Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.
Democrats criticized Biden’s pardon of his sonSeveral Democrats in Congress spoke out today against President Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of gun charges and pleaded guilty to tax charges. The Democrats said it would erode Americans’ faith in democracy and the rule of law. “The pardon was a mistake,” Representative Jason Crow of Colorado said, adding, “I think it will make it harder for us going forward when we talk about upholding democracy.” Others defended Biden’s move as the justified action of a concerned father who feared that President-elect Donald Trump would follow through on his threats to seek retribution against his rivals. As Trump continues to assemble his next administration, he has drawn criticism — and has doubled down on defiance. Rather than turning to more credentialed choices after the collapse of Matt Gaetz’s bid for attorney general, Trump has named more ideological warriors, conspiracy theorists and even family members to senior government positions. Over the weekend, Trump said he wanted to replace the F.B.I. director with Kash Patel, a critic of the bureau who has called for shutting down its headquarters. He also said he would name Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman and the father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany, as a senior adviser covering Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, and Charles Kushner, the father of Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner, to be ambassador to France.
Russian warplanes struck at rebels in SyriaRussian and Syrian fighter jets struck targets across territory seized by rebels in northwestern Syria today, according to Syrian state media. The attack comes days after a patchwork of rebel forces launched a lightning offensive on Aleppo, once the country’s largest city, upending a dormant civil war. The rebels have united under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al Qaeda affiliate that broke with the group years ago. The group wants to replace the government of President Bashar al-Assad with one inspired by Islamic principles. Russia and Iran expressed support today for the Syrian leader, whom they have propped up since the war began in 2011. Here’s a primer on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
France’s government faces a no-confidence votePrime Minister Michel Barnier pushed a budget bill through the lower house of Parliament today without a vote. It is a risky move that exposed his government to no-confidence motions, which opposition parties swiftly filed. A vote is expected as early as Wednesday. The prospect of a government collapse — and of a failure to pass a budget — has rattled financial markets, sharply increased France’s borrowing costs, and further deepened the uncertainty in the country since snap elections last summer yielded no clear parliamentary majority.
Hysterectomies often leave patients uninformedAside from C-sections, hysterectomies are the most common surgical procedure among women. Nearly 500,000 patients had a uterus removed in 2020. But patients who undergo the procedure often leave the operating room not knowing exactly which of their organs remain — particularly the ovaries, which profoundly influence lifelong health. “I would say 50 percent of patients don’t know the specifics around their surgery,” one urogynecologist said. “It really is mind-blowing.” More top news
The best TV and movies of 2024Even during a year when television felt more mid than ever, there was still lots to enjoy. “English Teacher,” “My Brilliant Friend,” “Shogun” and “Somebody Somewhere” are a few of the series that stood out to our television critics. Here’s what else they liked. Our movie critics took a slightly different approach and ranked their 10 favorite movies this year. Manohla Dargis’s list includes “All We Imagine as Light,” “A Real Pain” and “Ernie Gehr: Mechanical Magic.” Alissa Wilkinson said that her favorites were “algorithm breakers”: idiosyncratic films that kept her off-balance.
Handpicked Cyber Monday dealsMost Cyber Monday deals stink, but the Wirecutter team has put together more than 150 of the best buys. They’ve worked overtime to confirm that the discounts are actually good deals. Dinner table topics
Cook: Classic Greek horiatiki and Lebanese fattoush inspire this colorful taverna salad. Watch: Here are the best movies and TV shows coming to streaming services this month. Read: “How Sondheim Can Change Your Life” examines the extraordinary career of the master of the musical. Exercise: A fitness routine can be key to a good night’s rest. Envision: Here’s how to spend 36 hours in Honolulu. Style: Our fashion critic answers the question, How many pairs of black pants is too many? Plan: Here are tips for choosing an all-inclusive resort. Play: Today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here.
31 days of holiday delightThe holiday season is a joyous time, but it can also be chaotic and complicated. We’re here to offer relief and amusement. Each day in December, we’re offering small pleasures, reflections and distractions. Sign up for our holiday email newsletter to listen to a playlist from Jennifer Hudson, get office party fashion advice and much more. Today, we have an entertaining history of holiday “it” toys, from Pong to Pokémon, and ways to find awe in Christmas cookies. Have a joyful evening. Thanks for reading. Matthew Cullen will be back tomorrow. — Jonathan Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at evening@nytimes.com. And follow The New York Times on Instagram, Threads, |
