Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Trump’s $1.8 billion fund is ‘not moving forward’After a swell of criticism from both sides of the aisle, President Trump’s acting attorney general said this afternoon that the administration was permanently halting its plans to create a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who claim to be victims of political persecution. “We’re not moving forward with the fund, period,” said Todd Blanche, the president’s former personal lawyer who now leads the Justice Department. “Not moving forward ever?” a House Democrat asked him. “Correct,” Blanche said. Still, Blanche said that a separate plan, to give Trump and his family protection from I.R.S. audits, remained in effect. In other Trump administration news:
California votes on its next governorIt is Primary Election Day in six states. But no contest is bigger than the governor’s race in California, where a long list of candidates are seeking to succeed Gavin Newsom as the leader of America’s most populous state. The state is very likely to elect a Democrat to its top office, but only two candidates earn a spot today in November’s general election. There is no front-runner, but polls have made clear who is in the top three: There’s Xavier Becerra, a former House member who has the support of many moderate Democrats; Tom Steyer, a billionaire with no experience in elected office, who aligns more with progressives; and Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host endorsed by Trump. We do not expect to know which two will advance tonight, because California has historically been slow to count votes. But my colleagues and I will be following the results here. Polls close at 11 p.m. Eastern. Other interesting races:
Russia bombards Ukraine’s capitalAfter warning of a major attack on Kyiv for more than a week, Russia finally struck today. Hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles rained down on Ukraine this morning, killing at least 22 people, the authorities there said. But the bombardment could not hide the increasing signs of Moscow’s weakness. Russia appears to have lost more ground in May than it gained. Some analysts believe that the stepped-up strikes are an attempt to reclaim an advantage in potential talks and to re-engage the Trump administration, which has become more focused on the war in Iran.
As vaccinations decline, hospitals see more diseaseDoctors around the country told my colleagues that they were seeing more cases of serious, sometimes life-threatening illnesses that vaccines have long kept at bay, including whooping cough and bacterial infections that can cause pneumonia or meningitis. Measles has also spread in parts of the country. The increase in cases, some of which is borne out in national data, appears to be fueled by an overall decline in vaccination rates after distrust in vaccines grew during the pandemic. More top news
Hollywood is softening its stance on A.I.Martin Scorsese, the 16-time Academy Award nominee and essentially the living embodiment of cinema as high art, is embracing artificial intelligence. He joined an A.I. start-up as a partner and used the technology during preproduction for a new film. “Cinema is a young medium, only around 125 years old,” Scorsese said. “We have to be open to how it can evolve.” His comments are a sign of the movie industry’s shifting views on A.I. After loud opposition, some of Hollywood’s big names have softened their criticism. (Others, like Seth Rogen and Guillermo del Toro, are still vocal detractors.) For more: Some content creators are making substantial money off A.I. slop.
Consider Winston Churchill, the artistMuch has been said about Winston Churchill’s leadership during times of war and peace. Less time has been spent assessing the hundreds of artworks he painted through the highs and lows of his power. That’s why a London museum decided to put together a serious retrospective of the famous prime minister’s work. His paintings seem to offer a glimpse into the inner life of one of the 20th century’s most defining figures. See them here.
Dinner table topics
Cook: You’re going to want more than one slice of this jalapeño Cheddar zucchini bread. Read our review of Jill Biden’s memoir, which came out today. Party like a Swede with help from this guide to celebrating Midsummer. Try these Wirecutter-recommended conditioners, sorted by hair type. |
