All Activity

US strikes 3 Iranian oil tankers after saying warships were targeted with ballistic missiles CAIRO (AP) — U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers after Navy warships were targeted with ballistic missiles, the American military said Saturday, warning that it would “if necessary, destroy Iran’s limited and exposed oil fleet.” Experts called it a dangerous escalation after Iran’s previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-war-oil-tankers-b3650799901c56a6deeca962cbaa4109?

☕ 1 fun thing: Coffee competition Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios The long-reigning pumpkin spice latte has new rivals, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes. Caramel, apple and cinnamon are the three most-ordered fall flavors on DoorDash, ahead of pumpkin, per data shared with Axios. Searches for "caramel apple iced coffee" are at an all-time high, according to Google Trends. Case in point: McDonald's dropped its longtime PSL and instead rolled out caramel apple pie coffee drinks this season, saying: "Step aside pumpkin spice, there's a new flavor in town!" Read on.

🏈 Stat du jour: Betting season Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios Americans are expected to bet $29.5 billion this NFL season through U.S. sportsbooks, according to the American Gaming Association. That's virtually unchanged from last year's $29.4 billion. The intrigue: That number doesn't include the billions flowing through prediction markets like Kalshi, which are soaring in popularity. Sports wagers account for 80+% of bets placed on Kalshi, NPR notes.

Pentagon's major leak hunt Photo: J. David Ake/Getty Images Federal investigators "have taken the extraordinary step of subjecting roughly 50 members of the U.S. military's Joint Staff to polygraph tests over leaks to journalists, including about how the Iran war has created a shortage of crucial munitions," the N.Y. Times' Jonathan Swan, Adam Entous, Maggie Haberman and Eric Schmitt report. The polygraphs were conducted in August, after news reports detailed diminished stocks of crucial munitions, including long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors, The Times said. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the paper that the department "does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters but takes all leaks of classified national security information extremely seriously and investigates accordingly." "Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world," he said. Gift link.

🐘 GOP confidence crash Data: University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. Chart: Mike Zapler/Axios Another in a long list of ominous indicators for President Trump heading into the final two months before Election Day: Republicans' confidence in the economy has plummeted over the last six months at a pace unseen since COVID — reminiscent of the declines during the global financial crisis nearly two decades ago, Axios' Mike Zapler reports. 🧮 By the numbers: Republicans still have a much more positive outlook on the economy than Democrats. But since February, Republican consumer sentiment has plunged 15.1 index points, from 97.1 to 82, according to the latest University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers data. Democratic sentiment has fallen just 1.6 index points, from 41.8 to 40.2. The 82 reading is lower than at any point during either of Trump's presidencies, with one exception: December 2020, after he'd lost reelection but before he left office. Read on.

The all-about-me campaign Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images President Trump is hitting the campaign trail and doing the last thing many Republicans want: making the 59 days to the Nov. 3 midterms a referendum on him, Axios' Marc Caputo reports. Why it matters: Most Republicans are too scared to bluntly tell Trump how unpopular he is. Timidity aside, Republicans need Trump's low-propensity voters to turn out. So they're going along with a Trump-focused strategy that many believe could cost them credibility — along with seats in the House and Senate. "We have no choice. We're stuck on the boat with him whether we like it or not," said a top Republican campaign official who's in contact with Trump's political operation. "Now, a rising tide raises all boats," the official added. "But the only ones who sound sure about the tide rising is the White House." 🐘 Coming attractions: At Trump's urging, the GOP on Wednesday and Thursday will host an unprecedented midterm convention in Dallas, headlined by the president. Trump plans to appear both nights, with Vice President JD Vance as keynote on Wednesday and Trump on Thursday. 📱 Trump is also the star of his political operation's first two TV ads: The first 30-second ad, "Toughest Guy," is all about you-know-who. The second, "Tax Cut Prices," features Trump and would be more conventional for a campaign in which he's on the ballot. 📺 Inside the room: Trump essentially demanded the ads focus on him because midterms are referendums on a president anyway, and he wanted to tout his accomplishments, The Atlantic first reported (gift link). "I'm not on the ballot, but I'm on the ballot," Trump told one confidant who relayed the conversation to Axios. A Trump adviser told Axios: "Our job is to turn Trump voters into midterm voters." 🔎 The intrigue: The ads, however, are a de facto compromise between Trump and his political staff. "This is for the audience of one," Trump's confidant said, referring to the president. "If the boss wants it, he gets it." One Trump adviser said to expect more conventional ads: "We will be stripping the bark off of Democrats and supporting our candidates. ... It's not all Trump-focused ads." 🔎 Between the lines: Trump's message in his tax cut ads is good, Republican strategists say, but their research increasingly shows voters blame him for the war in Iran that's raising gas prices. "Diesel's at an all-time high. Gas is about $4 a gallon. We can't message that away," said another Republican who runs campaigns for a few federal candidates. 🔮 What's next: At a Rose Garden dinner Wednesday with dozens of House Republicans, Trump promised to campaign across the country in 35 races "to see if we can get everyone elected." If Trump wants to campaign for a candidate, it's going to be hard for them to say no, said one of the consultants involved in talks with MAGA Inc., the super PAC that backs Trump. "Say no to Trump, and he could punish you," the consultant said. "Say yes to him, and his presence might not help. This is the world we're in." Convention lineup ...

