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      Los cinco clones de la elección argentina

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      Javier Milei, un candidato libertario de extrema derecha, podría ser el próximo presidente de Argentina. Él le da crédito a sus “hijitos de cuatro patas” clonados.Después de alcanzar un sorprendente primer lugar en las elecciones primarias presidenciales de Argentina en agosto, Javier Milei tomó un micrófono frente a una ruidosa multitud y le agradeció a Conan, Murray, Milton, Robert y Lucas.“Y se imaginarán a quienes también”, dijo. “¡A mis hijitos de cuatro patas!”.Milei, un libertario de extrema derecha que es el favorito en las elecciones presidenciales de Argentina del domingo, no se mudaría a la Casa Rosada —la residencia presidencial del país— con pareja e hijos, sino con cinco mastines a los que desde hace tiempo considera como sus hijos.Habla, por supuesto, en sentido figurado. Técnicamente hablando, esos cinco perros no son descendientes tradicionales de ningún animal. Son copias genéticas de un perro que tuvo Milei, que también se llamaba Conan, y fueron creados en un laboratorio ubicado al norte del estado de Nueva York.Los cinco perros clonados se han convertido en objeto de fascinación en las elecciones presidenciales de Argentina, que durante meses han girado en torno al ascenso de Milei, su excéntrica personalidad y sus radicales propuestas económicas —como eliminar el banco central de Argentina y sustituir su moneda por el dólar estadounidense— para salvar la país de 46 millones de habitantes de una de sus peores crisis financieras en décadas.Milei ha hecho de su perro original, Conan, llamado así por la película Conan el Bárbaro, un personaje central de su narrativa personal, al decir que le salvó la vida y pasó una decena de Navidades solo con él cuando se sintió abandonado por otras personas.Ha convertido a los perros clonados en símbolos de sus ideales libertarios, al bautizar a cuatro de ellos con el nombre de tres economistas conservadores estadounidenses: Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman y Robert Lucas.Y en sus mítines ha sostenido cuadros de sus perros, que reparte entre la multitud antes de tomar una motosierra estruendosa, su metáfora predilecta de los profundos recortes que quiere asestar al gobierno argentino.Un partidario sostiene una réplica de un billete de 100 dólares que muestra a Milei con una motosierra. La herramienta es un símbolo de los profundos recortes que Milei quiere hacerle al gobierno argentino.Sarah Pabst para The New York TimesMilei también ha señalado que la clonación podría tener cabida en su gobierno. El mes pasado dijo que, si ganaba las elecciones, nombraría presidente de un influyente consejo científico nacional a un científico argentino que ha dedicado su carrera a la clonación de animales.“Es considerado el clonador nacional”, dijo Milei sobre el científico, Daniel Salamone. “Es el futuro”. Las creencias científicas de Milei, incluida la negación del papel de los humanos en el cambio climático, han preocupado a los investigadores.Aunque Milei es el favorito, es posible que no logre los votos necesarios para evitar una segunda vuelta en noviembre.Los perros clonados de Milei son una ventana abierta a su insólita candidatura, y un ejemplo de una tendencia creciente entre adinerados propietarios de mascotas que está planteando delicadas cuestiones éticas.Un grupo de empresas de Estados Unidos, China y Corea del Sur han clonado cientos de perros desde la primera clonación canina en 2005. Barbra Streisand es dueña de dos clones de su Coton de Tulear, mientras que Barry Diller y Diane von Furstenberg tienen tres clones de su Jack Russell terrier.Para clonar a sus perros, Milei contrató a PerPETuate, una empresa dirigida por Ron Gillespie, de 75 años, que empezó en el mundo de la inseminación de ganado y ahora dirige una empresa de “preservación genética” desde Hawái.Gillespie dijo que recibió un correo electrónico de Milei en 2014, diciendo que estaba interesado en clonar a Conan. “Dijo que este perro era su vida”, dijo Gillespie.Por 1200 dólares, Milei envió una muestra de tejido de Conan a los socios comerciales de Gillespie, científicos de la Universidad Politécnica de Worcester, en Worcester, Massachusetts, que usaron ese tejido para cultivar células llenas del ADN de Conan y luego congelarlas criogénicamente. (Algunas células permanecen congeladas en Worcester).El sitio web de PerPETuate destaca los perros clonados de Milei.En 2018, tras la muerte de Conan, Milei volvió a llamarlo. Estaba dispuesto a pagar los 50.000 dólares del procedimiento que le garantizaría, al menos, un clon.La clonación de un perro normalmente requiere más de 100 óvulos —o el equivalente a un año de producción de óvulos de cinco a 10 perras— que se extraen quirúrgicamente de donantes, dijo Gillespie.La tecnología de clonación de perros es prácticamente la misma desde que la oveja Dolly se convirtió en el primer mamífero clonado en 1997. Los científicos extraen el núcleo de cada óvulo donado, limpiándolos de todo su ADN. En esos óvulos vacíos, los científicos insertan las células llenas de ADN del animal que se va a clonar.