The Evening: 22 states sue Trump

Also, Jan. 6 defendants were set free.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 21, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday. Pushback against Trump Jan. 6 defendants released Plus, fitness lessons from the world President Trump signed a series of executive orders in the first hours of his term. Doug Mills/The New York Times States sued to stop Trump's birthright citizenship order Attorneys general from 22 states sued President Trump today to block a new executive order he signed declaring that children born to undocumented immigrants would no longer be treated as citizens. The order would extend even to the children of some mothers who are in the country legally but temporarily, such as foreign students. The states argued that the order violated the 14th Amendment, which courts have long interpreted to guarantee citizenship to every baby born in the U.S. The lawsuit is just the beginning of what is expected to be a long legal battle over the president's crackdown on immigration. Trump also directed the military to play a role in border control, which legal experts said would clash with the law. At the border, migrants realized they now have few options. Dozens of other executive orders signed by Trump in his first-day blitz have also begun to reverberate around the country. Trade policy experts scrambled to understand Trump's tariff plans, automakers confronted an assault on their electric vehicle programs and the wind power industry faced potentially crippling restrictions. At an interfaith service today in Washington, a bishop urged Trump to "have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now," specifically naming L.G.B.T.Q. people, immigrants, children and people fleeing war zones. Afterward, the president appeared unmoved, telling reporters, "Not too exciting, was it?" Trump supporters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  Jason Andrew for The New York Times Jan. 6 defendants were set free The day after Trump issued a sweeping legal reprieve to the nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, some of the defendants had their cases dismissed. Others, including two of the country's most prominent far-right extremists, were released. Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys, who was serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy, and Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers militia, who was serving an 18-year sentence on similar charges, are now out free. Trump's decision to issue blanket clemency spurred rare criticism from a couple Senate Republicans. Several Capitol Police officers expressed outrage. In other politics news: Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law made a sworn statement to senators that the secretary of defense nominee was abusive toward his second wife. Trump is expected to announce a joint venture between three companies to create at least $100 billion in A.I. computing infrastructure. The president quickly installed new leaders at key U.S. attorneys' offices. Marco Rubio was sworn in as secretary of state, where he is overseeing a halt of foreign aid. The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the first woman to lead a branch of the armed forces, was fired. Trump declared that President Vladimir Putin was "destroying Russia" by waging war in Ukraine. A judge stopped the Justice Department from releasing the special counsel's report on Trump's documents case. A damaged shop in the West Bank today after an attack by Israeli settlers.  Jaafar Ashtiyeh/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel began a military operation in the West Bank Israeli forces conducted raids today in the city of Jenin, a hotbed of Palestinian militancy in the West Bank. Eight people were killed and dozens injured in the first hours of the operation, the Palestinian health ministry reported. In related news, Israel's military chief said he would resign, citing in part the failure to protect Israelis during the Oct. 7 attacks. Snowing in Houston today.  Annie Mulligan for The New York Times It snowed on the Gulf Coast A winter storm hit the southeastern U.S. today, bringing significant snowfall to a region where even light flurries are rare. Houston, which has no plows, essentially shut down as many residents reacted with glee. New Orleans also received its first significant snow in 15 years. Here's the forecast. The Gulf storm is part of an intense blast of Arctic air sweeping across the country this week. Wind chills of minus 37 were recorded in parts of Iowa. Even Chicago was shivering more than usual. More top news Turkey: A fire at a hotel at a popular ski resort killed at least 76 people. Ukraine: Kyiv said it had detained three former commanders whom it blamed for the loss of territory last spring. Law: The Supreme Court said a woman on death row could challenge her trial because prosecutors may have erred by introducing lurid evidence about her sexual activities. Work: Amazon, JPMorgan and AT&T have told many employees they would have to be back in the office five days a week this year. Federal workers are next. Tech: In 2023, Google said it would no longer restrict advertisers from using trademarks that belong to other organizations. Charities paid the price. India: Industrial growth, the stock market and the rupee are sinking. Overseas investors have been heading for the exits. Washington: In one of its final acts, the Biden administration secured the release of two Americans held in Afghanistan through a prisoner swap. Politics: Ken Martin, the chair of the Minnesota Democrats, has emerged as a heavy favorite to lead the Democratic National Committee. New York: The man who killed 14-year-old Caleb Rijos had been hearing voices and showing psychic cracks, a friend told The Times. Sports: Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open. TIME TO UNWIND The writer Han Kang. Jean Chung for The New York Times A Nobel laureate who mines her country's nightmares The South Korean writer Han Kang has attracted a much wider audience since being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature last year. An English translation of her latest novel, "We Do Not Part," which probes a violent chapter in her country's history, was released today. In a rare interview, she spoke with The Times about why atrocities must be remembered. "It's pain and it is blood, but it's the current of life," she said. Ian Cheibub for The New York Times Fitness lessons from around the world In the U.S., exercise often looks something like this: You drive to the gym, you work out for a while and then you head home. It can feel like checking something off a to-do list, and most Americans just skip it altogether. People in other countries approach exercise differently: In Brazil, beaches are often filled with people playing games together, and in Japan, a three-minute exercise routine known as radio-taiso is nationally broadcast every day. Ayla Christman Dinner table topics Two-year renovation: For $2.7 million, a couple bought a nearly untouched modernist house. Then they changed almost everything. Against all odds: Las Vegas has a theater scene with a "sense of the Wild West." Micro-opulence: Experts shared predictions for this year's wedding trends. Hazy memories: A writer remembers John Lennon visiting her school when she was 8. Or did she imagine it? WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: Warm up with some creamy tortellini soup. Watch: "Problemista" is one of this month's best under-the-radar streaming picks. Dine: Want an authentic travel experience? Try McDonald's. Style: Take inspiration from this print-heavy look of the week. Protect: These are Wirecutter's favorite dog boots. Compete: See how many hidden book titles you can find. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. ONE LAST THING Beryl, right, and her daughter, Lindsay. Kevin C. Lee Another way chimps are just like us When Lindsay, a chimpanzee living in Uganda, wants to climb on the back of her mother, Beryl, she puts one hand over her mother's eye. It's their own private sign, a new study found, a gesture that no other chimpanzee is known to make. You may have one yourself; many of us share inside jokes or secret handshakes that strangers would find meaningless. "You can't help but notice how humanlike this interaction is," the primatologist who led the study said. Have an affable 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