The Evening: F.D.A. approves first mass drug imports

Also, the longtime N.R.A. leader, Wayne LaPierre, resigned.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 5, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. Cheaper drugs from Canada The resignation of the N.R.A.'s leader Plus, 30 shows to watch this winter In addition to Florida, eight states have laws allowing for a state drug importation program. Joe Raedle/Getty Images The U.S. issued its first approval of mass drug imports The F.D.A. announced today that it would allow Florida to import millions of dollars' worth of prescription medications from Canada, where they are available at far lower prices than in the U.S. The state estimated that it could save up to $150 million in the first year of the program, importing medicines to treat H.I.V., AIDS, diabetes, hepatitis C and other conditions. Until now, Americans could buy drugs from Canadian pharmacies, but states could not purchase them in bulk for Medicaid programs, government clinics or prisons. Florida is the first to earn approval. Supporters hope that the policy shift, backed by both President Biden and Donald Trump, will lead to similar authorization for other states and help rein in drug prices. But significant hurdles remain. The pharmaceutical industry fiercely objects to the plan and is expected to file a lawsuit to prevent it from going into effect in Florida. The Canadian government has taken steps to block the export of prescription drugs that are in short supply. "Canada's drug supply is too small to meet the demands of both American and Canadian consumers," a spokeswoman for Canada's health agency said. Wayne LaPierre the N.R.A. leader, at a convention in April. Michael Conroy/Associated Press Longtime N.R.A. leader Wayne LaPierre resigned Facing trial for corruption, Wayne LaPierre, who helped transform gun culture in America as the leader of the National Rifle Association for more than three decades, told the organization's board today that he would resign at the end of the month. The N.R.A. said LaPierre cited health reasons, but his resignation came in the shadow of his trial in Manhattan, stemming from a lawsuit in which New York's attorney general, Letitia James, accused LaPierre and other N.R.A. insiders of years of runaway corruption and misspending. The resignation will change the shape of the trial, since James was seeking to oust LaPierre from his position. President Biden compared Donald Trump to foreign autocrats who rule by fiat and lies. Pete Marovich for The New York Times Biden took aim at Trump in a searing campaign speech In his first major campaign event of his re-election bid, President Biden used dire language in a speech today to repeatedly condemn Donald Trump, his likely opponent. He warned that the former president would seek to undo democracy if he returns to power. Biden, who is struggling with low approval ratings, framed the 2024 election as a choice between a candidate devoted to upholding American ideals and a chaos agent willing to discard them for his personal benefit. "Democracy is on the ballot," he said. The 31-minute speech was by far his most forceful denunciation of Trump since it became evident the two men were likely to face off again in 2024. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at a news conference in Tel Aviv in October. Pool photo by Abir Sultan Israel is split over its postwar plans Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday proposed a postwar plan for Gaza predicated on the military defeat of Hamas. It calls for maintaining Israel's military control of Gaza's borders while a "multinational task force" oversees reconstruction and local Palestinians administer civilian affairs. The plan was widely seen as a trial balloon and followed comments from right-wing ministers who suggested encouraging Gazans to emigrate. But it reflected the pressure Israel is facing as Washington presses for a shift to a less intense phase of the war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey today as part of another mission to the Middle East. More top news Supreme Court: The justices agreed to decide whether Donald Trump is eligible for Colorado's primary ballot. The court will hear the case in February. Trump: The New York attorney general asked a judge to make the former president pay roughly $370 million in his New York civil fraud trial. Weather: A strong winter storm will drop the first significant snow of the season across parts of the Northeast this weekend. Tech: Apple is being investigated by the Justice Department, which is in the late stages of a sweeping antitrust case focused on its iPhone's dominance. Economy: U.S. employers added 216,000 jobs in December, surpassing the expectations of economists. Migration: The number of African migrants to the U.S. has been surging amid intensifying anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe. Ukraine: President Vladimir Putin has approved a measure that makes it easier for foreigners to get Russian citizenship if they enlist in the army to fight in Ukraine. Bangladesh: Voters go to the polls on Sunday, with the governing party all but certain to win another term and the possibility of violence hanging in the air. Lives Lived: David Soul, who rose to fame portraying one half of the crime-fighting duo on the hit 1970s TV show "Starsky & Hutch," died at 80. TIME TO UNWIND Jodie Foster, left, and Kali Reis in "True Detective: Night Country." Michele K. Short/HBO A deluge of attention-grabbing shows After monthslong Hollywood strikes left networks with little to offer in the fall, this winter has television options aplenty. There will be A-list stars (Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet), intriguing reboots ("Avatar: The Last Airbender") and final goodbyes ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"). Our TV critic Mike Hale picked the 30 shows worth checking out. One long-awaited entry is the return of the series "True Detective," which this time stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis and takes place in northwest Alaska. Prefer a movie? Daniel Levy's directorial debut, "Good Grief," applies a light but wise hand to a man navigating life after loss. The Golden Globes will return to network television on Sunday. Robyn Beck/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The Golden Globes want to win you back The Golden Globes have been fighting for relevance ever since a series of scandals — including the revelation that the awards organization had zero Black voting members — caused NBC to cancel the telecast in 2022. Behind the scenes, the prizes have long lacked prestige. But Hollywood is not usually one to turn down a major marketing opportunity. For those curious to see the next chapter of the Globes, we have all the details on how to watch and what to expect. The show, this time on CBS, begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. For more on awards season, here are our critics' picks for who the Oscar nominees should be. Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times Dinner table topics Winter style: Our photographer captured standout looks on the streets of New York City as people started bundling up. Golden wedding: Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist, who met on "The Golden Bachelor," married last night before 150 guests — and many more TV viewers. Clothes, not fashion: A good chore coat is hard to find. But Paynter Jacket Co. has built a loyal following with its limited-edition jackets. Banana galaxies: Images from the Webb Telescope suggest that newborn galaxies look weirder than expected. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: This kung pao chicken takes just 15 minutes to make. Watch: "Fool Me Once" is now streaming on Netflix. Here's what else is coming this month. Read: Sam Wasson's biography of Francis Ford Coppola is on our list of books we recommend this week. Cheer: Five N.F.L. playoff spots remain unclaimed. See if your team has a chance. Flow: There are real benefits to losing yourself in a task that's challenging but not stressful. Move: We have advice for creating an exercise plan you can stick with and enjoy. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. 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 Officer Flossy from "Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go." Richard Scarry Revisiting Busytown, 50 years later In 1974, Richard Scarry, the detail-oriented children's book author, was invited to publish a book for boys about trucks. The result, "Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," is chock-full of cute anthropomorphized animals who delighted boys, girls and parents alike. Now, 50 years after its publication, we're looking back to appreciate what made the book so unforgettable. Scarry's tale was itself like a car trip, Peter Behrens writes, the rare sort where no one gets cranky and the world, as seen from the back seat, is fresh and startling. Have an enduring evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — 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