“Luego estimulamos el óvulo con un golpe de electricidad, que forma un embrión unicelular que empieza a multiplicarse inmediatamente”, explica Gillespie.Entre 10 y 15 de esos embriones —basados totalmente en el ADN del perro clonado— se implantan en el útero de una perra que será la madre subrogada.Algunos especialistas en bioética y grupos de defensa de los animales cuestionan la ética de la clonación de mascotas, tanto por el uso de animales para donar óvulos y gestar fetos clonados, como por el hecho de que ya hay millones de mascotas no deseadas.Jessica Pierce, bioeticista que estudia la relación entre humanos y perros, ha dicho que la clonación contribuye a la creación de “una subclase canina” que a veces experimenta vidas difíciles para producir clones. “No creo que sea demasiado fuerte calificar lo que hacemos con los perros reproductores como una forma de encarcelamiento”, afirma.Las empresas de clonación de mascotas rechazan esa descripción, y afirman que muchas perras que ejercen de madres subrogadas son adoptadas por familias cariñosas.Pierce dijo que la clonación también destruye más embriones que los embarazos típicos de perros, lo que parece contraponerse con las creencias de Milei, que ha prometido intentar prohibir el aborto porque dice que la vida comienza en la fecundación.La campaña de Milei se abstuvo de hacer comentarios y de permitir una entrevista con el candidato.Para clonar a los perros de Milei, Gillespie contrató a ViaGen Pets, con sede a las afueras de Austin, Texas, la única empresa estadounidense que clona perros. ViaGen no quiso decir cuántos óvulos usó para clonar a Conan.ViaGen dijo que en casi tres de cada cuatro casos, la clonación de un perro produce un solo clon.En el caso de Milei, en 2018, produjo cinco.“Estaba eufórico”, dijo Gillespie. Cuando los clones llegaron a Argentina, uno comenzó a responder al nombre de “Conan” y parecía disfrutar del mismo programa de televisión que el perro anterior, por lo que Milei lo bautizó como Conan, dijo Gillespie según lo que le contó Milei.Conan es “literalmente un hijo para mí”, dijo Milei a un sitio de noticias argentino en 2018. Los otros cuatro clones “son como mis nietos”.También ha dicho que los perros son revoltosos. “Mi casa es Kosovo”, dijo poco después de recibir a los animales. “En dos semanas, se comieron casi cuatro sillones”. Cinco años después, ha dicho que el mayor de la camada pesa casi 100 kilos.Los perros clonados de Milei son una ventana abierta a su insólita candidatura, y un ejemplo de una tendencia creciente entre adinerados propietarios de mascotas que está planteando delicadas cuestiones éticas.Marcelo Dubini/CarasDurante la campaña, Milei ha mantenido a los perros en una guardería, apartados del ojo público. Pero siguen formando parte del debate.Sergio Massa, ministro de Economía de Argentina, que se sitúa justo por detrás de Milei en la votación del domingo, criticó la negación de Milei del papel de los humanos en el cambio climático, al decir que los padres están preocupados por el futuro del planeta, a diferencia de quienes “le hablan a los perros tratándolos como hijos”.Los medios de comunicación argentinos también han publicado que Milei ha dicho en privado que ha recibido consejos estratégicos de sus perros.Cuando se le ha preguntado si, de hecho, recibe consejos de sus perros, Milei se ha mostrado esquivo.“Lo que yo haga puertas adentro de mi casa es problema mío,” declaró al diario español El País. En el evento de cierre de su campaña, el miércoles por la noche, llamó a sus perros “los mejores estrategas del mundo.”Celia Melamed, veterinaria argentina que dirige un taller de comunicación con animales, dijo que una de sus alumnas ha sido Karina Milei, hermana del candidato y directora de su campaña.Melamed dijo que puede sentir las emociones de los animales a través de una especie de conexión metafísica. “Si conecto con un animal y tiene miedo, siento miedo en el cuerpo”, dijo. “Parece esotérico, y quizás lo sea”.Gillespie, el empresario de la clonación en Hawái, dijo que desde que se enteró de que su cliente era un político tras añadirlo como amigo en Facebook, ha observado el ascenso de Milei con fascinación.“Como le digo a mi esposa”, dijo, “no tengo voto en las elecciones argentinas, pero sí cinco perros en la contienda”.Lucía Cholakian Herrera More

