Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Americans are votingAcross the country today, voters are casting ballots in the first major elections since President Trump returned to the Oval Office. The results will dictate the leadership of two states, as well as America’s largest city. And they will offer both Republicans and Democrats a crucial gauge of strength before next year’s midterms. This evening, I have a brief rundown of what to watch for as the night progresses: Virginia’s governor’s race This is likely to be the first major race called. The contest typically serves as a rejection of the party in the White House, and it appears that pattern will continue: Former Representative Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, has held a consistent advantage over Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican. A texting scandal could make the state’s race for attorney general much tighter. Follow here for results. New Jersey’s governor’s race At 8 p.m., polls in New Jersey will close. It is considered far more competitive than Virginia’s race for governor, even though New Jersey’s candidates have starkly different visions for the state. One big thing to watch is whether Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate, can maintain Trump’s gains with Latinos in the state. Mikie Sherrill, the Democrat, has attacked Ciattarelli by tying him to Trump. New York City’s mayoral race Polls close at 9 p.m. in New York, but one thing is already clear: Turnout is really high. As of 3 p.m., about 1.45 million New Yorkers had cast their votes, surpassing the totals in every mayoral election since 2001. And it’s not hard to see why there’s so much interest. The front-runner is Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist whose leftist views have excited his young base and angered critics. His closest rival is Andrew Cuomo, a three-term governor and lifelong Democrat who was endorsed by Trump. If Mamdani is elected, it will cap an extraordinary rise from relative obscurity and make him the first Muslim to hold the office. Follow all of the latest updates here, and check here for results. While you’re waiting, take this quiz to see which candidates align most with your views. California’s ballot measure In the long run, the outcome of this vote could be the most influential. The state is deciding whether to redraw its voting maps to benefit Democrats, in response to Trump’s effort to redistrict Republican-led states. It appears likely to pass, and other blue states may follow. Polls close at 11 p.m. Eastern, and we’re following the results here.
Trump is weighing options for attacks on VenezuelaThe Trump administration has developed a range of options for military action in Venezuela. One would involve airstrikes against military facilities; another envisions sending U.S. forces to seize control of Venezuela’s oil fields. Trump has yet to make a decision on how, or even whether, to proceed. Officials said he was reluctant to approve operations that might place American troops at risk. But some of his top advisers are pressing for one of the most aggressive options: sending Special Operations forces to capture or kill Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro. In other foreign policy news, Nigeria denied that there was an “existential threat” to Christians in the country, as Trump has claimed.
Trump pressures Congress as shutdown becomes longest everWhen the clock strikes midnight, the government shutdown will reach its 35th full day — the longest lapse of federal funding in American history. Rather than trying to negotiate, the president appears more interested in ramping up the pain to force Democrats to capitulate. He threatened to deny food stamp payments, despite a court order; his transportation secretary said he might close parts of the national airspace; and White House officials again suggested they might deny back pay for furloughed workers.
Dick Cheney was a singular figureDick Cheney, who died yesterday at 84, was widely regarded as the most powerful vice president in American history. He was George W. Bush’s closest adviser, with an almost unlimited portfolio, making him the architect of U.S. policies in an era of war and economic change. He had a profound impact on U.S. national security. He helped engineer the Persian Gulf war in 1991, and he took a leading role in responding to the Sept. 11 attacks. Late in life, he shocked his fellow Republicans by announcing that he would vote for Kamala Harris. Read his obituary and see his life in photos. More top news
A largely forgotten moment of TV historyFifty years ago, ABC’s “Barney Miller” was a hit sitcom about seen-it-all cops and kitchen-sink criminals. It won three Emmys. It also made often-overlooked history: One episode introduced audiences to Darryl and Marty — one of the first openly gay couples in mainstream American television not depicted as deviants or criminals. Ray Stewart, now 93, played Darryl. He told The Times that he hadn’t realized how innovative the episode was. Now, he’s proud of it — “We really were the Wright Brothers in a sense” — and he came to his own realization, late in life, that, as he put it, he’s “basically gay.”
Rural America welcomes youRoughly 97 percent of the country is rural, yet those areas hold just 20 percent of the population. That means there’s plenty to explore, and many small towns have upgraded their amenities to attract tourists up for a road trip. Some of the most enticing spots include the Driftless Area in Wisconsin, where you can hike, fish and eat fresh farm-to-table fare, and White Pine County in Nevada, where you can take a steam train to biking trailheads.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This pumpkin maple cornbread works as a breakfast, a snack or even a light dessert. Read: Harriet Lane’s “Other People’s Fun” is a short, sharp novel about two former classmates. Learn: Experts weigh in on how to reduce night trips to the bathroom. Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer’s look of the week. Test yourself: Take our quiz to see how well you know these adapted books. Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. |
