Opinion Today: Trump’s debate performance, abortion and Ukraine spending

Updates from Times Opinion's blog.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 13, 2024 By Anna Marks Opinion Staff Editor In today's edition, we're offering some of our favorite entries this week in The Point, Opinion's blog. This week, our writers told you what they think about Donald Trump's debate performance, abortion and spending on the war in Ukraine. Check them out below. Jessica Bennett on the Trump-Harris debate → Jesse Wegman on Trump and abortion → Paul Krugman on Europe and Ukraine → Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks Jared Nangle Guest Essay A.I. Is Changing War. We Are Not Ready. The American military is not prepared for the fact that artificial-intelligence-powered autonomous weapons systems are changing the fundamental nature of warfare. By Raj M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff More From Opinion David Brooks How a Cultural Shift Favors Harris People can be bitter for only so long. Harris's happy strength may offer a glimpse of a sunnier national mood to come. By David Brooks Paul Krugman Here's Why Trump Was Forced to Say That He Only Has 'Concepts of a Plan' Trying to come up with a viable alternative to the Affordable Care Act would probably just mean reinventing it. By Paul Krugman Jamelle Bouie What Really Matters Is How Presidents Think About Power A successful presidency is much more about organization, vision and values than it is the scope of a given legislative package. By Jamelle Bouie Guest Essay A 'Dopamine Fast' Will Not Save You From Addiction A misunderstanding of brain chemistry and neural circuitry has made people believe they should avoid pleasure. By Maia Szalavitz Guest Essay How a Naked Man on a Tropical Island Created Our Current Political Insanity Trump has made himself the most hated person in America, and that's the way he wants it. By Michael Hirschorn Guest Essay What a Blind Photographer Saw at the Paralympics The athletes' stories help her understand her own. By Samantha Hurley The Ezra Klein Show The Real 'Border Czar' Defends the Biden-Harris Record Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas explains what his agency has done to address the challenges at the U.S.-Mexico border. 1 HR 1 MIN LISTEN Matter of Opinion How Much More Does Harris Need to Say to Win? A good debate doesn't decide an election. 34 MIN LISTEN The Dirtiest Trick Whitey Bulger Ever Played on Boston A generation of students was lost amid the violence that surrounded the advent of busing. By Farah Stockman John McWhorter Harvard, Brown and Other Top Schools Are Thinking About Black Freshmen the Wrong Way I've seen firsthand that this scenario does not play out the way alarmists think it does. By John McWhorter Frank Bruni Kamala Harris Is Serious. Donald Trump Is Not. Her careful cramming and his cocky hamming tell you all you need to know. By Frank Bruni Even Harris's Strongest Supporters Long for More Details They want specifics, particularly on her economic plans. By Mara Gay Hurricane Francine Tells Us a Lot About Storm Seasons to Come Even quiet seasons can produce very significant weather events. By David Wallace-Wells Something Important Is Happening With JD Vance, Laura Loomer, Project 2025 and Donald Trump To me, this is the biggest political dynamic coming out of Tuesday's debate. By Patrick Healy What Harris Shouldn't Say About the Economy There's no point in looking backward and defending the administration's record. By Paul Krugman Eva Stenram letters Should We Refrain From Gossip? Readers offer different answers in response to a guest essay. Also: Protests on campus; China's adoption policy; Trump the fixer; hearing loss. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018