Education
A Debt Deal May Be Near, but the Drama Is Not Over
After days of marathon sessions between House Republicans and the White House, negotiators are closing in on a deal and beginning to draft legislative text.
While some details are still in flux, the agreement would raise the debt limit for two years while imposing strict caps on discretionary spending not related to the military or veterans. The deal would meet Republicans’ demand to cut some federal spending and allow Democrats to say they had spared most domestic programs from significant cuts.
“Kevin McCarthy needs to be able to say that they cut spending,” our colleague Carl Hulse said. “They’re trying to find a way to do that in a bill that Democrats can still vote for.”
Several right-wing Republicans have already vowed to oppose a compromise that retreats too far from their initial demands. That would force the House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, to find more Democratic votes.
Even if McCarthy and President Biden come to an agreement over the next few days, there is no guarantee that the measure could pass both the House and the Senate before June 5 — the day the Treasury projects it could run out of money to pay its bills.
“The drama is just starting,” Carl said. “We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there.”
For more: Here’s what might happen if the U.S. defaults on its debt.
“Most people are operating under the assumption that Erdogan is going to win,” Ben Hubbard, our Istanbul bureau chief, told us.
Texas Republicans move to impeach the state A.G.
The Republican-dominated Texas House is set to vote tomorrow on the impeachment of Ken Paxton, the state’s attorney general and a Republican. A House panel recommended that he be removed for a range of abuses and potential crimes, including using his office to benefit a specific donor.
The move thrust the State Capitol and its Republican leadership into uncharted political territory, setting the stage for the House to hold a vote on impeachment — its first in decades, and one of the few ever conducted in the state’s history.
Colleges brace for race-blind admissions
Over the next month, the Supreme Court is expected to declare an end to affirmative action as we know it. While the scope of the ruling is still unknown, the American college admissions system is not waiting for the court to act. One widely used universal application is rolling out an option to allow universities to hide information about an applicant’s race.
The move is aimed primarily at immunizing colleges from litigation. But it could also put more pressure on applicants to signal their racial and ethnic background through essays or teacher recommendations, which are expected to be protected under the Supreme Court’s ruling.
In “Succession,” the rich are very, very different
On Sunday, the finale of the HBO drama “Succession” will answer the question (or not) of who inherits the media empire of the late tyrant Logan Roy.
In many ways, “Succession” is the heir to rich-people soaps like the 1980s show “Dallas,” our colleague James Poniewozik writes. Since then, American wealth inequality has risen sharply. And unlike those earlier series, “Succession” portrays the problems of the hyper-wealthy as inevitably becoming ours, too.
For more: Here are five big questions heading into the finale. Some viewers are placing bets on who will succeed.
“The Little Mermaid” changes are only skin deep
Disney’s live-action/C.G.I. remake, which arrives in theaters today, stars Halle Bailey as Ariel alongside a diverse cast. It’s dutiful, defensive and desperate for approval, our critic Wesley Morris writes.
Only one number — a rap called “The Scuttlebutt” with lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda — stands out. “Watching it, you realize why the rest of the movie plays it so safe,” Wesley writes. “Because fun is some risky business.”
This is how the director Rob Marshall adapted the musical number “Under the Sea.” And here are 13 other differences between the remake and the classic 1989 animated film.
Dinner table topics
Are the Hamptons still hip?
Sometime after the existence of Pangea but before Gwyneth Paltrow bought a place there, the Hamptons formed as a region on the southeastern end of Long Island. The combination of seclusion, square footage and ocean waves eventually created a unique cachet.
But for many young people, the Hamptons have lost their luster. They represent a conspicuous wealth that isn’t as celebrated as it may have been in the 1990s and 2000s. Extremely expensive housing (even for trailer parks), an influx of permanent residents during the pandemic, and a crackdown on nightlife have made the area less desirable for those seeking summertime hedonism.
Have a cool weekend.
Thanks for reading. We’ll be off on Monday for Memorial Day. Matthew will be back on Tuesday. — Matthew and Justin
Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.
We welcome your feedback. Let us know what you think at evening@nytimes.com.
