Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Combs was found not guilty of the most serious chargesThe hip-hop mogul Sean Combs was convicted today of transporting people for prostitution, but acquitted on more serious sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. Just before this newsletter was sent out, a judge denied Combs bail and ordered him to remain in detention until sentencing. The verdict came after a lengthy trial that detailed the famed producer’s prolific drug use and violence against two former girlfriends. Federal prosecutors had accused Combs of coercing women into unwanted sex with male prostitutes, aided by a team of pliant employees. But the jury was unconvinced that the evidence amounted to sex trafficking. The result was something of a victory for Combs, who dropped to his knees, apparently in prayer, and started a round of applause in court. He faced a possible life sentence had he been convicted of other counts in the case. Now, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years; 10 years for each count. Experts believe the sentence will turn out to be considerably shorter than that. Here’s why. For more: Here’s a look back at the most important testimony in the eight-week trial, and what might come next for Combs.
House Republicans are divided over the party’s big policy billSpeaker Mike Johnson spent today trying to unite House Republicans behind President Trump’s marquee domestic policy bill, with the goal of passing it by the end of the week. By this afternoon, Johnson was still facing resistance from several members of his party, leaving the bill’s fate uncertain. Here’s the latest. Trump tried to help Johnson’s effort by inviting holdouts to the White House and cajoling them to back the legislation. But it might not be easy. With all House Democrats in opposition, Republicans can afford only three defections. Dusty Johnson, a North Dakota representative, told The Times there were nine holdouts. Fiscal hard-liners argued that the bill would add too much to the national debt, while more moderate Republicans suggested that its cuts — particularly to Medicaid — went too far. For more: The negotiations are a test of Trump’s power over the Republican Party, which for the last several months has appeared almost total.
Israel said it wants to resume truce talks with HamasIsrael’s foreign minister said today that there were encouraging signs in the U.S.-led efforts to restart intensive cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. He said that Israel was eager for talks to begin “as soon as possible.” The American push, according to Israeli officials, aimed to offer Hamas stronger assurances that the temporary truce could carve out a path toward a permanent cessation of hostilities. Hamas said today that it was considering the proposal. In other news from the Middle East, Iran suspended cooperation with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, barring the international inspectors from overseeing its nuclear program.
Former Ph.D. student admitted to killing four Idaho studentsThe man who was charged in the 2022 murders of four Idaho college students pleaded guilty today as part of a deal that spared him from the death penalty. He is expected to be sentenced to four consecutive life sentences. The agreement between prosecutors and the suspect, Bryan Kohberger, was a surprise twist in a case that has spawned years of true-crime speculation. Some family members of the victims were angered by the deal and said they had hoped that Kohberger would be required to divulge details about the crime and prohibited from writing a book on the case. For more: A serial killer expert who was once a professor of Kohberger’s shared her story with my colleague. More top news
Trump’s wealth A year ago, Trump’s finances were shaky. Then he began to capitalize on his comeback, especially with crypto. This is what we know about his current net worth.
‘The Old Guard 2’ is the best kind of sequelFive years ago, the team of immortal heroes in “The Old Guard” felt like a fresh take on an otherwise tired genre. That raised the stakes for “The Old Guard 2,” which was released today on Netflix. According to our reviewer, the sequel delivers, and then some. The new film, directed by Victoria Mahoney, buffed out some blemishes and expanded the universe to include another mysterious immortal, played by Uma Thurman. For Mahoney, the movie was a breakthrough decades in the making. She experienced homelessness and years of setbacks before she finally secured a big-budget project. For more on movies: Check out the 100 best movies of the 21st century, according to more than 200,000 Times readers.
The best advice for better connectionsHealthy relationships take work, but the payoff is huge and can make your life longer, happier and healthier. My colleagues from our Well desk, who frequently write about relationships, spend a lot of time talking with experts about what works and what doesn’t. Today, they highlighted some of the most helpful advice they have received. One takeaway: Stop worrying about being right.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Charm your family and friends with these s’mores crispy treats. Watch: Here are five great international movies to stream. Read: A new biography looks at the career of Clint Eastwood — the good, the bad and the ugly. |
