In an awe-inspiring cosmic coincidence, the moon and sun perfectly aligned this afternoon, producing a total solar eclipse visible across North America. The moon’s shadow plunged daylight into darkness, carving a path from Mexico, up to Maine and into Canada. We took lots of photos.
The event, which offered just a few minutes of totality in any location, attracted millions of onlookers — including some who traveled great distances to witness the celestial anomaly. It was a rare moment of mass gathering in a time when culture is so splintered.
The eclipse first crossed into the U.S. from the border town of Piedras Negras, Mexico at 2:27 p.m. Children in a migrant shelter on the Mexican side shrieked in amazement. The moon’s shadow then carried on to Russellville, Ark., where 100 or so couples were pronounced married; Buffalo, where hundreds listened to “Here Comes the Sun”; and Montreal, where locals on Mount Royal applauded.
In some places like Wyoming County, N.Y., crowds were disappointed to see a sky full of clouds. But elsewhere — even away from the path of totality, like in New York City — crowds delightfully squinted through protective glasses.
The path of totality finally left the U.S. after passing through Houlton, Maine around 3:30 p.m, where a quiet crowd admired the view. “I would pay a million dollars to see that again,” an 11-year-old resident said.
The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. is in 2044. See you then.
Trump said abortion limits should be decided by states
Donald Trump has offered wavering signals for months about his views on abortion access — an issue that both Democrats and Republicans believe could help decide the presidential election in November. But today, he delivered a statement declaring that abortion restrictions ought to be left up to the states.
Trump added that he was “strongly in favor of exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.” His comments appeared to be an effort to please the conservative base without alienating swing voters. “You must also win elections to restore our culture,” Trump said.
Biden took another swing at student loans
President Biden announced a large-scale effort to help pay off federal student loans, after his initial attempt was blocked last year by the Supreme Court. The new plan would eliminate debt for more than four million Americans and reduce the burden for about 25 million others. It is likely to face legal challenges that could take months to resolve.
Biden announced the plan today in Madison, Wis., the capital of a critical swing state and a college town where the president hopes to get an election-year boost.
Israel’s troop drawdown left Gaza with no active battles
The Gaza Strip, for the first time since November, is now without a major active battle. Israel’s military announced yesterday that it had withdrawn from southern Gaza, leaving fewer than 5,000 Israeli troops in all of the territory.
The war, according to analysts, appears to be entering a new phase in which Israeli forces will mostly mount brief raids into the enclave before retreating to Israel.
A matchup of Goliaths
The N.C.A.A. men’s basketball tournament is famous for unexpected upsets, when even the most storied institutions can lose to a tiny school you’ve never heard of. But in tonight’s final, two of the game’s biggest powerhouses will take center stage.
At 9:20 p.m. Eastern, Connecticut will look to become the first team in almost two decades to win consecutive championships. But to make that happen, Connecticut will have to defeat Purdue and its 7-foot-4-inch superstar center, Zach Edey. Here’s what to expect.
In the women’s tournament, South Carolina defeated Iowa to finish its season undefeated.
Hillary Clinton’s debut as a Broadway producer
“Suffs,” a musical about the women’s suffrage movement, will open this month at the Music Box Theater. The show, a longtime passion project for the singer-songwriter Shaina Taub, will be Hillary Clinton’s first producing credit on Broadway.
Clinton and Taub said that they wanted the musical to be seen as both a history and a contemporary reminder of the power of advocacy and the importance of voting.
For more, our critic reviewed the show during its Off Broadway run.
Yes, you can wash your cast-iron skillet
A little bit of dish soap won’t harm your cast-iron pan. In fact, it can make cleaning the most challenging residue much easier. Yet many American cooks think that soap can remove a pan’s patina, a belief that comes from a time when all soap was made with lye.
Our reporter Julia Moskin was one of those cooks. But after conducting tests and consulting experts, she dispelled that cooking myth and four others.
Have an enlightened evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
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