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      A Chaotic Republican Debate: ‘Turn Off the Mic!’

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      More from our inbox:Members of Congress, Still Paid in a ShutdownTwo Views of JusticeColumbia’s Contributions to New York CityHigh-Quality TV Shows‘I Love Dogs,’ but Biden’s Must GoThe candidates mostly ignored former President Donald J. Trump’s overwhelming lead during the debate last night.Todd Heisler/The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “5 Takeaways From Another Trump-Free Republican Debate” (nytimes.com, Sept. 28):Turn off the mic!Seven people onstage at the same time. Just enough time for the evening’s bloviators to spew out their prefabricated talking points. Not enough time for discussions of substance.And then there’s something called rules. In lieu of decorum, our debates have devolved into two hours of rudeness, interruption and incivility. Year after year, moderators exhibit little control or are completely ignored. Candidates with the least to say won’t shut up, and those with a cogent thought don’t have time to express it.Suggestion: With a clearly displayed clock, give each candidate a prescribed amount of time for talk and rebuttal. If another candidate interrupts, turn off his or her mike. For further interruptions, deduct minutes from that candidate’s talking time.Would candidates be receptive to such an idea? If not, why?Karl AbbottNew YorkTo the Editor:The smartest man on the G.O.P. debate stage was Donald Trump. He was omnipresent without the necessity of actual presence.Why would he debate? He has the nomination wrapped up. The taunts (“Donald Trump is missing in action” — Ron DeSantis; “Voters deserve to hear him defend his record”— The Wall Street Journal) are futile rhetoric. Mr. Trump will not be provoked. He can continue to go about his business unscathed while watching his frenzied rivals with minuscule ratings continue to flail.Meanwhile, Mr. Trump gets to skate into the nomination on his terms thanks to a Republican Party that can’t get enough of him. As Mr. Trump himself used to tweet, “Sad.”William GoldmanLos AngelesTo the Editor:I’m a very proud, lifelong Democrat. But I like to watch the G.O.P. debate because I enjoy seeing the party implode and eat its own. But I stopped after 45 minutes.It was simply a bunch of lies, misleading statements and prepared applause lines. Not one of them has any idea how to solve America’s problems, nor do they even offer a sensible plan, or in many cases any plan, to do so.The party will simply anoint the twice-impeached, criminally indicted former POTUS. This is what the party wants, and, in short, nothing and no one will stop this from happening. We are all watching, in slow motion, the game play out before the final out.Ben MilanoLindenhurst, N.Y.Members of Congress, Still Paid in a Shutdown Haiyun Jiang/The New York TimesTo the Editor:How is it that if there is a government shutdown, others suffer and go hungry but members of Congress still get paid? That is obviously wrong and needs to change.Joan PachnerHartsdale, N.Y.Two Views of Justice Dave Sanders for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “More Democrats Calling on Menendez to Resign” (front page, Sept. 27):Senator Robert Menendez is indicted by the Justice Department. Democratic lawmakers across the country call for him to resign.Donald Trump is indicted by the Justice Department. Republican lawmakers across the country call for investigations into the weaponization of the Justice Department.Can there be a clearer indication of which group has a higher regard for ethics, morality and the rule of law?Barry LuriePhiladelphiaColumbia’s Contributions to New York CityColumbia’s science center was built on a new campus in Harlem. As the university expanded its footprint in the city, the number of New Yorkers enrolling declined.Amir Hamja/The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Columbia and N.Y.U. Expand, but Pay Little Tax” (front page, Sept. 27):Columbia is honored to call New York home, and we are committed to being a responsible and engaged citizen of this city. While we don’t profess to be perfect, we take pride in the estimated $14.6 billion we contribute in annual economic impact to our community, according to the most recent study by New York’s Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities.But whittling down the university’s local contributions to dollars spent ignores the broad array of commitments, large and small, that we have made to this city as one of its oldest and proudest institutional residents.I could point to the critical role played by the university and our health care providers throughout the pandemic, including providing space and logistical support to house health care workers, or to researchers at our Climate School, who are contributing their time and resources to studying harmful algae blooms in city parks.Most recently, our faculty and students have volunteered to help asylum seekers who are filing applications for the authorization to work.Columbia is expanding our commitments to the city. That includes doing more to recruit, admit and support New York City’s public school students.We know this is an all-hands-on-deck moment for New York City, and we are dedicated to contributing in every way we can to assure a bright future for it.Gerald M. RosbergNew YorkThe writer is senior executive vice president of Columbia University.High-Quality TV Shows Matteo Giuseppe PaniTo the Editor:Re “The Era of Prestige TV Is Ending. We’re Going to Miss It When It’s Gone,” by Roy Price (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, Sept. 21):Before Netflix, before Amazon, before HBO, before any of the streamers, was “prestige” content from public broadcasting worldwide. And before that was “Playhouse 90” and other prestige content from the networks of television’s early years.Good content is not just produced by big distributors; look at the range of truly interesting shows that media creators are developing on easily accessible platforms that don’t demand big budgets and fancy pedigrees.Open your eyes beyond your narrow West Coast view, Mr. Price. There’s a lot to like out there.Alice CahnRockland, MaineThe writer is a former head of children’s programming for PBS and vice president at Cartoon Network.‘I Love Dogs,’ but Biden’s Must GoCommander, a 2-year-old German shepherd, has bitten several members of the Secret Service, including biting one officer on the arm and thigh badly enough that the officer was sent to the hospital.Carolyn Kaster/Associated PressTo the Editor:Re “Once Again, a Biden Dog Gives a Bite to an Agent” (news article, Sept. 27):I love dogs more than I love most humans. That said, I feel it’s long past time that Commander, President Biden’s German shepherd, is permanently exiled from the White House to a comfortable, safe environment, such as a farm, where he has fewer opportunities to bite people.I doubt that Mr. Biden wants this outcome, but a dog with his record of biting folks should have been sent away long ago.Richard B. EllenbergerNormandy Park, Wash. More

