Friday Briefing: Dismay over Trump’s picks

Plus, when shopping meets gambling.
Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition

November 15, 2024

Good morning. We’re covering Donald Trump’s provocative cabinet picks and an Israeli investigation of records of the Oct. 7 attack.

Plus, when shopping meets gambling.

Matt Gaetz, with his hand on his chest, wearing a blue suit.
Former Representative Matt Gaetz. Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times

Trump’s picks surprised even his own party

Republican lawmakers reacted with dismay at some of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for critical roles in his administration this week. His choice of Matt Gaetz to lead the Justice Department was met with particular skepticism.

One Republican lawmaker described Gaetz, a former congressman who is the focus of an ethics investigation over sexual misconduct and other charges, as not “a serious candidate.”

Lawmakers in both parties yesterday called on the congressional panel to release the results of the investigation into Gaetz’s alleged misconduct.

Trump’s choice of vocal allies instead of experienced candidates demonstrated his desire to shatter Washington norms. It’s also his first show of force to Senate Republicans, who will be under immense pressure to confirm his nominees.

“I don’t quite know what this looks like in term of the confirmation hearing, but this will potentially be another test,” Maggie Haberman, our senior political correspondent, said. Here’s how our reporters reacted to Gaetz’s nomination.

Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army veteran, as secretary of defense, and of Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who switched parties, as the director of national intelligence, also raised eyebrows.

G.O.P. sweep: Republicans secured control of the House, and now hold a governing trifecta in Washington to enact Trump’s agenda when he takes office in January.

More on Trump

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in a suit and blue tie surrounded by other officials.
Ohad Zwigenberg/Associated Press

Israel is investigating if Oct. 7 records were forged

Aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are under investigation for altering the official record of a call from a general on the morning that Hamas attacked Israel. The Israeli general wanted to let the prime minister know that hundreds of Hamas militants appeared to be preparing to invade.

The accusation is just one of several that have been leveled at the Israeli leader’s aides in recent weeks, though he is not part of this inquiry. Here’s what we know so far.

Context: What Netanyahu knew before Hamas attacked — and when he was told — could be crucial to his political future.

Other Middle East news:

Jagged ice on a body of calm water. The sky above is cloudy and gray.
The Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland in July. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

A big climate goal is getting out of reach

Countries haven’t curbed emissions enough over the past year, keeping the planet on track for dangerous levels of warming this century, according to a report released at the U.N. climate summit.

In the 2015 Paris Agreement, world leaders pledged to hold the level of warming to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. That target looks increasingly out of reach. Climate Action Tracker, the group behind the report, estimates that current climate policies would raise temperatures by roughly 2.7 degrees Celsius, or 4.9 degrees Fahrenheit, by 2100.

MORE TOP NEWS

A person wearing a blue outfit balances on the edge of a boat in stormy weather.
A storm in the coastal municipality of Santa Ana, Cagayan province, Philippines, yesterday. Francis R Malasig/EPA, via Shutterstock

Sports

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face each other during a press event for their upcoming boxing match.
Timothy A. Clary/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
  • Boxing: Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are gearing up for a boxing match that is expected to be the most watched program on Netflix this weekend.
  • Soccer: Barcelona’s new billion-euro agreement with Nike could be the solution to the club’s financial woes.
  • Baseball: Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball is now on display and under tight security inside Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan.

MORNING READ

A series of phone screens in China show a social media activity that combines e-commerce with a kind of gambling.
The New York Times

Selling products on livestream video is already big business in China, but the latest trend adds a game of chance. Viewers pay small sums of money for a “blind box,” a small bag with a little plastic trinket inside. The seller then unpacks the bag while the buyer and audience watch. Players can win more trinkets and more chances to play.

It’s an entertaining pastime, and some people can’t stop playing. This is how it works.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

  • Not so cold blooded: Ball pythons were long assumed to be solitary, but snakes in captivity actually have social lives. They’re even cuddly.
  • Hollywood history: A dozen sketches by the costume designer Edith Head were sold at auction. Two Grace Kelly designs fetched the highest sums.
  • A.I. dating: A Times reporter tested chatbots to see if they could improve his dating life. The results were mixed.
  • Mass appeal: People magazine named John Krasinski its sexiest man alive.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.

