Jon Kyl, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Arizona who helped create important water policies and supported Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, has died at 84. He served in Congress for nearly 30 years, briefly returned in 2018 to fill Senator John McCain’s seat, and retired after being diagnosed with dementia.
Key Facts
Jon Kyl died at the age of 84 from a neurological disorder.
He was a Republican senator and representative from Arizona for almost 30 years.
Kyl helped shape Arizona's 1980 groundwater code to manage water in drought-prone areas.
In 2004, he authored a major tribal water rights settlement benefiting the Gila River Indian Community.
He returned to the Senate briefly in 2018 after being appointed to fill the late Senator John McCain’s seat.
Kyl guided the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
He retired in 2025 after announcing a dementia diagnosis.
The Arizona State University Kyl Center for Water Policy is named after him.
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A man named Anthony Kazmierczak was sent to prison for 14 months for spraying apple cider vinegar on Representative Ilhan Omar in January. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a U.S. officer and will be under supervision for three years after his prison term.
Key Facts
Anthony Kazmierczak is 55 years old.
He sprayed apple cider vinegar on Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall event in January.
Kazmierczak pleaded guilty to federal assault charges.
He received the maximum sentence of 14 months in prison.
After prison, he will have three years of supervised release, meaning he will be monitored by authorities.
The charges were based on assaulting a U.S. officer.
The sentencing happened after a plea deal with prosecutors.
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Two Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to continue a Medicare drug cost subsidy program that President Trump’s administration planned to end after 2026. The bill aims to keep drug premiums affordable for seniors and people with disabilities by extending the subsidy through 2029.
Key Facts
The Affordable Premiums for Seniors Act was introduced by Representatives Kathy Castor and Terri Sewell.
The bill would extend the Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration program through 2029.
President Trump’s administration decided to end this subsidy program at the end of 2026.
The subsidy helps keep monthly Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums lower for about 25 million people.
The program started in 2025 following changes made under the Inflation Reduction Act, including a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs.
Without the program, drug premiums in 2027 are expected to increase more sharply.
The subsidy saved seniors an average of $312 in 2026.
Some experts warn that the program subsidizes insurers instead of lowering the actual cost of prescription drugs.
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Deb Haaland, a candidate for governor of New Mexico, supports pausing the building of new data centers in the state. She raised concerns about the environmental effects and how these centers affect local workers. Haaland wants open talks with communities about the impact of AI data centers.
Key Facts
Deb Haaland is running for governor of New Mexico.
She supports a moratorium, which means a temporary stop, on building data centers in New Mexico.
Her concern includes environmental impacts caused by data centers.
She also worries about the effects on local workers and job opportunities.
Haaland encourages open and clear discussions with communities about AI data centers.
Data centers are places that store and process large amounts of digital information.
The policy details are available on her campaign website.
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Senator John Cornyn from Texas said he will not support Bo French, the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner. Cornyn criticized French for making racist comments on social media and called him a shame to their party.
Key Facts
John Cornyn is a U.S. Senator from Texas.
Bo French is the Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner.
French posted racist comments on social media.
Cornyn publicly rejected French’s candidacy because of these comments.
Cornyn described French as an embarrassment to the Republican Party.
The Texas Railroad Commissioner position is considered powerful in the state.
French shared a photo involving the University of Texas football team with his comments.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Secretary of Health and Human Services, spoke at a conference for the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense. He promised anti-vaccine activists support from the White House amid a deadly measles outbreak in the US, while criticizing vaccine safety and government tracking of vaccine side effects.
Key Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. led Children’s Health Defense for nearly 20 years and now serves as US Health and Human Services Secretary.
He spoke to anti-vaccine activists, saying they have a "friend at the White House."
The US is experiencing the worst measles outbreak in decades, with recent deaths in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Arizona.
Kennedy expressed concern for children allegedly harmed by vaccines, linking various illnesses like asthma, ADHD, autism, and diabetes to vaccines.
Public support for the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) has dropped, with one-quarter of Americans now doubting it.
Anti-vaccine activists praised their increasing influence, including the Biden administration’s attention and policy discussions.
The conference also featured Andrew Wakefield, discredited for falsely linking vaccines to autism.
The group plans to challenge vaccination rules for school and oppose new technology like 5G due to health fears.
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A federal judge has given the Justice Department a new deadline to release important documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The judge warned that if the government does not follow the court orders, it could face legal penalties.
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, appointed by President Reagan, issued the deadline.
The Justice Department must provide certain Epstein files or explain why they cannot by September 24.
The judge criticized the government for not fully following previous court orders on releasing records.
