Two state elections say a lot about Trump
Two states held elections yesterday that will provide hints as to how Americans feel about President Trump after 10 weeks back in office.
In Wisconsin, a race for a State Supreme Court seat has morphed into a referendum on Elon Musk’s role in politics. The billionaire, who leads the Trump administration’s cost-cutting efforts, and groups tied to him have spent more than $25 million to support a conservative candidate. Musk has become a deeply polarizing figure among Wisconsinites, many of whom said they would like him to stay out of their business.
“Most statewide races here are very close,” my colleague Reid Epstein, who is covering the vote in Wisconsin, said. “What it has never had before is a single political benefactor having so much skin in the game behind one candidate.”
In Florida, where Trump enjoys strong support, one of two elections for seats in the House of Representatives suddenly seems too close for comfort for Republicans. Democrats still expect to lose, but are watching closely for signs that their party is ascendant.
U.N. said Israel killed rescue workers in Gaza
A week after 15 rescue workers were killed during an evacuation mission in Gaza, the U.N. said on Sunday that Israel had killed them all and dumped most of the bodies in a mass grave. It was a rare accusation from the U.N., which is typically cautious about definitively assigning blame.
An Israeli military spokesman said on Monday that nine of those killed were Palestinian militants, and that their vehicles had not received permission to be in the area. But the U.N. and other aid groups said the dead were humanitarian workers, with clearly marked vehicles. Israeli forces had bulldozed and crushed the ambulances, a fire truck and a U.N. vehicle, U.N. officials said.
Lebanon: Israel launched airstrikes without an evacuation warning on the southern outskirts of Beirut yesterday, the second time in less than a week, killing at least four people.
Islamist hard-liners see an opening in Bangladesh
As Bangladesh tries to rebuild its democracy after ousting its authoritarian leader, Islamic extremists are trying to move the nation toward fundamentalism, our correspondents Mujib Mashal and Saif Hasnat reported from the country.
One town declared that young women couldn’t play soccer. Another forced the police to free a man who had harassed a woman for not covering her hair in public. A rally in Dhaka, the capital, called for the death penalty for anyone who disrespected Islam.
Critics say the country’s interim government, led by the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, needs to push back harder. But his lieutenants describe a delicate balancing act: protecting the right to free speech and protest.
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Tips for travelers to the U.S.
Are you considering a trip to the U.S., but the news has you a little worried? The Trump administration’s “enhanced vetting” policy has flagged legal immigrants and green card holders — even citizens should prepare for additional questioning.
The rules haven’t changed, one lawyer said, but border agents are employing a “zero-tolerance policy.” Check your visa, shut off your phone and be aware of what’s on your social media. Here’s our current guide to visiting or returning to the U.S.
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That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Emmett
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