At the State of the Union, Joe Biden Lucks Out with His Enemies

Plus: a new Alzheimer’s drug; the aristocrat who had the ear of the Queen; and LeBron James becomes the king. View in browser | Update your preferences Wednesday, February 8, 2023 In today’s newsletter, Biden’s strong crowd work, and then: • The promise of a new Alzheimer’s drug • The oldest living aristocratic widow tells all • The law that makes sex work a “crime against nature” Joe Biden Lucks Out with His Enemies In his State of the Union address, the President offered a strong performance—with an assist from House Republicans. Photograph by Jacquelyn Martin / Getty “Liar!” “It’s your fault!” The jeers came from the Republican side of the aisle during President Biden’s State of the Union address. But, if these outbursts were intended to rattle or embarrass him, they had very different effects, as Susan B. Glasser writes in her analysis of the speech and what it means for a possible 2024 campaign. “Biden, it seemed, had carefully prepared for their antics,” Glasser notes, and the President broke off of his scripted remarks to prod his opponents to join him in such projects as protecting Social Security and fighting the opioid epidemic. “He sounded reasonable, centrist, constructive, and passionate,” Glasser writes, adding that “every boo from then on might as well have been a campaign contribution to Biden’s reëlection.” Read the full analysis, which identifies some of the speech’s flaws, but also explores why Republicans keep bringing their weakest opponents forward to battle the President. Read the story Support The New Yorker’s award-winning journalism. Subscribe today » From the News Desk Annals of Medicine The Promise of a New Alzheimer’s Drug For decades, scientists have debated the causes of cognitive decline. Is an effective treatment finally around the corner? By Sue Halpern Tune in: On the Political Scene Podcast, Kelefa Sanneh talks to the Public Enemy front man Chuck D about the history of hip-hop. Editor’s Pick Onward and Upward with the Arts Oldest Living Aristocratic Widow Tells All Now ninety, Lady Glenconner—a trusted friend of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret—has become a cheeky chronicler of the British élite. By Rebecca Mead Culture Dept. Books The Feminist Forerunner in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales” The Wife of Bath, one of the most beloved characters in English literature, asked provocative questions: Why shouldn’t widows remarry? Why must we procreate? By Joan Acocella Los Angeles Postcard Watching Putin Burn with Pussy Riot Nadya Tolokonnikova, a founder of the feminist art collective, displays the Russian President’s “ashes” at a gallery show, in front of L.A. luminaries such as Kesha. By Dana Goodyear Under Review The Best Books We Read in 2023 So Far Our editors and critics review notable new fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. By The New Yorker Screening Room The New Yorker Documentary Fighting the Louisiana Law That Makes Sex Work a “Crime Against Nature” In the short documentary “CANS Can’t Stand,” activists work to overturn a baldly prejudiced law aimed at L.G.B.T.Q. people. Film by Matt Nadel and Megan Plotka Text by Crispin Long Fun & Games Dept. Name Drop Play Today’s Quiz Can you guess the notable person in six clues or fewer? By Will Nediger Daily Shouts When My Mother Joins NATO She seems to be insisting that the British defense minister look at pictures of my nephew on her phone. By Max Barth Crossword A Lightly Challenging Puzzle Security worker, disparagingly: eight letters. By Patrick Berry Daily Cartoon Wednesday, February 8th By Will Santino P.S. LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar last night to become the N.B.A.’s all-time leading scorer. Recently, Vinson Cunningham wrote about the joy of watching James play in New York, at Madison Square Garden, a place where he “always scores a lot, he usually wins, and he cheese-smiles at the post-game pressers.” But is James the greatest basketball player ever? Today’s newsletter was written by Ian Crouch. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. Plus, browse more newsletters and invite a friend to sign up for The Daily. You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for The Daily from The New Yorker. Manage your preferences | View our Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2023. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.