American employers added 339,000 jobs last month, according to data released today — a surprisingly strong showing. The notable increase from the previous month reaffirmed the job market’s vigor despite a swirl of economic headwinds.

One takeaway from the latest report was, as my colleague Ben Casselman put it, that “the recession keeps being postponed.”

For more than a year, economists have warned that rising interest rates and economic uncertainty would lead to a sharp drop in consumer demand and an increase in unemployment. But even as the growth of the U.S. economy slowed a bit, the overall picture has remained rosier than expected.

Still, many forecasters expect a recession to begin by the end of the year.

Today’s report complicates the picture for the Federal Reserve, which had signaled that it could hold interest rates steady at its upcoming meeting. The new data could make that choice harder.

The U.S. averts a default

President Biden is expected to sign a bill tomorrow to suspend the debt ceiling, just two days before the Treasury said the U.S. would no longer be able to pay its bills. Tonight, Biden will deliver a rare Oval Office address at 7 p.m. to discuss the debt limit.

The negotiations that led to the debt deal, which appears to have averted a potentially devastating default, proved yet again that the big drivers of future deficits — especially Social Security and Medicare, but also the military — are all off the table in a divided Washington.

Blinken called Russia’s war a “strategic failure”

Speaking from the capital of Finland — NATO’s newest member and a country bordering Russia — Secretary of State Antony Blinken described how the war in Ukraine has in many ways weakened Russia. Blinken drew a contrast between Russia’s hobbled economy and the growing size and unity of NATO, which President Vladimir Putin has described as a grave threat.

Blinken also said that strengthening Ukraine’s defenses against Russia was a “prerequisite” for diplomacy to end the war. Short-term cease-fires, he said, may just play to Moscow’s military advantage.

Lawyers couldn’t find a secret document Trump discussed

Federal prosecutors investigating Donald Trump’s handling of classified material obtained in recent months a recording of the former president discussing what appeared to be a sensitive document on military options for confronting Iran. Soon after, the prosecutors issued a subpoena seeking the return of all records that resembled the document mentioned.

But Trump’s legal team informed the Justice Department that it was unable to find any such records in his possession. It is unclear whether prosecutors have been able to track the documents, or whether the material remains at large. Another possibility is that Trump incorrectly described it on the recording.

Are you ready for the summer?

For many of us, it’s the best time of the year. Whether it’s trips to the beach, games in the yard, hikes in the forest or vacations by a lake, summer means spending time outdoors. But what if, during your mountain hike, you spot a bear?

We built a quiz to test your preparedness for potential summer dangers, including sunburn, heatstroke, tick bites and even bear encounters. See how well you do.

Dinner table topics

• Peak pork: Charcuterie has become a staple in many New York restaurants. The trend is partly an indulgent response to the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

• Tina Turner’s legacy: The singer’s honesty about her abusive relationship with her ex-husband resonated with many women. She helped change the conversation about domestic violence.

• The next Coachella? An ambitious new arts festival in New Jersey, the North to Shore Festival, will take place in venues from Atlantic City to Asbury Park to Newark throughout the month.

• Facebook founder: Mark Zuckerberg is — weirdly — completely shredded. Amid a tough run for Meta, the boss seems to be getting out some aggression with military-style workouts and Brazilian jujitsu.

Yes, it’s OK to finish at the back of the pack

Probably no one embraces running at a slow pace more than Martinus Evans. When a bystander taunted him for his speed during the 2018 New York City Marathon — which he finished in just over eight hours, or six hours behind the winner — he was inspired to start a movement.

Evans now leads the Slow AF Run Club, a community of 10,000 back-of-the-packers worldwide. At 300 pounds, he has become a beloved figure among runners who have felt left out of the sport. “I want everyone to know that they can run in the body they have right now,” he said.

Have an inclusive weekend.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back Monday. — Matthew

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.