Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Putin is undeterred by Trump’s public angerVladimir Putin is pushing ahead in Ukraine with renewed intensity, despite President Trump’s sharp criticism of him in recent days. Early this morning, Russian troops launched a record 728 exploding drones and decoys, according to Ukraine’s air force. The attacks rattled cities and towns across the western half of Ukraine and underscored its need for more weapons. Putin is convinced that his country’s battlefield superiority is growing, and that Ukraine’s defenses may collapse in the coming months, according to people close to the Kremlin. They say he views halting the fighting as out of the question without extensive concessions by Ukraine. In fact, analysts say, he appears to have already factored in the possibility of new U.S. pressure. Republicans have been working to secure Trump’s support for new sanctions on Russia. But it has become clearer that Putin is prepared to risk his relationship with Trump in the service of what has emerged as his overarching goal after 40 months of full-scale war: Ukraine’s capitulation.
Measles cases hit a 25-year highJust over six months into 2025, there have already been more reported measles cases this year than there have in any other year since the contagious virus was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. Here’s a map of this year’s cases — most are connected to the outbreak in the Southwest. Experts fear that the grim milestone is a sign that if childhood vaccination rates do not improve, deadly outbreaks will become the new normal.
Federal authorities tailed Comey and tracked his phoneThe Secret Service had James Comey, the former F.B.I. director, followed by law enforcement authorities in unmarked cars and street clothes a day after he posted an image on social media in May with seashells arranged to read “86 47.” Trump’s critics have used the numerical slang as a way to criticize the president. Trump’s allies said it amounted to an assassination threat. The Secret Service also tracked the location of Comey’s cellphone as he drove back home from vacation. Such tactics are usually reserved for active threats. More recently, the Trump administration has taken steps to target individuals — including Comey and John Brennan, the former C.I.A. director — who previously investigated Trump. In other Trump administration news:
The death toll from the Texas floods could more than doubleSearch teams continued to spread through Texas Hill Country, looking for the 173 people still unaccounted for after last week’s devastating flooding. But in Kerr County, the hardest-hit area, no survivors have been found since Friday, suggesting that the official death toll of at least 119 could rise considerably. The victims include 8-year-old girls at a sleep-away camp, a 23-year-old police officer and his parents camping in their R.V., and a 62-year-old woman driving to her job at Walmart. Here’s a glimpse into the lives that were lost. Meredith Honig, a video journalist, was staying in her family’s home along the Guadalupe River when the flooding started. She recounted the scenes of confusion, desperation and heroism as the water rose. More top news
Lena Dunham wanted more from the classic rom-com“Too Much,” Netflix’s new romantic comedy series, is partly inspired by the love story of its creator, Lena Dunham. She moved to London in 2021, having given up on love, yet it still found her. Dunham wanted to reflect that possibility onscreen — that, unlike in most rom-coms, women don’t need to become the best version of themselves to reach a happy ending. We talked to the show’s stars about what makes it different. The show also reflects a familiar experience for Americans who decided to move to Britain after romanticizing its onscreen depiction. The reality was a little less dreamy.
A British masterpiece is returning to EnglandMore than 900 years ago, a 230-foot work of embroidery depicting the 1066 Norman Conquest was made in England to be hung in the nave of a cathedral in France. It became known as the Bayeux Tapestry, and Britain’s culture secretary described it as “one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the U.K.” Next year, for the first time since its creation, the epic artwork will temporarily return to Britain, where it will be displayed at the British Museum in London.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This simple corn soup tastes like sweet, buttery popcorn. Watch: “Such Brave Girls” is an audacious and hilarious British comedy. Read: Let us help you find your next science fiction book. Listen: Look back at Janet Jackson’s best sensual hits. Equip: Looking for a tool? Get yourself a library card. Save: Wirecutter sifted through 46,000 Prime Day deals. Here’s a guide to the best. Focus: Spend 10 minutes with this painting and tell us how it makes you feel. Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. |
