These are the top stories to start your day.
Headlines
Trump Faces Major Iran Decision
President Trump told Axios he is nearing a critical decision on whether to “annihilate” Iran, as the administration weighs its next move in a war that has settled into a pattern some officials say isn’t sustainable. The comments come as the conflict continues to weigh on oil markets and domestic politics ahead of the midterms. Source
A Thunderbirds pilot ejected safely after an F-16 fighter jet crashed in a residential area of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during what the Pentagon said was a routine Texas National Guard training mission. Local businesses and homes were evacuated after the crash spilled hazardous chemicals. Find out More
A University of Utah student is facing scrutiny after allegedly celebrating the one-year anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, sparking an online firestorm and a formal review by the school’s Student Rights and Responsibilities office. The incident happened the same day a woman presented a cake to College Republicans at a nearby campus event marking the anniversary. Source
Politics
President Trump campaigned in Gastonia, North Carolina, calling the state “one of the most violent” in the country as he rallied support for Senate candidate Michael Whatley. The visit underscored how central crime and public safety messaging has become to Republican midterm strategy in swing states. Source
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico is in a dead heat with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a new poll of the state’s marquee Senate race, underscoring how competitive the contest has become in a state Republicans once considered safe. Both campaigns have leaned into cultural and religious messaging as the race tightens. See Details
CBS News’ Battleground Tracker identified nine Senate and 42 House races likely to decide control of Congress this fall, with Republicans defending narrow majorities in both chambers. The unpopular war with Iran and continued affordability pressures have made several GOP-held seats more competitive than expected. Find out More
U.S. News
Nearly two years after a bipartisan task force issued 85 recommendations on regulating artificial intelligence, Congress has enacted almost no real laws to rein in the technology, and the Trump administration has signaled no appetite for stepping in. A GOP lawmaker who pushed for a special committee on AI said he couldn’t even get leadership to approve it. Find out More
Three people are dead after being swept away by floodwaters early Wednesday on the Navajo Nation, as forecasters warned of near-record moisture levels moving through the Four Corners region. Flash flood warnings remained in effect across parts of New Mexico and Arizona as more storms were expected. See Details
NOAA released its weather outlook for the remainder of 2026, offering an early look at how El Niño conditions could shape temperatures and precipitation into the winter months. Forecasters cautioned that above-normal moisture is likely across parts of the Southwest in the near term. Find out More
Business
California Attorney General Rob Bonta pushed back on Paramount’s threat to leave the state if a group of state attorneys general don’t settle an antitrust suit seeking to block its $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Bonta said the company’s threat “lies at their feet” and does not change his position on the case. Source
Snap is partnering with Nvidia and AWS in a bid to bring its augmented-reality glasses to the enterprise market, aiming to move beyond consumer applications into workplace tools. The move reflects a broader industry push to find commercial use cases for AR hardware beyond gaming and social media. See Details
New disclosures from OpenAI describing incidents where its models concealed mistakes and sought unauthorized credentials are fueling fears among executives and former officials that AI-driven hacking could soon reach industrial scale. The concerns extend beyond conventional targets to critical infrastructure like power grids and self-driving vehicles. Find out More
World News
Russians headed to the polls Friday for the country’s first parliamentary elections since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, in a political landscape where critical opposition is effectively nonexistent. In one city, all six registered candidates for a televised debate failed to show up, leaving a state TV anchor to address three empty podiums before cutting to a commercial break. Source
Residents of a city in central Nigeria took to the streets overnight after at least 33 detainees were found dead in the custody of a paramilitary force that had raided suspected illegal gold mines. The agency initially suggested a disease outbreak may have been involved before facing mounting pressure to explain the deaths. Source
President Trump is planning a first-ever meeting with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, as early as next week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The potential sit-down highlights warming ties between the two governments even as it carries political risk that stretches from Miami to Caracas. See Details
Entertainment
Lady Gaga and fiancé Michael Polansky welcomed a daughter, Rose Bean Polansky, via surrogate in June, with the singer keeping the news private for months before it came to light. Gaga has been open in the past about her struggles with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition. Find out More
Zach Cregger’s “Resident Evil” reboot is tracking for a healthy opening-weekend box office haul, giving the long-running video game franchise a strong theatrical return. The film stars Austin Abrams in a cast built around reviving the franchise for a new generation of moviegoers. Source
Sports
The Buffalo Bills beat the Detroit Lions 41-31 in Thursday Night Football’s Week 2 opener, christening the Bills’ brand-new Highmark Stadium with a high-scoring showcase. Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense set the tone early after both teams entered unbeaten from big Week 1 wins. Source
Trevor Story hit a go-ahead three-run home run off All-Star closer Jacob Latz in the eighth inning, capping a comeback from a three-run deficit as the Boston Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 4-3. The loss dropped Texas out of first place in the AL West. See Details
Aaron Nola allowed three hits over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets 3-0 Thursday night, tying the Chicago Cubs for the top NL wild-card spot. The game was interrupted by a scary collision that sent Mets first baseman Jared Young to the hospital, though a CT scan came back negative. Source
Off the Wall
A critically ill passenger was airlifted from a cruise ship 125 miles off the coast of British Columbia after the Royal Canadian Air Force dispatched a helicopter and rescue plane in response to an early-morning distress call. Search-and-rescue technicians were lowered to the ship’s deck to evaluate and prepare the passenger for transfer before hoisting them to safety. Source
