Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
The U.S. signs a nuclear pact with Saudi ArabiaThe Trump administration signed a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia this afternoon that could lead the country to enrich its own fuel for nuclear reactors. It’s a deal that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, has been trying to secure for several years. The agreement further strengthens U.S.-Saudi political ties. And, as our White House correspondent David Sanger told our sister newsletter The World, “it’s a huge business deal for the U.S. because the agreement requires that the Saudis use American-sourced nuclear technology.” The deal is expected to last 30 years and would exclude other countries from involvement in the kingdom’s nuclear industry. The agreement will require review by Congress, where it is likely to receive support from many Republicans. But some U.S. lawmakers — along with Israeli officials — have raised fears that the Saudis could use a civilian nuclear project to eventually develop nuclear weapons. The U.S. has dozens of similar agreements with governments around the world. But in order to get this deal done, American officials agreed to terms that may limit the ability for international inspectors to evaluate Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program.
Trump threatens to retaliate against civilian targets in IranPresident Trump said today that the U.S. military would attack bridges and power plants in Iran if, at “any time,” Iranian forces fired at more ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said today that little diplomatic progress was being made, calling Iran “not serious” about peace talks. With no sign of a letup, the price of oil rose today to its highest level in over a month. A Dubai firm announced a deal with the U.A.E. to develop a port system that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz. But in the meantime, the global supply of fuel could be further stretched if the Houthis make good on their threat to block ships traveling in and out of the southern entrance to the Red Sea. Here’s how they can do it, and why it matters. For more:
A judge ends protections for this lizardAt the request of the Trump administration, a federal judge in Texas stripped endangered species protections from the dunes sagebrush lizard, whose habitat overlaps with the largest oil-producing region in the U.S. When the Biden administration labeled the small reptile endangered in 2024, it angered the fossil fuel industry. The state of Texas sued, and the Trump administration settled, calling for the removal of the lizard’s protections. Today, the judge, a Trump appointee, said that the Biden administration’s evaluation was “potentially inaccurate” — an assessment conservationists rejected. In other Trump administration news:
OpenAI is sued over its chatbot’s medical adviceA Florida pastor sued OpenAI today, claiming that its popular bot, ChatGPT, had offered “extremely dangerous medical recommendations,” leading to a near-fatal health crisis. According to the suit, the chatbot dissuaded him from seeking medical advice, instead telling him to trust that “God did not design your body to endlessly fail.” For more on A.I.: Stocks related to the technology account for roughly half the rise in the S&P 500 this year. We looked at what could happen if the boom slowed, or reversed. More top news
This question comes from a recent edition of the newsletter. Click an answer to see if you’re right. (The link is free.) Which European country just passed a law barring anyone under 15 from social media?
A leading land artist is finally ready to show his masterworkCharles Ross, a titan of the land-art movement, has been working on a monumental piece called “Star Axis” for the last 50 years. The project, on a mesa in New Mexico, is designed to show the changing position of Polaris, our north star. And now, Ross says, he’s finally ready to show it off to the world. The project is part naked-eye observatory and part pyramid, with a staircase rising 11 stories through a tunnel and into a viewing chamber. Check it out.
The N.H.L. and M.L.B. are sending players to improv classSecond City, the famed Chicago improv theater, is where Bill Murray, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert cut their teeth. It has also begun hosting comedy training sessions for professional baseball and hockey players. Pro leagues hope that the classes will be especially helpful for young players just entering the spotlight. They believe the comedy challenges — like the classic “Yes, and …” exercise — can help players learn to listen better and be more prepared to face the media.
Dinner table topics
Cook a jammy egg to adds a burst of color, and protein, to this spanakorizo. |
