James Comey, the former F.B.I. director, pleaded not guilty today to charges he lied to Congress. His lawyer said he would move quickly to dismiss the case, calling it a “vindictive” and “selective” prosecution. The judge set a trial date of Jan. 5.
The entire arraignment lasted less than half an hour. But the scene this morning at a courthouse in Alexandria — in which Comey stood up to respond to criminal charges that President Trump all but ordered his aides to file — was the latest example of the president’s attempts to use the Justice Department to target his political enemies.
Comey, 60, faces up to five years in prison if convicted, though many current and former prosecutors believe the case will be difficult to prove. Comey’s lawyers said they would file two motions to dismiss the case: one accusing the government of “vindictive” and “selective” prosecution, and another challenging the appointment of the U.S. attorney who filed the charges.
Troops assembled near Chicago and Portland
About 500 National Guard troops, including 200 sent from Texas, are expected to begin operations today in the Chicago area. Another group, from Oregon and California, was assembled near Portland, Ore. Trump ordered their deployment to the cities he has described as out of control and in need of order.
Officials in Illinois and Oregon have sharply criticized the move in public statements and in the courts. Oregon’s lawsuit was able to halt the deployment there, at least temporarily. Illinois’s challenge will be considered tomorrow in federal court. Early today, Trump called for the Democratic mayor of Chicago and governor of Illinois to be jailed.
Trump’s homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, also criticized officials in Oregon and threatened to increase the number of federal agents in Portland. Before Trump ordered troops there, federal officials described protests in the city as “low energy.”
For more: The president said the troops would help enforce immigration law. In a new Times poll, voters favored deporting those in the U.S. illegally, but said Trump has gone too far.
Arab mediators said Hamas could be open to compromise
Some Arab leaders engaged in negotiations to end the war in Gaza believe that they can persuade Hamas to partially disarm. Such a move has long been ruled out by the Palestinian group, which views its armed struggle against Israel as central to its ideology.
Three people familiar with knowledge of the talks taking place this week in Egypt told our reporters that Hamas may agree to hand over some of its weapons if Trump can guarantee Israel will end its assault on Gaza. At an event this afternoon, Trump said the cease-fire negotiations were “going very well” and that he might go to the Middle East this weekend.
At Harvard, a so-called die-in held by pro-Palestinian students in 2023 set off a debate over campus demonstrations. Two years later, it is often cited as evidence that the school permitted a hostile atmosphere for Jews.
In New York City, the Palestinian cause was a galvanizing force that helped propel Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for mayor — and has become one of his biggest vulnerabilities.
The cost of driving depends on where you park
Most electric cars cost more than their gas alternatives, especially after the expiration last week of a $7,500 federal E.V. tax credit. But many battery-powered vehicles make up for their higher sticker price by costing less to keep on the road over time.
Whether and how much drivers can save with an E.V. depends in large part on where they live. Some places have high electricity costs; others have high fuel prices. Use our tool to see what an E.V. would cost to drive in your area.
More top news
California: Federal authorities in Los Angeles arrested an Uber driver who appeared to be obsessed with fire in connection with a wildfire that devastated the city in January.
Supreme Court: A majority of the justices seemed open to the argument that political candidates should be able to sue over their states’ election laws.
Science: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi for developing metal-organic frameworks, which act like a sponge and can help with semiconductors or slow the ripening of fruit.
Congress: A Senate vote to end the government shutdown failed again. These Democrats could be crucial to finding a way out of the deadlock.
Awards: The MacArthur Foundation announced 22 new “genius grant” recipients, including a seventh-generation basket maker.
Crackdown: China’s censors are punishing people who post doubts about work or marriage on social media.
Food: The E.U. Parliament voted to stop meatless products from using meat-like terms on their labels. That could mean no more “veggie burgers” or “cauliflower steak.”
Music: Taylor Swift has already broken the record for opening-week album sales. And it’s only been five days.
Drugs: A dangerous trend called “bluetoothing,” in which people inject themselves with the blood of other drug users to get high, is contributing to spikes in H.I.V. rates.
TIME TO UNWIND
Fra Angelico made faith visible
A once-in-a-generation exhibition is now on display in Florence, Italy. It unites over 140 religious artworks by the Renaissance painter Fra Angelico, whose work integrates the themes of life, death and life everlasting. Our critic called the show “momentous and inexpressibly beautiful.”
To assemble this many Fra Angelicos was almost a miracle. Among the masterpieces are seven major altarpieces whose panels were reassembled for the show after they were dismantled centuries ago and sold to art collectors around the world. Have a look for yourself.
Embrace the potato dinner
Since Pete Wells stepped down as The Times restaurant critic last year, he’s been on a journey to get healthy. That included swapping foods like beef, pork, cheese and potatoes for vegetables.
Eventually, though, Pete missed his potatoes. So he reframed his thinking on their role in a meal. He now sees them as the star, baked with chermoula or chimichurri instead of sour cream and Cheddar. Or perhaps tossed in a curry powder. “Not long ago, I would have told you that this was a side dish,” Pete said. “Today, I’d say that the side dish is a social construct.”
Dinner table topics
Hot rods in Jersey: The Race of Gentlemen is equal parts sporting event, fashion show and time capsule.
Therapist next door: Colleges now have counselors working out of dorms. The results have been promising.
Like nothing else: The composer Helmut Lachenmann has expanded the spectrum of sounds that instruments produce.
Quiz: Are you a true New Yorker?
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Cook: This recipe pairs simple arctic char fillets with a bright and delicious horseradish crema.
Read: A 1992 cult novel grew into a genre called dark academia. Here’s where to begin.
Watch: Fall is the best time to revisit “Gilmore Girls,” which debuted 25 years ago this week.
Treat: Here’s how to ensure that shin splints don’t derail your exercise goals.
Consider: Doctors want us all to cool it on the supplements.
Give: Struggling to find the right gift? Ask us for help.
Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
ONE LAST THING
This lake burps
For hundreds of years, people who have lived near Seneca Lake in upstate New York have reported hearing loud booms coming from the water. Locals attributed the sounds to a deity. Folklore suggested it was the drumbeat of a ghost of a Revolutionary War soldier.
Now, however, a team of scientists say they have solved the mystery. They set out last month to prove that the booms are being caused by the release of methane and other chemicals from the lake floor. In other words, the lake is burping.
Have an emphatic evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
Bryan Denton was our photo editor.
We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.