic priests could bless same-sex couples, one New York couple received theirs. Minnesota revealed a new state flag after a design competition. A judge cleared the way for a Confederate memorial to be removed from Arlington National Cemetery, overturning a temporary restraining order. Residents had to be rescued from their homes, and thousands were left without power after a coastal storm in New England. Opinions Dog trainers are using language rooted in social justice to talk about their pets. It’s becoming absurd, Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer writes. Antisemitism within pro-Palestinian demonstrations is recreating an environment of fear in Jewish communities, Bret Stephens argues. In a second term, Trump could fundamentally weaken rights and freedoms most Americans believe are secure and guaranteed under law, Thomas Edsall writes. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Less mess, less stress. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS Social Media in 2023: A lot happened on the internet this year. Refresh your memory. Biological age: New tests promise to tell you if you have the cells of a 30-year-old or a 60-year-old. Goblin mode: A Times reporter’s love of words drives her to keep up with slang. Lives Lived: Dan Greenburg achieved fame with the 1964 publication of “How to Be a Jewish Mother,” a tongue-firmly-in-cheek assessment of the unique and often baffling qualities of a stereotypical Jewish mother. He died at 87. SPORTS N.B.A.: The Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant scored a game-winning layup at the buzzer in his first game back after a 25-game suspension. His team beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 115-113. N.F.L.: The Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he probably wouldn’t return to the field this season after all. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS At Luna Luna. Chantal Anderson for The New York Times A revival: Luna Luna, an art carnival that first appeared in Hamburg, Germany, in 1987, has been revived in a warehouse complex in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Its attractions include a Ferris wheel designed by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Keith Haring merry-go-round, and installations by David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein. One snag: The rides are off-limits. More on culture Ruby Franke, a former YouTube host of a popular parenting channel, pleaded guilty to child abuse. “Only Rudy could lose a $148 million lawsuit and say, ‘OK, double or nothing!’” The late-night hosts discuss Rudy Giuliani’s legal troubles. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Reverse-sear a prime rib for an impressive holiday centerpiece. Wrap gifts like a pro. Grab one of these F.S.A.-eligible products before the deadline. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was formula. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 22, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2023 December 21, 2023 SUPPORTED BY WALMART By David Leonhardt and Ian Prasad Philbrick Good morning. We’re covering the Colorado lawsuit involving Donald Trump and the 2024 ballot — as well as Gaza, Harvard and “Home Alone.” The Colorado Supreme Court. Stephen Speranza for The New York Times The core issues At its core, the Colorado lawsuit trying to keep Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot involves a clash between Constitutional textualism and voter empowerment. If you simply read the 14th Amendment, you will understand the argument that Trump should be disqualified from serving as president again. Section 3 of the amendment states that nobody who has taken an oath to support the Constitution should “hold any office” in the United States if that person has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.” On Jan. 6, 2021, of course, Trump encouraged a mob that later attacked Congress, and he praised the attackers that day and afterward. There are important legal technicalities, including a debate over whether the authors of the amendment intended for the word “officer” to describe appointed officials rather than elected ones. But many legal scholars, including some conservatives, have concluded that the amendment applies to Trump. “The ordinary sense of the text” and “the evident design to be comprehensive” indicate that it bars Trump from holding future office, William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen, who are members of the conservative Federalist Society, concluded in a recent law review article. The clearer philosophical argument against the lawsuit is democratic rather than technical: If the American people do not believe Trump is fit to be president, they can vote against him next year. For that matter, the Senate, an elected body of representatives, had the power to convict Trump during the impeachment trial over his Jan. 6 actions and bar him from future office, and it did not do so. Now, though, the seven justices of the Colorado Supreme Court (in a 4-3 vote, no less) have decided that Trump cannot appear on the state’s primary ballot. Lawyers are asking other courts to make similar decisions (as this Lawfare page tracks). Ultimately, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are likely to decide the case. Were they to bar a leading candidate from running for president, it could disenfranchise much of the country. It would in some ways be “a profoundly anti-democratic ruling,” as our colleague Adam Liptak, who covers the Supreme Court, said on “The Daily.” As Adam explained: Donald Trump is accused of doing grave wrongs in trying to overturn the election. But who should decide the consequences of that? Should it be nine people in Washington, or should it be the electorate of the United States, which can, for itself, assess whether Trump’s conduct is so blameworthy that he should not have the opportunity to serve another term? The lawyers making the case against Trump have a response to this. For one thing, the Constitution already restricts the voters’ judgment in other ways, as Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a law professor at Stetson University, told us. Nobody under the age of 35 can become president, nor can Barack Obama or George W. Bush again, because both have served two terms. And a judge in New Mexico last year barred a county commissioner from holding office because of his role in the Jan. 6 attack. For another thing, Trump may represent a threat to the national interest that no politician in decades has. He has encouraged violence, described his critics as traitors, lied constantly, used the office of the presidency to enrich himself, promised to target his political rivals for repressions and rejected basic foundations of American democracy. He is, according to this argument, precisely the kind of autocratic figure whom the founders wanted the Constitution to prevent from holding power even if voters felt otherwise in the moment. These will be the terms of the debate in coming weeks. Commentary on the case “The Colorado Supreme Court just decided that the U.S. Constitution still matters,” John Avlon argues for CNN. “The 14th Amendment was put in place to use in moments like this.” Anastasia Boden of the Cato Institute calls the Colorado ruling “a good-faith attempt to grapple with a vague constitutional provision.” Michael Mukasey has argued in The Wall Street Journal that the provision doesn’t apply to Trump. “If Mr. Trump is to be kept from office, it will have to be done the old-fashioned way, the way it was done in 2020 — by defeating him in an election.” “Section 3 of the 14th Amendment should not be used to prevent Americans from voting to elect the candidate of their choice. The best outcome, for the court and the country, would be for a unanimous court … to clear the way for Trump to run,” Ruth Marcus writes in The Washington Post. Times coverage of the case The Supreme Court could have a profound impact on the 2024 election beyond the Colorado case. The justices are already reviewing an obstruction-related case concerning Trump and could rule on his claims of executive immunity. “In this cycle, the Supreme Court is likely to play an even larger role than in Bush v. Gore,” one expert told The Times. Trump’s rivals in the Republican presidential primary have bemoaned the ruling, Maggie Haberman reports. So far, Trump’s legal troubles have helped him raise money and grow his support. Legal challenges to Trump’s eligibility are pending in at least 16 other states. Maine’s secretary of state is expected to rule on a challenge there in the coming days. Democrats are again hoping American institutions can work to stop Trump, Reid Epstein writes. President Biden said it was “self-evident” that Trump had supported an insurrection, but that it was up to courts to decide whether he should be on the ballot. Late-night hosts joked about the ruling. Continue reading the main story A MESSAGE FROM WALMART How Walmart helps every associate live better Walmart is committed to helping our associates live better. With benefits like paid parental leave and tuition coverage, full - and part - time associates have opportunities to build the careers they want. In fact, approximately 75 percent of management started as hourly associates. Plus, Walmart has covered tuition for over 126,000 full - and part - time associates so far. Learn why it pays to work at Walmart. Learn more THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War At the funeral of Alon Shamriz, one of the hostages mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers. Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times The Israeli military found video and audio of the three hostages mistakenly shot in Gaza from days before they were killed. The military also said it had found tunnels and offices under Gaza City that were a “center of power” for Hamas. Despite destroying much of Gaza, Israel has not found the Hamas commanders it has named as its top targets. The U.N. Security Council is working on a resolution that would call for a pause in fighting in Gaza to move more aid into the territory and free more hostages. Diplomats are moving slowly to ensure that the plan has support from the U.S. Politics U.S. regulators proposed online privacy safeguards that could limit how apps use and monetize children’s data. Justice Clarence Thomas threatened to resign years ago unless Congress raised the salaries of Supreme Court justices, according to a memo uncovered by ProPublica. A federal judge let prosecutors access messages from the seized phone of a Pennsylvania lawmaker who helped Trump try to overturn the 2020 election. The U.S. freed a close ally of Venezuela’s president in a prisoner swap for 10 jailed Americans. Representative Dean Phillips, a moderate Minnesota Democrat, is embracing “Medicare for All” in his long-shot primary challenge to Biden. China A Russian restaurant in Heihe, China. Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times Trade between China and Russia has boomed, reflecting the countries’ closer ties since the war in Ukraine started. China is rebuilding a secretive base where it has long conducted underground nuclear weapons testing, satellite images reveal. New York City The city banned most uses of solitary confinement in jails. But Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, has vowed to veto the ban. The Police Department pledged to end its practice of withholding body-camera footage from civilian investigators, after a ProPublica and Times Magazine investigation. Other Big Stories Harvard found more instances of insufficient citation in scholarly writing by its president, Claudine Gay, after reviewing her 1997 dissertation. Warner Bros. Discovery is in talks to merge with Paramount. Heavy rain and possible flooding are expected in Southern California through Friday. See which areas will be hit hardest. Opinions Japan was never judged the same way Germany was during the Nuremberg trials. Its victims’ resentment inspires the disorder in East Asia today, Gary J. Bass writes. The internet isn’t fun anymore. But that’s because it no longer appeals to the generation that made it, Max Read writes. Black and Hispanic children spend more time on social media than their white peers. It’s distracting them from activities like reading and sports, Pamela Paul argues. Want to avoid lulls in your holiday party small talk? Just have a few thought-provoking questions at the ready, Annie-Rose Strasser says. It was a chaotic political year. Take Gail Collins’s quiz to see how well you followed it. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Less mess, less stress. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS Cubicle couture. Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times Office vintage: Once derided as symbols of a commodified work force, cubicles are making a comeback. Shortest day: Today is the winter solstice. Give thanks: It’s evidence that our planet is specially equipped to harbor life. A new frontier: Scientists are exploring whether Ozempic could be used to treat other issues, like addiction. Social Qs: “Can I exclude my scamming sister from our Christmas dinner?” Royal questioning: How well do you remember “The Crown?” Take a quiz. Lives Lived: The historian Cari Beauchamp documented the overlooked story of the actresses and female screenwriters in early Hollywood who helped create the film industry. She died at 74. SPORTS College football: Georgia has the No. 1 recruiting class once again. New York Knicks: Center Mitchell Robinson — who had ankle surgery last week — is expected to miss the rest of the season. The team applied for a waiver to sign a replacement. Michigan: The N.C.A.A. is charging Coach Jim Harbaugh with a Level I violation over claims that he provided false or misleading information in an investigation into recruiting infractions. Continue reading the main story A MESSAGE FROM WALMART How Walmart helps every associate live better Walmart is committed to helping our associates live better. With benefits like paid parental leave and tuition coverage, full - and part - time associates have opportunities to build the careers they want. In fact, approximately 75 percent of management started as hourly associates. Plus, Walmart has covered tuition for over 126,000 full - and part - time associates so far. Learn why it pays to work at Walmart. Learn more ARTS AND IDEAS Macaulay Culkin, left, as Kevin McCallister. 20th Century Fox Home for the holidays: Rewatch the holiday classic “Home Alone” and you might find yourself distracted from the chaos of a child battling burglars by a nagging question: How did the McCallister family afford their sprawling home? The Times posed that question to economists, who dug into data on housing costs and mortgage rates of the 1990s and found that yes, the McCallisters were wealthy — they would have been in the top 1 percent of households in the Chicago area. More on culture A swag bag given to Golden Globe nominees is worth up to $500,000, The Cut reports. A judge ordered a “Lord of the Rings” fan to destroy his sequel to the series after finding it violated copyright protections. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times Roast a whole squash with chickpeas and tangy yogurt. Bring ghost stories back to Christmas with this tradition. Shovel snow without straining your back. Buy this deep-tissue massager. (It’s rough but effective.) GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams are blockable, cookable and lockable. And here are today’s Mini, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David and Ian P.S. Our colleagues in Games — who make the crossword, Spelling Bee, Connections and more — were recently profiled in Vanity Fair. