Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Newly released Signal chats showed what was at stakeDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth disclosed the exact time that American fighter jets would take off for strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen to an unclassified commercial group chat that inadvertently included a journalist. Those sensitive details were revealed today when The Atlantic published a nearly complete transcript of the private conversation among President Trump's most senior national security aides. The nation's top intelligence officials, two of whom were on the chat, were pressed today on Capitol Hill about the extraordinary security breach. In defense of itself, the Trump administration has leaned on a semantic argument: It said the discussions on the chat were not classified — which national security veterans said could be true now, but was probably not at the time — and that no "war plan" was revealed. Technically, my colleague David Sanger told me, they may be right. But Hegseth's descriptions of the plan were so detailed that it may be a distinction without a difference. "Had the chat leaked," David said, "it could have given advance warning to the Houthis, who could have simply left the site and defeated the mission. They could have also prepared to launch against the planes, which would have put the pilots' lives at risk." To better understand the debacle, I asked David, who has been covering the White House and U.S. national security for decades, to explain. Why were they talking on a group chat? David: An operation like this would normally result in a meeting in the Situation Room, because it's a secure space. The messaging app Signal has become more popular in recent times because of Salt Typhoon, a Chinese operation that successfully got inside American telecommunications networks. There was a movement among U.S. officials to move nonclassified but sensitive conversations to encrypted apps like Signal. It's basically free, and quite good. But it is not a replacement or even a legal alternative to using a government classified system for the launch of military activity or the discussion of classified data. Will anyone get fired? David: The national security adviser, who added the journalist to the chat, made a mistake that we've all probably made. How many times have you typed the wrong address on an email? It's sloppy, perhaps, but it was clearly inadvertent. What Hegseth did was consciously and knowingly take what was almost certainly a classified piece of information about the timeline of an attack and put it in a system that is not approved for classified material. Had that been done by a midlevel or low level person, I think we probably know what their fate would have been.
Trump announced steep tariffs on imported carsTrump announced today the U.S. would impose a 25 percent tariffs on all imported cars, beginning on April 2. The tariffs would apply to both foreign cars and American brands whose automobiles are assembled overseas, and could raise prices for consumers significantly. Nearly half of all vehicles sold in the U.S. are imported.
The U.S. said it will end vaccine funds for poor countriesThe Trump administration told Congress this week that it intended to terminate U.S. financial support for Gavi, an organization that has helped save millions of lives by purchasing critical vaccines for children in developing countries. The administration said it will continue some grants for medications to treat H.I.V. and tuberculosis, but significantly scale back its support for efforts to combat malaria. The officials presented the plans as unilateral decisions, though it is unclear if the president has the legal power to end those programs alone.
Paramilitary fighters fled Sudan's capitalGen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan's military chief, said today that "Khartoum is now free," as the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, withdrew in large numbers from the capital city, which they had occupied since civil war broke out nearly two years ago. Analysts expect the paramilitary forces, known as the R.S.F., to withdraw to their stronghold in the Darfur region, but it is unlikely to end the war. More top news
Bon Iver is reinventing itselfFor many years, Justin Vernon — the frontman and creative engine behind Bon Iver — has been known for his emotional claustrophobia and fantastical catharsis. He became an in-demand collaborator for superstars like Taylor Swift. But the weight of making music about pain and anxiety became overwhelming. Vernon quit smoking, spent time decompressing in Los Angeles, and listened to a lot of Bob Seger. Now, on Bon Iver's upcoming fifth album, his music is bright and direct, and sometimes even sexy. He talked to my colleagues for an episode of our music podcast, Popcast, about his reinvention.
Could you live without your car?In one community near Phoenix, parking is not available to residents because cars are not allowed. Instead, the neighborhood, modeled on centuries-old towns in Italy and Greece, was designed so that you can go everywhere you need by walking or using public transit. It's an unusual approach to housing, and the first in a series of local climate solutions that we're highlighting from each of the 50 states.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Try this lush and rich Ecuadorian-style chicken stew. Watch: "Common Side Effects" is a stylish and trippy animated thriller. Read: Brian Goldstone's new book puts a spotlight on people who have jobs but no homes. Listen: Our pop music editor recommended six up-tempo new songs. Check: Here's how to protect yourself from ticks. Exercise: Strength training can help ease chronic knee pain. Here's how to do it safely. Trim: My colleague lets his 9-year-old daughter cut his hair with these hair clippers. Play: Today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here.
How a regular bar suddenly became coolFor the last 30 years, T.J. Byrnes, a low-key Irish pub in Manhattan, has been serving pints from an unassuming space that used to be a Chinese restaurant. Now, many of the customers are drinking martinis. "Lots of Negronis, too," one bartender said. It's a surprising evolution for a bar that for most of its history has been catering to office workers, retirees, college students and city employees. But in recent years, a new, younger and more artistic crowd has turned T.J. Byrnes into a go-to spot for parties, poetry readings and book-club gatherings. Customers said its lack of pretense is what makes it special. Have a boisterous evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Philip Pacheco was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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