Women Won the Grammys
The DailyYou’re reading The New Yorker’s daily newsletter, a guide to our top stories, featuring exclusive insights from our writers and editors. Sign up to receive it in your in-box.In today’s newsletter, Dexter Filkins offers an in-depth report on why the military is facing one of its most severe recruitment shortfalls in fifty years. But, first, Carrie Battan on memorable moments from last night’s Grammys. Plus:Donald Trump’s combative pursuits in PanamaJohn Cassidy on what DeepSeek says about China’s techGeorge Hamilton is Palm Beach’s It BoyDoechii Photograph by John Shearer / GettyCarrie BattanBattan has been covering pop music and other culture for The New Yorker since 2015.Almost halfway into last night’s Grammy Awards, the singer-songwriter Benson Boone stood up from his seat in the crowd, looking possessed. Moments later, Nikki Glaser and Heidi Klum ripped off his tux to reveal a sequinned blue disco-style jumpsuit. Boone, who was nominated for Best New Artist, headed to the stage, where he did a hands-free flip off a piano while performing his global breakout hit, “Beautiful Things.”The moment was jarring, not because of the acrobatics or the abruptness, but because it disrupted what had been, so far, an evening celebrating the overwhelming force of female talent in the pop world. This past year was a landmark year for women in music, both commercially and artistically, and the Grammys offered a striking snapshot of the riches. Sabrina Carpenter jump-started the evening with a pitch-perfect performance of coquettish Hollywood glamour before winning Best Pop Vocal Album, for “Short n’ Sweet.” Cardi B presented the award for Best Rap Album to the dynamic Doechii, who was only the third-ever woman to win the award. (Cardi B was the second.) Olivia Rodrigo introduced her former touring partner Chappell Roan, who later won Best New Artist. Taylor Swift presented the award for Best Country Album to Beyoncé, and Charli XCX later turned the stage into a maximum-adrenaline rave. The night culminated with Beyoncé winning Album of the Year, a prize that has eluded her many times in the past.The exception to the theme, of course, was Kendrick Lamar, whose year-dominating “Not Like Us” took home five awards. The entire evening felt like a tribute concert to the city of Los Angeles in the aftermath of the wildfires, and Lamar, an Angeleno, expressed deep gratitude to his hometown in his acceptance speech for Record of the Year. He did not, however, mention Drake, the foe who inspired him to make “Not Like Us,” a brutal knockout punch in one of history’s most embittered rap beefs. Drake was not at the ceremony. But he was the biggest elephant in the room, with each successive win for Lamar salting the wound of his defeat. The spectre of their conflict added a dash of machismo to a night that was otherwise a victory lap for women.Further reading: Battan on how 2024 brought the summer of girly pop; Naomi Fry on Bianca Censori’s habit of going out in very (very) little clothing; and Hanif Abdurraqib on Kendrick Lamar’s year on top.Editor’s PickPhotograph by Rebecca Kiger for The New YorkerThe U.S. Military’s Recruiting CrisisThe ranks of the American armed forces are depleted. Is the problem the military or the country?Amid widespread personnel shortfalls, the Army and Navy have taken to lowering their standards of acceptance or significantly reducing their recruitment target in order to fill ranks. Trump insists that the decline is due to the Biden Administration’s D.E.I. efforts, but recruiters say they are contending with a population that’s not just unenthusiastic about serving but incapable. “While the political argument festers, military leaders are left to contemplate a broader problem,” Dexter Filkins writes, in a deeply reported piece for this week’s issue. “Can a country defend itself if not enough people are willing or able to fight?” Read or listen to the story »The Briefing RoomIllustration by Nicholas Konrad; Source photographs from GettyThe pursuit of Panama: Trump has swiftly made the Panama Canal a test case for two of his biggest priorities—halting illegal immigration to the U.S. through Central America and countering China’s growing global influence—and he has become increasingly combative in his aims, even suggesting a military seizure. Robin Wright considers what the President really wants.Executive power, transformed: Trump has been running roughshod over the federal government, firing inspectors general at Cabinet agencies and prosecutors at the Department of Justice. Isaac Chotiner speaks with Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law professor and former head of the D.O.J.’s Office of Legal Counsel, about how strategic the Administration’s actions are and how likely the Supreme Court is to uphold them.When the “Tariff Man” strikes: Trump announced this weekend that the U.S. would be implementing steep new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. Mexico has since reached a deal with the White House to del
In today’s newsletter, Dexter Filkins offers an in-depth report on why the military is facing one of its most severe recruitment shortfalls in fifty years. But, first, Carrie Battan on memorable moments from last night’s Grammys. Plus:
- Donald Trump’s combative pursuits in Panama
- John Cassidy on what DeepSeek says about China’s tech
- George Hamilton is Palm Beach’s It Boy
Carrie Battan
Battan has been covering pop music and other culture for The New Yorker since 2015.
