The Evening: The Supreme Court’s role in the 2024 election

Also, New York City banned most uses of solitary confinement.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 20, 2023 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. An explosive ruling against Trump Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks Plus, the rich family in "Home Alone" Donald Trump at a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jordan Gale for The New York Times The Colorado ruling is likely to land before the Supreme Court Colorado's Supreme Court ruled last night that Donald Trump was disqualified from becoming president again because he had engaged in insurrection leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The ruling, which the former president's campaign vowed to appeal, placed the basic contours of the 2024 presidential election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court. The nine Supreme Court justices — three of whom were appointed by Trump — will very likely have to determine whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was written to prevent former members of the Confederacy from holding office after the Civil War, applies to Trump. They are also set to rule on other Trump-related issues, including whether he is immune from criminal prosecution. The Colorado ruling strikes at a question central to American democracy: whether a leading candidate can appear on voters' ballots. And while yesterday's ruling only applied to one state, the justices on the nation's top court will almost certainly issue a definitive nationwide decision, our Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak said on "The Daily." Adam added that he found it unlikely that the Colorado decision would stand: "The prospect of what would be a profoundly antidemocratic ruling, saying that people who want to vote for Donald Trump may not vote for him, is going to weigh on the justices," he said. Polling: Trump has the support of one in three Republican voters who think he engaged in serious criminality, according to a new poll from The New York Times and Siena College. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas's top political leader, in 2021. Aziz Taher/Reuters A Hamas leader traveled to Egypt for truce talks Ismail Haniyeh, the top political leader of Hamas, was in Cairo today to hold talks with Egyptian mediators about a possible truce that could lead to the release of Israeli hostages. An Israeli official said that initial steps had been made in the negotiations. A senior Hamas official said that Israel would need to abide by a new, sustained cease-fire and allow the unlimited entry of aid into the Gaza Strip before Hamas would start discussing the release of more hostages. Israel believes that 129 people, mostly men, are still being held captive. Here's the latest. Rikers Island jail complex in New York City. Seth Wenig/Associated Press New York City banned most uses of solitary confinement New York City officials voted today to ban most uses of solitary confinement in city jails. Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to veto the measure, but the bill's supporters have said that they have enough votes in the City Council to overrule his opposition. The bill would ban the use of solitary confinement beyond a four-hour "de-escalation" period during an emergency, and it would require that all detainees spend at least 14 hours outside of their cells each day. It is part of a broader discussion about whether solitary confinement is torture or a legitimate form of punishment for detainees who grossly violate codes of conduct. A satellite image of a large drill rig in China. The New York Times; satellite image by Maxar China is rebuilding a secretive base for nuclear tests Satellite images revealed that China is making hundreds of upgrades and expansions to Lop Nur, a military base in a remote desert where the country first detonated an atomic bomb nearly 60 years ago. The upgrades include a deep vertical shaft that would support larger atomic tests, serving as the strongest evidence yet that Beijing is weighing whether to test a new generation of nuclear arms. More top news Immigration: After three years of negotiations, E.U. countries reached a deal on migration aimed at allaying pressure from far-right political parties. Tech: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission proposed sweeping new online privacy safeguards for children. Economy: Economists are concerned that Americans have taken on too much "phantom debt" from buy now, pay later transactions. Sudan: A paramilitary group seized control of a major city in the country's agricultural breadbasket, opening a new and potentially deadlier phase in the eight-month civil war. Police: Prosecutors accused a Detroit police officer of fatally punching a 71-year-old man. Health: Drugs like Ozempic can regulate blood sugar and weight. Doctors are exploring whether they can treat a wide range of other conditions, like addiction and sleep apnea. Midwest: Minnesota unveiled its new state flag. TIME TO UNWIND The McCallister family home in "Home Alone" is a real house in Winnetka, Ill., a wealthy suburb of Chicago. Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune va Getty Images How rich were the McCallisters in 'Home Alone'? It's a question fans have debated every year since 1990, when 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) first battled two burglars known as the Wet Bandits. So we turned to economists and people involved in the film to find the answer. The McCallisters' home, a real-world house in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the U.S., would have cost about $2.4 million in the middle of 2022. Economists say it would be affordable for households making $730,000 a year at that price, though "Home Alone" never explained what Kevin's parents do for a living. The mezzo-soprano Anita Rachvelishvili and her husband, Otari Maisuradze, at home in Tbilisi, Georgia. Daro Sulakauri for The New York Times One of opera's greatest singers searches for her voice For years, Anita Rachvelishvili crisscrossed the world, blazing through some of the most difficult parts in opera and establishing her stardom. Then she became pregnant and lost her voice. Rachvelishvili hoped everything would return to normal after the birth of her daughter; she was even scheduled to premiere a new production at the Met Opera on New Year's Eve. But instead the show will go on without her. We talked to her about her ongoing attempts to reconstruct her voice. UNWIND DURING THE HOLIDAYS We are asking readers to share tips about the ways they unwind during the holidays. Many of you have written in, and over the coming weeks we will pass along the helpful advice. If you would like to participate, you can fill out this form. "One benefit of being back at my parents' house during the holidays is access to my childhood bookshelf: Nancy Drew, Judy Blume, Tinker Bell … I'll even thumb through picture books. Not only do they make for a lighthearted read, but rediscovering characters and plots I loved as a child is just as satisfying today. So, take a break from the heavy reading for a bit! Sit back, grab a juice box and unwind to the stories of your youth." — Marina Sun from Ann Arbor, Mich. Dinner table topics Social media in 2023: You may have forgotten — or want to forget — what happened on the internet in 2023. We're here to refresh your memory. Forget Halloween: For some, ghost stories are a Christmas tradition. Supersized sniffers: With "Maestro" now streaming on Netflix, we looked back on the 12 best and worst fake noses in cinema history. A reader asks: Can I exclude my scamming sister from Christmas dinner? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food stylist: Maggie Ruggiero. Prop stylist: Sophia Eleni Pappas. Cook: This creamy potato casserole is one of Sweden's most delicious exports. Watch: "The Polar Express" is on AMC tonight. Here's what else is on TV this week. Read: Henry James was a patron saint of exquisite verbosity. Here are his best works. Laugh: These are three great comedy specials to stream over the holidays. Try: Now is a good time to test out some of the fun updates on your smartphone. Brew: Wirecutter tested more than a dozen French presses. This is their favorite. Compete: Take our quiz and see how well you know "The Crown." Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING Tommy José Stathes at the Roxy Cinema in Manhattan. Janice Chung for The New York Times Looking for Felix the Cat? He's your man. Tommy José Stathes makes a living as a professor of animation history. But his true vocation is curating a treasure trove stuffed into a storage unit in Queens. There he has Felix the Cat, Popeye and just about any other vintage silent cartoon you could ask for. In fact, his library of around 4,000 reels is certainly one of the largest collections of early animated films anywhere in the world. He screens the century-old animations during regular events he hosts at Metrograph, an arty Lower East Side theater with red velvet seating and chilled Junior Mints. Have an entertaining evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Photo Editor: Brent Lewis Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018