Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday.
The Supreme Court cleared the way for the U.S. to ban TikTokThe Supreme Court upheld a law today that could ban the wildly popular social media app TikTok in the U.S. starting on Sunday, unless its Chinese owner agrees to sell it before then. The justices unanimously rejected TikTok's First Amendment challenge and argued that Congress was entitled to effectively outlaw the app for national security reasons. The court's decision may deal a death blow to the U.S. operations of the short-form video platform, where some 170 million Americans get information and entertainment. "We've seen the rise and fall of apps in the U.S., but have never seen the disappearance of one like TikTok, essentially overnight," my colleague Sapna Maheshwari, who covers TikTok, told me. "It's a massive moment in culture and in technology." It is still not at all clear, however, what will happen next. The app won't just disappear from your phone. Instead, companies like Apple and Google could be forced to remove TikTok from their app stores, and Oracle, one of its leading server providers, may need to block traffic from the app. They could face significant fines if they do not comply. "TikTok's main option is to hope for some sort of a miracle from Trump," Sapna told me. The Biden administration said it would leave enforcement decisions up to the president-elect, who has repeatedly said he wants the app to remain in the U.S. market. But with Congress unlikely to quickly overturn the law — which passed by wide bipartisan margins — Trump's options may be limited. An executive order allowing TikTok to keep operating may not withstand legal scrutiny. Trump could direct the Justice Department not to enforce the law. If TikTok is banned, the impact will be widespread. Instagram, YouTube and a handful of other apps could fill some of the gaps. But it's hard to understate how much of a cultural juggernaut TikTok has become. We asked food content creators, as well as publishers and authors who have benefited from "BookTok," what's next.
Israel's cabinet met to vote on a Gaza cease-fireThe full Israeli cabinet met for several hours this evening to vote on an agreement for a cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza. The deal, which was approved earlier by the country's security cabinet after last-minute disputes with Hamas were resolved, is expected to go through. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cease-fire could take effect as early as Sunday. Behind the scenes: The Qatari prime minister, President Biden's envoy and Donald Trump's representative, formed an unlikely partnership to seal the truce. Here's how it happened.
Trump said it will be too cold for an outdoor inaugurationDonald Trump announced today that he would move his inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol Rotunda because temperatures are expected to be dangerously cold. The change last occurred in 1985, for Ronald Reagan's second inauguration. Trump also effectively canceled his inaugural parade, saying that he would incorporate it into a viewing party for the ceremony scheduled for a nearby arena. Here's the latest on Monday's ceremony and the surrounding events.
Kennedy sought to halt Covid vaccinations soon after rolloutRobert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the nation's health agencies, asked the Food and Drug Administration in May 2021 to revoke the use of all Covid vaccines, at a time when thousands of Americans were still dying from the virus every week. As Kennedy prepares for his Senate confirmation hearings, several public health experts argued that the petition should disqualify him from the role. For more: Here's what to know about Covid this winter. More top news
'Severance' is backNearly three years ago, Season 1 of the dystopian sci-fi office thriller "Severance" became a breakout hit. Adam Scott and Britt Lower star as employees who have chips implanted in their brains to partition them between a work self and an out-of-office self. Today, "Severance" returned. Our critic called the new season "the most ambitious, batty and all-out pleasurable show on TV." If you need a refresher before jumping in: Here's everything you need to remember from Season 1.
A new path for women's basketballSome of the best women's basketball players in the world will compete tonight in 3-on-3 games on a soundstage near Miami. It is the debut of a new league called Unrivaled, which is betting that a made-for-TV approach can attract fans to the sport during the W.N.B.A. offseason. The games will be condensed, the production will be intimate, and the players will be paid the highest average salary in women's professional sports history: $200,000 for the 10-week season. Here's who is playing and what to expect.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This applesauce coffee cake can be breakfast, snack, dessert or all three. Watch: Our critic recommends "Cristóbal Balenciaga," a series tracing the designer's life. Read: Published in English for the first time, the novel "We Do Not Part" by Han Kang, the Nobel laureate, revisits a violent chapter in South Korean history. Laugh: Roy Wood Jr. captured our fractious culture in his new special, our critic wrote. Compete: These are Wirecutter's favorite two-player board games. Test yourself: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
Don't eat the burger. It's a stool.When Birdie Wood first stumbled upon a footstool that resembled a hamburger, she knew she needed it. In fact, Wood eventually decorated her entire Long Island home with the burger stool as inspiration, collecting a giant wall-mounted wristwatch and 10 other food stools, including a wedge of cheese. Similar food-inspired furniture has gained a cult following since discount retailers like HomeGoods and T.J. Maxx began selling them. A designer we spoke to said the outlandish décor was a way for millennials to reject the minimalist aesthetic recently in fashion. Have a bold weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Eli Cohen was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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Friday, January 17, 2025
The Evening: Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban
The Book Review: Looking for a thriller to read? You’re in luck.
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