Almost halfway into last night’s Grammy Awards, the singer-songwriter Benson Boone stood up from his seat in the crowd, looking possessed. Moments later, Nikki Glaser and Heidi Klum ripped off his tux to reveal a sequinned blue disco-style jumpsuit. Boone, who was nominated for Best New Artist, headed to the stage, where he did a hands-free flip off a piano while performing his global breakout hit, “Beautiful Things.”
The moment was jarring, not because of the acrobatics or the abruptness, but because it disrupted what had been, so far, an evening celebrating the overwhelming force of female talent in the pop world. This past year was a landmark year for women in music, both commercially and artistically, and the Grammys offered a striking snapshot of the riches. Sabrina Carpenter jump-started the evening with a pitch-perfect performance of coquettish Hollywood glamour before winning Best Pop Vocal Album, for “Short n’ Sweet.” Cardi B presented the award for Best Rap Album to the dynamic Doechii, who was only the third-ever woman to win the award. (Cardi B was the second.) Olivia Rodrigo introduced her former touring partner Chappell Roan, who later won Best New Artist. Taylor Swift presented the award for Best Country Album to Beyoncé, and Charli XCX later turned the stage into a maximum-adrenaline rave. The night culminated with Beyoncé winning Album of the Year, a prize that has eluded her many times in the past.
The exception to the theme, of course, was Kendrick Lamar, whose year-dominating “Not Like Us” took home five awards. The entire evening felt like a tribute concert to the city of Los Angeles in the aftermath of the wildfires, and Lamar, an Angeleno, expressed deep gratitude to his hometown in his acceptance speech for Record of the Year. He did not, however, mention Drake, the foe who inspired him to make “Not Like Us,” a brutal knockout punch in one of history’s most embittered rap beefs. Drake was not at the ceremony. But he was the biggest elephant in the room, with each successive win for Lamar salting the wound of his defeat. The spectre of their conflict added a dash of machismo to a night that was otherwise a victory lap for women.
Further reading: Battan on how 2024 brought the summer of girly pop; Naomi Fry on Bianca Censori’s habit of going out in very (very) little clothing; and Hanif Abdurraqib on Kendrick Lamar’s year on top.
Editor’s Pick
The U.S. Military’s Recruiting Crisis
The ranks of the American armed forces are depleted. Is the problem the military or the country?
Amid widespread personnel shortfalls, the Army and Navy have taken to lowering their standards of acceptance or significantly reducing their recruitment target in order to fill ranks. Trump insists that the decline is due to the Biden Administration’s D.E.I. efforts, but recruiters say they are contending with a population that’s not just unenthusiastic about serving but incapable. “While the political argument festers, military leaders are left to contemplate a broader problem,” Dexter Filkins writes, in a deeply reported piece for this week’s issue. “Can a country defend itself if not enough people are willing or able to fight?” Read or listen to the story »
The Briefing Room
The pursuit of Panama: Trump has swiftly made the Panama Canal a test case for two of his biggest priorities—halting illegal immigration to the U.S. through Central America and countering China’s growing global influence—and he has become increasingly combative in his aims, even suggesting a military seizure. Robin Wright considers what the President really wants.
Executive power, transformed: Trump has been running roughshod over the federal government, firing inspectors general at Cabinet agencies and prosecutors at the Department of Justice. Isaac Chotiner speaks with Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law professor and former head of the D.O.J.’s Office of Legal Counsel, about how strategic the Administration’s actions are and how likely the Supreme Court is to uphold them.
When the “Tariff Man” strikes: Trump announced this weekend that the U.S. would be implementing steep new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. Mexico has since reached a deal with the White House to delay the tariffs, but the other two countries have proposed countermeasures. “We didn’t ask for this, but we will not back down,” the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said this weekend. Benjamin Wallace-Wells has reported on the man behind Trump’s tariff plans, and John Cassidy has explored the potentially dangerous fallout.
Elon Musk’s shadow rule: The offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development were closed to workers today. The news came after Musk announced on X that he and the President had agreed that U.S.A.I.D. should be dissolved. “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” Musk posted. Ronan Farrow has reported on the tech leader’s alarming influence within the U.S. government, even before Trump’s reëlection.
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- George Hamilton Is Palm Beach’s It Boy, Again
Daily Cartoon
- Laugh Lines No. 5: New York City
- Play today’s challenging puzzle. A clue: Nation whose first Olympic medal was won by Julien Alfred, who took gold in the women’s hundred metres, in 2024. Ten letters.
P.S. As part of a shocking trade announced on Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks sent the twenty-five-year-old superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Dončić’s ability “is like the discovery of quantum mechanics,” Louisa Thomas has written. “We’re only starting to understand what it means for the game.” We’ll soon discover what it means for his new team.
