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THIS DAY IN HISTORY September 19 1957 Nevada is site of first-ever underground nuclear explosion The United States detonates a 1.7 kiloton nuclear weapon in an underground tunnel in Nevada. The test, known as Rainier, was the first fully contained underground detonation. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 19th Century 1827 Jim Bowie stabs a Louisiana banker with his famous knife 1990s 1995 Unabomber manifesto published American Revolution 1777 Arnold and Gates argue at First Battle of Saratoga Arts & Entertainment 1952 John Steinbeck publishes ‘East of Eden’ 1960 Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” launches dance craze’ 1973 Country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons dies 2000 Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel debuts Cold War 1959 Khrushchev barred from visiting Disneyland Latin American & Caribbean History 1955 Perón deposed in Argentina Natural Disasters & Environment 1985 Earthquake shakes Mexico City U.S. Presidents 1881 President James Garfield dies Vietnam War 1969 Nixon cancels draft calls for November and December Women’s History 1893 New Zealand first in women’s vote World War II 1941 Germans bombard Leningrad

September 19, 2026 Good morning. Fall officially begins on Tuesday, but evidence of the season seeps in more gradually. María Jesús Contreras Fading light By Melissa Kirsch In May, I grandly welcomed the longest unofficial summer: 2026 featured the earliest possible Memorial Day and the latest possible Labor Day, making for 15 full weeks between the two. Official summer is now also nearly gone, with the equinox arriving on Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. Eastern. Even as the greenmarket down the street continues to teem with 10 types of tomatoes, even as I check every weekend’s weather report for the stray September beach day, there’s no disputing this week’s astronomical deadline. As Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem “Autumn Day” declares: “Lord: it is time. The huge summer has gone by.” The huge summer has gone by! The clues are everywhere here in the Northeast: the patch of red in the maple canopy, the afternoons that feel like the sun is showing off, like if it shines hard enough maybe we’ll overlook the evening’s surprisingly sharp edge. The equinox is an exact global event, the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator, but evidence of fall seeps in more gradually: a whiff of wood smoke here, a rustle of leaves on the sidewalk there. Soon, more sweaters than T-shirts. Soon, more inside than out. September’s drop in daylight is dramatic: 77 minutes lost by the end of the month in New York, 98 in Seattle. At 6:30 a.m., the bedroom’s still dark, day’s arrival feels reluctant. At 6:30 p.m., it’s so dim we turn the lights on and it’s instantly, inevitably dinnertime. It’s easy to envision Halloween, possible even to picture Thanksgiving, Christmas: We know the shape of this season, these shadows, this descending dark. Cozy or bust! Cozy or you’re gazing at a frost-tinged window, counting down till March, and that’s no way to live. There’s always a period of figuring out how to be in the new season, how to wear these clothes, how to structure a Saturday when dusk comes on fast. It feels weird at first and then becomes routine. The path the sun follows is called the ecliptic, and it’s always exactly the same: autumnal and vernal equinox, summer and winter solstice. Our own ecliptics are looser. Some years we hunker down early; soups and ciders before Oct. 1. Other years we hold out; let’s try to eat outside one last time. The longest possible unofficial summer is, like it or not, always followed by the longest possible unofficial winter. We change the clocks on the first Sunday of November, and this year that’s Nov. 1, the earliest possible fall back. Daylight saving time won’t start again until March 14, 2027, the latest spring forward. Rather than dread the long winter, as is my inclination, this year I’m festooning it with plans, with activities that I hope will give the weeks an energy they’ve lacked in winters past. I’ve joined a choir; I’m taking French lessons. I’m armoring up, pre-resisting the cold-weather blues. Just having these things on the calendar has bestowed the coming fall with intrigue. But I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s still September. There’s still time to savor the season’s last gasp, the waning days of this longest, vanishing summer. THE LATEST NEWS Politics Outside the Kennedy Center last night. Demetrius Freeman for The New York Times Demonstrators formed a human chain around the Kennedy Center amid speculation that President Trump might try to demolish the building. Trump said he would ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, citing what he deemed “fake news.” It was unclear how such a ban would be enforced or legally defended. The cost of the war in Iran was $43.6 billion through Sept. 3, the Pentagon told Congress. Bombs and other munitions accounted for more than 60 percent of the total. (Congressional officials said the figures were almost certainly on the low side.) Artificial Intelligence President Trump and Mark Zuckerberg at the White House last year. Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times Trump has been calling fears that A.I. could threaten humanity a hoax. He is concerned that a slowdown by A.I. companies could lead to a recession. But some inside the White House are urging more caution. Google said that its A.I. system, Gemini, escaped its testing environment in May and hacked into three companies. Around the World Trump announced a deal to expand the U.S. security presence in Greenland. Denmark said the agreement recognized its sovereignty over the island — a description that would mean the deal fell far short of Trump’s previous demands. Kash Patel briefly halted some F.B.I. cooperation with Canada after the nation’s public broadcaster reminded reporters of a policy not to refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as “terrorism” without attribution. Witnesses said police officers had hooded, bound and beaten men the United States had deported to Equatorial Guinea. Iran, China and some Israeli firms used Chinese open-source A.I. models and agents to create first-of-their-kind autonomous influence campaigns. Other Big Stories The lone juror who voted to convict Lindsay Clancy in her triple murder trial said in a statement he had no doubt that she was guilty, defending himself against accusations from fellow jurors that he had failed to follow the law. Scientists discovered the first new feline species in a century. It’s called tilcayo, and its standard-bearer weighs three pounds and lived briefly as a house pet. It’s absolutely adorable. Warren Buffett, the 96-year-old who built one of the most successful investment firms in history, stepped down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. He handed the reins to his son, who is 71. Our beat reporters answered your A.I. questions. COLLEGE SPORTS At Iowa State University. Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press This week, we wrote about Congress considering legislation to change the increasingly chaotic world of college sports. The bill would allow athletes to transfer schools only once without having to miss a season. Players would retain the right to compensation for their “name, image and likeness.” Critics say the legislation prioritizes the financial interests of the N.C.A.A. over that of players, and places restrictions on them that coaches don’t have. We asked you what you thought, and more than 400 responses poured in. Below are a few. — Daniel Altoojian Congress has bigger problems Seriously? Is this the role of the federal government? Don’t get me wrong, I am a die-hard U.C.L.A. fan — football and women’s basketball — but the last thing we need is the federal government’s involvement. — Stephanie Ashworth, Woodside, California Athletes should be students The current rules make a mockery of so-called college sports. The athletes are hired guns who have no real connection to the school. College athletes should be real students at the schools where they play. That means taking classes and meeting all the academic and other standards students have to meet. — Ted McClellan, South Portland, Maine Whatever happened to college as an educational institution? It’s time to create a minor league-type alternative for those who just want to get into the pros. Money and admission spots should be there for students truly seeking an education. — Karen White Lydia Ely/Associated Press Pay the players College athletes should be paid according to their market worth and have the freedom to work for other employers, just like other workers in this country. I say this as a devoted fan and season ticket holder of my local college teams. Fans will get over it and still cheer for the college team of their choice. — Paul Rozycki, Minneapolis, Minnesota Stay in (one) school Teams play better when they stay together, and last time I looked, football and basketball were not individual sports. — Susan, St. Louis, Missouri I enjoyed college sports much more when players would return. I learned the names of the players and looked forward to their prospects. I support restricting the number of transfers, and I even support limiting the amount of income that a transferred athlete can receive. — Omer Erdmann, Holly Springs, North Carolina THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV “Wildwood,” a new stop-motion film, features a giant golden eagle. To make it, the studio combined 3-D printing, motorized wings and nearly 12,000 glued feathers. “The History of Concrete” is nominally about the stuff sidewalks are made of. But as always with the director John Wilson’s work, it takes a weird turn. Music “Spiritual jazz” has lately become synonymous with sonic serenity (and chic merch). But the renowned saxophonist John Coltrane demanded more. The San Francisco Opera and its orchestra reached a tentative deal for a four-year contract, ending a strike that had forced the cancellation of the season’s opener. More Culture In the 1940s, a Jewish prisoner at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp stayed alive by painting for the Nazis. Now, her two daughters are suing to get her work back. This notorious World War II board game is so complicated and cumbersome that nobody has ever finished it. But two guys in England decided to give it a serious go. Birthdays, geometry and animal prints: Our chief fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, on New York Fashion Week. Click to watch. The New York Times Introducing the Shows tab. A new place to find and follow podcasts in audio and video. Explore Shows in The Times app. RECIPE OF THE WEEK Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. By Melissa Clark Easy Apple Buckle For a dessert that makes the most of the new crop of apples hitting the market, Vallery Lomas’s easy buckle brims with fruit that’s barely held together with an easy-to-mix batter. It’s a perfect late September treat, served warm from the oven, with scoops of vanilla ice cream melting over all that good, sweet-tart filling. THE INTERVIEW The New York Times “The irony wasn’t lost on anybody that we were doing a thorough fact check of a movie about a company unwilling to do the same thing.” — Aaron Sorkin, the screenwriter and playwright. Sorkin returns to the Facebook universe with “The Social Reckoning,” which opens Oct. 9. He spoke with Lulu Garcia-Navarro about why he still believes in American institutions. Read (or watch) their full interview here. REAL ESTATE Philip Keith for The New York Times The Hunt: After spending 12 years crammed into a 700-square-foot bungalow overlooking the Hollywood Hills, a family decided to decamp for Barrington, R.I. Which house did they choose? Play our game. What you get for $500,000: A Craftsman in Tacoma, Wash.; a Colonial Revival in Parkersburg, W.Va.; or a Spanish-style house in West Palm Beach. LIVING In Ibiza. Ariadna Puigdomenech Let there be light: A couple used limited palette colors and lighting to transform their retirement home in Ibiza into an open, airy space. See inside. Outside the box: Bathrooms don’t have to be boring! One Utah designer included tiles with amoeba shapes, vintage prints and a skirted sink. All-inclusive: Efforts to incorporate wellness into residential real estate are expanding beyond gyms and saunas to include child care and co-working spaces. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Spray and wait Don’t underestimate dish spray. Our favorite is great for, yes, getting stubborn crud off dishes. But we’ve found it’s also an impressive cleaner on so much more. Its especially powerful cleaning agents are safe for everyday items. Think: weird clothing stains, stuck-on shower scum, grubby outdoor equipment and other seemingly unwinnable messes. Often all it takes is one to two spritzes directly onto a surface, a few minutes to soak in (or a quick rinse) and a damp cloth to wash away the gunk. If it doesn’t get clean immediately, don’t give up. Some tough projects might require multiple spray-and-waits. — Andrea Barnes NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was acquaint. 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

Google says its Gemini AI model hacked three other companies Disclosure comes after OpenAI and Anthropic hacks amid fears that tech firms unable to control powerful AI models https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/18/google-gemini-ai-hack?

