The Evening: Backlash to Biden’s pardon

Plus, Russian strikes in Syria

View in browser|nytimes.com December 2, 2024 By Jonathan Wolfe Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. Backlash to Biden's pardon Russian strikes in Syria Plus, the best TV and movies of the year President Biden, left, and his son Hunter. Eric Lee/The New York Times Democrats criticized Biden's pardon of his son Several Democrats in Congress spoke out today against President Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden, who was convicted of gun charges and pleaded guilty to tax charges. The Democrats said it would erode Americans' faith in democracy and the rule of law. "The pardon was a mistake," Representative Jason Crow of Colorado said, adding, "I think it will make it harder for us going forward when we talk about upholding democracy." Others defended Biden's move as the justified action of a concerned father who feared that President-elect Donald Trump would follow through on his threats to seek retribution against his rivals. As Trump continues to assemble his next administration, he has drawn criticism — and has doubled down on defiance. Rather than turning to more credentialed choices after the collapse of Matt Gaetz's bid for attorney general, Trump has named more ideological warriors, conspiracy theorists and even family members to senior government positions. Over the weekend, Trump said he wanted to replace the F.B.I. director with Kash Patel, a critic of the bureau who has called for shutting down its headquarters. He also said he would name Massad Boulos, a Lebanese American businessman and the father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany, as a senior adviser covering Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, and Charles Kushner, the father of Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner, to be ambassador to France. In other politics news: Democrats urged Republicans to adhere to traditional Senate vetting standards for Trump's picks, including F.B.I. background checks. Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland said he would challenge the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler of New York, amid concern within the party that lawmakers were not ready to fight Trump's efforts to test the limits of his power. Trump threatened that there would be "hell to pay" unless the hostages in Gaza were freed before his inauguration. The director of the widely debunked film "2000 Mules," which inflamed right-wing conspiracy theories about election fraud, acknowledged that its findings were based on a faulty analysis. The aftermath of a Russian airstrike in northern Syria, today. Mohammed Al Rifai/EPA, via Shutterstock Russian warplanes struck at rebels in Syria Russian and Syrian fighter jets struck targets across territory seized by rebels in northwestern Syria today, according to Syrian state media. The attack comes days after a patchwork of rebel forces launched a lightning offensive on Aleppo, once the country's largest city, upending a dormant civil war. The rebels have united under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a former Al Qaeda affiliate that broke with the group years ago. The group wants to replace the government of President Bashar al-Assad with one inspired by Islamic principles. Russia and Iran expressed support today for the Syrian leader, whom they have propped up since the war began in 2011. Here's a primer on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Prime Minister Michel Barnier last week. Julien De Rosa/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images France's government faces a no-confidence vote Prime Minister Michel Barnier pushed a budget bill through the lower house of Parliament today without a vote. It is a risky move that exposed his government to no-confidence motions, which opposition parties swiftly filed. A vote is expected as early as Wednesday. The prospect of a government collapse — and of a failure to pass a budget — has rattled financial markets, sharply increased France's borrowing costs, and further deepened the uncertainty in the country since snap elections last summer yielded no clear parliamentary majority. Simone Noronha Hysterectomies often leave patients uninformed Aside from C-sections, hysterectomies are the most common surgical procedure among women. Nearly 500,000 patients had a uterus removed in 2020. But patients who undergo the procedure often leave the operating room not knowing exactly which of their organs remain — particularly the ovaries, which profoundly influence lifelong health. "I would say 50 percent of patients don't know the specifics around their surgery," one urogynecologist said. "It really is mind-blowing." More top news Tech: Intel's chief executive officer, Pat Gelsinger, stepped down after nearly four years leading the company. Its revenue declined more than 30 percent from 2021 through 2023. Middle East: Hezbollah and Israel traded fire, as each side blamed the other for violating the tenuous truce. Gaza: Israel has demolished more than 600 buildings to create a buffer area and expanded a network of bases, suggesting it may want to exert long-term control over the area. China: Last week, U.S. officials said that China had freed three Americans in a prisoner swap. In a secret part of the deal, China also let three Uyghurs leave for the U.S. Wisconsin: A judge struck down portions of a 2011 law that stripped most government workers in the state of collective bargaining rights and set off fierce demonstrations. Africa: Biden started the only trip of his presidency to the sub-Saharan region, a center of the economic competition between the U.S. and China. Belgium: A groundbreaking law gave some sex workers broader access to the country's robust social security system and protections against exploitation and violence. Business: Stellantis, the owner of Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram, and Samsung will receive $7 billion in loans from the Biden administration to build battery factories in the U.S. Climate: The International Court of Justice will begin hearing arguments in a major case on how international laws can be used to address global warming. TIME TO UNWIND Alex Merto The best TV and movies of 2024 Even during a year when television felt more mid than ever, there was still lots to enjoy. "English Teacher," "My Brilliant Friend," "Shogun" and "Somebody Somewhere" are a few of the series that stood out to our television critics. Here's what else they liked. Our movie critics took a slightly different approach and ranked their 10 favorite movies this year. Manohla Dargis's list includes "All We Imagine as Light," "A Real Pain" and "Ernie Gehr: Mechanical Magic." Alissa Wilkinson said that her favorites were "algorithm breakers": idiosyncratic films that kept her off-balance. Marki Williams; Michael Hessio; NYT Wirecutter Handpicked Cyber Monday deals Most Cyber Monday deals stink, but the Wirecutter team has put together more than 150 of the best buys. They've worked overtime to confirm that the discounts are actually good deals. Dinner table topics Clockwise from top left: Cleveland Browns; Gabriella Angotti-Jones for The New York Times; Jeff Haynes/NBAE; Birth of a Royal Child Going full Liberace: In their bedazzled hoodies and crystal-embellished T-shirts, hype-driven shoppers may be the last true dandies. Trendy speech: "Brain rot" — specifically, the kind brought on by digital overload — is Oxford's Word of the Year. Baking's "Jack Sparrow": Dylan Bachelet lost in the finals of "The Great British Baking Show," but he was a breakout star for his fashion as well as his baking. Naming new streets: It's an intricate process, and smart developers use the names to help tell the story of a community. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: Classic Greek horiatiki and Lebanese fattoush inspire this colorful taverna salad. Watch: Here are the best movies and TV shows coming to streaming services this month. Read: "How Sondheim Can Change Your Life" examines the extraordinary career of the master of the musical. Exercise: A fitness routine can be key to a good night's rest. Envision: Here's how to spend 36 hours in Honolulu. Style: Our fashion critic answers the question, How many pairs of black pants is too many? Plan: Here are tips for choosing an all-inclusive resort. Play: Today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here. ONE LAST THING Gregory Bull/Associated Press 31 days of holiday delight The holiday season is a joyous time, but it can also be chaotic and complicated. We're here to offer relief and amusement. Each day in December, we're offering small pleasures, reflections and distractions. Sign up for our holiday email newsletter to listen to a playlist from Jennifer Hudson, get office party fashion advice and much more. Today, we have an entertaining history of holiday "it" toys, from Pong to Pokémon, and ways to find awe in Christmas cookies. Have a joyful evening. Thanks for reading. Matthew Cullen will be back tomorrow. — Jonathan Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at evening@nytimes.com. And follow The New York Times on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok at @nytimes. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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