Today’s Headlines: Democrats Fear Safe Blue States Turning Purple as Biden Stays the Course

Martyr Inc.: How Trump Monetized a Persecution Narrative

View in browser July 13, 2024, 4:00 a.m. Eastern time Top News Democrats Fear Safe Blue States Turning Purple as Biden Stays the Course Lingering worries about President Biden's age could make Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Virginia competitive, party operatives believe. Martyr Inc.: How Trump Monetized a Persecution Narrative The candidate is blurring the lines between politics and business and turning his tribulations into cash — selling Bibles, clothing he wore in a mug shot and the promise of political salvation. How Can Europe Reduce Its Military Dependency on the United States? With Washington looking toward China, and the possibility of another Trump presidency, Europe should do more for its own defense. Here are four key areas to watch. Editors' Picks Rebuilding a Life Torn Apart by a Tornado, Piece by Piece After a tornado killed the grandmother who raised him in rural Mississippi, Jaden Grayson went to live with his uncle in Arkansas, leaving everything he had known behind. Opinion | Here's How Biden Loses Michigan The state has over 200,000 registered voters who are Muslim, and they could cost Biden the election. Today's Videos Video | The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century To mark the first 25 years of the century, The New York Times Book Review sent a survey to hundreds of literary luminaries, asking them to name the 10 best books published since Jan. 1, 2000. Gilbert Cruz, editor of the Book Review, gives some highlights from the list. World Rescued Hostage Describes Months of Uncertainty and Terror in Gaza Andrey Kozlov was kept for six months in a family's apartment by a Hamas operative who moonlighted as a journalist. Then Israeli commandos stormed in. Hamas Official: 'We're Not Obstinate' in Cease-Fire Talks on Gaza Husam Badran said the militant group would give up civilian control in the territory, but would not disband its military wing. Squirt Guns and 'Go Home' Signs: Barcelona Residents Take Aim at Tourists Locals confronted visitors to the Catalan capital in a whimsical (but very serious) demonstration against mass tourism and housing shortages. See more world news U.S. Heat-Related Emergencies Are Soaring in the U.S. Can Hospitals Keep Up? Medical providers and public health experts worry that the health care system is poorly equipped to handle the influx. Some Escape Brutal Heat at Cooling Centers, Others Get Creative The Western United States has been sweltering for more than a week with little respite for those without air-conditioning. Cooling centers can help, but not everyone takes advantage of them. A Hurricane Divide in Houston: Who Has a Generator? In the prolonged power outage after Hurricane Beryl, many well-to-do neighborhoods are humming with generators. Other residents are struggling to afford — or even find — one. See more U.S. news Politics Polls May Shape Biden's Future. Are They Up to the Job? The president's chances increasingly rely on the possibility that the polls are misfiring. Biden Holds Firm as Worried Democrats Take Their Case Directly to Him After the House minority leader visited the White House to share Democrats' concerns over his candidacy, the president held a tense virtual session with lawmakers in which he resisted a call to step aside. Trump's Subtle Shift in His V.P. Calculations Donald J. Trump appears to be giving more weight to political calculations in selecting a running mate, by picking someone who "helps you get elected." See more political news Business Home Insurance Rates in America Are Wildly Distorted. Here's Why. Climate change is driving rates higher, but not always in areas with the greatest risk. A Money Guru Bet Big on a Very Long Life. Then He Got Cancer. Jonathan Clements, a longtime personal finance columnist for The Wall Street Journal, has a lot of savings. He's not mad that a fatal illness will keep him from spending it. A Wedding Puts India's Gilded Age on Lavish Display Many Indians cheer the rise of moguls like Mukesh Ambani, whose son's wedding has become a global spectacle. To them, India's poverty is predictable, but such opulence is not. See more business news Technology This Documentary About Brian Eno Is Never the Same Twice Thanks to a software program, the length, structure and contents of the movie are reconfigured each time it's shown. It's the only way the musician would agree to the project. AT&T Says Phone Data of 'Nearly All' Customers Was Breached in 2022 More than 100 million customers' phone records were exposed, but the breach did not include contents of calls, texts or data such as Social Security numbers and passwords. The End of the Affair? Not for Eric Schmidt. While Mr. Schmidt was chief executive of Google, he had an extramarital relationship with Marcy Simon, a public relations executive. A decade after they split, things are still messy. See more technology news Arts Our