The Evening: Hunter Biden pleads guilty

Also, teenage vaping dropped to a 10-year low.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 5, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Thursday. Hunter Biden's guilty plea Trump's plan for a Musk-led commission Plus, the new N.F.L. season Hunter Biden outside the courthouse in Los Angeles, today. Jenna Schoenefeld for The New York Times Hunter Biden pleaded guilty Hunter Biden, the president's son, pleaded guilty today to nine federal tax charges in Los Angeles. He told his lawyers that he did not want to subject his family to another round of humiliation after his wrenching gun trial in Delaware nearly three months ago. The dramatic development signaled the final stages of a five-plus-year investigation into the period in which Biden was bankrolling his uncontrollable drug and alcohol addiction through lucrative overseas consulting contracts — while not paying his taxes. The plea exposes Biden, 54, to an outcome that seemed unthinkable last year, when his lawyers were on the cusp of no-prison plea agreement: significant time behind bars. He now faces a maximum prison sentence of up to 17 years or a fine of up to $1.3 million, on top of the possible sentence of 25 years for federal gun charges on which a jury convicted him in June. President Biden has the power to pardon people convicted of federal crimes. But as his son appeared in court today, the White House press secretary said that the president did not plan to pardon him. 🇺🇸 2024 The presidential election is 61 days away. Here's the latest from the campaign trail. Donald Trump spoke at the Economic Club of New York today. Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump said Musk would help him cut government spending Donald Trump said today that, if elected, he would create a government efficiency commission that would conduct a sweeping audit of the government and recommend "drastic reforms" for cutting waste. The idea was pitched to him by Elon Musk, who Trump said would lead the effort. Trump proposed the commission during a speech to business leaders in New York. He also said he planed to lower the corporate tax rate to 15 percent from 21 percent and increase tariffs on imports. Here's what else to know: Swing state politics appeared to be sinking a global steel deal. A federal judge said she would not let Trump's campaign affect the schedule of the criminal case in which he stands accused of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. The historian who has been dubbed the Nostradamus of presidential election predictions made his pick for this year's race. 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 A vigil for the victims of the school shooting in Winder, Ga. Amanda Kathleen Greene for The New York Times Investigators look for a motive in the Georgia school shooting The police found evidence that the 14-year-old student accused of opening fire yesterday at his Georgia high school and killing four people was interested in mass shootings. Officials said he appeared to be particularly obsessed with the 2018 massacre at a high school in Parkland, Fla. Law enforcement officials had interviewed the teenager more than a year ago about online school shooting threats, but were unable to definitively link those threats to him. Here's what we know about the victims, and the latest on the shooting. Justin J Wee for The New York Times Teenage vaping dropped to a 10-year low In an annual survey conducted from January through May, less than 8 percent of high school students reported using e-cigarettes in the past month. That's significantly down from a peak of about 27 percent in 2019. Experts attributed the decline to public campaigns, flavor bans in some regions and crackdowns on sales of illicit products. More top news New York: Federal agents searched the homes of three top city officials close to Mayor Eric Adams as part of the investigation into campaign fund-raising. France: President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier, a veteran right-wing politician, as the country's new prime minister. Student loans: A federal judge placed a temporary hold on another component of President Biden's student debt relief plan. Nigeria: Boko Haram killed at least 170 villagers in a northeastern community, leaders said, in what is probably one of the deadliest attacks in recent years. Iraq: A U.N. team that has been working to document the genocide of the country's Yazidis has been ordered to leave by the government. Nicaragua: The government released 135 political prisoners — including 13 people affiliated with an American evangelical church — on humanitarian grounds. Russia: The U.S. Justice Department indicted an American commentator for Russian television as part of an effort to crack down on Russian attempts to influence the American election campaign. New Zealand: The Maori named the 27-year-old daughter of their late king to be their new monarch, a symbolic but weighty role. TIME TO UNWIND Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press Football is back A new N.F.L. season begins tonight with a matchup between two of the league's top teams: the Baltimore Ravens and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. My colleagues at The Athletic will cover the game live. For longtime fans, the start of the game will look unusual. The league changed the kickoff rules to bring back some excitement, while still keeping an eye on safety. Here's what to know about the changes. You can also check out our predictions for the season. Keith Haring's carousel. Jake Michaels for The New York Times The art carnival Luna Luna is coming to New York This fall, Manhattan's Hudson Yards will be home to an original Basquiat Ferris wheel and a Keith Haring-designed carousel. They are two of the high-art-meets-fairground attractions featured in Luna Luna, the once lost art carnival that was rescued and restored in recent years by the rapper Drake. No, you can't ride the rides. But you can come face to face with treasures that until recently most in the art world didn't even realize existed. Geordie Wood for The New York Times Dinner table topics Michael Keaton: In "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," the actor returns to a role now enshrined in pop culture. Beyond energy: Solar farms fight climate change and can help with another global crisis — the collapse of nature. Celebrity styles: This year's Venice Film Festival has been an exhibition for new designs and vintage pieces. Here are the most memorable looks. Timing vaccines: There is such a thing as getting a flu shot too soon. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: Buttered noodles with jammy eggs is a speedy, pantry-friendly meal. Watch: The anime series "Terminator Zero" reinvigorates a weary franchise. Read: Porter Fox's "Category Five" is one of the most anticipated nonfiction books of the fall. Travel: In these European destinations, you can swim near the city center. Learn: Certain dietary patterns are more associated with longer lives than others. Protect: Fall is approaching. We have tips for packing away your summer clothes. Hunt: Which Philadelphia-area home would you buy for less than $500,000? Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING The upper tier seats offer two views. Dave Sanders for The New York Times The upside of nosebleed seats To reach the last row of Section 323 in Arthur Ashe Stadium — one of the highest vantage points from which to watch U.S. Open matches — you need to climb a heart-pumping 86 steps. But once you get there, there are advantages: The seats are cheaper, the breeze feels luxurious on a hot summer day, and the views are incredible. My colleagues recently climbed up there and spoke to nosebleed enthusiasts who mentioned another benefit: Unlike the courtside seats, fans can talk to each other without disturbing the match. Have a prized 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