Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.
Artemis II astronauts go farther from Earth than ever beforeThe four astronauts on NASA’s Artemis II mission are currently more than 252,000 miles from Earth — farther than any human has ever traveled in the history of mankind. But they are not done making history. Over the next few hours, the spacecraft is going to arc around the moon’s far side — sometimes called the “dark side” because it never faces us on Earth. The astronauts will not land on the lunar surface, but from about 4,000 miles away, they will be able to see parts of the moon that have never been observed with human eyes. You can watch a live feed from the spacecraft’s cameras, and read our live coverage. At 6:47 p.m. Eastern time, the spacecraft will lose all contact with Earth because the moon will block radio signals from reaching us. The crew will spend about 41 minutes in total isolation from all other humans, before reappearing on the other side of the moon and catching a glimpse of our giant blue orb — not dissimilar from the famous “Earthrise” moment from 1968. Earlier today, the Artemis II crew called down to Houston to request that an unnamed lunar crater be dedicated to Carroll Wiseman, the wife of the mission commander Reid Wiseman, who died of cancer in 2020. “It’s a bright spot on the moon,” one of the astronauts said. “We would like to call it Carroll.” Why are we going there? Here’s what to know about the rationale.
Trump mixes threats on Iran with talk of a potential dealAt a news conference today, President Trump escalated his threats to devastate Iran if it does not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by tomorrow at 8 p.m. Eastern. “Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock,” he said. “Every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again.” However, the president also floated the possibility of a diplomatic resolution. “I can tell you we have an active, willing participant on the side,” he said. Trump described Iran’s new 10-point peace proposal as a “a very significant step,” even though American officials rejected it. The president also celebrated the harrowing race to recover an American airman who was downed over Iran. The mission involved 155 aircraft and hundreds of people, Trump said, including subterfuge to misdirect Iranian forces. Here’s what we know about the C.I.A.’s role. For more:
Republicans focus on 8 states ahead of the midtermsThe leading super PAC for Senate Republicans is planning to spend $79 million on advertisements in Ohio, $71 million in North Carolina, $45 million in Michigan and $42 million in Maine. Taken together, the super PAC sees an eight-state, nearly $350 million battleground. My colleague Shane Goldmacher revealed the plans, which are an interesting look at the states Republicans believe are most important to retain control of the Senate after November’s midterm elections.
Savanah Guthrie returns to ‘Today’For the first time since her 84-year-old mother was abducted more than two months ago, Savanah Guthrie returned this morning to host the “Today” show. What followed was mostly a typical morning newscast, except for a moment when Guthrie became emotional while thanking well-wishers gathered outside. Her comeback, our critic James Poniewozik writes, modeled the act of carrying on that people experience everywhere but TV. “Normally, an anchor’s job is to deliver the news,” James wrote. “Guthrie is showing her audience an example of how to live with no news.” For more: Here’s what we know about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Can lithium provide a lifeline in California’s arid borderlands?California’s Imperial County is one of the most impoverished places in the nation. It is also home to the toxic, shrinking Salton Sea, which sits on top of one of the world’s largest lithium reserves — enough to meet the entire nation’s demand for decades. Officials hope that the trove, which could help power smartphones and electricity grids, will provide an economic boost. But some residents are worried that their interests are going to be ignored and their environmental problems made worse. More top news
One champion was crowned. Another will be decided tonight.The men’s N.C.A.A. championship game is tonight, and a historically dominant Michigan team is heavily favored after cruising past Arizona over the weekend. But UConn’s coach has never lost a Final Four game, and his team has already surpassed expectations. They will play each other at 8:50 p.m. Eastern. We’re covering it live. In the women’s tournament, U.C.L.A. won its first title by defeating the perennial powerhouse South Carolina. The team was led by its stellar seniors, who scored every single point.
Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel arrives with huge expectations“Yesteryear,” which arrives in bookstores tomorrow, follows a so-called tradwife influencer who is obsessed with living as if it were the past, until she is actually transported back to 1855. Our reviewer called the premise “ingenious.” It is Caro Claire Burke’s first novel, but you wouldn’t know that from the prepublication reception. A publisher bought the book rights for low seven figures, Amazon bought the movie rights, and Anne Hathaway, who signed on to co-produce and act in the film, said she had devoured the novel in one sitting. We talked to Burke about why she decided to write the book.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This miso-honey chicken packs a punch of flavor. Watch: We spent a day with the woman who feeds the crew of a film set. Clean your white socks better with these tips. |