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 22, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2023 December 22, 2023 By David Leonhardt and Lyna Bentahar Good morning. We’re covering the rebirth of local journalism — as well as the U.N., Rudy Giuliani and tea. A cheese parade in Concord, Mass. Brian Snyder/Reuters Paying for itself Many of this country’s biggest problems are devilishly hard to solve. The decline of local news may be different. That decline is certainly a problem. Hundreds of newspapers have closed in recent years, leaving many communities without any source of local news. Academic research has found that voter turnout tends to fall, and corruption and political polarization tend to rise, when people have no way to follow local events. But replacing yesterday’s newspapers with 21st century digital news publications may be more feasible than it once seemed. That’s the argument that Steven Waldman — a longtime journalist who now runs Rebuild Local News, an advocacy group — made in a recent essay in The Atlantic. “Unlike other seemingly intractable problems, the demise of local news wouldn’t cost very much money to reverse,” Waldman wrote. Most journalists don’t make a lot of money, he noted. Most communities don’t need hundreds of journalists to cover them. And local journalism often more than pays for itself in tax dollars saved. Waldman pointed to examples of costly corruption in California and Utah that exposés helped halt. That said, there is still the question of where the money for local journalism will come from — which brings me to the subject of today’s newsletter. The Morning has an annual tradition of highlighting great Times journalism from the past year. Today, we’re expanding that tradition to cover local journalism too. We asked editors at dozens of publications — both for-profit and nonprofit — to tell us about some of their best 2023 work. Below, you’ll find a selection of 25 stories, and we have posted a longer list online. We hope you find this work as delightful as we did. We also hope you’ll consider supporting a local news organization in your community through a subscription or donation. Find one whose work you admire, and then help them do their work strengthening your community. A growing number of these publications are thriving. “It took a generation for the American news industry to unravel, and it will take a generation to fully rebuild it,” Sarabeth Berman, C.E.O. of the American Journalism Project, which funds nonprofit newsrooms, said in a recent speech. “But real progress is underway.” Journalism to savor In the Hunter Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, idle freight trains blocked a main road, sometimes for more than 30 hours. — Capital B News In Colorado, a libertarian “food freedom” movement has re-energized a long battle over unpasteurized milk. — The Colorado Sun A city manager used political muscle and a community’s trust to remake DuBois, Pa., while granting himself raises, engaging in conflicts of interest, and allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. — Spotlight PA In booming Charlotte, N.C., one developer started naming streets and buildings after “Seinfeld” references. — The Charlotte Ledger The reporters Justin Hicks, left, and Jess Clark followed a school bus route. Justin Hicks/LPM After a busing debacle in Jefferson County, Ky., caused school closures, two reporters followed one school bus trying to complete an impossible route. — Louisville Public Media A Bible at a retirement facility piqued an Indianola bookseller’s curiosity, sending her on a journey to learn how a 318-year-old Scottish family Bible ended up in central Iowa. — The Indianola Independent Advocate Black Californians in the 1800s took extraordinary measures to escape slavery and make California a place of belonging. — Shasta Scout A 10-year-old and his father were exploring a Rhode Island bike path when they found a species of mushroom that had never before been recorded in the state. — ecoRI News City officials in Atlanta have made multiple false claims about their “environmental stewardship” of its public safety training center, dubbed “Cop City.” — The Xylom Some of Memphis’s best barbecue is served at a gun range, forcing some eaters to choose between their palates and politics. — The Food Section The federal government’s installation of lights in one stretch of southern Arizona, meant to help border agents, is threatening to spoil the night sky of a nearby biosphere reserve. — Arizona Luminaria An investigative report of wage theft in New York State uncovered rampant abuse in the horse racing industry, with repeat offenders owing workers over $4.4 million. — Documented Prisoners in China’s central Hunan Province were paid pennies to make work gloves bearing the brand of Milwaukee Tool, a company with a nearly 100-year history in Wisconsin. — Wisconsin Watch An investigation into Chicago’s rat management found a short-staffed bureau ill equipped to handle complaints or conduct inspections. — Block Club Chicago Texas’s pinball festival reinvigorates the game, bringing both new faces to the hobby and highlighting classics that have endured for decades. — Collin-Denton Spotlighter A Berkeley High junior became the youngest person to swim Hawaii’s 28-mile Moloka’i Channel, and the youngest woman to swim the 20-mile Catalina Channel. — Berkeleyside The beloved cheese parade in Concord, Mass. — with a 400-pound crucolo from Italy that arrives in a horse-drawn wagon as people dance and scramble for samples — may never recover from Covid. — The Concord Bridge The Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland has its own cheese parade: The annual arrival of a 350-pound wheel of crucolo is met with prayers, dancing and fanfare. — The Oaklandside Bob Lewis, who’s 95, loved his job at Washington Elementary School in Westfield, N.J. When he was fired, the community rallied. — TAPinto Westfield LaTonya Moore with her daughter’s urn. Sebastián Hidalgo for City Bureau A two-year investigation revealed how the Chicago police often delay and mishandle missing-persons cases — and how poor data is making the problem harder to solve. — City Bureau and the Invisible Institute In Lebanon, Pa., the orthodontists Rob and Lindsay Wertz bought Wertz Candies — no relation — continuing its nearly century-old legacy. — Lebtown Nevada beavers, considered a nuisance for decades, now seem to be key to restoring the state’s damaged wetlands. — The Nevada Independent Dogs and stoops play a big part in the life of Jersey City, which helps explain how a stoop-sitting Staffordshire Terrier named Matilda has had such a big impact on the community. — Jersey City Times The Old Orchard Beach Lawn Mower Drill Team nostalgically marched in its last parade. — Saco Bay News Baton Rouge police delayed, denied and dismissed complaints without telling the citizens who made them. — Verite News Supporters, and some critics, agree Montana’s director of public health and human services is whip-smart and politically astute. How he wants to overhaul Montana’s broken behavioral health system is less clear. — Montana Free Press We’ve collected many more examples of great local journalism. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War Israel has repeatedly dropped 2,000-pound bombs in areas of Gaza it designated safe for civilians, a Times analysis found. The U.S. said it was ready to back a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for more aid to Gaza. The timing of a vote was unclear. “I left him behind”: A girl who was a hostage says she will not be able to enjoy her freedom until she is reunited with her father, who is still captive. Domestic Politics Rudy Giuliani filed for bankruptcy a day after a judge ordered him to start paying the $148 million he owes to two former Georgia election workers he defamed. Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat frustrated by the left’s stance on both immigration and Israel, said he no longer identified with the “progressive” label. A 2019 message from Hunter Biden alluded to giving his father half his salary. The back story is unflattering but does not support Republican assertions of corruption. Foreign Policy The U.S. and China restored communications between their two militaries. The Biden administration plans to ease its ban on some weapons sales to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom negotiates a U.S.-backed peace accord with the Houthis, a militia in Yemen. The U.S. has granted political asylum to the widow of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist whom Saudi operatives killed in 2018. Other Big Stories In Prague. Michal Cizek/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A gunman opened fire at a university in the Czech Republic, killing 14 people. He later shot himself. The company that operates Pornhub admitted that it had profited for years from content that depicted sex trafficking victims. A 10-year-old Black boy in Mississippi was arrested after urinating behind his mom’s car while he waited for her. Opinions The United States should support Myanmar’s rebels, whose success is vital to a free and open Indo-Pacific, Ye Myo Hein and Lucas Myers write. Israel’s bombing of Gaza is reminiscent of wars that have failed before, Suzy Hansen writes. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Less mess, less stress. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS Volcano tourism. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Avoid the lava, please: Iceland asked people to stay away from an erupting volcano. “Barbie” and girl dinners: What this year’s internet trends can teach us about the American economy. Modern Love: His relationship with his grandmother went from polite predictability to deep kinship. Lives Lived: Robert Solow won the 1987 Nobel Prize in economics for his theory that technological advances have been the primary drivers of U.S. economic growth. He died at 99. SPORTS Signing: Yoshinobu Yamamoto agreed to a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers — the highest total ever guaranteed to a pitcher. A bad run: The Pistons fell to the Jazz for their 25th straight loss, one shy of tying the N.B.A. single-season record. N.F.L.: The Rams beat the Saints on “Thursday Night Football,” lifting the Rams’ playoff chances. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Teatime in Brooklyn. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Lift a pinky: In a decidedly uncivil time, when people argue with strangers on social media and wear sweats on the plane, afternoon tea is making a comeback. Elaborate tea service is now the attraction at more than a dozen venues in New York and Los Angeles. Patrons are drawn to the drinks — and the opportunity to disconnect. “We make you turn your phones off,” Mary Fry, who opened a tea house in Southern California, said. “You cannot be watching the Dodger game and having tea.” More on culture A former assistant to Vin Diesel, the action star, filed a sexual battery lawsuit against the actor. Stephen Colbert joked about Colorado’s barring Donald Trump from its Republican primary ballot. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times Make a batch of no-yeast cinnamon rolls that come together in under an hour. Buy these gifts for families on your list. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was vitriolic. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David and Lyna Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 24, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2023 December 23, 2023 By Melissa Kirsch Good morning. Today, your very specific, highly idiosyncratic best-ofs. María Jesús Contreras Your favorite things Earlier this month I asked you to send along your highly specific personal best-of list for 2023. I requested lists not limited to the usual categories like “best movie” or “best book” but that included, say, the best walk you took, or the best idea you had, or the best change you made to your routine. As I considered my own year, compiling my favorite cultural artifacts and foods and experiences, anything I found I was enjoying became a candidate for the list. Take George Winston’s 1982 album “December.” I listened to it for the first time in decades on Thursday, in honor of the winter solstice, and, I thought, “Is this the best nostalgic relistening experience I had this year?” Why not? The beauty of the personal best-of list is its categories are endless, its inventory selected by a jury of one. More highlights: The best original demo that made me reconsider a song I thought I knew: “Sailing,” by Christopher Cross, recorded in 1979 and released this year. The best scone I had was the maple pear scone from a new bakery in my neighborhood. The best run I took was on the Heritage Trail between Harriman and Goshen, N.Y. I loved Jerrod Carmichael’s performance in the film “Poor Things” and the book “The Best Minds” by Jonathan Rosen and the story “The Fugitive Princesses of Dubai” by Heidi Blake in The New Yorker. David Adjmi’s play “Stereophonic.” Bill Callahan and Will Oldham’s cover of Air Supply’s “Lost in Love.” Thank you to all the readers who indulged my request for your personal 2023 best-of lists. I wish I could publish them all; consider this my best-of list of your best-of lists. Take a look at this selection from the submissions, add the interesting stuff to your queue or agenda or diary. Next week: your best advice of the year. The best stuff you did The best 24-hour layover, Erika Del Villar, from Seattle, reported, is in Seoul, where she availed herself of the free layover tours from Incheon International Airport. Pay your friends to mend your clothes, recommends Sam Schultz, from Boston. (Presumably these friends are handy with a needle and thread.) Described by one reader as “the best transformative experience” and another as “the best midlife crisis”: walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Carol Brand, from Boulder, Colo., was advised in preparation for the journey, “If you pack it, you have to carry it,” wisdom she’s extended to her life, as a lesson in nonattachment. The best thing Kathy Gray, in Cosby, Tenn., gave and received this year came from bringing meals to her local firehouse. “They were so grateful and welcoming, and always thrilled to see my car pull up,” she wrote. The best thing Amy Hopper Swan, from Little Rock, Ark., did to improve her marriage was buy her husband his own separate laundry hamper. And, after a trip to Germany, Michelle Wagner, of Jamestown, R.I., decided to adopt a new bedding schema: she bought individual twin blankets and duvets for herself and her husband. “Life changing,” she reports. Your best in culture While most submissions were delightfully idiosyncratic, there were some common themes. Readers were mad for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (the live show, the film, the fandom experience), as well as Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Depeche Mode’s “Memento Mori.” You loved the TV shows “Slow Horses,” “Lessons in Chemistry,” “The Bear,” “Ted Lasso,” “Gilmore Girls” and “Reservation Dogs.” The film that received the most love was “Past Lives.” You loved reading “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese, and listening to the Meryl Streep audiobook of Ann Patchett’s “Tom Lake.” Best depiction of mental health in art: The album “Stick Season,” by Noah Kahan — Hannah Levinger, Strafford, Vt. Best book: “‘Hello Beautiful,’ by Ann Napolitano, for articulating grief in a way I needed to heal after losing my dad and uncle to Covid in 2020.” — Lisa Miller, West Hempstead, N.Y. Best movie I’ve been meaning to watch for years that I finally watched: Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love.” “It was as emotionally stirring and aesthetically stunning as I hoped it would be.” — Jennifer Suzukawa-Tseng, New York, N.Y. Best book title: “Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come,” by Jessica Pan — Lynn Walker, Los Gatos, Calif. Best late-night reading: “Diana Nyad’s Swimming Brought Her Glory, Fame, and An Adversary Dedicated to Exposing Her Lies” by Dave McKenna, in Defector. “I stayed up well past my bedtime hanging on the details of this story of someone who I now recognize as a uniquely American figure.” — Sean Nielsen, Tampa, Fla. Best rediscovered 1970s musical: “I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road” — Marilyn Flores, San Francisco Your best changes to routines Anna Sibul in Bend, Ore.,’s favorite new habit is taking three deep breaths and then spending one silent minute appreciating her surroundings. Jennifer Sutherland, in Southlake, Tex., started smearing sunscreen on the back of her hands each morning after applying it to her face. “Wish I’d thought of that 30 years ago!” she writes. Each week this year, Rebecca Jamieson of Madison, Wis., wrote something that happened that she was grateful for on a slip of paper and put it into a jar. Lisa Ortega-Pol of San Juan, P.R., swapped the brisk walks she was always finding excuses not to take for 30-minute dance parties at home. “By changing it to dance, I can do it anywhere in or around the house and bust my favorite ’80s moves,” she reports. Even more bests Best way a pediatrician described my extra-loud infant: “Animated.” — Hannah Brandon, Minneapolis Best train: Amtrak’s Vermonter — Denny Partridge, New York, N.Y. Best thing I learned to do: “Saying ‘I love you’ without hesitation.” — Roberto Olivero, Portland, Ore. Best day: “July 17. I had a great date!” — Roy Kohavi, New Haven, Conn. Favorite moment: “Holding my mother’s hand as she took her last breath at age 103.” — Deanna Lindenbaum, Gridley, Ill. For more Readers critique our critics’ best-of lists. The books that readers told the Book Review they loved this year. Last year’s favorites from readers of The Morning. If you’re in the mood for melancholy music from another era, I recommend a spin through George Winston’s catalog of what Ben Ratliff called “utterly grainless, seasonal tone poems.” Not the highest praise, but still deeply evocative for this listener. Winston died this year at 74. