Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Two of the world’s most powerful men are about to meetSoon after Air Force One landed today in Beijing, President Trump walked down a red carpet onto the tarmac, where he was welcomed by a military band, an honor guard, hundreds of people waving Chinese and American flags and China’s vice president. It was a public display of warmth ahead of a high-stakes summit between two countries frequently at odds with each other. Meetings between Trump and China’s leader, Xi Jinping, are scheduled to begin later tonight, which is Thursday morning in China. Their likely agenda is broad — including tariffs, Taiwan, sanctions, purchases of American farm products and the A.I. race — though expectations for a major deal are low. It will be interesting to see if Trump presses Xi on China’s relationship with Iran. My colleagues reported today that Chinese companies have been secretly discussing arms sales with Iran. China also dominates the production of rare-earth minerals that the U.S. needs to rebuild its supply of missiles. For more: Trump was joined on the trip by three top cabinet officials, more than a dozen corporate executives — and his middle son, Eric Trump, who now runs the family business.
Kevin Warsh is confirmed as the next Fed chairThe Senate voted today to confirm Kevin Warsh, Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Reserve. He will replace Jerome Powell, whom the president has repeatedly criticized for failing to cut interest rates. All but one Democrat voted against Warsh’s confirmation, a reflection of their concern about his willingness to uphold the longstanding political independence of the central bank. Warsh will face a broad range of pressures that may make it difficult to cut rates anytime soon. In other Trump administration news:
Alex Murdaugh’s murder convictions are overturnedSouth Carolina’s top court overturned the murder convictions against Alex Murdaugh, the lawyer whom a jury found guilty of killing his wife and one of his sons, because of “shocking jury interference” by a court clerk. The surprise decision upends one of the highest-profile murder cases in recent years, and wipes out Murdaugh’s life sentence. But Murdaugh, 57, will remain in prison because he is also serving decades-long prison sentences for embezzlement. The South Carolina attorney general’s office plans to prosecute him again. For more: Here’s what to know about the case.
The biggest midterm donor isn’t an individual billionaireIt’s a venture capital firm. Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley firm led by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, has funneled more than $115 million so far in disclosed federal contributions to midterm election efforts. That makes the duo — who have said they vote for who’s best for tech start-ups, regardless of party — the biggest known spenders in this campaign cycle. In other politics news: Democrats got the result they wanted from the Senate primary in Nebraska. Here are four takeaways from yesterday’s elections.
The Times found dozens of suspicious prediction tradesPrediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have changed the way Americans gamble, watch sports and gauge political odds. They have also fueled concerns about a new kind of insider trading by members of governments and militaries who know about impending actions before the rest of the world does. A Times examination of Polymarket trades found dozens of suspicious moves hinting at possible insider trading. Last June, for example, a small group of internet gamblers made more than $600,000 in profits by placing long-shot bets that Israel would strike Iran — an attack that occurred later that day. More top news
A Frenchwoman with hantavirus is critically ill, health officials said today, and the number of identified cases in the outbreak has climbed to 11. It’s not a huge number, but I’m still hearing from readers who want to know how concerned they should be. In the video above, my colleague Apoorva Mandavilli answers that question. For more: We talked to a psychologist who is treating the patients being quarantined in a Nebraska facility.
Soap operas are disappearing. Or are they?Only four classic soap operas remain on air, down from nearly 20 during the genre’s peak in the 1970s and ’80s. But don’t let that convince you that we have lost our appetite, Charlotte Druckman argues. Instead, we have extracted the soap from real life. Andy Cohen has said that the “Real Housewives” franchises were inspired by “All My Children” and “Knots Landing.” And the director Ryan Murphy has created a genre out of soapy historical sagas, like his recent show about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.
It’s a challenging and exciting time for contemporary danceIt has become difficult in recent years to find traditional spaces to perform contemporary dances. But the talent is there if you know where to look. Jade Manns is part of a new generation of artists who lean into the body as a vessel of theatrical force. Her otherworldly new show, “Falling,” evokes the natural world without sets or images. See how Manns does it. For more choreography: A close reading of dances from “Schmigadoon!” and “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” shows how they borrow from ballet, Broadway and Hollywood.
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