President Ulysses S. Grant was arrested while in office. He was charged, booked, and released for speeding on a horse and had to pay a fine. James

September 19, 2026 Save Who? “I will also save you from all your uncleannesses.” (Ezekiel 36:29) Who is “you?” We know from verse 22 that the Lord is promising deliverance to the nation of Israel. But deliverance from what? What made Israel unclean? God promised to transform opinions of His “great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them” (v. 23). Apparently, Israel had dragged God’s name through moral mud, likely in both behavior and word, breaking the third commandment: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). What’s the big deal about God’s “great name?” It represents who He is! Lips reveal the uncleanness of the heart when they misuse the Lord’s name and treat it and Him without reverence. “And though they say, The LORD liveth, surely they swear falsely” when they behave as though the Lord is dead (Jeremiah 5:2). However, His great name “was profaned among the heathen” as well (Ezekiel 36:23). So, not just Israel disdained their Maker’s name. All nations needed and still need to be saved, or they will be judged. How will the Lord keep His promise of salvation given in today’s verse? Jesus is “the way” (John 14:6). Only His blood can cover “all your uncleannesses.” “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). When will Israel be sanctified? Only the Lord knows. But we do know that “it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel . . . shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth” (Isaiah 10:20). What about the salvation of other nations? Whoever will “believe on him” (John 6:29) who “rose from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:12) will be saved. BDT

A Marriage of Convenience View in browser George F. Will joined The Washington Post when Richard Nixon was president, and he’s been espousing the same cerebral brand of conservatism twice a week ever since. His record doesn’t leave much room for surprise. And yet, there Will was on September 16, encouraging South Carolina voters to elect not Darline Graham, the Donald Trump protégé and newly appointed Republican senator vying for a complete term, but Annie Andrews, a Democrat running on a platform that includes abortion rights, expanded health entitlements, and higher wages for workers. Around the same time, Karl Rove—who’s been deeply enmeshed in Republican politics since he was a teenager in the 1960s—announced that this fall he would vote for a Democrat for only the second time in his life rather than support Bo French, the GOP nominee for Texas railroad commissioner, following racist remarks French made about South Asian students at the University of Texas. (Rove didn’t couch his remarks as a commentary on Trump, but the president correctly understood it as pushback on Trumpism, and attacked Rove.) Each of these record-scratch moments is a distinctive product of the Trump era. The desire to resist the president continues to create some strange bedfellows, but the question is whether this alliance can survive the end of the Trump presidency—and, if not, what will become of its parts. Over the past decade, disgust with Trump has led many Republicans and conservatives to disavow him or the GOP—some over policy (for example, Trump’s critique of free trade), others over character (say, the Access Hollywood video), and still others over some combination thereof. Some who opposed Trump in 2016 made their peace once he won the election. In January 2016, National Review gathered a range of conservative writers in an “Against Trump” package. Today, many of those writers have broken for Trump, and the magazine generally supports the president. Others, however, have remained firm—those now known as “never-Trumpers.” Five years ago, my colleague David Frum quoted a common dismissal: “Never Trump is not a political party. It is a dinner party.” But, as Frum wrote, raw numbers understate never-Trumpers’ impact. The combination of disaffected Republican and independent voters and prominent anti-Trump pundits has helped establish an important political bloc. An anti-MAGA majority emerged in the 2018, 2020, and 2022 elections, improbably including both the democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the quintessential neoconservative Bill Kristol. The bloc splintered in 2024 but appears to be reconstituting itself ahead of the midterm elections. The never-Trump group includes distinct factions. Although moderate Republicans are heavily represented in the exodus, some members, such as former Representative Liz Cheney, are very conservative. Some emphasize that they remain on the right. Jeff Flake, a former senator from Arizona, served as an ambassador in the Biden administration, but he recently told my colleague Adam Harris, “I’m still a registered Republican, and I’m hoping that the party returns to its previous kind of tenets of limited government, economic freedom, individual responsibility, strong American leadership abroad.” Many have registered as independents, and others have become Democrats. As that party moves left, Never-Trumpers have become the party’s de facto moderate wing. Kristol now sometimes takes positions bolder than and to the left of Democratic Party leaders’, and has embraced “Woke Bill Kristol” memes. As Trump slides toward lame-duck status, cleavages within the group and between it and traditional progressives are becoming more salient. Some stalwart anti-Trumpers and former Republicans have unsuccessfully run for office as Democrats. Geoff Duncan, a former GOP lieutenant governor of Georgia who spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, lost the Democratic primary for governor this year. The lawyer and writer George Conway finished fifth in a Manhattan U.S. House primary. Frequent appearances on MS NOW can make someone a hero to progressives, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into votes. The prominence of avowedly left-wing candidates also puts pressure on the coalition. Former Republicans could make their peace with Joe Biden, but Democrats such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed are going to be tougher sells if you’re in favor of small government or a close alliance with Israel. Trump’s war with Iran has also created tensions, with some neocons including Kristol backing the concept of attacking Iran even as they’ve criticized the way Trump is handling it. Upheaval might be coming to political media too. Disaffected conservatives have created new publications, such as The Bulwark and The Contrarian, that cater to a spectrum of readers, from moderate Republicans to mainstream Democrats. Other defectors have prominent posts in liberal outlets: Nicolle Wallace, a former George W. Bush communications director, hosts a daily show on MS NOW, and David French is a New York Times columnist. What will become of these audiences when resisting Trump is no longer a unifying force? Some readers and viewers may stick around and even start to hear conservative ideas more sympathetically, but others who currently thrill at seeing former conservatives skewering Trump may find that they no longer have much politically in common with the pundits. Although the establishment of the broad pro-democracy bloc that set aside other disagreements was a necessary response to a political crisis, its eventual dissolution will also probably be a sign of civic health. Although they agree on democratic norms, the anti-Trump factions have valid disagreements on a range of policies, which are hard to hash out under one tent. (Consider Democratic Party leaders’ struggles to maintain unity.) In a healthy country, politics isn’t organized entirely around one person. Such a situation leaves only two options: for and against. An even better system might allow for a range of small parties that could form and dissolve many overlapping, ad hoc coalitions around specific issues of agreement, but the current U.S. electoral structure makes more than two parties all but impossible. Perhaps the end of the Trump era will clear the way for reforms that will not only restore but also improve American democracy. Related: Never Trump, still a Republican America has an anti-MAGA majority. (From 2022)

