The Evening: Biden insists he will stay in race

Also, Hurricane Beryl caused floods in Jamaica.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 3, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. Biden's slipping support in polls Hurricane Beryl's impact on Jamaica Plus, the perfect hot dog "No one's pushing me out," President Biden told his campaign staff today. "I'm not leaving." Eric Lee/The New York Times Biden told allies that he was weighing his options President Biden called into his campaign's all-staff meeting today and unequivocally declared that he was "in this race to the end." His press secretary also told reporters that Biden was "absolutely not" considering withdrawal. But Biden has privately confided to key allies that he knows he may not be able to salvage his campaign if he cannot convince the public in the coming days that he is up for the job after his disastrous debate performance. A new Times poll showed that the president's support slipped in the days after the debate. Nationally, Donald Trump now leads Biden 49 percent to 43 percent among likely voters, a three-point swing for Trump from just a week ago. The poll also found that 74 percent of voters now view Biden as too old for the presidency. Tonight, Biden is scheduled to meet at the White House with more than 20 Democratic governors in an effort to reassure them that he can still win in November. In the coming days, the president is looking to prove his acuity by sitting down for an interview on Friday with ABC News and holding campaign events in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The president knows the appearances must go well. "He knows if he has two more events like that, we're in a different place" by the end of the weekend, one of the allies said, referring to Biden's showing in the debate. Democrats, meanwhile, are weighing the potential risks and rewards of a new candidate. A man carrying personal belongings as Hurricane Beryl approaches in Kingston, Jamaica, today. Marco Bello/Reuters Hurricane Beryl caused floods in Jamaica Jamaica was lashed today with a surge of water, damaging winds and flooding rainfall from Hurricane Beryl, the strongest storm the island has experienced in over a decade. A Category 4 storm with sustained wind speeds of 140 miles per hour, Beryl passed just south of the island this afternoon, knocking out power for thousands and causing all three of the country's international airports to close. We're following the storm live. For more: Scientists captured video while flying inside the storm. British voters will choose candidates to fill all 650 seats in Parliament. Hollie Adams/Reuters Britain is heading to the polls for a major election Tomorrow's general election in Britain could bring a fundamental realignment to the country's politics. Voters are expected to oust the Conservative-led government after 14 years in power and elect the center-left Labour Party, which has maintained a double-digit lead in polls for more than a year and a half. This is what to watch for. For more: My colleagues examined what worked, and what didn't, under Conservative leadership. Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport. Mario Tama/Getty Images America's vacation wealth gap The travel industry is in the midst of another hot summer, with more travelers expected to pass through airports this holiday week than ever before. But the 2024 vacation outlook isn't all sunny: Like the rest of the American consumer experience this year, it is sharply divided. Surveys show that richer households have become more optimistic about their ability to take trips, and services that they are more likely to use, like full-service hotels, are flourishing. Budget hotel chains, by contrast, are expected to report a pullback. More top news Middle East: Israeli forces killed a senior commander of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia, in a drone strike, prompting the group to retaliate with a heavy rocket barrage. California: Officials ordered about 26,000 people to evacuate as the Thompson fire threatened Oroville. Environment: The Biden administration settled with General Motors after determining that the company sold millions of cars that were more polluting than it had claimed. Supreme Court: After Monday's ruling on presidential immunity, U.S. allies are even more concerned about the reliability of American power. Sports: China has been silent over the revelation that 23 swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Food: The U.S. suspended avocado imports from Mexico over security concerns, highlighting its dependence on the region for supplies of the popular fruit. Technology: GPS is under constant attack — this year alone, researchers say, more than 60,000 commercial flights have been hit by bogus GPS signals. TIME TO UNWIND Kate Sears for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Chris Lanier. Make a perfect hot dog this July 4 Millions of Americans will be eating hot dogs this week, and social media is full of tricks to improve on the classic Independence Day recipe. We tried them out, and found that they weren't worth it. As it turns out, perfecting the normal method works best. First, don't let your grill get too hot (you should be able to hold your hand four inches above the grill for several seconds). Then, pat dry your dogs and lay them parallel to the grates. Also crucial for Fourth of July celebrations: a playlist. This independence-themed one was curated by our pop music editor. Leonard Bernstein at a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Vienna in 1970. CBS, via Getty Images The power of 'Ode to Joy,' 200 years later Even if you're not familiar with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, you probably know its finale, the famous "Ode to Joy." Written 200 years ago, it still is played in movies and at the Olympics — and you could probably hum it right now, because Beethoven knew what he was doing. He intentionally made it easy to hum and hard to forget, using the same techniques you may hear in a Taylor Swift hit today. The tune is in common time, with four beats per measure, unfolding in neat, four-bar phrases. Even people with no musical training can learn it almost immediately. My colleague Joshua Barone broke it down piece by piece. Pierre Coffin, a director and the voice of the Minions.  Violette Franchi for The New York Times Dinner table topics Behind the Minions: Pierre Coffin, who helped invent the yellow animated characters and supplies their voices, is as puckish and subversive as his mischievous creations. A difficult restoration: A botanic garden is determined to bring back the American chestnut tree and heirloom apples that taste like those grown 500 years ago. Caloric champs: The titans of competitive eating are just like us, give or take a few dozen hot dogs. The great debate: What makes a sundress a sundress? Take our quiz and weigh in. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Nico Schinco for The New York Times Cook: This bacon-Cheddar dip is sure to delight a crowd. Watch: Check out these five great international movies. Read: "Truth Be Told" is one of the best new crime novels. Listen: These five minutes will make you love the composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Pack: We asked King Charles's former suit maker for tips on folding suits. Learn: Here are our favorite nutrition lessons from the year so far. Stay cool: Humidity makes us irritable and exhausted, but there are ways to cope. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Tim Bushe's topiary creations. Andrew Testa for The New York Times He's a virtuoso of hedge trimming About 15 years ago, an architect in north London was asked by his wife to cut an overgrown hedge in their front yard into the shape of a cat. He ended up carving it into the shape of a train, but it inspired him to start a hedge-cutting hobby that has turned him into a local celebrity. The architect, who is fittingly named Tim Bushe, now has a hedge menagerie that includes two gigantic elephants, two cats, a squirrel, a hippo and a fish. There is also, experimentally, a reclining nude woman. He hopes a giant rabbit will join them this summer. Have a masterful holiday. Thanks for reading. We'll be off tomorrow for Independence Day. Justin Porter will be here on Friday. — Matthew Emree Weaver was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. 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