One last time: Legislative Budget Commission meets to discuss immigration, long-term outlook Florida legislators will gather one last time ahead of the November elections to go over the state’s financial outlook and sign off on budget amendments that would direct more money into the state’s immigration enforcement activities. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/04/one-last-time-legislative-budget-commission-meets-to-discuss-immigration-long-term-outlook/? Sheriffs drop license plate readers as DeSantis warns against ‘surveillance state’ Ron DeSantis insists no Florida governor has given law enforcement more tools to fight crime than he has, but he wants them aimed at criminals, not citizens who have done nothing wrong. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/08/31/sheriffs-drop-license-plate-readers-as-desantis-warns-against-surveillance-state/? Power for and by the people? St. Petersburg groups launch campaign for municipal utilities. ST. PETERSBURG — A coalition of local organizations in St. Petersburg announced Wednesday a petition campaign to try to place a measure before the public that, if approved, would make the city the first in more than 20 years in Florida to run its own electric utility. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/02/power-for-and-by-the-people-st-petersburg-citizens-launch-campaign-for-municipal-utilities/?

Lost City Found on Egypt’s Way of Horus? New excavations at Tel Abu Saify, in Egypt’s eastern Delta region, are shedding light on a major site along the ancient Way of Horus, a route that connected Egypt to the Levant. The discoveries include a massive mudbrick enclosure surrounding a temple, successive Ptolemaic and Roman roads leading into the complex, a sandstone lintel bearing Ramesses II’s titles and an inscription referring to “Horus, Lord of the City of Mesen,” as well as statues and other objects. The inscription provides evidence for the site’s possible identification with Mesen, a city known from New Kingdom sources, but whose location has not been established. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-egypt/lost-city-found-on-egypts-way-of-horus/?

Trump Makes Jaw-Dropping Insult to the Dead of His Own War The commander in chief appears to have no respect for those who die because of his orders. President Donald Trump has dismissed his war in Iran, in which 18 U.S. service members have been killed, as “small potatoes for us.” The president, 80, was taking questions in the Oval Office on Friday when he was asked how he would describe the conflict with Iran. The question came after Vice President JD Vance insisted on Thursday it wasn’t a war despite the U.S. carrying out new strikes this week. “Can you explain to the American people, if this is not a war, what exactly is it?” ABC News’ Rachel Scott asked Trump. “Well, I’ll tell you what, a lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s, it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing,” Trump said. “We did Venezuela, and we did this.” But the president did not stop there. He went on to compare war casualties to back up his claim that the conflict in Iran was “small potatoes.” “In Venezuela, we lost nobody, and this, we lost 18 people,” Trump said. “In Vietnam you lost 100,000 people, and in other conflicts, you lost tens of thousands of people.” Trump, who himself received five military draft deferments during the Vietnam War, went on to say that he would call the conflict with Iran “intermittent strikes” and agreed with Vance that it was not a war. “We’re not fighting right now. There’s no fighting,” Trump rambled. “We’re taking out a lot of oil. We control the Hormuz Strait. We control it very strongly. We did a hit on certain areas around the Hormuz Strait,” he babbled about the crucial waterway between Iran and Oman. More than 50,000 U.S. troops are currently serving in the region. The U.S. carried out a series of new strikes against Iranian military targets on Tuesday, including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime facilities, and mine-laying capabilities, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted to carry out attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and against U.S. service members, according to CENTCOM. Since the start of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 18 American service members have been killed. Most recently, Sgt. Michael Swinton was killed on July 19 at Erbil Air Base in Iraq during the disposal of a downed Iranian attack drone. Trump attended the dignified transfer of the four service members killed in July at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on July 22. “It’s a military conflict, but it’s very intermittent. I could see somebody not calling it a war,” Trump said Friday. Scott was quick to push back on his “small potatoes” comment, noting that 18 service members had been killed since the war began. Trump did not respond to her pushback noting the number of service members killed, but seized on her comment about “record-long deployments” after the USS Lincoln set a record with 286 days at sea without making port before it docked in Thailand this week. “Why is it record-long? How long were we in Vietnam? How long were we in Vietnam?” Trump shot back. Scott tried to clarify that she was referencing the USS Lincoln, but the president refused to let her respond and instead spoke over her, arguing about preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon before bringing up those killed. “We lost 18 souls, 18 great souls. I was there to greet the families of those people at Dover, and they’re great. I got very friendly with some of the families. They were incredible families, but—and one is too much. But in Vietnam we lost tens of thousands of people. In Afghanistan, we lost a lot,” Trump said. ps:What a pathetic draft dodger!!!!!

