Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday.
Gaetz's replacement is a lobbyist and experienced prosecutorPam Bondi, who Donald Trump tapped last night for attorney general after former Representative Matt Gaetz dropped his bid, is arriving on the national stage with a smaller profile and less political baggage than Gaetz. Bondi began working as an assistant state attorney in the Tampa-area in the 1990s, before becoming Florida's first female attorney general in 2011. She left that post in 2019 and became a lobbyist for a powerhouse Republican firm. While there, she represented major corporations and foreign governments with interests before the U.S. government. Like Gaetz, Bondi is a Trump loyalist. She served on Trump's legal team during his first impeachment and oversaw the filing of voting-related lawsuits in battleground states. The president-elect has been keen to install a close ally at the Justice Department. He has vowed to purge the agency of what he calls "deep state" foes — suggesting an end to the department's longstanding practice of independence. Trump still has 10 more cabinet picks to announce. We're tracking his choices.
Terms of Lebanon cease-fire begin to take shapeAfter weeks of punishing combat between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, the contours of a potential cease-fire agreement appear to be taking shape, several officials said. The proposed agreement calls for a 60-day truce, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters would pull back to the north. During that time, the Lebanese Army and a U.N. peacekeeping force would ramp up their deployment in the border zone. Some critical details still need to be worked out, and further disagreements could undermine a deal. In related news, Hungary's prime minister invited Israel's leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to visit, flouting an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
New York's congestion tolls were approvedNew York City received the green light today from the Federal Highway Administration to start charging drivers $9 to use some of the busiest streets in Manhattan. The congestion pricing program, the first of its kind in the country, is set to begin on Jan. 5, though it could still be stopped by lawsuits. Gov. Kathy Hochul revived the push for congestion pricing this month after pausing an earlier plan to charge drivers $15. The tolls are intended to raise money for mass transit while relieving some of the world's worst gridlock and clearing air pollution.
Alcohol deaths more than doubled in two decadesNearly 50,000 Americans ages 25 to 85 died from alcohol-related diseases in 2020, a steep rise from under 20,000 in 1999, according to new research. Those numbers do not include other deaths influenced by alcohol, such as accidents. The increases were in all age groups, with the biggest spike among young adults. There was also a steep surge among women, though they remain far less likely than men to die of alcohol-related illnesses. More top news
It's a 'Wicked' weekendTheaters across the country are expecting big crowds this weekend for "Wicked," the first installment in a two-part musical adaptation of the beloved Broadway play. The film, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, is projected to be one of the most popular of the year. Here's our review. Early screenings have already generated debate: Some fans are treating the musical as a singalong, and not everyone is thrilled. "Gladiator II": Ridley Scott's latest is also out in theaters today. Our critic called it a "pleasurably immersive spectacle."
Cook something new this ThanksgivingWe all know — and maybe even love — Thanksgiving staples like turkey, gravy, stuffing and pumpkin pie. My colleagues at New York Times Cooking have plenty of recipes and tips for the holiday mainstays. But this year, why not try out a new dish? Perhaps pickle biscuits, cottage cheese dip or a cranberry-sauce shrimp cocktail sound good to you. For more ideas, take a look at these dishes that our recipe testers loved this year. For a restful holiday: We have three easy strategies and budget-friendly recipes to make the big feast stress-free.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Nam prik ong lasagna embraces the overlaps between Thai and Italian cuisines. Watch: Our critics are talking about these six new documentaries. Read: "Stranger Than Fiction" was one of our favorite new books this week. Plan: Here's how to survive Thanksgiving travel. Flatten: Wirecutter tested a dozen of the highest-rated rolling pins. 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.
Telling a story, without words"Flow" is a new animated film about a cat, a dog and a capybara who embark on an epic adventure — but who communicate entirely without dialogue. Unlike some directors, who include human characters or give animals the ability to speak, Gints Zilbalodis decided to tell the story of "Flow" through actions and expressions. "The experience is more important than the plot," he said. Have an evocative weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Jill Foley was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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