The Morning: The decline of the N.R.A.

Plus, the Super Bowl, Trump's NATO comments and Gaza.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 12, 2024 By German Lopez Good morning. We're covering the decline of the N.R.A. — as well as the Super Bowl, Trump's NATO comments and Gaza. The N.R.A. headquarters in Fairfax, Va. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock 'A shell of itself' A decade ago, the National Rifle Association seemed like an unstoppable force in American politics. A shooter had killed 20 children at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in 2012. Democrats and Republicans in Congress appeared ready to pass new restrictions on guns. The N.R.A. called on its members to contact their representatives and voice their opposition, and the bills died. Today, the N.R.A. has shed hundreds of thousands of members and large sums of money. It is standing trial for fraud and self-dealing in New York. "The N.R.A. is little more than a shell of itself after hemorrhaging hundreds of millions in legal fees," Joshua Powell, a former top N.R.A. official who settled with the state before the trial, told The Times. The organization's fall is not a death knell for Second Amendment advocates, but it is a blow. Today's newsletter will explain what went wrong with the group. Loss of trust The N.R.A.'s troubles began with a feud with its advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen. The agency was effectively the public face of the N.R.A. for decades, spearheading the group's online channel NRATV and campaigns like "I am the N.R.A." But the relationship between the company and its client deteriorated. They disagreed about political messaging. At one point, N.R.A. leadership accused Ackerman McQueen of trying to oust the group's leader, Wayne LaPierre. Wayne LaPierre Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times The N.R.A. and Ackerman McQueen fought out their differences in court and settled in 2022. But the infighting drew government officials' attention. After an investigation, New York's attorney general, Letitia James, filed a lawsuit in 2020. She has cited exorbitant spending by the N.R.A.'s leaders, particularly LaPierre's use of the nonprofit's funds to cover millions of dollars in expensive clothes, travel and other luxuries. Many of the N.R.A.'s members lost trust in the organization and quit, which meant they also stopped paying their dues. To deal with shrinking revenue and mounting legal expenses, the N.R.A. cut programs that were popular with members, such as gun training and education. The result: The N.R.A. has lost more than one million members, out of six million at its peak in 2018. Its revenue has dropped by more than 40 percent since 2016. Lasting effect For many liberals, the N.R.A.'s troubles are a cathartic dose of good news. But its decline may not lead to an immediate shift in gun politics, in part because the N.R.A. was so successful in the past. First, the organization has already transformed American politics and culture around guns. In 1959, 60 percent of Americans supported banning civilian handgun ownership, according to Gallup. Last year, just 27 percent did. Republicans in particular have embraced the N.R.A.'s agenda. Second, the Supreme Court has cemented gun rights into law. Over the past two decades, it has ruled that Americans have an individual right to bear arms and that restrictions on firearms must cross new legal hurdles. Even if lawmakers overcome political opposition to pass new gun laws, they may not survive the courts. The N.R.A. "does not have much else left to do," said Mike Spies, who has investigated the group for ProPublica and The Trace. "It already turned the gun issue into a tribal issue, and gun ownership into not just a matter of owning a gun but a set of values and lifestyle." Finally, other groups — some much more strident — have risen to take the N.R.A.'s place. Gun Owners of America, which has described the N.R.A. as "too liberal," has in recent years spent millions lobbying against gun control. The Second Amendment Foundation has focused on the legal battles, challenging the constitutionality of local and state laws. Still, the N.R.A.'s decline does not help the gun rights movement. Already, the N.R.A.'s opposition was not enough to stop Congress from passing a bipartisan gun safety law in 2022. Some state and federal lawmakers hope to pass additional measures that expand background checks, ban assault weapons and remove guns from dangerous people. In the past, the N.R.A. could call on its members to defeat such bills. It is now less able to do so. Related: On "The Daily," listen to an interview with a man who counts every shooting in America. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Donald Trump Donald Trump Sean Rayford for The New York Times After Donald Trump said he told NATO allies that he would urge Russian aggression against countries that don't meet their financial commitments, some top Republicans supported him. Trump's comments signal the potential for major changes in the international order if he wins in November, Peter Baker writes. European officials have been pondering the prospect of a NATO without the U.S., and Trump's comments might force the debate into a more public phase, David Sanger writes. 2024 Elections New York Republicans are relying on old-school tactics ahead of tomorrow's special House election to replace George Santos. Here's what to know. A group focused on child care will spend $40 million to help elect Democrats. During the Super Bowl, a super PAC supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rebooted a John F. Kennedy campaign ad from 1960, using the same jingle and cartoons. More on Politics Chuck Schumer Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times The Senate, in a bipartisan vote, moved an emergency aid bill for Ukraine and Israel past a critical hurdle. But steep barriers remain in the Republican-led House. Defense Secretary is in a critical care unit for a bladder issue. Doctors said it was not clear how long he would be hospitalized. The Biden campaign has joined TikTok, The Washington Post reports. In the campaign's first post — captioned "lol hey guys" — Biden answered questions about the Super Bowl. (See it here.) Israel-Hamas War Rafah, southern Gaza.  