Donald Trump is expected take the stage tonight in Iowa at the state Republican Party’s biggest fund-raiser of the year. His presence is likely to overshadow his G.O.P. rivals there, all of whom he is currently trouncing in the polls.
But as became even more clear last night, Trump’s biggest challenges may lie elsewhere. Federal prosecutors yesterday added major accusations to an indictment charging him with mishandling classified documents, including an assertion that Trump sought to have security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago deleted. The prosecutors also added a charge accusing the former president of showing visitors a classified battle plan related to attacking Iran.
Meanwhile, Trump is also on the cusp of another federal indictment in connection with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He is also being scrutinized for possible election interference by the district attorney’s office in Fulton County, Ga.
For more details, my colleague Charlie Savage analyzed the updated indictment, annotating the most important sections.
Ukraine reclaimed a long-occupied southern village
President Volodymyr Zelensky declared today that his troops had retaken the southern village of Staromaiorske as part of a renewed push into Russian-occupied territory. The Russians had held the village since the early months of the war.
But the fierce effort required to retake Staromaiorske, effectively a ruin, offers a window into the brutal battles ahead. The Ukrainians still have several layers of Russian forces to push through before they reach the Sea of Azov — a key objective of the counteroffensive.
In Russia, officials said they had downed two Ukrainian missiles, including one that fell and exploded in the center of the Russian port city of Taganrog, injuring at least nine. The incidents appeared to be rare instances of Ukraine using missiles to attack targets inside Russia, a sign of their increasingly aggressive campaign.
Biden keeps up his electric-vehicle push
The Biden administration proposed new rules today that would require automakers to sharply improve the fuel economy of their cars and trucks. It is the second of a pair of proposals intended to accelerate the nation’s transition to all-electric passenger vehicles, which is one of President Biden’s signature climate goals.
Both today’s proposal as well as the previous one — which set strict limits on tailpipe emissions — are likely to face a wave of legal challenges. But if either or both measures remain in place, they would require nothing short of a revolution in the auto industry.
Beating the heat, old school
A heat wave is still pressing down on large swaths of Europe and North Africa, where air-conditioning is sparse.
In Europe, many residents are relying on traditional architectural techniques to stay cool: Courtyards, heavy shutters, reflective painting and white-stone facades can go a long way in holding back sweltering temperatures. In New York, people slogged through another day of blast-furnace heat. Some stocked their vehicles with frozen water bottles; others carried an extra shirt or a sports drink.
Near you: See what temperatures are expected in your area.
More top news
West Africa: The commander of Niger’s presidential guard declared himself the leader of the country, two days after a military coup.
Economy: Wage growth slowed this spring, the latest sign that the Federal Reserve might be succeeding in its effort to engineer a “soft landing.”
Military: President Biden stripped commanders of authority over sexual assault and murder cases in a bid to prevent abuse in the ranks.
Marijuana: Mastercard is moving to stop customers from using its debit cards at cannabis shops because it’s still illegal at the federal level.
Retirement: Americans can expect a healthy, roughly 3 percent inflation adjustment to their Social Security benefits next year.
Entertainment: The Emmy Awards will be postponed, most likely until January, because of the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes. Sony also pushed back the release date of four major films.
EVENING WIND DOWN
The World Cup is big in Australia. Just not on TV.
By most estimates, the Women’s World Cup is the biggest sporting event to take place in Australia in more than 20 years. Organizers have trumpeted record ticket sales and hailed the event as a celebration of the emerging popularity of women’s soccer. But for locals, it can be hard to follow.
That’s because FIFA sold the tournament's nationwide broadcast rights to a cellphone company, which has placed the bulk of the matches on its paid television network. The decision has left many Australians, who are unwilling to sign up for another streaming subscription, missing out on games that are sometimes just a short drive away.
It’s a season worth celebrating
Many of us enjoy a good summer get-together, whether it’s a simple backyard barbecue or an extravagant soiree. But maybe the idea of hosting your own seems daunting.
My colleagues at T Magazine put together a guide to help you host a gathering to remember. They pulled together three recipes that look and taste impressive, but are deceptively easy to make. They also asked several artists to spice up our idea of a party hat.
But if you’re happy just being a guest, here are some gift ideas so you don’t show up empty-handed.
Dinner table topics
Big hair, big thoughts: An exhibition in Paris explores the evolution of women’s hairstyles, because hair is never just hair.
“Barbie” dance delight: The most majestic scene in this film belongs to the Kens.
A wet-suit Willy Wonka: A self-taught designer makes wet suits for surfers who want more than the typical black neoprene.
Smart robots: Google’s RT-2 brings artificial intelligence technology to robots. Here’s a sneak peak.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
Cook: This Little Gem salad with a garlicky almond dressing is simple and delicious.
Watch: Are you up for a joy-filled binge? Settle in with “Survival of the Thickest.”
Read: A novel about a diver fighting to escape a whale’s belly is among the 14 books The Times recommends for August.
De-escalate: If you’re fighting with a partner, these phrases can keep it calm.
Raft: It’s looking like a banner season for white water.
Swim: That quick dip could make you ill from contaminated water. Here’s what to watch for.
Compete: Take this week’s news quiz.
Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword.
ONE LAST THING
A tiny cabin with seals for neighbors
Off the coast of Maine lies a 550-square-foot cabin on a small remote island, with not even a single tree to block the 360-degree views of the ocean. There’s no running water or food nearby, and weather often makes it unreachable. Stephen King once said there was a “novel here, just waiting to be written.”
Charlotte Gale decided the trade-offs were worth it. She bought the entire island (including the cabin) for $339,000. She now often stays there during the summer, with her longest stint being four consecutive nights.
Have an audacious weekend.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on Monday. — Matthew
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