Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East and called for elections to replace him.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel,” Schumer said today in a speech on the Senate floor. “He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows. Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.”
Schumer’s speech was the sharpest critique yet of Netanyahu from a senior American elected official. It reflects growing dissatisfaction among Democrats, particularly progressives, with Israel’s conduct in the war and the conflict’s toll on Palestinian civilians, which has created a strategic and political dilemma for President Biden.
Republicans have tried to capitalize on that dynamic for an electoral advantage. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, called Schumer’s actions “unprecedented,” and accused Democrats of having “an anti-Israel problem.”
Prosecutors asked to delay Trump’s hush-money trial
Less than two weeks before Donald Trump was set to go on trial on criminal charges in Manhattan, the prosecutors who brought the case proposed that the judge delay it by up to 30 days. It was a startling development in the case, the first prosecution of a former American president.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which accused Trump of covering up a sex scandal during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, sought the delay so defense lawyers could review a new batch of records. It is unclear when the judge will rule on the delay.
A postponement in the Manhattan case would most likely delight Trump, whose central strategy for fighting his legal entanglements is to stall as much as possible.
Kamala Harris visited an abortion clinic, in a historic first
Vice President Kamala Harris met today with abortion providers and staff members in the Twin Cities, a visit that is believed to be the first by a president or vice president to an abortion clinic. Her visit was an attempt to highlight what the administration has done to try to preserve access to abortion, as conservative states enact growing restrictions.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has created an energized coalition of voters who helped Democrats win federal and state races, thanks to the candidates’ support of abortion rights. The issue has emerged as a linchpin of President Biden’s re-election strategy.
A surge in power use threatens U.S. climate goals
Demand for electricity, which has stayed largely flat for two decades, has surged in the U.S. Utilities are facing an explosion in the number of data centers, a resurgence in manufacturing, and millions of electric vehicles being plugged in — and have nearly doubled their forecasts of how much additional power they’ll need by 2028. This expansion could jeopardize the country’s plans to fight climate change.
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The funniest novels
Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel, “Catch-22,” presented a voice that was fresh and liberated, but also funny — about something American novels hadn’t been funny about before: war. He gave writers permission to be irreverent about the most serious stuff, including life and death.
With Heller in mind, we put together a list of 22 of the funniest novels written in English since “Catch-22.” Our list includes the dark and deadpan “Then We Came to the End,” the dreamlike “I Am Not Sidney Poitier,” and the profane and surreal “Lake of Urine: A Love Story.” See our full list here.
What is your favorite funny novel? We’ll put your picks in a separate roundup — and in our reading queues.
Gen Z can’t commit to dating apps
Dating-app fatigue is real for young singles. On social media, they don’t hold back about why: Swiping feels transactional and unnatural. They don’t trust the app companies. They’re not interested in hookup culture.
My colleague Gina Cherelus, who writes a column about relationships, gave up swiping and noticed that her dating life became more active. “Knowing that I’ve eliminated them as an option to meet people has made me more inclined to engage in conversation with a stranger at a cafe, bookshop or house party,” she wrote.
A pageant of hockey hair
Minnesota’s state high school hockey tournament is a four-day smorgasbord of slap shots, glove saves and power plays — and the global hub for “hockey hair.” The tradition stretches back to N.H.L. greats like Guy Lafleur and Marty McSorley, who once took to the ice with epic mullets. It’s an opportunity for the players to see who can out-mullet their peers.
