The Evening: Biden goes on the offensive

Plus, the best books of the century.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 8, 2024 By Justin Porter Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. A crucial week for Biden A Russian strike on a children's hospital Plus, the best books of the 21st century President Biden at a campaign event in Harrisburg, Pa., yesterday. Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times A defiant Biden told Democrats: 'Challenge me' President Biden issued a dare to high-ranking lawmakers who were calling for him to step aside, and he told congressional Democrats in a letter that he was "firmly committed to staying in the race." Calling into "Morning Joe" on MSNBC today, Biden said he didn't care about any of the "big names" urging him to drop out of the race. "If any of these guys don't think I should run, run against me," he said. "Go ahead, announce for president. Challenge me at the convention." This could be the most crucial week of Biden's presidency, as he is facing calls to drop out from his own party. He is hosting the three-day 75th NATO summit in Washington beginning tomorrow, and he has promised a solo news conference at the end of the week. His performance will be scrutinized by Democrats to assess whether he can handle the off-the-cuff pressure that he struggled with during his debate with Donald Trump. Biden also made his most formal entreaty to top donors since the debate, in a 19-minute call today. The president repeated that he was staying in the race and said they needed to shift the focus of the campaign away from him and onto Trump. Related: A Parkinson's disease expert visited the White House eight times in eight months from last summer through this spring, including at least once for a meeting with Biden's physician. It was unclear whether he was there to consult specifically about the president or for unrelated meetings. The administration has said that Biden has no signs of the disease. Rescuers and volunteers rushed to the hospital in Kyiv after it was struck by a Russian missile.  Brendan Hoffman for The New York Times Russia struck a children's hospital in Ukraine A Russian strike destroyed Ukraine's largest children's hospital, part of a large-scale aerial bombardment that killed at least 38 people across the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that at least 40 long-range missiles had been fired in the barrage. The director of the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv said that more than 600 children were being treated there when it was hit. There were also reports of damage in central and eastern Ukraine, raising questions about the state of Ukraine's air defenses a day before NATO leaders were scheduled to meet in Washington to discuss how to bolster them. Place de la République in Paris after the second round of the French elections yesterday.  Yoan Valat/EPA, via Shutterstock France faces a complicated few months President Emmanuel Macron today asked his prime minister to remain in office "for the moment" to help stabilize France after no party secured a majority in legislative elections. In a surprising turn, the New Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties, took first place, and the far-right National Rally finished third. These maps show how France voted. What happens next, my colleague Roger Cohen writes, will be a painstaking negotiation on forming a government between parties with widely differing views. The muddle may last for months. Tropical Storm Beryl turned sections of highways in Houston into rivers. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Storms and extreme heat lashed the U.S. Tropical Storm Beryl lashed Houston and its suburbs with strong winds and torrential rains, flooding streets and knocking out power to more than two million customers. At least two people were killed by falling trees. Here's the latest. In the West, a heat wave brought record temperatures of 124 degrees in Palm Springs, Calif., on Friday, and 120 in Las Vegas on Sunday, and the heat was expected to spread. In the southern parts of Arizona, Nevada and California, temperatures that could run 15 to 30 degrees above average were expected to last through the workweek. More top news Law: Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge over two fatal 737 Max crashes, and pay nearly half a billion dollars. Japan: The yen hit a nearly four-decade low, threatening the country's largest military buildup in postwar history. Business: Paramount and Skydance agreed to a merger, making the tech scion David Ellison Hollywood's newest mogul. Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a permanent cease-fire with Hamas, as hopes were rising during negotiations. Education: Columbia University removed three deans, saying texts they sent during a forum on Jewish issues "touched on antisemitic tropes." New York: An unlicensed doctor helped a woman end her life. He said that he was an angel of mercy; the state charged him with manslaughter. SpaceX: A Times investigation found that Elon Musk exploited federal agencies' competing missions to pursue space travel. Sri Lanka: Climate change and contaminated water have combined to create an epidemic of kidney disease among young men. TIME TO UNWIND Andy Macdonald has continued to succeed in a sport dominated by the very young. Skateboard GB A 50-year-old skateboarder heads to the Olympics The skateboarding gold medalists in Tokyo in 2021, when the sport made its Olympic debut, were 22, 19, 18 and 13. An 11-year-old, Zheng Haohao of China, will compete in Paris this summer. And then there's Andy Macdonald. He's 50. Macdonald will be 51 by the time he competes for Britain in the park (as opposed to street) event, in which skaters do tricks in a bowl with ramps, bumps and pipes. He spoke with us about skating, aging and being a first-time Olympian. Read the full interview here. Julia Gartland for The New York Times The 100 best books of the 21st Century (so far) A panel of 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers — with a little help from Times staff — have compiled this list of the greatest books of the first 25 years of this century. Today, we are featuring numbers 100 to 81. More of this list will be revealed over the course of this week. My colleagues in the Book Review hope you'll rediscover a book you've always been meaning to read, or encounter a beloved favorite you'd like to pick up again. Dinner table topics Suit up?: Worried about coming off as an exhibitionist, a reader wonders whether there is an age cutoff for wearing a bikini. Well-behaved travelers: Copenhagen is rewarding visitors who take part in climate-friendly initiatives with free museum tours, art workshops and more. To better understand grief: When a professional end-of-life counselor throws a dinner party, the entire meal is spiced with nostalgia. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Armando Rafael for The New York Times Cook: These spicy tuna and avocado tostadas are a super satisfying, no-cook lunch or dinner. Drink: There will always be olives. But what about a cocktail with crystallized flowers? Clean: Here's our pick for the best robot vacuum. Hint: It's not the most expensive one. Watch: The Australian series "Prosper" is a juicy megachurch drama. Travel: You can ride the D.I.Y. Orient Express, with private sleeping compartments, for less than $1,000. Solve: Can you find all the hidden book titles? Try our puzzle. Communicate: A reader asks about a remote co-worker who reaches out just to say "hi" with no follow-up. Play: Today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here. ONE LAST THING Joanne Joo Playing in style The money that devoted board-game players spend on custom furniture and accessories can be staggering (a made-to-order table can cost over $10,000), but special furniture can add to the enjoyment. Such tables often have removable wooden tops that cover playing surfaces, so they resemble luxury furniture when not in use. Those with a D.I.Y. sensibility can craft their own tables. The hobby even provides a chance of a second career. Will Patton started making gaming tables in 2018 after he was laid off from his job as a mechanical engineer, eventually leading him to form his own company. Have an inventive 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? 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. 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