The Evening: Backlash after Trump’s rally

Also, North Korean troops were deployed to fight Ukraine.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 28, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. A backlash after Trump's rally North Korean troops on the battlefield Plus, the best jump scares Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York last night.  Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Rally backlash puts Trump on the defensive Donald Trump and his allies are full of bravado over his chances of victory in November. But there are signs that the former president and his team are worried that their opponents' descriptions of him as a racist and a fascist may be breaking through to segments of voters. That anxiety was clear last night after Trump's six-hour rally at Madison Square Garden. During the event, which was billed as his closing argument, opening speakers disparaged Latinos, Black people, Palestinians and Jews, and directed misogynistic comments at Kamala Harris. Several Republicans distanced themselves from one crude comment about Puerto Rico, and Trump's campaign disavowed it — a rare break from his typical ethos of never apologizing and never admitting error. Harris seized on the spectacle. She accused him today of "trying to divide our country." Her team has grown cautiously optimistic about her chances of victory, buoyed by her attacks on Trump, as well as by her strength among female voters. In the past, Trump has paid little political price for inflammatory remarks. His campaign said it is more focused on what they believe is a small fraction of undecided voters — largely younger men — who could be persuaded to support Trump. More from the campaign trail: The Harris campaign has distanced itself from President Biden in the crucial final days. Harris's lead in the national polls has dwindled, but she remains competitive in the battlegrounds. Trump's vast tariff proposals would rock global businesses. No matter who wins, seeking asylum in the U.S. may never be the same. Republican activists are ready to challenge a Trump defeat. The Times has obtained recordings of their private planning meetings. With barricades and bulletproof glass, Luzerne County is bracing for Election Day. Meet the rebellious scientist who shaped Harris. What's at Stake: Taxation The presidential election is 8 days away. Each day, The Times will feature one story that focuses on the impact of the choice voters will make. By Andrew Duehren Donald Trump wants to cut taxes in novel and potentially very expensive ways if he returns to the White House. He would instead impose broad tariffs on imports to fund the government. Taken together, his plans could remake the nation's tax system, placing a greater burden on low-income Americans. READ THE STORY Nicole Craine for The New York Times Trump Promises New Tax Cuts. Other Republicans Are Wary. → The destroyed Russian border post in the Kursk region in August. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times North Korean troops were deployed to fight Ukraine North Korean troops have arrived in Russia's western Kursk region, where they are expected to help Moscow's forces reclaim territory that Ukraine seized in August. NATO's secretary general said the presence of the troops in the region represented "a dangerous expansion" of the war. The Pentagon said North Korea had sent about 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia, with many moving toward the battlefield in the Kursk region. Videos geolocated by The Times appear to show North Korean troops in Russia. A growing menace: Cities in eastern and southern Ukraine are increasingly being hit by Russian glide bombs, which can be guided to targets and often land without detection. Palestinians waiting to buy bread in Khan Younis, Gaza, today.  Mohammed Salem/Reuters U.S. influence in the Middle East has waned Top Biden administration officials began a final attempt before the election to exert influence over the conflicts in the Middle East: Today, the C.I.A. director met with envoys from Israel and Qatar to discuss a potential cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. However, as the dust from Israel's retaliatory strikes against Iran on Saturday settles, analysts and former diplomats said that Israel was now dictating events in the Middle East. The U.S. has been relegated to the role of wing man. In Israel, Parliament approved a bill that would ban the main U.N. agency aiding Palestinians from operating in the country. It was not immediately clear when and whether it would be put into effect, but it appeared to threaten some of the functions of the agency. Ballot-counting in Tokyo, yesterday. Richard A. Brooks/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Japan entered a period of political uncertainty Japan's Liberal Democrats, who have governed the country for all but four years since 1955, lost their majority in yesterday's snap parliamentary elections. The party may be able to assemble a coalition and remain in power, but the election highlighted deep-seated grievances that could cause chaos in what has been Asia's most stable democracy. For more: The political uncertainly could affect Japan's market rally. More top news Business: Boeing began to raise roughly $19 billion by selling stock as a strike weighs on its balance sheet. Germany: For the first time in its 87-year history, Volkswagen may close factories in its home country. Economy: On average, wages have risen faster than prices in recent years. But not all Americans are getting ahead. U.S.: Disruptions from Hurricane Helene are still threatening the health of people who live in western North Carolina. Climate: Britain is trying alerts on periods of cheap energy, "zero bill" housing and other tricks to make its electricity grid greener. Health: A little-known partnership between major insurers has made taxpayer dollars a lucrative revenue stream from out-of-network fees. Housing: Last year, the Biden administration unlocked more than $35 billion in lending capacity for affordable housing. It has yet to close on any loans. Law: One year after the actor Matthew Perry died, the mysterious "Ketamine Queen," who prosecutors say supplied the drug that killed him, is in jail awaiting trial. Sports: After being injured in Game 2 of the World Series, the Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is expected to play in Game 3 tonight. TIME TO UNWIND The New York Times With Halloween approaching, we ranked the best jump scares This is the time of year when almost everyone is watching horror movies. The music turns ominous, an uneasy quiet sets in … and then BAM! It's a classic jump scare. We asked Times film writers, filmmakers and stars to help us rank the 25 best jump scares. Some of them still get us every time. For more: Your favorite horror movie may have been based on a much scarier true story. Joan Didion in 1981. Janet Fries/Getty Images Joan Didion's elusiveness continues to inspire writers Joan Didion, one of the most famous writers of the 20th century, forever changed our understanding of what nonfiction could be. Yet one biographer told us that Didion remains "opaque," adding: "I felt like I've been trying to understand her for years, but I've been standing outside a locked door." Didion's distinctive blend of confession and opacity seemed to invite dissections of her work and life for decades. Since her death in 2021, four books have been written about Didion, with at least two more scheduled in the years to come. The Paul Taylor Dance Company in the troupe's new space in New York City. Vincent Tullo for The New York Times Dinner table topics Empty space: An unlikely winner in the office real estate slump? A dance troupe. Soothing tunes: Music can be a legitimate form of medicine, three new books argue. The second daughter: Ella Emhoff, Kamala Harris's stepdaughter, made a name for herself in New York's creative scenes, far from Beltway politics. The "grate cheese robbery": Scammers were able to get their hands on 22 metric tons of rare British Cheddar. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Beatriz Da Costa for The New York Times Cook: In this mushroom dish, a quick stir-fry is transformed into a flavorful, unconventional pasta sauce. Watch: "Caddo Lake" is one of the best science fiction movies to stream right now. Read: A new biography examines Piet Mondrian, who was an orderly painter and an eccentric man. Listen: Louis Armstrong's music is now on Broadway. Check out his classics. Wear: Our fashion critic explains how long your winter coat should be. Entertain: There are several ways to make your commute more enjoyable. Compete: Take this week's Flashback history quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Alana Paterson for The New York Times Think you can hold a grudge? Consider the crow. It's probably best to think twice before disturbing a crow. The birds are renowned for their intelligence. And when they identify someone as a potential threat, crows can hold a grudge for as many as 17 years, scientists found. That's longer than a single crow's life span, suggesting that the resentment is passed along to the next generation. "They were waiting for me at the bus stop every single day," one man said. "My house was three or four blocks away, and they would dive-bomb me all the way home." Have a determined evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Jill Foley 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