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      in US Politics

      ‘It’s always down to human failure’: President Biden, this is how to stop your dog biting people

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      Perhaps the name didn’t help in establishing who’s boss. When Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, were given a three-month-old German shepherd puppy in December 2021, they decided to call the “very adorable” new pet Commander.With his “in chief” suffix, Biden may technically outrank him – but it seems nobody told the dog. On Monday Commander (dog not president) bit a Secret Service agent, leaving him requiring medical treatment – and this was not a first offence. The dog has bitten or attacked Secret Service personnel at least 11 times, which among Biden’s security team has earned it the less polite code names of “that stupid dog” and “freaking clown”.After the last attack in July, America’s first couple introduced “additional leashing protocols and training”, the White House announced, but given Biden’s other German shepherd, Major, was given away to family friends after biting incidents of his own, it seems something is up with the presidential pooches.Clearly the president is a busy man, but as well as the other minor matters on his plate, he is responsible for his pet’s bad behaviour, according to dog experts. “With dog bites, it’s always down to human failure,” says Luke Balsam, who runs dog training programmes at his London-based firm Luke’s Dog School.Dogs will very rarely bite without first having first shown escalating signs of stress or warning such as staring, standing defensively and growling, Balsam says. To reach the biting stage, humans have failed to spot these signs, and failed to change whatever is causing the dog stress.“Most aggression that we see in dogs comes from fear. It’s not being happy with something and having to escalate their own behaviour because the environment is not changing.”In the case of the White House, he says, “you’ve got an environment where there are people in and out all the time, probably some people are running, different people all the time, at different times of the day. It’s constant change. And so the dogs can be like: ‘Oh, who’s this? Why is this person running? What’s going on here?’”Fellow trainer Dima Yeremenko agrees, and says that while there can be a place for muzzles, there are other ways to manage a dog that is repeatedly biting, such as keeping them in a calmer restricted area, taking them back to a familiar place after exercise and using “command control” to set limits.“Put in a new environment, they can learn to behave appropriately. But that depends on the lifestyle of the person who is conducting the process. If you are simply a disorganised person surrounded by chaos, it will eventually lead to disaster,” he says.Above all, it’s not the fault of the breed, stress devotees of German shepherds. Originally bred to herd sheep, they are not naturally aggressive and are “very loyal, easy to train and very intelligent”, says Katrina Stevens, a Kennel Club assured breeder in Wiltshire for almost 40 years.“That also means they can learn bad things just as quickly as good things,” she says. “So they need a calm, confident owner.” Not so different, really, from the other parts of the president’s job. More

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      Analyze This: Donald Trump’s Thoughts and Speech