Don't be deceived by the cover

Trump has a deal to build US military presence in Greenland while leaving island in Denmark’s hands WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Friday he has a deal with Denmark to bolster the U.S. military presence in Greenland after months of threatening to take the island by force from the NATO ally — an agreement that also keeps the Arctic territory in Denmark’s hands. https://apnews.com/article/trump-greenland-military-denmark-4cf77cb4608b685a70410bd679479193? US and Denmark reach security deal after Trump’s threats to take over Greenland The agreement would allow the US to expand its military presence, while Denmark and Greenland say it preserves their sovereignty and right to self-determination https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/united-states-denmark-greenland-security?

Iran stages massive Tehran rally as volunteers pledge to take up arms, in photos Volunteers in combat gear, crowds waving flags and displays of military hardware filled Tehran as hundreds of thousands joined a government-organized rally after months of war. Read More. Pact with Saudi Arabia threatens to draw Pakistan into Middle East conflict Activation of mutual defence agreement by Riyadh as fighting with Houthis escalates would have wide-reaching repercussions for Islamabad https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/19/pakistan-saudi-arabia-mecca-pact-joint-defence-agreement-houthis-yemen-conflict?

that is so

FCC grants Paramount's indirect ownership request for Gulf funds in Warner Bros. Discovery buyout As Paramount looks to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, it’s racked up billions of dollars in financial backing from three Gulf countries. And the U.S. Federal Communications Commission has now approved the company's ask for sizeable indirect ownership from those foreign investors. Read More.

US deportees to Equatorial Guinea were arrested and beaten by police, lawyers say Two men deported by the United States to Equatorial Guinea were arbitrarily arrested after police covered their heads with a bag, beat them and held them at gunpoint in a hotel-turned-detention center, their lawyers and rights groups said on Friday. Read More.

Judge rules EPA illegally terminated $7 billion solar program intended to help poorer Americans The Trump administration illegally terminated a $7 billion Solar for All program intended to make solar power accessible to more than 900,000 lower-income Americans, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled Friday. Read More. ps:How pathetic????? US envoy to NATO criticizes Czech Republic's 'disappointing' spending on defense The U.S. ambassador to NATO renewed his country’s criticism of the Czech Republic on Friday, saying it had failed to spend enough on defense. Read More. ICE officer pleads not guilty to charges he lied to the FBI about nonfatal Minneapolis shooting An immigration officer pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges that he lied to the FBI about being attacked before he shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis early this year. Read More.

What you need to know about immigrant workers and the economy 203,000 immigrants reside in Alabama, comprising 4% of the total population in the state. That’s nearly 1 out of every 20 Alabamans. 40% of immigrants in Alabama are naturalized citizens. 114,000 U.S.-born Alabamans live with at least one immigrant parent, accounting for 2.3% of the total U.S.-born resident population in the state. https://www.epi.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-immigrant-workers/? No Multipliers: MVPC Fails to Spur Local Economy Moshannon Valley Processing Center opened in 2006 after an extended controversy around having a for-profit prison in Clearfield County. The prison closed in March 2021 and then re-opened as a detention center for immigrants, amidst a new controversy, in September 2021. The five-year contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently being considered for renewal or reconsideration. https://immresearch.org/reports/no-multipliers-mvpc-fails-to-spur-local-economy/?

