Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Trump stepped up his attacks on the FedPresident Trump said today that Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor who has repeatedly voted not to cut interest rates despite his public pressure, should “resign, now!!!” It was the president’s latest push to remake the central bank. Trump cited allegations that Cook had engaged in mortgage fraud by claiming two primary residences in her mortgage applications. That information came from Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who said that his office had investigated Cook and referred the matter to the Justice Department, encouraging a criminal investigation. Pulte, who leveled similar allegations against Adam Schiff, the Democratic senator, and Letitia James, the New York State attorney general, is the same official who drafted a letter for the president to fire the Fed chair, Jerome Powell. Both Pulte and Trump have repeatedly criticized the Fed for holding interest rates steady. Just last night, Trump called Powell “a disaster” for not cutting rates. Officials at the central bank have described the decision as an attempt to prevent inflation from spinning out of control. Trump’s attacks against the Fed fit a broader pattern wherein the administration uses the instruments of government to target perceived political rivals:
Israel is preparing an assault on Gaza CityIsrael’s military said today that it was moving forward with plans to take over Gaza City. Even after nearly two years of war, Israeli officials say the city and its surrounding neighborhoods remain a stronghold for Hamas. The plan called for Israeli troops to encircle the city, allow the population to move south and then move in with force. About 60,000 reservists would be called to duty, and 20,000 more would have their orders extended. For more: We spoke to Gazans awaiting the Israeli assault. “We’ve had enough, we’re not going anywhere,” said one man, who said he has been displaced six times.
A judge halted a law mandating the Commandments in schoolA federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked a state law that would have required that the Ten Commandments be visibly displayed in every public school classroom this fall. The ruling came in response to a legal challenge by families who argued that the Texas law amounted to a clear violation of the separation of church and state. Some parents also argued that portions of the commandments are inappropriate for young children, including the lines “thou shalt not commit adultery” and “though shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” In related news, Oklahoma said it will require teachers coming from New York and California to pass a test to combat what it calls “woke indoctrination” before being hired.
Democrats face a voter registration crisisA new Times analysis of voter registration data showed that the Democratic Party is losing support long before voters even go to the polls. Of the 30 states that track voter registration by political party, Democrats lost ground to Republicans in every single one between the 2020 and 2024 elections — and often by a lot. That four-year swing toward the Republicans adds up to 4.5 million voters, and Democrats are down an additional 360,000 voters since last year’s election. Here are five takeaways from the analysis. More top news
A new spectacle took center stage at U.S. Open Fan WeekIt’s “Fan Week” at the U.S. Open. Entry is free, the vibes are high and the qualifying rounds are usually the main attraction. But this year, a controversially reimagined mixed doubles tournament has stolen the spotlight. The event, which features teams of one man and one woman, has long been overlooked. So the U.S. Open is trying something new: the sport’s biggest stars were invited; matches were made much quicker; and the winning team was promised $1 million for just two days of play. Stars of doubles tennis say it devalues a Grand Slam trophy and their chosen discipline. But when it got underway yesterday, the crowd was buzzing (and the singles stars were losing to doubles specialists). The finals are later tonight. Follow here for updates.
A word-of-mouth hit from a writer of ‘The Bear’Alex Russell, best known as a writer for the Emmy-winning TV series “Beef” and “The Bear,” gave himself a test during the pandemic. The 34-year-old wanted to see if he could write something longer than a television show, and he came up with “Lurker,” which arrives in theaters this week. The film is an unsettling tale about a superfan who befriends his pop-singer idol by pretending to have no idea who he is. A supremely of-the-moment psychosexual thriller, it was well received when it premiered this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This quick cake is the best way to get the most out of summer berries. Watch: Here are five great theater productions to stream. Read: If you have time for just one romance novel, make it “August Lane,” our critic writes. Listen: These songs sketch out the evolution of dancehall music. Wear: Here’s how to do a perfect smoky eye. |
