Today's Headlines: Trump Contorts Himself on Abortion in Search of Political Gain

JD Vance's Combative Style Confounds Democrats but Pleases Trump

View in browser September 1, 2024, 4:00 a.m. Eastern time Top News Trump Contorts Himself on Abortion in Search of Political Gain The former president is willing to make as many rhetorical and policy shifts as he deems necessary to win in November, vexing some social conservatives. JD Vance's Combative Style Confounds Democrats but Pleases Trump Over dozens of events and more than 70 interviews, Mr. Vance's performances as Donald Trump's attack dog have endeared him to his boss, even if America broadly is less enthusiastic. Something's Poisoning America's Land. Farmers Fear 'Forever' Chemicals. Fertilizer made from city sewage has been spread on millions of acres of farmland for decades. Scientists say it can contain high levels of the toxic substance. Editors' Picks A New Statue of a British Colonialist Exposes a Divide in Singapore The tribute to Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who is considered the founder of Singapore, has raised questions about how the wealthy city-state perceives its history. Opinion | America Does Not Need the Death Penalty President Biden should fulfill his promise to work to pass legislation to end the use of capital punishment for federal crimes. Today's Videos Video | Gazan Mother 'Shocked' After Finding Out Her Son Has Polio An infant boy is the first confirmed case of polio in Gaza in 25 years. The World Health Organization and the United Nations are now working to stop the spread of the disease in the strip. Video | Plane Crashes Into Townhouses in Oregon A small plane struck a row of townhouses in Fairview, Ore., according to the authorities, who said at least three people were missing. Video | How the Burger Became a Portrait of America Burgers today are packed with the cultural ingredients that make the United States what it is: regional tradition and immigrant inspiration, deep history and blue-sky creativity. Priya Krishna, a New York Times Cooking reporter, and Tejal Rao, a critic at large, teamed up to find variations on the American classic that reflect the moment — and the limitless things a great burger can be. World What Happens When Half a Million People Abandon Their City About a quarter of the residents of Maracaibo, Venezuela's second-largest city, have moved away — and more are expected to soon follow. As Israel Keeps Fighting in West Bank, Residents in One Battle Zone Reel From the Damage In the Nur Shams area near Tulkarm, Israeli bulldozers have chewed up large chunks of the roads, and many homes have been left without running water and internet. One family mourned the death of a relative they said was killed in the raid. As Ukraine Mourns a Pilot's Death, Jet's Crash Is Still a Mystery In a reversal, two senior U.S. military officials say the cause of the F-16's crash was probably not friendly fire. See more world news U.S. More Voters, Especially Women, Now Say Abortion Is Their Top Issue Donald J. Trump is shifting his stance on reproductive rights, but voters, by a wide margin, say that they trust Kamala Harris on the issue. In North Carolina, the Math for a Supermajority May Come Down to One It's one of several states where legislators of one party have overridden vetoes from a governor of the opposing party. Several tossup races will determine if that continues. Hiker Is Found Dead in Grand Canyon National Park The 60-year-old from North Carolina was on a multiday backpacking trip. His death was the sixth reported inside the Arizona park this month. See more U.S. news Politics Conservative Moms, Charmed by Trump, Would Rather Avoid His Misogyny Former President Donald J. Trump spoke at a convention of the Moms for Liberty in Washington. Former Miss Teen USA Contestant Rebukes Vance for Using Her Flub to Attack Harris Caite Upton wrote on social media that "online bullying needs to stop," after JD Vance posted a clip of her mangled answer from the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant to mock Kamala Harris. Wes Moore and the Bronze Star He Claimed but Never Received For years, the Maryland governor has faced questions about whether he had wrongfully said he had a Bronze Star. He insisted no. But an old document proves otherwise. See more political news Business Has the Spread of Tipping Reached Its Limit? Don't Count on It. Both major presidential candidates propose exempting tips from taxes. That could encourage more reliance on tipping, and leave workers vulnerable. Nerf Blasters and Lego Rockets: Another Mall Evolution Landlords are turning to companies like Hasbro and Mattel for some fun and games in "retailtainment." Want a Manhattan Apartment? Try These European