The Morning: Live like Scarlett Johansson

Celebrities slow things down. You should try it, too.

View in browser|nytimes.com July 13, 2024 By David Leonhardt Good morning. Today, we explain Scarlett Johansson's tips for a happy life — and also give you the latest on President Biden, Alec Baldwin and New York real estate. Thea Traff for The New York Times Intensely present With Melissa Kirsch — the regular writer of our Saturday newsletter — off today, we're going to turn to another source for some life guidance: Scarlett Johansson. Maureen Dowd, the Times columnist, has just published a profile of Johansson that covers a lot of ground, including how she became one of the top-grossing actors of all time while also confronting both Disney and OpenAI. Despite all this, as Maureen explains, Johansson manages to carve out a surprising amount of normalcy in her life. "She goes to the supermarket," Colin Jost, the Saturday Night Live star, who's married to Johansson, said. "She's just very good at wearing a hat, and she keeps moving." She spends hours walking around New York in white Hoka sneakers. As I read the profile, I was struck that Johansson also rejects modern normalcy in some important ways. She tries to move more slowly and deliberately, with fewer distractions, than is typical these days. Maureen writes: At a time when everyone always seems one-half there, the other half absorbed by their fiendish little devices, Ms. Johansson is intensely present. She stays off social media; she doesn't want to share her life with strangers, which gives her mystique in an overexposed world. Her large green eyes stay trained on me for nearly two hours, asking nearly as many questions as she fields. Johansson likes to hang out in Central Park, she said, and she showers "a few times a day." So on this summer Saturday, when much of the country will be hot and humid, allow me to suggest that you find a way to slow down, too. Read a book (or Maureen's delightful profile of Johansson). Take a walk — and an extra shower. Enjoy a leisurely last-minute meal with friends. And find a few hours to put away your fiendish little device. It will still be there, with all its sources of entertainment and outrage, when you return. THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV Alec Baldwin embraced his lawyer on Friday. Pool photo by Ramsay De Give A judge in New Mexico dismissed the manslaughter case against the actor Alec Baldwin, after she found that prosecutors had withheld evidence. Shelley Duvall, one of the biggest film stars of the 1970s, died this week at 75. See her life in photos. "Inside Out 2" is now the highest-grossing Pixar film, surpassing "Incredibles 2." In "Longlegs," Nicolas Cage plays a cheery, evil entity behind multiple murders. Read our review. Benji Gregory, who starred as a child in the television series "ALF" from 1986 to 1990, died at 46. "Sorry/Not Sorry," a movie about the misconduct allegations against Louis C.K., came out. "The film's bitter punchline is that he's the one still selling out Madison Square Garden," the critic Amy Nicholson writes. "Sing Sing," a prison drama, contains scenes that are both moving and unexpected, the critic Lisa Kennedy writes. Art and Design Louis Kahn designed some of the 20th century's great buildings. His final sketchbook — which includes ideas for the Roosevelt memorial — has been published. Guillaume Lethière, who was born into slavery, is among France's most decorated painters. For the first time, a major exhibition provides a full view of his scenes of love and war. Other Big Stories Jack Schlossberg at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Reba Saldanha/Reuters Jack Schlossberg is the only grandson of John F. Kennedy, but he's perhaps better known for his unusual TikTok videos. Vogue has hired him as a political correspondent. "Oh, Mary!," a campy comedy about Mary Todd Lincoln, premiered on Broadway this week. Its star, Cole Escola has become an overnight sensation — 17 years after taking up acting. Cigarettes After Sex's spare, crystalline ballads have become popular on TikTok. New York City is having a "Brat" summer, inspired by Charli XCX. See the latest street style in The Cut. THE LATEST NEWS 2024 Election President Biden in Detroit on Friday. Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times President Biden sought to go on offense, criticizing Donald Trump over his economic plans, his criminal conviction and Project 2025 — Trump allies' plan to transform the government — at a fiery Michigan rally. "Americans want a president, not a dictator," Biden said. But Biden continues to struggle with some members of his party. Michigan's top Democrats, including the governor and both senators, skipped his event. And two more House Democrats called on him to drop out. A virtual meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus grew tense at times as Biden made his case to lawmakers who have said he should leave the race. "I'm going out and letting people touch me, poke me, ask me questions," he said. Major Democratic donors are withholding