Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
Trump and Putin are meeting in AlaskaPresident Trump and Vladimir Putin arrived this afternoon in Anchorage for a high-stakes summit that could reshape the war in Ukraine. As this newsletter landed in your inbox, the two leaders were still meeting behind closed doors along with their top aides. Check here for the latest updates from my colleagues in Alaska. Trump offered a warm welcome to Putin on the tarmac of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson soon after the Russian leader landed. They shook hands, smiled broadly and walked down a red carpet to pose for pictures on a stage. Putin then rode alongside Trump in the president’s limousine without any visible translators — a highly unusual move for the leaders of two adversarial superpowers. The outcome of today’s meeting, which a Kremlin spokesman said he expected to last at least six hours, is less predictable than most presidential summits. Among the issues that could shape the proceedings are whether Putin is prepared to discuss a cease-fire and whether Trump will apply the kind of pressure that Ukraine and its European allies have pushed for. Before the meeting, Trump said he hoped to leave Alaska later tonight with an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. “I want to see a cease-fire rapidly,” the president said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be today. But I’m not going to be happy if it’s not today.” Trump said that Ukraine could receive security assurances as part of a deal, but “not in the form of NATO” membership. He also said he expected to discuss land swaps between Ukraine and Russia — which Ukraine vehemently opposes — but added that “I’ve got to let Ukraine make that decision.” For more on the summit:
D.C. sued Trump over his takeover of the city’s policeThe D.C. government filed a lawsuit today challenging the Trump administration’s “brazen usurpation” of the city’s authority by trying to take control of its police force. Washington officials argued that the president’s takeover exceeded his authority under the Home Rule Act of 1973, which granted D.C. its limited degree of self-government. You can read the lawsuit here. A federal judge in Washington held an emergency hearing this afternoon on the challenge. Here’s the latest. For more: Trump claimed that D.C. was overrun by “roving mobs of wild youth.” Juvenile crime has been a focus of local leaders for decades.
SpaceX gets billions from the government and pays little backElon Musk’s rocket and satellite internet company, SpaceX, has most likely paid little to no federal income taxes over more than two decades of operation. Valued at more than $350 billion, it has even told investors that it may never have to pay any at all. According to internal company documents reviewed by The Times, SpaceX is using $5 billion in losses it has racked up over the years to offset paying future taxable income.
Erin became the first Atlantic hurricane of the yearA storm named Erin strengthened today to become the first hurricane of this year’s Atlantic season. It now has sustained winds of 75 miles per hour and it is forecast to speed up, potentially enough to become a Category 4 storm. Erin is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the Caribbean over the weekend. Forecasters said the likelihood of landfall in the U.S. was “gradually decreasing,” though the East Coast could still see dangerous rip currents. We’re tracking the storm here. More top news
Vegetarian recipes for the meat lover in your lifeMy colleague Tanya Sichynsky writes a newsletter called The Veggie, which focuses on cooking vegetarian and vegan food. One of the most common questions she is asked goes something like this: My partner loves meat and potatoes. Is there anything vegetarian I can make him? So, in the first episode of her new video series, Tanya came prepared with three meals that she believes almost everyone would enjoy — including a hard-to-please tester.
Does your face need work? She’ll tell you.Over the last decade, Melinda Farina has become one of the most significant players on the plastic surgery scene. And she doesn’t even have a medical license. Farina, 44, is a consultant who calls herself the Beauty Broker. She charges around $750 for an hourlong consultation, after which she connects clients to the surgeons she thinks best fit their aesthetic. Farina’s tactics are unconventional: She is known for watching surgeries from the operating room and publicly criticizing some of the industry’s best-known doctors. Read more about Farina.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This slow cooker chicken and corn recipe is good on its own or served over buttered toast. Watch: These are the movies that got our critics talking this week. Game: A remastered version of the influential role-playing game Off was released. Repair: It’s easier than you’d think to fix those annoying plug outlets. Relax: Travel experts have tips to help ensure your next trip actually feels like a vacation. Test yourself: Take this week’s news quiz. Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. |
