Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday.
Supreme Court seemed poised to allow a U.S. ban of TikTokThe Supreme Court appeared inclined today to uphold a law requiring TikTok, the popular social media platform, to be sold or face a ban in the U.S. The justices are likely to announce a ruling by the end of next week, before the deadline to sell the app on Jan. 19. Their decision will be among the most consequential of the digital age: TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon powered by a sophisticated algorithm that provides entertainment and information to nearly half of Americans. TikTok's lawyer argued to the court that the law — which passed through Congress with rare bipartisan support — violated the First Amendment. A group of creators who sued the government over the law made a similar pitch. TikTok is paying their legal bills. However, the government's argument that TikTok's Chinese ownership posed a potential threat seemed to resonate more with the justices. Several of them appeared troubled by the possibility that China could use data culled from American users for espionage or blackmail. ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, could still avoid a ban by selling the app. But that could be difficult, and the Chinese government has indicated that it would block a sale if it includes the algorithm that makes TikTok so valuable. For more: Here is what users should expect if a ban goes into effect.
Los Angeles began to contain its largest firesFirefighters in Los Angeles made some progress today in their fight to corral the deadly wildfires that have burned for four days. A line was established around a small portion of the two biggest fires, bringing a sliver of hope to a shaken region even as the threat of additional fires loomed with more wind in the forecast. Here's a look at the current state of the fires, which have consumed an area greater than the entire city of San Francisco. The Palisades fire alone has destroyed thousands of homes, businesses and other structures. At least 10 people have been killed, a toll that President Biden said today was expected to rise as the rubble was searched. "There are still a lot of people who are unaccounted for," he said. For more:
Sentence ensures Trump will take office as a felonDonald Trump was sentenced today in New York, where he was convicted last year of 34 felonies. The president-elect was spared jail time. Instead, Trump received an unconditional discharge, a rare and lenient sentence that reflected the practical and constitutional impossibility of jailing a man who is set to become president in just 10 days. The move formalized his status as a felon, ensuring that he will become the first president to carry that distinction into the White House. Many felons have been cut off from access to food stamps, public housing, certain jobs or the right to vote. For some 900 years, the label has been a mark of shame. But Trump may well redefine it. Here are takeaways from the sentencing. More top news
A spot in the college football championship is at stakeOhio State and Texas, two of the biggest names in college football, will face off tonight for a chance to play for a national championship. Here's how to watch, and what to expect. The winner will play in the College Football Playoff title game against Notre Dame, which won a thriller last night against Penn State. In related news: General manager has become the hottest job in college sports.
An actress who likes the high wire. Literally.Britt Lower was an obvious standout from Season 1 of "Severance," the fantastical Apple TV+ show. She left an impression on her colleagues and critics alike. But rather than leveraging her emerging stardom, Lower gave away most of her belongings and joined a circus. Season 2, which will be released next week, could raise her profile even more.
Dinner table topics
Cook: You can't go wrong with garlicky shrimp tacos. Watch: "Every Little Thing" follows a woman who tends to hummingbirds with immense care. Read: We recommend Paul Celan's "Letters to Gisèle," and five other books worth your time. Thrive: We asked cardiologists for tips to improve heart health. Wash: These are Wirecutter's favorite solid shampoo bars. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
Skeletons: They're not just for Halloween anymoreA Tennessee woman is planning to go to court to stop the city from forcing her to remove a pair of supersize skeletons from her front yard. The local authorities consider them to be Halloween decorations, which local law says must be removed before December. She said she is planning to keep the skeletons up for a while by decorating them with a different holiday theme every 30 days. "I can't wait for them to see my 'Love is Love' theme for Valentine's," she said. Have a defiantly festive weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Eli Cohen was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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