Thursday Briefing: A Republican trifecta

Plus, the secrets of venom

View in browser|nytimes.com November 14, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering a victory for the Republican Party and Ukraine's shift on peace talks. Plus: A painting with a story. Donald Trump with President Biden, in the Oval Office yesterday. Doug Mills/The New York Times The G.O.P. has retained the House Republicans cemented their control of the House yesterday, after holding onto a handful of critical seats in Arizona and California and defeating incumbent Democrats in key battleground districts, handing the G.O.P. a governing trifecta in Washington to enact President-elect Donald Trump's agenda. A few remaining races were still too close to call. Amid a flurry of personnel announcements, Trump tapped Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, one of his fiercest defenders and an avowed enemy of virtually every other top Republican, as his pick for attorney general. Gaetz was previously investigated by the Justice Department for child sex trafficking, but was not charged with any crime. Senate Republicans reacted with alarm and dismay to the decision. A remarkable meeting: In an extraordinary 29-second encounter yesterday, Trump and President Biden met in the Oval Office. "Welcome," Biden said, promising a smooth transition. "Welcome back." The two then spoke for about two hours behind closed doors. Trump's victory lap: The president-elect also visited a gathering of House Republicans today near the Capitol. He received a standing ovation and joked about trying to circumvent the Constitution and run for a third term. For more: Trump said he wanted Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman who left the Democratic Party for the G.O.P., to serve as the director of national intelligence, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida to be his secretary of state. Here is a list of Trump's cabinet nominations. Follow our live updates on the Trump transition. In other politics news: Melania Trump declined to meet with Jill Biden, as current and future first ladies traditionally do. Senate Republicans chose John Thune to replace Mitch McConnell as the party's leader, rejecting Trump's pick, Rick Scott. Trump said he would use the Education Department to further his priorities. He also said he would close it. Both options could face difficulties. The worlds of fashion and wine are bracing for Trump's promise to raise tariffs. Elon Musk's imprint is everywhere on the Trump transition. Jack Smith plans to step down as special counsel before Trump takes office. Nonprofit groups that used lawsuits and protests to stymie the first Trump administration will face longer odds this time. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. scorned Trump's fast food habit as "poison." Ukrainian forces have been losing ground in the east. Tyler Hicks/The New York Times Ukraine prioritizes security over land in truce talks For months, Ukrainian officials have said they would refuse any cease-fire deal that would cede territory to Russia. Now, anticipating the Trump administration's push for an end to the war, Ukrainians are focusing more on putting assurances in place to make a cease-fire hold. "The territorial question is extremely important, but it's still the second question," a senior Ukrainian official said. "The first question is security guarantees." Kyiv would not formally renounce its claim over any territory, a top Ukrainian official said. But it might be willing to justify a deal in which Russia retains control over disputed land and Ukraine gains entry to NATO or secures access to a robust arsenal of weapons provided by the West. NATO: Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, visited NATO headquarters in Brussels at what he called a "critical moment" for Ukraine and the U.S.-led military alliance. Related: Russia launched missile strikes on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Benjamin Netanyahu had argued that he was too busy during wartime to prepare a defense. Amir Cohen/Reuters A court rejected Netanyahu's bid to delay his testimony Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, must take the stand next month in his corruption trial, an Israeli court ruled. Netanyahu had sought a delay, arguing that he was too busy during wartime to prepare a defense. Netanyahu was charged in 2019 with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. His trial began in 2020, and he has always denied any wrongdoing. The cases against him center on accusations that he arranged favors for tycoons in exchange for gifts and sympathetic media coverage for himself and his family. Hostages: Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group in Gaza, released a video showing Sasha Troufanov, an Israeli Russian dual citizen who has been held in Gaza since the Hamas-led attack on Israel last year. U.S.-Israel diplomacy: Donald Trump's nominees to serve as top diplomatic envoys to Israel and the Middle East have little, if any, official policy experience in the region. But their sympathies lie squarely with Israel. More news: A C.I.A. official was arrested and charged with disclosing classified documents that appeared to show Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran. MORE TOP NEWS Gregoire Campione/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images France: Five years after a devastating fire, Notre-Dame Cathedral, in Paris, will reopen to the public on Dec. 7. China: Two days after a car rampage that killed at least 35 people, officials worked to make it seem as if nothing had happened. Mexico: A local mayor was decapitated less than a week after taking office. On Tuesday, the authorities arrested the city's public security minister in connection with his death. Diplomacy: President Biden will meet with President Xi Jinping of China on Saturday during a global summit in Peru. Brazil: Two explosions near the Supreme Court in Brasília, the capital, left at least one person dead. Britain: In a bid to curb knife crime, the government plans to fine tech executives personally for illicit weapon sales on their platforms. Climate: Negotiators at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan agree that trillions of dollars are needed to help lower-income countries adapt. They can't agree on who should pay. Religion: Who will succeed Justin Welby as archbishop of Canterbury? Tesla: The automaker recalled the Cybertruck for the sixth time this year — this time because of a defect that prevents the vehicle from accelerating. Cryptocurrency: What does the Honorary NYC Dog Mayor Election of 2024 — and its Pomeranian candidate, Bertram — have to do with speculative trading? Lost and found: When a diver recovered a ring near Barbados, he used clues on the ring to reunite it with its owner after almost 50 years apart. SPORTS NEWS Soccer: Manchester City has lost four games in a row, the first time that has happened under Pep Guardiola. How worried should the club be? N.F.L.: The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, is as loved by his team as he is highly rated. N.B.A.: Klay Thompson was given a hero's welcome in his return to the Golden State Warriors' arena after his off-season departure. MORNING READ Illustration by Armando Veve Venom has secrets — and some of them may be of use to us. The weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, which have transformed the treatment of diabetes and obesity, were created thanks to some of those secrets, after an experiment involving the venom of Gila monsters, the sluggish lizards native to southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Some experts believe that venom may be nature's Swiss Army Knife. We're just beginning to understand how venom can improve our lives. Lives lived: Timothy West, a staple of British television who played kings and prime ministers over a long career, is dead at 90. CONVERSATION STARTERS Art vs. A.I.: Artificial intelligence has become a subject for people in the arts who are worried about being replaced by it. Horse lessons: An enigmatic little horse named Sherlock completely changed the approach of an expert trainer. When in Rome (or Berlin): Since the connection-starved pandemic era, the international sex party scene is booming. No gift surprises: Many recipients of presents now feel free to speak out about the items they want, and don't, in their lives. ARTS AND IDEAS Bremen Art Association A painting with a sad story "Le Repos," a painting by Camille Pissarro, the 19th-century Impressionist, was sold by its desperate owners during World War II. The family used the funds to pay for the expenses they had incurred while hiding from the Nazis, as well as to place their daughters with a foster family, hoping for the best. Tragically, the girls did not survive. Almost 80 years later, researchers connected the painting, now held at the Kunsthalle Bremen, a German museum, with an heir of the family. They have struck a deal: The museum will keep the work but will help to publish a book telling the family's story. In other art news: Italian officials seized about 21,000 fake works of art as part of an effort to dismantle a Europe-wide network of forgers and dealers. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times Cook: Cumin seeds add intrigue to this cabbage and mandarin orange winter slaw. Read: "The Impossible Man" depicts the British mathematical physicist Roger Penrose in all his complexity. Terrify: Peruse hits from the Facebook group Death Stairs, where enthusiasts exchange photos of hazardous stairs. Focus: New research suggests that staying busy may ease the negative effects of A.D.H.D. 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. — Natasha Reach Natasha 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. 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