Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
Justices extended a block on deportations under wartime lawThe Trump administration will not be allowed to deport a group of Venezuelan migrants accused of being members of a violent gang under a centuries-old wartime law while the matter is litigated in the courts, the Supreme Court announced this afternoon. The ruling suggested that a majority of the justices were skeptical of whether the migrants had been afforded enough due process protections. Two of the court’s most conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, dissented. The justices sent the case back to an appeals court, which they directed to examine claims by the migrants that they could not be legally deported under the Alien Enemies Act. The justices also called for the lower court to consider how much notice the government should be required to provide migrants so they have an opportunity to challenge their deportations.
Republicans’ megabill was blocked by party’s right flankFive Republicans on the House Budget Committee voted today to block their own party’s major domestic policy bill. Most of the holdouts were conservative hard-liners who insisted on deeper budget cuts in the legislation, which was designed to enact President Trump’s policy agenda. The failed vote underscored the treacherous balancing act that Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to pull off with a narrow majority: Changes to win the backing of conservatives could alienate the more moderate Republicans. The legislation as currently written would cut taxes, while providing the biggest savings to the wealthy, and steer more money to the military and immigration enforcement, while cutting health, nutrition and education to pay for it. In other news from Washington:
Transit strike in New Jersey left commuters scramblingNew Jersey Transit’s rail network, which ferries tens of thousands of riders into and back out of New York City every weekday, shut down this morning after locomotive engineers walked off their jobs. Some commuters showed up to their train stations unaware of the shutdown; others rushed to find different modes of transportation. It was the first statewide transit strike in more than 40 years, and it began after contract negotiations between the union and the transit agency broke down last night. The union said that its members were pushing for parity in wages with their counterparts who work for other local railroads. For those stuck in the chaos: Our New York City transportation reporter has tips for getting around.
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner swapUkrainian and Russian negotiators met today in Istanbul for their first direct peace talks since the war started more than three years ago. As expected, the two sides failed to agree on a cease-fire, which Ukraine had demanded as a precondition for negotiations. Moscow said that if Kyiv wanted a cease-fire, it should withdraw entirely from the four regions in eastern Ukraine that Moscow annexed in late 2022. But Ukraine and Russia did agree to exchange 1,000 prisoners each in the near future — the largest swap of the war so far. For more: Latvia’s authorities advised residents on how to spot Russian spies. More top news
What to expect at EurovisionThis year’s Eurovision Song Contest — the world’s biggest, buzziest and most extravagant live music show — concludes tomorrow in Basel, Switzerland. You can watch the finale from pretty much anywhere. We asked Alex Marshall, our culture reporter in London, about who the favorites are. “The bookmakers always think Sweden is going to win Eurovision. This year’s entry is KAJ, with a song about saunas. It’s fun and catchy, but the field’s quite open,” Alex said. “I’m hoping someone this year has something just so bonkers it makes the entirety of Europe, and much of the rest of the world, go, ‘Oh my god, what the hell was that?’” For more: Alex wrote about the seven easy steps to win the Eurovision contest. One tip: Set something on fire. Just not the piano.
The W.N.B.A. is back and bigger than beforeThe 29th W.N.B.A. season begins tonight. This year, coming off a record-breaking season and an explosion into the national consciousness, the league decided to add a new team for the first time since 2008. Check out our viewing guide for the opening weekend. Here’s what to watch for: The New York Liberty are still the team to beat; Paige Bueckers, the former University of Connecticut guard now on the Dallas Wings, is expected to be a breakout star; and Caitlin Clark is aiming for nothing less than a championship.
Dinner table topics
Cook: It’s surprisingly easy to make colorful, candied tanghulu at home. Watch: Here are the movies are critics are talking about. Read: “How to Be Well” is one of the best new books to check out. Decorate: Finding high-end furniture can feel like a treasure hunt. We have advice. Relax: These are Wirecutter’s favorite sandals to enjoy the warm weather in. Learn: Nurses shared insider tips for your next hospital visit. Compete: Take this week’s news quiz. |
