Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Biden failed to quiet his Democratic doubtersPresident Biden has repeatedly rejected suggestions that he end his campaign, and the vast majority of Democratic lawmakers have declined to break with him. But today he faced fresh pressure, from Capitol Hill to Hollywood. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker and longtime ally of Biden, gave the strongest public signal yet that Democrats remain divided, suggesting in a television interview that the president still could reconsider his decision. "Time is running short," she said, noting that she would support him "whatever he decides." Pelosi's comments were "emblematic of the game of chicken that a lot of Democrats are playing," Catie Edmondson, our congressional correspondent, told me. "They have concerns about the president's fitness to run, but they don't want to be the ones to say Mr. President, please step aside." Catie told me that she has continued to hear many Democrats "privately express real fears about the extent to which Biden could not only lose the White House but could drag down Democrats running in House and Senate races." Two prominent voices called for Biden to step aside today, including George Clooney — who hosted a $28 million fund-raiser last month for the president — in a guest essay for The Times's Opinion section. Representative Pat Ryan of New York, one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents, said Biden should drop out "for the good of the country." Several Democrats on Capitol Hill are pleading for Biden to get out in public more for unscripted events, Catie told me, to convince the public that he still has the ability to serve as president. Biden's most high-profile opportunity to do that will come tomorrow, when he hosts a news conference at the NATO summit. Biden also committed to an interview with the NBC News anchor Lester Holt on Monday, which will air just before the network's coverage of the Republican National Convention.
NATO agreed to cement long-term support for UkraineThe U.S. and its NATO allies agreed that Ukraine should have an "irreversible" path to membership in the alliance. President Biden and the leaders of the other member states enshrined that commitment in a document released today at the NATO summit in Washington. "Ukraine's future is in NATO," the members said. The document does not lay out an exact timeline for membership, which the Ukrainians have wanted, but it says the allies will continue to support Ukraine's progress on "democratic and security sector reforms."
Hot nights are fueling wildfiresDangerous levels of heat have blanketed large portions of the country for several days, causing some fires in California to behave unusually. The problem, set off by global warming, is that nights are getting hotter, which allows more fires to burn rapidly overnight, grow bigger, last longer and become more challenging to control. In some areas of the Southwest, the heat wave is expected to last several more days, and dangerous heat could return to the Southeast this weekend.
The trial of Alec Baldwin beganNearly three years after the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film "Rust," opening arguments were held today in the trial of Alec Baldwin. Baldwin, a star and producer of the movie, has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter. Here are the highlights. Prosecutors said Baldwin had shirked his duty to maintain gun safety on the set, accusing him of "reckless disregard." The defense called the shooting a "tragic accident" and said that the actor had had no reason to expect that there would be live ammunition in his gun. More top news
A rising country star's messiness strikes a chordRight before the budding country star Megan Moroney, 26, recently played her new album for a group of eager fans, she joked about her look: "It's 20 pounds of hair and 10 pounds of makeup." It was the kind of candid moment from a relatable personality who has drawn swarms of listeners. Moroney's songs are often reflections of how 20-somethings drink and wreck their hearts. Two years after her first EP, Moroney is set to release her second album, "Am I Okay?," this week and headline shows across the country this summer.
A Go legend has a warning about A.I.Lee Saedol was once the finest player of his generation at Go, a board game widely considered to be the world's most complex. Then, he suffered a decisive loss to an A.I. computer program, which shook him and effectively ended his career. Now, years into retirement, Lee has begun giving lectures on A.I. He wants no one else to be caught flat-footed like he was. "People used to be in awe of creativity, originality and innovation," he said. "But since A.I. came, a lot of that has disappeared."
Dinner table topics
Cook: This cherry tomato tart can be enjoyed all summer long. Watch: Our critic recommends "Sunny," a dreamy robot dramedy. Read: Stacey D'Erasmo's new book is like the world's best dinner party, full of wise advice from lives well lived. Listen: We made a playlist of songs that hit No. 1 on the charts this year. Try: Here are six beautiful, breezy places to learn to kiteboard. Tend: Keeping houseplants alive while you're away is easier than you might think. Train: Sometimes, the best way to improve your fitness is by taking a rest day. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here.
U.S. gymnasts already set a record — for crystalsWhen Simone Biles won four gold medals at the 2016 Olympics, her leotard was bestrewed with about 5,000 crystals. At this year's Games, Biles and her teammates will sport more than 10,000 shimmering crystals each — far more than designers considered possible a few years ago. The $5,000 leotards they will wear are slightly heavier than typical competition uniforms. But if anything, the American gymnasts would take even more shine. "I am obsessed with how the lights of the arena reflect off the crystals," the gymnast Sunisa Lee said. "The more, the better." Have a sparkling evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Emree Weaver was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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