Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday.
The Colorado ruling is likely to land before the Supreme CourtColorado'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.
A Hamas leader traveled to Egypt for truce talksIsmail 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.
New York City banned most uses of solitary confinementNew 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.
China is rebuilding a secretive base for nuclear testsSatellite 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
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.
One of opera's greatest singers searches for her voiceFor 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.
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
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.
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.
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