The Morning: “It’s not enough”

The strange problem of part-time work during a labor shortage. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP4QkAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnByb2R1Y3RDb2RlPU5OJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGNjkzNWE5ZjEtNjUxYi01NWE5LTg0ODAtOTcxNTU1Y2RkNDJmJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0SsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) February 2, 2022 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvZGF2aWQtbGVvbmhhcmR0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) By [David Leonhardt](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvZGF2aWQtbGVvbmhhcmR0P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Good morning. Why are so many part-time workers struggling to find full-time work during a labor shortage? Brenda Garcia.An Rong Xu for The New York Times Wait it out Brenda Garcia, who works at a Chipotle in Queens, has a problem that may sound surprising in today’s tight labor market. She is a part-time employee who wants more work, but the restaurant keeps assigning her less than 20 hours a week. “It’s not enough for me,” Garcia told my colleague Noam Scheiber. “They’re not giving me a stable job.” Garcia is one of millions of Americans who want an established, full-time work schedule and are struggling to find it, [as Noam explains in a Times article](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9idXNpbmVzcy9lY29ub215L3BhcnQtdGltZS13b3JrLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). As a result, these part-timers struggle with not only low pay but also uncertain shifts that can change at the last minute, disrupting the rest of their lives. The workers can obviously quit, but they often find that the other jobs available to them have similar problems. How could this be when the country is in the midst of a labor shortage in which employers are struggling to fill jobs? Because executives at many companies have decided that part-time work is too important to abandon just because the labor market is temporarily tight. Part-time work allows companies to hold down labor costs in two crucial ways. First, companies can reduce their benefit costs because part-time workers often do not receive health care and retirement benefits. Second, companies can change staffing levels quickly, to meet demand on a given day or week, rather than having workers sit idle during slower periods. “It’s very deeply embedded in employers’ business models,” Noam — who covers workers and the workplace from Chicago — told me. “They’re incredibly reluctant to give it up, even if it means enduring labor shortages and elevated turnover in the short and intermediate term. Basically, they think it makes more economic sense to wait out the current shortages than to fundamentally change their labor model.” That may well be a rational decision for individual businesses. The shift toward flexible, part-time and often outsourced work is a major reason that corporate profits have risen in recent decades. After-tax corporate profits have accounted for more than 7 percent of national income in recent years, up from an average of 5.6 percent from the 1950s through the 1970s, according to the Commerce Department. If employers shift away from part-time work during a tight labor market like today’s, they worry they will be stuck with higher labor costs for years. “Employers will typically try everything else first — raising wages, offering bonuses and other financial incentives, giving part-timers more hours temporarily,” Noam explains. “All these measures are reversible, and presumably will be reversed once the labor shortages subside.” Striking workers at King Soopers in Glendale, Colo.Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images The power dynamic Companies have been able to insist on so much part-time work largely because they have more negotiating power over workers than in the past. The corporate sector is [more consolidated](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOC8wNi8xNy9vcGluaW9uL2JpZy1idXNpbmVzcy1tZXJnZXJzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) than it was decades ago, leaving the average employer with more resources and the average worker with fewer alternatives in any given industry. Workers, for their part, are much less likely to belong to a union than in the past. And union members make more money than similar nonunion workers, as [an extensive study of the U.S. economy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOC8wNy8wNi9idXNpbmVzcy9sYWJvci11bmlvbnMtaW5jb21lLWluZXF1YWxpdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) by economists at Princeton and Columbia has found. Unions effectively shift some of a company’s revenue from profits to wages. Shrinking unions, in turn, have contributed to [growing economic inequality](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOS8wMi8yNC9vcGluaW9uL2luY29tZS1pbmVxdWFsaXR5LXVwcGVyLW1pZGRsZS1jbGFzcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). One way that unions tend to lift wages is by putting pressure on companies to hire people full time — and threatening to strike if the companies refuse. Last month, unionized workers at King Soopers, a supermarket chain mostly in the Denver area and owned by Kroger, went on strike. They made the growth of part-time work a central issue. In the strike’s settlement, Kroger agreed to contract language that will likely lead it to add 1,000 or more full-time jobs over the next three years. A majority of jobs at King Soopers are still part-time, but the settlement has changed the balance. “Without a labor union that could organize a strike and provide strike pay, it’s hard to see how most workers could pressure their employers to make a similar change,” Noam said. In the short term, a tight labor market will lift wages for many American workers. If it were to persist for years — which is unlikely — it might alter the balance of power between workers and employers. But the more plausible way that balance could change is through government policy. The House has passed [a bill called the PRO Act](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wMy8yNS9idXNpbmVzcy9lY29ub215L2pvZS1iaWRlbi11bmlvbnMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that would make it easier for workers to form unions, and President Biden supports it. Among other things, the bill would bar companies from requiring employees to attend anti-union meetings and would impose financial penalties on companies that fire workers for trying to organize a union. The bill seems stalled in the Senate, where Republicans oppose it. Democrats may try to pass some of the bill’s provisions along party lines in coming months. The bottom line The increasing inequality of the U.S. economy over the past half-century is unlikely to end because of a temporarily tight labor market. “Labor shortages may be a necessary condition for changing the nature of these jobs,” Noam says, “but they’re generally not a sufficient condition.” THE LATEST NEWS The Virus Source: New York Times database; Johns Hopkins University - Omicron has been [deadlier in the U.S.