Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Trump pressured Ukraine to compromisePresident Trump suggested in an interview published today that a Russian victory in Ukraine would be inevitable. “At some point,” the president said, “size will win.” He said it was time for Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, to start “accepting things” in the cease-fire talks. Despite a recent push from the U.S., negotiators from Ukraine and Russia are still far from agreeing on territory. The Kremlin has said that any peace deal must cede the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, including 2,500 square miles and two major cities that Ukraine still controls, which is a nonstarter for Kyiv. See the area under dispute on these maps. Zelensky said that Ukraine was expecting to complete its revised proposal to end the war this evening and would soon provide it to the U.S. He met yesterday with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany to discuss alternative cease-fire plans. In related news: Russia and Ukraine are also fighting over who gets to claim Kazimir Malevich, the renowned painter. Also in the interview: Trump called America’s European allies “weak” and “decaying,” criticizing their handling of issues like immigration. “I think they don’t know what to do,” the president said, days after the administration indicated that the U.S. should no longer guarantee Europe’s security.
The Supreme Court considers campaign finance limitsJustices on the Supreme Court grappled today with whether to lift limits on how much money political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. Republican groups brought the case, arguing that the limits violate the First Amendment by restricting the ability of political groups to reach voters. Justice Sonia Sotomayor and her fellow liberal justices voiced skepticism about unraveling limitations. “Our tinkering causes more harm than it does good,” she said. The conservatives, who will probably decide the case, asked fewer, more muted questions, giving little indication of how they are likely to rule. If the justices ultimately decide to lift the limits, it could undercut one of the Democrats’ financial advantages going into the midterms.
Wall Street is shaking off fears of an A.I. bubble, for nowThe stock market has been on a hot streak in recent years, thanks in large part to the promise of artificial intelligence. Tech companies and investors have poured billions into A.I. start-ups, sending valuations to once unthinkable levels. Some investors are worried we may be in a period akin to 1999, just before the dot-com boom went bust. But more seem to see enough differences between now and then, or they say that we’re closer to 1996 — when there were still huge gains to be made before the downturn.
Kamala Harris is not ready to be written offFor much of the last two decades, Kamala Harris was seen as a future face of the Democratic Party. Now, a year after her loss to Trump, she is at risk of her time having passed. Our national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher sat down with Harris and talked to more than two dozen of her current and past advisers to see what she is thinking as Democrats look for their next leader. People are buying her new book and showing up en masse to hear her talk. It’s not yet clear what she wants to say — even though she’s been making moves behind the scenes. More top news
Should you be able to ask a doctor to help you die? The practice, known as medically assisted death, has begun to gain acceptance around the world — in liberal European countries and conservative Latin American ones alike. But even among proponents, major questions remain about who should be eligible.
Our favorite dishes from across AmericaMy colleagues on our Food team traveled to 33 states this year to eat at some of the best restaurants in the country. Along the way, they came across several meals that they wanted to share with you all: These were their 23 favorite dishes. Of course, they often ended their meals with a sweet treat. These were their 14 favorite desserts.
Not all holiday specials are created equalOn this day 60 years ago, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered on CBS. It might still be the best television holiday special. But networks and streaming services haven’t given up on the genre. Our TV critic Mike Hale picked out this year’s specials that are worth checking out, as well as which should be avoided. His favorite was the “Family Guy” parody of Hallmark Channel holiday movies. For more on television: Streaming shows of today could learn something from “Mad Men.”
Dinner table topics
Cook: As the holidays approach, we pulled together 12 of our best latke recipes. Try: These are the best video games of 2025. Read: Our historical fiction columnist picked out 10 of the genre’s best new titles, including “Fonseca” and “Shadow Ticket.” Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer’s look of the week. Decorate: Can you differentiate antique from imitation? We have a guide for furniture hunting. |