🚨 Exclusive: Socialism digs don't "resonate" House Republicans' top messenger has three pieces of advice for candidates trying to survive the midterms: Call Democrats "communists," don't gaslight voters on inflation — and trust your district if it tells you to deviate from President Trump. Why it matters: Calling Democrats "socialists" isn't enough — at least according to House Republican Conference chair Lisa McClain. 💥 "The word 'socialism' doesn't really resonate," McClain told us in an interview yesterday. "The word 'communism' resonates." That's despite House Republicans leaning heavily on tying Democrats to socialism as a midterm attack, including forcing a vote just this month on a resolution denouncing socialism designed to put Democrats in a tough spot. 👉 The challenge for Republicans is to connect the two words for voters, arguing that socialism leads to communism and a loss of individual freedoms. McClain's preferred formulation: "Common sense versus communist crazy." Between the lines: McClain is giving vulnerable Republicans room to tailor the national message to their districts — even if it means contradicting or challenging Trump. 🎵 "In a utopia, I wish we all sang from the same hymnal," McClain said when asked about Rep. María Salazar's (R-Fla.) latest ad accusing Trump of betraying Hispanics. "Unfortunately, not all our districts are created equally, so I have to trust the members to do what they think is right in their district." 🤔 The Intrigue: McClain is also the first GOP leader to publicly acknowledge that the GOP is unlikely to win all 13 seats that Republicans say the redistricting wars have put in play for them. ‼️ "Do I think we're going to win all 13 seats? No," McClain told us. "You go into every game saying 'Of course, I'm going to win every game.' But I'm also a realist, right? I'm not betting on all 13 teams." Pressed on how many of those seats Republicans could realistically capture, McClain estimated "eight, nine, 10 of them," adding "It'll shake out." GOP leaders across the board, including McClain, have been unflinchingly optimistic about their chances of keeping the majority despite the headwinds they face. Zoom in: McClain also urged Republicans not to "gaslight" voters about the economic pain they're feeling, including high gas prices fueled by the Iran war. ⛽️ "You have to have empathy," McClain said. "I shop at the same grocery stores and fill my gas tank up at the same pumps that everybody else does." "I don't think gaslighting works," she added, arguing Republicans should instead explain to voters why prices are high and defend Trump's handling of the war. The bottom line: With lawmakers back in their districts until Election Day, the next six weeks will show how closely they follow McClain's playbook —and how it lands with voters. — Kate Santaliz and Hans Nichols

Snakes and Lizards as Food and Foe The Bible has a complicated relationship with snakes and lizards. The serpent tempts Eve in Genesis 3. Fiery serpents afflict the Israelites in Numbers 21. Leviticus 11 places various reptiles within its laws about animals, food, and ritual impurity. However, long before any of these biblical texts were written, prehistoric people living in the southern Levant—identified by archaeologists as the Natufian culture—seem clearly to have thought about reptiles as food. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/snakes-and-lizards-as-food-and-foe/?

PGE Utility Company * We get our electricity from PGE. * Like, p[probably all US electric companies, PGE charges rates based upon the time of the day that the electricity is supplied. Solar Electric Power * We have solar poser with two batteries. * If fully charged, the batteries provide us with all electivity used during the night. * The electricity generated during the day is sued to power our home, charge the batteries, and the excess is sold to PGE for use by other customers. * PGE has direct co control over the charging of the batteries. Normally they can only be charged by sun power. * During a local storm, PGE may allow the batteries to be charged from the grid. Big Brother at work. Samsung Refrigerator * Recently we purchased a new Samsung refrigerator* It contains a “A "Smart Guard” Program that controls when the compressor is allowed to turn on. * When Smart Guard is turned off, the compressor runs whenever the temperature rinsed above the set level. * When Smart Guard is turned on, the compressor only runs if the time of the day is during the hours when PGE charges the lowest rates. IOW, the compressor does not run during the time when higher electric rates a sire charge d. *This is accomplished by PGE sending a signal to our refrigerator telling in not to turn on, or to that the compressor can now run. * During times of a local storm, PGE allows the compressor to turn on at any t time. * In short, PGE knows our local weather c conditions and has some control over the operation of our refrigerate. Big Brother!

Trump targets more news outlets, saying he will ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he was barring CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House due to what he called unfavorable coverage and “fake news,” and threatened that more such media bans could be coming — the latest salvo in the president’s increasingly aggressive response to media coverage he finds unfavorable. https://apnews.com/article/trump-cnn-msnow-politico-media-bans-bb675679fb10738a51bef90bde6c525a? ps:What a petty and pathetic criminal-in-chief!!!!!

🐈 1 science thing: New cat dropped Photo: Fernando Faciole/National Geographic via Reuters Meet Leopardus tilcayo — the first newly identified cat species in over a century, according to a new study. The wild cat, a bit smaller than a housecat, lives in Bolivia's cloud forest. Locals call it simply "Tilcayo." 🌲 National Geographic on the discovery's importance: "The new paper doesn't just name a new species; it redraws the cat family tree to have a lot more branches than previously thought." "What's more, the researchers hope the methods used to identify L. tilcayo may soon be used to find even more cat species spread across the world, and even transform how we protect them." Go deeper ... Read the study.

📱 Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched today, ahead of the foldable iPhone Duo's Oct. 23 release. New features.

🏦 End of an era at Berkshire Warren Buffett stepped down today as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after more than six decades, Axios' Dan Primack writes. It's the end of an extraordinary era, unlikely to ever be matched. 🪑 Buffett, who turned over the CEO reins at the end of 2025 to Greg Abel, will become chairman emeritus and remain a director. He said in a statement: "Father Time always wins. He has, however, been generous with me. He has given me the opportunity to see Berkshire reach a point where I am more confident than ever about what lies ahead." Read the announcement.

Meta's AI app takes off Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Meta's Muse is rocketing up the app charts with a distinctly practical vision for AI — an agent that can shop, haggle, cancel subscriptions and clear away the digital drudgery of everyday life, Axios' Zachary Basu writes. Mark Zuckerberg is staking Meta's AI comeback on one of the enduring strengths of his internet empire: making new technology feel native to billions of ordinary people. 🤳 Ten days after launch, Muse is the No. 1 free iPhone app in America — ahead of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Instagram. Muse pairs a highly polished interface — built around a cuddly, customizable avatar — with serious computing power, including its own secure virtual computer and browser in the cloud. Users give it tasks in plain English, while Muse itself surfaces ideas, goals and suggestions that teach people about its capabilities as it works across websites and connected accounts. 🤖 Muse poses an early test of whether Meta's structural advantages — product design, distribution and an intimate grasp of consumer behavior — can shape the AI race more than raw intelligence alone. 🤔 Reality check: The more useful Muse becomes, the more of your life it needs to see: email, calendars, financial accounts, purchases, contacts and eventually even the phone calls it can make in your name. Zuckerberg has repeatedly tried to reinvent both Meta and himself, from Facebook founder to metaverse evangelist to AI optimist. A deep reservoir of public distrust has proven far harder to shed. Go deeper.