September 5, 2026 Good morning. The season’s new releases give us a cultural road map, but the most rewarding reading, listening and watching comes from the detours. María Jesús Contreras Scenic route By Melissa Kirsch It’s Labor Day weekend, and I’m here to remind you that summer’s not over, even though schools and scolds try to lop off the final two weeks, declaring a premature finish to a season that, as any equinoctial will tell you, extends until Sept. 22. Hang on. Linger in the post-7 p.m. sunsets while you can. Finish the book you started in August. Make it to the beach. Stay a little looser. The apples and sweaters and soups are standing patiently by. I’m reluctant to let summer go because I’m reluctant to button up, to start rushing again. I associate summer with wandering, both literally and culturally. I was chatting recently with my colleague Minju about this season’s big films — “Spider-Man,” “The Odyssey,” “The Devil Wears Prada 2” — and we realized our most satisfying cinematic experiences were the detours those blockbusters sent us on. Minju was reminded how much she likes Samantha Morton, who played Circe in “The Odyssey,” which sent her to rewatch other films Morton starred in, like “Jesus’ Son” and “Minority Report.” I loved “The Invite,” directed by and starring Olivia Wilde, and set off to watch her in Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex” from July, and also to revisit her prior directorial efforts, “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Booksmart.” “Don’t Worry Darling” stars Harry Styles, who’s currently performing a 30-show residency at Madison Square Garden. I didn’t get tickets, but I’ve been dancing to his delightful 2022 album “Harry’s House” all summer. Of course the omnivorous consumer follows her aesthetic bliss year round, but the expansive days of the warmer months lend themselves to cultural meandering. Minju read Rachel Cusk’s new book “Life of M,” then wandered back to her earlier “Outline” trilogy, which she’d meant to read but never had. Olivia Rodrigo’s duet with Robert Smith on her new album led me back to Smith’s days with the Cure, “Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me” and other albums from the 1980s. I had been eagerly anticipating “Remake,” Ross McElwee’s documentary about making art after the loss of his son. Before watching it, I went back to revisit his 1986 film, “Sherman’s March,” knowing the new one referenced it and I’d want to have it fresh in my mind. After seeing “Remake,” which was stunning, I immediately cued up McElwee’s 2011 doc about his son, “Photographic Memory,” and set out to find out where his other family documentaries were streaming. My McElwee journey was long, winding and totally absorbing, a cinematic ramble. I like the wisdom to always be planning your next trip or vacation, even if it’s far in the future, so you have something to look forward to. If the end of summer brings with it a little sadness, as it does for me, why not plan your cultural itinerary for the fall? Where will “Practical Magic 2,” a 28-years-later sequel starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman and Dianne Wiest, lead? To Bullock’s hilarious turn in “The Heat”? Wiest in “Edward Scissorhands” or perhaps off the path to her small role in “Footloose”? Barbara Kingsolver’s new novel “Partita” comes out Oct. 6. Will we be rereading “The Poisonwood Bible” and “Demon Copperhead” come Halloween? The origin is the equinox, the destination is the solstice. You can choose your waypoints, but the detours and diversions will emerge once you’re on the road. Sign up for The Good List newsletter If you enjoy Melissa's essays in The Morning, you'll love her weekly compendium of things to bring you joy and meaning. Get it in your inbox. THE LATEST NEWS Lindsay Clancy Trial Lindsay Clancy in the courtroom on Friday. Pool photo by Greg Derr The judge in the Lindsay Clancy murder case declared a mistrial, after the jury failed to reach a verdict over several days of deliberations. Clancy, who strangled her three children during what the defense called an episode of postpartum psychosis, will likely remain institutionalized as prosecutors decide whether to take the case to trial again. The foreperson told the judge that there was a lone holdout in the jury who had expressed doubt about Clancy’s guilt but would not vote to acquit her. Economy Hiring was unexpectedly strong in August, as employers pushed past uncertainty related to the war in Iran, tariffs and A.I. President Trump threatened to halt a broad swath of U.S. trade unless the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates. Elections The Homeland Security secretary asked the Justice Department to investigate a commonly used voting machine, in what appeared to be an effort to cast doubt on digital voting systems. A federal judge in Boston ruled, for the third time, that the Trump administration’s plans to restrict mail-in voting were most likely unconstitutional. North Carolina added new restrictions to its vote-by-mail program. The rules make it easier for local officials to discard ballots. Politics The president’s new jet, as seen in July. Kenny Holston/The New York Times Trump will fly to Ireland next week on the new Air Force One donated by Qatar. It’s the first time he’s using the jet overseas since questions arose about its safety capabilities. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend to push a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration moved to strip more federal protections from millions of acres of wetlands that help feed drinking water systems. Homeland Security claimed that a border security project in Big Bend National Park was limited to “survey and design” work. Our reporter found evidence that patrol roads and barriers were being built. Middle East After months of war, Iran is confident in its abilities and appears determined to continue fighting, according to U.S. intelligence reports. Israel says it is cementing its foothold in southern Lebanon, adding to concerns that it intends to prolong its occupation. THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV Simon Abkarian as the titular general in “De Gaulle.” Malgosia Abramowska/Pathé Films An epic historical film about Charles de Gaulle, the storied French general and politician, has become an unexpected box-office hit. The stars of “Practical Magic 2” are embracing their witchiness. We talked to Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King and Maisie Williams about the unlikely sequel. Music Thunderstruck: A Toronto stadium was severely damaged by a storm ahead of an AC/DC concert. Who owns reggaeton’s beat? A judge ruled in favor of Bad Bunny and dozens of other defendants who argue the “boom, ch-boom, chick” beat is not protected by copyright. But the case isn’t over yet. Cassandra Wilson, who died this week at 70, led jazz into the future with warmth and creative conviction. Read our appraisal of her musical career. More Culture The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The new museum founded by the “Star Wars” creator George Lucas is finally ready to open in Los Angeles. There’s less “Star Wars” than you might expect. The Kennedy Center has removed a towering blue metal sculpture, called “Blue,” that the Trump administration had targeted for elimination. Introducing bonus puzzles. Try these twists on our games, including Wordle in 1, Connections 3x3, Colorful Strands and more. New puzzles drop every Wednesday. RECIPE OF THE WEEK Christopher Simpson for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. By Melissa Clark Jalapeño Grilled Pork Chops Eric Kim’s jalapeño grilled pork chops are perfect for Labor Day weekend feasting — or for anytime you need an excuse to light up the grill. Soaked in a punchy marinade of cilantro, garlic, chiles and just enough sugar to encourage caramelization, the thin chops cook quickly, charring lightly at the edges. Eric tops them with a bright onion and cilantro relish and serves them with rice on the side. I’d add a ripe tomato salad to take full advantage of these last days of summer. REAL ESTATE Hannah Yoon for The New York Times The Hunt: A longtime renter in the Philadelphia suburbs decided to take the plunge and buy her first home. What did she choose? Play our game. Garden smarter: Harvesting seeds now will give next year’s garden a head start. Here’s how to do it. Leafy luxury: Wheatleigh, a Gilded Age mansion in the Berkshires, is on the market. Its next owner has a choice: Should it be a grand hotel, or an even grander home? SPORTS Michael Conroy/Associated Press W.N.B.A.: Cathy Engelbert will step down as commissioner at the end of this season. She saw the league reach new heights of popularity, but was often the subject of withering criticism from players over her leadership. “Win for the city”: Twenty-five years ago, New Yorkers reeling from the Sept. 11 attacks found a common rallying point in the Yankees. We spoke to former players, coaches and even former President George W. Bush. Changing culture: High school football coaches have always taught boys to tackle. Now, some are learning to help the players manage their emotions. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Why you sleep better at hotels If you’ve ever returned from vacation and felt like you slept better in that dreamy hotel room, that’s by design. Hotels tinker with lighting, sound and temperature to help guests get the best sleep. But it’s possible to recreate some of those experiences in your own bedroom. Prioritize making your bedroom dark and quiet. Blackout curtains and white noise machines can help. Making the room cool is important, too: The ideal temperature is 65 to 68 degrees. Finally, hotel mattresses often have a luxe plush or pillow top. If you want to replicate that feeling without buying a whole new mattress, try a fluffy topper. And if you are ready to upgrade the mattress? Many of our favorites are on sale for Labor Day weekend. — Shaena Montanari Sign up for Wirecutter’s five-day newsletter course, Sleep Better, to get expert-vetted gear and tips straight to your inbox. U.S. OPEN Zheng Qinwen and Madison Keys. Thomas Coex/AFP — Getty Images; Yuki Iwamura/Associated Press Every year, I take time off work to go to the U.S. Open, New York City’s best event. Last week I watched the Olympic medalist Zheng Qinwen in her last qualifying match, as she scrambled to save the second set before a packed crowd. Rain eventually stopped play, and she smoothly took the third set the next day. I recommend watching her match this weekend, in addition to two others: Zheng Qinwen vs. Madison Keys: After becoming the first Chinese player to win singles gold at the Olympics, Zheng spent months recovering from injury and surgery. She squares off against Keys, an American who won the Australian Open last year. Taylor Fritz vs. Francisco Cerundolo: Fritz, the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up, is trying to become the first American man to capture the singles trophy in more than 20 years. Fritz appears in good form this summer after winning a lower-level tournament in Washington, D.C. Alexandra Eala vs. Iva Jovic: Eala, the first Filipino to win a title on the women’s tour, is an enormous crowd favorite. Her opponent today, Jovic, is also her good friend. (Jovic won both of their previous matches.) All matches air today on ESPN networks. — Daniel Ajootian For tennis fans: Sign up for the Grand Slam Briefing, a daily blast of news, analysis and insight from The Athletic’s tennis writers. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was analyzed. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Crossplay, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson

