Your Wednesday Evening Briefing

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/05/briefing/trump-trial-timeline-kevin-mccarthy-taiwan.html

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Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.

1. After the explosive indictment of Donald Trump, a lengthy court process begins.

Prosecutors who charged Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records have already begun their monthslong effort to secure a conviction. They have, for example, pushed to prohibit Trump from posting evidence on social media. However, it’s only the very beginning of a long and uncertain process: Any potential trial would probably be next year at the earliest.

Trump, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, is expected to try to delay the proceedings. His lawyers said they anticipated filing a motion to dismiss the case and preferred to push the trial to spring 2024. In the meantime, Trump remains the top contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

To convict Trump of a felony, prosecutors, led by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, must show that Trump intended to commit or conceal a second crime. That raises the untested question of whether a state prosecutor can invoke a federal crime even though he lacks jurisdiction to charge that crime himself.

For more: Here’s a detailed explanation of the charges against Trump.

2. A flurry of diplomacy centered on China’s uncomfortable relationship with the West.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy met with Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, in California, signaling American solidarity with Taiwan amid rising tensions with China. The meeting was the most senior exchange between U.S. and Taiwanese officials on U.S. soil in more than 40 years, which could provoke China to retaliate.

Separately, President Emmanuel Macron of France traveled to Beijing to urge Xi Jinping, China’s leader, to play a “major role” in bringing peace to Ukraine. Some in the West, including Macron, have suggested that Xi may be one of the few officials with the ability to sway Vladimir Putin.

In other diplomatic news, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine visited Poland in an attempt to shore up support.

3. Liberal candidates won two crucial Midwest races.

In a Wisconsin race for a state Supreme Court seat, the liberal judge Janet Protasiewicz handily defeated the conservative candidate, Daniel Kelly. Her win is likely to result in a reversal of the state’s abortion ban and end the use of gerrymandered legislative maps drawn by Republicans.

In Chicago’s mayoral election, Brandon Johnson, a county commissioner who called for a vast expansion of social programs as well as new taxes, defeated a more conservative Democrat, Paul Vallas. Voters there rejected the kind of tough-on-crime politics that have become a staple of municipal elections in recent years, with some viewing Vallas as a closet Republican.

In other politics news, a longtime Democratic state representative in North Carolina switched parties, giving Republicans narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers.

4. A deadly tornado left a trail of destruction in southeast Missouri.

State officials reported five deaths and multiple injuries after at least one tornado and other powerful storms tore through the area, uprooting trees and damaging homes. “A lot of older structures have been completely leveled,” one local said.

The dangerous weather was expected to continue today, with severe storms forecast across large parts of the center of the country, from Arkansas to Michigan. In parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, several inches of snow are expected.

For more: Here’s what to do if there’s a tornado expected in your area.

5. The D.O.J. reached a $144 million deal with the victims of a Texas church massacre.

Attorney General Merrick Garland signed off on a settlement to resolve claims by the families of 26 people killed in a 2017 mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Last year, a judge found that Air Force officials had failed to submit crucial records, including a domestic violence conviction, that would have prevented the killer from obtaining the semiautomatic rifle that he used in the attack.

The families of the victims argued that the federal government was liable for its failure to update the background check system, because officials kept records that should have prevented the gunman from buying a firearm.

6. One chapter in American automobiles ends, and another begins.

General Motors will end production of the Camaro, its stalwart muscle car dating to 1966, in January — joining Dodge’s Charger and Challenger in the class of once-hot sports cars that could not outpace the industry’s shifting preferences toward SUVs and electric vehicles.

G.M. executives did hint that the Camaro could eventually return to the streets. But as the automaker vows to phase out traditional engines by 2035, the next version will surely be electric.

In related news, the push to electrify cars is already reshaping the economy. Ohio in particular is being viewed as a case study in whether electric vehicles will create or destroy jobs.

7. The world’s richest man and woman are both French.

Bernard Arnault, whose luxury empire includes brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Company and Christian Dior, has an estimated net worth of $211 billion, according to Forbes’s latest tally. And the cosmetics heiress Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, whose grandfather founded L’Oreal, has an estimated fortune of $80.5 billion.

The Forbes rankings caused a sensation in France this week, touching off a new round of headlines about income inequality and igniting debates over whether the ultrarich have augmented their fortunes by paying too little in taxes. Arnault’s rise also reflects the ascendence of the luxury goods industry, and the relative decline in the tech fortunes of moguls like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

8. Nearly a quarter of Americans deal with hair loss. There are now lots of ways to treat it.

The multibillion dollar hair-loss industry now offers a collection of drugs and surgical treatments for the roughly 80 million men and women who deal with the issue.

Seeking to simplify the available options, and illustrate each step of the process, my colleagues Julia Rothman and Shaina Feinberg asked several people who’ve sought treatment for hair loss about their experiences.

In other health news, some wellness influencers have suggested that the ashwagandha plant can calm anxiety and help focus the mind. But the science behind it is murky at best.

9. What to do tonight:

Cook: Matzo brei is one of many Passover recipes to consider trying this week.

Listen: We compiled five minutes of music that will make you love the jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams.

Read: A new book that traces the roots, rise and influence of spoken word poetry.

Organize: Several online tools make planning social events much easier.  

Decorate: Make sure your home’s hallways are as interesting as the rooms.

Garden: Instead of foraging for wild edible plants, welcome them into your garden.

Play: Today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here.

10. And finally, have you noticed that Emilys are everywhere?

You may have heard of the Netflix character gallivanting around Paris, the celebrity who was seen smooching Harry Styles or the recent biopic about a 19th-century writer.

The name — which comes from the Latin name Aemilia — has become ever-present in American society. Roughly two and a half decades ago, when many current stars were born, parents considered it a safe and simple way to divert from the norm. Emily was the most popular name for baby girls in the U.S. from 1996 to 2007.

Have a familiar night.

Sarah Hughes compiled photos for this briefing.

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