The Morning: Looking up, together

Plus, Biden's new student debt plan, the Vatican and book restrictions.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 9, 2024 Good morning. We're covering the solar eclipse that captivated the U.S. — as well as Biden's new student debt plan, the Vatican and book restrictions. The New York Times Awe-some By Elizabeth Dias She covers faith and spirituality. As the moon crossed over the sun yesterday, millions of people from Mazatlán to Maine stopped to gaze upward in a profound experience of awe. The solar eclipse tapped into a primal emotion. It evoked for many a mystical moment, as awareness of the celestial encompassed the earth. It revealed the close dance between spirituality and science. For a nation pulled apart by every manner of division, the eclipse also offered a moment of unity, however brief. It was a reminder to everyone, on the same day and at the same time, that life can be magical. That being alive is a collective experience. That there is something astonishing about being part of the greater story of things. That's the subject of today's newsletter. Below are photos and scenes from Times journalists across the country who witnessed this moment of awe and togetherness. Eagle Pass, Texas. Todd Heisler/The New York Times Eagle Pass, Texas: After the eclipse passed, Mireya Muñoz, 42, put her hands together and silently prayed. The return of the sun's rays made her feel elated. "I wanted to thank God because we are alive and allowed us to see it," she said. "I hope to be alive to see the next one, too." Russellville, Ark. Alex Kent for The New York Times Russellville, Ark.: Around 100 couples gathered to be married under the eclipse. They exchanged celestial vows: "I promise to cherish you like this rarest of events, treasuring each moment as if it were a fleeting or shooting star. The galaxies of our dreams, hand in hand, heart to heart, until the end of time. For in my world, you are my sun, my moon and all my stars." Murphysboro, Ill. Andrea Morales for The New York Times Carbondale, Ill.: The crowd at Saluki Stadium yelped and whistled and stamped the bleachers as the sky went dark and the sun's corona beamed. People pointed to Venus and Jupiter, visible on either side of the eclipsed sun. The screams grew louder as the sun conquered the lunar surface and brightened the sky again. Niagara Falls, N.Y. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times Niagara Falls, N.Y.: Darkness set in above heavy cloud cover. But for a few wonderful moments, the fully occluded sun poked through. The crowd went wild. "It's incredible," said Martine Raussin, from Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, in central France. Hugs and cheers also abounded on the Canadian side of the falls, though the American side was considerably louder. Washington Square Park. Amir Hamja/The New York Times Manhattan: The crowd at Sheep Meadow in Central Park whistled and screamed as the moon covered nearly 90 percent of the sun. Drummers played their instruments. Some people stood in awe in the bike and running paths, angering some cyclists and runners who felt no reason to change their exercise routines. Syracuse, N.Y. Adrienne Grunwald for The New York Times Houlton, Maine: As the moon and the sun inched into perfect alignment in cloudless skies, turning day to night, the crowd quieted. Couples embraced. Small flocks of birds darted over the town square, and orange light glowed on the horizon. Time seemed to stop for three minutes. And then, too soon, sunlight flared. "I would pay a million dollars to see that again," Sebastian Pelletier, 11, said. Mazatlán, Mexico. Meghan Dhaliwal for The New York Times Related: Read more about how the experience evoked awe. More on the eclipse See more photos of the eclipse from across North America. Follow what the phenomenon looked like from space using satellite images from NASA and NOAA. When daytime turned to darkness at the Indianapolis Zoo, the lions roared, the baboons ran and the macaws purred as if they were going to sleep. Children at a migrant shelter along the Mexico-U.S. border found magic in the eclipse. For Times Opinion, Pamela Paul wrote about the eclipse's power to unite us. Fjords, pharaohs or koalas? This is where you should go to see your next eclipse. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Abortion Donald Trump said abortion restrictions should be decided by states. He attacked staunch anti-abortion conservatives, who he said were "making it impossible" for Republicans to win competitive races. Trump's abortion stance favors campaign politics over conservative principles. More on Politics President Biden announced a plan to reduce student loan debt for 25 million borrowers. (See who would benefit.) An appeals court rejected Trump's request to move his hush-money criminal case out of Manhattan. Trump plans to sue the New York judge in an attempt to delay its start. Some considered this case the least consequential of Trump's indictments. Now it will be his first, and perhaps only, prosecution before the election. Israel-Hamas War In Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Fatima Shbair/Associated Press Israel withdrew from southern Gaza