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE WEEK IN CULTURE Just how formulaic are Hallmark and Lifetime holiday movies? The Upshot (over)analyzed 424 of them to find just how many feature high-powered women moving from the big city to a small town. Vin Diesel’s former assistant accused him of sexual assault in a lawsuit. “I’m a fan”: Mariah Carey, the queen of Christmas, met President Biden at the White House, Jezebel reports. He played her song. Kim Kardashian filled her bathtub with brown liquid meant to be Christmas chocolate. The internet had its mind in the drain, The Cut reports. Shari Redstone rules a vast media kingdom, including Paramount Pictures. Read why she’s considering a sale. Amazon Studios reached a deal to create television shows and movie based on the popular tabletop game Warhammer 40,000. Actor Henry Cavill will executive produce and appear in the show. Directors Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach got married after 12 years together, People reports. Celine Dion’s sister shared that the singer, who was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, no longer has control of her muscles, Vulture reports. A dress belonging to Princess Diana sold for $1.15 million at auction. Antonio Negri was an Italian philosopher whose writing and activism calling for a new workers’ revolution landed him in prison and made him an intellectual celebrity. He died at 90. THE LATEST NEWS The U.N. Security Council holding a vote on Friday. Charly Triballeau/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution calling for more civilian aid for Gaza. The U.S., which vetoed previous measures calling for a cease-fire, abstained from the vote. The Supreme Court declined to quickly decide whether Donald Trump is immune from prosecution over Jan. 6. A federal appeals court will hear the case first. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the state’s legislative maps, which heavily favor Republicans, are unconstitutional. It ordered new maps drawn before the 2024 election. A jury convicted two Colorado paramedics of criminally negligent homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, an unarmed Black man. Apple, trying to catch up in the race to build powerful artificial intelligence systems, is negotiating with news organizations to train A.I. using their articles. The Holiday Sale on Cooking ends soon. Subscribe today. Less mess, less stress. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. CULTURE CALENDAR By Desiree Ibekwe 🎬 “Ferrari” (Monday): This film from “Heat” director Michael Mann zooms in on Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), a former racer and automaker, in the summer of 1957, when both his business and his marriage (to Penélope Cruz) are faltering. Mann first got hold of the script in the 1990s and held onto the idea until he felt he could get the budget he needed, he told The Guardian. The turning point: the popularity of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive.” 🎬 “The Color Purple” (Monday): The story of Celie Harris is well loved. Alice Walker’s 1982 novel won her a Pulitzer and was later made into a movie by Steven Spielberg, then into a Broadway musical. This latest adaptation is, as The Times’s Alissa Wilkinson put it in her review, “a movie-musical based on a musical based on a movie based on a book.” The cast is impressive, with “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino portraying Celie. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECIPE OF THE WEEK Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times By Melissa Clark Buttery Breakfast Casserole If you’re looking for something special to serve on Christmas morning (or New Year’s Day if you’re the type to plan ahead), the toasted croissants in this buttery breakfast casserole make it the star of its golden-topped realm. As with all breakfast casseroles, you can assemble it the day before, then just pop it in the oven an hour or so before you want to serve it. While it’s baking, you can take a shower (or not), mix up some bloody Marys (or not), and know that something savory, filling and festive will soon be yours, and ready to share. REAL ESTATE Matt Mattus In the garden: Whether you want cut flowers or a striking vertical display, annual vines can transform your garden in a single season. College football: Investors and sports fans are snapping up short-terms rentals, destabilizing the housing markets of college towns. What you get for $575,000: A 1913 Craftsman bungalow in Salt Lake City; a Victorian in Des Moines; or a Dutch Colonial Revival house in Peabody, Mass. The hunt: Two first-time buyers hoped to move from Harlem to Brooklyn. Would $500,000 be enough for a two-bedroom? Play our game. LIVING Canada experienced a historically bad wildfire season. Renaud Philippe for The New York Times Travel in 2023: It was an ‘annus horribilis,’ with disasters, upheavals and unparalleled weather events devastating destinations across the globe. Cuffing season? Making it through the holidays can put pressures on newer relationships. Northern lights: An Arctic influencer gets through months of darkness with starlit hikes and treks in the snow. See the videos. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Last-minute gifts from the grocery store If you are in need of a gift by Monday, we are sorry to say, it’s probably too late to order something online. And the shelves at your (likely very crowded) nearest big-box store are probably picked over. But procrastinators, rejoice: There are plenty of Wirecutter picks available at your local supermarket that would make great gifts. And because every gift should be memorable, we included expert advice for how to make them feel extra special — so nobody suspects you found them on aisle two. —Rose Lorre GAME OF THE WEEKEND Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Nick Wass/Associated Press Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers, N.F.L.: In a season when many N.F.L. teams have occupied a nebulous middle ground — about half the league is within one game of .500 — these two stand out. The Ravens are electric under quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose ability to both hurl the ball downfield and break off big runs is the best the sport has seen since Michael Vick. The 49ers, meanwhile, are the most complete team in the league. Quarterback Brock Purdy, who earned the ignominious nickname “Mr. Irrelevant” when he was picked dead last in the 2022 draft, is now a front-runner for the M.V.P. award. Don’t be surprised if these two meet again in the Super Bowl. Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. For more: With three games remaining for, the 2023 playoff field is remarkably open. Here’s a look at where each team stands. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was jouncing. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 25, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 25, 2023 December 24, 2023 By Amy Virshup Good morning. Traveling lets us imagine all the lives we might have. In Vienna. Florentina Olareanu for The New York Times Winter trips There is something about this time of year that makes me — and, it seems, a lot of other people — dream of being elsewhere. Here in New York City, on the eve of Christmas, the trees are bare and lack the compensating beauty of snow. The sky is unremittingly gray (when it’s not actually raining). The sun goes down at 4:30 in the afternoon. (Raise your hand if Noah Kahan’s sad-in-Vermont “Stick Season” resonates with you, too.) When it comes to vacationing in the winter months, I think the world roughly divides into halves. There are the people who embrace a vision that involves snow and ice and seeing their breath when they step outside. And there are those who want to spend the day in their bathing suit and feel the warm sun on their shoulders. As The Times’s Travel editor, I feel a responsibility to both those groups. I personally might not dream of booking passage with 6,999 other people on the biggest cruise ship ever to launch, but there are those who do. Special winter travel sections are something of a tradition for the Travel desk, and over the last few weeks, we’ve published two collections of articles filled with inspiration and advice. One was dedicated to readers who want to run toward the cold, and the other focused on those who want to escape it. In Barnard, Vt. Twin Farms You may never book any of these trips, but I think one of the wonderful things about travel writing is that it lets us imagine all the lives we might have. I read our articles and fantasize: Maybe I am a person who spends Christmas in Vienna, ice skating under trees filled with twinkling lights and pausing to drink mulled wine. Or someone who checks into a fancy treehouse at a Vermont resort (a snowy one, not a sad one) and curls up with a book by the fireplace. Or who goes backcountry skiing in Colorado, climbing up and over mountain passes, then descending through fields of untracked snow. In Hawaii. Marco Garcia for The New York Times Or maybe I’m lying under a pink-and-white striped beach umbrella at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki, mai tai in hand, or riding a mustang through the high-desert landscape of Joshua Tree in California, or sitting on a cliff in Puerto Rico with a stunning view of the cobalt water below, listening to the waves echo off the rocks. Of course, in this fantasy world, my flights are never delayed by snowstorms or grounded by computer glitches. In the real world, 2023 was a year filled with travel chaos. I hope that those of you who are traveling this holiday are able to remain in that fantasy bubble. If not, our latest Tripped Up column looks back on the year’s travel mishaps and offers advice on how to avoid them in 2024. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS Israel-Hamas War In Be’eri, Israel. The New York Times The day Hamas came: See a reconstruction of events in Be’eri, the Israeli village that experienced the worst bloodshed on Oct. 7. Israel’s military said it would send more troops underground to destroy tunnels below Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, has been targeting ships in the Red Sea. But the U.S. is hesitant to strike back in Yemen partly because officials are worried about a wider conflict. Anti-government protests, rare since the war, have returned to Israeli streets. Bethlehem typically has extravagant Christmas festivities. This year, it’s a city in mourning. International Vladimir Putin speaking at a rally in Moscow. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times Vladimir Putin has signaled that he is open to a cease-fire in Ukraine, officials said. Fuel prices are up 60 percent under Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei. Persistent conflicts and key elections across the world could add volatility to the global economy in 2024. Politics Justice Clarence Thomas. Allison V. Smith for The New York Times Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court justice, has built a network of former clerks who wield influence in universities, law firms and government. Lawyers for Donald Trump asked an appeals court to toss a federal indictment accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election on presidential-immunity grounds. Ron DeSantis had an ambitious, expensive field operation. Read how it sputtered. Other Big Stories Researchers used ChatGPT to extract people’s contact information, showing that the chatbot’s privacy restrictions can be bypassed. Substack said it would not ban Nazi symbols or extremist speech on the platform. A man with developmental disabilities involuntarily confessed to a murder. He spent more than 16 years in prison, and settled a wrongful conviction lawsuit for nearly $12 million. Laura Lynch, a co-founder of the Dixie Chicks, died in a car crash at 65. FROM OPINION In this Opinion video, readers both young and old share their thoughts on loneliness. “A profound failure of discipleship”: Beth Moore, an evangelical writer, talks to Nicholas Kristof about Christianity. If Hamas frees the hostages, Israel should drop its unrealistic war goals and withdraw from Gaza, Thomas Friedman writes. The sheer amount of plagiarism in the case of Claudine Gay, Harvard’s president, means that she should resign, John McWhorter argues. The Sunday question: Should Trump be barred from the ballot? Section 3 of the 14th Amendment prohibits any insurrectionist from taking up federal office, making the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision a clear application of the law, CNN’s John Avlon writes: “The court can’t credibly pretend that the Constitution does not say what it clearly says.” But when the country still disagrees on whether Trump is an insurrectionist at all, keeping him off the ballot “could put democracy at more risk rather than less,” Samuel Moyn writes for Times Opinion. The Holiday Sale ends tomorrow. Subscribe to Cooking today. Readers of The Morning can save 50% on a Cooking subscription for the first year. Search by ingredient or explore editors’ collections to easily find the right recipes. MORNING READS Sasha Arutyunova for The New York Times. The art of craft: Jasmine Rae de Lung’s striking cake creations are as much about process as they are about the final product. Grand opera: Can Anita Rachvelishvili, the mezzo-soprano who has struggled with vocal problems since her pregnancy, get her voice back? What lies below: An archaeological expedition in Mexico seeks what’s left of the sprawling catacombs hidden underneath “the Vatican of the Zapotecs.” Science: The DNA of an Antarctic octopus is helping researchers understand the dangers of climate change. “Home Alone 2”: The Manhattan brownstone in which Kevin McCallister (purportedly) took on the Wet Bandits is for sale. Vows: They’ve known each other since the 1970s and had great marriages. Their decision to start a relationship surprised them more than it surprised friends. Lives Lived: Giovanni Anselmo was an artist of many mediums who used a vast array of materials, including stone, paint, piles of earth and even lettuce, to provoke thought and wonder. He died at 89. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT TALK | FROM THE TIMES MAGAZINE Photo illustration by Bráulio Amado By David Marchese One of my favorite interviews was with the great cellist and humanitarian Yo-Yo Ma. I thought some of Ma’s ideas about connecting with other people were worth revisiting at this time of the year. Your work is rooted in the idea of music as a value-positive, ennobling thing. But music is also used in every possible awful context. Can we delineate music from the intentions of the people using it? Music connects human beings. It brings people together. So a marching band will energize an athletic game or bring people to war. The bagpipe is used for war, for entertainment, for funerals, for weddings. Music is not one thing. It’s something that people react to. But your question — “Is that good or bad?” — it depends on circumstances and individuals and timing. How do you think about the specific environment in which you’re playing music? As a performer, my job is to make the listener the most important person in the room. The only way to avoid burnout is to care about where you are. Being present. Caring. You’re working with living material. That goes back to memory. The living material is only living if it is memorable. Not only that it’s memorable but that you pass it on. That is what I’m thinking about with every single interaction. Whether it’s a kid, someone on the street, in a concert hall or with you, David. It’s the same thing: How to be present. Because if you’re not? Then why are we here? That’s it. You are acknowledging someone’s existence by being present. It may take a lot more energy, but boy, is it much more rewarding. It makes me happy. It makes people happy. It’s wonderful. Read more of the interview here. More from the magazine HBO’s three-part docuseries on the cult of Mother God pulls from an astonishing wealth of content created by the group itself. Decades after leaving drug hustling behind, why did an author seek out the man who had drawn him into that world? What does it mean to be a Palestinian in this new era of war and displacement? In Jordan, a sprawling diaspora looks toward Gaza. Read the full issue. BOOKS Clay Hickson A quiz: It’s been 400 years since “The First Folio,” a landmark collection of Shakespeare’s plays, was published. How much do you know about it? Our editors’ picks: “Happy,” a debut novel about a Punjabi farmer who moves to Italy, and eight other books. Times best sellers: Rebecca Yarros remains in the top two spots on the combined e-book and print fiction best seller with “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame.” THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Listen to podcasts about scams and con artists. Make canapés like a professional chef. Order a last-minute Christmas gift. THE WEEK AHEAD What to Watch For Tomorrow is Christmas Day. A commission in Turkey is expected to meet on Tuesday to consider Sweden’s NATO membership bid. What to Cook This Week Penne alla vodka. James Ransom for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. The recipes in Emily Weinstein’s latest Five Weeknight Dishes newsletter are a mix of her own favorites and readers’ picks. Try baked Greek shrimp with tomatoes and feta. One reader recommended skillet chicken with mushrooms and caramelized onions, saying, “My whole family loved it.” And the ricotta pasta alla vodka can easily be made vegetarian. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was chlorophyll. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 25, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 25, 2023 December 25, 2023 By David Leonhardt Good morning. We offer a selection of games and music for the holiday — as well as coverage of Gaza, Ukraine and boygenius. Fiordaliso/Getty Images A day to play My colleagues and I thought today would be a good day to remind you of some recent Times games — as well as an all-time classic — that you can play on your own or with friends and family. We’ll start with our recent Faces quiz, in which we asked you to identify 52 people who made news in 2023. We are adding a bonus in today’s newsletter. At the end of the Faces quiz, we asked players to name somebody who they thought should have been included on our list and was not. Below are the 12 most frequently mentioned people. We provide an answer key, with their names, at the bottom of today’s newsletter. The New York Times The New York Times The New York Times If you can’t get enough Faces, the 2022 and 2021 versions are still available. We also recommend you try this holiday-themed version of Flashback, The Times’s history quiz. It includes Stonehenge, holly, Rudolph and Mariah Carey. Both today’s Connections game and the Mini have holiday themes, too. And if you haven’t yet tried the Kiki-Bouba game, it’s quick and fun. As for that all-time classic: Many people are spending today with a geographically diverse mix of relatives or friends. Such a gathering can be a great place to take The Times’s dialect quiz, released 10 years ago, and see what it tells you about the roots of your own speech pattern. The quiz remains one of the most widely read pieces of Times journalism in our long history. We have since developed a dialect quiz for Britain and Ireland, too. Finally, I have a music recommendation, whether you’re spending the day celebrating Christmas, relaxing or working. My personal soundtrack during this time of year is the re-imagination of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. It’s a delightful background music for any activity today. You can listen to a performance by the Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra on Apple Music, Spotify or YouTube. (The Ellington-Strayhorn Nutcracker starts with the sixth track, titled “Introduction.”) And here’s a recent Times article by Hugh Morris on other re-imaginations of “The Nutcracker.” Whatever you’re doing, I hope you enjoy the day. Programming note: This week, we will be using The Morning to highlight The Times’s best journalism of 2023, especially work that we think is worth revisiting. As always, The Morning will also provide you with a summary of the day’s news and links to full Times coverage. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War Israeli officials said they would intensify their fight against Hamas. The Gazan health ministry said dozens were killed in airstrikes in a central Gaza neighborhood. Israel’s economy is expected to shrink by 2 percent this quarter, as hundreds of thousands of workers are displaced by the war or called up as reservists. The Iran-backed Houthi militia is sowing chaos in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia would rather watch the developments from the sidelines. In the U.S., some see parallels between campus protests over Gaza and demonstrations during the Vietnam War. War in Ukraine In Kyiv. Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times After centuries of marking Christmas on Jan. 7, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church formally switched to celebrating on Dec. 25 with much of Europe — and not with Russia. The Ukrainian police arrested a senior defense official on suspicions that he embezzled nearly $40 million. A Ukrainian soldier escaped from an embattled steel plant and sneaked 125 miles to Ukrainian territory. Read his story. International Opposition leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing fraud accusations, called for an annulment of the recent general election results. Kashmiris are asking for an investigation into the deaths of three civilians who were taken into custody for questioning by Indian soldiers. Leaders in South Africa are pitching crackdowns on foreigners to appeal to voters. A thriving border town undercuts the nation’s anti-immigrant mood. Other Big Stories In Arkansas. Rory Doyle for The New York Times Americans’ increasing diet of chicken and dairy has taken a toll on underground water supplies. Ron DeSantis entered 2023 flush with cash and momentum. In the months since, internal campaign chaos and Donald Trump’s indictments have sapped support. Truckers across the country are faced with a persistent issue: where to find parking. The group that runs Harvard has projected unity around its president, Claudine Gay. But behind the scenes, there are signs of tensions. An island in San Francisco Bay is for sale. It’s listed for $25 million. Few in the U.S. will have a white Christmas this year. See a map of the country’s snow forecasts. Opinions An author’s fake-review scandal shook the book discussion site Goodreads. It’s a wake-up call for Amazon to invest more in the popular forum, Maris Kreizman writes. Christians love Jesus because he empathizes with our suffering, Peter Wehner writes. It’s antidemocratic to remove Trump from the ballot, Ross Douthat writes. The Holiday Sale ends today. Last chance to save on Cooking. Less mess, less stress. A Cooking subscription brings you easy recipes plus step-by-step guides, videos, photos and more. Subscribe and save 50% on your first year of Cooking. MORNING READS Juggling at a circus school. Chang W. Lee/The New York Times Circus stars: Mongolia produces some of the most coveted circus performers in the world despite a lack of training facilities and government support. Red meat: Long the epitome of holiday luxury in America, prime rib’s place on the table has changed with tastes — and the economy. Ask Vanessa: What does it mean to “dress your age”? Knowing what makes you feel good, says The Times’s chief fashion critic. Out of thin air: Black holes were thought to arise from the collapse of dead stars. There might be an alternative way. Metropolitan Diary: The best entry of 2023. Lives Lived: Mildred Miller was a mezzo-soprano who spent 23 years at the Metropolitan Opera. She died at 98. SPORTS Sunday Night Football: The New England Patriots upset the Denver Broncos, 26-23. Around the N.F.L.: The Detroit Lions clinched their first division title since 1993 with a win against the Minnesota Vikings. And the Miami Dolphins rallied to defeat the Dallas Cowboys, 22-20. See takeaways from Week 16. Soccer: The owners of Manchester United announced that they sold a 25 percent stake in the team to a British petrochemical billionaire. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS A poster for “Kaathal.” Priyadarshini Ravichandran for The New York Times Beyond the glitz: Indian cinema is often equated with the glamour and noise of Bollywood, but in a nation of 1.4 billion, regional film industries are distinct as their languages. In the southern state of Kerala, home of Malayalam-language cinema, audiences are increasingly turning out for more nuanced and human-driven stories like the recent hit “Kaathal,” about a gay closeted politician. More on culture It was a breakout year for the band boygenius. The Times went backstage with the supergroup. Fantasia Barrino-Taylor discussed her role playing the protagonist Celie Johnson in “The Color Purple.” THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Whip up an easy French toast that’s special enough for a holiday morning. Watch an opera from the comfort of your home. Wear gloves that allow you to use touch screens. Scrape ice with a tool that’s been a Wirecutter pick for years. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were headpin, pinhead and pinheaded. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David The answers to today’s bonus Faces quiz: 1. Volodymyr Zelensky; 2. Sandra Day O’Connor; 3. Norman Lear; 4. Greta Gerwig; 5. Shane MacGowan; 6. Gavin Newsom; 7. Andre Braugher; 8. Liz Cheney; 9. Fani Willis; 10. Jimmy Buffett; 11. Kevin McCarthy; 12. Jerome Powell. P.S. If you’re still looking to make end-of-year donations, please consider The New York Times Communities Fund. Your tax-deductible donation will support 10 effective organizations helping those in need. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 26, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 26, 2023 December 26, 2023 By the staff of The Morning Good morning. We’re covering the most-read Times journalism of 2023 — as well as Benjamin Netanyahu, Aleksei Navalny and supper clubs. The Titan submersible in an undated image. OceanGate Expeditions Four rankings This was the year when many Times readers began to care about artificial intelligence. It was also a year when they wanted their friends and family members to care about the subject. In today’s newsletter, we’re ranking the most popular Times articles of 2023 in four different ways. One of the rankings is based on “gift-sharing” — when Times subscribers send free copies of articles to friends and family who don’t have a subscription. Among the most gift shared articles of 2023 were those that covered the perils of artificial intelligence, a reporter’s unsettling chat with an A.I. bot and professors’ efforts to prevent A.I.-enabled cheating. Below are the gift-shared list as well as three others: the most-read articles; the most-read interactive features and trackers; and the articles that readers spent the most cumulative time reading. That last list includes many in-depth projects. (We have omitted some articles that were follow-ups to running news stories, such as updates on the missing submersible.) We hope you’ll find some stories to enjoy that you might have missed the first time around. Most read articles 1. Titan submersible rescuers detect “underwater noise” in search area and redirect efforts. (June 20) 2. Matthew Perry, star of “Friends,” is dead at 54. (Oct. 29) 3. Damar Hamlin of Buffalo Bills in critical condition after collapsing during N.F.L. game. (Jan. 2) 4. Trump decries charges after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts. (April 4) 5. House adjourns again with no resolution on speaker. (Jan. 5) 6. Agents search suspect’s properties as manhunt continues after Maine shootings. (Oct. 25) 7. Lisa Marie Presley, singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis, dies at 54. (Jan. 12) 8. Paramilitary chief abruptly ends standoff in Russia. (June 24) 9. Tucker Carlson’s text that alarmed Fox leaders: “It’s not how white men fight.” (May 2) 10. Six killed in Nashville school shooting, including three children. (March 27) Top trackers and interactives 1. Spelling Bee Buddy: Personalized Hints That Update as You Play 2. Who’s Running for President in 2024? 3. Tracking Air Quality and Smoke From Wildfires 4. Tracking the Attacks in Israel and Gaza 5. Vote Count: McCarthy Elected House Speaker After 15 Ballots (WordleBot also had a huge audience, but doesn’t qualify because it was not originally published in 2023.) Most gift-shared 1. Women have been misled about menopause. (Feb. 1) 2. A conversation with Bing’s chatbot left me deeply unsettled. (Feb. 16) 3. Why did 488 golden retrievers gather in Scotland? (July 19) 4. 52 Places to Go in 2023. (Jan. 12) 5. Five exercises to keep an aging body strong and fit. (March 1) 6. Even a little alcohol can harm your health. (Jan. 13) 7. Noam Chomsky: The false promise of ChatGPT. (March 😎 8. For a stable, strong core, forget about crunches. (Feb. 😎 9. How do you serve a friend in despair? (Feb. 9) 10. Alarmed by A.I. chatbots, universities start revamping how they teach. (Jan. 16) Most time spent 1. Nancy Pelosi, liberated and loving it. (Jan. 21) 2. Battling a cartel in a horrifying quest to find her daughter. (Sept. 24) 3. Ghosts on the glacier: New clues in an old climbing mystery. (Dec. 9) 4. The mother who changed: A story of dementia. (May 9) 5. Mel Brooks isn’t done punching up the history of the world. (March 11) 6. 2023 Met Gala red carpet roundup. (May 1) 7. A homeless man attacked him. But was there more to the story? (Nov. 16) 8. The Polygon and the Avalanche: How the Gilgo Beach suspect was found. (July 20) 9. America, China and a crisis of trust. (April 14) 10. Can you survive summer? Take the quiz. (June 2) Programming note: This week, we will be using The Morning to highlight The Times’s best journalism of 2023, especially work that we think is worth revisiting. As always, The Morning will also provide you with a summary of the day’s news and links to full Times coverage. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israel-Hamas War After a strike in central Gaza. Mahmud Hams/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Benjamin Netanyahu made his second known visit to Gaza since the war began. He said Israel would “deepen” the fighting in the coming days. In Israel, the Oct. 7 attacks continue to unify a country that earlier this year was divided over political debates. Amid fears of a wider regional conflict, Iran said Israel had killed one of its high-level military officials in Syria. The U.S. struck Iran-backed groups in Iraq, destroying three facilities used by Iranian proxies that had been targeting American and coalition troops, U.S. officials said. Politics “You almost feel like you’re family”: Members of Congress who have children with disabilities find common ground despite political differences. If Donald Trump wins another term, he has said he plans to bar Americans from investing in China and ban imports of key categories of Chinese-made goods. With the January caucuses less than a month away, Nikki Haley’s campaign is trying to capitalize on the momentum that her presidential bid has gained in recent months. War in Ukraine Ukraine said it had hit a warship in Crimea, potentially one of the most significant strikes against Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet in months. Aleksei Navalny, the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, was moved to a remote Arctic prison. He published a letter describing his transfer. Other Big Stories Americans increased their spending during the holidays despite lingering inflation, spurred by a healthy labor market and wage gains. More than a million people across the Northern and Central Plains remained under blizzard or ice storm warnings early Tuesday. (New York City has not seen more than an inch of snow in more than 680 days.) Opinions Polls reveal an Achilles’ heel for Trump: If he is convicted by a jury, voters say they are likely to punish him for it, Norman Eisen, Celinda Lake and Anat Shenker-Osorio write. People have used meals for political ends for centuries. Culinary diplomacy is a vital tool in this time of sharp partisan divisions, Alex Prud’homme writes. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS In Mexico City. Marian Carrasquero for The New York Times Vocholandia: The Volkswagen Beetle remains a favorite in one northern Mexico City community. Best of TV: Episodes of “Australian Survivor” and “Bob’s Burgers” made it onto the Times’s list of the best of the year. Good Tech Awards: The technological breakthroughs of 2023 that might make the world a better place. Lives Lived: Carlos Lyra was part of a circle of musicians who in the 1950s blended the samba sounds of Brazil with American jazz and European classical influences. He died at 90. SPORTS N.F.L.: The Philadelphia Eagles held on to defeat the New York Giants, 33-25. And the Kansas City Chiefs failed to clinch their eighth consecutive AFC West crown, losing to the Las Vegas Raiders, 20-14. N.B.A.: The Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 126-115. And the Denver Nuggets bested the Golden State Warriors, 120-114. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS The Tube Supper Club. Lauren Fleishman for The New York Times Food and company: London’s supper club scene grew in popularity in the 2000s, pushed by critics and food bloggers as an alternative to fancy restaurants. The events, which are usually held in the homes of amateur chefs, were forced to stop during the pandemic, but now they’re back — and evolving. The Times reporter Isabella Kwai spent a recent afternoon on a repurposed 1970s London Tube train enjoying a meal with eight strangers. More on culture In “Ferrari,” Adam Driver looms like a colossus as Enzo Ferrari, Manohla Dargis writes in a review of the movie. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook perfect salmon in the air fryer. Recreate the luxury Airbnb from Netflix’s “Leave the World Behind.” Make homemade popcorn. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was flowing, following and wolfing. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 28, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2023 December 27, 2023 By the staff of The Morning Good morning. We’re covering innovative storytelling from 2023 — as well as Ukrainian children, Gaza and Atelier Jolie. Jeremy White/The New York Times, Brian Rea, Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times, Pat Thomas More than words The Times is a newspaper, but it’s not only a newspaper. As a reader of this newsletter, you get the news in your email inbox every morning, not just on your doorstep. You might also listen to our journalism on a podcast app. You might watch it on TikTok. This year, as the Morning team began to compile standout journalism from 2023, we wanted to make sure we paid attention to different types of storytelling. Below, we have selected some of the year’s best podcast episodes, TikTok videos and graphics. We are also including some essays by our colleagues that take you behind the scenes of our journalism. Best graphics We mapped the lasting damage Covid can do to human lungs. Videos from people fleeing the Maui wildfire helped us reconstruct how the blaze was able to destroy an entire town. Satellite data allowed us to visualize the rise of Starlink and Elon Musk’s dominance in the night sky. We simulated a choir performing in Notre Dame with 3-D audio to show how experts are working to restore its sound after the fire in 2019. Using first-person stories gathered by Times reporters, we showed what life has been like in Gaza under Israeli bombardment. See more of the best graphics here, along with the stories behind their creation. Best of audio 2023 was the year of Taylor Swift. “The Daily” explores what that sounded like. On an episode of “Modern Love,” one woman married her crush from the subway. “This story is a heartbreaking articulation of grief, and a heart-mending reflection on how we never really lose the people we love,” Anna Martin, the host, said. Girl dinners and hot girl walks: A writer explained how young women are reclaiming “girl” as empowering, not infantilizing. On “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts got heated about the end of wokeness and what belongs in school curriculums. “The Daily” explained how the war in Gaza can be traced to events in 1948. “The Ezra Klein Show” listened to diverging narratives about the war from the Palestinian writer Amjad Iraqi and the Israeli writer Yossi Klein Halevi. “The Run-Up” spoke with two people on opposite sides of the Republican Party: the Pillow Guy and the R.N.C. chair. “Popcast” reflected on the raw art and life of Sinead O’Connor. A.I. models are black boxes. “Hard Fork” explained how researchers are working to make the technology more transparent. Two friends bought $30 worth of fentanyl before making it into rehab. One overdosed, and the other was charged in his death. “The Daily” told their story. Best videos New York Times Book Review editors described why they loved the books that made their year-end top 10 list. In one New York hamlet, residents believe death does not exist. Anna Kodé told the story of the town. Some U.S. troops fighting the Islamic State weren’t hurt by their enemy. They were hurt by their own weapons, Dave Philipps explained. Adidas tolerated Kanye West’s misconduct for nearly a decade before ending their partnership, Megan Twohey found. Michael Kimmelman, our architecture critic, discussed Lower Manhattan’s new beacon: The glamorous, $500 million Perelman Performing Arts Center. Behind the scenes at The Times What happens when an editor who runs a breaking news team takes a weeklong vow of silence at a meditation retreat? In 1999, a news assistant’s number crunching revealed that The Times had gotten 500 issues ahead of itself. A freelance reporter covered a mass shooting at Michigan State, while her younger sister sheltered in a classroom there. A Times book critic had one day to read, and review, Prince Harry’s memoir. Here’s how she did it. For years, confusion over who could perform a marriage in New York put The Times’s Weddings desk in the uncomfortable position of telling couples their marriages were not legal. In 1945, Milton Esterow began a career at The Times that changed art and culture reporting. He’s still writing at 94 — and still on a typewriter. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS International A Ukrainian boy and his grandmother. Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times The Russian authorities have taken thousands of children from Ukraine since the start of the war. Read some of their stories. China’s main spy agency is deploying artificial intelligence and advanced technology to compete with the C.I.A. Canada, which already allows terminally ill people to get assistance ending their lives, is set to expand the practice to include people with mental illness. Israel-Hamas War The Israeli military’s chief of staff said fighting would continue in Gaza until Hamas was destroyed, “whether it takes a week or months.” Some of Israel’s allies, and even former Israeli officials, are growing more skeptical that it will be possible to completely eliminate Hamas. Nearly two million people in Gaza are sheltering in the south. Bombing has continued there, including in areas where people were told to move. See satellite imagery showing Israel’s advance into central Gaza. Politics Covenant School parents at the Tennessee State Capitol. Jon Cherry for The New York Times After a deadly shooting, the parents of Covenant School — many of them conservative — set out to toughen Tennessee’s gun laws. Nikki Haley is the only non-Trump candidate with any momentum in the Republican primary. She’s hoping to beat him by mostly ignoring him. Vivek Ramaswamy’s presidential campaign has stopped spending money on cable TV ads. Climate “Eerie and disconcerting”: It was a rare snowless Christmas in the upper Midwest, with the temperature in the Minneapolis area hitting a record high. Earth is finishing up its warmest year ever recorded. The heat has scientists asking: Is climate change accelerating? The Biden administration must decide whether to permit a natural gas project in Louisiana that pits economic concerns against the government’s climate strategy. Other Big Stories Lee Sun-kyun, the South Korean actor who starred in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite,” was found dead in Seoul at 48. The police are investigating his death as a suicide. The number of serious medical errors in hospitals rose after they were taken over by private equity firms, a study found. Elite chess players keep accusing one another of cheating. Opinions Even if Ukraine fails to drive Russia out of its territory, an armistice would still secure its place in the West, Serge Schmemann writes. In 1909, Frederick A. Cook claimed to be the first man to reach the North Pole. In our age, in which scammers are idolized, he should be an American icon, Allegra Rosenberg writes. Social media is a scapegoat that dismisses the real concerns young people have for the economy and Gaza, Zeynep Tufekci writes. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS An anvil in Brookfield, Conn. Jordan Semanick for The New York Times “Hitting stuff hard”: Amateur blacksmithing is growing in popularity, part of a broader rise in hobby crafting. Culinary crystal ball: Nine predictions for how we’ll eat in 2024, including meal-flavored cocktails and premium water. New Year: Considering dry January? Set yourself up for success. Lives Lived: Paula Murphy proved in the 1960s that women had the nerve and the skill to race very fast cars. She died at 95. SPORTS N.F.L.: The Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson could be the most valuable player in the league after a dominant performance on Monday, Josh Kendall writes. Women’s water polo: Meet the team vying for another gold medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS The headquarters of Atelier Jolie. Amir Hamja/The New York Times Ghosts of New York: Angelina Jolie opened her first fashion boutique in Lower Manhattan this month. The building, 57 Great Jones Street, has a storied artistic past: Andy Warhol bought it in the 1970s, and Jean-Michel Basquiat lived and painted in the upstairs loft. But its history stretches well before that, The Times’s Alex Vadukul found. It has housed a host of New York City characters since the 1800s — including mobsters and bare-knuckle boxers. More on culture In the “Crownie Awards,” The Times evaluates the best and worst moments from “The Crown” as the series ends. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Con Poulos for The New York Times Make a spinach-artichoke chicken stew. Take your family skiing without breaking the bank. Use a compression sack to fit more clothes into your luggage. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was pantheon. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 30, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 30, 2023 December 28, 2023 By the staff of The Morning Good morning. We’re covering the year’s best Times Opinion coverage — as well as Donald Trump, migration and superhero fatigue. Illustration by Sam Whitney/The New York Times, Mark Peterson for The New York Times, Sara Cwynar for The New York Times, Illustration by Shoshana Schultz/The New York Times Challenge and delight We’re using today’s newsletter to highlight a selection of the best Times Opinion coverage of the year, as chosen by the department’s editors. As Katie Kingsbury, who runs Times Opinion, wrote to us: What I’ve always admired about The Times’s readers is that they don’t expect our opinion journalism to tell them what to think. They’re not looking to have their views affirmed or their understanding reflected back to them. What readers want of us in Opinion is — as best we can — to surprise them, delight them, engage them and, ultimately, to help them to think for themselves. We try to do that every day by inviting intelligent discussion by informed people. In 2023, it meant offering 100-plus years of experience covering the Middle East from columnists such as Tom Friedman and Bret Stephens. Closer to home, colleagues like Maureen Dowd, Carlos Lozada, Jamelle Bouie and David French challenged conventional wisdom on American politics and policy, while Lydia Polgreen, Charles Blow and David Brooks asked essential questions about what society values and how to live a full life. Penetrating essays, poignant films and startling visuals by outside contributors only bolstered the Opinion report this past year. We hope you enjoy the selection. Standout columns Charles Blow on coming out late in life. Jamelle Bouie on Chief Justice John Roberts’s polite disdain for Congress. David Brooks on his friend’s suicide. Gail Collins on using humor as a tool in the women’s movement. Ross Douthat on identity shifts in left-wing and right-wing politics. Maureen Dowd on President Biden’s seventh grandchild. Thomas Friedman on Israel’s need to be smart as it fights Hamas. David French on the wisdom of Jimmy Carter’s “malaise” speech. Michelle Goldberg on George Santos’s expulsion from Congress. Ezra Klein on artificial intelligence’s effects on relationships. Nicholas Kristof on Mississippi’s success at teaching children to read. Paul Krugman on the importance of reducing the budget deficit. Carlos Lozada on the emerging literature about a potential U.S.-China war. Tressie McMillan Cottom on the expulsion of two Tennessee lawmakers. Pamela Paul on the declining interest in studying English. Lydia Polgreen on the importance of letting queer people decide who they are. Bret Stephens on why so many Americans are down on Biden. Zeynep Tufekci on the potential for an even deadlier pandemic. And one piece from the Times editorial board: America has long been a young nation, but we will soon be old. We should take care to age gracefully. Standout guest essays The TV journalist Connie Chung inspired a generation of Asian American women named after her. Connie Wang tells their stories. Jimmy Carter’s time in hospice is a lesson for a country that has long been uncomfortable with mortality, Dr. Daniela Lamas writes. Trump’s indictments are stoking Americans’ sense that his enemies in government are treating him unfairly, Rich Lowry writes. Palestinians record their suffering because they hope that doing so will humanize them, Hala Alyan writes. “My whole world”: Rachel Goldberg pleads for the safety of her son, Hersh, whom Hamas abducted from a music festival. Is this it?: Millennials are entering middle age, and their economic conditions aren’t what they expected, Jessica Grose writes. Prisoners with dementia challenge the argument that incarceration deters future crime, Katie Engelhart writes. These photos, by Josephine Sittenfeld, capture the fleeting magic of summer camp. How Twitter changed protest, news consumption and comedy, in 25 tweets. If anyone is going to tell the story of Pamela Anderson’s life, it’s going to be her, Jessica Bennett writes. This film does not exist: Frank Pavich explains how A.I. created images from a version of “Tron” that was never made. Trump’s success depends on his ability to portray himself as an unpredictable moderate, Matthew Schmitz argues. Standout videos Nearly 20 years after being deployed to Iraq, U.S. veterans grapple with their younger selves and try to make sense of their war. Raphaël and Rémi were inseparable as twin brothers. But as they enter their teenage years, a distance slowly forms between them. Every day, Ukrainian children lose their fathers in Vladimir Putin’s war. A grief camp is fighting to protect their youth. How former President George W. Bush saved 25 million lives around the world. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Donald Trump The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Trump could stay on the state’s primary ballot. The decision differs from that of Colorado’s Supreme Court, which barred him from the ballot. An appeal to that ruling is one of at least three Trump cases the U.S. Supreme Court could weigh in on. Several news outlets, including NPR and Vox, are producing podcasts of the true-crime genre dedicated to Trump’s criminal cases. Migration Migrants in Arizona near the Mexico border. Fred Ramos for The New York Times “We are not equipped to deal with this”: U.S. Border Patrol agents say they are unable to keep up with the surge of migrants. Antony Blinken met with Mexico’s president to discuss how to slow illegal border crossings. As the Labor Department shrinks, many workplace inspections fall to private agencies. These audits have missed instances of migrant child labor, a Times review found. Mayor Eric Adams will restrict bus arrivals into New York City, pushing back on the Texas strategy of sending migrants to the city. International A senior Israeli official said Israel could take stronger action on its northern border with Lebanon to stop attacks from the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, unless a diplomatic solution is reached. Some foreign residents of Ukraine decided to remain in the country, even as millions fled the war. Other Big Stories At the county courthouse in Quitman, Miss. Rory Doyle for The New York Times Assault and corruption allegations against sheriffs in Mississippi often go nowhere, despite ample evidence, a Times and Mississippi Today investigation found. The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of using copyrighted Times articles to train A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT. Representative Lauren Boebert, who narrowly kept her House seat in 2022, will run in a different Colorado district next year to avoid what could have been a tough primary challenger. Opinions Which politician had the biggest turnaround of 2023? Michelle Cottle awards superlatives to the best and worst of U.S. politics. Mira Jacob uses illustrations to contemplate Covid, climate change and humanity’s evolution. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS A “Squid Game” competition. Jamie Lee Taete for The New York Times Immersive: Streamers and TV networks are transforming shows into live experiences. Covert mission: A private company wants to mine an asteroid — and keep the details secret. Lives Lived: Wolfgang Schäuble played a key role in the reunification of East and West Germany and was once viewed widely as the heir apparent to Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Schäuble has died at 81. SPORTS N.F.L.: The Denver Broncos benched quarterback Russell Wilson. League sources say he is expecting to be cut from the team in March amid a contract dispute. N.B.A.: Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will miss time after suffering injuries from a dog bite on Christmas. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Iman Vellani, Brie Larson and Teyonah Parris in “The Marvels.” Laura Radford/Disney/Marvel Studios, via Associated Press Super fatigue: The amount of prior knowledge required to watch a show or movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe nowadays is tantamount to a college course — and audiences appear to be tiring of the homework assignments, the Times critic Maya Phillips writes. The films are increasingly “unimaginative, unremarkable and purely targeted to audiences already in the know,” Phillips writes, and after years of box office smashes, ticket sales are starting to dwindle. More on culture Tom Smothers, whose groundbreaking show “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” upset the staid world of 1960s network TV with its sharp political comedy, has died at 86. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Kerri Brewer for The New York Times Serve this elegant tart version of a classic party combo. Immerse yourself in a video game with these headsets. Achieve peace of mind with a home security system. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was matchup. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 31, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2023 December 29, 2023 By the staff of The Morning Good morning. We’re covering overlooked stories from the past year — as well as Donald Trump, Gaza and wedding traditions. Tiksa Negeri for The New York Times, Maria Mavropoulou for The New York Times, Dave Sanders for The New York Times, Kate Greene for The New York Times A second look Before the internet, there was no way for New York Times editors to know how many people had read an article. Stories that ran on the front page of the newspaper presumably were better read than ones on Page 36, but nobody could be sure. Now, digital tools allow us to know how many people read every story. This knowledge inevitably leads editors to track their favorites and say, “I sure wish more people read that one.” Every year, The Morning dedicates a newsletter to the stories that Times editors thought deserved more readers. We look broadly across our newsroom, selecting at least one story from each department. We hope you will discover some great reads here. Scientists are trying to create a crocodile dictionary. In Spain, vermouth is more than a drink. It’s a national pastime. “I am at liberty and dinner”: Times reporters taught an A.I. bot to write by reading only Jane Austen. Jair Candor searches the Amazon rainforest for Indigenous people who want no contact with outsiders. His goal is to give them legal protection. In developing countries, women work to fight disease outbreaks. Many aren’t paid. “The Justins” modeled themselves after civil rights leaders of the past. It got them expelled from the Tennessee legislature. In a decaying fortress in Queens, one man battled 47 kinds of mosquito. It’s trendy to track your glucose. But unless you have diabetes, it’s probably not worth the cost. Christopher Nolan knew who should play the lead in “Oppenheimer”: “Cillian’s eyes were the only eyes I know that can project that intensity.” His day job is a lobsterman. You might know him as a TikToker. Who looted an ancient shrine in a distant part of the Roman Empire? Remorseful locals told their story. Public videos of police violence may increase accountability. But they are also harming Black Americans’ mental health. In a Canadian lake, scientists found evidence of nuclear weapons tests and fossil fuels. It’s a geological symbol of the human age. Leonardo DiCaprio helped save an Albanian river. It has become a popular tourist destination. Utah is a wellspring of young-adult fiction. Give credit to Mormon writers. Homecoming at many Texas high schools is about more than football. It’s about mums. A trove of rare metals lies beneath Nebraska farmland. Locals say mining it is their patriotic duty. What’s the best Wheel of Fortune strategy? Play a few rounds and see for yourself. With the right clothing, shoes and jewelry, could he make teenage girls into pop stars? An American family fought for their survival as they escaped Gaza after Oct. 7. Immigrants found community in California’s ballroom dancing halls. A mass shooting could not keep them from dancing. Teddy Roosevelt grew up in Manhattan, but he fell in love with the wide-open West. That’s why his new presidential library is in North Dakota. Why does the mayor of New York spend so much time on ceremonial flag-raisings? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS 2024 Election Maine barred Donald Trump from the state’s primary ballot, joining Colorado in declaring the former president ineligible because of his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Lawsuits seeking to remove Trump from the ballot are pending in more than a dozen states. Nikki Haley, when asked about the causes of the Civil War at a town-hall event, did not mention slavery. She later walked back her response. Gen Z Republicans are open to backing candidates other than Trump, but most candidates have focused on older voters. More on Politics In East Palestine, Ohio. Andrew Spear for The New York Times President Biden said in March that he would visit East Palestine, Ohio, the site of a toxic train derailment. The community is still waiting for him. A federal judge approved Georgia’s voting maps after lawmakers added a majority-Black congressional district. The Justice Department threatened to sue Texas if it enforced a law allowing police officers to arrest migrants who enter the U.S. from Mexico without authorization. Israel-Hamas War The Israeli military expressed regret for striking a densely packed neighborhood in Gaza this week that local health authorities said killed dozens of people. A 70-year-old Israeli-American who was believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas was actually killed in the Oct. 7 attacks, her family said. A leaked Israeli Supreme Court draft indicated that the court might strike down part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive judicial overhaul. A Times investigation found that Hamas used a pattern of gender-based violence in its attack on Israel on Oct. 7. International A request to a D.J. for a Ukrainian song and a photo with a blue and yellow scarf have been grounds for prosecution under Russia’s crackdown on antiwar speech. Investigators in Nepal said a plane crash that killed 72 people was caused by a pilot who pulled the incorrect levers while trying to land. The “Parasite” actor Lee Sun-kyun was found dead this week. He was one of many celebrities entangled in South Korea’s crackdown on drugs. Burkina Faso’s military junta is forcibly conscripting its critics, human rights organizations said. Other Big Stories Strawberry plants in Pajaro Valley. Nathan Weyland for The New York Times Farmers in the Pajaro Valley in California are charged to use water on their lands. Experts say it’s a case study in how to save the nation’s dwindling groundwater supplies. Many mentally ill detainees on Rikers Island are moved between the jails and psychiatric facilities for months or years before standing trial. Major American news publishers have been in confidential talks for months with OpenAI about terms for licensing their content. An agreement has been elusive. Murders fell sharply across the U.S. in 2023, according to the F.B.I. Detroit is on track to record its fewest homicides since the 1960s. Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was found guilty of helping to kill her mother in a murder that inspired a Hulu miniseries, has been released from prison. Opinions Trump’s disqualification from the Colorado ballot relies on ambiguous interpretations of the 14th Amendment, not on the framers’ intent, Kurt Lash writes. Social media users came up with a new term — “food noise” — to describe their desire to eat. It’s treating hunger as a bug instead of a feature, Kate Manne writes. Here is a column by Thomas Friedman on how bad choices led the world to a painful era. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS Wine in a store in London. Neil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock Drink up: Free from the E.U.’s rules on measurements, the U.K. will once again allow pubs to sell pints of wine. Big City: Six New Yorkers who made the city a better, cooler, fairer place in 2023. Crab Museum: In a British seaside town, a tiny museum is gaining attention for its irreverent exhibits. Lives Lived: Pope.L, best known for crawling the length of Broadway in a Superman costume, was an uncompromising conceptual and performance artist who explored themes of race, class and what he called “have-not-ness.” He died at 68. SPORTS N.F.L.: The Cleveland Browns clinched a playoff spot, defeating the New York Jets, 37-20. Browns quarterback Joe Flacco continued his streak of unexpected brilliance. College football: Alabama tightened its film restrictions as it prepares to play Michigan, which is embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Cake displays are being reinvented. Eli Turner Studios Something old, something new: Couples are putting new twists on classic wedding traditions, Alix Strauss writes. Some are replacing guest books with voice messages recorded on faux phones. Others are swapping the traditional bouquet toss for an “anniversary dance” for the married couples in the room, which ends with gifting the bouquet to the couple who has been married the longest. More on culture A.I.’s ability to approximate art and music should inspire artists to outperform the soulless machines, the Times critic Jason Farago writes. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Julia Gartland for The New York Times Complete any festive brunch with this shareable giant almond croissant. Ditch the string, floss with water. Deal with frequent small messes with a cordless vacuum. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was vaguely. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted December 31, 2023 Author Members Share Posted December 31, 2023 December 30, 2023 By Melissa Kirsch Good morning. Herein, the best advice that readers of The Morning received this year. María Jesús Contreras Words of wisdom There’s such fanfare about the end of the year and the beginning of a new one, but the difference is only a day. I find myself thinking about this a lot, how we invest the turning-over of a new year with such meaning, but it’s really just a Sunday into Monday, a transition we don’t dignify with ceremony the other 51 weeks. This week, it’s momentous. This week, we make a fuss. What sort of fuss are you making? A party, a gathering, a favorite meal for dinner? Maybe in bed by 10 with a good book, which is to say no fuss at all, thank you very much? You might, regardless of your plans, ask some people about the best advice they have received this year. People love giving advice, and when they’re sitting on something they think is especially effective, they’re excited to share it. Advice given on New Year’s takes on the air of a benediction, a strong first sentence with which to begin a new chapter. I asked a friend for the best advice she’d received and she told me to “Buy the dip,” to which I densely asked if she was referring to condiments or smokeless tobacco. She rolled her eyes then offered something more my speed: “‘No’ is a complete sentence,” which I have heard before, but it’s a solid maxim I was glad to hear again. The advice below comes from readers of The Morning. Hopefully there’s something in here you can use, a motto with which to start the new year. The best advice you received Keep a running list of the nicest things anyone has ever said to or about you. It’s a lifesaver on days when the world is getting the best of you. — Dave Clarke, Wauwatosa, Wis. If everyone is driving you crazy, then the feeling is probably mutual. — Bill Chappell, Atlanta Life is too short not to tell the people you love that you love them. — Abby Thomas, New Canaan, Conn. We are all juggling so many balls. Differentiate between glass balls and rubber balls — and don’t be afraid to drop the rubber balls. — Kathryn Cunningham, Carrboro, N.C. Wait as long as possible to get your kids a phone. — Laura LaGrone, Asheville, N.C. Instead of calling someone out, call them in: Invite them into a judgment-free conversation with the intention of promoting understanding. — Rita Maniscalco, Huntington, N.Y. Every time you receive a box containing something you bought online, fill it with items to donate. — Christina Poynter, Dimondale, Mich. Before doing something, ask yourself, “Is this something that someone who loves themselves would do?” — Cathy de la Cruz, Brooklyn, N.Y. You’re 73 years old — can you stop with the one-man shows? — Michael Kearns, Los Angeles Nothing good is happening on your phone past 8 p.m. — Miriam Lichtenberg, Brooklyn, N.Y. Feel what your body is saying and stop trying to think your way through your feelings. — Tobey Crockett, Paso Robles, Calif. Drive slower: It’s safer, less stressful and gives you time to look around. — Rick Juliusson, Cowichan Station, British Columbia Breathe in, thinking, “I listen for the silence.” Breathe out: “I am not the hero of every story.” Breathe in: “I will not get free alone.” Out: “I am worthy of belonging.” — Richard Ashford, Chevy Chase, Md. Wear a watch. This way I pick up my phone half as often. How many times do you pick up yours to check the time and get sidetracked by 30 minutes of doomscrolling? — Jen MacNeil Danenberg, Newtown, Conn. There are many things I can’t control, but I can control how I do or don’t respond. I can’t control others’ thoughts of me. — Chloe Stuck, Rolla, Mo. Be proactive with your health by getting tests and establishing baselines. — Mary Anderson, Bend, Ore. Be a fountain, not a drain. — Christine Clemens, Lowville, N.Y. Just book the trip. — Emiley Shenk, Toledo, Ohio A boundary is something you set that requires nothing of the other person. From Dr. Becky Kennedy on the “Armchair Expert” podcast. — Anna Politiski, New York, N.Y. Walk at least a little way down into the Grand Canyon; don’t just stay up on the rim. — Stephen Edgerton, Chapel Hill, N.C. Retire from your job, not from life. — Margaret Johnson, Dunedin, Fla. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE WEEK IN CULTURE Millie Gibson and Ncuti Gatwa in “Doctor Who.” BBC Studios/Bad Wolf Doctor Who’s Christmas episode acquainted audiences with the newest Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa. Read how his first full episode stacks up against the previous debuts. Tom Smothers, who died this week, came across as lighthearted and simple onscreen. But in real life, “Tom thought and felt deeply,” the comedy writer Nell Scovell said. A 21-foot-tall statue of Shakira was unveiled in Barranquilla, Colombia, her hometown. Cher filed for a conservatorship of her son because of his suspected drug abuse, People reported. Barack Obama released his annual list of his favorite movies of the year. His picks include “Leave the World Behind,” “Past Lives” and “Oppenheimer.” Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, made an Instagram post in Hebrew apologizing for his past antisemitic comments. The U.S. National Park Service charged Pierce Brosnan with trespassing at Yellowstone National Park into off-limit grounds, BBC reports. THE LATEST NEWS A missile attack destroyed a building in Odesa. Oleksandr Gimanov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Russian missiles and drones struck factories, hospitals and schools across Ukraine, killing at least 30 people. Officials said it was one of the largest air assaults of the war. Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, a Republican, vetoed a bill that would have banned minors from getting transgender medical care. The Supreme Court, wary of either removing Donald Trump from the ballot or giving him a boost, may seek a narrow path that keeps Trump in the race while skirting questions of insurrection, Adam Liptak writes. Israel’s military had no plan for a large-scale Hamas attack, a Times investigation found. Troops were so poorly organized on Oct. 7 that they relied on group chats and social media to figure out where to go. Michael Cohen, the former fixer for Donald Trump, admitted that a recent court filing included fake legal citations because he used Google’s A.I. bot for research. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. CULTURE CALENDAR By Alexis Soloski 📺 Tournament of Roses (Monday): As a California native, I associate New Year’s Day less with frost and snow than with the flowers of the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Sure, giant balloons are nice. But have you seen floats filled with flaming volcanoes, the lava made from red-orange perennials? ABC, NBC and Peacock will air the 135th annual parade. ESPN will follow with the Rose Bowl. 📚 The Storm We Made (Tuesday): January may find you dry, blue and still vacuuming pine needles from the carpet. A favorite way to inject excitement into that postholiday apathy? Espionage. Vanessa Chan’s historical fiction debut, set in the 1930s and ’40s, centers on a Malayan mother of three. Seduced by the promise of an Asia for Asians, she sees that promise break during the Japanese occupation. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECIPE OF THE WEEK By Tanya Sichynsky Lemony whipped feta You may have finger foods covered for your New Year’s Eve festivities (I’m thinking pigs in a blanket and bacon-wrapped dates, specifically), but perhaps you’re still in need of something scoopable and spreadable. This creamy feta dip is ready to ring in a new year. A block of feta cheese, normally crumbly and coarse, becomes smooth, light and airy when whirled, ideally day of, in a food processor with a little oil and cream cheese. Just pull out some pita, and you’re ready to party. REAL ESTATE New York State, 1964 Lee Friedlander, via Eakins Press Foundation, Fraenkel Gallery, and Luhring Augustine Gallery Unvarnished, unfiltered: “Real Estate,” a new photo book from Lee Friedlander, features 60 years’ worth of images capturing American communities. Her own island: After appearing in a Times article, a massage therapist from New Jersey who bought her own small island in Maine received hundreds of emails from readers. What you get for $2 million: A 1707 Colonial in Westport, Conn; a four-bedroom Victorian in Ocean Grove, N.J.; or a recently renovated home in Santa Fe, N.M. The hunt: After an unexpected breakup, a college professor explored co-ops in the Bronx under $200,000. Which one did he choose? Play our game. LIVING Joe Youssef and his wife, Kara. Rena R. Effendi for The New York Times A high-seas debacle: Life at Sea, a three-year cruise around the world, was supposed to be a bucket-list experience. If only its planners could find a ship. Hiding celebrities: John Terzian is a rarity — a club owner that famous people trust. A happy new year: Manage stress and find meaning in 2024. Bedtimes: Families are counting down to New Year’s hours before midnight. Patrilineal tradition: Some American parents are giving their children a last name other than the father’s. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Find a great vodka Stocking your bar for New Year’s Eve? Don’t overlook vodka. When Wirecutter’s kitchen experts taste-tested vodkas earlier this year, we were surprised by how much we enjoyed it. Among our favorite bottles, we found quite a variety of flavors — including citrusy, refreshing and even downright briny. Any of our picks would be a great, inexpensive foundation for tomorrow’s cocktails. If something without booze sounds better, take a peek at our favorite nonalcoholic drinks. — Marguerite Preston GAME OF THE WEEKEND T’Vondre Sweat of the Texas Longhorns during a game in November. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images Texas vs. Washington, College Football Playoff: The eyes of the sports world will be on the evening’s first playoff matchup, Michigan vs. Alabama at 5 p.m. But those teams get enough attention. Instead, let’s talk about Texas, a historical football power that fell off the radar over a decade ago. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has revitalized the Longhorns, bringing them to their first-ever playoff. Texas’ greatest strength is its defensive line, anchored by the all-American tackle T’Vondre Sweat. But that defense will have to deal with Washington’s elite offense, which has the nation’s leading passer in Michael Penix Jr., and the third-leading receiver in Rome Odunze. Monday at 8:45 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. For more Here’s what the other coaches in Washington’s conference, and in Texas’ conference, think of the matchup. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman breaks down all of this weekend’s big bowl games. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was epiphany. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted January 1 Author Members Share Posted January 1 December 31, 2023 By Ian Prasad Philbrick Good morning. With 2024 about to begin, we’re looking back at predictions before big years in history. New Year’s Eve in San Francisco in 1967. Jerry Telfer/San Francisco Chronicle, via Getty Images As history turns 2024 is shaping up to be a big year. Countries home to more than half the world’s population — the highest share ever — are set to hold national elections this year, according to The Economist. They include Britain, India and the U.S., where a likely rematch between President Biden and Donald Trump will have huge stakes for the country and for the world. Wars in Ukraine and Gaza may take major turns. And that’s only the expected events. Many of the most important news stories are impossible to predict in advance. To prepare you for 2024, my colleagues and I decided to take a look back at The New York Times’s New Year’s coverage from other years when history turned. We included the turn from 1860 to 1861, months before the Civil War began, as well as from 2006 to 2007, as the smartphone era dawned. Sometimes, the coverage looking ahead was prescient, as in 1938-39, when anxiety about a new world war colored the paper’s account of the ball drop in Times Square. Other New Year stories — as in 1928, the year before the Great Depression began, and in 1967, the year before a chaotic presidential election — missed the mark, which is a reminder of how fickle the future can be. 1860-61 The New York Times Alongside coverage of New Year’s celebrations, The Times reported “warlike preparations” — including Southern demands that federal troops vacate Fort Sumter, near Charleston, S.C. Still, the first paper of 1861 sounded hopeful, predicting that “the great Republic will grow stronger and greater with the procession of the months.” Instead, the Civil War began in April, with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter. 1928-29 A Times story about the country’s financial outlook on Jan. 1, 1929, acknowledged the difficulty of prediction but concluded on an upbeat note: “as to the underlying strength of the American economic system, however, there is only one opinion.” That opinion was bullishness. One Chicago banker predicted that the newly elected president, Herbert Hoover, would “give the country a most constructive and able administration.” The stock market crashed less than 10 months later. 1938-39 The New York Times The threat of another world war stalked Times Square revelers ringing in 1939. “Among the funmakers, there were few who did not realize that the twelve months that had passed had seen drastic changes in the map of the world,” The Times reported, referring to Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria. The newspaper also quoted a German economist visiting New York who predicted “a general European war in 1939.” Germany invaded Poland eight months later, and England and France declared war. 1967-68 Times journalists knew 1968 would be a big political year — but got the specifics wrong. A New Year’s Eve story declared Nelson Rockefeller, New York’s governor, to be the only candidate whom Republican officials believed would beat President Lyndon Johnson. In reality, Johnson was so unpopular that he dropped out of the race, while Rockefeller dithered and launched a late and ultimately failed campaign. Richard Nixon took office in January 1969. 1983-84 The New York Times A poll by The Times, published on the first day of 1984, captured rising American optimism. But there were enough mixed signs that one G.O.P. pollster said he did not expect “a big party sweep” in the November elections. In fact, Ronald Reagan won re-election with the biggest Electoral College margin since Franklin Roosevelt’s in 1936. 1990-91 Turmoil in the Soviet Union filled the news as 1991 began. The Soviet foreign minister, Eduard Shevardnadze, had recently resigned, “a vivid reminder of the fragility of President Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s experiment,” one Times story noted. By the end of the year, the Soviet Union had collapsed. 2006-07 “Everyone’s always asking me when Apple will come out with a cellphone,” a Times technology columnist wrote in 2006. “My answer is, ‘Probably never.’” Apple introduced the iPhone in June 2007, transforming life in ways both good and bad. (That columnist, David Pogue, later included this episode in an article he wrote about the worst tech predictions of all time.) For more In the interest of creating grist for future journalists looking to revisit old predictions, we also offer a list of the events that might shape 2024, and a forecast of what people will buy next year. Recession fears, the future of Kevin McCarthy’s speakership and more: Politico rounded up the worst political predictions of 2023. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS War in Ukraine Damage in Belgorod, Russia, yesterday. Reuters Moscow said a Ukrainian missile had killed at least 22 people in the city of Belgorod, in what would be the deadliest single assault on Russian soil since the start of the war. The claims could not be independently verified. A large bombardment of several Ukrainian cities on Friday shows how Russia has learned the best ways to evade Ukraine’s Western-supplied air-defense systems. As the war stalls at the front, both Russia and Ukraine have turned to guerrilla tactics, including sabotage and targeted assassinations. Israel-Hamas War Israel said it had destroyed a Gaza City apartment that the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar used as a hide-out. U.S. military helicopters sunk three Houthi boats, killing all aboard, after trying to repel an attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea, officials said. The Biden administration bypassed Congress for the second time since the start of the war to approve a weapons sale to Israel. Hand in Hand schools, institutions in Israel with both Jewish and Arab students, are trying to overcome difference at a time when support for peace is at a low. Politics “We are walking in new constitutional snow”: Officials and democracy experts are divided over whether to keep Trump off the 2024 ballot. Departing Pentagon officials once migrated to weapons makers, now many are joining venture capital firms that push the government to invest in defense-technology startups. Other Big Stories Marco Flores Lauren O'Neil for The New York Times Marco Flores has been incarcerated since he was 17 for killing a man who was accused of raping him. Now 30, Flores is fighting deportation to El Salvador, which he left when he was 6. Apps that remotely track cars are being weaponized by abusive partners. Victims say car manufacturers have been slow to respond. An Indiana man was rescued from the wreckage of a pickup truck six days after he crashed, the police said. FROM OPINION Biden needs courage to follow California’s lead on transitioning America’s trucks to electric vehicles, Andrea Marpillero-Colomina writes. Here is a column by Nick Kristof on the best year for humanity. The Sunday question: Should Ukraine begin negotiations with Russia? “Russia has broken every peace treaty it ever signed with Ukraine,” indicating it can’t be trusted to negotiate in good faith, Anastassia Fedyk and Tatyana Deryugina write for The Los Angeles Times. But nonmilitary engagement with Russia is already in the works through informal talks, Bruce Dayton writes for The Hill: “This peacemaking must now intensify.” All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS Behind bars in Santiago, Chile. Cristobal Olivares for The New York Times Feline companions: The hundreds of cats that roam Chile’s largest prison aren’t only good for getting rid of the rats — they’re good for the inmates, too. Football Sunday: The Upshot has created a tracker showing every N.F.L. team’s path to the playoffs. Vows: Once she got past the dating profile photo of him on a flamingo float, the pair bonded over a love for baseball. Lives Lived: Mbongeni Ngema was a South African playwright whose stage works, including the Tony-nominated “Sarafina!,” challenged and mocked his homeland’s policy of racial apartheid. He died at 68. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT TALK | FROM THE TIMES MAGAZINE Hannah Ritchie Photo illustration by Bráulio Amado By David Marchese I recently spoke with the data scientist Hannah Ritchie, author of the new book “Not the End of the World,” about the problem of climate pessimism. Can you tell me about the decision to start the book with the sentence, “It has become common to tell kids that they’re going to die from climate change”? Who are these people telling children that? I’m not saying that everyone is telling their kids that they’re going to die from climate change, but there are strong activist groups where that is a core message. How is a 12- or 14-year-old supposed to understand that? The reality is bad enough, we don’t need to overblow it. This rhetoric does work for some demographics and does inspire them into action. But there’s a large demographic where it has the opposite effect. And your belief is that data works with those people? I think narrative built around data. What’s key, and you can incorporate data into this, is trying to build a narrative for people which is positive in terms of its future outlook. It’s: “This is the world we can build.” Which is more appealing than “We’re all going to die from climate change.” I was thinking about the anger of Greta Thunberg or the moral urgency of Bill McKibben. Both of whom have been undeniably successful in motivating people. Do you think a book like yours also has that motivating potential? I agree, Greta Thunberg and Bill McKibben have done an amazing job of rallying people to the cause. My point is not that my message should replace their message. It should stand alongside it, and with that we can build up a larger group of people that want to see change. You’re never going to get that with just a single message. Read more of the interview here. More from the magazine This week’s magazine is The Lives They Lived, an annual issue remembering people — some famous, some not — who died in the past year. Below is a selection of the stories. Harry Belafonte was America’s first Black megastar. He harnessed the power of celebrity to advocate for change. Donald Triplett was the first child diagnosed with autism, helping the world understand a hidden part of life. Tina Turner’s body was sculpted for public consumption, but she ultimately reclaimed it for herself. BOOKS Staff recommendations: Times reporters, editors and bureau chiefs describe their favorite books of the year. Our editors’ picks: “Magic: The Life of Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson,” a biography rich in basketball and cultural lore, and eight other books. Times best sellers: Daniel Mason’s “North Woods,” a book about a cabin in New England, is new this week on the hardcover fiction best-seller list. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Mix whisky and vermouth for an easy New Year’s cocktail. Keep cozy this winter. Pick the best helmet for your two-wheeled commute. THE WEEK AHEAD What to Watch For Tuesday is the last day for Donald Trump to appeal the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to take him off the state’s ballot. The state Republican Party has already appealed the ruling. New York City’s ban on street vendors operating on Brooklyn Bridge begins Wednesday. What to Cook This Week Christopher Testani for The New York Times Worn down by the relentless holiday season? For this week’s edition of Five Weeknight Dishes newsletter, Margaux Laskey has put together a collection of one-pot soups and stews that will make dinnertime easy. Try ham and bean soup, a great way to use up leftovers; t’chicha, a salty-sweet tomato and barley soup from North Africa; and Ali Slagle’s chicken noodle soup. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was zirconia. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted January 1 Author Members Share Posted January 1 January 1, 2024 By Jancee Dunn Good morning, and happy New Year. We’ve got advice on boosting your energy in 2024. Sean Dong Feeling refreshed It’s the first day of the year. Raise your hand if you could use more energy! That’s everybody, then? For months, I’ve been researching ways that people can restore and maintain their energy levels. Today begins what we’re calling the 6-Day Energy Challenge, where we will share evidence-based tips and inspiration so you can feel more awake throughout the day. (You can sign up here to follow along.) Of course, some of the things that drain us are largely beyond our control: Taking care of young kids or older parents, working long hours, or dealing with illness can all be exhausting. But there are small changes anyone can make to feel a little less depleted. While a good night’s sleep is the gold standard for feeling refreshed and alert, daytime rest has real benefits. Many of us, for example, rush from one activity to the next without stopping. But research suggests that taking microbreaks — small pauses under five minutes — throughout the day can help keep us feeling energized. Even 10 seconds of rest, one study found, can improve our ability to learn. Of all the tools I learned while researching the challenge, nothing has done more to restore my energy levels than these brief breaks. But everyone is different. Some of us could use more movement — and others might need to address relationships that are sapping their energy. We identified five realms that are critical for building and maintaining energy: rest, exercise, socializing, eating and finding enjoyment in what you’re doing. Each day of the challenge will focus on one of these aspects. Day 1 For today’s installment of the energy challenge, you should find a quiet (or quiet-ish) place in your home or workplace. The setting isn’t important; what’s important is that you take a few minutes for yourself. Mute your phone and get comfortable. You can sit up, lean against a wall or, if you’re able, lie down with your eyes closed. Then, take a few deep breaths. This isn’t an elaborate meditation; you’re simply breathing and aiming for what our expert calls “wakeful relaxation.” If you have music that puts you at ease, you can listen to it while you take your break. Doing this for five minutes once or twice a day is long enough to help you feel refreshed, but brief enough that you might actually be able to fit it into your schedule. I hope you’ll join me — and the neuroscientists, nutritionists and exercise scientists who provided insights — on our quest for more energy this week. (We will also have a few special guests, including Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King, who will discuss the sustaining vitality that their 47-year friendship has given them.) For more Sign up for the 6-Day Energy Challenge, which will continue all week. Try this quiz to see which areas of your life are giving you energy, and which are draining you. Revisit last year’s challenge, the 7-Day Happiness Challenge, which focused on how strong relationships are key to a happy life. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS International In Wajima, Japan. Kyodo, via Reuters A powerful earthquake hit central Japan. Officials issued tsunami warnings and evacuation orders. Follow our updates. The war in Gaza is testing the relationships between Israeli and American military and intelligence agencies. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, 83, announced that she will abdicate her throne after more than a half-century. She is the longest-serving monarch in Europe. New Year’s Eve New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Gregg Vigliotti for The New York Times Hundreds of thousands of people celebrated in Times Square. See photos of fireworks around the world from The Guardian. CNN allowed its broadcasters, including Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper, to drink on air this year, Variety reports. The huge party on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro has displaced a religious tradition of making offerings to a goddess of the sea. Other Big Stories Many state laws take effect today, including new rules on gun safety and a ban on diversity programs. A federal appeals court will allow California’s new ban on carrying firearms in most public places to take effect while it takes more time to consider the law. Asian American national security employees say they are wrongly regarded as potential spies by counterintelligence officers. Opinions Arizona’s economy is expected to fall apart in the face of climate change and water shortages. But its ability to adapt exceeds that of many coastal cities, Tom Zoellner writes. Democrats need to prove government works if they want the support of young people, Michelle Cottle writes. New York can’t solve its housing shortage with rent control or office conversions. It needs to build, Vishaan Chakrabarti argues. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS The original 1928 script for Disney’s “Steamboat Willie.” Robyn Beck/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Public domain: Classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Tigger are losing copyright protection today. Cheers: Wonder why we call it making a “toast”? Read a history of the word. What’s coming: Fancy glassware. Smart watches on kids. Chocolate lava cake. Times writers predict the trends of 2024. Did you know? These are our editors’ favorite facts from Times reporting in 2023 — perfect if you’re training for “Jeopardy!” (or bar trivia night). Metropolitan Diary: An unmistakable brightness in the sky. Lives Lived: The comedian Shecky Greene was a frequent guest on Ed Sullivan and Johnny Carson, and his high-energy act made him one of the biggest stars in Las Vegas. He died at 97. SPORTS Sunday Night Football: The Green Bay Packers rolled over the Minnesota Vikings, 33-10, and kept their playoff hopes alive. Around the N.F.L.: The Baltimore Ravens clinched the A.F.C.’s top playoff seed with a 56-19 rout of the Miami Dolphins. And the Philadelphia Eagles, once the league’s top team, continued their late-season struggles, falling 35-31 to the Arizona Cardinals. Here are more results and takeaways. Russell Wilson: The N.F.L. Players Association told the Broncos that their “threat” to bench Wilson over a contract clause was illegal. College football: Some of this year’s bowl games have been a bummer, with lopsided results and many players skipping games. Nicole Auerbach offers five ideas to fix the postseason. Golf: The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund extended a deadline on merger negotiations, leaving the sport in limbo again as 2024 begins. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS TikTok cruise videos. Amike Oosthuizen; Joe Martucci; Brandee Lake “Sea tea”: The nine-month Ultimate World Cruise is the longest voyage ever offered by Royal Caribbean, with a 274-night itinerary and stops in 65 countries. Since the journey began on Dec. 10, TikTok has been flooded with posts speculating on what interpersonal drama could be occurring on the ship, turning some passengers into unintentional celebrities. The videos — posted with the hashtag #UltimateWorldCruise — have been viewed more than 138 million times. More on culture Paula Abdul filed a lawsuit accusing a former “American Idol” producer of sexual assault when she was a judge on the show in the early 2000s. Olivia Rodrigo and “Priscilla”: In 2023, young women gave voice to their longing in memorable ways. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Kate Sears for The New York Times Ring in the year with luck by making a pot of Hoppin’ John. Heed these nutrition tips for 2024. Start Dry January. The Wall Street Journal has a guide to staying sober this month. Relax by tapping into your creativity. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was denouement, mounted and unmounted. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted January 2 Author Members Share Posted January 2 January 2, 2024 By German Lopez Good morning. We’re covering the challenge of federal deficits — plus Israel’s Supreme Court, a stabbing in South Korea and this year’s space calendar. The U.S. Capitol. Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times Less sustainable The federal debt starts the new year at a level that is hard to grasp: $34 trillion. That is 1.2 times the U.S.’s annual economic output. At the end of World War II, the ratio was only about 1.1. Both parties have contributed to the situation. Republicans have passed large tax cuts. Democrats have enacted ambitious climate and health care initiatives. Both funneled money to Americans in response to the Covid pandemic. For years, many economists believed the country’s debt was not a problem. Interest rates were low, which held down debt payments. Inflation was also low, which suggested the debt wasn’t hampering the economy. If anything, additional government spending helped create jobs when unemployment was elevated for much of the 2010s. But times have changed, and federal deficits now look scarier. In November, the financial firm Moody’s lowered its outlook on U.S. debt from “stable” to “negative.” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that she disagreed with Moody’s decision, but she acknowledged that current economic circumstances could make the federal debt less sustainable. And Paul Krugman, the economist and Times columnist, wrote, “Serious deficit reduction, a bad idea a decade ago, is a good idea now.” Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve | By The New York Times Today’s newsletter will help you think about the new economics of debt. A different situation There are three big reasons to worry about the federal government’s finances. First, interest rates have risen. A decade ago, the interest rate that the U.S. paid on inflation-protected bonds, which are used to finance debt, was near zero. Today, that rate is almost 2 percent. This increase doesn’t change the cost of debt that the government has already accumulated. But it will have to pay more interest on future debt. So if the government does not hold down spending, debt payments will increasingly eat up money that could go to health care, the military and other programs. Second, the unemployment rate has fallen to 3.7 percent. In the early 2010s, it was usually above 8 percent. Back then, government spending helped put people to work. Today, the private sector needs less help. Third, inflation is a bigger problem than it used to be, and higher deficits could make it worse. When Congress spends more or cuts taxes, Americans have more money to spend. As they spend that extra cash, prices tend to increase. The reverse is true as well: A smaller deficit can ease inflation. All of which means that the benefits of deficit spending are smaller than they were in the recent past and the costs are larger. Risk of delay Both parties have offered partial solutions to the growing debt. Democrats favor higher taxes on the rich, and Republicans favor cuts to Medicaid and some other federal programs. But each party has mostly blocked the other’s proposals, allowing deficits to add to the debt year after year. Even if the preferred policies of each party eventually are enacted, they do not come close to solving the problem. Neither party is willing to cut the biggest government programs: Social Security, Medicare and the military. And both have ruled out tax increases on most households. This dynamic — politicians criticizing deficits without offering a real solution — is not new. The shifting economic circumstances, however, could make the gridlock more damaging. There is also a risk to procrastination: The longer the government puts off the issue, the harder it gets to solve. By acting sooner, officials could phase in higher taxes and lower spending over years to mitigate the downsides. Some experts argue that the country is already past that point. “We put off solutions for too long, and now we’ll have to take more drastic action,” Maya MacGuineas, the president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, told me. The solution remains unclear. And the economy may be able to continue growing at a steady clip for years despite the debt. At some point, though, the federal government will likely need to raise taxes and cut spending in ways that many Americans will find unpleasant. Related: “The Daily” explained why any political party will find it tough to tackle the federal debt. “The ideas that smart people have on the table are at best Hail Marys,” Jim Tankersley, an economic policy correspondent, said. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israeli Supreme Court Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a divisive law passed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government to limit the judges’ powers. The law’s passage last year sparked nationwide protests. This ruling threatens to again divide the country while it fights a war. Read what the justices said in their landmark ruling. Israel-Hamas War Israeli soldiers. Menahem Kahana/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel’s military announced it would remove some troops from Gaza, which could signal a more targeted strategy. Officials said the war would still be “prolonged.” The U.N. says half the enclave is at risk of starving. Over 90 percent of Gazans say they regularly don’t eat for a whole day. International Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s opposition leader. Yonhap/EPA, via Shutterstock A man stabbed South Korea’s opposition leader in the neck. Read more about the leader, who went on a hunger strike last year. Japanese officials warned people to brace for aftershocks after a powerful earthquake collapsed buildings and cut off power. A Japan Airlines plane burst into flames at an airport in Tokyo. It reportedly collided with a Coast Guard plane. Russia hammered Kyiv with missiles during a large attack across the country. Businesses in India are hesitating to make long-term investments in part because of concerns about politics. China is pressuring women to have more babies. Many are saying no, The Wall Street Journal reports. Other Big Stories Buses dropped migrants at train stations in New Jersey to sidestep an order meant to stop arrivals in New York City from Texas and elsewhere. Debates on A.I., gender and guns look likely to dominate state legislatures in 2024. Opinions As people watch the Israel-Hamas war unfold, they describe being empathetic to the point of exhaustion. What they’re actually feeling is helpless, Adam Grant writes. Ruti Munder, a woman Hamas held hostage, will never return to Gaza, or have peace with Gazans, while Hamas remains in power. The pandemic was expected to bring years of crime and high unemployment. Instead, we’re in pretty good shape, Paul Krugman writes. All of The Times. All in one subscription. Enjoy unlimited access to everything we offer — with this introductory offer. You’ll benefit from more of the insights that you find in The Morning, every morning. MORNING READS George and Roxanne Miller in the castle. Clara Vannucci for The New York Times Storage solution: They needed a home for 80,000 puzzles. They found an Italian castle. “Holopoem”: An artwork that will orbit the sun. They do: Read about a young couple married in a Russian prison. Money: Now may be the time to lock in high interest rates on your savings. A national institution: How a super-affordable bakery chain became a British culinary icon. Lives Lived: Les McCann was a pianist and vocalist who was an early progenitor of the bluesy, crowd-pleasing style that came to be known as soul jazz. He died at 88. SPORTS College football: Washington beat Texas, 37-31, to advance to the national championship game. Michael Penix Jr. was magnificent. Rose Bowl: Michigan edged Alabama in overtime, 27-20, and will face Washington in the championship. Wander Franco: The Rays’ star shortstop was detained in the Dominican Republic in connection with allegations of inappropriate relationships with minors. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS In French Guiana. P. Piron/Arianegroup, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The year in space: 2023 was an important year for space travel: India landed a robot on the moon and NASA brought pieces of an asteroid back to Earth to study. But 2024 has a packed calendar of celestial events, too. The big spectacle will be the “Great North American Eclipse.” On April 8, the moon will get in the way of the sun, darkening the Earth during daytime. And four missions — perhaps more — will try to complete a lunar landing. Read more about the upcoming space calendar. More on culture Peter Magubane, a photographer who documented the cruelties of white South African rule and endured beatings and 586 consecutive days in solitary confinement, died at 91. Many people think they can’t afford to become a parent. The Cut outlines the short list of things you actually need. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times Add shrimp to this tomato pasta. Start the new year with a great blender. Lug gear with a collapsible folding wagon. Wear the best slippers to get through January. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was harmony. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — German Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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