A strong heat dome is causing very hot and humid weather across 12 U.S. states starting September 16. Temperatures could reach near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, creating dangerous conditions, especially in the southern and mid-South regions.
Key Facts
Heat advisories are in effect for Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
The heat dome keeps hot air trapped near the ground, causing high temperatures and humidity to build over several days.
Temperatures could reach up to 110 degrees in parts of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
Heat index values, which show how hot it feels, may hit 107 degrees in eastern Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas.
Cooler air in the Central Plains and Midwest will create a strong temperature difference between north and south.
High humidity makes it harder for the body to cool down by sweating, increasing health risks.
Heat waves cause about 1,220 deaths each year in the U.S. due to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Vulnerable groups include older adults, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and athletes.
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The Pentagon has set strict rules requiring military members to meet specific body size and grooming standards to attend Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s “State of the Force” event. These rules include meeting waist-to-height limits and having neat grooming.
Key Facts
Troops must meet waist-to-height ratio limits to qualify for the event.
The Pentagon requires “impeccable” grooming from service members attending.
The rules were shared via emails from the Pentagon to Army commanders.
The event is called “State of the Force” and is led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The event will happen later this month.
The guidelines aim to ensure all attendees meet high personal appearance standards.
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President Donald Trump believes that the news media is against him and wants to take legal action against them. The article suggests that he should consider withdrawing from lawsuits against the media, following an example from Thomas Jefferson.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump views the news media as hostile.
He is pursuing lawsuits against news organizations.
The article references Thomas Jefferson’s approach to dealing with the media.
Jefferson chose not to use lawsuits to fight the press.
The suggestion is for Trump to reconsider his legal actions against the media.
The article focuses on the relationship between Trump and the news media.
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Sunny, the Obama family’s Portuguese Water Dog, died at 14 years old. Barack Obama shared the news on social media, remembering Sunny as full of energy and a beloved family member who joined them in the White House in 2013.
Key Facts
Sunny was the second Portuguese Water Dog owned by the Obama family, after Bo.
She joined the White House in August 2013 during President Obama’s second term.
Sunny was known for being energetic, sometimes causing minor accidents like knocking over a toddler or biting a visitor.
She was born in June 2012 in Michigan and came from a breeder.
The Obamas made a donation to the Washington Humane Society when they got Sunny.
Barack Obama described Sunny as loving and helpful to the family and their staff.
Sunny lived to 14 years old and was remembered fondly by the Obama family.
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Two Republican representatives from Iowa voted for a war powers resolution in the House of Representatives for the first time. The resolution, supported by Democrats, aims to limit President Trump’s ability to take military action in Iran without Congress’s approval.
Key Facts
Two Iowa Republican members voted in favor of a war powers resolution.
This is the first time these two GOP lawmakers from Iowa supported such a measure.
The resolution was passed in the House of Representatives.
Democrats backed the war powers resolution.
The resolution aims to limit President Trump’s military actions related to Iran.
The vote came ahead of the 2024 midterm elections.
Iowa is traditionally a strong Republican ("deep-red") state.
The resolution seeks to give Congress more control over decisions about military conflicts.
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The Trump administration plans to send large 2,000-pound bombs to Israel in a weapons sale worth $2.8 billion. These bombs had caused the Biden administration to pause their delivery two years ago due to concerns about possible mass casualties in Gaza.
Key Facts
The weapons sale is valued at $2.8 billion.
The bombs weigh 2,000 pounds each.
These bombs are powerful and capable of causing large-scale damage.
The Biden administration stopped sending these bombs two years ago.
The pause happened because of worries about many civilian deaths in Gaza.
The Trump administration now plans to proceed with sending these bombs to Israel.
The news came from a France 24 report dated September 16, 2026.
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President Donald Trump’s administration has cut or frozen up to $177 billion in federal grants across all states since he started his second term. These cuts mainly affected health, nutrition, the environment, and disaster relief programs.
Key Facts
The total amount of grants cut or frozen is $177 billion.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia were affected.
Major areas impacted include health, nutrition, the environment, and disaster relief.
Grants related to maternal health in Michigan, education research in Mississippi, and minority farmer assistance in Iowa were among those affected.
California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and North Carolina saw the largest amounts of grant interruptions.
The amount cut equals nearly 10% of federal discretionary spending, which is money the government can choose how to spend.
Some courts have ruled against the administration’s grant cuts.
The tracking tool, called Lost Funds, uses data from USASpending.gov and will update as new information comes in.
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President Donald Trump will visit North Carolina to support Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley in his race against Democrat Roy Cooper. This will be Trump's first campaign rally since the midterm convention, and he plans to make more trips before Election Day.
