Today's Headlines: The 47 Seconds That Saved Kamala Harris’s Political Career

Young Artists Rode a $712 Million Boom. Then Came the Bust.

View in browser August 19, 2024, 4:00 a.m. Eastern time Top News The 47 Seconds That Saved Kamala Harris's Political Career Nearly 14 years ago, Kamala Harris's opponent in the California attorney general's race gave an answer at a little-watched debate that was frank — and fateful for the future Democratic presidential nominee. Young Artists Rode a $712 Million Boom. Then Came the Bust. Artists saw six-figure sales and heard promises of stardom. But with the calamitous downturn in the art market, many collectors bolted — and prices plummeted. 'Bad Blood' Stalks a Lithium Mine in Serbia A Rio Tinto mine that Europe sees as a critical source for electric vehicle batteries has been the target of enormous protests. "I don't need green cars. I need green apples and green grass," said one opponent. Editors' Picks Joe Biden's Interrupted Presidency He sought the office nearly all his life. When he finally got there, it brought out his best — and eventually his worst. Opinion | Trump Turned the Democratic Party Into a Pitiless Machine The former president's victory made it ruthlessly pragmatic. Today's Videos Video | Another Outer Banks House Collapses Into the Ocean Weather experts said waves produced by Hurricane Ernesto and high winds appeared to be the cause of the collapse in Rodanthe, N.C., but local officials said the unoccupied house was at risk before the storm. What It's Like as a Barista at One of the World's Busiest Train Stations Commuters fuel up daily at the Cafe Grumpy in Grand Central Terminal. Here is the man who keeps the coffee flowing. Video | 4 Long Books to Sink Your Teeth Into MJ Franklin, an editor at The New York Times Book Review, gives his recommendations of four long books to spend time with. World A City of Blaring Sirens Fills With Russians Who Fled Ukraine's Advance In the regional capital, those who left their homes as Ukrainian forces tore into western Russia are uncertain whether they can ever return to their old lives. Venezuelans Mourn Loved Ones Killed in Protests, and Last Shreds of Democracy The nation is in anguish as it buries its dead and enters a new era of authoritarianism. Has Power Moderated Italy's Leader? Not to Same-Sex Parents. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has mostly shown a pragmatic streak abroad. But at home, her government is plunging many gay families into panic. See more world news U.S. To Undecided Voters, Harris Is Famous, but Unknown. They Want to Learn More. Vice President Kamala Harris has lit a fire among loyal Democrats. But many voters still want to know more about what she stands for. Protesters Are Converging on Chicago. City Leaders Say They're Prepared. Activists are pushing for policy changes on Gaza as Democrats hold their convention. Chicago officials are confident they will avoid a repeat of the chaos that unfolded in 1968. For Convention Goers in Chicago, the Issue of Migrants Comes Into Full View The crisis continues to play out on the city's streets, reminding Democrats of a potential liability — border crossings — ahead of the election. See more U.S. news Politics JB Pritzker Is Ready to Party at a Convention He Made Happen An unusual and chaotic set of political circumstances forced Illinois's billionaire governor to take the lead in securing the Democratic convention for Chicago. Democrats' Unity Convention Has One Giant Exception: The Gaza War Harris campaign officials and Democratic leaders have stepped up outreach to Arab and Jewish voters before the event, but large protests are still expected. In JD Vance's Backyard, Conspiracy Theories About Migrants and Voting Abound A far-right plank on immigration that is rooted in a baseless theory has found purchase among Republicans and right-leaning independents in parts of Ohio. See more political news Business The Hotelification of Offices, With Signature Scents and Saltwater Spas Hoping to lure workers back to their desks, companies are designing "work resorts," luxe spaces meant to compete with the comforts and versatility of their living room. Burning Man Has Sold Out Since 2011. Why Not This Year? The desert arts festival returns this month after two consecutive years of challenging weather, including mud that stranded attendees, and a Covid-19 hiatus. The Office Assassin What should I do about a friend who deliberately undermined one of her colleagues and then bragged to me about it? See more business news Technology How A.I. Can Help Start Small Businesses Entrepreneurs say use of artificial intelligence for a variety of tasks is accelerating the path to hiring and, ideally, profitability. Elon Musk Closes X Office in Brazil Over Fight With Judge The billionaire said he would shutter his social network's Brazil operations instead of complying with a Brazilian judge's orders to suspend accounts. How to Avoid Online Scams and What to Do if You Become a Victim Here are tips on how to dodge some of the