These are the big stories for today that you need to know about.
Headlines
Anthropic Whistleblower Warns AI Could Wipe Out Humanity by 2039
An Anthropic researcher who previously worked at OpenAI announced his resignation this week, warning on social media that both companies are “racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives.” A current Anthropic alignment researcher publicly agreed with him, saying he personally believes there’s more than a 10% chance AI could kill all humans within the next decade. Source
Oil prices pushed toward $100 a barrel and U.S. stock futures wobbled as the military conflict between the United States and Iran escalated further, with American forces reported to have disabled several Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has vowed a “more painful” response to the strikes as tanker traffic through the strait remains sharply reduced. See Details
Flight data suggests the Amazon cargo plane that crashed at Miami International Airport over the weekend, killing five people in a vehicle on the ground, attempted to abort an unsteady landing before overrunning the runway. National Transportation Safety Board investigators plan to interview the pilot and co-pilot as they review cockpit recordings to determine what happened in the final seconds before impact. Find out More
Politics
A new poll shows Democrats making sharp gains among Latino voters in battleground congressional districts, a shift that could reshape competitive House races heading into the midterms. The gains come as both parties intensify their outreach in districts expected to determine control of the chamber. See Details
The Senate race between Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican Chris Sununu in New Hampshire is tightening, according to new reporting on the contest widely viewed as a must-win for Democrats. The race is one of several competitive contests being closely watched as the midterms approach. Read More
Democratic strategist James Carville said Tuesday that he believes President Trump actually wants Republicans to lose the midterms, pointing to Trump’s recent behavior as evidence. Carville argued no other explanation accounts for the president’s current conduct toward his own party ahead of the elections. See Details
U.S. News
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is on pace to set a record for the latest formation of a first hurricane, with the basin producing five named storms so far but no hurricanes as of this week. Forecasters attribute the unusually quiet stretch partly to disruptive wind shear and dry air blowing off the Sahara. See Details
President Trump this week again recounted his memory of two firefighters carrying him to safety on September 11, 2001, offering the recollection during an event honoring first responders ahead of the attacks’ 25th anniversary. It marks the latest in a series of public retellings of his account of that day. See Details
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is fighting to avoid becoming the first sitting governor in any state to lose a primary this cycle, facing a serious challenge from Helena Foulkes. Rhode Island is one of only four states holding primaries this month, with its contest set for later in September. Read More
Business
Apple is holding its next major product event Wednesday afternoon, with tech analysts widely expecting the unveiling of a foldable iPhone alongside new iPhone Ultra models. The event marks the company’s first major showcase since Tim Cook stepped down as CEO in favor of longtime executive John Ternus. Source
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week that he supports using the U.S. government’s financial power as a tool of foreign policy, aiming to strengthen American allies abroad. Bessent made the comments at an event at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, framing the approach as part of a broader effort to build alliances in the Western Hemisphere. Read More
World News
Families in the southern Iranian city of Minab continue to visit the ruins of a school destroyed in a U.S. airstrike in February that killed dozens of children, with residents describing the site as a place of daily mourning. A grandfather who lost both his grandson and the boy’s mother in the strike said he now visits the wreckage almost every evening. Source
Britain, Canada and France announced bans Tuesday on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as international criticism mounts over the Israeli government’s actions there. The move follows Britain’s earlier announcement of trade restrictions and comes amid growing diplomatic friction between Israel and its Western allies. See Details
Indonesian rescuers are searching for eight people, including five photojournalists, who went missing at sea after their boat lost contact while heading toward the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano. The group had been traveling to cover the eruption for Indonesia’s state news agency and other outlets when they vanished after their last message Monday evening. See Details
Entertainment
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night ABC show is reportedly ending after the next season, capping more than two decades on the air. The news comes roughly a year after ABC briefly suspended Kimmel over comments about Charlie Kirk’s death before reinstating him days later amid a wave of viewer support. Source
Actor Jimmy Smits has joined the fourth and final season of “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” which follows Norman Reedus’s character across a ravaged version of Spain. Details of Smits’s role have not yet been disclosed. See Details
A new four-hour documentary titled “Musk,” arriving in theaters October 16, alleges that Elon Musk’s former partners experienced gaslighting and threats, according to early reporting on the film. Directed by Alex Gibney, the documentary also examines dozens of deaths linked to Tesla’s driver-assistance systems and claims Musk courted right-wing politicians internationally to benefit his companies. See Details
Sports
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension, ending months of tense negotiations between the two sides. The deal places Mayfield among the NFL’s highest-paid passers and signals through the 2029 season, days after the sides had appeared to reach an impasse. Find out More
The College Football Playoff announced it will open discussions with broadcast partner ESPN about potentially expanding the tournament from 12 to 24 teams. The CFP emphasized the move does not represent a decision to expand but rather an opportunity to gather information on a possible format change as soon as 2027. Find out More
The NFL’s 2026 season kicks off tonight with a rematch of Super Bowl LX, as the defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots at Lumen Field. It marks the league’s first Wednesday season opener since 2012, a scheduling shift made to accommodate Thursday’s historic first regular-season game in Australia between the 49ers and Rams. Source
Off the Wall
An Ole Miss fan who went viral after ESPN cameras caught her looking visibly stressed during the team’s dramatic comeback win over Louisville says she’s now being flooded with direct messages following her newfound internet fame. Sara Smith posted a video responding to the attention, showing off some of the messages that have poured into her inbox since the clip spread online. Source
