Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
Justice Dept. opens civil rights inquiry into the killing of PrettiAfter a week of lacerating criticism, the Trump administration said that it had opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting of Alex Pretti, the nurse who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last weekend. The announcement was a departure from the administration’s earlier plans to conduct a much narrower look at whether training standards had been followed. Civil rights inquiries offer prosecutors more tools to determine whether or not to pursue criminal charges. Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general who made the announcement, downplayed the change. “I don’t want the takeaway to be there is some massive civil rights investigation,” he said. “I would describe it as a standard investigation by the F.B.I.” The move came hours after Attorney General Pam Bondi said that she had ordered the arrest of Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, and three others in connection with a church protest on Jan. 18 in Minnesota. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles, and Georgia Fort, another journalist, was also taken into custody. In related news:
Kevin Warsh is Trump’s pick to lead the FedPresident Trump announced today that he was nominating Kevin Warsh to serve as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Warsh, a former Fed governor who for years had favored higher interest rates to keep inflation at bay, has shifted his views and grown increasingly critical of the central bank’s handling of inflation. The president has made no secret of his expectation that Warsh will work to lower interest rates. That could be difficult, as the Fed’s rate decisions are decided by a dozen people. Here’s what to know about Warsh, who is 55 and currently works with the billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller.
Iran rules out negotiations until Trump drops his threatsIran’s foreign minister said that the country would not engage in direct talks with U.S. officials unless Trump stopped threatening military action. The Iranian official also said that the country was “ready for warfare” if the U.S., which has been building up forces in the region, launched an attack. Trump has been weighing military options — which include raids inside Iran — aimed at further damaging Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities or weakening its supreme leader. There is little sign, however, that Iran has made much progress in rebuilding its nuclear program, raising questions about the U.S. threats.
Why boys are behind in readingGirls outperform boys at reading in nearly every school district across the U.S. The gap varies at different ages, but boys lag behind in reading at every single grade level. It remains true in other countries as well. While some of girls’ advantage may be biological, researchers have concluded that environmental effects are much more significant. They suggest that modeling good reading and teaching in small groups could help narrow the reading gap. More top news
The number of households using food delivery has roughly doubled since 2019, and in 2024 almost three of every four restaurant orders were not eaten in a restaurant. We asked Times readers how they’d experienced this change, and they described how it helped with busy schedules — but came at a cost to wallets and social lives.
Live from New York, it’s Friday night!Just about every Friday night from October to May, a large group of people — mostly in their 20s or teens — gathers outside Rockefeller Center to wait in line for five hours. They’re angling to secure a standby ticket to watch “Saturday Night Live” from inside its studio the one night later. Despite the cold, the line will form once again tonight. Prepared with blankets, chairs and snacks, many see it as a fun opportunity. “We do it every week,” one 19-year-old fan said. “You just make so many friends.”
A Gothic masterpiece is flying off the shelvesIn book clubs, group chats and local bookshops, people are buzzing about a novel that was published in 1847. “Wuthering Heights,” Emily Brontë’s story of love and revenge, has seen a surge in interest thanks to a new film adaptation starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. For those who want to join the discussion, our Book Review selected Brontë’s classic as this month’s book club pick. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Try these doubles and you’ll understand why they are Trinidad’s most popular dish. |