Key Facts
President Trump is campaigning for Michael Whatley, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina.
Michael Whatley is a former Republican National Committee chairman and was Trump's pick for that role.
Whatley is running against Roy Cooper, the Democratic former governor of North Carolina.
Senator Thom Tillis, the current holder of the seat, is retiring after conflicts with President Trump.
Whatley is new to running for public office and has been behind Cooper in recent fundraising and polling.
Trump’s support is important but could be challenging because Whatley needs both Trump’s core supporters and moderate voters.
Trump’s visit is his first campaign rally after the midterm convention in Dallas.
Trump plans to make many more campaign trips ahead of Election Day.
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House Republican leaders have decided to end the final week of lawmaking before the midterm elections one day early. Lawmakers will leave Washington after voting on Wednesday instead of Thursday. A vote on California environmental rules planned for Thursday was moved ahead.
Key Facts
House GOP leaders shortened the last legislative week before midterm elections.
Lawmakers will finish work and leave Washington on Wednesday instead of Thursday.
The announcement came from Rep. Tom Emmer’s office; he is the GOP whip.
A vote originally scheduled for Thursday on California environmental rules was moved up to an earlier day.
This change reduces the number of working days in the week by one.
The decision affects the timing of votes and lawmakers’ schedules.
The midterm elections are happening soon, making this the last legislative week before voting.
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Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University in 2025. His family says the university and state officials made serious mistakes that allowed the assassination to happen and are planning to sue.
Key Facts
Charlie Kirk was speaking at a Turning Point USA event on the university campus when he was shot by a gunman on a nearby rooftop.
The family’s legal notice claims the event lacked proper security and monitoring, making Kirk an easy target.
The notice says the university did not do a good security check, did not assign enough police, and had no ambulance on site.
Warnings about securing rooftops near the event area were ignored.
The family mentions a previous rooftop assassination attempt on President Donald Trump as a reason the risk should have been taken seriously.
The accused shooter, Tyler Robinson, is 23 years old and denies charges including aggravated murder.
Prosecutors want the death penalty for Robinson.
Utah Valley University said they are aware of the claims but focused on supporting their campus community and following legal processes.
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The House Oversight Committee voted unanimously to recommend holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt for not following subpoenas related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse praised the committee and called for Congress to continue investigating powerful people connected to Epstein.
Key Facts
The Oversight Committee voted 41-0 to recommend holding Leon Black in contempt of Congress.
The vote is about Black refusing to provide testimony and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) linked to the Epstein investigation.
Leon Black paid Epstein approximately $170 million from 2013 to 2017 for tax and estate services.
Black denies any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Black appeared once before the committee but refused to answer questions about NDAs.
Black did not attend a required deposition and filed a lawsuit claiming the subpoenas were invalid and invasive.
The committee’s chair, Representative James Comer, introduced a new bill called the Survivor’s Voice Protection Act to help abuse survivors speak freely despite NDAs.
The legislation would also require reporting suspected grooming behavior to law enforcement to protect minors.
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Former President Barack Obama announced the death of the family dog, Sunny, a 13-year-old Portuguese water dog. Obama described Sunny as a loving and energetic pet who was part of the family for many years, alongside their first dog, Bo.
Key Facts
Sunny was a 13-year-old Portuguese water dog that belonged to the Obama family.
The Obamas adopted Sunny in 2013 during Barack Obama's second term as president.
Sunny was known for being loyal, sweet, and full of energy.
Sunny had a different personality from Bo, the other Obama dog, preferring play and attention over treats.
Both Sunny and Bo were popular and often seen running around the White House lawn.
Sunny was close to the Obama daughters, Sasha and Malia, and liked to be near the White House staff.
Bo, the Obamas' first dog, died in 2021 at age 12 from cancer.
The Obamas got Bo in 2009 as a campaign promise to their daughters, and Sunny was adopted later as a companion for Bo.
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President Donald Trump supports ending extended debate in the Senate using the "nuclear option," a procedure that allows changing Senate rules with a simple majority vote. Legal expert Thomas Jipping warns that this move could harm the Senate’s role in controlling government power and increase ongoing political conflicts.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump wants to use the "nuclear option" to stop extended debate in the Senate.
Extended debate means allowing senators more time to discuss and delay decisions.
The "nuclear option" lets the Senate change rules with fewer votes than usual.
Thomas Jipping is a senior legal expert commenting on this issue.
Jipping says removing extended debate could weaken the Senate’s ability to oversee government actions.
Ending extended debate might lead to more constant political battles in the Senate.
The Senate traditionally uses extended debate to ensure careful consideration of laws and nominees.
This change could make the chamber more partisan and unstable over time.
