Your Wednesday Evening Briefing

May 13, 2020

Your Wednesday Evening Briefing

By Remy Tumin and Marcus Payadue

Good evening. Here’s the latest.

Christopher Lee for The New York Times

1. As coronavirus restrictions lift, millions of Americans are leaving home again in fits and starts.

Across the country, about 25 million more people ventured outside their homes on an average day last week than during the preceding six weeks, a Times analysis of cellphone data found.

The Texas attorney general warned Austin, Dallas and San Antonio, above, that their local orders, stricter than the state’s, were unlawful. Still, opening isn’t going fast enough for some — and heavily armed, militia-style protesters have even intervened.

In other coronavirus developments, the Trump administration is reviewing an order to extend its coronavirus border restrictions indefinitely, limiting travel from Mexico and Canada.

And on Thursday, a whistle-blower plans to testify before the House that 2020 will be the “darkest winter in modern history” if the U.S. does not quickly ramp up its virus response.

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Eric Baradat/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

2. The Federal Reserve chair warned of dire consequences if the economic downturn is not met with an even more forceful government response.

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“The recovery may take some time to gather momentum,” Jerome Powell said at a virtual event. “Additional fiscal support could be costly, but worth it if it helps avoid long-term economic damage.”

Congress has already funded more than $2 trillion in relief, and the Fed has rushed to support the U.S. economy. On Tuesday, House Democrats unveiled a $3 trillion relief measure, which Republicans dismissed as exorbitantly priced and overreaching.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

3. What if we get a Covid-19 vaccine and half the country refuses to take it? Social media is already full of misinformation about a potential vaccine. Above, a protest in Los Angeles last month.

Our Tech columnist Kevin Roose, who has been following the anti-vaccine community for years, writes that any Covid-19 vaccine could be susceptible to a broad misinformation campaign. The likelihood that a vaccine would be fast-tracked could leave it open to criticism. Additionally, the participation of leading health organizations offers anti-vaxxers familiar targets and the possibility that people may be required to take it in some cases would hit another nerve.

More broadly, we’ve never been so attractive as targets for fraudsters and scammers. Here are the most popular schemes and how you can protect yourself.

Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock

4. Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, was granted home confinement because of the pandemic. Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former personal lawyer, remains in quarantine in prison.

Mr. Manafort, pictured last year, had been serving a sentence of seven and a half years for financial and lobbying violations related to his work for a corrupt Ukrainian politician. Mr. Cohen, serving three years for violating campaign finance laws, had also been told last month that he would be released to home confinement because of virus concerns.

Separately, a federal judge opened the door to legal challenges over the Justice Department’s decision to end the case against Michael Flynn, the president’s former national security adviser.

Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

5. Joe Biden finds himself in an extraordinary position.

Less than six months before Election Day, the former vice president has unified party leaders and is leading most polls. But our politics reporters found he has yet to prove himself a formidable nominee, and his inability to influence the political or policy debate about the coronavirus and the nation’s economic collapse has some Democrats worried.

In other politics news, a Republican won a high-profile California race to replace former Rep. Katie Hill. Republicans also won a House race in Wisconsin.

Morgan Hornsby for The New York Times

6. The U.S. is projected to use more renewable energy than coal for electricity this year for the first time on record, a milestone driven by the pandemic.

Demand for electricity has fallen sharply with the nationwide shutdown. And because coal plants tend to cost more to operate than cleaner alternatives, many utilities are cutting back on coal power first.

The transformation was unthinkable about a decade ago, when coal was so dominant that it provided nearly half the nation’s electricity. But despite the Trump administration’s efforts to the contrary, hundreds of aging coal plants like the one above in Kentucky have been retired since 2010, replaced with natural gas, wind farms, solar panels and hydroelectric dams.

Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times

7. These newborns were rescued during an attack on a maternity clinic in Kabul yesterday, an assault unfathomable in its cruelty.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, in which three militants shot and killed at least 15 people, including mothers, babies, medical workers and a police officer.

And now the country faces a new quandary: What to do with 18 babies, most now without mothers? Our senior correspondent in Afghanistan and a photographer went inside the remains of the hospital and spoke to survivors.

8. “I live for the day when I can hold the hands of those I love.”

We asked readers who are living alone how they’re faring under worldwide stay-at-home orders. More than 2,000 of you shared your photos and stories of singing in alleyways, looking out windows, missing sex, dealing with addiction and more. Here are some of them.

Tabitha Brown, an unlikely TikTok star, is soothing millions of followers who are trapped inside during a pandemic by dishing vegan cooking tips and affirmations — and drawing on challenges from her past.

And if you need a touch of joy, may we suggest this video that follows a New York City ice cream truck driver during the pandemic. He’s sticking to his route to provide a sense of normalcy for his regulars.

Finlay MacKay for The New York Times

9. You may not know Edoardo Ballerini’s name, but there’s a good chance you recognize his voice.

Among devout audiobook listeners and the ever-expanding industry itself, Mr. Ballerini is the go-to voice for intelligent, subtle but gripping narrations of books. Some listeners will buy whatever he gives voice to — Albert Camus, Dean Koontz, Machiavelli, and even God (he recently read a new translation of the Hebrew Bible).

Summer reading will have to do more than usual to help us get away from it all while we can’t get away, writes our writer-at-large Sarah Lyall. Here are her suggestions for falling into fictional worlds.

And our Books editors are keeping an eye on these four writers this summer.

High Mowing Organic Seeds

10. And finally, how to grow a better tomato.

These cool spring days are yet to give way to summer, and arguably one of the season’s greatest gifts. Our garden columnist talked to a seed company founder to get some ideas for those who are growing their first tomatoes this year — and for anyone who needs a refresher course.

Among his suggestions: If you’re buying a seedling, try to shop local rather than big-box stores. Add fresh mulch, plant deep (really deep), feed the soil, but don’t overfeed the plant. Be sure to give the plants plenty of light and air, and offer the plants proper support.

Have a rooted night.

Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.

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