The Evening: Ukraine aid is set to pass the House

Also, the Israeli military struck Iran.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 19, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. A vote on aid for Ukraine Israeli retaliation against Iran Plus, "The Tortured Poets Department" Democrats stepped in to support bringing the Ukraine and Israel aid package to the floor, in a remarkable breach of custom. Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times The House is set to approve Ukraine aid this weekend The House took a critical step today toward approving a long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other American allies. A majority of Democratic and Republicans lawmakers voted to advance the bills past a procedural hurdle, setting up the legislation to pass the House tomorrow. The measures, which are all expected to pass in the House with bipartisan support, provide $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26.4 billion for Israel and aid for Palestinians, and $8 billion for Taiwan and other allies. In order to steer around opposition from members of his own party, Speaker Mike Johnson broke down the package into three pieces, adding a fourth bill to sweeten the deal for conservatives. That bill would require TikTok's Chinese owners to sell it within nine months, otherwise the app could be banned. After the House, the measures head to the Senate, which has already approved a similar package, and then to President Biden, who has vowed to sign them. Final approval would be an enormous victory in the long effort to fund Ukraine, and a defeat for the voices of isolationism in the Republican Party. In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country could not win the war without more American aid. A mural in Tehran celebrating Iran's attack against Israel. Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times Reactions to Israeli strikes on Iran hint at de-escalation Israel's military struck Iran early this morning, in what appeared to be a response to the Iranian drone attack on Israel last weekend. The scope of the strikes so far appears to be limited. Iranian officials said a strike had hit a military base near the city of Isfahan, in central Iran. But initial reaction in both Israel and Iran was muted, which analysts said was a sign that the rivals were seeking to lower the temperature. World leaders, who for the last week have urged Israeli restraint, called for both sides to de-escalate. Unions are having a moment after years of falling membership. Nick Carey/Reuters A test for unions in the South Thousands of workers at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee are voting on whether to join the United Automobile Workers union. The results are expected tonight, though 70 percent of the workers had pledged to vote yes. Approval would mark perhaps the first time a foreign carmaker's U.S. plant became unionized. It would also add fuel to the U.A.W.'s push to expand in the South, where union resistance has historically been strong, and where right-to-work laws make it hard for unions to organize. More top news Trump: Jury selection wrapped up in the former president's criminal trial, clearing the way for opening statements next week. A man set himself on fire near the courthouse. Environment: The Biden administration ruled that polluters, and not taxpayers, will pay to clean up two "forever chemicals" linked to serious health risks. Rights: New regulations issued today extended legal protections to L.G.B.T.Q. students and rolled back several policies set under the Trump administration. Health: Many older women need an extra breast scan as a form of cancer prevention, but Medicare won't pay for it. India: Few doubt that Narendra Modi will win a third term in national elections that began today. His strong hand is just what many Indians seem to want. Energy: A Massachusetts solar company abandoned plans to build a $1.4 billion U.S. factory amid a flood of Chinese exports, casting doubts about a U.S. domestic solar boom. Alaska: The Biden administration expanded federal protections across millions of acres of wilderness in the state, blocking oil, gas and mining operations. Crime: Officials are moving to increase enforcement and change laws in response to the rise in the number of counterfeit or expired license plates. Greece: The government published a list of 198 beaches that are now off limits to bars, restaurants and large public gatherings in an attempt to contain development. TIME TO UNWIND Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" was released today.  Beth Garrabrant Taylor Swift delivers an abundance of music, and more This morning, just hours after Taylor Swift released her new album, "The Tortured Poets Department," she put out 15 more songs — bringing "The Anthology" edition of the album to 31 tracks. "Tortured Poets" was her ninth LP in five years, a remarkable pace for someone who is already the most ubiquitous pop star in the world. The release was also preceded by a promotional blitz: a Swift radio station, a Swift word game and even a Swift library. For her fans, more is always welcome. But our music critic, Lindsay Zoladz, wrote in a review of the latest album that Swift could have used an editor. "At times, the album is a return to form," Lindsay wrote, adding: "As the album goes on, Swift's lyricism starts to feel unrestrained, imprecise and unnecessarily verbose." Portraits by the Chinese artist Yu Hong in the Chiesetta della Misericordia in Venice. Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times At the Venice Biennale, art and politics are intertwined The Venice Biennale, the world's longest-running and most extravagant festival of contemporary art, opens to the public tomorrow. My colleagues spent the past few days previewing the exhibitions, which include individual shows from nearly 90 countries. Our critic Jason Farago, who has been covering the Biennale for two decades, said the event no longer truly plots out where the art world is headed. Instead, he said, the nation-by-nation structure feels more like going from "a political lecture to a political lecture to a political lecture." Here are the event's biggest highlights. The professional women's hockey team in New York has yet to be named. Mimi d'Autremont for The New York Times Dinner table topics No home ice: A new women's professional hockey league is booming. Just not in New York, where the team doesn't have a name or a home rink. Ethical quandary: Several libraries are debating what to do about books in their collections that are bound in human skin. Living small: Can you build a house out of paper? Apparently, yes. Aging drivers: The "car key conversation" can be painful for families to navigate. Experts have tips. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Julia Gartland for The New York Times Cook: Doolsho, a cake that gets its airiness from whipped egg whites, is an integral part of the Somali afternoon tea tradition. Watch: These four documentaries explore how families cope with dementia. Read: Alexandra Fuller's memoir "Fi," is one of nine new books we recommend. Cheer: The N.H.L. playoffs begin tomorrow. Here's what to expect. Check: Nearly a million people are still eligible for tax refunds from 2020. Decorate: Wirecutter has tips for buying good houseplants online. 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 Kelsey Cherry for The New York Times Why is every server wearing a chore coat? Perhaps you won't see them at McDonald's or at the Michelin-starred Le Bernardin, but countless other restaurants have embraced the chore coat. They are practical, somewhat stain resistant and project an important message: This is a stylish, but not overly fancy or fussy restaurant. "The chore coat is saying to the diner, 'We've considered what we're wearing, and style is important, but this is also a place where we're not so buttoned up that you can't have a few martinis and make it a fun night,'" one restaurateur said. Have an unpretentious 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