These are today’s top stories.
Headlines
Trump Renames Lake Ontario
President Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America,” escalating a trade dispute with Canada that has already triggered tariffs on tens of billions of dollars in cross-border goods. The change directs the Interior Department to update federal geographic records within 30 days. Source
Norway’s King Harald died Friday morning at Oslo University Hospital at age 89, the royal palace announced. Crown Prince Haakon is set to succeed his father as monarch. Read More
Outgoing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered parting thoughts on the role in a round of media appearances marking her last day on the job. A federal judge separately blocked a Postal Service regulation that would have given the administration greater control over mail-in ballots ahead of the midterms. See Details
Politics
Inside Elections shifted its ratings on seven more House districts in Democrats’ favor this week, with California’s 21st District moving off the competitive list entirely. Three additional GOP-held seats in Kentucky, Nevada and South Carolina also slid from safely Republican to merely likely Republican. Link
House Democrats are drafting legislation to reverse President Trump’s order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America.” Rep. Debbie Dingell called the move “absolutely insane” in a radio interview, while Rep. Tim Kennedy said he is working on a bill of his own. See Details
Michigan Senate Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed called for the party to unite ahead of the midterms in a new interview, continuing to press Republican opponent Mike Rogers for another debate. El-Sayed has remained a prominent figure in the race since defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in the primary. Read More
U.S. News
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has rejoined the Democratic Socialists of America after her membership lapsed years ago, the organization confirmed. The renewed affiliation comes amid mounting speculation about a possible 2028 presidential bid. Source
The National Transportation Safety Board said a commercial jet’s close call with Marine One earlier this month may have been linked to ongoing construction at the White House. The preliminary report adds new detail to an incident that had already drawn scrutiny in Washington. See Details
A U.S. district court ruled that Texas’ ban on drag performances is unconstitutional, blocking enforcement of the 2023 law. The case has moved through the courts for several years after an earlier ruling and a subsequent appeal. Find out More
Business
S&P 500 futures were little changed early Friday as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s keynote address at the central bank’s Jackson Hole symposium. Gap shares jumped 15% despite a mixed quarterly report after the retailer named a new chief executive for its struggling Old Navy brand. Find out More
Nvidia shares climbed after the chipmaker beat Wall Street estimates and raised its third-quarter guidance, sparking a broader rally in semiconductor stocks. The company’s finance chief noted its forward outlook excludes any China data-center revenue amid ongoing geopolitical restrictions. Link
Buc-ee’s co-founder said the convenience-store chain will increasingly weigh state and local politics when deciding where to expand, remarks that drew immediate pushback from Illinois Democrats. The company currently operates 58 locations and is in the midst of a major expansion push. Read More
World News
A barrier lake formed by this week’s catastrophic Himalayan flooding has broken its banks along the Nepal-China border, prompting residents in at-risk areas to move to higher ground. China and Nepal have suspended rescue operations over fears of another disaster, with the death toll now at 469 and more than 1,300 people still unaccounted for. See Details
Oil prices dipped to a two-week low after Iran and Oman floated a temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, even as the U.S. presses ahead with what it has called “Economic D-Day” sanctions against Tehran. The proposed corridor would offer a path to easing months of disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway. Read More
A British military maritime agency said an unknown projectile struck a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz this week, sparking a fire that has since been extinguished. Iran has effectively blockaded the strait since the U.S. and Israel struck the country in February and has pushed a proposal to charge tolls for ships passing through. Source
Entertainment
Broadway’s “Six” will end its nearly five-year run on January 3, 2027, with its final performance. The pop-musical retelling of Henry VIII’s wives has been one of the longest-running shows of its era. Source
Peter Cullen, the voice actor famous for playing Optimus Prime across four decades of “Transformers” film and television, has died at 85. His family asked fans to honor his legacy by leading others “with compassion, integrity and loyalty.” Link
Flags will fly at half-staff in Parton’s honor for longer than they did for Sen. Lindsey Graham or activist Charlie Kirk, reflecting the scale of national mourning for the country legend. Her death capped a career that spanned six decades of music, film and philanthropy. Link
Sports
The Seattle Seahawks signed defensive tackle Leonard Williams to a three-year, $90 million extension, keeping the reigning top-ranked interior lineman off the open market. Williams had been entering the final year of his previous deal after returning to Seattle in a 2024 trade. Source
NASCAR heads into the final race of the regular season this weekend at Daytona for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, with just a handful of Chase spots still up for grabs. Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick have already clinched postseason berths under the sport’s revamped playoff format. Read More
The NFL clarified that players who leave professional contracts to return to college football this season will be barred from signing with any NFL team for the remainder of 2026. The ruling follows a wave of players, including a former Cleveland Browns tight end, exploring transfers back to college eligibility amid ongoing NCAA litigation. Source
Off the Wall
A kitten rescued from inside an excavator’s engine bay has become the newest member of an Ohio construction crew, complete with her own tiny hard hat and safety vest. The crew named her Sue in honor of the excavator’s brand, and she’ll eventually accompany the shop mechanic to and from work. See Details
