These are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Trump Hosts China’s Xi for White House State Dinner
President Trump is taking Chinese President Xi Jinping to the National Archives on Friday to view the founding documents of American democracy, capping a three-day state visit that critics say was long on pageantry and short on results. Xi is expected to leave Washington after the tour, and the two leaders produced no major breakthroughs on trade or artificial intelligence safety. See Details
Jim Copenhaver, who was shot during the July 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, has died at 76. His family said he suffered life-altering injuries in the shooting and died Wednesday, surrounded by loved ones. Read More
Taiwan’s government on Friday rejected Xi’s remarks to Trump about the island’s future as a distortion of the facts, insisting only Taiwanese people can decide what comes next. Xi told Trump in Washington on Thursday that China’s stance on reunification is clear and that he hoped the U.S. would formally oppose Taiwan independence. Find out More
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson urged her Supreme Court colleagues Thursday to take up emergency docket cases less often, warning the practice carries institutional costs. It is her latest critique of the court stepping into pending litigation, often to let Trump resume policies blocked by lower courts. Source
Politics
The Senate rejected a resolution to limit President Trump’s war powers in Iran by a 49-50 vote Thursday. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul and Thom Tillis voted with Democrats, while Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat opposed. Source
The White House restored access for banned reporters after a court order, which should end a press boycott that had left the public without key video coverage of the president for several days. Judge Timothy Kelly set a Sept. 28 deadline for the news outlets to seek a preliminary injunction, and the ruling does not yet address their First Amendment claims. Source
A new Echelon Insights survey found 56 percent of Republicans now consider themselves supporters of the party first, while 34 percent pick Trump. That reverses the early-2025 result, when Trump led the party by 23 points on the same question, though the poll measures political identity rather than approval or vote intention. Read More
U.S. News
The Trump administration has steadily narrowed the tools schools can use to address systemic racial disparities, ending a principle both parties had long followed in civil rights enforcement. This summer, the Education Department rescinded a regulation that let schools gauge possible discrimination by comparing outcomes across races. Read More
Dr. Heidi Overton, Trump’s nominee to lead the FDA, sidestepped senators’ questions Thursday on vaccines, the abortion pill and fruit-flavored vapes. She affirmed the measles vaccine is safe and effective but would not say whether Trump was wrong to call it lethal. Source
The Pentagon is investigating how a shipment of F-35 fighter jet parts bound for the United States from overseas was diverted. Details released so far are limited, and the investigation is ongoing. Read More
Business
U.S. stock futures were little changed early Friday as Treasury yields kept climbing. The 10-year yield reached 5.225% late Thursday, its highest since 2007, driven by hawkish Fed comments, high energy prices from the Iran war and hot economic data. Read More
Starbucks is closing about 250 locations, roughly 1% of its North American footprint, as it continues its turnaround. The company expects about $300 million in charges from the closures and now forecasts only about 440 new store openings this fiscal year, down from 600 to 650. Source
Japan’s finance minister said President Trump raised concerns about the yen’s weakness during his summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The account of the leaders’ currency discussion was unusually detailed for Tokyo Find out More
World News
Satellite imagery and intelligence from Chinese groups have helped Iran threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and carry out precision strikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East, according to recent American intelligence assessments described by four sources. The administration has tried to clamp down on Chinese commercial satellite imagery of the region, which officials warn has endangered American troops. See Details
Brent crude climbed back above $105 a barrel as the U.N. General Assembly showed little progress toward ending the seven-month Iran war. A senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader warned that Iran and the Houthis could open a new front targeting Red Sea energy supplies if the U.S. strikes again, and a commercial vessel hit in the Strait of Hormuz left one crew member dead. Source
Pope Leo XIV is heading to France for a weekend visit, bringing his message on the dignity of every human life to a country where the Catholic Church has lost influence on ethical issues. Macron’s office said Friday’s meeting with the pope will cover climate change, artificial intelligence and European and international affairs. Read More
Entertainment
The re-release of "Avengers: Endgame" is tracking to earn $25 million to $28 million this weekend and could finish No. 1 at the domestic box office. It will compete for first place with the "Resident Evil" reboot, which is targeting $24 million to $26 million in its second weekend. See Details
Brad Pitt attended the San Sebastian premiere of "Heart of the Beast" and praised working with his canine co-star. The survival thriller opens in theaters this weekend and is competing with Robert Pattinson’s "Primetime" for third place at the box office. Find out More
Court documents show Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes will be barred from contacting the 14 victims of her fraud after her release from federal prison, unless a probation officer directs otherwise. Holmes was convicted of defrauding investors of more than $452 million. Source
Sports
The Falcons beat the Packers 35-14 Thursday night at Lambeau Field, ending Green Bay’s streak of 13 straight home-opener wins. Michael Penix Jr. settled in after an early interception, going 13-of-15 in the second and third quarters, while Bijan Robinson and Drake London led the attack. Source
The White Sox became the first team to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons, on the same day the Cubs clinched their second straight postseason berth. It is only the fourth time both Chicago teams have made the playoffs in the same year, and the White Sox are still chasing the AL Central title. See Details
The U.S. took a 3-2 lead over the International team after Thursday’s opening four-ball session of the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club. Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa won 3 & 2, while Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim beat Patrick Cantlay and Chris Gotterup by the same margin. Source
Off the Wall
Cath Bowie, a 78-year-old Scottish grandmother who plays as "grumpygran1948," has set a Guinness World Record as the oldest female Fortnite streamer. She got hooked after watching her grandson play in 2017, and she says no one should think they are too old to start gaming. Source
