The Congressional Budget Office estimates the war with Iran has already cost the U.S. about $38 billion and could continue to cost $2 billion to $3 billion per month. Most of these costs come from replacing missiles and other military equipment used in the conflict.
Key Facts
The U.S. war with Iran has cost approximately $38 billion from February 28 to August 1.
The main cost driver is replacing missiles used both for attacks and for defense.
The U.S. used many interceptor missiles, which protect against incoming attacks, reducing the stockpile for future conflicts.
It will cost an estimated $21.7 billion to replace missiles used so far, including $7.3 billion for cruise missiles and $13.1 billion for missile interceptors.
Other equipment lost, such as a radar system costing around $500 million, adds about $1.9 billion to replacement costs.
The Pentagon and President Trump have said ammunition supplies are sufficient despite these estimates.
The monthly cost could rise if fighting intensifies, as seen in July when the cost was around $3 billion.
Congress is considering new funding requests, including $73 billion proposed by Republicans to support the war effort.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson held a ceremony to reveal the official portrait of Kevin McCarthy, the previous Speaker of the House. McCarthy was removed from his position in 2023, after which Patrick McHenry temporarily served as Speaker pro tempore.
Key Facts
Mike Johnson is the current Speaker of the House.
Kevin McCarthy was the Speaker before Johnson.
McCarthy was removed from his role in 2023, a historic event.
Patrick McHenry served briefly as Speaker pro tempore after McCarthy’s removal.
The portrait unveiling took place at the U.S. Capitol.
McCarthy had caused disagreement among Republican members by making deals with Democrats.
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A recent poll shows that most registered U.S. voters see President Trump as corrupt and dangerous, with fewer people describing him as steady or honest. The poll also found strong differences in opinion between Democrats, Republicans, and independents about the president’s qualities.
Key Facts
53% of voters called President Trump "corrupt" and 51% called him "dangerous" in a poll of 1,461 registered voters.
Only 14% of voters said President Trump is not divisive.
Democrats and 62% of independents said Trump was corrupt, compared to just 10% of Republicans.
Less than half of Republicans (49%) described Trump as honest, and 53% of Republicans had no opinion on whether he is steady.
President Trump promised a $5,000 payout to every adult if Republicans keep control of Congress, but many voters doubt he will deliver on this plan.
President Trump’s approval rating rose slightly to 35%, up from 33% in late August.
A White House spokesperson said President Trump is fighting fraud in the government and saving taxpayers money.
The poll was done by The Economist and YouGov from September 11-14, 2026, with a margin of error of ±3.3%.
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Senator Bernie Sanders held a rally in Washington, DC, urging the United States and China to work together to ban the development of superintelligent artificial intelligence (AI). The event focused on the need for new rules to control the fast growth of AI technology.
Key Facts
Bernie Sanders led a “pro-human” rally in Washington, DC.
The rally warned about potential dangers of advanced AI.
The goal was to push for policies that limit AI development.
Sanders called for cooperation between the US and China on this issue.
AI leaders such as Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Dario Amodei (Anthropic) will speak publicly about AI concerns.
This is the first public discussion by these AI heads since the debate about slowing AI development started.
The rally reflects growing attention to AI risks in US politics.
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A group that predicts election results, Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), says that Republicans might not win more seats in Congress even though some GOP-controlled states changed voting boundaries. DDHQ forecasts that Democrats have a 68 percent chance of winning the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
Some states controlled by Republicans redrew congressional district maps recently.
Republicans hoped these new maps would help them win more seats in Congress.
Decision Desk HQ is a group that analyzes and predicts election outcomes.
DDHQ’s latest forecast gives Democrats a 68% chance to win the House of Representatives.
This forecast suggests Republicans may not gain seats despite redistricting efforts.
The prediction refers to the upcoming November midterm elections.
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A senior Texas Republican criticized a fellow Republican candidate, Bo French, for a racist social media post about college football fans. Due to this, the senior Republican said he would vote for the Democratic candidate instead.
