Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Pressuring Venezuela, the U.S. seized two oil tankersIn two separate operations today, the U.S. military seized a pair of oil tankers that had attempted to evade the Trump administration’s crackdown on Venezuela’s oil industry. One of the tankers was seized in the North Atlantic, between Scotland and Iceland, after a weekslong pursuit. Its crew had begun flying a Russian flag in a last-ditch effort to avoid its seizure, and Russia had dispatched a vessel to escort the ship. Today’s capture escalated a confrontation with Moscow, days after U.S. troops ousted Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, a Russian ally. U.S. officials said that the military had intercepted the second tanker in international waters in the Caribbean, where it was “conducting illicit activities.” It was loaded with Venezuelan crude, according to companies that track oil shipments. The seizures came as the Trump administration outlined plans to impose its will on Venezuela. The White House press secretary said that any actions taken by Venezuela’s interim government “are going to be dictated by the United States of America.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a three-step plan for Venezuela’s near future that included “stabilizing” the country by seizing and selling some 30 to 50 million barrels of oil — about $1.8 to $3 billion worth — with the U.S. controlling how the money would be dispersed. The energy secretary, Chris Wright, said earlier that the U.S. would oversee the sale of Venezuela’s oil “indefinitely.” In related news:
An ICE agent fatally shot a woman in MinneapolisA federal officer shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in Minneapolis today during an immigration enforcement operation. In the aftermath, hundreds of angry residents gathered to protest against ICE. Here’s the latest. Videos of the shooting verified by The Times show two federal agents trying to get a woman — who officials identified as Renee Nicole Good — to exit a vehicle that is partially blocking a road. The driver reverses, then pulls forward and begins to turn. A third agent pulls out a gun and aims it at the driver, then fires three times. A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security said the agent had opened fire after a woman “weaponized her vehicle” in an attempt to kill federal officers. The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, said that account was “bullshit.” He described the shooting instead as “an agent recklessly using power.”
Kennedy flips the food pyramid with new dietary adviceThe Trump administration released new dietary guidelines today that flip the food pyramid on its head, putting steak, cheese and whole milk near the top. The new advice urges Americans to prioritize protein and avoid sugary, processed foods. “My message is clear: Eat real food,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary. On some points, the guidance offers striking reversals: Americans are being told to embrace red meat and foods high in fats, after years of being told to avoid them. Other points are familiar — eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The recommendations also changed the longstanding advice on alcohol, from a specific daily cap to a more vague call to “limit” drinking.
Los Angeles is still a long way away from full recoveryIt has been exactly one year since wildfires erupted in Los Angeles, claiming at least 31 lives, destroying more than 16,000 buildings and obliterating almost everything across a nearly 80 square mile area. Schools have begun to reopen, and debris has been trucked away by the ton. But the disaster remains a raw wound. More than 70 percent of residents who were displaced remain so. For more: The fires in Los Angeles devastated the homes of two of my colleagues at Wirecutter. They talked about their path to recovery. More top news
This question comes from a recent edition of the newsletter. Click an answer to see if you’re right. (The link is free.) Which Democratic state governor abandoned their bid for re-election this week?
Timothée Chalamet is up against an Oscar curseTimothée Chalamet’s performance as a magnetic, striving table-tennis player in “Marty Supreme” is among the best work of his career. He is all but certain to earn his third Oscar nomination for it. Winning the award for best actor, however, could be more challenging. Oscar voters have almost never handed the prize to a man as young as Chalamet. Our awards season columnist, Kyle Buchanan, has experienced firsthand how voters brush off younger stars. For more: Featured alongside Chalamet in “Marty Supreme” is Abel Ferrara, a legend of New York cinema who is out with a frank memoir about his wild career.
Her class on sex is the most popular course on campusNicole McNichols, a professor at the University of Washington, has been teaching a class on human sexuality for the last 15 years. About 4,000 students take her course, and there’s always a waiting list. McNichols appeared on our Modern Love podcast to talk about the most important lessons she has learned. For one, she said, pleasure is important. However, McNichols added, most of what people are taught about sex is wrong. Listen to or read their conversation here.
Dinner table topics
Cook: These jerk sweet potato street fries are bursting with flavor. Read: “The Spy in the Archive” tells the story of an unlikely hero within the K.G.B. |