THIS DAY IN HISTORY September 5 1836 Sam Houston elected as president of Texas Sam Houston was the first regularly elected president of the Republic of Texas, which earned its independence from Mexico in a successful military rebellion. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1847 Outlaw Jesse James is born in Missouri 1920s 1922 Sarah Winchester dies, halting construction of the mysterious Winchester house American Revolution 1774 First Continental Congress convenes Arts & Entertainment 1957 The New York Times gives “On the Road” a rave review LGBTQ+ History 1991 AIDS activists unfurl a giant condom over Senator Jesse Helms’ home Native American History 1877 Sioux military leader Crazy Horse is killed Sports 1972 Massacre begins at Munich Olympics U.S. Presidents 1975 Gerald Ford survives first assassination attempt Vietnam War 1969 Lieutenant William Calley charged for My Lai massacre 1970 U.S. forces launch last major American operation of the war Women’s History 2006 Katie Couric makes historic network anchor debut

Rescuers in Nepal pull 2 people alive from the debris 10 days after devastating floods KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Rescuers in Nepal pulled out a Chinese man and a woman in separate operations Saturday, 10 days after devastating floods hit the country, as teams continued searching for thousands of missing people. https://apnews.com/article/nepal-floods-chinese-national-alive-f9a6d181a30af8366700e47e498ec3b1?

‘Then who or what did we cremate?’ Daughter’s horror at finding bones in British wildfire victims’ car Danielle Gillam-Kirton claims police botched investigation into her parents’ deaths in Spain and is demanding answers https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/sep/05/remains-british-wildfire-victims-spain?

Russia strikes Ukraine intelligence HQ in ‘major escalation’ Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he has told SBU to deliver ‘appropriate, tangible response’ to Kyiv strike https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/04/russia-strikes-ukraine-intelligence-hq-kyiv-major-escalation? ps:Makes me wonder what it is that happen at that meeting with putin? Because not more than hours after, it seems, Russia attacks Ukraine!! All this time they had no idea where this place was and now they do!!!!!