Key Facts
Bo French, a Republican candidate for Texas railroad commission, posted a photo of non-white University of Texas students celebrating a football win with a comment implying they were foreigners.
Karl Rove, a longtime Republican adviser, called French a bigot and said he will vote Democrat Jon Rosenthal in the election.
The photo showed students who were likely U.S. residents, as less than 10% of the university's 55,000 students are from overseas.
Republican Senator John Cornyn condemned French’s comments on social media and called for unity against bigotry.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said French’s message does not represent his views and emphasized that Texans unite around college football.
Republican state senator Lacey Hull and university leaders also spoke against French’s post.
French defended himself by calling those criticizing him “less conservative” and accused the Republican establishment of attacking him.
Other Texas Republican candidates have faced criticism for extremist or offensive behavior during recent campaigns.
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The Kennedy Center board voted to close due to money problems and a fight over putting President Donald Trump's name on the building. A judge stopped the board from adding Trump's name, saying only Congress can approve changes to the Kennedy Center’s name.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center board decided to close because of financial troubles and a naming dispute involving President Trump's name.
President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick took part in the board meeting.
A federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center from adding Trump's name to the building or grounds.
The judge said only Congress can legally approve changes to the Kennedy Center’s name.
The board covered Trump’s name and most of Kennedy’s name with a tarp after the initial name addition.
The board suggested alternative ways to recognize Trump, like inscriptions thanking him for support.
The board said Trump might not fund needed repairs unless he is properly recognized.
The judge criticized the government for trying to use wording tricks to bypass the law.
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Nick Reiner is accused of murdering his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, but prosecutors will not seek the death penalty. Instead, if convicted, he faces life in prison without parole, a decision influenced by his surviving siblings and reflecting a complicated view on punishment.
Key Facts
Nick Reiner is charged with murdering his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include multiple-murder special circumstances.
Prosecutors in Los Angeles County decided not to seek the death penalty.
The surviving Reiner children opposed pursuing the death penalty for Nick.
Nick faces life imprisonment without parole if convicted.
Rob Reiner had previously struggled with how to handle his son’s addiction and challenges.
The decision reflects a distinction between severe punishment and full accountability.
The case involves allegations that Nick planned the murders and used a knife.
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The Kennedy Center’s board, supported by allies of President Donald Trump, voted to close the main building for renovations. This decision comes amid legal disputes over efforts to name the building after President Trump, which a federal judge has blocked, saying only Congress can rename it.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center plans to close its main building for repairs and upgrades due to safety issues like a partial ceiling collapse.
The renovation project was promoted by President Donald Trump.
A federal judge ruled that the center cannot rename the building after President Trump without Congress's approval.
The board proposed alternative ways to recognize Trump’s support, such as adding inscriptions that honor his contributions without changing the building’s official name.
Some events will be moved offsite during renovations, but some programming will continue at another space called the REACH.
Trump ally and board member Paolo Zampolli suggested ideas like expanding the outdoor park and building a marina, not yet part of the official plan.
Ticket sales reportedly dropped after the board voted to rename the center after President Trump.
Legal and political disputes over Trump’s role and naming rights continue to affect the center’s future.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after two more people died from measles in the state, marking the worst measles outbreak there in decades. Shapiro blamed lower vaccination rates and accused Kennedy of spreading vaccine doubts and interfering with official health reporting.
Key Facts
Pennsylvania has seen four measles-related deaths, the first in 35 years.
The state is experiencing its worst measles outbreak, with 693 cases reported in 38 counties in 2026.
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but has returned due to lower vaccination rates.
Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2025, measles deaths have increased sharply.
There have been five confirmed measles deaths since 2025, more than the previous 20 years combined.
Governor Shapiro accused Kennedy of spreading vaccine misinformation and interfering with the CDC’s reporting.
