The House took a critical step today toward approving a long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other American allies. A majority of Democratic and Republicans lawmakers voted to advance the bills past a procedural hurdle, setting up the legislation to pass the House tomorrow.
The measures, which are all expected to pass in the House with bipartisan support, provide $60.8 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26.4 billion for Israel and aid for Palestinians, and $8 billion for Taiwan and other allies.
In order to steer around opposition from members of his own party, Speaker Mike Johnson broke down the package into three pieces, adding a fourth bill to sweeten the deal for conservatives. That bill would require TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell it within nine months, otherwise the app could be banned.
After the House, the measures head to the Senate, which has already approved a similar package, and then to President Biden, who has vowed to sign them. Final approval would be an enormous victory in the long effort to fund Ukraine, and a defeat for the voices of isolationism in the Republican Party.
Reactions to Israeli strikes on Iran hint at de-escalation
Israel’s military struck Iran early this morning, in what appeared to be a response to the Iranian drone attack on Israel last weekend. The scope of the strikes so far appears to be limited.
Iranian officials said a strike had hit a military base near the city of Isfahan, in central Iran. But initial reaction in both Israel and Iran was muted, which analysts said was a sign that the rivals were seeking to lower the temperature. World leaders, who for the last week have urged Israeli restraint, called for both sides to de-escalate.
A test for unions in the South
Thousands of workers at a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee are voting on whether to join the United Automobile Workers union. The results are expected tonight, though 70 percent of the workers had pledged to vote yes.
Approval would mark perhaps the first time a foreign carmaker’s U.S. plant became unionized. It would also add fuel to the U.A.W.’s push to expand in the South, where union resistance has historically been strong, and where right-to-work laws make it hard for unions to organize.
Taylor Swift delivers an abundance of music, and more
This morning, just hours after Taylor Swift released her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” she put out 15 more songs — bringing “The Anthology” edition of the album to 31 tracks. “Tortured Poets” was her ninth LP in five years, a remarkable pace for someone who is already the most ubiquitous pop star in the world. The release was also preceded by a promotional blitz: a Swift radio station, a Swift word game and even a Swift library.
At the Venice Biennale, art and politics are intertwined
The Venice Biennale, the world’s longest-running and most extravagant festival of contemporary art, opens to the public tomorrow. My colleagues spent the past few days previewing the exhibitions, which include individual shows from nearly 90 countries.
Our critic Jason Farago, who has been covering the Biennale for two decades, said the event no longer truly plots out where the art world is headed. Instead, he said, the nation-by-nation structure feels more like going from “a political lecture to a political lecture to a political lecture.”
Why is every server wearing a chore coat?
Perhaps you won’t see them at McDonald’s or at the Michelin-starred Le Bernardin, but countless other restaurants have embraced the chore coat. They are practical, somewhat stain resistant and project an important message: This is a stylish, but not overly fancy or fussy restaurant.
“The chore coat is saying to the diner, ‘We’ve considered what we’re wearing, and style is important, but this is also a place where we’re not so buttoned up that you can’t have a few martinis and make it a fun night,’” one restaurateur said.
Have an unpretentious weekend.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on Monday. — Matthew
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