The Evening: What’s next for Democrats

Also, Powell said the "time has come" for interest rate cuts.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 23, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. What's next for Democrats Powell's support for interest rate cuts Plus, Zoë Kravitz's directorial debut 🇺🇸 2024 The presidential election is 74 days away. Here's the latest from the campaign trail. At the convention yesterday. Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times Democrats are upbeat, but face a tough race ahead In Chicago, where thousands of Democrats spent the week celebrating their nomination of Kamala Harris for president, confidence has been overflowing. "The mood in Chicago was just really ebullient," said Jess Bidgood, who writes the On Politics newsletter and spent the week at the convention. Some delegates even suggested that Harris would glide to victory. But joy in the summer does not always last, or translate to votes in the fall. Just look at Republicans, Jess said. They were riding high at their convention last month, just after Trump survived an assassination attempt and before President Biden stepped aside. Now polls show Harris with a narrow lead. Harris and other top Democrats seem to be well aware that things can change. Rather than basking in her momentum, the vice president concluded the convention last night with a serious speech designed to reassure Americans of her values and appeal to voters who might know little about her. We will soon learn from polls if Harris's convention strategy worked. But one of the biggest moments of the campaign may still be ahead of us, when Harris and Donald Trump meet for their first debate on Sept. 10. "Democrats are really counting on Harris having a strong debate," Jess told me. "It could be a real turning point." Here's what else to know: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his campaign for president and endorsed Trump. Abortion ballot measures have mobilized Democratic voters. This year will be their biggest test yet. Protests over Gaza at the Democratic convention were not as big or disruptive as expected. Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we'll find the answers. Stay up-to-date: Live coverage | Poll tracker | The "Run-Up" podcast | On Politics newsletter Jerome Powell's speech today was his most closely watched of the year. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock Powell said the 'time has come' for interest rate cuts Jerome Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, indicated today that the central bank was on track to lower borrowing costs at its meeting next month. For more than a year, the Fed has been holding interest rates at 5.3 percent, the highest level in more than two decades, to combat inflation. Now, Powell said, "The time has come for policy to adjust." While Powell stopped short of giving a clear hint at how large that move might be, he forcefully underscored that policymakers would act in order to protect the job market. A temporary shelter in Kursk, Russia. Nanna Heitmann for The New York Times Ukraine ramped up its attacks in Russia Ukrainian forces now control more than 400 square miles in the Kursk region of Russia, where they are fighting to isolate a large group of Russian soldiers. They have also launched a series of strikes at airfields, ports and oil depots in other parts of the country in an effort to degrade the Kremlin's war effort. We mapped out Ukraine's incursion, which has succeeded far beyond expectations. However, Ukraine has yet to fulfill a key goal: drawing a significant number of Russian units from eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv's forces continue to struggle. American officials are not convinced that Ukraine intends to hold its position in Russia long term. In related news, Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, visited Ukraine in a potential step toward peace talks. More top news Immigration: Sixteen Republican-led states sued to stop a federal program that could give legal status to undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens. Diplomacy: Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, will travel to China next week. Housing: The Justice Department filed an antitrust suit against RealPage, accusing the real estate software company of creating an illegal pricing scheme to overcharge tenants. Middle East: Mediators plan to resume talks for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza next week, Israel said. Italy: A final body was recovered from a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily this week. Bangladesh: Floods have killed at least 13 people and affected millions of others in the country's northeast. New York: The supply of drinking water for parts of Long Island is under threat, according to a new federal report. Sports: The Paralympics will no longer ban competitors from displaying Olympic ring tattoos, ending a yearslong prohibition. TIME TO UNWIND Chantal Anderson for The New York Times Zoë Kravitz was frustrated, so she made a movie Seven years ago, Zoë Kravitz, the actress and daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz, sat down at a cafe in London and started writing her first screenplay. It was a way, she said, to express her frustrations around discomfort that women are meant to endure in their lives — and then told to smile through it. Eventually, it turned into "Blink Twice," a horror-mystery film that's in theaters today. For more: Here are the nine other movies our critics are talking about this week. Freezing individual portions can help to streamline the lunch-making process. Armando Rafael for The New York Times Ace your kids' school lunches this year During their child's school years, parents can pack more than 1,000 lunches, which can become pretty monotonous. So we came up with some tips to keep things fresh, like inviting your child to help you pack the night before and organizing your kitchen the way a chef would. Just remember: School-lunch traditions can be at odds with basic food safety rules around perishable items. If you're including anything that you would put in the refrigerator, stuff in two ice packs as well. Carole Turek; Tim Laman; Simon Colenutt; Tim Laman/Nature Picture Library, via Minden Pictures Dinner table topics Calling all bird-watchers: Scientists made a list of birds that have not been seen in years, and asked us to help find them. Lost its magic: After David Copperfield vanished from New York, his neighbors said he left his once-ornate condominium in disrepair. Girl vs. the boys: Horse racing is starved for star power. Thorpedo Anna is hoping to change that. Charging guests: Would you pay to attend a wedding? WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: College football season is beginning. We have all the tailgate recipes you might need. Watch: John Woo's remake of "The Killer" is a Times Critic's Pick. Read: Here are six new books we recommend this week. Listen: On the Culture Desk podcast, we look at poetry that inspired some of Beyoncé's work. Explore: There is so much to love at Cleveland's museums. Avoid: Pharmacists want you to stop making these medication mistakes. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Ossip van Duivenbode for The New York Times Designing for 74 square feet Beatriz Ramo López de Angulo, an architect living in the Netherlands, was so inspired by a minuscule cabin built by the modernist master Le Corbusier that she decided to turn a 74-square-foot storage space in her building in Rotterdam into a livable retreat. The walls are bright and patterned, and the apartment is split into "rooms," including a sleeping loft and — surprisingly — a black marble spa area with a whirlpool bath and an infrared sauna. Check out the space. Have a maximized weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Kirsten Luce 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. 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