Attorney General Todd Blanche was given a chance to ask for clarification on September 21 if needed.
The dispute involves redactions, or parts of the documents being blacked out, mainly to protect victims’ privacy.
The judge ordered the release of handwritten FBI notes and foreign-language documents.
The case was brought by lawyer and journalist Katie Phang, who claims the Justice Department broke transparency laws.
Congressman Thomas Massie is pushing for more access to Epstein-related records through new laws.
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An F-16 fighter jet crashed in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during a training exercise. The pilot ejected safely and is receiving medical care, while residents near the crash site were told to stay indoors under a shelter-in-place order.
Key Facts
The crash happened in Grand Traverse County, Michigan.
The F-16 was part of the Texas National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing.
The pilot ejected from the aircraft and is in stable condition.
The plane was involved in a routine training exercise when it crashed.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for part of County Road 633 to keep people safe.
Residents were asked to stay inside, close windows, and follow emergency instructions.
No injuries or damage to people or homes on the ground have been reported.
Traffic in the area near the crash site is closed as responders work.
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A federal appeals court heard a case about Missouri’s congressional map as the state gets ready to send out voting ballots. The judges focused on whether it was too late to change the map before the election.
Key Facts
The case involves Missouri’s congressional district map.
The issue is whether changes to the map can be made so close to the ballot printing deadline.
A three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard the arguments.
Missouri is preparing to send out ballots in the next few days.
The map affects how Missouri’s voting districts are drawn for Congress.
The court’s decision will impact the upcoming election process in Missouri.
The dispute is part of a larger national issue about when and how states can redraw voting boundaries.
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Anthony James Kazmierczak was sentenced to 14 months in prison after admitting he sprayed apple cider vinegar on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a US officer and said he targeted Omar due to political differences.
Key Facts
The assault happened on January 27 when Kazmierczak sprayed a vinegar mixture from a syringe onto Omar’s clothing and skin.
Kazmierczak was 55 years old at the time and sat in the front row of the meeting before the attack.
Omar was not physically hurt and continued the town hall after the incident.
Kazmierczak pleaded guilty to assault and admitted planning the attack because he disagreed with Omar’s politics.
He struggled with alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and Parkinson’s disease and had stopped taking mental health medication before the attack.
After the assault, he arranged care for his dog and tried to contact a bail bond company.
Omar faced criticism and harsh political attacks during her time in Congress, including from President Donald Trump.
The US Attorney said the case shows a national problem of political hatred turning into crimes.
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A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to give 30 days' notice before making major physical changes to its building, such as demolishing it. The Kennedy Center recently closed temporarily due to safety concerns about the building’s condition.
Key Facts
A federal judge issued the order to the Kennedy Center on Thursday.
The order requires 30 days' advance notice before major changes to the building.
This includes any demolition plans reportedly linked to President Donald Trump.
The Kennedy Center closed suddenly to the public on Wednesday.
The center’s executive director said the closure is due to "acute risks" from the building’s structural problems.
The closure will last at least seven days to evaluate the safety risks.
Parts of the building are showing serious deterioration affecting safety.
The ruling aims to prevent confusion after recent events about the building’s future.
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New polls show Texas Governor Greg Abbott's race for re-election is becoming more competitive, with Democrat Gina Hinojosa gaining ground. While Abbott has led most polls, recent surveys suggest a closer contest ahead of the November midterm elections in Texas.
Key Facts
Greg Abbott is the Republican governor of Texas seeking a fourth term.
Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic state representative, is challenging Abbott.
A ReconMR poll shows Hinojosa leading Abbott 49% to 45%.
An Emerson College poll shows Abbott leading narrowly at 49% to 46%.
Abbott previously led in other polls, including a SoCal Strategies survey showing him up by 8 points.
Texas voted for President Donald Trump by 14 points in the 2024 election.
Democrats have not won statewide office in Texas since the 1990s.
Political forecasters still classify the race as likely Republican but note it is more competitive than before.
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Rep. Don Bacon responded to Sen. Jim Banks after Banks laughed at the idea of Bacon running for president. Banks reacted with "LOL" to a social media post about Bacon considering a presidential campaign.
Key Facts
Rep. Don Bacon is a Republican from Nebraska.
Sen. Jim Banks is a Republican from Indiana.
Banks replied "LOL" to a post about Bacon possibly running for president.
The post was shared by the social platform X account, Politics and Poll Tracker.
Bacon publicly addressed Banks’s reaction on Wednesday.
The exchange relates to discussions about a potential presidential run.
President Donald Trump is currently the U.S. President, serving his second term.