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      More from our inbox:Illegal, Nah. Let’s Call It ‘Aspirational.’Biden’s RatingsDog Parks: Fun or Harmful?Together, With Music Chris W. KimTo the Editor:Re “Donald Trump’s Way of Speaking Defies All Logic,” by Michael Wolff (Opinion guest essay, Aug. 6):Mr. Wolff argues persuasively that much of what Donald Trump says can be chalked up to illogical and thus legally inconsequential blather and bluster. Except that is true only when one evaluates the former president’s pronouncements individually. Taken in their totality, they reveal themselves as the opposite of random scattershot.Virtually everything Mr. Trump has said in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election pushes in the same direction: to try to reverse the election by every legal and — failing that — illegal means conceivable. Thus, the route to defeating Mr. Trump’s “my words are meaningless” defense is to assemble them into their coherent and sinisterly subversive whole meaning.Richard ScloveAmherst, Mass.To the Editor:Michael Wolff’s depiction of Donald Trump’s language and thinking as disordered rings true after years of hearing and reading the former president’s communications. However, Mr. Wolff’s argument that Mr. Trump’s actions regarding the 2020 election were likely unwitting and that this may mitigate his guilt in a trial brings to mind the old punchline, “I may be crazy but I’m not stupid.” That is, chaotic thinking does not preclude intention.Reports of the former president’s caution and calculation abound. He famously doesn’t use email, typically issued questionable orders to subordinates using oblique language, and tore up, even flushed, papers in a White House toilet. His speech on the Ellipse on Jan. 6 contains a number of examples of indirect language.Even if Mr. Trump’s actions in the Jan. 6 case were based on an irrational belief, is that a viable defense? If it were, it might apply to many convicted criminals who truly believed they could commit a crime and get away with it.Madeleine CrummerSanta Fe, N.M.To the Editor:Wait a minute now. Since when does a liar’s sincere belief in his own lies excuse him from committing a crime?There are legal and illegal ways to pursue a grievance. The question is not whether the accused sincerely believes he was wronged but whether he was able to distinguish right actions from wrong ones.Donald Trump chose legitimate challenges to the outcome of the 2020 election through ballot challenges and recounts. But at every turn, despite the expert opinion of many of his own advisers and loss after loss in the courts, Mr. Trump went further and pursued illegal means of reversing the vote.If after November 2020 he was not a reasonable person and unable to tell right from wrong, he should try his luck with an insanity defense.John Mark HansenChicagoThe writer is a political science professor at the University of Chicago.Illegal, Nah. Let’s Call It ‘Aspirational.’Jordan Gale for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Trump Lawyer Describes the Effort to Overturn the 2020 Election as ‘Aspirational’” (news article, Aug. 7):Donald Trump’s attorney John F. Lauro has claimed that Mr. Trump’s requests to Vice President Mike Pence and Georgia’s secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, were not illegal because they were “aspirational,” which is to say they spoke to a hope rather than a plan.In an interview on CNN he stated: “What President Trump didn’t do is direct Vice President Pence to do anything. He asked him in an aspirational way.”By the same token, I presume that if I asked someone to cooperate with me in robbing a bank, that too wouldn’t be part of a criminal conspiracy, because my request was merely “aspirational.”David P. BarashGoleta, Calif.Biden’s RatingsPresident Biden has sought to claim credit for improvements in the economy by branding the disparate elements of his agenda “Bidenomics” and by embarking on a barnstorming tour of the country.Doug Mills/The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Rising Tide Lifts All Boats, but So Far Not Biden’s” (news analysis, Aug. 5):President Biden’s weak approval ratings despite his administration’s accomplishments result from a combination of his age, his inability to forcefully tout his achievements, the generalized contempt for politicians of all stripes and the successful orchestrated campaign by his opponents to paint him as weak and ineffectual.Should Donald Trump win the White House next year, the country will have given credence to the adage that people get the governments they deserve. We will have brought upon ourselves whatever calamities a second Trump administration would deliver.Daniel R. MartinHartsdale, N.Y.Dog Parks: Fun or Harmful? Joohee YoonTo the Editor:Re “Dog Parks Are Great for People. Too Bad They’re Terrible for Dogs,” by Julie V. Iovine (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, Aug. 6):Ms. Iovine makes the unfortunate logical leap that because dog parks may be inappropriate environments for some dogs, all owners should “forgo the dog park.”For breeds like labradors (a breed that Ms. Iovine and I share affection for), dog parks can be the only place to safely or legally engage in instinctive pursuit and fetching behavior in an urban environment.We should no more prescribe an end to dog parks because some dogs do not enjoy them than we should eliminate the symphony because some people do not enjoy Mahler.Brian ErlyDenverTo the Editor:People should know about the risks related to dog parks and then decide accordingly if they feel comfortable about them. Just as with most things, from riding in airplanes to eating street food, some of us are more risk averse than others.Consider a few things: Do you have pet insurance? (Often, the other person cannot or will not pay for any vet bills if their dog injures yours.) Are your dogs more confident or nervous? Do you know the signs of anxiety and aggression in dogs? Are you willing to watch your dogs and stay with them to make sure they are safe? Is your dog a bully (a hard one to admit)?One of our dogs was attacked this year at a park, and the other dog’s guardian didn’t pay the vet bills for the stitches and follow-up visits. We still go back, but now with an air horn and an extra sense of vigilance.Katie ArthVentura, Calif.Together, With Music Illustration by The New York Times; Photographs by Jeff SevierTo the Editor:Re “This Is the Music America Needs,” by Farah Stockman (Opinion, Aug. 9):Ms. Stockman’s wonderful article reminded me of my childhood, when we came to these shores in 1938 as refugees from Nazi Germany. My father, a fine amateur violinist and an avid chamber music player, discovered a small publication that listed amateur musicians and their self-grades as to ability.This brought a diverse assortment of talented musicians, violin and cello cases in tow, to our apartment. They were young and elderly, newly arrived as well as true Yankees, Black and white, with diverse backgrounds and beliefs, all connected by the joy of making music together, playing Mozart and Haydn quartets.The after-music “Kaffee und Kuchen” (“coffee and cake”) provided by my mother encouraged conversation and discovery about each other’s lives, and a good deal of laughter and fellowship. Although small in number, these groups echoed the headline, “This (Too) Is the Music America Needs.”Rudi WolffNew York More

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      Does It Matter What Trump Really Believes?