Critic's Take on the 100 List: Books That 'Cast a Sustained Spell' Dwight Garner writes that voters, who "seemed to want a break from contemporary social reportage," looked for immersive reads. This Soprano Sings 'the Sound of the Soul' Ermonela Jaho's combination of consummate technique and utter commitment has earned her ovations, critical praise and the adoration of her colleagues. Shelley Duvall in 'The Shining': A Perfect Gothic Heroine Had a Deep Well of Strength Her performance was perhaps misunderstood at the time, just as the narrative surrounding her life would be later. See more arts news New York The Chrysler Building, the Jewel of the Manhattan Skyline, Loses Its Luster Is the building's reputation enough for it to endure as an icon, even as its ownership and interior crumble? A Hit-and-Run Driver Killed My Dog. The Penalty? Maybe a $100 Fine. Chicky was beloved by her whole neighborhood. When she was killed by a speeding Jeep, we confronted a cold reality: Her death was considered a property crime. Why These Summertime Braids Cost $450 (and Can Take About 5 Hours) For many Black women, summertime calls for braids. Pricing for knotless braids, which are faster to braid, feel lighter and have gotten more popular, depends on the length and size of each braid and color blend, and whether hair used in the boho style is human or synthetic. See more New York news Media & Advertising 'Rust' Case Against Alec Baldwin Is Dismissed Over Withheld Evidence The involuntary manslaughter case against Mr. Baldwin fell apart after an envelope of ammunition that the prosecution had not shown the defense was brought into the courtroom. 50 Years Ago, 'Jaws' Hit Bookstores, Capturing the Angst of a Generation The novel became the beach read of the summer, with the shark at its center embodying the unease of an era of political and social upheaval. How News Outlets on the Left and Right Are Covering Kamala Harris Some liberal news organizations have started playing up Ms. Harris's perceived strengths. Conservative ones have stepped up their criticisms of her. See more media & advertising news Science NASA Mission to Europa Imperiled by Chips Aboard Spacecraft Transistors on the Europa Clipper spacecraft, scheduled to launch in October, may not be able to endure the harsh radiation around the planet Jupiter. Watch These Supernovas in (Time-Lapse) Motion For the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA produced ghostly time-lapse videos of two centuries-old stellar explosions. Counterfeit Ozempic Is on the Rise Fake versions of popular drugs used for weight loss are putting people at risk. See more science news Obituaries Dylcia Pagan, Imprisoned Puerto Rican Nationalist, Is Dead at 77 She was among 10 members of the terrorist group F.A.L.N. who were convicted on arms and conspiracy charges in 1981. President Bill Clinton granted her clemency. Hattie Wiener, Sex-Positive 'Oldest Cougar,' Dies at 88 She was an evangelist for older women having sex with younger men, and the health benefits that she said came with it. Mary Martin, Who Gave Music Stars Their Start, Dies at 85 Her eye for talent (Leonard Cohen, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt) made her a force in a mostly male business. It was she who introduced Bob Dylan to the Band. Dan Collins, 80, Author Who Rejected View of Giuliani as a 9/11 Hero, Dies A muckraking journalist, he helped write a revisionist account of Rudolph Giuliani's role as mayor before and after the terrorist attacks. Benji Gregory, Child Star Best Known for 'ALF,' Dies at 46 The hit sitcom, whose main character was an alien, was seen from 1986 to 1990 but would endure in memory as a characteristic artifact of 1980s pop culture. See more Obituaries Opinion Jesse Wegman The Supreme Court Is Gaslighting Us All But the conservative justices can't distance themselves from the significant damage they have caused. Yarimar Bonilla I Can't Revel in J. Lo's Fall From Grace The notion that you, too, can rise from the Barrio to Hollywood through sheer grit doesn't speak to a generation disillusioned with the myth of meritocracy. Doug Sosnik Biden's Path to Re-election Has All But Vanished A Democratic strategist explains just how difficult the Electoral College math is getting for President Biden. Jamelle Bouie John Roberts Makes His Bid for Infamy The chief justice and his allies have rewritten the Constitution to make it say what they want it to say. Pamela Paul Why Is the U.S. Still Pretending We Know Gender-Affirming Care Works? With children's health and well-being at stake, effective, evidence-based and compassionate health care must be accepted. Matter of Opinion Who's at the Wheel of the Democratic Party? What the pressure campaign against Biden says about party weakness. 37 MIN LISTEN See more Opinion Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Today's Headlines from The New York Times. To stop receiving Today's Headlines, 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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