Trump and Harris prepare to debate

Plus, Europe's competitiveness crisis.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 10, 2024 By Jonathan Wolfe Good morning. We're covering the U.S. presidential debate and Europe's competitiveness crisis. Plus: Spotting A.I. videos. The face-off figures to be one of the highest-stakes 90 minutes in American politics in generations. Kenny Holston/The New York Times Trump and Harris prepare for a high-stakes debate The first and only scheduled debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will take place on Tuesday evening in the U.S., and Americans are bracing for a nail-biter. For Trump, the debate is an opportunity to turn the page on a tough summer. Harris has closed the polling gap Trump had held over President Biden since she became the Democratic Party's nominee, and the debate may be one of his best shots to reverse that momentum before early voting begins. Trump has honed a playbook of explicitly gendered attacks against female candidates and journalists that he is likely to draw from. For Harris, the debate stands to be the most important night in her political career. It will offer the candidate her biggest audience yet as the country tries to learn more about what kind of president she would make. It will also be a test of her carefully rehearsed, aggressive debate style. "When Harris has not methodically prepared, she sometimes has trouble," said Lisa Lerer, who covers politics for The Times. "That could end up being a problem with Trump because he is, above all other things, a highly unpredictable debater." Here's what else to know: Trump's rambling, sometimes incoherent public statements have raised questions about his cognitive health and stirred concern among voters. The Trump campaign promoted an outlandish false claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio have abducted and eaten their neighbors' pets. 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 Mario Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank. Simona Granati/Corbis, via Getty Images Europe is facing an 'existential' competitiveness crisis The E.U., facing a shrinking share of the global economy, needs to increase its spending by nearly $900 billion a year in sectors like technology and defense to remain competitive against the U.S. and China. That assessment comes from a long-awaited report from Mario Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank, who yesterday called the challenge for the E.U. "existential." To transform the continent's economy, the E.U. must develop an industrial strategy that includes a shared energy grid, joint military procurement as well as advanced training programs for workers. But the report was short on details about finding a source for the enormous investment required to reverse Europe's economic decline. Context: The analysis is the result of a yearlong study requested by the European Commission on the causes of Europe's competitiveness crisis. It will serve as a guide for policymakers, who will soon meet in Brussels to determine the bloc's next five-year strategic plan. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, in June. Tolga Akmen/EPA, via Shutterstock Kate said her chemotherapy is over Catherine, the Princess of Wales, announced yesterday that she had completed chemotherapy. Speaking in an emotional three-minute video, she said that she would return to a limited number of her duties. Kensington Palace did not indicate that Catherine was cancer-free. Officials did not offer further details on her medical condition, citing her right to privacy. Details: The palace has not confirmed what type of cancer the princess was being treated for, how far the disease had progressed or the details of her treatment, beyond that she had undergone chemotherapy. MORE TOP NEWS Louai Beshara/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Syria: The country blamed Israel for airstrikes that hit a scientific research institute in the city of Masyaf, killing at least 18 people, according to state media. Gaza: The Israeli Air Force conducted strikes in the Khan Younis humanitarian area in the southern Gaza Strip, targeting a militant command center, the Israeli military said. Ukraine: Russian forces captured two villages in eastern Ukraine yesterday and are encircling Ukrainian forces in two locations, according to a battlefield analysis. Tech: Google's second antitrust trial started yesterday in the U.S., where the Justice Department has called for a breakup of the tech giant over its control of online ads. Germany: The government said that it would expand border patrols after two deadly stabbings by rejected asylum seekers and a surge in support for the far right. Montenegro: Discord between former political allies has complicated the country's efforts to join the E.U. and curb pro-Russian influence. Canada: Peter Nygard, the former fashion mogul, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for sexually assaulting four women. Fashion: The British designer Sarah Burton is the new creative director at Givenchy. SPORTS NEWS Paralympics: A visually impaired marathoner was denied a medal after she let go of her tether to help her guide, who had stumbled yards from the finish line. Soccer: The hunt for Kerlon Moura Souza, the creator of the strangest parlor trick in the sport, almost came up short. But then The Athletic found him. Formula 1: Officials and teams are considering a rookies-only race in Abu Dhabi after the end of the season. MORNING READ Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, University of Washington The social isolation of pandemic-driven lockdowns rapidly aged the brains of adolescent girls, a new study found. One researcher said that an 11-year-old girl who was tested before the pandemic and then returned to the lab at age 14 would have a brain that looked like that of an 18-year-old. Rapid aging of this kind — which tends to happen during times of stress — has been associated with depression and anxiety, scientists said. Lives lived: James Earl Jones, who gave life to characters like Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" franchise and Mufasa in "The Lion King," has died at 93. CONVERSATION STARTERS Fashion Week: Off-White celebrated the allure of New York City. Here's our review. Upscale meal: At the U.S. Open, a $100 box of chicken nuggets drew a covetous crowd. Sleep fixation: So-called sleepmaxxers are going to extreme lengths in pursuit of better rest. Is that a problem? ARTS AND IDEAS Can you spot the A.I. videos? Artificial intelligence tools can create picture-perfect faces, realistic photographs and now lifelike videos. While A.I. video technology is not yet as sophisticated as tools that create images and audio, it is rapidly advancing. The most convincing examples often manipulate real videos, adding realistic A.I. elements. Stuart Thompson, who covers misinformation and disinformation, created this quiz with real and A.I.-generated videos. Can you spot the difference? We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: The sugar crumb topping on this brown butter peach cake gives it a delicious golden crispiness. Watch: Here are five action movies to stream. Read: "Bright I Burn" is inspired by the true story of the first woman condemned as a witch in medieval Ireland. Listen: The comedian Will Ferrell and his best friend Harper Steele discuss the journey that deepened their friendship. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Jonathan P.S. Anupreeta Das is joining the New Delhi team as a South Asia correspondent. Reach Jonathan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, 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