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      More from our inbox:Anti-Trump Republicans as Swing VotersRacial Disparities in the Swimming PoolMultitask? Maybe.A Dog’s Behavior Doug Mills/The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Trump, in Shadow of Capitol, Issues a Not Guilty Plea” (front page, Aug. 4):So, Donald Trump pleads not guilty to fraud and obstruction charges that resulted in violence, death and utter chaos on Jan. 6.He truly doesn’t know what guilt means. Nor responsibility. Nor having an honest reckoning with himself over the conduct he chose leading up to and on that infamous day. He knows only lies, blaming others and outrage.These are not traits that serve a president of a local board, never mind a chief executive of a large and complex nation battling sophisticated economic, diplomatic and social problems crying out to be addressed.I hope we never again have enough citizens who fall for a presidential candidate with these major character deficiencies.Amy KnitzerMontclair, N.J.To the Editor:Re “The Trial America Needs,” by David French (column, nytimes.com, Aug. 1):For the life of me I just cannot understand why prosecutors must prove that Donald Trump knew he was lying when he claimed he won the election.How can refusing to see the truth be a valid defense for his actions? In law school I learned about the “reasonable person” standard for determining liability in a number of circumstances. If a reasonable president would have known that he lost an election in view of the overwhelming evidence, shouldn’t this former president be imputed with this knowledge whether he believed it or not?Refusing to acknowledge facts is not reasonable. He can’t be allowed to use obtuseness to avoid the consequences for his actions.Rhonda StarerHarrington Park, N.J.To the Editor:Re “A President Accused of Betraying His Country” (editorial, Aug. 3):In his final presidential debate with Hillary Clinton in 2016, Donald Trump was asked whether he would accept the result of the election if he lost. He refused to say. “I will look at it at the time,” he responded. “I will keep you in suspense.”That the moderator, Chris Wallace, thought it necessary to pose the question should have been shocking. Mr. Trump’s unabashed contempt for democracy should have been disqualifying in the minds of enough voters to ensure he’d not be elected.Looking back now, nobody can claim that Mr. Trump didn’t put us on notice for what we’re facing now. It is an example of how we ignore certain kinds of red flags at our own great peril.David SabrittSeattleTo the Editor:Re “First Amendment Is Likely Linchpin of Trump Defense” (front page, Aug. 3):It may make sense as a legal strategy, but as a political argument for re-election, “I have a constitutional right to lie all I want” doesn’t sound like a winner, at least to this voter.Anna Cypra OliverGreat Barrington, Mass.Anti-Trump Republicans as Swing VotersRepublican voters are apparently not concerned about Donald J. Trump’s increasing legal peril.Maddie McGarvey for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Trump Far Ahead in the G.O.P. Race Despite Charges” (front page, July 31):I draw an important inference from the data in the poll described in the article: Donald Trump will lose the general election if he is the Republican nominee.The nearly one in four G.O.P. voters who are truly anti-Trump will do what they did in 2020 and vote for the presumed Democratic nominee, Joe Biden. Those swing voters proved to be a deciding factor last time, and their numbers increase with each new indictment of the former president.It doesn’t matter how unwavering Trump supporters are. If they want to elect a Republican president, they need to choose someone other than Mr. Trump. Nearly all the other G.O.P. candidates tiptoe around the mention of Mr. Trump to avoid alienating his base, but sycophancy won’t sway his followers.A more effective (and pragmatic) approach would be to repeatedly argue that swing voters, a.k.a. moderate Republicans, will hand this election to the Democrats if Mr. Trump is the nominee.Jana HappelNew YorkRacial Disparities in the Swimming Pool Allison Beondé for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Why We Need More Public Pools,” by Mara Gay (Opinion, July 30):Kudos to Ms. Gay for highlighting an important public health disparity and drowning crisis. The disproportionately high rates of drowning among Black and brown people should be unacceptable and widely recognized as a safety and public health priority.The racist policies discussed by Ms. Gay that limit resources for access to swimming opportunities contribute to the wide disparities in swimming ability and water safety.More inclusive access to competitive swimming is also important to provide swimming role models. The reversal in 2022 of the ban on the Soul Cap for Black hair by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) shows that policy change can occur through public campaigns.A much greater national public health campaign can help ensure that not only are water safety and swimming training made widely available but also that the physical and mental health benefits of swimming are widely understood and enjoyed by all, especially as the climate heats and relief is needed.Adrienne WaldHigh Falls, N.Y.The writer is an associate professor of nursing at Mercy College, specializing in public health and health promotion, and an avid swimmer.Multitask? Maybe. Janet MacTo the Editor:“Today’s Superpower Is Doing One Thing at a Time,” by Oliver Burkeman (Opinion guest essay, July 30), hit a chord in me. Mostly, because I desperately want to stop multitasking, but I simply cannot: I am a mother.Mr. Burkeman’s article is written from such a place of privilege — white, male and well off — that it began to sicken me that he was imploring the rest of us to stop multitasking. In fact, I reread the article, searching for any quotes he might have from a woman, but indeed, all his sources were men.In other words, not multitasking is a privilege that very few of us can afford.Melissa MorgenlanderBrooklynTo the Editor:I began reading Oliver Burkeman’s essay using the newspaper as a kind of readable place mat on which I enjoyed my Sunday lunch. I made it just past the second paragraph when I closed and removed the paper, carrying on with lunch atop the bare table.I felt empowered but haven’t managed to get to the rest of the piece since then.Pablo MonsivaisSpokane, Wash.A Dog’s Behavior Illustration by Akshita Chandra/The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “The Stressed-Out Life of a Biter in Chief,” by Alexandra Horowitz (Opinion guest essay, Aug. 3):Thank you for publishing this piece about dog behavior, specifically biting.I am one of the many who don’t like dogs. In fact, I fear them. The reason? Every dog that has ever jumped on me, growled at me or attempted to bite me did so immediately after its human companion told me that the dog is friendly and safe to be around, followed by dismay and surprise that their dog would do such a thing.It is helpful to know more about the myriad reasons that dogs bite, even if it doesn’t assuage my fear of them.Lisa M. FeldsteinNew York More

