The Evening: It’s not just a battleground campaign

Also, the C.D.C. lowered the age for the pneumonia vaccine.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 25, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. Podcasts and stars on the campaign trail An apology to Native Americans Plus, the World Series is here Jamie Kelter Davis and Nicole Craine for The New York Times Harris and Trump hold splashy events away from swing states The race for president is deadlocked, according to The Times's final poll before Election Day. And the winner will very likely be decided in one of the seven battleground states where neither candidate holds a clear edge. But instead of making another appearance in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania, Kamala Harris is spending the evening in Texas. The Harris campaign does not think she stands a chance of winning the state. Instead, Harris is hoping that her event, where she will be joined by Beyoncé and Willie Nelson, will transcend traditional politics. Her aides expect moments of the rally, which is focused on abortion rights, to deliver the sort of viral content that can cut through a cluttered media environment. It's a distinctly modern strategy that acknowledges that many voters experience politics mostly online. It's also a way for the candidates to remain in the public eye despite the absence of another presidential debate. Donald Trump is doing something similar. He also visited Texas today to appear on Joe Rogan's incredibly popular podcast. And he is holding a rally on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York, a state his campaign acknowledges will vote for Harris. More from the campaign trail: Chinese hackers may have gained access to data from the phones of Trump and JD Vance, people familiar with the matter said. As vice president, Harris has often tried to use government to target racism and sexism. But she isn't running on that part of her record. Gov. Ron DeSantis is going all out to defeat Florida's abortion ballot question. Election workers are facing a torrent of threats. The Washington Post said it would not endorse a presidential candidate, breaking with decades of precedent. A movement driven by disinformation about Trump's 2020 defeat has taken over many boards that certify elections. It could cause chaos. What's at Stake: Rule of Law The presidential election is 11 days away. Each day, The Times will feature one story that focuses on the impact of the choice voters will make. By Emily Bazelon Donald Trump says he would use the power of the presidency to order F.B.I. investigations and criminal prosecutions of his political foes. He was largely thwarted in this in his first term. But the Supreme Court has made it easier for him to succeed if he gets a second chance. READ THE STORY Photo illustration by Tyler Comrie Why Legal Experts Are Worried About a Second Trump Presidency. → Destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock Israel pounded Gaza and Lebanon with airstrikes Israeli strikes today in Gaza left dozens dead and cut off communications between the outside world and one of the last functioning hospitals in the enclave's north, according to local authorities and the World Health Organization. Israel also launched a barrage of airstrikes across a broad area of Lebanon, from the Syrian border to Beirut. The Israeli military said five of its soldiers were killed amid clashes with Hezbollah fighters. In related news, Israel is planning a retaliatory attack against Iran. It has many world leaders on edge. President Biden spoke today in the Gila River Indian Community outside Phoenix. Eric Lee/The New York Times Biden called Indian boarding schools 'a sin on our soul' President Biden visited a Native American reservation today for his first time as president to apologize on behalf of the federal government. For generations, the U.S. took Indigenous children away from their families and put them in boarding schools meant to strip them of their culture, history and language. Many faced abuse and neglect that led in some cases to their deaths. "I formally apologize," Biden said. "It's long overdue." For more, here's a breakdown of the Native American boarding school program, which operated for more than 150 years and involved hundreds of institutions. Getty Images The C.D.C. lowered the age for the pneumonia vaccine Adults 50 and over should be vaccinated against a type of bacteria that causes pneumonia and other illnesses, the C.D.C. said. The agency had previously recommended starting at 65. The move comes as rates of infection have been rising, including in adults under 65. One dose is typically enough for lifelong protection, but only about a quarter of adults have reported getting the vaccine. In other health news, tests can check for both Covid and the flu. More top news Health: Overdose deaths have dropped, but state-level data showed that Black people were suffering worse outcomes than white people. Russia: The central bank raised the interest rate to 21 percent, its highest level in more than two decades. Tech: Dan Price, a former chief executive known for raising employee salaries and as a progressive social media influencer, was charged with rape. North Carolina: Weeks after Hurricane Helene, many people still do not have clean drinking water. Fast food: An E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders broadened to 75 people across 13 states. Lives Lived: Phil Lesh, who anchored the Grateful Dead as its bassist and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs, died at 84. TIME TO UNWIND Maggie Shannon and Adrienne Grunwald for The New York Times Baseball gets its star moment Tonight, the Yankees and Dodgers will play the first game of a World Series that many fans have only dreamed about. It's not just New York vs. Los Angeles, or East vs. West. It's also a battle between two baseball Goliaths; a matchup of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, the sport's brightest stars; and a resumption of the most storied World Series rivalry in history after a 43-year hiatus. Check out our experts' picks. Ralph Fiennes in "Conclave." Philippe Antonello/Focus Features A vivid portrait of a papal election Edward Berger's "Conclave," in theaters today, is not the first big screen depiction of the "ancient" and highly secretive process of electing a new pope. But the film, starring Ralph Fiennes, may be the first to take so much care with the liturgical details. Berger consulted with several cardinals, and the production team even painstakingly recreated the Sistine Chapel. Our critic Manohla Dargis wrote that the film is dominated by incredible performances, particularly from Fiennes, but also by Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and others. We asked Berger to narrate an important scene. "Portrait de femme à mi-corps," by Nicolas Largillièrre. Christie's Images Limited Dinner table topics For sale: A painting the Monuments Men rescued from the Nazis is going up for auction. Great prices, need work: As congregations wither, hundreds of abandoned churches are being turned into private homes. Thin air: Mexico City's high altitude makes car racing entirely different. Formula 1 drivers are forced to adapt. Flirtationships: "Chicken Shop Date" reminds us what's missing from dating. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: The secret ingredient that every chili needs is probably in your pantry. Watch: Here are the new movies that have our critics talking. Read: "Don't Be a Stranger" is one of the seven new books we recommend this week. Adapt: A guest room can also be a working study. Here's how to set it up. Exercise: Try this 20-minute workout to keep your body limber. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Connie Park Keep that jack-o'-lantern grinning Nothing represents Halloween quite like jack-o'-lanterns. And yet, most people, myself included, have been carving them wrong all along. Pumpkin experts we spoke to insisted: Never carve a jack-o'-lantern from the top. The stem, which many people sever in order to scoop out the gourd's seeds and strands, is crucial if you want your jack-o'-lantern to retain its structure for more than a couple of days. My colleagues at Wirecutter also recommend washing your pumpkin before carving it. Have a spooky weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Kirsten Luce 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