The Evening: House passes surveillance bill

Also, the U.S. made it more expensive to drill on public land.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 12, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. An extension of a surveillance bill A price hike to drill on public land Plus, a quick end to a TV marriage The final vote on the bill was 273 to 147, with both parties split. Jason Andrew for The New York Times The House passed an extension of a surveillance law In a major turnaround, the House passed a two-year reauthorization of a controversial program that allows the government to collect the communications of targeted foreigners abroad without warrants. It must still clear the Senate. The fate of the bill, which would extend a provision of law known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, was unclear until just before it passed, as lawmakers considered a series of proposed changes. The House narrowly rejected a bipartisan effort to restrict searches of Americans' messages swept up by the program, a top priority for some civil liberties advocates. In an effort to persuade hard-right Republicans who had blocked the bill earlier in the week, Speaker Mike Johnson shortened the time frame for reauthorization from five years to two. The shorter time frame could allow Donald Trump to help dictate the program's future if he is elected to another term. The former president had urged Republicans to "kill" the law, which he incorrectly asserted had been used to spy on his campaign. Trump's animosity toward the intelligence community goes back years. As president, he characterized it as part of a politicized "deep state" that was out to get him. But since he left office that distrust has grown into outright hostility; he has repeatedly portrayed intelligence agencies as his enemy and vowed to "demolish" them. Oil and gas companies said the changes would damage the economy. Jae C. Hong/Associated Press The U.S. raised the price to drill on public land The Biden administration today raised the royalty rates that companies must pay to extract oil, gas and coal from public lands. It was the first time since 1920 that the rates have increased, as President Biden looks to cement more of his environmental priorities before the end of his term. The oil and gas industry strongly opposed the higher rates, but the increase is not expected to significantly discourage drilling. Officials estimated that the new rules would raise costs for fossil fuel companies by about $1.5 billion between now and 2031. About half of that money would go to states, a third of it would fund water projects in the West and the rest would go to the Treasury and Interior Departments. President Biden speaking about student debt in Madison, Wis., last week. Tom Brenner for The New York Times Biden canceled $7.4 billion more in student loans Roughly 270,000 Americans were notified today that some or all of their student loans would be canceled, the Biden administration said. They were the latest group to be included in President Biden's piecemeal loan forgiveness strategy, which he pivoted to after the Supreme Court struck down a more ambitious plan. Today's cancellations brought the administration's total in debt forgiven to $153 billion, involving about 4.3 million borrowers. Officials said they hope to eventually reduce or cancel the debt of about 30 million borrowers. Higher levels of drinking during lockdowns may have exacerbated these issues. Getty Images Alcohol-related health issues are rising among women Liver disease and other health problems related to alcohol use increased more than expected among women ages 40 to 64 during the pandemic, a new study found. It was the latest addition to a growing body of evidence that rising alcohol consumption among women is leading to higher rates of death and disease. Men still die more often from drinking-related issues, but "the gap is narrowing," one researcher said. More top news Israel: The U.S. issued new travel guidelines for the country, warning that Iran will avenge the killings of its senior commanders. Texas: One person was killed and several others injured after a man drove a semi truck into a government office in Brenham. Haiti: The country's leaders set up a transitional ruling council to appoint a new acting prime minister and pave the way for the election of a new president. Economics: A wave of rapid immigration is taxing local resources around the U.S. and drawing political anger. But it might leave the economy better off. Campaign: Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Arizona today to assail Donald Trump over abortion restrictions. Politics: The Democratic National Committee helped pay for lawyers during the special counsel investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents. Banking: The chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, the nation's largest bank, warned of an "unsettling" global landscape that could weigh on its performance. Opioids: The National Academy of Sciences is asking a court to allow it to strip the Sackler family name from endowment funds. Higher education: Universities are relaunching their D.E.I. offices under different names to try to preserve diversity programs. Fashion: Roberto Cavalli, the Italian fashion designer who celebrated glamour and excess, died at 83. TIME TO UNWIND "The Golden Bachelor" has renewed interest in the "Bachelor" franchise when its ratings had been slipping. John Fleenor/The Walt Disney Company, via Associated Press A quick end to a marriage made for reality TV Gerry Turner, who last year, at 72, became the first star of ABC's "The Golden Bachelor," once hoped that his marriage to Theresa Nist would serve as a reminder that people of any age can fall in love. But today the couple announced that they were getting divorced, just three months after they wed in front of millions of television viewers. They cited difficulty finding a living situation near both of their respective families. Nist encouraged viewers who had been inspired not to be discouraged: "We say, 'Don't give up,'" she said. Max Homa on the 4th tee during round two at Augusta National Golf Club. Doug Mills/The New York Times Golf's first major of the year is underway The second round of the Masters is nearly complete, and it's shaping up to be just as exciting as fans had hoped. Scottie Scheffler, whose delightfully awkward "Scottie Shuffle" swing has made him the best player in the world right now, is battling it out for the lead with Bryson DeChambeau. The tournament is played every year at the beloved Augusta National Golf Club, which both players and fans know well. My colleagues at The Athletic picked out five holes that could decide who will emerge as the champion on Sunday. From left, the prosecutor Christopher Darden, the defense attorney Barry Scheck and the prosecutor Marcia Clark. Pool photo by Vince Bucci Dinner table topics Where are they now: We took a look at key figures from the O.J. Simpson trial and tracked down the famous White Bronco. Hidden faces: A new Met show highlights artworks with secret portraits. Remembering Flaco: Several New Yorkers have honored the escaped Central Park Zoo owl, who died in February, by getting tattoos of him. A critic's look: Reading this Frank O'Hara poem is like going on a perfect first date. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times Cook: This simple pasta primavera uses the earliest available spring vegetables. Watch: If you're looking to see a new movie this weekend, here are seven we reviewed. Read: Andrew Boryga's "Victim" is one of six new books we think you'll enjoy. Dine: Our dining-obsessed readers want to tell you the best restaurants in New York City. Entertain: A home bar needs more than just liquor. Here's how to set yours up. Shop: Beat back the glare in style with our favorite sunglasses. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING "Pizza Haute," is just one of the meticulous themed dinners at Chain. Chain Brands Inc. Serving up your fast food memories Our food critic Tejal Rao went to a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles and was served a personal pan pizza that looked like the kind you might remember from a 1990s Pizza Hut. Except, somehow, this modern copy felt more like the real thing than anything you might get at a Pizza Hut today. The restaurant, called Chain, specializes in exactly that. Dreamed up by the actor B.J. Novak, it taps into a feverish nostalgia for fast food of the past by remaking decades-old favorites from McDonald's, KFC and other chains. Have an evocative weekend. 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