The Evening: Trump’s cabinet vs. Musk

Also, Canada is set to pick a new prime minister.

View in browser|nytimes.com March 7, 2025 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. A cabinet clash with Musk Canada's leadership race Plus, must-see art shows in Europe Elon Musk in Washington this week. Pete Marovich for The New York Times Trump's cabinet clashed with Musk Less than seven weeks into President Trump's second term, Elon Musk has made himself a force by slashing foreign aid and directing agencies to fire tens of thousands of employees. Yesterday, there was a potential turning point: a remarkable cabinet meeting detailed today by my colleagues Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman. At least two secretaries aired their grievances about Musk and engaged in heated clashes with the billionaire. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was particularly incensed. After Musk accused him of failing to slash his staff, Rubio accused Musk of not telling the truth and asked, sarcastically, if he wanted the State Department to rehire staff just to fire them again. Sean Duffy, the transportation secretary, accused Musk of trying to lay off air traffic controllers. Musk called that "a lie," asking for their names. The exchange ended with Trump telling Duffy that he had to hire people from M.I.T. as air traffic controllers because they need to be "geniuses." By the end of the meeting, Trump made clear he still supported Musk's initiative. But from now on, he said, the secretaries would be in charge; the Musk team would only advise. On X, Musk called the meeting "productive," but he seemed far less enthused inside the room. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University in 2024. Jeenah Moon for The New York Times Trump cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia The Trump administration announced today that it had canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University because of what it described as the school's failure to protect Jewish students from harassment. Last year, protests on Columbia's campus over the war in Gaza set off a nationwide debate over free speech, campus policing and antisemitism. Four federal agencies said in a joint statement today that the cancellations were just the first round of action. Columbia, the statement said, holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments. A spokeswoman for the university said it would work with the federal government to restore the funding. The frontline town of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, on Thursday. Inna Varenytsia/Reuters Trump said he was weighing sanctions on Russia Trump said today that he was "strongly considering" imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a permanent peace deal was reached in its war against Ukraine. He urged both sides to come to the negotiating table "before it is too late." Just last night, Russia unleashed a furious bombardment on power and gas facilities. The comments were a notable turnabout for Trump, who has distanced the U.S. from Ukraine. But he also said in the Oval Office this afternoon that the U.S. was "doing very well with Russia" in negotiating a peace deal, and that he was finding it was "more difficult" to deal with Ukraine. For more: Trump wants Europe to defend itself. Here's what it would take. In other politics news: Trump said he asked the Iranian government to reopen nuclear talks, a pivot from 2018, when he exited a nuclear deal with the country. The Pentagon officially reinstated the name of Fort Bragg, which was originally named for an incompetent Confederate general. These are the words the Trump administration has called to limit or avoid in an effort to purge "woke" initiatives. When asked if the U.S. needed an Education Department, its new secretary answered: "No, we don't." Sam Bankman-Fried, the former cryptocurrency mogul who is serving a 25-year sentence for fraud, has embarked on a campaign to secure a pardon from Trump. Trump said the U.S. would immediately start offering a pathway to citizenship for South African farmers. The pause on foreign aid has hobbled programs that helped keep dangerous pathogens in check around the world. Voters support Medicaid, but want work requirements, a poll found. Mark Carney, the front-runner to become leader of Canada's governing Liberal Party. Andrej Ivanov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Canada is set to pick a new prime minister On Sunday, Canada's Liberal Party will elect a new leader who will, at least temporarily, replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister. Polls suggest that the leading candidate is Mark Carney, a former governor of the central banks of Canada and Britain, who is seen as well-suited to take on Trump and his tariff threats. His top competitor appears to be Chrystia Freeland, who until her dramatic December resignation was Trudeau's right-hand woman. The Liberal Party does not command a majority in Parliament, so it has a weak grip on power. Elections must be held before October, but could come sooner. For more: Canada has come to believe Trump is serious when he talks about the "51st state." More top news New Mexico: Authorities said that the actor Gene Hackman died from heart disease, with Alzheimer's as a factor, about a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, died from hantavirus. Economy: Employers added 151,000 jobs in February, a steady showing, but the stock market had its worst week in months. New York: A lawyer appointed to offer independent arguments in the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams said the charges should be permanently dropped. South Carolina: A death-row inmate is set to be executed tonight by firing squad, a method that has not been used in the U.S. since 2010. Health: The measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico is up to nearly 200 cases. Syria: Clashes between the new authorities in Damascus and gunmen loyal to the ousted dictator have killed at least 147 people in two days, a war monitor said. Prisons: Private facilities are ramping up for Trump's immigration plan, and cashing in. Space: A robotic spacecraft that toppled after landing on the moon yesterday ran out of power and died. TIME TO UNWIND Anselm Kiefer's installation in Amsterdam. Ilvy Njiokiktjien for The New York Times Two must-see art shows opened in Europe More than 400 years after the death of Michelangelo Merisi, the artist better known as Caravaggio, he is in the spotlight again. Two dozen of his works went on display today in Rome, where 60,000 tickets to the exhibit have already been sold — a testament to Caravaggio's fierce originality as well as his reputation as Baroque's sword-bearing bad boy. In Amsterdam, it required two museums to display Anselm Kiefer's monumental new installation, which also opened today. The German artist, who has long grappled with the legacy of fascism, political violence and cultural memory, fears that history is repeating itself. In other art world news, tiny paintings are in. Knopf, via Associated Press Upcoming books we're excited for Spring — which, believe it or not, begins in less than two weeks — is full of interesting book releases. There's a new chapter in the "Hunger Games" series, a major biography of Yoko Ono and a new novel from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who talked to us about writing the book through the toughest moment of her life. We also interviewed Laurie Woolever, whose new memoir spills some secrets about her years as an assistant for Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. In other publishing news, the author of "The Help" wrote a second novel. Danny McBride stars in "The Righteous Gemstones." Illustration by Erik Carter Dinner table topics It's not TV, it's televangelism: The coming season of "The Righteous Gemstones" might be its most outrageous yet. But it's still a nuanced portrayal of evangelical Christianity. Fashion trends: The runways in Paris suggested that we're living in the era of the power curve. Moving out: Is Philadelphia the new hot spot for New Yorkers? An 826-year tradition: The Atherstone Ball Game is simple, locals say: Keep the ball on the street and don't kill anyone. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: Lazy people, this 1930s cake is for you. Watch: The Oscar-nominated "Nosferatu" is among the best horror movies to stream now. Listen: Our critic recommends checking out Lizzo's turn to rock, and four other new songs. Book: A.I. bots can now help you plan a vacation. We tried it out. Cut back: Experts offered tips for how to stop buying things you don't actually need. Consider: There are plenty of good protein sources other than meat. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Hibbing High School's Jace Kampsula. James Vigil/Warroad Hockey Co. It's sick flow season Every year, Minnesota's high school hockey tournament doubles as a hair expo. Players cut, dye and style their hair into perfect or outrageously coifed mullets, which they show off during pregame introductions. The standout looks are immortalized by John King, a former advertising executive who calls himself an "archaeologist of hockey hair." We spoke with King this week as he was scouting this year's tournament for the best "lettuce," as hockey hair is sometimes called. (As in: That's a great head of lettuce.) Have a well-groomed weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Kirsten Luce 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