The Evening: Supreme Court reconsiders a landmark ruling

Also, the House speaker clashes with the White House on Ukraine and border policies.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 17, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. A momentous Supreme Court case Iranian strikes on neighboring countries Plus, the back story of "Origin" Kent Nishimura for The New York Times Justices seemed poised to limit a key regulatory power During three and a half hours of lively oral arguments today, the Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared inclined to limit or even overturn a foundational doctrine of administrative law that has empowered executive agencies for several decades. The doctrine, called Chevron deference, has required judges since 1984 to defer to government agencies' reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes. Discarding it could undermine regulations in countless areas, including the environment, health care, consumer safety and nuclear energy, transferring power to Congress and the courts. A representative of the Biden administration told the Supreme Court today that overruling Chevron would be an "unwarranted shock to the legal system." And the three liberal justices seemed to agree. But dismantling Chevron has long been a goal of the conservative movement, and the court's conservatives questioned why the agencies would hold such power. The cases underlying the challenge were brought on behalf of two sets of fishermen who opposed a government fee, suspended in 2023, that they considered unreasonable. They are represented by two groups with financial ties to Charles Koch, a billionaire and champion of anti-regulatory causes. A billboard in Tehran read: "Prepare your coffins." Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Iran said it would not hesitate to attack its foes After Iran struck targets in neighboring Pakistan, Iraq and Syria, the country's defense minister vowed today that his country would "not set any limits" on using its military capabilities whenever necessary. "We are a missile power in the world," he said. According to Iran, the attacks targeted terrorist groups — the Islamic State in Syria on Monday and Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan yesterday — as well as a location in Iraq that Iranian officials have said is an Israeli base for intelligence gathering. Analysts suggested that, for all of Iran's belligerent comments, its attacks were measured, meant to flex its strength without inflaming regional tensions too much. Speaker Mike Johnson spoke on Capitol Hill today. Michael A. McCoy for The New York Times U.S. leaders clashed over Ukraine aid and border policies President Biden met at the White House this afternoon with top congressional leaders in an effort to convince them to quickly provide billions of dollars in funding for Ukraine and Israel, as well as for border security. A group of Senate Republicans and Democrats have in recent weeks made progress toward a related compromise on border policy. But before the meeting, Speaker Mike Johnson threw cold water on the chances of a deal. "I don't think now is the time for comprehensive immigration reform because we know how complicated that is," Johnson said, adding that the country must first "secure our own border" before dealing with anything else. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the House of Commons, in London, today. Maria Unger/AFP Britain's Rwanda policy passed a critical vote Britain's Parliament approved a measure that preserves, for now, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's flagship immigration policy, which would put some asylum seekers on one-way flights to Rwanda. But the debate ahead of the vote today exposed deep divisions within his Conservative Party, damaging Sunak's authority in an election year. The policy will next be considered by the House of Lords, which could dilute the legislation and raise further hurdles in Parliament. More top news Donald Trump: A judge threatened to throw the former president out of the courtroom at his defamation trial after he made several comments that the jury could hear. Maine: A judge suspended the state's decision to exclude Trump from its primary ballot, until the Supreme Court rules on a similar case. Politics: The super PAC supporting Ron DeSantis has begun laying off staff as the candidate shifts his focus to South Carolina. Climate: Greenland is shedding 20 percent more ice than previously estimated, potentially threatening ocean currents that help to regulate global temperatures. China: The country's birthrate has continued to fall, despite government efforts to encourage women to have more babies. Kenya: The doomsday cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who the authorities said had directed his followers to starve themselves, will face 191 counts of child murder. Cars: Sales of hybrid vehicles outpaced those of electric cars, some of which have struggled in this week's freezing weather. Finance: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a rule that would sharply limit bank overdraft charges. Norway: Amid allegations of stolen children, falsified paperwork and for-profit adoption schemes, a policy body recommended a ban on foreign adoptions. Health: U.S. drug prices are nearly double those in other well-off countries. Here's why. Royals: King Charles will undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate next week, while Catherine, Princess of Wales, will be hospitalized for at least 10 days after abdominal surgery. TIME TO UNWIND Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, left, with Ava DuVernay. Gioncarlo Valentine for The New York Times Behind the making of 'Origin' While making her latest film, "Origin," which releases nationally this week, the director Ava DuVernay developed an unusually collaborative relationship with its star. In Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, DuVernay saw someone with the "outsized power" needed to pull off her unconventional adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson's book "Caste." My colleague Reggie Ugwu chatted with both of them about the process, and about why DuVernay chose to divert from a typical adaptation and instead focus so much on the author's own story. Montreal, seen from Mont-Royal. Clara Lacasse for The New York Times International travel is getting easier For the first time since the onset of the pandemic nearly four years ago, U.S. passport processing times have returned to their prepandemic norm. Expedited service can now be completed in about two to three weeks. With a new passport, you could travel to Spain, where several sumptuous palaces have opened their doors to visitors. Or, if you prefer something a bit closer, you could check out Montreal — where it seems like there are endless restaurants, shops and views to visit. A beluga whale named Hvaldimir near a salmon farm in the fjords off the coast of Norway. Conor McDonnell Dinner table topics A whale that went AWOL: A beluga whale named Hvaldimir escaped from the captivity of the Russian Navy. Now, no one can agree about what to do with him. Watch out, math wiz: A group built an A.I. model that can solve geometry problems designed for the world's best high school math students. Word of the year: The American Dialect Society selected an impertinent term that refers to the deterioration of online platforms. A reader asks: An ancestry test upended my understanding of my family. Should I tell them? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: This entire salmon and pasta dish can be ready in just 20 minutes. Watch: "The Bad Guys" is one of the five best children's movies to stream right now. Read: Our romance columnist picked out four novels worth warming up with. Plant: If you're considering growing onions, now is the time to get started. Accessorize: Our fashion critic explains when it's fine to wear a bunch of rings. Scrub: Using a moldy water bottle can be harmful. Here's how to know when to clean it. Exercise: Combine resistance training and cardio to get the most out of a short workout. 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 Alina Baikova in Greenwich Village. Amir Hamja/The New York Times How New Yorkers dress for the snow Yesterday was the first snowy day in New York City in almost two years, and many people were delighted to venture out into the once-common winter snowscape. Our photographer captured their looks: toasty puffer jackets, a floral duster coat and one exposed midriff. Have a good-looking 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