The Evening: Michael Cohen testifies

Also, the return of Furiosa.

View in browser|nytimes.com May 13, 2024 By Justin Porter Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. Michael Cohen's testimony New polls from 5 battleground states Plus, Anya Taylor-Joy as "Furiosa" Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for Donald Trump. Mike Segar/Reuters Michael Cohen testified in the Trump trial Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's onetime fixer and now the star witness at his criminal trial, today described for jurors how Trump told him to pay off Stormy Daniels: "Just do it." The testimonies of Cohen and Daniels are intended to show jurors that Trump falsified business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to buy Daniels's silence about a sexual encounter. Trump faces 34 felony counts related to the records, and probation or up to four years in prison if convicted. Cohen testified that when Trump ordered him to pay Daniels off, Cohen financed the payment with a home equity line of credit. After the election, Trump repaid him, prosecutors say, and disguised the reimbursement as ordinary legal expenses. The former Trump fixer's testimony ground away at the defense's assertion that Trump wasn't aware of Cohen's actions. Instead, Cohen testified, Trump was a micromanager in the process to head off a story that would have been "catastrophic" for his presidential campaign in 2016. My colleague Jesse McKinley wrote in the Trump on Trial newsletter that, for supporters of the case against Trump, Cohen's testimony today was a tale of redemption for a former enforcer seeking revenge and accountability. But for Trump's followers, Cohen is a liar and a traitor who enriched himself by writing fictional tell-alls and offering fictional testimony. Which version of the story the jury believes, Jesse writes, will decide Trump's fate. Before then, Cohen faces what is likely to be a brutal cross-examination. Polls show Trump is leading in 5 crucial states Donald Trump is ahead of President Biden in Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania, new Times/Siena polls show. Wisconsin is the only battleground state in which Biden is leading. The polls reveal an erosion of support for Biden among Black and Hispanic voters who are upset about the economy and Gaza. Since similar polls in November, the stock market has gained 25 percent, Trump's criminal trial started, and the Biden campaign has unleashed tens of millions of dollars in advertisements, but there is little indication that these developments have helped Biden. Residents evacuating from the village of Liptsi, in northeastern Ukraine. Emile Ducke for The New York Times Russian forces advanced in northeastern Ukraine A top Ukrainian general said today that Ukrainian troops were confronting a "critical" situation in the country's northeast as they battled to repel a Russian offensive. Russian troops opened a new line of attack last week near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. They captured at least nine villages and forced thousands of civilians to flee. The general's bleak assessment echoed that of other Ukrainian officers: Military prospects are dimming. The $61 billion worth of arms from the U.S. — approved three weeks ago — has barely begun to arrive. In Russia, President Vladimir Putin's new defense minister, Andrei Belousov, is expected to provide a new building block toward fighting a long war. Renaud Philippe for The New York Times Power grid reforms could boost solar and wind energy Federal regulators today approved the largest changes in more than a decade to how America's electric grids are planned and funded. Experts have warned that there aren't enough high-voltage lines being built, increasing the risk of blackouts and delaying the transition to renewable energy. The new measures require grid operators to plan for needs 20 years in the future. Energy companies have proposed more than 11,000 renewable projects nationwide, but many are in limbo because of insufficient capacity. More top news Hamas: Yahya Sinwar, the group's leader in Gaza, has for years overseen a secret police force that surveilled everyday Palestinians. Social Media: The Times opened two Instagram accounts and promoted test posts for young girls' merchandise. They drew the attention of sex offenders. Business: Elon Musk has courted right-wing heads of state to push his politics and expand his businesses. Tech: OpenAI unveiled a new version of its ChatGPT chatbot that can respond to voice commands, images and videos. Covid: Zhang Zhan, who was imprisoned in China for documenting the early days of the pandemic, was expected to be released today. Philanthropy: Melinda French Gates said that she would resign from the Gates Foundation. Climate: Wildfires in Canada caused air-quality warnings in the Midwest and evacuation orders affecting thousands of people in Fort Nelson, British Columbia. TIME TO UNWIND Anya Taylor-Joy found herself sobbing while watching an early cut of "Furiosa." Ariel Fisher for The New York Times The savage return of Furiosa Anya Taylor-Joy knew there was nothing normal about making a "Mad Max" movie when she signed on to star in "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," which premieres tomorrow at Cannes and in theaters May 24. This film will put Taylor-Joy's nascent stardom to its biggest test. The previous film, "Mad Max: Fury Road," was one of the most infamously difficult productions in Hollywood history. To make the character her own, she allowed herself to be put through an emotional and physical wringer for six and a half months. "I wanted to be changed," she said. "I wanted to be put in a situation in extremis where I would have no choice but to grow. And I got it." Here's what else to look out for this year at the Cannes Film Festival. The New York Times How to make stuffed pasta at home Stefano Secchi, chef and co-owner of Rezdôra in New York City, demonstrates how to make pansoti, a triangle-shaped stuffed pasta from the Liguria region of Italy. It only takes a handful of ingredients and kitchen tools — watch this. Also in T Magazine's Italian pasta issue: Italy's most prized stuffed pastas, and how tomatoes came to define its cuisine. Dinner table topics Tyler Comrie Moving on: Changing our hair, getting divorced, taking spa vacations — everything is a "journey" now. Looks past: A company that specializes in 18th-century re-enactment clothing thrived after period fashions blossomed during the pandemic. Are plants intelligent?: Zoë Schlanger's book "The Light Eaters" looks at how plants see the world. Building up: Neighborhood groups in gentrifying areas are funding mixed-use affordable housing projects. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: Pan-seared asparagus with cashews pairs well with simple roasted fish or chicken. Play: Supergiant Games returned to the world of its breakout video game, Hades, for the small studio's first sequel. Listen: Arooj Aftab knows you love her sad music, but her newest album, "Night Reign," reveals her many dimensions. Beautify: We tested more than 30 mascaras. These are the best ones. Watch: The legendary B-movie director Roger Corman died last week. Here are his best movies. Read: Adam Higginbotham's "Challenger" is an exploration of the hubris that caused the space shuttle disaster. Pare: Clothes are repositories of emotions. Should you get rid of them after a divorce? Play: Today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here. ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING Vitellozzo, from Croatia, at his hotel room in New York City.  Clark Hodgin for The New York Times How 2,500 stars descended on New York City The A-listers who traveled to New York this past weekend gathered for the biggest event of their careers. They didn't travel light. They didn't carry their own bags, much less pack them, and they certainly didn't carry their own passports. Oh, and they required lots of treats. Treats are nonnegotiable. Here's how show dogs, and their entourages, get to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Have a pampered evening. Thanks for reading. Matthew Cullen will be back tomorrow. — Justin Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at evening@nytimes.com. And follow The New York Times on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok at @nytimes. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Photo Editor: Brent Lewis Need help? 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