Said Khatib/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel said it had struck Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, to provide cover as its soldiers freed two hostages. The rescue was one of the few successful such attempts during the war. The hostages, two men aged 60 and 70, were in good condition and were undergoing tests at a hospital in Tel Aviv, the Israeli authorities said. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in Rafah overnight, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Biden warned Benjamin Netanyahu on a call that a ground assault in Rafah should not proceed without a plan to protect the more than a million Palestinians there. Netanyahu told ABC News his government was working on plans to evacuate people from the area and rejected calls to abandon the offensive. "Those who say that under no circumstances should we enter Rafah are basically saying, 'lose the war, keep Hamas there,'" he said. International Finland elected a center-right politician, Alexander Stubb, as president in its first national election since joining NATO. The Ivory Coast beat Nigeria to win the African Cup of Nations. The soccer tournament's final was played in a Chinese-built stadium, a sign of Beijing's reach into Africa. BYD, a Chinese electric car company, has passed Tesla in worldwide sales of fully electric cars. Read about its rapid growth. The party of the imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan used social media to overcome a military crackdown and win the most seats in the Pakistani Parliament. Khan's supporters have produced speeches using artificial intelligence to simulate his voice. Other Big Stories Pronghorns in Arizona. Nina Riggio for The New York Times The boom in solar panels endangers animal habitats. Measures to make installations less harmful are not used enough by developers. A woman opened fire in a Houston megachurch that is led by the televangelist Joel Osteen, and off-duty officers shot and killed her. A boy was critically injured in the gunfire. A New York state law will require businesses to clearly display the cost of purchasing items with a credit card, including any surcharges. Opinions As the memory of Indonesia's 32-year dictatorship fades, a strongman candidate threatens to return it to form, Gordon LaForge writes. Commentators accuse voters of being cynical about the economy. But the data shows they're actually being quite rational, Nate Silver writes. Gail Collins and Bret Stephens discuss Biden and Tucker Carlson. Here are columns by Maureen Dowd and David French on Biden's age. Discover more of the insight you value in The Morning. The Times is filled with information and inspiration every day. So gain unlimited access to everything we offer — and save with this introductory offer. MORNING READS A funerary mask. EPA, via Shutterstock "Head of mysteries": A recent archaeological expedition unearthed three ancient Egyptian death masks that are at least 1,800 years old. Fashion: B Michael has dressed Beyoncé and Halle Berry. But the brand isn't a household name. Tarp, lumber and a garden hose: People around the U.S. are building personal ice skating rinks. Food fights: What happens when you love your partner but hate their cooking? Metropolitan Diary: "Why are you naked?" Lives Lived: Steve Ostrow was the founder the Continental Baths, an extravagant gay men's sex club and performance space that became a pivot point in Manhattan's gay history and a launchpad for a young Bette Midler. He died at 91. SUPER BOWL Touchdown! Bridget Bennett for The New York Times Winners: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25-22. The Chiefs are the first team in almost two decades to take back-to-back Super Bowls. The final play: Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' quarterback, was named the game's most valuable player after throwing the game-winning pass. See the play. The other M.V.P.: Yes, Taylor Swift was there. No, Travis Kelce did not propose after the game. More on the show Usher Bridget Bennett for The New York Times Halftime: Usher's performance, which touched on more than a dozen songs, showcased an artist who can nail the details, Jon Caramanica writes. He roller-skated onstage. Tribute: See a video from CNN of a high school dance team's own version of Usher's halftime show. An announcement: Beyoncé used a Super Bowl commercial to promote new music — a country-themed album scheduled for release on March 29. Best to worst: The Times's television critic ranked all of the Super Bowl ads. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS In Slovakia. David W Cerny/Reuters Heartfelt: Slovakia's Love Bank museum is operated out of a medieval building that was once home to Marina Pischlova, the muse for "the world's longest love poem." Beneath the building is its Love Vault, where visitors can rent a box to place symbols of affection for a year — or in perpetuity. This Valentine's Day, however, the bank will be closed as it recovers from a fire. With the help of benefactors, it hopes to reopen for Valentine's Day 2027. More on culture Cher Harry Langdon/Getty Images Cher, Mariah Carey, Sinead O'Connor and Oasis are among the first-time nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2024. Thousands of fans attended a listening party for Kanye West's first album since a string of antisemitic remarks in 2022. Whether the industry will recognize his new music remains a question. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Julia Gartland for The New York Times Bake a giant chocolate chip cookie in a skillet. Strengthen your tooth enamel with these tips. Take this as a sign to finally buy a kitchen scale. Keep your home safe with security cameras. Try online therapy. Gift flowers this Valentine's Day using an online delivery service. Use a fish turner as an all-purpose spatula. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was unjamming. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — German Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Lauren Jackson, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, 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. 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