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      Justices Ignoring the ‘Scent of Impropriety’

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      More from our inbox:The Costs of the Trump InquiryGiuliani’s False AccusationsReform the College Admissions SystemBiden’s Dog Needs a New HomeA Brit’s Struggles, After Brexit Hannah RobinsonTo the Editor:Re “What Smells Off at the Court?,” by Michael Ponsor (Opinion guest essay, July 16):Judge Ponsor’s bewilderment at the loss of olfaction on the Supreme Court is spot on. As he explained, it isn’t that hard for a judge to catch even a faint whiff of the scent of impropriety.And you don’t have to be a federal judge to smell it. Every federal employee knows that aroma. When I was a Justice Department lawyer, a group of federal and state lawyers spent months negotiating in a conference room at the defendant’s law firm. The firm regularly ordered in catered lunches and invited the government attorneys to partake. None of us ever accepted a bite.Another time, a company hoping to build a development on a Superfund site hosted a presentation for federal and municipal officials. The company’s spokesperson presented each city official with a goodie bag filled with stuff like baseball caps bearing the project’s name. To me and my colleagues, the spokesperson said: “We didn’t bring any for you. We knew you wouldn’t take them.” They were right.The sense of smell is more highly evolved in the depths of the administrative state than in the rarefied air at the pinnacle of the judicial branch.Steve GoldCaldwell, N.J.The writer now teaches at Rutgers Law School.To the Editor:Judge Michael Ponsor alludes to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges as the guide he has followed his entire career. However, he implies that the code is faulty by stating the Supreme Court needs a “skillfully drafted code” to avoid political pressure on justices. He does not elaborate on what shortcomings the existing code has that make it inapplicable to the Supreme Court.The existing code is very skillfully drafted. It emphasizes that the foundation of the judicial system is based on public trust in the impartiality of judges. The code is very clear that the “appearance of impropriety” is as important as its absence.This is at the core of the scandals of current sitting justices. The actions and favors received most certainly have the appearance of impropriety. Those appearances of impropriety are undermining confidence and trust in the Supreme Court. No amount of rationalization and argle-bargle by the justices can change that.R.J. GodinBerkeley, Calif.To the Editor:When I served as a United States district judge, it did not take an acute sense of smell for me to determine what action was ethically appropriate. I had a simple test that was easy to apply: Do I want to read about this in The New York Times? I think the current members of the Supreme Court are beginning to realize the value of this simple test.John S. MartinFort Myers, Fla.The writer served as a district judge for the Southern District of New York from 1990 to 2003.The Costs of the Trump InquiryThe scope of Jack Smith’s investigation of former President Donald J. Trump greatly exceeds that of the special counsel investigating President Biden’s handling of classified documents after he left the vice presidency.Kenny Holston/The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Cost of Scrutinizing Trump Continues to Grow” (front page, July 24):We should weigh the cost of investigating and prosecuting allegations of major crimes committed by Donald Trump against the cost of doing nothing.Imagine a world in which the United States descends into an authoritarian regime — with our rulers selected by violent mobs rather than in elections. The costs to our rights as citizens and our system of free enterprise would be incalculably larger in such a world than what Jack Smith is currently spending to hold Mr. Trump accountable for his actions.Eric W. OrtsPhiladelphiaThe writer is a professor of legal studies and business ethics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a visiting professor of law at Columbia University.Giuliani’s False Accusations Nicole Craine for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Poll Workers Get Retraction From Giuliani” (front page, July 27):If there was such widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, why did Rudy Giuliani resort to falsely accusing the two Atlanta election workers? Didn’t he have many true examples of fraud to choose from?Tom FritschlerPort Angeles, Wash.Reform the College Admissions SystemThe Harvard University campus last month. The Biden administration’s inquiry comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny of college admissions practices.Kayana Szymczak for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Legacy Admission at Harvard Faces Federal Inquiry” (front page, July 26):While I applaud the focus on legacy admissions, it is clear that the entire process needs an overhaul. Every day now it feels as if a new study is released that confirms what we had long suspected: that elite colleges favor the wealthy and the connected. Does anyone believe that removing legacy admissions alone will change this?As it stands, elite schools care too much about wealth and prestige to fundamentally alter practices that tie them to wealthy and connected people. If the Education Department is serious about reform, it will broaden its inquiry to examine the entire system.However one feels about the Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, at the very least it has forced us to reconsider the status quo. I pray that policymakers take this opportunity instead of leaving the bones of the old system in place.Alex ChinSan FranciscoThe writer is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is pursuing a Ph.D. at Teachers College, Columbia University.Biden’s Dog Needs a New HomeA White House staff member walking Commander, one of the Biden family’s dogs, on the North Lawn of the White House earlier this year.Tom Brenner for The New York TimesTo the Editor:Re “Emails Report List of Attacks by Biden’s Dog” (news article, July 26):I support Joe Biden’s presidency and think he is generally a thoughtful, kind man. But I am appalled to learn that Secret Service agents — or any employees at the White House — have to regularly contend with the risk of being bitten by the president’s German shepherd.No one deserves to face not just the physical harm and pain of dog bites but also the constant fear of proximity to such an aggressive pet. Keeping the dog, Commander, at the White House shows poor judgment.This situation hardly reflects the Bidens’ respect and caring for those sworn to serve them. It’s time for Commander to find a new home better suited to his needs.Cheryl AlisonWorcester, Mass.A Brit’s Struggles, After Brexit Andy Rain/EPA, via ShutterstockTo the Editor:Re “The Disaster No One Wants to Talk About,” by Michelle Goldberg (column, July 23):I am a Brit, a fact I have been ashamed of since the Brexit vote in 2016, if not before.I voted to stay in the European Union. I was shocked at the result, and I was more shocked at the ignorance of others who voted.Our lives absolutely have changed since Brexit, but not for the better. My family is poorer, and we can no longer afford a holiday or many of the luxuries we previously could. As the economy suffers, with the rise in interest rates our mortgage is set to reach unspeakable sums. Package that with a near doubling in the cost of our weekly groceries, and we have big decisions that need to be made as a family.And still, despite this utter chaos, the widespread use of food banks, the regular striking of underpaid and underappreciated key workers, despite all of this, there are still enough people to shout loud in support of Brexit and the Conservative Party.We are a nation in blind denial. We are crashing. And yes, we are being pushed to breaking up into pieces not seen for centuries.As a family we miss the E.U., we mourn the E.U., and we grieve for the quality of life we once had but may never see again.Nevine MannRedruth, England More

