Here are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Trump’s Arc Will Double as a Military Staging Ground
President Trump described his planned triumphal arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery as a "top-grade military complex," saying the structure could house drones and snipers. The comments reframed what had been billed as a beautification project in explicitly security-focused terms. See Details
Ukraine launched a massive drone assault against Russia, sending more than 1,000 drones into the Moscow region on the final day of the country’s parliamentary elections. The strikes hit oil infrastructure and killed at least two people, with a major refinery reportedly engulfed in flames. Find out More
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles off its east coast within a three-hour window, marking the latest in a series of weapons tests amid tension with South Korea and the United States. Regional officials are monitoring the launches for further signs of escalation. See Details
Politics
A majority of voters say President Trump’s policies have hurt the U.S. economy, according to a new poll released as a closely contested midterm election cycle nears. The survey adds to a run of recent polling showing economic discontent as a central theme for voters heading into November. Find out More
The Justice Department announced it will no longer enforce a decades-old federal law barring licensed dealers from selling handguns to 18-to-20-year-olds, citing a legal opinion concluding the restriction violates the Second Amendment. Gun-safety advocates called the move illegal and dangerous, while the Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the constitutionality of age-based purchase restrictions. Find out More
A bipartisan data center bill that passed the House with wide support stalled in the Senate after Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich blocked its fast-track passage. Heinrich said the measure lacks sufficient protection for consumers against rising electricity costs and is pushing his own "GRID Savings Act" as an alternative. Source
U.S. News
President Trump announced plans to create an "AI Force" and appoint an AI czar to oversee the artificial intelligence industry, comparing the effort to the creation of the Space Force. The announcement comes as industry leaders continue to raise concerns about AI safety risks even as the administration pushes for faster development. Find out More
The White House deactivated the press credentials of reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico over the weekend, with President Trump citing what he called "constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS." The affected outlets and press freedom advocates vowed to challenge the move, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press called it unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. Find out More
Alaska’s chaotic August primary, in which multiple candidates withdrew after advancing to the general election, has reignited debate over the state’s unique ranked-choice voting system. Voters will now decide whether to keep or repeal the system, which combines open primaries with ranked-choice general elections. Link
Business
The cryptocurrency market shed about 4% of its value, falling to roughly $2.76 trillion over the weekend, after Houthi missile and drone strikes near Riyadh rattled investors. With traditional markets closed for the weekend, crypto absorbed the geopolitical shock alone as traders braced to see how oil, bonds and stocks react when Wall Street reopens Monday. Read More
The State Department urged Americans to reconsider travel to parts of the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate, citing the risk of further military action around the Strait of Hormuz. The warning adds to mounting disruption for airlines, shippers and insurers already contending with fallout from the broader regional conflict. See Details
Berkshire Hathaway has built Alphabet into its third-largest stock holding, now representing 12.6% of its equity portfolio, as Warren Buffett’s company doubles down on the tech giant’s diversified artificial intelligence bets. Analysts point to Alphabet’s search integration, its Gemini model, its stake in Anthropic and its cloud business as reasons for the growing confidence. Source
World News
Charles Spencer’s new memoir, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," makes contentious claims about King Charles’ reaction following the death of Princess Diana nearly 30 years ago. Spencer alleges the king said the family would "forget her soon enough" and sounded "upbeat" in the aftermath, claims Buckingham Palace disputes. The book revisits long-simmering tensions within the royal family over Diana’s life and legacy. Link
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced fresh political pressure as two states, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, headed to the polls with the far-right Alternative for Germany party expected to make further gains. The vote follows a string of AfD victories in earlier state elections this year that have rattled Merz’s governing coalition. Read More
Flames and heavy smoke erupted near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after Houthi rebels claimed a fresh round of attacks on the Saudi capital, disrupting flights and rattling the kingdom. Saudi air defenses said they intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the city as the two sides continue trading strikes. Source
Entertainment
Carrie Underwood joined Guns N’ Roses onstage in Atlanta for a duet of "Sweet Child O’ Mine," trading verses with Axl Rose in front of a packed arena. The country star is said to be exploring a rockier sound under Rose’s mentorship, a notable departure from her Nashville roots. See Details
Zach Cregger’s "Resident Evil" reboot roared into theaters with $26.3 million on opening day, putting it on pace for a $53-60 million weekend that would mark the franchise’s best opening ever. The film also set a series record with $8.8 million in Thursday preview screenings and earned a B+ CinemaScore, the highest of any "Resident Evil" film to date. Find out More
Hollywood turned out in Malibu to remember actress Hayden Panettiere at an emotional memorial service attended by roughly 150 guests, including Paris Hilton, Evan Ross and Connie Britton. The gathering featured speeches, a musical tribute and a release of doves in her honor, weeks after her death last month. Link
Sports
Patrick Mahomes threw for 382 yards and three touchdowns and Kenneth Walker III added 117 rushing yards as the Chiefs outlasted the Colts 33-30 in overtime on Sunday Night Football. Harrison Butker capped the extra period with a 40-yard field goal as time expired, sending Kansas City to 2-0 with its second straight overtime win over Indianapolis. Source
Dak Prescott threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns, passing Tony Romo for the most passing touchdowns in franchise history, as the Cowboys routed the Commanders 37-20. CeeDee Lamb caught eight passes for 153 yards and two scores as Dallas evened its record at 1-1. Link
Vanderbilt pulled off one of the wildest finishes of the season, beating NC State 35-31 after the Wolfpack fumbled at the goal line in the final seconds while trying to run out the clock. Commodores linebacker Cayden Daniels scooped up the loose ball for the game-winning touchdown, and officials restored one second to the clock to make the improbable comeback official. Find out More
Off the Wall
An Iowa family was officially recognized by Guinness World Records for having five generations born on the same calendar day, September 14. Great-great-grandfather Wilbur started the tradition, and his descendants say the family made a point of it, with one relative admitting she timed a pregnancy specifically to keep the streak alive. See Details