The "Come Pray with Me" project invites church members to pause at 10am and 3pm to pray for OneVoice27. https://adventist.news/news/adventist-church-in-southeast-brazil-launches-prayer-movement-for-onevoice27

Apocalypse Now: Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor Investigate the End-Timers Alliance The fight over the future is rapidly unfolding before our eyes. With debates roiling Washington over calls to rein in artificial intelligence before it’s too late as the U.S. continues to wage official and unofficial wars around the world, many of the world’s most powerful players are licking their chops. https://theintercept.com/2026/09/18/naomi-klein-astra-taylor-ai-religious-apocalypse-doom/? Facing Outraged Residents, Flock Got Help From Group That Uses AI to Rally Public Support The debate over Flock cameras in Knoxville, Tennessee, had reached a fever pitch this July when a stay-at-home mom received a text message from a nonprofit group she had never heard of. https://theintercept.com/2026/09/17/flock-cameras-ai-astroturf-support/? Ed Sheeran’s Craven “Neutrality” Is a Watershed Moment for Mainstreaming Palestine Solidarity Unprincipled pop star Ed Sheeran dropped principled pop star Macklemore from his U.S. stadium tour, following pressure from rabidly pro-Israel billionaire stadium owner Robert Kraft over Macklemore’s wholly anodyne on-stage calls to free Palestine. https://theintercept.com/2026/09/16/ed-sheeran-israel-palestine-macklemore/? Crypto Darling Gillibrand’s 11th-Hour Flip-Flop Helps Block Trump Crypto Bill Hours before joining progressives to block a crypto bill that critics said was a handout to President Donald Trump, a top Senate Democrat was lobbying her colleagues to pass the legislation. https://theintercept.com/2026/09/15/congress-trump-crypto-clarity-blocked/? NYPD Misconduct Payouts Still Soar Under Mamdani — And May Keep Growing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani never quite promised to reform the police. https://theintercept.com/2026/09/16/nypd-mamdani-police-misconduct-settlement-payouts/? The New York Times Conveniently Forgets the Real Stakes of Attacks on Free Speech The New York Times recently published a sweeping accounting of President Donald Trump’s campaign against the American press: FBI agents arriving at reporters’ homes, subpoenas for journalists’ records, Pentagon access restrictions, regulatory pressure on television networks, numerous lawsuits against news organizations, and an increasingly politicized Federal Communications Commission. https://theintercept.com/2026/09/16/new-york-times-trump-free-speech-press-threat/? Pete Hegseth’s Unholy War What kind of Christianity is being proclaimed when the language of Jesus is attached to military power? https://theintercept.com/2026/09/17/hegseth-christianity-jesus-iran-war/?