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9zY2llbmNlL2NvdmlkLWRlYXRocy11bml0ZWQtc3RhdGVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) than in other countries, partly because of low vaccination rates among older people. - The government is [mailing tens of millions of rapid tests](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMi91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1jb3ZpZC10ZXN0cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Here’s how the administration found them. - The federal government’s $800 billion Paycheck Protection Program ended up [subsidizing business owners](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9idXNpbmVzcy9wYXljaGVjay1wcm90ZWN0aW9uLXByb2dyYW0tY29zdHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) more than workers, researchers found. - Tonga, still recovering from a volcanic eruption, went into lockdown after recording [its first community transmission cases](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS93b3JsZC9hc2lhL3RvbmdhLWxvY2tkb3duLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Politics - Senator Ben Ray Luján, a New Mexico Democrat, [suffered a stroke](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iZW4tcmF5LWx1amFuLXN0cm9rZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), temporarily threatening Democrats’ control of the chamber. He’s expected to fully recover. - The U.S. national debt [topped $30 trillion](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9uYXRpb25hbC1kZWJ0LTMwLXRyaWxsaW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), a record. Sports Tom Brady of the Patriots in 2015.Damon Winter/The New York Times - Tom Brady is retiring. These charts show [why he’s the greatest quarterback](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8wMi8wMi91cHNob3QvdG9tLWJyYWR5LWNhcmVlci1zdGF0cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) in N.F.L. history. - Brian Flores, the former coach of the Miami Dolphins, is [suing the N.F.L.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9zcG9ydHMvZm9vdGJhbGwvYnJpYW4tZmxvcmVzLWdpYW50cy1kaXNjcmltaW5hdGlvbi1sYXdzdWl0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), claiming racial discrimination. - What scares Olympians? The Times spoke to athletes about the [fears that come with their death-defying feats](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi9zcG9ydHMvb2x5bXBpY3MvYXRobGV0ZXMtd2ludGVyLWluanVyaWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). - The Dutch speedskating team is so dominant that [qualifying for the Olympics](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9zcG9ydHMvb2x5bXBpY3MvbmV0aGVybGFuZHMtc3BlZWRza2F0aW5nLWJlaWppbmctMjAyMi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) can be the hardest part. - Jost Kobusch is trying to climb Mount Everest in the winter. Without supplemental oxygen. [Alone](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9zcG9ydHMvam9zdC1rb2J1c2NoLXNvbG8tZXZlcmVzdC1jbGltYi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Other Big Stories - Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled that he would engage in more diplomacy, and he [blamed the U.S. for the crisis](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvcHV0aW4tcnVzc2lhLXVrcmFpbmUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). - ABC [suspended Whoopi Goldberg for two weeks](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS91cy93aG9vcGktZ29sZGJlcmctaG9sb2NhdXN0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) after she said that the Holocaust was not about race. She later apologized. - Tesla will [disable self-driving software](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9idXNpbmVzcy90ZXNsYS1yZWNhbGwuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that allowed its vehicles to roll through intersections without stopping. - A winter storm is [sweeping across the U.S.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMi91cy93aW50ZXItc3Rvcm0td2FybmluZy1zbm93Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Airlines have canceled more than 1,200 flights. Opinions Jailing fewer people [can improve public safety](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMi9vcGluaW9uL2NyaW1lLW5ldy15b3JrLWRpc3RyaWN0LWF0dG9ybmV5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), says Emily Bazelon. Liberals’ preference for [policymaking via unelected bureaucrats](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMi9vcGluaW9uL2xpYmVyYWxzLWNvbnNlcnZhdGl2ZXMtZGVtb2NyYWN5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) is undemocratic, Ross Douthat argues. Liz Cheney takes on election lies. Neil Young stands against Covid-19 misinformation. We need similar truth-tellers [on climate change](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9vcGluaW9uL25laWwteW91bmctbGl6LWNoZW5leS1jbGltYXRlLW1pc2luZm9ybWF0aW9uLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), Thomas Friedman writes. Subscribe Today A subscription to The New York Times plays a vital role in making this in-depth reporting possible. Consider supporting us by [becoming a subscriber today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OEpSWEwmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). MORNING READS J.Lo seems to be more relevant than ever.Chantal Anderson for The New York Times Fame: Can Jennifer Lopez [save the rom-com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TaaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9tb3ZpZXMvamVubmlmZXItbG9wZXotbWFycnktbWUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)? Groundhog Day: The big marmots are [more social than scientists thought](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TeaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9zY2llbmNlL2dyb3VuZGhvZ3MtYW5pbWFsLWJlaGF2aW9yLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). “Super