‘Guilt by association’: why seven international aid workers were killed in Israeli airstrike Seven aid workers killed in an airstrike in Gaza were marked as targets under an Israeli military practice of establishing guilt by association, a Guardian investigation shows. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/05/aid-workers-gaza-killed-in-israel-airstrike-investigation?

Spending money on others results in more happiness than spending it on yourself. If anyone wants to test out this theory on me 😃 James

Dark Horse (Camilo Freedman / Bloomberg / Getty)   View in browser The crypto industry has always moved in cycles: booms and busts; bull markets and harsh, unforgiving “winters.” We’re in something of a lull right now: Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, is worth about two-thirds of what it was last fall. Meanwhile, investors are turning their attention to flashier innovations in artificial intelligence. About half of Americans now use AI chatbots, whereas just about a fifth of the country has ever used or invested in crypto. But the crypto industry isn’t dead—as of today, the combined value of all digital currencies is still more than $2.7 trillion—and neither are its political ambitions. Crypto companies have so far put $206 million toward this year’s midterm elections, more than any other corporate sector, including the AI industry, according to a Public Citizen analysis of OpenSecrets and Federal Election Commission data. Fairshake, the industry’s foremost super PAC, has a giant war chest and a reputation for backing winners from both parties (Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has reportedly warned of the risks of crossing it). Crypto is much further from the spotlight now than it was during its 2024 election-spending spree; back then, the industry was flush with cash, but its reputation was still recovering from the crash of two years prior and from the spectacle of Sam Bankman-Fried’s fraud trial. Even as Americans continue to distrust crypto, they’re now reserving their outrage for other corners of the tech industry, such as data centers and surveillance cameras. Although crypto is no longer as central to the public conversation, it’s still finding ways to flex its power. Fairshake first established itself as a major force during the 2024 election cycle, spending about $133 million in support of its chosen candidates. It started 2026 with a reported $193 million in the bank and has so far spent close to $70 million elevating politicians with an industry-friendly agenda. Fairshake’s record this year has been incredibly strong. Despite a few fairly significant losses, 50 of the 54 candidates it backed ended up winning their race. Not all of them won entirely because of Fairshake’s intervention: Some were incumbents who didn’t have a serious challenger. But an endorsement from Fairshake and its affiliate PACs tends to come with major financial support. The group spent more than $12 million to get a pro-crypto Republican into the general election for Alabama’s open Senate seat—it was “by far the biggest spender” in the primary, per The New York Times. And Protect Progress, Fairshake’s Democrat-focused PAC, spent more than $5 million to make another pro-crypto politician the party’s nominee for the House in Maryland’s Fifth District. Some candidates have incorporated these extreme interventions into their campaign strategy, accusing crypto-backed opponents of being in the industry’s pocket. Minnesota’s Peggy Flanagan, who won the state’s Democratic primary for the Senate, bashed her opponent for being pro-crypto and for being “funded by crypto and AIPAC and health-insurance companies.” In Florida’s Twenty-Fourth District, Fairshake spent more than $2 million trying to defeat Oliver Gilbert’s bid for the House, but Gilbert won his primary anyway. “Trump and his crypto con-artist billionaires just put a target on my back,” he said in one ad. Bloomberg reports that political candidates have purchased more ads mentioning the word crypto this year than they have in any of the past five years, and that the majority of these candidates are anti-crypto. Voters have never been all that passionate about crypto, and the Americans who do care about the tech are still disinclined to trust it. But the country’s attention has been elsewhere lately. Three-quarters of Americans say they’d oppose the construction of a data center in their community. Local governments across the country are now canceling contracts for Flock’s AI-enabled license-plate readers over rising fears of improper surveillance. In a bipartisan effort, 47 states, plus Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories, recently took Meta to trial for allegedly damaging “the mental and physical wellbeing of America’s youth” with its social-media platforms (the company just settled and will pay up to $17.1 billion). Although Fairshake’s spending spree has drawn attention to the role of crypto in politics, there’s been no equivalent public movement this year against the sector. When Politico asked Cynthia Lummis, arguably the country’s most pro-crypto senator, whether voters care about crypto, she replied, “No.” To get a sense of how much the industry’s public profile has shifted, it’s useful to think back on the past six years. Permit me a short history lesson. During the coronavirus pandemic, a speculative bubble massively boosted the industry’s profile. Then, in 2022, everything melted down. Bitcoin lost more than 60 percent of its value, and a series of high-profile corporate implosions created chaos throughout the sector. Executives from several major crypto companies were charged with fraud, but it was FTX’s Bankman-Fried who became, at least for a while, the industry’s criminal mascot. Last year, crypto ended up with a new mascot in the form of Donald Trump. Once in office, he threw his support behind the industry, implementing a deregulatory agenda and signing a major crypto bill into law. As cryptocurrencies soared, he also personally made $1.4 billion from his family’s businesses in the sector, leading to widespread allegations of corruption. As digital currencies have come back down to earth, they have started to feel more mundane. Crypto persists in partnerships with major financial institutions, in exchange-trading funds, and in the payment apps you may already have on your phone. None of this is particularly exciting—we’re unlikely to see an NFT at the Met Gala next year, as we did in 2021, or at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, as we did in 2022—yet it’s still a massive industry. Without that same level of visibility, crypto interests aren’t necessarily a public “target the way they were with the fallout of FTX, but on the other hand, they’ve had to struggle to stay relevant,” Mark Hays, an associate director at Americans for Financial Reform (a crypto-critical watchdog), told me; one of their strategies is to “continue to spend heavily to show that they still have clout.” The industry has plenty of battles left to fight, though—and plenty of cash to put toward winning them. Related: Crypto is a victim of its own success. What the crypto crash reveals about Trump’s power