most devastating schemes and what to do if you or someone you care about becomes ensnared. See more technology news Sports 'The Blind Side' Made Him Famous. But He Has a Different Story to Tell. The football player Michael Oher believes his early life was misrepresented by the Oscar-winning movie and the book it was based on. Black Caviar, Champion Racehorse and Australian Icon, Dies She won every race she ran, and her fame went beyond the insular world of horseracing. See more sports news Arts A Memoir Offers an Insider's Perspective Into the Pentagon's U.F.O. Hunt In "Imminent," the former intelligence official who ran a once-secret program shares some of what he knows. Was That a James Turrell I Just Skied By? Why yes it was, courtesy of the Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who is underwriting a big outdoor art program at the ski resort he bought. Lainey Wilson's Exhausting (but Rewarding) Country Music Hustle The singer and songwriter struggled for years to break through. Now she's staking a claim for herself — and other women in the genre — with a new album, "Whirlwind." See more arts news New York How the Israel-Hamas War Could Shape the New York City Mayoral Race Mayor Eric Adams is a strong supporter of Israel. One of his primary opponents, Brad Lander, the comptroller, calls himself a "progressive Zionist." People Are Rescued From Cars Amid Flash Floods in Connecticut There were no immediate reports of injuries from the flooding. The New York City area was also getting heavy rain. Body-Camera Video Shows Chaos Around Fatal Police Shooting of N.J. Woman New Jersey's attorney general is investigating the killing of Victoria G. Lee, whose family has said the police escalated a nonthreatening episode. The police said Ms. Lee had a knife. See more New York news Media & Advertising Defying Crisis in Local News, The Star Tribune Expands The newspaper in Minneapolis is expanding its statewide coverage and changing its name to The Minnesota Star Tribune. Social Media Influencers to Speak at the Democratic Convention While they have millions of followers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, this week they will share the podium with the top tier of Democratic politics. 'Alien: Romulus' Solidifies Disney's Box Office Rebound After struggling in recent years, Hollywood's biggest movie company has now delivered four hits in a row, dominating the summer with a 42 percent market share. See more media & advertising news Science The Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius Wasn't Pompeii's Only Killer While the volcano's eruption was deadly, research shows that many people in the ancient Roman city died in building collapses from the earthquake associated with the outburst. Dolphin Attacks Spoil Summer Along a Stretch of Japanese Beaches Nearly 50 beachgoers have been attacked in the past three years. Some marine experts suspect it may be the work of a single "lonely" dolphin. Fossils Show Giant Predatory Sea Scorpions Were Distance Swimmers Specimens of what appear to be the largest eurypterid species found in Australia could shed light on the sudden extinction of the massive arthropods. See more science news Well Late-Summer Travel Plans? You Might Want to Put On a Mask. With U.S. Covid-19 cases at very high levels and new vaccines still several weeks away, we asked experts for their advice on when and where to wear a mask. A Short Workout You Can Do in a Chair If your mobility is limited, you can still build strength with a few simple exercises. An Alternative to the Pap Smear Is Here, No Speculum Required Starting this fall, women will be able to use a simple swab to screen for cervical cancer. The method offers an alternative to a procedure that many dread — and promises to address disparities in who develops the disease. See more on Well Obituaries Alain Delon, Smoldering French Film Star, Dies at 88 The César-winning actor was an international favorite in the 1960s and '70s, often sought after by the era's great auteurs. Where to Stream the Films of Alain Delon A look at 10 standout films featuring the actor, who died on Sunday at 88. See more Obituaries Opinion Michelle Cottle Joe Manchin Has Some Unsolicited Advice for Kamala Harris and the Democrats The senator from West Virginia assesses the Democratic Party and its path to victory in November. David French Colleges Can't Say They Weren't Warned Three new court rulings make it clear that chaos on campus has legal consequences. Guest Essay Harris Can Change Biden's Policy on Israel Just by Upholding the Law The longstanding Leahy law can — and should — change Middle East policy. Guest Essay Jim Foley's Legacy Helped Change Hostage Policy Americans held captive overseas deserve all of our help. Guest Essay Europe's Crackdown on Environmental Dissent Is Silencing Voices the World Needs to Hear The tough approach has come as more Europeans sour on the green energy transition. 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. 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