Shapiro said families are grieving and called the outbreak and deaths tragic.
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Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has proposed impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie accuses Hegseth of breaking the constitution by involving the U.S. in the war with Iran without Congress’s approval and other alleged illegal actions.
Key Facts
Thomas Massie, a Republican lawmaker, proposed impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Massie claims Hegseth engaged in the Iran war for over 90 days without Congress’s permission, breaking the law.
The impeachment resolution lists eight constitutional violations by Hegseth, including attacks on Iran and ignoring war powers laws.
The resolution accuses Hegseth of causing civilian deaths, including a U.S. strike on a school in Minab, Iran, killing over 168 people.
Other accusations include extrajudicial killings of over 220 suspected drug traffickers and retaliation against free speech critics.
Hegseth is also accused of involvement in capturing Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro and a bombing campaign in Yemen.
The impeachment must be voted on by Thursday and may put House Republicans in a difficult position before the November midterm elections.
If the House approves, the Senate will decide whether to hold a trial for Hegseth.
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Pennsylvania health officials confirmed two more deaths from measles, raising the total to four in 2026. Both people who died were not vaccinated, and this is the worst measles outbreak in the state in over 30 years.
Key Facts
Pennsylvania now has four measles-related deaths in 2026.
The two most recent deaths were confirmed on Tuesday.
Both individuals who died were unvaccinated against measles.
The last time the U.S. saw four measles deaths in a year was in 1992.
Measles outbreaks had been rare due to the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles.
Pennsylvania’s health department is working to stop the outbreak and promote vaccination.
Health officials did not release more details about the individuals who died.
This outbreak is the worst in Pennsylvania in more than three decades.
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James Talarico, a Democrat and Texas state representative, has increased his chances of beating Republican Ken Paxton for Texas Attorney General in the upcoming election. Multiple election prediction models now show Talarico slightly ahead in a race that is historically hard for Democrats in Texas.
Key Facts
Ken Paxton is the current Texas Attorney General and Republican candidate.
James Talarico is a Democratic state representative running to unseat Paxton.
No Democrat has won a statewide race in Texas in over 30 years.
Four different election trackers show Talarico’s chances of winning between 55% and 58%.
These trackers include Decision Desk HQ, VoteHub, The Economist, and Polymarket.
Talarico’s probability has been rising gradually over several months, not just from a single event.
Democrats need to flip at least four Senate seats in Texas to gain control of the state Senate.
Prediction models use a mix of polls, statistical data, market bets, and expert analysis to forecast the outcome.
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Boston stopped using Flock Safety’s license-plate reader cameras after the company shared data nationwide by mistake, breaking the contract. The sharing happened during a short trial period, and Boston quickly disabled the feature and no longer allows direct access to its data without proper requests.
Key Facts
Boston Police used about 45 Flock ALPR (Automated License Plate Reader) cameras in a trial from April to September 2025.
Flock Safety accidentally enabled nationwide data sharing, letting other law agencies see Boston’s license plate data in the first few days of the trial.
The contract said data sharing should be turned off, and Boston confirmed it was supposed to be disabled.
After finding the error, Boston quickly turned off the sharing feature and restricted access to their data.
Boston started new ALPR camera trials with Motorola in February 2026 and Axon in June 2026.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized Flock for allowing police to search license plate data with weak reasons, like “LOL” or “sexy.”
Boston officials say they will continue using license-plate cameras if privacy rules and clear policies are in place.
The city requires vendors to agree not to share data and to delete videos after 30 days unless needed for investigations.
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A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Mason O'Connor, was fired after an investigation found he broke professional rules by making an inappropriate comment to a female colleague. He is the 13th officer dismissed following a BBC Panorama undercover report exposing misconduct at Charing Cross police station.
Key Facts
PC Mason O'Connor was dismissed for breaching behavior standards, including respect and equality.
The misconduct involved a comment made to a female colleague while off-duty in October 2024.