without eliminating Hamas, though officials say the war is not over. It leaves behind a dangerous power vacuum. Palestinians who returned to their homes in southern Gaza after the withdrawal found destruction. The Security Council agreed to consider a Palestinian bid for U.N. membership, which would amount to a recognition of statehood. Acceptance seems unlikely. Jon Stewart discussed U.S. lawmakers' support for Israel on "The Daily Show." More International News Pope Francis Andrew Medichini/Associated Press A Vatican document approved by the pope said that the Roman Catholic Church considered surrogacy and gender-transition surgery to be affronts to human dignity. A photograph of a mother and son killed in a drone attack in Odesa has become a symbol of the Ukraine war's civilian toll. An overcrowded boat sank near Mozambique. Nearly 100 people drowned, the local authorities said. Religious authorities in Malaysia increased policing during Ramadan. Critics see it as part of a shift toward a more conservative form of Islam there, CNN reports. Business and Economy Investors expected the Fed to cut interest rates sharply this year. Months of stubborn inflation and strong economic growth call that into question. Banks made big climate promises. A new study doubts their impact. Other Big Stories In Brooklyn.  Dave Sanders for The New York Times The timing of the school day can be tough for working parents. A Brooklyn school has tried a novel idea to help: staying open for 12 hours a day. Middle and high school students are faking explicit images of female classmates using A.I. A ticket bought in Oregon won the $1.3 billion Powerball drawing. Opinions The House speaker wants to seize Russian assets to support Ukraine. That sets a dangerous international precedent, Christopher Caldwell writes. There's a crisis of anxiety on college campuses — not among the students, but among their parents, writes Mathilde Ross, a university psychiatrist. Here are columns by Ross Douthat on the limits to Pope Francis' liberalism and Michelle Goldberg on Trump's abortion statement. A subscription to match the variety of your interests. News. Games. Recipes. Product reviews. Sports reporting. A New York Times All Access subscription covers all of it and more. Subscribe today. MORNING READS In Maine.  Joe Raedle/Getty Images Goodbye, moon: Someday, Earth will have a final total eclipse. (But not anytime soon.) Skin to skin: A large scientific review confirmed the benefits of touch. Library restrictions: See a list of the most challenged books of last year. "Brozempic": Some health companies have turned to stereotypes to sell men weight-loss drugs. Where to eat: These are the 25 best restaurants in Chicago right now. Lives Lived: Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. commanded outnumbered Army Rangers in a battle during the Korean War, and was belatedly awarded the Medal of Honor in 2021. He died at 97. SPORTS Back-to-back champions.  David J. Phillip/Associated Press Men's college basketball: UConn defeated Purdue, 75-60, to become the first repeat men's national champions since 2007. Ratings: The women's college basketball national title game averaged 18.7 million viewers. The Morning bracket results: Congratulations to the winners of our Morning N.C.A.A. bracket pools: brewers6100 in the women's tournament, and scfenton in the men's. Soccer: Sign up for The Athletic FC, a daily newsletter with all the biggest stories. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS The cast and crew of "Suffs" with Hillary Clinton. Lanna Apisukh for The New York Times Play rights: The writer and composer Shaina Taub was doing research for a musical about the women's suffrage movement when Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election. She initially felt deflated — she had worked at a phone bank for Clinton — but was buoyed by her candidate's concession speech, in which she implored girls to follow their dreams. Years later, Clinton is a producer on Taub's musical, "Suffs," which heads to Broadway next week. Read interviews from Clinton and other members of the cast and crew about what suffrage means to them. More on culture The actor Jonathan Majors, convicted of assaulting and harassing a girlfriend, was sentenced to 52 weeks in a domestic violence program. The country singer Morgan Wallen was arrested in Nashville, accused of throwing a chair from the roof of a bar. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Simmer chicken kofta in spiced tomato gravy for an easy Eid meal. Test your literary knowledge. Create a body skin care routine. Smear the best creamy peanut butter on your toast. Avoid significant water damage with a smart detector. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangrams were parking and pranking. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. P.S. A handful of Times employees took in the eclipse from the roof of the Times's building, high above Manhattan. They shared this photo: Marc Lacey/The New York Times 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 Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, 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. 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