Tuesday, February 27, 2024

The Evening: A test for Biden in Michigan

Also, Russia warned against NATO forces in Ukraine.
Continue reading the main story
Ad
The Evening

February 27, 2024

Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday.

  • A protest vote in Michigan's primary
  • Talks to avoid a partial shutdown
  • Plus, test your exercise I.Q.
Women wearing the hijab work as election officials at a school in Dearborn, Michigan.
Voters in Dearborn, Mich., today. Emily Elconin for The New York Times

Michigan tests the strength of Biden's campaign

Both President Biden and Donald Trump are all but assured to win their respective Michigan primaries today by large margins. But a prominent Democratic protest movement there will offer an important measure of the intraparty division facing Biden's re-election campaign.

Activists in Michigan, which is home to a sizable Arab American community, are encouraging Democratic voters to cast their ballots for "uncommitted" to protest the president's support of Israel in its war against Hamas. Some Democrats have warned of the political fallout of Biden's stance on the war, especially among young progressive voters, but the magnitude of the discontent has yet to be broadly quantified.

A high number of "uncommitted" votes would send a warning to Biden's campaign. A low number would give Biden renewed faith that he can weather the tensions and focus on campaign priorities like the economy and abortion rights. The Arab American-led group that began the push, Listen to Michigan, has set a modest goal: 10,000 votes.

My colleague Jennifer Medina, who is covering the election, said the protest voters are looking not necessarily to elect a different candidate but rather to convince Biden to change his policies. "They want to send a message," Jennifer said, that if Biden doesn't alter his strategy in Gaza, "he will have a real problem on his hands for the election in November."

We will be following the results of the Democratic primary as they come in.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Biden and Senator Chuck Schumer sitting around a coffee table in the Oval Office, with a fire in the fireplace at the center.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with Speaker Mike Johnson, left, and Senator Chuck Schumer today. Anna Rose Layden for The New York Times

Congressional leaders said a shutdown might be avoided

Both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders came out of a White House meeting today with President Biden voicing optimism about the chances of averting a partial government shutdown at the end of this week. But they remain short of a deal.

Speaker Mike Johnson is facing intense pressure to agree to a spending deal over the fierce objections of his right-wing allies, and he suggested after the meeting that he might soon be ready to do so. But his House Republicans loaded up their proposals with hundreds of partisan policy mandates, a vast majority of which had no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate.

If Congress does not approve a fresh tranche of funding before Friday at midnight, funding for roughly a quarter of the government will lapse. Funding for all other agencies, including the Pentagon, is set to expire at midnight on March 8.

Four men wearing hats carry a bag containing a body across a field.
Members of a humanitarian group carrying the body of a Russian serviceman in the Donetsk region of Ukraine last year. Nicole Tung for The New York Times

Russia warned against NATO forces in Ukraine

The Kremlin issued a warning today that a ground intervention in Ukraine by any NATO country would lead to a direct military clash between the Western alliance and Russia. The warning came in response to a provocative comment by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who said he would not rule out the possibility of a NATO country sending troops to Ukraine.

European countries that previously ruled out the move rushed to distance themselves from Macron's comment, and the NATO chief said the alliance had no such plans. France later clarified that Macron was trying to emphasize how Europe must consider new actions to support Ukraine. But a Kremlin spokesman called the open discussion of such a step "a very important new element."

In Ukraine, Russia forces have an unorthodox view of what is considered an acceptable level of military losses, one Western official said.

An exterior view of a nondescript set of buildings with white walls. Electrical equipment behind a chain-link fence outside reads "Procesadora Austrofood."
Ecuador-based Austrofood did not test the finished applesauce, records show, before it was shipped to the U.S. Ana María Buitrón for The New York Times

Lead-tainted applesauce sailed through safety tests

Hundreds of American children were poisoned last year after eating cinnamon-flavored applesauce pouches with extremely high doses of lead. Parents were left anxiously watching for signs of brain damage.

Interviews and a review of hundreds of pages of documents found that in the weeks and months before the recall, the tainted applesauce sailed through a series of checkpoints in a food safety system meant to protect American consumers.

More top news

TIME TO UNWIND

Lise Davidsen in a black dress and gold earrings standing beside a mirror.
Lise Davidsen will also appear in the Met's "Tosca" next season. Evelyn Freja for The New York Times

A Met Opera soprano cemented her stardom

Lise Davidsen skyrocketed to stardom in her early 30s, quickly establishing herself as the Metropolitan Opera's go-to soprano for Wagner and Strauss. Her lightning-bright sound and power were considered perfect for those roles.

Now 37, Davidsen is ready to prove her range. Last night, she starred in the Met's new production of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino," a distinctly Italian opera unlike anything she has performed for the company. At times, our critic Zachary Woolfe wrote, the music called for an earthier voice. "But come on," Zachary stressed, "there are vanishingly few artists in the world singing with such generosity, sensitivity and visceral impact."

An illustration of people playing tennis, basketball and running on a track.
Jiaqi Wang

What's your exercise I.Q.?

Few things are more important to your overall health and longevity than exercise. But getting started can feel overwhelming: How much exercise is recommended? Should you stretch first? What's the best way to track your progress?

To see how you stack up, take our quiz.

African American ballet dancers performing a pirouette and a lift in a black-and-white film.
Scenes from the short film "Two by Louis Johnson." 

Dinner table topics

Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Tara Donne for The New York Times

Cook: This fast, delicious one-pan roasted broccoli with shrimp could not be simpler.

Watch: The director Jonathan Glazer narrated a scene from his Oscar-nominated film, "The Zone of Interest."

Read: Our columnist reviewed three riveting, slow-burn new thrillers.

Decorate: Here's how to design a room so cozy that it feels like a hug.

Dine: The thrill of a steakhouse isn't just the food. It's the theater.

Mend: Small skin bumps are a common condition. They can also be easily treated at home.

Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know Berlin's literary landmarks.

Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.

Continue reading the main story

ADVERTISEMENT

Ad

ONE LAST THING

A burned brick building with no windows bears the name
The Crooked House pub in Dudley, in England's West Midlands.  Jacob King/PA Images, via Getty Images

Britain's wonkiest pub could soon be resurrected

The Crooked House, a beloved pub that used to slouch at a 16-degree angle in England's West Midlands before a fire razed it last year, could soon be rising from the rubble.

The tavern, known as "Britain's wonkiest pub" for its slanting walls and floors, was demolished by its owners after a suspected arson attack. Outraged locals demanded the government take action, and today the pub's owners were ordered to rebuild the nearly 260-year-old landmark brick by original brick, restoring the pub to its former lopsided glory.

Have a unique evening.

Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.

Continue reading the main story
Evening Briefing Newsletter Logo

Writer: Matthew Cullen

Editorial Director: Adam Pasick

Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe

Photo Editor: Brent Lewis

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times.

To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebooktwitterinstagram

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

No comments:

Post a Comment