Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
The Senate muscled through Trump’s big policy billSenate Republicans managed to secure exactly enough votes today to pass the party’s marquee bill to slash taxes and social safety net programs. The legislation, which was designed to deliver on President Trump’s agenda, passed with a 51-to-50 margin after Vice President JD Vance cast the tiebreaking vote. Three Republicans joined every single Democrat in opposition. And even after an extraordinary all-night session — during which senators donned fluffy blankets, snacked like college kids and struggled to stay awake — Republican leaders still needed to offer last-minute sweeteners to win over the final holdout. The sleepless slog underscored deep unease about the legislation, even among Trump’s allies. The bill now heads to the House, where it still must pass before becoming law. There, Speaker Mike Johnson pledged to quickly approve the legislation. But if all Democrats vote “no,” which is expected, Johnson can afford to lose only three votes from his own party — and several Republicans have voiced opposition to parts of the legislation. (Here’s an updated look at what’s in the bill.) For more: The bill’s tax cuts would benefit high-earners the most, while cuts to health insurance, food stamps and other benefits would weigh heaviest on the poorest Americans. Analysis: The bill could add at least $3.3 trillion to the nation’s debt over the next 10 years and reduce the amount of tax revenue the country collects for decades, risking a debt crisis.
Trump visited ‘Alligator Alcatraz’The president jetted off to Florida this morning to visit an abandoned airport in the Everglades that is being turned into a migrant detention center. Trump and his allies have decided to call the site “Alligator Alcatraz,” to highlight the remote location and dangerous local wildlife that they believe will make it difficult to escape. Environmental groups have sued to stop the project, arguing that environmental regulations have been disregarded in a rush to build the facility. In other Trump administration news:
A push to block online content from A.I. toolsCloudflare, a tech company that manages about 20 percent of internet traffic, according to the company, announced a new setting today that blocks artificial-intelligence data scrapers from its customers’ websites by default. The company said it had seen a significant increase in bots that could use data from websites without permission or payment. Cloudflare’s chief executive said the change was made in part because he was concerned that people were losing the incentive to create online content. “If you’re a robot, now you have to go on the toll road,” he said.
It’s hot in the U.S. It’s even hotter in parts of India.Dangerous summer heat waves have become the new reality in India, where three-quarters of the country’s 1.4 billion people are at risk of extreme temperatures. For much of the population, there is no escape. Air-conditioning is an impossible dream. Work is done outside and under the sun, and not working means not eating. We spent a day in the country’s hottest region to see how residents cope. More top news
The war in Ukraine Troops and civilians in eastern Ukraine are adjusting to the constant threat of drone attacks. Check out our photos from the region.
This summer blockbuster might feel familiarIt’s been 32 years since dinosaurs started roaming the earth again — that is, since the original “Jurassic Park” opened in theaters. This week, the seventh entry in the series, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” is hoping to draw a flood of nostalgic holiday-week moviegoers. Unfortunately, our critic writes, the new film, which depicts a world that has become bored by the ubiquity of dinosaurs, lacks the sense of awe that had been present throughout the series.
Satie is well-known but hardly understoodErik Satie is one of the rare composers whose work is appreciated by listeners who don’t care for classical music. His pieces have become staples of playlists made to help people relax or fall asleep. Think you’ve never heard his work? Listen to this clip of his “Gymnopédie No. 1” and see if it jogs your memory. But no matter how popular Satie becomes, he still remains enigmatic. His sound changed constantly, and he masked details of his life, as well as the meaning of his music, in irrational nonsense. (His last words, reportedly, were “Ah, the cows!”) We may never really understand him.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This shrimp aguachile will brighten up any dinner table. Watch: These are the best movies and TV shows coming to Netflix this month. Listen: Try these six podcasts to boost your productivity. Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer’s look of the week. Exercise: Here’s how to do a perfect lunge. |
