The Evening: Democrats try to redefine Trump

Also, the U.S. added far fewer jobs than previously reported.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 21, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. An attempt to deflate Trump A new warning about jobs Plus, the magic of Costco 🇺🇸 2024 The presidential election is 76 days away. Here's the latest from the campaign trail. Donald Trump during a rally in Asheboro, N.C., today. Doug Mills/The New York Times Democrats look to redefine Trump For nearly a decade, Democrats have tried to persuade voters that Donald Trump is a villain, a racist and a threat to democracy. Now, with Kamala Harris atop the ticket, the vice president and her allies are trying something new: They are looking to deflate him. During this week's Democratic convention in Chicago, party leaders have sought to paint Trump as a meanspirited fraud who cares only about himself and his billionaire friends. They have depicted him as an anti-union "scab" and a fake working man's populist. The strategy is designed to erode Trump's support among mostly white middle-class voters in states, like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, that could decide the election. Tonight, Tim Walz will formally accept the nomination for vice president. Harris chose him as her running mate after his attempts to deflate Trump and other Republicans — by calling them "weird" — struck a cord with Democrats. Here's what else to know: Trump traveled to North Carolina for his first outdoor rally since his assassination attempt. He was shielded by bulletproof glass. Harris has gone light on climate policy. Climate leaders say they are fine with that. We examined claims about Walz's military service. Here's what's true. The New York Times The U.S. added far fewer jobs than previously reported The Labor Department announced today that monthly payroll figures had overstated U.S. job growth by roughly 818,000 in the 12 months that ended in March, an unusually large revision. The downward revision, of about 28 percent, was a sign that cracks in the labor market — which until recently appeared rock solid — are more severe than initially believed. A destroyed home in Katzrin, in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. Ariel Schalit/Associated Press Israel and Hezbollah exchanged strikes The Israeli military today launched airstrikes in Lebanon that it said had struck weapon-storage facilities used by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia. In response, Hezbollah said it had targeted an Israeli military base in the Golan Heights. The strikes by both sides highlighted how months of diplomatic efforts have failed to ease hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border. In Jerusalem, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Israeli men clashed with police officers over a court decision ordering them to be drafted. More top news Russia: The authorities said that Moscow had come under a sizable drone attack overnight, but didn't report any damage or casualties. Education: M.I.T. reported a significant drop in Black and Hispanic enrollment, in the first data from a highly selective university after the Supreme Court banned affirmative action. Italy: Divers recovered the bodies of four passengers who were believed to have been on a sailing yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily, officials said. Hunter Biden: A preliminary hearing today sought to determine the contours of the tax trial President Biden's son faces in September. Congress: Lawmakers called on health insurance regulators to detail their efforts against "troubling practices" that have raised costs for patients and employers. Iran: At least 28 pilgrims from Pakistan were killed when their bus overturned while traveling to commemorate a Shiite Muslim holiday, state news media said. Ford: The automaker said it would invest less in battery-powered cars and scrap a planned electric three-row sport utility vehicle. Climate: A worst-case scenario for Antarctic ice may be more remote than previously thought, a study found. Health: Two recent studies have added to the growing body of evidence that a meat-heavy diet may increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. TIME TO UNWIND Richard Belzer, left, and Andre Braugher in a scene from "Homicide: Life on the Street." NBCU Photo Bank One of the best-ever TV shows is finally streaming "Homicide: Life on the Street," a 1990s cop drama, is now streaming on Peacock, and television enthusiasts like our critic Margaret Lyons are rejoicing. Margaret considers the show to be among the greatest in television history, and many others share her lofty praise. Based on a book by David Simon, the creator of "The Wire," "Homicide" blends gallows humor and cynicism with operatic emotion and soaring monologues. It feels just as fresh, jarring and original now as it did 30 years ago. Patrick T. Fallon/Getty Images Costco has hacked the American psyche Nearly a third of U.S. customers shop at Costco, and most members renew every year, in large part because the chain has something to cater to everyone's desires. Savers can stock up on discounted groceries in bulk, while big spenders can take home 98-inch flat screens. Few companies have greater influence over what we eat (or wear, or fuel our cars with or use for personal hygiene). Ostensibly, Costco is a discount store, but it is also an aspirational shopping experience, feeding that most American of appetites: conspicuous consumption. Mamie Kirkland in 2015. She lived to be 111 and died in 2020. Andrea Morales for The New York Times Dinner table topics Hard work and fizzy drinks: The lives of supercentenarians — those who live to 110 — may teach us something about aging. Look like a star: The stylist Holly White works with breakout actors who are looking to distinguish themselves offscreen. Doing death differently: Modern, even hip, funerals around the world are changing the way we commemorate death. A reader asked: Should we tell our 12-year-old daughter that her father has had a nose job? WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: These corn ribs are a fun, flavorful way to eat a juicy summer staple. Watch: "Double Blind" is one of the best horror movies to stream right now. Read: Here are four long books to sink your teeth into this fall. Listen: Wirecutter has a new podcast. This week, the show explains the secret to better laundry. Rest: Frequent travelers offered us advice for handling jet lag. Speak: A writer suggests a radical way to learn a language as an adult — going to a foreign country. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know books set in Rome. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING The drum corps world championships are held in Indianapolis every August. Jon Cherry for The New York Times In this show, perfection is the expectation Every year, hundreds of college-age musicians compete in the drum corps world championship. Their 12-minute performances are beautiful arrangements of trumpets, flags, dancers and, of course, drums. But the activity is not for the faint of heart. The rehearsals are grueling, and can last up to 12 hours a day. The performers pay thousands of dollars to compete. And once they turn 22, musicians are no longer eligible to compete. But for many participants, there's something special about dedicating their life to creating perfection — and then leaving it all behind. Have a momentous evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Philip Pacheco 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 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