Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
The fate of food stamps is in limboThe Trump administration asked an appeals court to block a judge’s ruling that required the government to fully fund food stamps by the end of today. Justice Department lawyers asked for a decision by 4 p.m. Eastern, but the court has yet to rule. Follow here for the latest updates. If the administration prevails, it is expected to severely cut or delay aid that helps millions of American families purchase groceries. Lawyers for the government said there was no “lawful basis” to force the president to fund the program. We talked to several families who typically receive food stamps about how they’re coping. With the outcome of that legal fight unresolved, several states including California, Kansas and Massachusetts said they had started the process to provide full benefits to their residents. Other effects of the shutdown, now the longest in history, could worsen if it continues. Flight disruptions caused by the F.A.A.’s order to begin reducing air traffic, for example, have so far been limited. But Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that mandated flight cancellations could increase if the shutdown is not resolved over the next few weeks. Air traffic controllers we spoke to said they were already struggling. Airlines have taken a surgical approach to the cuts: The vast majority of U.S. routes still had some service, and cancellations were concentrated among short-distance flights — hitting regional airports hardest. Pressure has been building on Congress to fund the government, including from President Trump, who demanded that senators remain in town until they reach a deal or agree to get rid of the filibuster. Today, Senate Democrats scaled back their demand for ending the government shutdown, saying they would be willing to do so in exchange for a one-year extension of expiring health care subsidies. In other shutdown news: A second jobs report was canceled, but economists aren’t flying entirely blind.
Hegseth is purging military leaders with little explanationDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired or sidelined at least two dozen generals and admirals over the past nine months, mostly without explanation. The moves, which could reshape the U.S. military, are without modern precedent. Many firings have run counter to the advice of top military leaders. And the utter unpredictability of Hegseth’s actions, as described in interviews with 20 current and former military officials, has created an atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust that has forced senior officers to take sides and has, at times, pitted them against one another. In other Trump administration news:
Justices weigh whether to revisit same-sex marriage decisionAt the Supreme Court’s private conference today, the justices are considering whether to hear a case that would ask them to overturn the landmark 2015 decision that established a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. It requires the votes of four justices to accept the case. The court was asked to reconsider their decision in a petition filed by Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk who gained national prominence a decade ago when she defied a court order and refused to issue same-sex licenses because of her religious beliefs.
The Sierra Club embraced social justice, and tore itself apartThe Sierra Club is one of America’s oldest and largest environmental organizations. But it is in the middle of an implosion, just as the Trump administration is moving to weaken environmental protections. Since 2019, it has lost 60 percent of its members and supporters. The reason for much of the decline, according to interviews with people involved and a review of financial records and internal documents, was that the group gave up its singular focus on environmentalism for a broader progressive agenda that included racial justice and labor rights. In related news: It’s been 10 years since the breakthrough Paris climate agreement. Here’s where we are now. More top news
Grammy nominations put hip-hop front and centerYou can expect rap to play a starring role in the 68th annual Grammy Awards in February. Nominations were announced today, and Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, Doechii and Tyler, the Creator were among the top choices. You can see the full list here, which also places Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish in contention for the top awards. Our music critics were surprised by some of the picks. Alex Warren’s ubiquitous ballad, “Ordinary,” was passed over — for better or worse. Others earned nominations despite unconventional origins, like the social media influencer Addison Rae and the girl group Katseye, which was created in a reality competition series.
The Farmers’ Almanac says goodbyeIt was founded 1818, when Napoleon was still alive and well before any American could even buy a typewriter — let alone a computer. But the Farmers’ Almanac, the annual tome of long-term weather predictions and homespun advice, said that it is going out of business. Its demise ends one of America’s oldest publishing wars: The Old Farmer’s Almanac, a rival publication that started in 1792, plans to continue operating.
Dinner table topics
Cook: These gochujang caramel cookies are chewy, buttery and a little bit spicy. Watch: These are the movies that got our critics talking this week. Read: When our critic A.O. Scott is tired of doomscrolling, he turns to this poem. Decorate: Fringe-embellished sofas are hot right now. Tidy: We have tips for decluttering before th |