Education
Four Fraternity Members Charged After a Pledge Is Set on Fire
Four fraternity members at San Diego State University are facing felony charges after a pledge was set on fire during a skit at a party last year, leaving him hospitalized for weeks with third-degree burns, prosecutors said Monday.
The fire happened on Feb. 17, 2024, when the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity held a large party at its house, despite being on probation, court documents show. While under probation, the fraternity was required to “demonstrate exemplary compliance with university policies,” according to the college’s guidelines.
Instead, prosecutors said, the fraternity members planned a skit during which a pledge would be set on fire.
After drinking alcohol in the presence of the fraternity president, Caden Cooper, 22, the three younger men — Christopher Serrano, 20, and Lars Larsen, 19, both pledges, and Lucas Cowling, 20 — then performed the skit, prosecutors said.
Mr. Larsen was set on fire and wounded, prosecutors said, forcing him to spend weeks in the hospital for treatment of third-degree burns covering 16 percent of his body, mostly on his legs.
The charges against Mr. Cooper, Mr. Cowling and Mr. Serrano include recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury; conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public; and violating the social host ordinance. If convicted of all the charges, they would face a sentence of probation up to seven years, two months in prison.
Mr. Larsen himself was charged. The San Diego County District Attorney’s office said that he, as well as Mr. Cooper and Mr. Cowling, also tried to lie to investigators in the case, deleted evidence on social media, and told other fraternity members to destroy evidence and not speak to anyone about what happened at the party.
All four men have pleaded not guilty.
Lawyers representing Mr. Cooper and Mr. Cowling did not immediately respond to messages requesting comment on Tuesday. Contact information for lawyers for Mr. Serrano and Mr. Larsen was not immediately available.
The four students were released on Monday, but the court ordered them not to participate in any fraternity parties, not to participate in any recruitment events for the fraternity, and to obey all laws, including those related to alcohol consumption.
The university said Tuesday that it would begin its own administrative investigation into the conduct of the students and the fraternity, now that the police investigation was complete.
After it confirmed the details, the dean of students office immediately put the Phi Kappa Psi chapter on interim suspension, which remains in effect, college officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Additional action was taken, but the office said it could not reveal specifics because of student privacy laws.
“The university prioritizes the health and safety of our campus community,” college officials said in a statement, “and has high expectations for how all members of the university community, including students, behave in the interest of individual and community safety and well-being.”
At least half a dozen fraternities at San Diego State University have been put on probation in the last two years, officials said.
Education
Video: Several Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Including Juvenile Suspect
new video loaded: Several Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Including Juvenile Suspect
transcript
transcript
Several Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Including Juvenile Suspect
The police responded to a shooting at a private Christian school in Madison, Wis., on Monday.
-
Around 10:57 a.m., our officers were responding to a call of an active shooter at the Abundant Life Christian School here in Madison. When officers arrived, they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers located a juvenile who they believe was responsible for this deceased in the building. I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas. Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. These types of trauma don’t just go away.
Recent episodes in Guns & Gun Violence
Education
Video: Biden Apologizes for U.S. Mistreatment of Native American Children
new video loaded: Biden Apologizes for U.S. Mistreatment of Native American Children
transcript
transcript
Biden Apologizes for U.S. Mistreatment of Native American Children
President Biden offered a formal apology on Friday on behalf of the U.S. government for the abuse of Native American children from the early 1800s to the late 1960s.
-
The Federal government has never, never formally apologized for what happened until today. I formally apologize. It’s long, long, long overdue. Quite frankly, there’s no excuse that this apology took 50 years to make. I know no apology can or will make up for what was lost during the darkness of the federal boarding school policy. But today, we’re finally moving forward into the light.
Recent episodes in Politics
-
Business1 week ago
These are the top 7 issues facing the struggling restaurant industry in 2025
-
Culture1 week ago
The 25 worst losses in college football history, including Baylor’s 2024 entry at Colorado
-
Sports1 week ago
The top out-of-contract players available as free transfers: Kimmich, De Bruyne, Van Dijk…
-
Politics1 week ago
New Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics7 days ago
Carter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics5 days ago
Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health4 days ago
Ozempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week ago
Ivory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades