Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Trump administration pulled back its spending freezeThe White House rescinded an order today that froze trillions of dollars in federal grants and loans in an effort to purge the government of what President Trump has called a "woke" ideology. The directive had been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. By rescinding the order, the Trump administration appeared to ease concerns from hospitals, nonprofits and others who had spent the last two days scrambling to understand if they had lost their federal financial support. It was Trump's first major capitulation of his second term. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, insisted this afternoon that "This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze." She appeared to be referring to the fact that the president signed executive orders last week directing government agencies to review and eliminate spending on so-called woke ideologies. Those measures remain in force. Trump is now expected to pursue other ways of eliminating voices of dissent inside the federal government. Yesterday, for example, his administration offered roughly two million government employees the option to resign and continue being paid for several months. Many of his approaches could defy the law — but a legal challenge may be exactly what he wants.
Kennedy tried to revise his anti-vaccine imageRobert F. Kennedy Jr., whose antipathy toward vaccines helped him build a large national following, faced three hours of bruising questions today during in his first Senate confirmation hearing to become health secretary. He rejected accusations that he was anti-vaccine and repeatedly sought to steer the conversation toward different topics, like combating chronic disease. One of Kennedy's most important exchanges today was with Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican physician from Louisiana whose vote is expected to be crucial. When Cassidy asked about Medicare and Medicaid, Kennedy appeared to have little familiarity with the enormous health insurance programs, at times seeming to confuse them. Kennedy, who will sit for another confirmation hearing tomorrow, "has made plain that he intends to do things a different way," our heath policy reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg said. "He has spent the better part of the last decade or more sowing doubts about some of the very agencies that he would oversee." Our heath and science reporters fact-checked Kennedy's claims today.
Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prisonRobert Menendez, the former New Jersey Senator and once one of the most powerful Democrats in Washington, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison. He had been convicted of being at the center of a yearslong international bribery scheme. The sentence brought a humiliating end to a five-decade career. Now 71, Menendez will most likely be remembered for his decision to accept gold bars as bribes and blame his wife.
Children's reading skills reached new lowsThe latest federal education assessments found that 33 percent of eighth graders and 40 percent of fourth graders have "below basic" reading skills — both the worst results in decades. The scores indicated that learning loss, especially in reading, had continued to worsen after the pandemic. Some experts wondered if screen time and school absence are among the causes. Reading scores began declining several years before the virus emerged, and one researcher told The Times that adults' skills have also fallen over the same time period. More top news
Jimmy Fallon made his Broadway debutJimmy Fallon, the "Tonight Show" host, said he was nervous last night before stepping onto the stage at the Hudson Theater. He was making his Broadway debut in "All In," a comedy that features a rotating cast of recognizable actors who tend to hold scripts since they don't have much time to rehearse. Fallon shared the stage with Lin-Manuel Miranda, Aidy Bryant and Nick Kroll, and he will only appear for eight performances. "It's a dream," he said.
It's now the Year of the SnakeMore than a billion people celebrated Lunar New Year this week with fireworks, dances and plenty of food. Traditions vary across the world, but similar threads run throughout: family time, rituals for prosperity and to honor ancestors, and marathon feasts. Here's a look at how people said goodbye to the Year of the Dragon and welcomed the Year of the Snake.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Dunk carrots or chips in this avocado, edamame and yuzu dip. Watch: "Paradise" is an exhilarating new political thriller. Read: Solvej Balle's new novel rethinks the familiar story of Groundhog Day. Listen: Our critic recommended seven new songs. Exercise: Here's a 10-minute Pilates routine that you can do at home. Gift: Wirecutter has tested dozens of boxed chocolates. These are the best. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
Sometimes losing it is fineWhen cast members on "Saturday Night Live" break character — laughing when they're trying to keep a straight face — it's technically considered a failure. The show's producer, Lorne Michaels, reportedly hates it. But across 50 seasons, it's become one of the show's signature moves, and viewers often love it. We looked back at some of the most memorable "breaking" moments. Have a hilarious 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.
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