invaders”: These are [the rampaging pigs of the Bay Area](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS91cy9waWdzLXNhbi1mcmFuY2lzY28tY2FsaWZvcm5pYS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Books: An 8-year-old wrote a book and hid it on a library shelf. [It’s a hit](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9ib29rcy9jcmlzbWlzLWJvb2stc2Nob29sLWxpYnJhcnkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Advice from Wirecutter: Consider [an adjustable desk lamp](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vd2lyZWN1dHRlci9yZXZpZXdzL2Jlc3QtbGVkLWRlc2stbGFtcC8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Lives Lived: Alan A. Stone trained as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst and taught at Harvard Law School, where he challenged psychiatry’s use in public policy. He [died at 92](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS91cy9hbGFuLXN0b25lLWRlYWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). ARTS AND IDEAS Sam Ezersky, the editor of the Spelling Bee.Melissa Bunni Elian for The New York Times ‘Not in word list’ If you’ve ever played [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), there’s a chance you’ve been frustrated when the game didn’t recognize a word you entered. Sam Ezersky, the Bee’s editor, is on the receiving end of a lot of those complaints. But choosing which words will make the official list isn’t as easy as you may think, as Sam [explained in a Twitter thread](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS90aGVncmlka2lkL3N0YXR1cy8xNDg1NjgxMjIwOTg2MDU2NzE2P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Some common terms are proper nouns (“Barbacoa”); some are two words (“road map”); and some are modern slang without an official definition (“laggy”), all of which would disqualify them. Many decisions are more subjective, on words that might appear in the dictionary but would be unknown to most players — like “ototomy,” an omission that Sam’s own father complained to him about. “I neither want to skew too easy nor too hard, so that anybody can delight in playing,” Sam told us. “After all, that’s why my role exists in the first place: to find a balance for what would otherwise be an unchecked, unfiltered lexicon.” And he continually seeks that balance. Sam says he regularly adds words to the list after hearing from readers — as he recently did with Barbacoa, road map and laggy. PLAY, WATCH, EAT What to Cook David Malosh for The New York Times A drizzle of melted garlic butter improves almost everything, including [this fish](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly9jb29raW5nLm55dGltZXMuY29tL3JlY2lwZXMvMTAyMDgxMy1maXNoLXdpdGgtc2l6emxpbmctb2xpdmUtYnV0dGVyP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). What to Read The influential Detroit musician J Dilla, who died in 2006, gave few interviews. The biography “Dilla Time” by Dan Charnas [expands upon the rap producer’s legacy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9hcnRzL211c2ljL2otZGlsbGEtdGltZS1ib29rLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). What to Watch Hulu’s “Pam & Tommy” is a “picaresque porn-world caper” and a 21st-century reconsideration of [how the 1990s treated young women](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vcGFtLWFuZC10b21teS1yZXZpZXcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), James Poniewozik writes. Late Night The hosts talked about [Brady’s retirement](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMi9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vdG9tLWJyYWR5LXRydW1wLWRvY3VtZW50cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTkmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMjAyMDImaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NTE5MTUmbmw9dGhlLW1vcm5pbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTgxMzg2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgph-VJs-mGMH0YCUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Now Time to Play ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~ The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was mythology. Here is today’s puzzle — or you can [play online](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Here’s [today’s Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), and a clue: Omen on Feb. 2 (six letters). If you’re in the mood to play more, find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — David P.S. Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Christina Goldbaum [will lead the Kabul bureau](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0Y28uY29tL3ByZXNzL2FmZ2hhbmlzdGFuLW91ci1uZXh0LXN0ZXBzLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), continuing The Times’s Afghanistan coverage. Here’s [today’s front page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TUaHR0cHM6Ly9zdGF0aWMwMS5ueXQuY29tL2ltYWdlcy8yMDIyLzAyLzAyL255dGZyb250cGFnZS9zY2FuLnBkZj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). “[The Daily](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0S0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdGhlZGFpbHk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~)” is about a plan to seize voting machines. On “[The Argument](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMi9vcGluaW9uL2RlbW9jcmF0LXBhcnR5LW1pZHRlcm1zLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9OSZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ubl8yMDIyMDIwMiZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD01MTkxNSZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9ODEzODYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmH5Umz6YYwfRgJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~),” a debate about where Democrats go from here. Claire Moses, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Tom Wright-Piersanti, Ashley Wu and Sanam Yar contributed to The Morning. You can reach the team at themorning@nytimes.com. [Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRj3PFSP0TIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvbW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmVtYz1lZGl0X25uXzIwMjIwMjAyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTUxOTE1Jm5sPXRoZS1tb3JuaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD04MTM4NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYflSbPphjB9GAlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) Need help? 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