Good morning. We're covering President Biden's growing isolation and the latest deadly strikes in Gaza. Plus: The poet who commands a rebel militia.
Biden faces increasing isolationAs President Biden contends with the rebellion against his candidacy within his own party, he has relied for advice on family members and a few loyalists, who are true believers in the mythology of Joe Biden as the "comeback kid." The result has been a standoff between Biden and his inner circle on the one hand, and, on the other, broad swaths of voters and elected Democrats who fear an electoral wipeout in November. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump has muted some of the pressure on Biden to exit the race. But weeks after the president's disastrous debate performance, the Democratic Party is still divided about his prospects and his acuity. Adam Schiff, a California representative running for Senate, gave a warning during a private meeting with donors over the weekend. "We may very, very well lose the Senate and lose our chance to take back the House," Schiff said, according to people with knowledge of the remarks. Next steps: Leaders of the Democratic National Committee are moving to confirm Biden as the party's nominee before the end of July, according to people briefed on the matter. Fewer migrants: June saw the fewest illegal crossings of the southern border since January 2021. But it is far from clear that Biden will reap the political benefits. Supreme Court: Biden is seriously considering legislative proposals, like term limits and an enforceable code of ethics, that would dramatically change the top court. In other U.S. political news:
Israeli strikes kill more than 20 in GazaTwo Israeli airstrikes, one of which hit a U.N. school used as a shelter, killed more than 20 people in the Gaza Strip yesterday, Palestinian health officials said. Roughly 17 people were killed in a strike in Mawasi, a coastal area that Israel has designated a safe zone, the Gaza Health Ministry said. At least five people were killed and eight wounded at the school, in Nuseirat in central Gaza, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The Israeli military said it had been targeting militants who operated inside the school. The school was the sixth U.N.-run educational institution in Gaza to be hit in just 10 days, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees. Last week, a strike outside a school in Khan Younis killed at least 27 people. Hamas: The C.I.A. director said that the leader of Hamas in Gaza was under pressure from his military commanders to end the war with Israel. A deadly day: A Times visual analysis shows why an Israeli operation on June 8 that killed scores of Palestinians had such a high toll.
Ko Maung Saungkha commands a militia of 1,000 soldiers fighting Myanmar's junta, but his background is not in the military. He is a poet, one of at least three who are leading rebel forces and inspiring young people to fight. Lives lived: Bengt Samuelsson, a biochemist and Nobel laureate, died at 90. His discoveries led to drugs that treat inflammation, glaucoma and allergies.
Our restaurant critic leaves the tableAfter 12 years of eating his way through "the feast" of New York City for The Times, Pete Wells realized that he was no longer hungry. "Exploring, appreciating, understanding, interpreting and often even enjoying that feast has been the greatest honor of my career," he writes. Pete wrote about 500 reviews, many of which required three multicourse meals, and he often ate "reference meals," trying several iterations of a dish. But a recent physical showed bad scores across the board, including high cholesterol, hypertension and obesity. Such problems often come with the job, he writes, but restaurant critics "avoid mentioning weight the way actors avoid saying 'Macbeth.'" It was time for something new. Read Pete's farewell here, and check out some of his most memorable reviews.
Cook: Spiced mango crumble is simple, tangy and delicious. Read: In "The Bright Sword," an adventurer stumbles into a Camelot in shambles after the death of King Arthur. Upgrade: You don't have to spend a lot to remake your kitchen. Listen: Our pop critic recommends songs from an Italian vacation. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know films based on Shakespeare's plays. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
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Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Wednesday Briefing: A turbulent moment in U.S. politics
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