The Morning: Culture road trip

September 5, 2026

Good morning. The season’s new releases give us a cultural road map, but the most rewarding reading, listening and watching comes from the detours.

In an illustration, a woman in a red coat looks at a map showing a route that leads to paintings, a movie and a tree-lined road.

María Jesús Contreras

Scenic route

	By Melissa Kirsch

It’s Labor Day weekend, and I’m here to remind you that summer’s not over, even though schools and scolds try to lop off the final two weeks, declaring a premature finish to a season that, as any equinoctial will tell you, extends until Sept. 22. Hang on. Linger in the post-7 p.m. sunsets while you can. Finish the book you started in August. Make it to the beach. Stay a little looser. The apples and sweaters and soups are standing patiently by.

I’m reluctant to let summer go because I’m reluctant to button up, to start rushing again. I associate summer with wandering, both literally and culturally. I was chatting recently with my colleague Minju about this season’s big films — “Spider-Man,” “The Odyssey,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2” — and we realized our most satisfying cinematic experiences were the detours those blockbusters sent us on. Minju was reminded how much she likes Samantha Morton, who played Circe in “The Odyssey,” which sent her to rewatch other films Morton starred in, like “Jesus’ Son” and “Minority Report.”

I loved “The Invite,” directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, and set off to watch her in Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex” from July, and also to revisit her prior directorial efforts, “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Booksmart.” “Don’t Worry Darling” stars Harry Styles, who’s currently performing a 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden. I didn’t get tickets, but I’ve been dancing to his delightful 2022 album “Harry’s House” all summer.

Of course the omnivorous consumer follows her aesthetic bliss year round, but the expansive days of the warmer months lend themselves to cultural meandering.

Minju read Rachel Cusk’s new book “Life of M,” then wandered back to her earlier “Outline” trilogy, which she’d meant to read but never had. Olivia Rodrigo’s duet with Robert Smith on her new album led me back to Smith’s days with the Cure, “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” and other albums from the 1980s.

I had been eagerly anticipating “Remake,” Ross McElwee’s documentary about making art after the loss of his son. Before watching it, I went back to revisit his 1986 film, “Sherman’s March,” knowing the new one referenced it and I’d want to have it fresh in my mind. After seeing “Remake,” which was stunning, I immediately cued up McElwee’s 2011 doc about his son, “Photographic Memory,” and set out to find out where his other family documentaries were streaming. My McElwee journey was long, winding and totally absorbing, a cinematic ramble.

I like the wisdom to always be planning your next trip or vacation, even if it’s far in the future, so you have something to look forward to. If the end of summer brings with it a little sadness, as it does for me, why not plan your cultural itinerary for the fall? Where will “Practical Magic 2,” a 28-years-later sequel starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman and Dianne Wiest, lead? To Bullock’s hilarious turn in “The Heat”? Wiest in “Edward Scissorhands” or perhaps off the path to her small role in “Footloose”? Barbara Kingsolver’s new novel “Partita” comes out Oct. 6. Will we be rereading “The Poisonwood Bible” and “Demon Copperhead” come Halloween?

The origin is the equinox, the destination is the solstice. You can choose your waypoints, but the detours and diversions will emerge once you’re on the road.

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THE LATEST NEWS

Lindsay Clancy Trial

A woman with long brown hair and a green patterned top sits in what appears to be a wheelchair. A man in a dark suit is in the foreground.

Lindsay Clancy in the courtroom on Friday. Pool photo by Greg Derr

The judge in the Lindsay Clancy murder case declared a mistrial, after the jury failed to reach a verdict over several days of deliberations.
Clancy, who strangled her three children during what the defense called an episode of postpartum psychosis, will likely remain institutionalized as prosecutors decide whether to take the case to trial again.
The foreperson told the judge that there was a lone holdout in the jury who had expressed doubt about Clancy’s guilt but would not vote to acquit her.

Economy

Hiring was unexpectedly strong in August, as employers pushed past uncertainty related to the war in Iran, tariffs and A.I.
President Trump threatened to halt a broad swath of U.S. trade unless the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates.

Elections

The Homeland Security secretary asked the Justice Department to investigate a commonly used voting machine, in what appeared to be an effort to cast doubt on digital voting systems.
A federal judge in Boston ruled, for the third time, that the Trump administration’s plans to restrict mail-in voting were most likely unconstitutional.
North Carolina added new restrictions to its vote-by-mail program. The rules make it easier for local officials to discard ballots.

Politics

Two men wearing ear protectors stand with their arms behind their backs facing a large white, red, blue and gold airplane on a runway.

The president’s new jet, as seen in July. Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Trump will fly to Ireland next week on the new Air Force One donated by Qatar. It’s the first time he’s using the jet overseas since questions arose about its safety capabilities.
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend to push a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
The Trump administration moved to strip more federal protections from millions of acres of wetlands that help feed drinking water systems.
Homeland Security claimed that a border security project in Big Bend National Park was limited to “survey and design” work. Our reporter found evidence that patrol roads and barriers were being built.

Middle East

After months of war, Iran is confident in its abilities and appears determined to continue fighting, according to U.S. intelligence reports.
Israel says it is cementing its foothold in southern Lebanon, adding to concerns that it intends to prolong its occupation.

THE WEEK IN CULTURE

Film and TV

A man in mid-20th-century military clothing walks away from a car in an arid setting with hills in the background.

Simon Abkarian as the titular general in “De Gaulle.” Malgosia Abramowska/Pathé Films

An epic historical film about Charles de Gaulle, the storied French general and politician, has become an unexpected box-office hit.
The stars of “Practical Magic 2” are embracing their witchiness. We talked to Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King and Maisie Williams about the unlikely sequel.

Music

Thunderstruck: A Toronto stadium was severely damaged by a storm ahead of an AC/DC concert.
Who owns reggaeton’s beat? A judge ruled in favor of Bad Bunny and dozens of other defendants who argue the “boom, ch-boom, chick” beat is not protected by copyright. But the case isn’t over yet.
Cassandra Wilson, who died this week at 70, led jazz into the future with warmth and creative conviction. Read our appraisal of her musical career.

More Culture

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

The new museum founded by the “Star Wars” creator George Lucas is finally ready to open in Los Angeles. There’s less “Star Wars” than you might expect.
The Kennedy Center has removed a towering blue metal sculpture, called “Blue,” that the Trump administration had targeted for elimination.

Introducing bonus puzzles.

Try these twists on our games, including Wordle in 1, Connections 3x3, Colorful Strands and more. New puzzles drop every Wednesday.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Grilled pork chops covered in pink onion pieces and green jalapeños.

Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

By Melissa Clark

Jalapeño Grilled Pork Chops

Eric Kim’s jalapeño grilled pork chops are perfect for Labor Day weekend feasting — or for anytime you need an excuse to light up the grill. Soaked in a punchy marinade of cilantro, garlic, chiles and just enough sugar to encourage caramelization, the thin chops cook quickly, charring lightly at the edges. Eric tops them with a bright onion and cilantro relish and serves them with rice on the side. I’d add a ripe tomato salad to take full advantage of these last days of summer.

REAL ESTATE

A grid of four photos. The top left shows a smiling woman, the other three show homes.

Hannah Yoon for The New York Times

The Hunt: A longtime renter in the Philadelphia suburbs decided to take the plunge and buy her first home. What did she choose? Play our game.

Garden smarter: Harvesting seeds now will give next year’s garden a head start. Here’s how to do it.

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