Nikki Haley finally got what she has desired since the very beginning of her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination: a one-on-one showdown with Donald Trump. The field was cleared for her yesterday when Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida ended his bid, leaving Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, as the only real threat to a third consecutive Trump nomination.
Polls show Trump with a strong lead, but Haley rejected the notion that the race was over, saying “America doesn’t do coronations. We believe in choices.” She spent the day spreading that message to Republican and independent voters in New Hampshire, where tomorrow’s primary is perhaps her last best chance to compete against Trump.
It might be too late. A Suffolk University poll from today suggested that Trump would receive a slight increase in support in New Hampshire after the departure of DeSantis, who endorsed the former president.
Trump also garnered the endorsement of two South Carolina politicians: Senator Tim Scott, a former Haley ally, as well as Representative Nancy Mace, whom Haley endorsed for Congress and whom Trump attempted to unseat in 2022.
Biden is campaigning on abortion rights and the economy
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris announced new steps that they said would make it easier for Americans to get contraceptives and abortions under an emergency care law. The moves, while relatively minor, are part of a broader election-year effort to highlight an issue that has galvanized voters since the fall of Roe v. Wade.
The White House is also embracing a recent uptick in economic sentiment. After many months of economic gloom, voters have begun to expect inflation to continue its descent. Models that try to predict election outcomes based on economic data currently point to a tossup in November.
The U.S. is worried about North Korean weapons in Ukraine
As the war in Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, Russia is beginning to unload North Korean ammunition against Ukrainian troops, who are rationing their own dwindling supply. While many of the North Korean artillery rounds are proving to be duds, North Korean missiles are raising concerns among U.S. and European officials.
Three barrages of North Korean-made missiles were used against Ukrainian positions around the new year, and more were believed to be used on Sunday, according to U.S. officials. They said they feared that North Korea’s missiles could prove important at a moment of vulnerability for Ukraine, as it awaits the approval of more aid from the U.S.
Cal State faculty walked out
Thousands of professors, lecturers and other academic staff at all 23 California State University campuses walked off the job today to demand higher compensation. The move, which is scheduled to last five days and is expected to result in the cancellation of most classes for the system’s nearly 460,000 students, is considered the largest faculty strike in U.S. history.
More top news
What the Book Review is reading
Soon after my colleagues at the Book Review got a copy of “Martyr!,” the poet Kaveh Akbar’s first novel about a grieving young man’s search for meaning, it became a hot commodity on the desk. After several editors raved about the book, nearly every member of the team wanted to read it.
Junot Díaz, our reviewer, was no less enthused. “There is a life force coursing through the work, implacably curious, devoted to the small human things, and a recognition that even if we shattered ones don’t always put ourselves back together, there is dignity in our brokenness,” he wrote.
Power is essential for aging well
If you want to stay healthy as you age, experts recommend a mix of cardio, strength and balance training. But there’s another critical element that doesn’t get as much attention: power. It’s the ability to apply force rapidly, and it’s what gives you the ability to lift a suitcase into an overhead compartment or to toss a heavy trash bag into a can.
For people over 65, one of the easiest tools to measure how much power you have is the sit-to-stand test. (It takes just 30 seconds.) For those with lower scores, there are simple ways to begin building your power back up.
What stylish men are wearing
During men’s fashion weeks in Milan and Paris, my colleague Simbarashe Cha roamed the streets to photograph attendees on the cutting edge of style.
He saw double-breasted overcoats everywhere, some cropped, others long. Ripped, cuffed and oversized jeans were also popular — anything but simple. Which trends might be embraced by the masses? Only time will tell.
Have a snazzy evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.