In the first major election night of 2025, two Trump-backed Republicans won special congressional elections in Florida, shoring up their party’s slim House majority at a crucial moment for President Trump’s domestic agenda. Both victories had been expected.
In Wisconsin, where a race for a State Supreme Court seat morphed into a referendum on Elon Musk’s role in politics, Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate, overcame $25 million in spending by Musk to handily defeat a conservative. The race could have implications for Wisconsin’s delegation to Congress.
“Most statewide races here are very close,” said my colleague Reid Epstein, who covered the vote there. “What it has never had before is a single political benefactor” — specifically, Musk and groups tied to him — “having so much skin in the game behind one candidate.”
Taken together, the elections give some indication of how Americans feel about Trump 10 weeks into his second term. Here are some takeaways for Democrats .
Trade war: An aide to Trump said he had finalized his plan for sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs , which are expected to take effect today. “The imposition of the tariffs may well kick out the last of the three pillars of the trans-Atlantic, trans-Pacific and Canadian alliances,” my colleague David Sanger writes in this analysis .
A week after 15 rescue workers died during an evacuation mission in Gaza, the U.N. said on Sunday that Israel had killed them and dumped most of the bodies in a mass grave — 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 bulldozed and crushed the ambulances, a fire truck and a U.N. vehicle, U.N. officials said.
Politics: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel dropped Eli Sharvit , his nominee to lead the domestic intelligence service, yesterday amid a backlash from conservatives.
Related: The mysterious group Canary Mission compiles public dossiers of those critical of Israel. Civil rights advocates say the group is doxxing them .
As of last Friday, people of Italian descent face greater hurdles in applying for Italian citizenship . So many had tried to claim the benefit that their applications congested the nation’s courts, consulates and municipal offices. Many had few ties to Italy and only wanted a passport, according to the foreign minister.
Eligibility has now been narrowed to those with Italian parents or grandparents, as opposed to any Italian ancestor who was alive after the country was formed in 1861.
Quotable: “Being an Italian citizen is a serious thing,” said the foreign minister, Antonio Tajani. “It’s not a game to get a passport in your pocket to go shopping in Miami.”
Martha Argerich, 83, is one of the world’s most astonishing pianists. She has the finger strength to shatter chestnuts, can make a Steinway sing and performs dizzying acrobatics across the keys. But, no, she doesn’t want to talk about it.
It took all of our reporter’s powers of persuasion to earn her trust. Read the profile and listen to her play.
Lives lived: Charlotte Webb, who as a young woman helped code breakers decipher enemy signals at Britain’s top-secret Bletchley Park, died on Monday at 101 .
Feeling concerned about stateside travels? Stories of snarls and detainments at airports and land borders across the U.S. have led some visitors to rethink their trips altogether to avoid being caught up in the Trump administration’s “enhanced vetting.” Even legal immigrants and U.S. citizens have been pulled aside for additional questioning and searches.
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. Read our guide to visiting or returning to the U.S.
Cook: No-fuss garlicky Alfredo beans are easy to whip together and great on toast. Check out our other five-ingredient recipes .
Watch: Here are the best movies and shows coming to streaming this month.
Read: In “ Sad Tiger, ” Neige Sinno analyzes her memories of being abused as a child.
Exercise: Should you always be sore after a workout? Experts explain .
Shush: A writer makes the case for telling total strangers to shut up .
Play the Spelling Bee . And here are today’s Mini Crossword and Wordle . You can find all our puzzles here .
That’s it for today’s briefing. Have a great day. — Natasha
Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com .