Countries Instead. A study compared the median listing price for a 500-square-foot apartment in Manhattan with the prices of homes in France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. See more business news Technology How Brazil's Experiment Fighting Fake News Led to a Ban on X To combat disinformation, Brazil gave one judge broad power to police the internet. Now, after he blocked X, some are wondering whether that was a good idea. With X Blocked, Brazilians Find New Homes for Their Thoughts The platform went dark across Brazil on Saturday, sending online commentators to new digital town squares. OpenAI Names Political Veteran Chris Lehane as Head of Global Policy The prominent A.I. start-up is also considering a change to its corporate structure to make it more appealing to outside investors. See more technology news Sports In College Sports' Big Money Era, Here's Where the Dollars Go On average, $1 million for S.E.C. quarterbacks; guards who earn a quarter of that: The New York Times examined the so-called Black Book, a kind of Zillow for college sports, that details athletes' expected annual pay. Paris Is Utopia for Paralympians Until They Leave the Athletes' Village The city built highly accessible accommodations for competitors in the 2024 Paralympic Games. But the rest of Paris remains difficult to navigate. Athlete Accused of Abuse Had Harassed Other Paralympians, Lawsuit Claims A para swimmer who sued the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee in 2022 now says it knew that the teammate he accused of rape was a threat. See more sports news Arts LL Cool J Can't Stop, Won't Stop. (And Why Would He?) At 56, the hip-hop eminence and TV star can slip into Russian, stun arenas and delight executives. With Q-Tip as a producer, he's returning to his first love: rap. For a New 'Empire Records,' Zoe Sarnak Set Out to Write a '90s Anthem The composer is breaking the rules of musical theater and finding an increasingly warm welcome this year for her rock sound. Next up, "Empire Records: The Musical." The Constitution Is Sacred. Is It Also Dangerous? One of the biggest threats to America's politics might be the country's founding document. See more arts news New York New York City's Piers, Once Abandoned, Are Now Full of Life In each of New York City's boroughs, decrepit piers that once fed city industries have been brought back to life. Out over the water, they offer beauty, fun and respite from the city's buzz. Judge Dismisses Suit Seeking to Ban Smoking in Atlantic City Casinos The judge said a loophole exempting casinos from a statewide ban on indoor smoking did not keep workers from pursuing employment in smoke-free environments. How a Sober-ish Writer Spends Her Sundays Hilary Sheinbaum, who wrote "The Dry Challenge," spends her Sundays running, gossiping over tennis and not (really) drinking alcohol. See more New York news Media & Advertising Nicole Kidman Bares Everything in the Sexy Drama 'Babygirl' The star is taking chances again in this look at a woman reconciling her sexual fantasies. The movie was the talk of the Venice Film Festival. A Fairy Tale for Netflix: A Norwegian Princess Weds an American Shaman The nuptials of Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett attracted huge public interest and a streaming deal for a couple trying to reclaim their narrative after years of bad press. Who Are the Korean Cheerleaders Flooding TikTok? Videos of baseball cheerleaders performing an ultra-chill dance routine have taken over social media algorithms, intriguing millions of viewers. See more media & advertising news Science Hvaldimir, a Celebrated 'Spy' Whale, Is Found Dead in Norway The beluga whale, who was first spotted in 2019 wearing what looked like a camera harness, was seen floating in Norwegian waters on Saturday. What's in Your Fridge? Here Are Details About the Deli Meat Listeria Recall Seven million pounds of Boar's Head meats have been recalled since late July, when reports of serious illnesses and deaths began to occur. Business Group Sues Texas Officials Over Law That Shields Oil Industry The suit challenges a measure that prohibits state entities like retirement funds from doing business with firms that "boycott energy companies." See more science news Magazine How the Tories Lost Britain Brexit and immigration upended their 14-year reign — setting the stage for a pitched battle to remake British conservatism. The Finest, Funnest, Most Freeing Footwear Go ahead and wear your rubber sandals — even in New York City. When I'm Dining Out, Should I Have to Deal With Your Dogs? The magazine's Ethicist columnist on public pet etiquette. See more magazine news Well Do You Have a Case of the 'September Scaries'? Late August can be a time of sleepy summer pleasures — and pit-in-the-stomach dread for what's coming after Labor Day. Here's how to manage all the feelings. How to Fend Off Mosquitoes We asked experts how to keep the pests away from your house and protect yourself from bites when you go outdoors. A 'Life Review' Can Be Powerful, at Any Age Reflecting on the past, through writing or conversation, can help us better appreciate where we are — and where we're going. See more on Well Travel 4,000 Miles, 6 Small Towns: A Whistle-Stop Tour of America Most people who ride Amtrak's Empire Builder route between Chicago and Seattle watch the heartland whiz by. Our writer hopped off to explore a few remarkable places you might otherwise miss. Another Icon-of-the-Seas-Style Megaship? Make That 3 More. Royal Caribbean and other companies are aggressively building over-the-top ships. "Today's cruisezillas make the Titanic look like a small fishing boat," noted one sustainability specialist. 36 Hours in Seattle Beyond the museum-studded central districts, three colorful neighborhoods encapsulate the Emerald City's natural beauty, history and vibrant culture. See more travel news Real Estate Tuition: $9,400. Dorm Room Interior Designer: $10,000? Some students arrive on campus expecting certain comforts. And they, or their parents, are willing to pay thousands to settle in. In Brooklyn, Two First-Time Buyers Weigh Classic Charm vs. Industrial Chic Searching in Clinton Hill and Bedford-Stuyvesant, a young couple endeavored to find a sunny place with a decent kitchen and not too many stairs. Tony Danza on His Love of Sinatra, Boxing and Air Fryers Step inside the entertainer's Upper West Side apartment. See more real estate news Fashion & Style Is a Writer a Kind of Spy? In her new novel, Rachel Kushner invents a secret agent who's not really all that different from a novelist. If Liza Minnelli's Jewelry Could Talk Studio 54. Versailles. The Oscars. Some of the pieces worn by Ms. Minnelli have seen a lot. One Woman's Quest to Map the Paris Flea Market The world-famous stalls have plenty of vintage finds, as long as you know where to look and what to expect. See more fashion news T Magazine A 95-Square-Foot Caravan Inspired by Roald Dahl The multimedia artist Yto Barrada has turned the tiny wagon in her Moroccan garden into a guesthouse. The Most Exciting Hotels in London Right Now From big brands to quirky independents, the city's newest accommodations are luxurious in ways both quiet and not. A Home With a Giant Falcon and a Ball of Wool With Human Legs The artist and architect Luigi Serafini uses his Milanese apartment to explore his whims and surreal fantasies. See more on T Magazine Obituaries Rudy Franchi, Who Put Movies at the Center of a Technicolor Life, Dies at 85 He brought French classics to New York, published a film magazine, worked as a Hollywood publicist and, as seen on "Antiques Roadshow," thrived selling vintage film posters and other ephemera. Ofra Bikel, Filmmaker With a Focus on Criminal Justice, Dies at 94 Her award-winning documentaries for PBS's "Frontline" series shed light on serious flaws in several convictions and helped lead to the release of 13 prisoners. Kiingi Tuheitia, King of the Maori in New Zealand, Dies at 69 The king, who had held the title for 18 years, was praised by New Zealand's prime minister for his "unwavering commitment to his people." Eliyahu Rips, Who Claimed to Find Secret Codes in the Torah, Dies at 75 His work provided the basis for the worldwide best seller "The Bible Code," but he later rejected the book as unscientific. See more Obituaries Opinion Nicholas Kristof Here's Why We Shouldn't Demean Trump Voters Educated liberals often view the conservative working class with a whiff of condescension that is both unfair and counterproductive. Jessica Bennett Kamala Harris Is Breaking Barriers. She Just Isn't Talking About It. Can she finally move us past identity politics? Guest Essay The Ancient Roots of Trump's Attacks on Harris The Trump campaign's attacks on Kamala Harris echo misogynistic attacks on ancient Roman empresses and medieval queens. Guest Essay The Household Chores You're Avoiding Are Key to a Deeper Life I used to consider the work I needed to do around the house expendable. I now see it as integral to my and my family's happiness. Guest Essay I Swore Off Air-Conditioning, and You Can, Too The more time we can spend outside or inside without the air-conditioner blasting, the better prepared we'll be — both to slow climate change and to adapt to it. Guest Essay When the Flash Flood Comes With Godlike Velocity, Why Do I Stay and Watch? This series of floods didn't force us to leave. But the next ones might. 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. 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