Good morning. You taking care of yourself? Getting some “me” time? I don’t write much about feelings, generally, but this is a day that can be thick with them: judgy siblings; over-served cousins; ungrateful offspring; that silent stranger who arrived with your aunt and who might be her boyfriend, it’s hard to say.
Here’s what to know: Every little thing is going to be all right. You’re going to serve the best meal that you can under the circumstances, and it’s going to be delicious and well received. You are not going to change anyone’s mind or behavior today, and that’s all right, too. Put an ashtray out on the porch for Uncle Bertie. Change is not what today is about.
Today is about giving thanks. Today is about practicing radical empathy. Today is about acceptance of things as they are, not as you wish them to be. Just do your best! Make a negroni if you need to chill out. Don’t forget to breathe. And I bet it’s a fantastic day. (Here’s a collection of The Times’s best Thanksgiving cocktail recipes.)
If you’re in need of cooking assistance, we’ve got you covered: our ultimate guide to cooking the feast; the last-minute recipes you need when you’ve forgotten, say, to make a gluten-free option for that kid home from college; a fantastic video teaching you how to carve and plate your turkey.
On which subject, and just so you have it right here in your inbox: Your turkey is done when its internal temperature is 165 degrees. You can pull it from the oven or smoker or deep fryer when the temperature is a little lower than that. The temperature will continue to rise as the turkey rests — and it absolutely needs to rest, so that its internal juices settle into the meat rather than running all over your cutting board. Thirty minutes minimum, please!
Finally, don’t forget to give thanks to all those around you today. They matter. And enjoy your meal.
Sam Sifton writes the Cooking newsletter, which you can sign up for here.
THE LATEST NEWS
Gaza Hostage Deal
The four-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and any release of hostages will not begin until Friday at the earliest, Israeli officials said. The two sides are working out the final details of the arrangement — they still disagree on how many captives are being held in Gaza.
Secret negotiations and two critical phone calls: Here’s how President Biden persuaded Israel and Hamas to compromise on the hostage deal, at least for now.
The Biden administration is pushing the Israeli government to set up safe areas in Gaza, let in more aid and take other steps to protect Palestinian civilians.
The news about a temporary cease-fire was met with mixed emotions in Gaza. “This period is not enough to pull the dead bodies from under the rubble and bury them,” one resident said.
Israel’s decision to pause fighting comes after a weekslong debate about whether a truce would strengthen Hamas.
More on the War
Many Jewish families in the U.S. will sit down for Thanksgiving dinner ideologically divided over Israel’s response to the Hamas terrorist attacks.
The Israeli military released videos of what it said was a Hamas tunnel system beneath Al-Shifa Hospital. Hamas and hospital administrators have denied claims that militants used the complex for cover.
A former State Department official was charged with a hate crime after he was filmed harassing a halal food vendor in Manhattan.
Some American supporters of a cease-fire in Gaza are using fax machines to get lawmakers’ attention, The Washington Post reports.
Politics
Courts in Maryland and Oregon struck down gun control measures, the latest rulings to take a broad interpretation of the Second Amendment.
The chief executive of the main super PAC backing Ron DeSantis’s presidential bid resigned after infighting among the candidate’s allies.
Biden’s 2022 climate law has spurred investment in energy projects. It has also delivered windfalls for big banks by creating a market for green tax credits.
The Bidens will spend Thanksgiving on Nantucket, as they have since the 1970s. They’re staying at the beachfront home of a billionaire friend.
International
A far-right party led by Geert Wilders, who campaigned on an anti-immigrant platform, was on track to win the most seats in Dutch parliamentary elections.
The World Health Organization has asked China to share information about unconfirmed reports of an unusual number of respiratory illnesses affecting children.
Pakistan has expelled thousands of Afghans after a rise in tensions between the two countries.
Western leaders directly criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine at a virtual G20 meeting. Vladimir Putin, who attended via video link, rejected the criticism and called the war “a tragedy.”
South Korea said it would no longer abide by a ban on surveillance flights near North Korea after Pyongyang launched a military spy satellite.
The killing of a 22 year-old woman has prompted debate and protest in Italy, where chauvinistic attitudes remain deeply rooted.
Tech
OpenAI employees celebrated Sam Altman’s return as chief executive over chicken tenders and boba tea. Read what happened in the five days between Altman’s firing and reinstatement.
Altman’s return was a victory for capitalists over those who see A.I. as something to be restrained, Kevin Roose writes.
A federal case against the crypto exchange Binance alleged that its founder, Changpeng Zhao, and his deputies knew that criminals used the platform.
Other Big Stories
Two people died after a speeding car hit a barrier, took flight, then burst into flames at a bridge near Niagara Falls that links the U.S. and Canada.
U.S. gas and diesel prices have plunged, with American oil production high, European demand is weak and OPEC Plus countries are in disarray.
Opinions
The military assistance the U.S. guarantees without conditions only undermines regional stability and Israeli security, Josh Paul, a former director of U.S. arms transfers, writes.
Here are columns by Maureen Dowd’s brother, Kevin, on the 2024 elections, Nick Kristof on Texas homelessness and Jamelle Bouie on the Senate.
MORNING READS
Getting Snoopy to soar: Behind New York City’s painstaking preparations for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History lesson: Everything you learned about Thanksgiving is wrong.
“The One With…”: Read Vulture’s ranking of “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes.
Secret good news: New research suggests that keeping positive secrets to yourself can have an “energizing” effect.
Siesta time: Here’s how to have a great nap — you deserve it.
Lives Lived: The British-born dancer Joan Jara dedicated much of her life to finding justice for her husband, Victor Jara, a popular Chilean folk singer and songwriter who was killed during the military coup that brought Gen. Augusto Pinochet Ugarte to power in 1973. She died at 96.
SPORTS
N.F.L.: Jim Irsay, the Indianapolis Colts owner, said he was profiled by the police for being “a rich, white billionaire” when officers arrested him in 2014 for driving under the influence.
Women’s college basketball: The UConn star guard Azzi Fudd will miss the remainder of the season after injuring her right knee.
Men’s college football: In an interview with The Athletic, the U.S.C. coach Lincoln Riley said he would return to coach the Trojans next year.
ARTS AND IDEAS
The big 4-0: Over the four decades since J. Crew was founded, the preppy aesthetic that its founder sought to bring to the masses has been rejected and embraced, defined and redefined. Along the way, the company matured into a beloved American brand. Now, after surviving an identity crisis in the late 2010s and Covid-era bankruptcy, J. Crew is hoping for a renaissance.
More on culture
Sheila Kennedy, a former model, sued Axl Rose of the band Guns N’ Roses, accusing him of raping her in a New York hotel in 1989.
THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …
Prevent neck pain with these exercises.
Drink wine from an elegant yet inexpensive glass.
Buy the perfect gift for a tween.
Follow Wirecutter’s live coverage of the best early Black Friday deals.
GAMES
Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were nondairy and ordinary.
And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections.
Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow.
Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com.