Hobie, This "spiritual formation" that was brought-into the Church you were attending. I'm interested in knowing if that program affirmed the "Personality of God" Doctrine (Father God having a body with members, organs, etc.) which Ellen White and the SDA Pioneers taught was necessary for salvation and appeasement of the Sabbath God. My understanding of Formation is basically the same as Hanseng said. My interest is in identifying the trigger within spiritual formation that produced the pessimistic concept about it. According to what you said you are not alone in applying a very negative connotation to it. I'd be interested in knowing more about it. Thanks for sharing this perspective.

Argentine court clears return of Nazi-looted portrait to Jewish dealer’s heir A long-lost Italian portrait looted from a prominent Jewish art dealer during World War II was set to be returned to his heir after an Argentine court on Friday approved a deal under which the daughter of a fugitive Nazi official agreed to give up her claim rather than face trial. Read More. Nazi-looted painting must be returned to Jewish art dealer’s heir, Argentina court rules Portrait of a Lady had been missing since 1940 before being photographed in 2025 in Argentinian home of Nazi officer’s daughter https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/05/nazi-looted-painting-must-be-returned-to-jewish-art-dealers-heir-argentina-court-rules?

Yes, the spiritual formation was what they brought in and tried to force us to follow and we and a small group refused. Then the church was transformed into a celebration church at the same time. I have seen this transformation in other churches as they seemed to be connected, but I left them quickly and really didnt want to find out.

EU official scraps planned Serbia visit over handling of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic's death The European Union ’s Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos on Friday canceled an upcoming visit to candidate nation Serbia over what she described as the “glorification” of former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic following his death. Mladic was convicted of genocide by a U.N. court but remains a hero to many Serbs. Read More.

Japan's former defense chief urges PM to challenge US sanctions on ICC president A former Japanese defense minister on Friday described a U.S. decision to sanction the International Criminal Court and its Japanese president as an outright attack on the rules-based international order. Read More.

Records reveal safety complaints, poor maintenance at site of deadly Washington pulp mill disaster A pulp mill in Washington state where 11 workers died after a chemical tank collapsed in May had a history of safety complaints, poor maintenance and discharges of toxic chemicals, records reviewed by The Associated Press show. Read More.

EPA seeks more public comments as it struggles to devise water rule that limits scope on wetlands The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking additional public comments as it tries to redefine the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to significantly limit the wetlands it covers. Read More.

Federal judge extends block on Trump executive order seeking to limit mail voting in the midterms A federal judge on Friday extended her prohibition against the U.S. Postal Service implementing President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to limit mail voting during the midterms, putting another major obstacle in the way of the administration as the first states begin sending out mail ballots. https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-trump-mail-voting-postal-service-ce207ff2d0533de05cc2d299e91a0198? US issues sanctions on Turkish bank that it calls a 'critical financial lifeline' for Iran The Trump administration announced Friday that it has imposed sanctions on a Turkish financial institution as part of its latest effort to sever “critical financial lifelines” for the Iranian government. Read More.