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Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from New Mexico, stopped a quick vote on a bill that would make states ask technology companies to pay for the costs their data centers add to electricity prices. The bill, called the Ratepayer Protection Act, was proposed by Senator Jon Husted, a Republican from Ohio.
Key Facts
The bill aims to have states make tech companies pay for the electricity costs caused by their data centers.
Senator Jon Husted introduced the bill and wanted it passed quickly using unanimous consent.
Senator Martin Heinrich blocked the effort by not agreeing to unanimous consent.
The bill is called the Ratepayer Protection Act.
The disagreement happened in the U.S. Senate.
The bill targets the costs that data centers add to local electricity rates.
The senators involved are from different states and political parties.
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The White House has withdrawn President Donald Trump’s nominee, Richard Schroyer, to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a Republican senator opposed his confirmation. Schroyer’s nomination stalled in the Senate, partly because of demands for more information about shootings involving ICE agents.
Key Facts
Richard Schroyer was nominated by President Trump in June to head ICE.
Schroyer worked 29 years with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and served in the US Marines.
He was a close ally of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullins.
Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, opposed the nomination and delayed the Senate vote.
Paul wanted more details about shootings by ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis that killed two US citizens earlier in 2026.
The nomination never reached a full Senate vote and stalled in the Senate Homeland Security committee.
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since 2017 and is currently led by David Venturella, a former private prison executive.
The White House did not explain why Schroyer’s nomination was withdrawn.
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The head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, said that U.S. troops need to get ready for possible fighting near the moon as well as in Earth’s orbit. He spoke about the need for the military to prepare now so it can succeed in future space conflicts.
Key Facts
General Dan Caine is the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He spoke at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference.
Caine said troops should prepare for combat around the moon, not just in Earth's orbit.
The U.S. military needs to make plans to fight, survive, and win in space-related conflicts.
Preparing for space combat includes activities beyond traditional Earth-based military operations.
This guidance reflects the growing importance of space in national security.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham is being asked to set a national goal for how long people with dementia should wait to start treatment in England. Experts and advocacy groups propose an 18-week target, similar to cancer care waiting times, to improve dementia services.
Key Facts
Alzheimer’s Society and King's Trust call for an 18-week referral-to-treatment target for dementia care in England.
Professor Sir Mike Richards and Baroness Louise Casey support this proposal, comparing it to cancer care reforms.
Dementia currently has no waiting-time target, unlike cancer, where such targets exist in the NHS.
Social Care Minister Alison McGovern supports improving dementia care and plans to appoint a specialist ("dementia tsar").
The government aims to publish a new plan to improve dementia support by the end of the year.
About one million people in the UK live with dementia, expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
Andy Burnham has personal experience with dementia, as his late father had Alzheimer’s, which motivates his reform efforts.
Burnham plans to wait for Baroness Casey's social care review recommendations before making major changes.
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Swedish singer Zara Larsson criticized the White House for using her song "Midnight Sun" in a video showing immigration arrests and deportations by ICE. The video appeared on the White House’s TikTok account and showed ICE agents detaining people.
Key Facts
Zara Larsson is a Swedish pop singer.
The White House posted a video on TikTok that used her song "Midnight Sun."
The video showed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests and deportations.
Larsson publicly expressed strong disapproval of the White House's use of her song.
ICE is a U.S. government agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws.
The incident highlights tensions around immigration enforcement and public reactions.
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Rep. Maria Salazar, a Republican from Florida, released a campaign ad criticizing President Trump's strict immigration enforcement, saying it has gone too far and upset many Hispanic Republicans in Miami. Miami-Dade County, a key area with a large Hispanic population that helped Trump win, is showing signs of frustration with immigration policies, which could affect Republican voter turnout in upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Rep. Maria Salazar made an ad telling President Trump that immigration enforcement is too harsh.
Miami-Dade County is Florida’s most populous area and has many Hispanic voters, who helped Trump win in 2020 and 2024.
62% of Miami-Dade’s 1.3 million registered voters are Hispanic; they make up 76% of registered Republicans there.
A poll found 63% of Hispanic voters support deporting illegal immigrants, but only 29% support how the deportations are being done.
President Trump’s immigration policies include mass deportations and cutting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for about 1.3 million people, including many Venezuelans.
Businesses in Doral, an area with many Venezuelan residents and a Trump-owned golf course, have suffered because many workers lost legal status or are hiding.
Some local Republicans, like Miami Mayor Christi Fraga, disagree with the federal immigration actions but avoid direct conflict with President Trump.
Republican officials worry that low turnout among Hispanic voters could hurt the party in elections, even though they believe most conservative Hispanics will not switch parties.
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