The Evening: A clash over Gaetz ethics report

Also, nuclear power went from pariah to rising star.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 15, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. The ethics report on Gaetz The rise of nuclear power Plus, Mike Tyson's return to the ring Matt Gaetz in July. Todd Heisler/The New York Times House and Senate clash over ethics report on Gaetz Speaker Mike Johnson said today that he would object to the release of a damaging investigative report on the conduct of Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, calling the move a "terrible breach of protocol." The House Ethics Committee had planned to vote this week on releasing the report, which focused on allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Gaetz resigned from Congress on Wednesday, halting the proceedings. If the House declines to release the report, it could lead to a constitutional clash between the two chambers. The Senate is charged with vetting and confirming the president's nominees. Senators in both parties have demanded to see the report. Some of Trump's other cabinet picks have faced pushback, including Pete Hegseth, his choice for defense secretary. Some military officials suggested he would be out of his depth running the Pentagon, and Hegseth was the subject of a sexual assault complaint in 2017. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick for health secretary, has also faced skepticism from both sides of the aisle. His vow to fight against Big Food could face resistance among Republicans. However, one Democratic governor praised his nomination. This afternoon, Trump announced that he wanted Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota to be both Interior secretary and "energy czar." For the latest on the Trump's nominations, follow our live updates. In other politics news: Iran insisted to the U.S. that it's not trying to kill Trump. Republicans have control of the House, but their narrow hold could pose major difficulties. Trump has vowed to end a program that allows thousands of Ukrainians, Venezuelans and Haitians to stay in the U.S. Luzerne County is one of many Pennsylvania counties that shifted to the right. Here's what it's like there. Polls anticipated Trump's gains among Hispanic, Black and big-city voters. Kamala Harris was unable to neutralize immigration as a campaign issue. Here's why. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock How nuclear power went from pariah to rising star For many years, climate negotiators saw nuclear energy as part of the problem, not the solution. That's changing as countries look to phase out fossil fuels while still meeting energy demands. During the past two U.N. climate conferences, more than two dozen countries, including the U.S., pledged to triple the world's use of nuclear power by 2050. Nuclear energy still has plenty of detractors, including environmentalists who point to the high costs and radioactive waste. But many politicians are eager to give it a second look: "I strongly believe that nuclear power is essential to meet climate goals," the prime minister of the Czech Republic said this week. In other energy news, we took a look at the quest to build a star on Earth. Robert Roberson in prison in September. Criminal Justice Reform Caucus Delaware County, via Associated Press Execution can proceed in Texas' 'shaken baby' case The Texas Supreme Court ruled today that state lawmakers overstepped last month when they halted the execution of Robert Roberson, who was sentenced to death for killing his 2-year-old daughter. His execution can now be rescheduled, but doing so will take at least three months. Roberson's conviction relied on a questionable diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome. State lawmakers in both parties argued that he deserved a new trial. Here's what to know about his case. Paul Ellis/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Three-quarters of U.S. adults are now overweight or obese American obesity rates have sharply increased over the last three decades. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults are now considered overweight or obese, according to a sweeping new study. That's up from roughly half in 1990. The new data, which also found a steep rise in obesity among children, have wide-reaching implications for the nation's health and medical costs. More top news Tech: The Biden administration closed a $6.6 billion deal with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to boost U.S. chip manufacturing. Russia: Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany spoke with President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine, the first call between them in two years. Middle East: Israel said its ground troops were battling new targets in southern Lebanon, signaling a widening offensive. Europe: Institutions meant to promote civility, from soccer to song, have come under severe stress from rising antisemitism and anti-immigration politics. New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul's revival of congestion pricing has given her Republican opponents fodder to fight her re-election in 2026. Crime: A murder trial began for the man charged with killing Laken Riley. The case was swept up in the immigration debate after investigators said the perpetrator was a migrant. Canada: Taylor Swift sent Toronto into a glittery frenzy after she added six shows to her Eras Tour in the city. She then heads to Vancouver. Music: The Dominican songwriter Juan Luis Guerra and his group 4.40 won big at the Latin Grammy Awards. Entertainment: Conan O'Brien will host the Oscars ceremony in March. TIME TO UNWIND Mike Tyson, left, and Jake Paul on Thursday. Julio Cortez/Associated Press Mike Tyson is returning to the ring tonight It's been nearly 20 years since Mike Tyson last fought in a professional match. Even then, he was no longer the Tyson of the 1980s — the most feared heavyweight fighter in the world. But tonight, at 58 years old, Tyson is returning to the ring for a bizarre contest against the 27-year-old Jake Paul, a bombastic child star turned social media influencer. Both men are famously controversial and adept at generating attention. Millions of people are expected to tune into Netflix tonight, where the main event is likely to be broadcast around 11 p.m. Tyson said he was inspired to come out of retirement by smoking toad venom. At the same event, two of the best female boxers in the world will face off. David Malosh for The New York Times A great Thanksgiving feast doesn't require turkey The chef Sohla El-Waylly has roasted, spatchcocked and basted countless turkeys. But when she hosts Thanksgiving, she likes to branch out. The dish she returns to the most is fried chicken. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, pairs with almost every side dish, and — unlike some Turkey recipes — is undeniably juicy. Follow Sohla in this video as she walks through the process of making an entire Thanksgiving feast. Peter Fisher for The New York Times Dinner table topics Reflecting on life: Billy Bob Thornton, starring in the new series "Landman," says he's past Hollywood's slights, but still feels a need to explain himself. Ex-Hollywood stars: Chimpanzees who spent years entertaining humans are learning to befriend their own kind. Growing outside of Chicago: Malört, the divisive yet beloved liquor, has gained devotees nationally. Romeo and Juliet: The Shakespeare play has been revived on Broadway 36 times. Test your knowledge of it. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Bobbi Lin for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Eugene Jho. Cook: Silky eggs get an unapologetically savory sidekick with miso-butter mushrooms. Watch: "Day of the Jackal," starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, gives a spy classic a modern update. Read: Check out a new biography of Johnny Carson, and six other books we recommend. Explore: These 25 cookbooks changed the way we cook and eat. Plan: Travel credit cards sound simple, but they're not. Let us help you pick the best one. Rest: Air mattresses don't have to be lackluster. This one is the best. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. ONE LAST THING Dominic Kesterton What kind of crier are you? Crying is a quintessential human experience. We're the only species that cries to express emotion, rather than to simply lubricate the eyes. Scientists don't know why, but research suggests that crying often makes people feel better. Have you ever wondered why some people get teary-eyed at the same moment that others stay stoic? We worked with one of the top experts on tears to build a quiz that can help you better understand your crying style. Try it out. Have a moving weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Hiroko Masuike 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