The Evening: Tech execs face child safety grilling

Also, the Fed is not quite ready to cut borrowing rates

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 31, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. A dramatic hearing on Capitol Hill New data on students' learning loss Plus, start reading Alice Munro Mark Zuckerberg, the C.E.O. of Meta, addressed relatives of online child abuse victims on Capitol Hill, today. Kenny Holston/The New York Times Senators grilled tech executives on child safety Five of the country's most prominent tech executives appeared at a hearing today on Capitol Hill, where they were berated by lawmakers for creating "a crisis in America" by ignoring the spread of child sexual abuse material on their platforms. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee spent almost four hours needling the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Discord. Some said the companies had "blood on their hands" and that users "would "die waiting" for them to make changes. Others compared the tech firms to cigarette makers. The senators pressured the executives to say on the record if they support the Kids Online Safety Act, a bipartisan bill backed by dozens of senators but opposed by the A.C.L.U. and the Electronic Frontier Foundation on censorship grounds. Only Evan Spiegel of Snap and Linda Yaccarino of X said yes. In one remarkable moment, Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder, stood up from the witness table and turned to directly address family members whose children were victims of online harassment and exploitation. "I'm sorry for everything you have all been through," Zuckerberg said. In related news, emerging artificial intelligence technology could exacerbate the spread of child sexual abuse imagery, law enforcement officials warned. Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, at a news conference in Washington this afternoon. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock The Fed is not quite ready to cut borrowing rates Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged today at their first meeting of 2024, but hinted that their next move would be to lower rates from their current two-decade highs. The officials also made it clear that they needed to see more progress on inflation before reducing borrowing costs. Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, said he thought it was unlikely that the Fed would have enough confidence to cut interest rates by their next meeting, in March. Powell and his colleagues are trying to strike a delicate balance: They don't want to keep interest rates high for so long that it weighs on growth, but they don't want to risk another surge in demand that keeps inflation elevated. Migrants sometimes wait hours or days in makeshift encampments to surrender to U.S. border agents. Mark Abramson for The New York Times Most migrants no longer try to avoid U.S. border agents Over the last several months, record numbers of migrants have streamed across the southern border and into the U.S. But unlike in previous decades, the newcomers are not looking to sneak in. In fact, an overwhelming majority of migrants now seek out border agents. That's because surrendering to the authorities is a crucial step toward applying for asylum — now the surest way for migrants to stay in the U.S. Cases languish for years in underfunded courts while migrants receive work permits and build lives, and while few win their cases, most are unlikely to be deported. The New York Times Test scores rebounded, but many students remain behind Elementary and middle school students have made up significant ground since pandemic school closings in 2020, according to the first detailed national study, which was published this morning. However, the students are nowhere close to being fully caught up. In math, students have made up about a third of what they lost. In reading, they have made up a quarter. But the gap between students from rich and poor communities — already huge before the pandemic — has widened. And some children may never fully bounce back. More top news Middle East: An Iranian military leader said Tehran was "not looking for war," after the U.S. vowed to retaliate for a drone attack. Congress: A $78 billion bipartisan tax bill is expected to pass through the House. It would face a tougher test in the Senate. War: Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war. Politics: Major Republican donors who had been resistant to Donald Trump are now slowly turning toward him. Climate: John Podesta, a seasoned political strategist, will succeed John Kerry as President Biden's global envoy on climate. Business: Walmart, which last opened a domestic location in 2021, announced that it would add 150 U.S. stores. Legal: Utah's governor signed a bill that prohibits transgender people from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity. New York: Eric Smokes and David Warren were convicted of murder in 1987. Today, their convictions were overturned. Weather: A pair of atmospheric rivers is expected to hit the West Coast soon. We're tracking them. Media: After less than a year, The Messenger is shutting down. Trends: Claims that popular Stanley tumblers contain lead went viral on social media. A little bit is used to seal the cup, but it isn't dangerous. TIME TO UNWIND The Vision Pro. Jim Wilson/The New York Times The Apple Vision Pro is a marvel My colleague Kevin Roose tried out Apple's newest product, a virtual reality headset called the Vision Pro, and he was impressed. It is leaps and bounds better than its competitors, Kevin wrote, and could be a major shift in computing. Parents, movie buffs and office workers might all succumb to its novelty. However, Kevin noted, it's not clear whom or what the device is really for. It costs $3,500, or as much as $4,600 with typical add-ons, and after the initial novelty fades, it may just end up collecting dust. Ian Willms for The New York Times The essential Alice Munro If you have not read Alice Munro — the Nobel laureate and beloved short-story writer from rural Ontario — then you're in for a treat. Her books are not just important, but fun. And the only prerequisite for diving into her work is having lived. The author Ben Dolnick singles out "Lives of Girls and Women" as a good place to start, writing that it's "the best book about growing up that I've ever read." Here's where to go from there. Matt Fitzgerald in Flagstaff, Ariz., last week. Adam Riding for The New York Times Dinner table topics Turn to teaching: Covid ended Matt Fitzgerald's days as an endurance athlete. Now he's creating a fantasy camp for runners with a dream. In fashion: People can't stop talking about John Galliano's Maison Margiela show and what it says about contemporary creativity. Hallmark cashes in: When more people are watching the Hallmark Channel than CNN, you know we've reached a new level of interpersonal isolation. Potential hits: Which Sundance Film Festival movies could become next year's Oscar contenders? Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Cook: This slow-cooker whole chicken takes 10 minutes to prep. Watch: A new FX show about Truman Capote's downfall premieres tonight. Here's our review. Reminisce: Here are nine memorable performances from Chita Rivera, who died yesterday. Design: We have tips for transforming your bedroom into a workplace or a lounge. Monitor: Getting your cholesterol in check is critical for preventing heart disease. Exercise: Crawling around like a crab may look silly, but it's a serious workout. Give: Wirecutter tried out several flower delivery services. This one is the best. 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 The Destin-Fort Walton Beach on the Florida Panhandle. Destin-Fort Walton Beach There's no need to splurge on your vacation Travel is one of life's greatest pursuits, but many of the most desirable destinations — especially those abroad — can get really expensive. To help make the most of your budget, our Frugal Traveler columnist has some tips. One strategy is finding locations, like Mexico or certain places in Canada, where a U.S. dollar goes a long way. Another tip is to look for so-called destination dupes, where a similar vacation can go for far less. For example, the almond blossoms of Modesto, Calif., are an attractive alternative to the cherry blossoms of Japan or Washington. Have an affordable 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. 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