O'Connor was part of a wider investigation triggered by a BBC Panorama program aired in October 2025.
The Panorama investigation secretly filmed officers making offensive remarks about immigrants, violence, and sexual assault.
PC Lloyd Hunter, another officer, was also recently fired after footage showed him making hateful comments.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers shown in the film.
Met Commander Simon Messinger said the firings show the police force’s effort to improve its culture.
Since the Panorama report, a total of 13 Metropolitan Police officers have been dismissed for misconduct.
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Stockbridge, Georgia city leaders removed 23-year-old Mayor Jayden Williams after investigating his use of city funds and inappropriate messages with an 18-year-old student. The city council held a long hearing where they reviewed evidence including misuse of a government credit card and questionable communications before deciding to remove him from office.
Key Facts
Jayden Williams became mayor in January after winning the election in late 2023.
He was 23 years old, the youngest mayor in Stockbridge’s history.
Allegations included sending sexually suggestive texts and explicit photos to an 18-year-old high school student.
Williams offered the student a city-backed internship and asked to be “friends with benefits.”
Williams used a city-issued credit card for personal expenses like movie tickets and shopping but said it was accidental and reimbursed the city.
Investigators said Williams created a hostile work environment by changing office locks and shouting at staff.
The city council voted to remove Williams after an investigation by an independent investigator confirmed the accusations.
Williams denied some claims and his lawyer called the removal “disappointing” and not evidence-based.
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Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has pursued four criminal cases related to non-citizens voting in state elections after a 10-month investigation. While some non-citizens voted illegally, the impact on election outcomes in Kansas was minimal, and claims of widespread non-citizen voting remain disputed by various studies.
Key Facts
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach started a 10-month probe into non-citizen voting.
Four criminal cases have been filed related to non-citizens voting in Kansas elections.
Some cases involve legal permanent residents, who are barred by federal law from voting.
A former mayor in Kansas was accused of voting illegally as a non-citizen.
Past strict voter ID laws in Kansas were struck down by federal courts due to lack of evidence of widespread fraud.
National studies show non-citizen voting is very rare, with only a few dozen cases identified among millions of votes.
Other states, like New Jersey, found some non-citizens registered to vote due to technical errors.
President Trump and other Republicans argue these rare cases understate the problem and support tougher voter ID laws.
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During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and FBI Director Kash Patel disagreed about recent firings at the FBI and Patel's interactions with the media. The exchange focused on the reasons behind the personnel changes at the bureau.
Key Facts
The hearing took place in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat, questioned FBI Director Kash Patel.
They argued about recent terminations of FBI employees.
The discussion included Patel's relationship with the media.
The hearing was recorded and made available by CBS News.
Kash Patel is the current FBI Director.
The focus was on internal FBI matters and public communication.
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A U.S. judge stopped the Kennedy Center board from putting President Donald Trump’s name back on the performing arts building. The judge said adding his name needs approval from Congress.
Key Facts
A judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding President Trump’s name to the building’s facade.
The judge ruled that Congress must approve any naming changes.
In May, the same judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the building.
The judge also blocked the temporary closure of the center for President Trump’s planned renovations.
The Kennedy Center board, chaired by President Trump, approved adding the inscription "Renovated and Restored by President Donald J. Trump" in August.
President Trump replaced several trustees and appointed himself as a trustee in February 2025.
He was later voted chairman of the Kennedy Center board.
President Trump announced his name addition and other rebranding efforts around Washington, D.C.
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Prosecutors have decided not to seek the death penalty for Nick Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents. The couple was found stabbed to death in their home in Southern California in late 2025.
Key Facts
Nick Reiner is accused of murdering his parents.
The murders took place in Southern California.
The couple was found stabbed to death.
The incident happened in late 2025.
Prosecutors had the option to seek the death penalty but chose not to.
This decision affects how the legal case will proceed.
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