"We have a deal"

Is this deal the one? Biden and a Senate group say they have an infrastructure deal; the first trial over Hong Kong’s new security law has begun. Tonight's Sentences was written by Gabby Birenbaum. TOP NEWS Senators and White House have an infrastructure framework [Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)]( Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images - President Joe Biden announced Thursday "we have a deal" on infrastructure spending, appearing at the White House alongside a bipartisan group of senators. [[The New York Times / Jim Tankersley and Emily Cochrane](] - While far smaller than Biden’s original proposal, the $953 billion plan covers mostly traditional infrastructure funding and already has the support of 21 senators. [[The Associated Press / Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking](] - There is $579 billion in new spending authorized in the draft, designed to be spent over five years. [[The Wall Street Journal / Kristina Peterson and Andrew Duehren](] - Many Democrats hope to muscle through next month both the bipartisan deal and a multi-trillion reconciliation bill, which will cover investments in green energy, child care, and education. [[The Hill / Jordain Carney](] - But the bipartisan deal has some progressives worried. Liberals in Congress say they will not support the bipartisan deal without a guarantee from moderates to also pass the reconciliation bill, which would need support from all 50 Democratic senators. [[Politico / Sam Mintz](] - Democratic leadership is expressing support for the progressive position. “There ain’t no infrastructure bill without the reconciliation bill,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats on a call. [[Twitter / Sarah Ferris](] - Another factor in play: Whether Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell will give his blessing to Republicans to support the deal. [[The New York Times / Jim Tankersley and Emily Cochrane](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( First trial under Hong Kong’s security law begins - About a year after Hong Kong instituted a law cracking down on subversion and talks of secession, Tong Ying-kit became the first person to stand trial for charges related to the law. [[The Associated Press / Zen Soo and Matthew Cheng](] - Tong is facing two charges, of terrorism and inciting secession, for a July incident in which he allegedly drove a motorcycle with a “Liberate Hong Kong” flag into a group of police officers. [[CNN / Jessie Yeung](] - “Liberate Hong Kong” became a popular pro-democracy phrase and chant during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Already this week, Hong Kong police arrested a man for hanging a banner with the phrase on a drying rack outside of his apartment. [[The South China Morning Post / Danny Mok](] - Tong is the first to stand trial of over 100 people arrested under the broad new standard. He pleaded not guilty, and could face life in prison if he is found guilty. [[The New York Times / Austin Ramzy](] - The case will not be heard before a jury, a break with Hong Kong’s common law past and a potential indicator of a new standard. [[Bloomberg / Kari Soo Lindberg and Chloe Lo](] MISCELLANEOUS In her first time speaking openly about her conservatorship, Britney Spears recounted the abuse and labor trafficking she has endured at the hands of her conservators, including her father Jamie Spears, and asked a judge to end the conservatorship. [[Vox / Constance Grady](] - The Cowessess First Nation discovered 751 unmarked graves at a former school site, the second such discovery in Canada in less than a month. [[The Washington Post / Amanda Coletta and Michael E. Miller](] - At least one person has died after a 12-story condo in Surfside, Florida, collapsed at 1:30 am Thursday morning. [[The Miami Herald / Joey Flechas, Douglas Hanks, Samantha Gross, Charles Rabin, Sarah Blaskey, and Alex Harris](] - Rudy Giuliani’s law license has been suspended in the state of New York. [[BuzzFeed News / Sarah Mimms](] Support our journalism Reader contributions help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work from as little as $3. [Contribute]( VERBATIM “We have made our position clear, that the possibility of a bipartisan deal depends on a commitment to move forward on reconciliation.” [[Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), on Democrats’ two-track infrastructure strategy](] LISTEN TO THIS [The science of dating]( Relationships journalist and podcast host Andrea Silenzi talks with Logan Ury, behavioral scientist-turned-dating coach, and author of How to Not Die Alone. They discuss the decision-making that gets in the way of our dating lives, the case for finding a life partner, and what dating looks like in a post-pandemic, app-driven world. [[Spotify / Andrea Silenzi](] Read more from Vox [Biden’s biggest anti-poverty plan is about to launch. He can make it even better.]( [Why conservatives made critical race theory a problem]( [Many people don’t want to work unless it’s from home]( [How Indigenous memories can help save species from extinction]( [On going back to the movies](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences](, or [unsubscribe](param=sentences) to stop receiving all emails from Vox. If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.