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      Commander in, Major out: White House pet shakeup after biting incidents

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      Commander in, Major out: White House pet shakeup after biting incidentsJoe Biden brings in new German shepherd puppy, to be joined by a cat in January President Joe Biden on Monday introduced the newest member of his family, a purebred German shepherd puppy named Commander, while the first lady’s office said the cat she promised more than a year ago to bring to the White House would finally join them in January.But the news was not so good for another member of the Biden animal family. The family decided it was best for their other German shepherd, Major, to live in a quieter environment with friends after some biting incidents.Biden shared a photo on his official Twitter account of the three-month-old male puppy with a caption that said: “Welcome to the White House, Commander.” He also released a brief video of him tossing a ball to Commander and walking the leashed dog into the White House.Commander was born on 1 September and arrived at the White House on Monday afternoon, a gift from the president’s brother James Biden and sister-in-law Sara Biden, according to Michael LaRosa, a spokesperson for the first lady, Jill Biden.His name appears to be a play on Biden’s status as commander-in-chief of the US armed forces.The first lady said shortly after Biden won the November 2020 presidential election that they would be getting a cat. LaRosa said the feline would join the family in January.The Bidens had two other German shepherds – Champ and Major – with them at the White House before Commander.But Major, a three-year-old rescue dog, ended up in the proverbial dog house following two biting incidents in the months after his arrival last January. He was sent home to Delaware for training before he was returned to the White House. White House officials had explained Major’s aggressive behaviour by saying he was still getting used to his new surroundings.But he was sent away again. Now, his permanent exile from the executive mansion appears official.“After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviourists, and veterinarians, the first family has decided to follow the experts’ collective recommendation that it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends,” LaRosa said in an emailed statement. “This is not in reaction to any new or specific incident, but rather a decision reached after several months of deliberation as a family and discussions with experts.”Champ died in June at the age of 13.CNN first reported Commander’s arrival after he was seen scampering around the White House south lawn on Monday.TopicsJoe BidenUS politicsDogsPetsAnimalsnewsReuse this content More

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      How Alvin the Beagle Helped Usher In a Democratic Senate

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      AdvertisementContinue reading the main storySupported byContinue reading the main storyHow Alvin the Beagle Helped Usher In a Democratic SenateSenator Raphael Warnock was sworn in this week as Georgia’s first Black senator, and he arrived with a canny canine assist.Senator Raphael Warnock and Alvin the beagle during the production of his campaign ad.Credit…Warnock for GeorgiaPublished More