🎉 Yahoo! It's Friday! You made it. In today's edition: North Carolina's culture problem, Bills open Highmark Stadium in style, Pochettino names youthful USMNT squad, Behind the Lens, the Swoosh strikes back, Weekend Watchlist, Guess The Logo, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES 🏈 Highmark's grand opening: Josh Allen piled up 317 total yards and five TDs as the Bills beat the Lions, 41-31, in the first regular-season game at Buffalo's new Highmark Stadium. It was Allen's record-extending 10th game with multiple passing and rushing TDs, and he improved to 9-1 on Thursdays. This guy might be good. ⚽️ The kids are coming: Mauricio Pochettino named a youthful squad for the USMNT's upcoming friendlies, featuring 13 uncapped players and eight teenagers, none more exciting than 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan. Pochettino wouldn't say why Christian Pulisic was left off the roster, "and that silence is the message," writes Yahoo Sports' Steven Goff. 🙏 Scary scene in Queens: Mets first baseman Jared Young exited Thursday's game on a stretcher after taking a knee to the head from pitcher Nolan McLean, which appeared to momentarily knock him out. He gave the Citi Field crowd a thumbs-up on his way out and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. 🏒 Standoff in Winnipeg: Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters that he continues to seek a resolution following a trade request from star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who was suspended by the team this week for failing to report to training camp. 🎟️ Knicks pause ticket sales: The Knicks suspended all ticket sales on Thursday after a "mistake" led to much higher prices than intended. Fans who already purchased tickets will be refunded the difference once the team corrects the prices.   🏈 CHAPEL BILL "THE PATRIOT WAY" DOESN'T WORK IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL Bill Belichick's stint at North Carolina has been… not great. (Mario Hommes/DeFodi via Getty Images) Steve Belichick is out as North Carolina's defensive coordinator following an internal investigation into "allegations related to the culture and climate" within the football program led by his father. His exit follows that of GM Mike Lombardi, who resigned on Sept. 3. Details: Though we don't know everything North Carolina uncovered, the law firm conducting the investigation looked into whether Steve Belichick "used drugs on the job or provided drugs to at least one player," per Raleigh TV station WRAL. Lawyers also questioned people within the program about possible sexual relationships between staffers and players. Dan Wolken, Yahoo Sports: For nearly a quarter of a century, Bill Belichick's New England Patriots had a reputation for being the most buttoned-up organization in the NFL. Maybe all of sports. It was the place where wayward characters fell in line, where egos blended into the culture. In a piece for The Players Tribune in 2017, former NFL running back Kevin Faulk wrote: "If there's one thing I know after having played for the Patriots for 13 years, it's that you don't want to be late to a Bill Belichick meeting." But in that same piece, Faulk told a story that might explain why Belichick's North Carolina program looks like a complete mess. In 2006, as Faulk remembers it, a good chunk of the team was engaged in a "prank war" where they tried to one-up each other. In one instance, Tom Brady had hired someone to take the tires off backup quarterback Matt Cassel's car. Then some offensive linemen opened up the sunroof of Brady's car and filled it with styrofoam peanuts. Only then, Faulk said, did Belichick learn about and put a stop to the escalating prank war because he was simply oblivious to anything happening outside the meeting rooms and practice fields. "Coach Belichick is the kind of guy who doesn't care what you do on your own time," Faulk wrote. "He wants you to know football … Anything else, he doesn't really care." Steve and Bill Belichick on the sideline during a Tar Heels game last season. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) So the question of the day is this: How could Belichick, famous for his ultra-disciplined "Patriot Way," be running a program at North Carolina that seems to have been dealing with major cultural rot in its building? Perhaps, at age 74, Belichick has simply lost a step. But the more likely reason ties back to Faulk's assessment of his time with the Patriots. In the cloistered environment of an NFL franchise, Belichick treated the team facility like a workplace. You show up, you do your job and you go home. If you don't, you're gone. The culture takes care of itself. College football does not work that way. These are sprawling organizations that exist within an athletic department, which exists within a college campus. It's a complicated and delicate dance with the outside world. If you are not on top of the culture every single day as the head coach, it will devolve into whatever you allow it to be. There is no clocking in and out from that job. It is a 24-hour, 365-day operation, and only a fraction of it relates to what's happening on the field. An aloof boss who "doesn't care what you do on your own time" cannot run a college football program effectively.   📸 PHOTOGRAPHY BEHIND THE LENS (Al Bello/Getty Images) Each week, Yahoo Sports AM goes "Behind the Lens" with Getty Images to share the stories behind the best photographs in sports. This week's photo: Qinwen Zheng serves against eventual champion Elena Rybakina during their US Open quarterfinal. Photographer: Al Bello Location: Queens, New York Date: Sept. 9 Behind the lens: Take it away, Al… There are a number of reasons I chose an overhead position to photograph Qinwen Zheng. It was sunny and clear, and it was the first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium that day. She wasn't wearing a hat and her hair was pulled back, which was good because I could clearly see her face and there were no shadows obscuring her. I took a moment to watch her serve, and noted the placement of where her hand and the ball were positioned across her face when she tossed the ball up to serve. It took me a few tries to line everything up, and I had to wait for her to be on the proper side of the court with regards to the sun. Once I figured out my angle, I got to work on this image. The long focal length I used required a steady hand, so this was not an easy photo to capture. The timing had to be right, and the key to making this a successful photo was keeping sharp focus on her eye while aligning the placement of her hand, her face and the ball. Everything had to come together, and I was happy it did in the end. Equipment and technique: Al shot this with a Canon R1 body, a Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens and an RF 2x extender, giving him a focal length of 1200mm. He used a lightning-fast shutter speed of 1/3200th of a second, with settings of f/8 and ISO 400.   