about $90 million in donations to a pro-Biden super PAC unless Biden ends his re-election campaign. Democrats fear that Biden's presence on the ballot could turn Minnesota, New Hampshire and other typically blue states into battlegrounds this fall. Trump is leveraging a narrative of persecution to sell Bibles, sneakers and stock in his media company. Other Big Stories Heat waves, made worse by climate change, are causing heat-related emergencies and deaths to spike. Hospitals are struggling to catch up. A federal judge dismissed Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy case, letting people he owes money — including two Georgia election workers he defamed — pursue foreclosures against him. Eric Schmidt, a former C.E.O. of Google, had an affair with a public relations executive while he led the company. Years later, things are still messy. Prosecutors finished their arguments in the federal corruption trial of Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat. The jury began its deliberations. The Games Sale. Offer won't last. Games for relaxation. Games for concentration. We have them all. For a limited time, save 50% on your first year of a New York Times Games subscription and enjoy new puzzles every day. CULTURE CALENDAR By Desiree Ibekwe 🎥 "Twisters" (Wednesday): "Twister," the movie from 1996 starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, is just now getting a sequel. The film is directed by Lee Isaac Chung ("Minari") and features rising stars Glen Powell (as an influencer-slash-storm chaser) and Daisy Edgar-Jones (as a meteorologist with a troubled past). It has all the makings of a summer blockbuster, but one — it seems — with something to say. "I would love to see more stories in which our identity is defined in relation to the Earth," Chung told The Hollywood Reporter. "And I felt like this film was a chance to do that." RECIPE OF THE WEEK Karsten Moran for The New York Times By Melissa Clark French Potato and Green Bean Salad Tomorrow is Bastille Day, which is as good an excuse as any to make David Tanis's French potato and green bean salad. It has the same bold, garlicky anchovy-mustard vinaigrette of niçoise salad, but skips the tuna, olives and tomatoes. Instead, the pungent dressing works its magic on a pared down combination of jammy eggs, waxy potatoes and green beans, all topped with fresh herbs. Serve as it is, or pile it on top of a bed of arugula (or other greens) for color and a mildly bitter zing. REAL ESTATE Samantha and Chris Shoemaker with their dog, Doug. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times The Hunt: After five years in a one-bedroom rental in Carnegie Hill, this couple wanted some quiet and a bigger kitchen. Which home did they choose? Play our game. What you get for $1.5 million: A 1735 stone house in Saugerties, N.Y.; a circa-1900 Queen Anne Revival-style house in Stockbridge, Mass.; or a 1708 farmhouse in Collegeville, Pa. LIVING Olena Zelenska at the White House this week. Doug Mills/The New York Times Wartime fashion: The stylist to Olena Zelenska, Volodymyr Zelensky's wife, discusses the role clothes play in times of crisis. Screenland: Food documentaries strain to persuade us that vegetables are healthy. Why do so many of them think we're stupid? Support: For L.G.B.T.Q. people in the U.S., moving to friendlier states comes with a cost. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER The best lip balms If your lips are always chapped, don't just reach for the first lip balm you see in the drugstore checkout line. Take a moment to consider what you need. Do you want something thick and glossy? Tinted and smooth? Soothing and sun-blocking? Wirecutter has tested over 80 lip balms to find a variety of great picks, including the best stick under $5, an elegant high-gloss moisturizer and a cool balm that comes in five shades. One general tip: Stay away from common allergens and irritants so your lips can stay nice and supple. — Samantha Schoech GAMES OF THE WEEK England's Ollie Watkins scored in the semifinals against the Netherlands. Adrian Dennis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Euro and Copa América finals: Soccer fans will be feasting on Sunday, with two championships across two continents. First up is the Euro final: England vs. Spain, at 3 p.m. Eastern. England is hoping to break the curse and win its first major tournament since the 1960s, while Spain, the tournament's top offensive squad, will try to keep the goal onslaught coming. Later is the Copa final: Argentina vs. Colombia, at 8 p.m. Eastern. Argentina is the world's No. 1-ranked team, and has arguably the greatest player of all time in Lionel Messi. But don't count out Colombia, which has not lost in 28 matches — a streak that includes wins over Germany, Brazil and Spain. Both matches will air on Fox. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was condominium. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week's headlines. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. 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