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Two recent polls show many Americans support the idea of receiving $5,000 from the government but doubt that President Trump’s promise to deliver these payments if Republicans keep control of Congress will happen. The White House and Treasury are still working on plans to pay for the proposal, which lacks detailed funding or eligibility information.
Key Facts
Nearly half of registered voters (48%) support sending $5,000 to every adult citizen.
Most voters doubt President Trump will follow through on the $5,000 payment promise.
A poll found 63% of adults think the pledge is inappropriate to link to election results.
President Trump announced the “Trump dividend” at the Republican National Convention on September 9.
The estimated cost of the plan could be about $1.2 trillion plus interest, but funding details are unclear.
Vice President JD Vance suggested funding might come from tariff revenue and eligibility may be narrower than originally promised.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said they are exploring ways to pay without increasing the federal deficit.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the plan is a big idea that will need a lot of agreement and time to develop.
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Sunny, the Obamas' pet dog, has died at age 13, Barack Obama announced. Sunny lived with the family during Obama's time as president and was known for her energy and loyalty.
Key Facts
Sunny was a Portuguese Water Dog the Obama family got in 2013.
She lived with the Obamas throughout Barack Obama's presidency and after.
Sunny met many important guests, including Pope Francis in 2015.
The family’s other dog, Bo, died in 2021.
Barack Obama described Sunny as energetic, loyal, and always by their side.
Sunny was known for being a "loud and sloppy drinker" and did not like getting wet.
Pets have a long tradition at the White House; President Trump did not have a pet.
Sunny often interacted with White House staff and visitors, helping bring joy during events.
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A judge decided that President Donald Trump's name cannot be placed back on the Kennedy Center without approval from Congress. In response, President Trump threatened to stop the Kennedy Center's renovation project altogether.
Key Facts
A judge ruled that restoring President Trump's name on the Kennedy Center requires a law passed by Congress.
The Kennedy Center is a major performing arts venue in Washington, D.C.
President Trump had previously been associated with the Kennedy Center renovation project.
After the ruling, President Trump threatened to block the renovation work.
The issue centers on a dispute about using President Trump's name on the facility.
The renovation is intended to update or improve the Kennedy Center.
Congressional approval is necessary to make changes to the naming of the center.
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Minneapolis is considering a new rule that would make companies running driverless cars put a paid safety monitor in the driver’s seat of each vehicle. This person would watch the car to help if something goes wrong.
Key Facts
The city of Minneapolis wants to regulate autonomous (driverless) vehicles.
The rule requires a human safety monitor inside the car at all times.
The safety monitor must be paid by the autonomous vehicle company.
The monitor’s job is to watch the car’s operation and intervene if needed.
The goal is to improve safety for passengers and others on the road.
This applies to all driverless cars operating in Minneapolis.
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Photos released by CBS show damage to several US military sites in the Middle East caused by Iranian attacks. A Pentagon report confirms that hundreds of buildings and equipment, including aircraft, have been damaged or destroyed at US bases in multiple countries in the region.
Key Facts
Photos show damaged radar aircraft, trailers, buildings, and other equipment at US bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
One photo shows a Boeing E-3 Sentry early warning aircraft torn in half at Prince Sultan Air Base.
The Pentagon’s watchdog report states Iranian attacks have damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings at US bases across eight Middle Eastern countries.
Equipment losses from these attacks are estimated to cost $3.7 billion.
The US spent more than $33 billion on the war up to the end of June 2024.
Dozens of US aircraft were damaged or destroyed on the ground, including five refueling planes in Saudi Arabia.
The US House of Representatives recently voted to require President Donald Trump to end US military action in Iran.
The conflict began in February 2024 after joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran, with Iran responding by attacking US and allied bases.
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The U.S. House of Representatives voted for the third time to limit President Trump's authority to launch military strikes against Iran. At the same time, Republican Representative Thomas Massie introduced impeachment articles against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Key Facts
The House has voted three times to restrict President Trump's power to attack Iran without congressional approval.
This measure aims to check the President’s ability to engage in military action in Iran.
GOP Representative Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The impeachment proposal is a separate issue from the vote on war powers.
The discussions reflect ongoing tensions between Congress and the Trump administration about military decisions.
Limiting war powers requires balancing executive authority with congressional oversight.
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A judge prevented President Donald Trump’s name from being put back on the Kennedy Center building. On the same day, the Kennedy Center’s board decided to close the building for renovations.
Key Facts
A judge blocked the addition of President Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center facade.
The legal fight concerns whether his name should be displayed on the building.
The Kennedy Center board voted to close the venue to carry out renovations.
The decision to close came after the judge’s ruling.
The Kennedy Center is a major arts institution in the United States.
The renovations and legal issues are happening at the same time.
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