The Evening: What we learned from the debate

Also, Hurricane Francine is pelting southern Louisiana.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 11, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday. Aftereffects of the Harris-Trump debate Cooling inflation Plus, a video game backlash Kamala Harris during the debate in Philadelphia last night.  Doug Mills/The New York Times Harris reveled in her debate reviews Early indications suggested that Kamala Harris prevailed in last night's debate: Viewers gave her the nod in a poll and many commentators, even Republicans, concluded that Harris had succeeded in getting Donald Trump to veer off message. Major Trump donors also expressed concern. One told The Times that it was "painful to watch." Debates are pivotal to fund-raising, and his performance could exacerbate the widening financial gap that he faces with Harris. The Harris campaign touted the positive reviews even though some undecided voters said they were disappointed that she repeatedly opted for sweeping statements rather than substance. The vice president's team asked for another debate, but Trump said he wasn't sure he wanted to. It is possible that Harris will see a uptick in upcoming polls. But in a race that continues to appear neck and neck, the winning candidate will probably be the one who has a better read on the American psyche. As Trump made clear in the debate, he is betting that voters are just as angry as he is — about a nation he argues is in decline, awash in marauding immigrants and devastated economically. Harris's bet, as my colleague Peter Baker explained, is that Americans are exhausted by the Trump era and ready to move on. More from the campaign trail The presidential election is 55 days away. Trump said that he won the debate, and that the real loser was ABC News, the host. A grieving Ohio father told Trump to stop using his son "for political gain." Taylor Swift's endorsement of Harris came as a surprise to the vice president. Trump said "she'll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace." Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we'll find the answers. Scott McIntyre for The New York Times Inflation slowed to 2.5 percent Inflation continued to cool in August, according to government data released today. The Consumer Price Index climbed 2.5 percent from a year earlier, a notably lower pace than in July, paving the way for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates for the first time since early 2020 at its meeting next week. Still, signs of stubbornness lingered under the surface, causing investors to ramp up their bets that central bankers will lower borrowing costs by a quarter point instead of a half point. Lake Pontchartrain as Hurricane Francine approached the coastline in New Orleans. Jason Andrew for The New York Times Hurricane Francine is pelting southern Louisiana Within the next few hours, Hurricane Francine is expected to make landfall along a stretch of southern Louisiana that has been scarred by powerful storms in recent years. Already, Francine, a Category 1 storm, has lashed the state with heavy rain and winds, setting off tornado warnings. State officials warned that it was too late to evacuate. We are tracking the storm live. It is expected to pass between Lafayette and New Orleans, most likely near or over Baton Rouge, the state capital. The New York Times Russia's steady advance is threatening Ukraine's east Russia is closing in on a key city in eastern Ukraine, making one of the fastest advances for its military since the early days of the war. If Russia captures the city, Pokrovsk, it would gain a big strategic advantage in seizing the rest of the Donbas region. We mapped out recent Russian advances. In related news, North Korea has continued to supply advanced short-range ballistic missiles to Russia in defiance of sanctions, a report found. More top news Congress: Mike Johnson, the House speaker, scrapped a vote on a six-month stopgap spending measure a few weeks before the Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Education: After the Supreme Court curtailed affirmative action, Harvard's Black enrollment declined. Hispanic enrollment went up. Health: Sterilizations among women increased after the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. New York City: Harris and Trump shook hands at the Sept. 11 memorial during a ceremony commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the attacks. Health: Despite being easily preventable, cholera deaths have soared worldwide. Mexico: The Senate passed a sweeping overhaul of the country's judiciary system, clearing the last major obstacle to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's proposal. Science: A study found that Europeans used cocaine much earlier than previously thought. TIME TO UNWIND Assassin's Creed Shadows' two playable characters: Yasuke, left, and Naoe. Ubisoft A fight over video game authenticity Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest entry of a popular video game franchise that prides itself on accurate historical recreations, will bring players into the world of feudal Japan. However, one of its main characters has caused significant backlash: Yasuke, a Black samurai. Fans have often looked for inaccuracies in past games, but the outcry over Yasuke's presence has been considerably louder. Game developers got personal attacks and death threats, and even Elon Musk weighed in, saying that diversity was killing art. But Yasuke is a real historical figure, unlike the mythological aliens and godlike weapons that are also series fixtures. Sara Andreasson Questions to ask your partner at midlife Middle age can be weird. It's a time when many people are simultaneously caring for their children and their aging parents. It's a time when some people have identity crises, and others don't. And it's also a common inflection point in marriages, when couples can step back from the daily grind of building their careers and families to see where they're at. So we asked several relationship experts to offer big-picture questions for middle-aged couples to discuss to help them grow closer and decide what's next. La Grande Motte in southern France.  © Charly Broyez and Laurent Kronental Dinner table topics A surreal resort: In the South of France, La Grand Motte is an otherworldly town inspired by ancient pyramids. Ask our critic: Are special clothes you don't wear worth keeping? Carnegie Hall composer: Gabriela Ortiz was told that her music was too exotic. Now she's a classical star. Sought-after sweetness: Los Angeles is obsessed with these melons. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Chris Simpson for The New York Times Cook: Smoky saganaki can inspire the feeling of a seaside vacation. Watch: My colleague recommended four true crime stories about fashion. Read: Paul Muldoon's poems are fun and rollicking. Listen: Readers wrote in with their favorite summer songs. Travel: Thinking about going on a cruise solo? Here's what to know. Let us know: What do you believe in? We want to hear from you. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING The photo at the origin of a yearslong mystery.  via Leticia Sarda She was internet famous. She had no idea. Nearly five years ago, a social media user asked for help identifying faces on a piece of cloth. Several were easily recognizable celebrities, like the actor Orlando Bloom, but the identity of one woman remained a mystery. She was dubbed Celebrity Number Six, and thousands of internet sleuths formed a community devoted entirely to looking for her. It took years, but they finally found the mystery woman. Her name is Leticia Sarda. She's a 43-year-old former model, and she was shocked to learn that so many people had been trying to track her down. We talked to Sarda about grappling with sudden internet fame. Have a captivating evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan 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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