ARTS AND IDEAS

A scrolling series of photos of flowers from around the world.

10 flowers, 10 places

A flower is beautiful, but it can be so much more: food, a lucrative export and a symbol.

For a special issue of T Magazine, a team of reporters waded through the mud in Sri Lanka where lotuses are transformed into religious offerings, artifacts and political emblems. They walked through pink, fragrant fields in Oman where the damask rose is grown for medicines, fragrances and more. And in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, they watched the harvesting of waterlilies — treasured there for their versatility and as a beacon of resilience.

Read more about countries and regions around the world where flowers play a vital role.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Fried chicken pieces on a rack.
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews

Cook: Crispy sage fried chicken takes every step to maximize moisture and flavor.

Watch: Eddie Redmayne plays a deadly assassin in “The Day of the Jackal.

Exercise: We have tips on hiring a personal trainer who can be a good match for your goals.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you Monday. — Gaya

We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition, 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 Times

Connect with us on:

facebookxinstagramwhatsapp

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

Older messages

It’s time to upgrade your food storage containers

Friday, November 15, 2024

Leftovers are coming. Are you ready? View in browser Ad The Recommendation Ad The best food storage containers A variety of food storage containers filled with different fruits, vegetables, and sauces.

This soft-sided luggage is very cute

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

But is it a good suitcase? View in browser The Recommendation We tested Away's new soft-sided carry-on A photo of someone holding the handle of a soft-sided suitcase, next to a photo of someone

Wednesday Briefing: Trump’s team of loyalists

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Plus, the new series “Say Nothing.” View in browser|nytimes.com Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition November 13, 2024 Author Headshot By Gaya Gupta Good morning. We're covering the latest on

The very best bath towel (is on sale)

Monday, November 11, 2024

Plus, more for hosting holiday guests View in browser The Recommendation Our favorite bath towel is on sale The best bath towel, the Frontgate Resort Cotton Bath Towel, shown folded into a square.

Tuesday Briefing: Trump starts building his cabinet

Monday, November 11, 2024

Plus, West African fine dining. View in browser|nytimes.com Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition November 12, 2024 Author Headshot By Gaya Gupta Good morning. We're covering President-elect

You Might Also Like

GeekWire Mid-Week Update

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Read the top tech stories so far this week from GeekWire Top stories so far this week Early Microsoft leaders go all in on AI with Seattle-area startup Total Neural Enterprises Rich Tong has seen

Thursday Briefing: Rebel factions try to unite in Syria

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Plus, “Squid Game” returns. View in browser|nytimes.com Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition December 26, 2024 Author Headshot By Gaya Gupta Good morning. We're covering rebel factions uniting

The best Wirecutter picks of 2024

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

You all have a great taste View in browser Ad The Recommendation December 25, 2024 Ad A little present for you: Our 100 most popular picks of 2024 Ninja 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker CE251,

Roots of wintertime celebrations and holidays

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

+ how Charlie Brown TV special was almost dropped ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Time to get rid of all those gifts you don’t want

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Some advice for your post-Christmas declutter. December 25, 2024 View in browser Whizy Kim is a senior reporter at Vox covering wealth, economic inequality, and consumer trends. Whizy Kim is a senior

Operation Christmas Drop, Christmas NFL Games, and What's Open Today

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Seven nations' air forces collaborated in Operation Christmas Drop 2024, delivering over 77000 pounds of humanitarian aid to remote Pacific islands in the DOD's longest-running airlift mission.

9 Things Anna Kendrick Can’t Live Without

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

Plus: Nice things to spend your FSA money on. The Strategist Every product is independently selected by editors. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

Holiday Briefing: A day to celebrate

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

A special edition for a special day. View in browser|nytimes.com Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition December 25, 2024 Natasha Frost headshot Gaya Gupta headshot By Natasha Frost and Gaya Gupta

Here’s how we do it.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

How did our work reach millions of eyes and ears in 2024? It's because we follow the money to find the real story behind breaking news. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

☕ You’re missing out

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

CMOs on overlooked marketing trends and opportunities. December 24, 2024 View Online | Sign Up Marketing Brew 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was