Opinion Today: From Evan Gershkovich’s release to Trump’s education plan

Updates from Times Opinion's blog.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 2, 2024 By Anna Marks Staff Editor, Opinion In today's newsletter, we're offering some of our favorite entries from The Point, Times Opinion's blog. Our writers tell you what they think about the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap, Donald Trump's education plan and his disastrous appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists convention. Read them below. Serge Schmemann on Evan Gershkovich → Jessica Grose on Donald Trump's Plan for K-12 Schools → Mara Gay on When Black Women Journalists Challenge Trump → Here's what we're focusing on today: Editors' Picks M. GESSEN The Plan That Freed Evan Gershkovich Was Hatched Long Before His Arrest The reporter's arrest opened the possibility of freeing the opposition leader. The opposition leader's death made it possible to free the reporter. By M. Gessen More From Opinion The Ezra Klein Show Is Tim Walz the Midwestern Dad Democrats Need? The governor of Minnesota wants Democrats to own the normie center. 59 MIN LISTEN Jamelle Bouie Joe Biden Issues a Stinging Dissent The Supreme Court is caught in a crisis of its own making. By Jamelle Bouie Michelle Goldberg Don't Listen to the Right. The Kamalanomenon Is Real. There was Obama-level excitement at Harris's Atlanta rally. By Michelle Goldberg round table 'Just Don't Screw It Up': Three Writers Go Behind the Scenes of Making a V.P. Pick Presidential campaign veterans discuss what goes into the veepstakes. By Frank Bruni, Beth Myers and Jim Jordan Guest Essay On Turning Black Pitting the interests of minority groups against one another seems to be part of Trump's re-election strategy. By Esau McCaulley John McWhorter What Trump Means When He Mispronounces 'Kamala' He says it doesn't matter. History tells a different story. By John McWhorter Thomas L. Friedman America May Soon Face a Fateful Choice About Iran What will happen if the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates into a full-blown war? By Thomas L. Friedman Guest Essay Mark Kelly Is a Different Kind of Democrat Mark Kelly's qualities — sobriety, consistency and military experience — are welcome contributions to the future of Democratic politics. By Tom Zoellner Paul Krugman How 2024 Became a Crypto Election Will libertarian derp get a government bailout? By Paul Krugman Guest Essay The Christian Case Against Trump Evangelicals who have found the weaponization of Scripture distasteful are showing us that their vote is very much up for grabs. By Eliza Griswold Serge Schmemann The Gaza Conflict Enters 'Uncharted Territory' In the past, tit-for-tat duels between Israel and its enemies have often ended without escalation. That may no longer hold true. By Serge Schmemann The Trolls Don't Understand Harris's Life Story It reflects her conscious choices, and those of her mother. By Brent Staples Matter of Opinion 'Mountain Dew and Racism': Identity Enters the Election Week 2 of Trump vs. Harris is all about race. 41 MIN LISTEN Would Kamala Harris Be the First Gen X President? She was born in 1964. By Adam Sternbergh To Challenge Trump Directly, Give Him a Platform Avoiding him is not a good option at this stage. By Zeynep Tufekci Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press letters Trump's Attack on Harris's Racial Identity Readers criticize the ex-president's comments before a group of Black journalists. Also: "White Dudes for Harris"; Republicans with elite college degrees. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. Games Here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle and Spelling Bee. If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our Help Page or contact The Times. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018