The Evening: A scramble to avert a shutdown

Also, country music became ubiquitous in 2024.

View in browser|nytimes.com December 19, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Thursday. A looming government shutdown Guilty verdicts in French rape trial Plus, country music's big year Kenny Holston/The New York Times Republicans offered a plan to avoid a government shutdown House Republicans put forward a new plan this afternoon in an attempt to avert a government shutdown. Their proposal, which would fund the federal government at its current levels through mid-March, was devised after Donald Trump stepped in yesterday to torpedo a spending deal that House Speaker Mike Johnson had struck with Democrats. Republican lawmakers said they hoped to vote on the deal this evening. Democrats, whose votes may be needed for the proposal to pass, told reporters they were "united" in voting against it. Here's the latest. Crucially, the proposal would suspend the debt ceiling for two years, as Trump had demanded. But such a move is "totally anathema to a good chunk of House Republicans," our congressional correspondent Catie Edmondson told me. And if a spending deal is not approved by Saturday, the government will be forced to shut down. Trump, who quickly endorsed the new deal, had publicly turned against Johnson's initial plan after Elon Musk openly opposed it. Musk made more than 150 social media posts attacking the earlier deal, including threats of political retribution for anyone who voted for it. The deal's failure was in part a display of Musk's newfound political strength. "Republicans in Congress knew after the election that Trump was going to be a huge influence on them," Catie told me. Less obvious was the central role that Musk appears to be playing: "That has left some Republican lawmakers wary," Catie said. Gisèle Pelicot at the courthouse in Avignon, France, today. Miguel Medina/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images French rape trial ended with 51 guilty verdicts Dominique Pelicot, who admitted to drugging his wife and inviting dozens of strangers to join him in violating her over nearly a decade, was convicted today of rape and sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison. The 50 other defendants were also convicted, most of them on rape charges. The verdicts ended a trial that has horrified France, prompted profound discussions about rape culture and toxic masculinity, and turned Gisèle Pelicot, Dominique Pelicot's wife of 50 years, into a feminist hero. "I wanted, by opening the doors of this trial on Sept. 2, that society would take up the debates that have been launched," Gisèle, now divorced, said today. "I never regretted my decision." Luigi Mangione was flown from Pennsylvania to New York today.  Alan Chin for The New York Times Under new charges, Mangione could face the death penalty Federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed four charges today against the suspect in the fatal shooting of a health insurance executive, including a count of murder that could bring the death penalty. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, 26, is also facing two stalking counts and has been charged with a firearms offense. Mangione, who was arrested last week in Pennsylvania, agreed to be extradited to New York. State prosecutors there characterized the killing as an "act of terrorism" because it was intended, they say, to influence government policies and intimidate civilians. Brandon Celi A booming A.I. business runs into U.S.-China tensions Nvidia became one of the world's most valuable companies by dominating the market on the computer chips essential to building artificial intelligence. The California-based manufacturer expects to make $10 billion in sales this year from foreign countries. But its international expansion plan is under threat from officials in Washington who worry that Nvidia's technologies could empower U.S. adversaries. The Biden administration is working on rules that would tighten control over A.I. chip sales and turn them into a diplomatic tool. More top news Georgia: An appeals court disqualified Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, from prosecuting the election interference case she brought against Donald Trump. Wisconsin: The shooter at Abundant Life Christian School this week may have plotted with a California man to attack a government building, according to a court filing. New York City: Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor's former top adviser, was charged in a bribery scheme involving $100,000 for a new Porsche for her son. Business: Workers who deliver packages from seven Amazon facilities across the U.S. walked out today. Amazon expects the centers to operate normally. Mayotte: The French territory in the Indian Ocean was struck by Cyclone Chido last weekend. A visit reveals the devastating toll. Climate: President Biden announced an aggressive, but nonbinding, new climate goal: slashing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 61 percent below 2005 levels by 2035. California: Bird flu has hit the state's dairies so hard that farmers are calling it "Covid for cows." Russia: President Vladimir Putin held a marathon news conference in which he spread blame about setbacks in Syria and with inflation. Pets: A popular drug for dogs with arthritis may be associated with potentially severe neurological effects, the F.D.A. found. Math: Tuesday's multistate Mega Millions jackpot included four consecutive numbers. What are the odds? TIME TO UNWIND Caroline Gutman for The New York Times Kylie Kelce is suddenly a star You might not know who Kylie Kelce is: The 32-year-old high school field hockey coach was far from famous just a couple years ago. But her new podcast is now the No. 1 show on Apple's charts, placing her above the industry's biggest stars, including Joe Rogan. Kelce's popularity reflects the charm of an otherwise relatable mother living an entirely unattainable life: Her husband, Jason Kelce, is a former N.F.L. player, and her brother-in-law, Travis Kelce, is dating the world's biggest pop star, Taylor Swift. Jelly Roll before a show last month in Charleston, W.Va. Kristian Thacker for The New York Times Country music became ubiquitous in 2024 Country was everywhere this year. The genre topped the Hot 100 charts for most of 2024, superstars like Beyoncé and Post Malone released country albums and there were even cowboys on the runways of Louis Vuitton. The Times's music critic, Jon Caramanica, traced the genre's evolving identity by hitting the road with the likes of Jelly Roll and Shaboozey, artists who embody a version of country that is beginning to take off. Jillian Freyer for The New York Times Dinner table topics Eat your homework: A design school uses recipes to teach the trial-and-error process of tweaking and refining a product. Home design: Barndos — a mash-up of "barn" and "condo" — are taking over rural America. Skiing's secret: It can be cheaper to hit the slopes in Europe than in the U.S. Viral and fleeting: Do you remember the biggest micro news moments of 2024? WHAT TO DO TONIGHT David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff. Cook: Your guests will gobble this challah bread pudding. Watch: "The Brutalist" is a period drama with the ambitions of a historical reckoning. Listen: Gems are aplenty among this year's most notable boxed sets. Read: Curtis Chin's new memoir celebrates the cuisine and community of his youth. Game: These two new video games are strangely captivating. Sleep: Here's how to actually get some rest on an airplane. Hunt: Which Philadelphia home would you buy with a $350,000 budget? Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. ONE LAST THING Arjun Srivatsa/The New York Times Bust a holiday move It's the most festive time of year. There are countless family parties and office soirees, all culminating in the countdown to the new year. That means there is no better time to cut loose and dance. For those hesitant to shake and groove, the dance instructor Angela Trimbur has some advice: "Get past the idea of perfection, to do something that brings you joy." She offered tips to get started. Have a footloose evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen 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