Good morning. We're covering the decline of the N.R.A. — as well as the Super Bowl, Trump's NATO comments and Gaza.
'A shell of itself'A decade ago, the National Rifle Association seemed like an unstoppable force in American politics. A shooter had killed 20 children at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in 2012. Democrats and Republicans in Congress appeared ready to pass new restrictions on guns. The N.R.A. called on its members to contact their representatives and voice their opposition, and the bills died. Today, the N.R.A. has shed hundreds of thousands of members and large sums of money. It is standing trial for fraud and self-dealing in New York. "The N.R.A. is little more than a shell of itself after hemorrhaging hundreds of millions in legal fees," Joshua Powell, a former top N.R.A. official who settled with the state before the trial, told The Times. The organization's fall is not a death knell for Second Amendment advocates, but it is a blow. Today's newsletter will explain what went wrong with the group. Loss of trustThe N.R.A.'s troubles began with a feud with its advertising agency, Ackerman McQueen. The agency was effectively the public face of the N.R.A. for decades, spearheading the group's online channel NRATV and campaigns like "I am the N.R.A." But the relationship between the company and its client deteriorated. They disagreed about political messaging. At one point, N.R.A. leadership accused Ackerman McQueen of trying to oust the group's leader, Wayne LaPierre.
The N.R.A. and Ackerman McQueen fought out their differences in court and settled in 2022. But the infighting drew government officials' attention. After an investigation, New York's attorney general, Letitia James, filed a lawsuit in 2020. She has cited exorbitant spending by the N.R.A.'s leaders, particularly LaPierre's use of the nonprofit's funds to cover millions of dollars in expensive clothes, travel and other luxuries. Many of the N.R.A.'s members lost trust in the organization and quit, which meant they also stopped paying their dues. To deal with shrinking revenue and mounting legal expenses, the N.R.A. cut programs that were popular with members, such as gun training and education. The result: The N.R.A. has lost more than one million members, out of six million at its peak in 2018. Its revenue has dropped by more than 40 percent since 2016. Lasting effectFor many liberals, the N.R.A.'s troubles are a cathartic dose of good news. But its decline may not lead to an immediate shift in gun politics, in part because the N.R.A. was so successful in the past. First, the organization has already transformed American politics and culture around guns. In 1959, 60 percent of Americans supported banning civilian handgun ownership, according to Gallup. Last year, just 27 percent did. Republicans in particular have embraced the N.R.A.'s agenda. Second, the Supreme Court has cemented gun rights into law. Over the past two decades, it has ruled that Americans have an individual right to bear arms and that restrictions on firearms must cross new legal hurdles. Even if lawmakers overcome political opposition to pass new gun laws, they may not survive the courts. The N.R.A. "does not have much else left to do," said Mike Spies, who has investigated the group for ProPublica and The Trace. "It already turned the gun issue into a tribal issue, and gun ownership into not just a matter of owning a gun but a set of values and lifestyle." Finally, other groups — some much more strident — have risen to take the N.R.A.'s place. Gun Owners of America, which has described the N.R.A. as "too liberal," has in recent years spent millions lobbying against gun control. The Second Amendment Foundation has focused on the legal battles, challenging the constitutionality of local and state laws. Still, the N.R.A.'s decline does not help the gun rights movement. Already, the N.R.A.'s opposition was not enough to stop Congress from passing a bipartisan gun safety law in 2022. Some state and federal lawmakers hope to pass additional measures that expand background checks, ban assault weapons and remove guns from dangerous people. In the past, the N.R.A. could call on its members to defeat such bills. It is now less able to do so. Related: On "The Daily," listen to an interview with a man who counts every shooting in America.
Donald Trump
2024 Elections
More on Politics
Israel-Hamas War
International
Other Big Stories
Opinions As the memory of Indonesia's 32-year dictatorship fades, a strongman candidate threatens to return it to form, Gordon LaForge writes. Commentators accuse voters of being cynical about the economy. But the data shows they're actually being quite rational, Nate Silver writes. Gail Collins and Bret Stephens discuss Biden and Tucker Carlson. Here are columns by Maureen Dowd and David French on Biden's age. Discover more of the insight you value in The Morning. The Times is filled with information and inspiration every day. So gain unlimited access to everything we offer — and save with this introductory offer.
"Head of mysteries": A recent archaeological expedition unearthed three ancient Egyptian death masks that are at least 1,800 years old. Fashion: B Michael has dressed Beyoncé and Halle Berry. But the brand isn't a household name. Tarp, lumber and a garden hose: People around the U.S. are building personal ice skating rinks. Food fights: What happens when you love your partner but hate their cooking? Metropolitan Diary: "Why are you naked?" Lives Lived: Steve Ostrow was the founder the Continental Baths, an extravagant gay men's sex club and performance space that became a pivot point in Manhattan's gay history and a launchpad for a young Bette Midler. He died at 91.
Winners: The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime, 25-22. The Chiefs are the first team in almost two decades to take back-to-back Super Bowls. The final play: Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs' quarterback, was named the game's most valuable player after throwing the game-winning pass. See the play. The other M.V.P.: Yes, Taylor Swift was there. No, Travis Kelce did not propose after the game. More on the show
Halftime: Usher's performance, which touched on more than a dozen songs, showcased an artist who can nail the details, Jon Caramanica writes. He roller-skated onstage. Tribute: See a video from CNN of a high school dance team's own version of Usher's halftime show. An announcement: Beyoncé used a Super Bowl commercial to promote new music — a country-themed album scheduled for release on March 29. Best to worst: The Times's television critic ranked all of the Super Bowl ads.
Heartfelt: Slovakia's Love Bank museum is operated out of a medieval building that was once home to Marina Pischlova, the muse for "the world's longest love poem." Beneath the building is its Love Vault, where visitors can rent a box to place symbols of affection for a year — or in perpetuity. This Valentine's Day, however, the bank will be closed as it recovers from a fire. With the help of benefactors, it hopes to reopen for Valentine's Day 2027. More on culture
Bake a giant chocolate chip cookie in a skillet. Strengthen your tooth enamel with these tips. Take this as a sign to finally buy a kitchen scale. Keep your home safe with security cameras. Try online therapy. Gift flowers this Valentine's Day using an online delivery service. Use a fish turner as an all-purpose spatula. Take our news quiz.
Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangram was unjamming. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. — German Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2024/02/12
The Morning: The decline of the N.R.A.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Revolutionary new tech about to upend trillion dollar industries… ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ...
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.