🎓 NIKE NATION THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 11 years after losing the University of Miami to Adidas, Nike is heading back into the eye of the Hurricane, agreeing to a 10-year deal worth more than $200 million, per the Miami Herald. Swoosh supremacy: The $20+ million annual outlay is believed to be Nike's richest ever to a university and follows the 2025 losses of longtime partners Tennessee and Penn State to Adidas, which raised questions about its commitment to college sports. Consider those questions answered: Nike paid up for "The U," and despite the recent tug-of-war for some of the country's top programs, the Swoosh is still king. I mean, just look at that chart. This is a preview of today's edition of Yahoo Sports Biz. Sign up here to get the full Nike breakdown, plus more sports business analysis, in your inbox later this morning.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WEEKEND WATCHLIST Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford this weekend to face his former team, led by Heisman contender Trinidad Chambliss. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) 🏈 College Football Saturday There are three ranked matchups on tap this weekend, with none bigger than No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss (Sat. 7:30pm ET, ABC). The others: No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech (Fri. 8pm, Fox) and No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville (Sat. 3:30pm, ESPN2). Best of the rest: Saturday's slate also includes Arizona State vs. Kansas at Wembley Stadium (12pm, FS1), Florida State at No. 10 Alabama (3:30pm, ABC), Florida at Auburn (7pm, ESPN), UNC at Clemson (12pm, ESPN) and West Virginia at No. 25 Virginia (7:30pm, ACC). 🏈 NFL Sunday There's plenty of intrigue in Sunday's early window, with the Bears' explosive offense hosting the Vikings' formidable defense (1pm, Fox), the fearsome-looking Ravens hosting the peskier-than-expected Saints (1pm, CBS) and the Texans hosting the Bengals (1pm, CBS) as Joe Burrow takes on Houston's ball-hawking secondary. Later on: The afternoon slate is headlined by Seahawks at Cardinals (4:25pm, Fox), which is somehow one of just two games on Sunday between 1-0 teams (Vikings at Bears). Jaguars at Broncos (4:05pm, CBS) should be a good matchup if Denver can flush Week 1, and the Chiefs host the Colts in the nightcap (8:20pm, NBC). ⚾️ MLB Home Stretch The penultimate weekend of the regular season features five series between teams who have either already clinched the playoffs or are in the hunt: Brewers at Orioles, Red Sox at Rays, Blue Jays at Rangers, Braves at Astros and Yankees at Diamondbacks. Season finale: The Orioles host the Brewers in the season finale of "Sunday Night Baseball" (7:20pm, Peacock), which has drawn an average of 2.7 million viewers per game in its first year on NBC. That's up 48% from the same slot last year on ESPN (1.83 million). 🥍 PLL Championship The eighth Premier Lacrosse League season comes to an end this weekend in New Jersey (Sun. 12:30pm, ABC), where the top-seeded Philadelphia Waterdogs and Denver Outlaws are squaring off in the title game. Dynamic duo: Philadelphia's second-year standout CJ Kirst scored a PLL-record 34 goals this season, while veteran teammate Michael Sowers added 29, trailing only Kirst for most in the league (Sowers also ranked first in assists with 22). Both are MVP finalists, with the winner set to be announced today. More to watch: 🏀 WNBA: Liberty at Lynx (Fri. 7:30pm, ION); Mystics at Fever (Sun. 4pm, NBA) … With the postseason field already set, the final week of the regular season is all about seeding. 🏁 NASCAR: Bristol Motor Speedway (Sat. 7:30pm, USA) … The third stop in the 10-race Chase takes place under the lights in Tennessee. 🎾 Davis Cup: USA vs. Czechia (Fri-Sat, Tennis) … One of seven matches this weekend, with the winners joining defending champion Italy in the eight-team Davis Cup Finals in November. ⛳️ Golf: Biltmore Championship (Fri-Sun, Golf/ESPN+); BMW PGA Championship (Fri-Sun, Golf) … Max Greyserman (-7) leads in Asheville; Aaron Rai and Joakim Lagergren (-6) are the co-leaders in England. ⚽️ European Soccer: Brighton vs. Arsenal (Sat. 10am, USA); Roma vs. Inter Milan (Sat. 12pm, Paramount+); Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid (Sun. 10:15am, ESPN2) … Three different leagues, three great matchups. 🏒 NHL Preseason: Maple Leafs at Canadiens (Sat. 7pm, NHL); Islanders at Devils (Sun. 1pm, NHL); Capitals at Bruins (Sun. 5pm, NHL); Kraken at Flames (Sun. 8pm, NHL) … The regular season begins in 11 days. Plus: 👊 UFC 331 in Los Angeles (Sat. 9pm, Paramount+); ⚽️ NWSL Week 22 (Fri-Sun, Prime/ESPN/CBSSN); ⚽️ MLS Week 27 (Fri-Sun, Apple); ⚾️ WPBL Championship (Sat-Sun, ESPN+); 🏍️ MotoGP Austria (Sun. 8am, FS1)   🔎 LET'S PLAY GUESS THE LOGO Question: Can you guess this zoomed in NBA logo? Hint: They made the playoffs last season. Answer at the bottom.   🏈 WHO YA GOT? MAKE YOUR PICKS (OR COPY MINE)! Welcome to Week 3 of our College Football Challenge! Before getting to this week's matchups, I (Jeff) have to address the elephant in the room, which is that by some miracle I'm tied for first place in our 3,000+ person group. (You can still join if you haven't yet!). Tail or fade? Now that I've acknowledged my hot start, it's sure to come crashing down. But we might as well have some fun with this, so I'm sharing my Week 3 picks for you to tail or fade as you please. The most intriguing matchups: No. 8 Ole Miss (+2.5) vs. No. 7 LSU: The first top-10 meeting between these two schools in over 60 years doubles as Lane Kiffin's highly-anticipated return to Oxford. Give me the spurned Rebels in this one. My pick: Ole Miss +2.5 No. 10 Alabama (-20.5) vs. Florida State: The Seminoles nearly upset a ranked SMU squad earlier this month, but I'm going with my gut here and taking the Tide by three touchdowns. My pick: Alabama -20.5 Florida (-2.5) at Auburn: This is somehow the first time these SEC rivals have played each other since 2019. Common sense says to take the home team in what should be a close game, but I'm zagging. My pick: Florida -2.5 No. 6 Ohio State (-52.5) vs. Kent State: The Buckeyes have lost three of their last four games, including last week's fourth-quarter collapse against Texas. 52.5 points is an insane spread. I don't care. Buckeyes by a million. My pick: Ohio State -52.5 The rest (my picks italicized): Arizona State (-5.5) vs. Kansas at Wembley Stadium; No. 2 Georgia (-24.5) at Arkansas; Utah State (+28.5) at No. 17 Utah; No. 12 USC (-23.5) at Rutgers; No. 9 Texas A&M (-16.5) vs. Kentucky; No. 3 Notre Dame (-29.5) vs. Michigan State.   ⚾️ YAHOO SPORTS x APPLE TV TUNE IN: MLB ALTCAST Yahoo Sports and Apple TV are teaming up to deliver alternate broadcasts of "Friday Night Baseball" and Major League Soccer games, with the second such MLB altcast coming during tonight's game between the Phillies and Mets. Tune in: Baseball Bar-B-Cast hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman will broadcast the first two innings of tonight's game (7:10pm ET), as well as a pregame show (6:45pm), on Yahoo Sports. Following the two-inning altcast, viewers can watch the rest of the game on Apple TV.   Logo reveal: Toronto Raptors