When Donald Trump was president, he used Twitter to set policy, attack his critics and appeal to his followers. Now, in an attempt to reverse the momentum that has been fueling the candidacy of Kamala Harris, he is set to return to his old haunt.
Trump is scheduled to appear tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern on X for an interview with the website’s owner, Elon Musk. It will be the culmination of Musk’s emergence as one of Trump’s wealthiest and most high-profile backers.
For Trump, the event could offer an opportunity to regain some of the spotlight from Harris, whose new and energetic candidacy has forced his campaign to recalibrate its strategy less than three months before Election Day. Polls by The New York Times and Siena College released this weekend showed Harris with leads in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.
“When I talk to Trump allies and advisers, many of them view the last three weeks as Trump’s worst sustained performance in a very long time,” Jonathan Swan, our politics reporter, said. We took a look inside those struggles.
An ‘extremely dangerous’ fire is burning near Athens
Hundreds of firefighters today battled a major wildfire that broke out near Athens and raced through parched forest, destroying properties and prompting evacuation orders. In some places, the flames were more than 80 feet tall.
The blaze is one of the worst to threaten the Greek capital this year in what has been a busy fire season, in part because of a dry winter and a hot summer. Last year, Europe’s exceptionally hot summer contributed to 47,000 deaths, though heat adaptation measures prevented many more.
Netanyahu clashed with his defense minister
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel released a statement today accusing his own defense minister of adopting “the anti-Israel narrative.” Netanyahu said that the minister, Yoav Gallant, had harmed the chances of a hostage release deal by stating that Netanyahu’s goal of “total victory” over Hamas was “nonsense” in private comments reported by Israeli news media.
The reports of tension came before a high-wire week of risk and opportunity: President Biden and mediators from Egypt and Qatar said last week that they were prepared to present a “final” proposal to end the war.
Immigrants are becoming U.S. citizens at a faster rate
The federal government is now processing citizenship requests faster than at any point over the last decade, allowing thousands of immigrants to become new Americans every week.
The newly speedy process has allowed the government to work through a backlog that built up during the Trump administration and the pandemic.
L.A. wants to make money off the 2028 Olympics
France approached this year’s Paris Games with uncompromising ambition, and left its residents with an almost universal smile. Now Los Angeles, which collected the Olympic flag at yesterday’s closing ceremony, is already looking ahead to hosting the 2028 Games — hoping to achieve similar success and maybe even turn a profit.
The private group organizing the Games has a budget of nearly $7 billion. But the city is investing tens of billions more in three main projects with the goal of lasting effects: expanding the rail and bus system, revamping the airport and renovating the downtown convention center.
Look back: The U.S. won the Paris Games by many metrics, but not all. These were our best photos.
Is it time for another Covid shot?
Covid is circulating at elevated levels in many parts of the country, and some patients have begun asking doctors whether it is time for another dose of protection even before updated vaccines arrive in the fall.
He’ll cut your hair anywhere
When Julien Howard was a teenager, he started cutting hair in exchange for burgers. Now, at 33, his clients include celebrities like Donald Glover, Regé-Jean Page and Josh Groban in large part because he likes to push the boundaries of what a barbershop can be.
Howard, who has become known as the Vélo Barber because he travels around New York City on a collapsible bike, has taken his mobile salon to benches in Central Park, Broadway dressing rooms, secluded city rooftops and the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu. And he’s still not satisfied. “Why not cut hair on the Empire State Building?” Howard said. “Or in space?”
Have an enterprising evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
Philip Pacheco was our photo editor today.
We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
