With 50 days left until the midterm elections, polls show a close race for control of the U.S. Senate. Democrats hope to win key seats, including in states that President Trump won by large margins in 2024, while Republicans defend their 53-47 majority.
Key Facts
Midterm elections are 50 days away, with a tight battle for the Senate.
Democrats aim to flip the Senate majority, needing to win at least four seats.
To win, Democrats must keep all current seats and win some in states Trump won by large margins in 2024.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority.
President Trump’s approval rating has dropped, influenced by voter concerns over the economy and cost of living.
Polls show competitive races in conservative states like Alaska, Iowa, Ohio, and Texas.
Republicans hope to flip some Democratic-held seats, including in Georgia, Michigan, and New Hampshire.
Democrats see potential gains in Maine and North Carolina, which voted closely in recent elections.
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Millions of Americans will receive their Social Security checks this week, with some amounts reaching up to $5,181. Payments are made on specific Wednesdays depending on the recipient's birthday, and next year’s benefit increase is expected to be around 3.4 to 3.6 percent.
Key Facts
About 75 million Americans receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Social Security payments are sent on different Wednesdays based on the recipient’s birth date in the month.
Benefits can be as high as $5,181 per month if a person delays claiming until age 70 and has had high lifetime earnings.
The average retired worker received about $2,086 per month in July 2026.
SSI is usually paid on the first of the month, and some recipients have different payment schedules.
To qualify for retirement benefits, workers usually need 40 Social Security credits, earned through working and paying Social Security taxes.
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 is estimated to be between 3.4% and 3.6%, which is higher than the 2.8% increase in 2026.
The COLA is based on inflation data, especially changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W).
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Bo French, a Republican candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, faced backlash after posting a photo on social media that was seen as racist by many, including Republican leaders. His chances in the election dropped significantly on a major betting market following the controversy.
Key Facts
Bo French is running for the Texas Railroad Commission as a Republican.
French posted a photo of Asian students celebrating a University of Texas football win.
He added a caption suggesting the photo reflected an issue with Texas graduations.
The post was widely viewed (27 million times) and criticized as racist.
Republican leaders like Senator John Cornyn and Governor Greg Abbott spoke out against French’s message.
Governor Abbott said the photo showed unity among Texans, not division.
French's election chances dropped from 72% to about 62% on the Kalshi betting market after the post.
Newsweek reached out to French’s campaign, the University of Texas, and the White House for comments.
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Reform UK received a total of £72 million in donations from two crypto billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne. Questions have arisen about whether these donors met new UK rules requiring donors to have lived in the UK for at least one year to avoid donation limits, with Reform UK’s deputy leader saying he does not know their exact residency timelines.
Key Facts
Reform UK received two large donations of £36 million each from Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne.
UK law is being updated to limit donations from Britons living abroad to £100,000 if they have not lived in the UK for 12 months.
The new rule will apply retrospectively once it becomes law in March 2026.
Ben Delo was previously living in Hong Kong but has returned to the UK “many, many months ago.”
Christopher Harborne is registered to vote in the UK but lives mainly in Thailand.
Reform UK states it has complied with all current and proposed donation laws.
The rule changes come after concerns about overseas influence and money tracing in UK politics.
The legislation does not currently include an overall cap on individual donations.
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President Donald Trump shared the first pictures of the new White House ballroom’s interior. The ballroom features gold decorations and crystal chandeliers, and Trump said the project is on budget and ahead of schedule.
Key Facts
President Trump revealed images of the new White House ballroom’s inside look.
The ballroom has gold details on the floor, walls, and ceiling.
Large crystal chandeliers are part of the main room’s design.
There is a long hallway leading to the central ballroom.
The style of the room is neoclassical, which means it’s inspired by ancient Greek and Roman designs.
President Trump said the project is very expensive but will not cost taxpayers.
He also said the work is on budget and ahead of schedule.
The story is still developing with more updates expected.
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Kyle Bickham, a 29-year-old man, died after being pushed from a moving train in Chicago on September 7. A 15-year-old girl has been charged with first-degree murder, and police continue to investigate the incident.
Key Facts
Kyle Bickham was pushed from a Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line train around 2:40 p.m. on September 7.
He hit an electrified rail and was then struck by a train, resulting in his death at the scene.
A 15-year-old girl faces charges including first-degree murder, mob action, and felony assault of a transit employee.
The police have not confirmed if other suspects involved have been identified.
Bickham had just finished working an overnight shift at an Amazon facility and was heading home.
His family described him as hardworking and set on building a future.
A GoFundMe page was created by his brother to support funeral costs.
Police are asking for any witnesses or people with information to come forward.
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The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, is close to bankruptcy and might have to close soon. The center’s board, led by President Donald Trump, says putting his name on the building could help save it from financial collapse.
Key Facts
The Kennedy Center faces a serious money crisis and may close as early as Tuesday.
President Donald Trump is the chairman of the center’s board of trustees.
The board suggests adding Trump’s name to the building to avoid financial failure.
The center is struggling to pay workers and maintain the building, which also needs repairs.
Ticket sales have dropped sharply, and many artists have canceled shows after Trump took charge.
The center projected $220 million in revenue but expects to collect only about $124 million, leaving a $23 million shortfall.
The board voted to rename the center the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” but a court blocked the change.
The center’s spokesperson blamed previous leaders for financial problems but said Trump helped bring new donors.
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Federal politicians criticized Pauline Hanson for calling Indigenous Australians "the most primitive race on Earth" during a 2025 podcast. Indigenous affairs leaders and other senators condemned her remarks as ignorant and harmful, urging the government to take real action against racism.
Key Facts
Pauline Hanson said Indigenous Australians were the "most primitive race on Earth" and had "achieved nothing" in a 2025 podcast.
Indigenous affairs minister Malarndirri McCarthy called Hanson’s comments “totally outrageous” and demanded an apology.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price described Hanson’s statements as showing "wilful ignorance."
Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe said Hanson’s remarks are false and harmful, and urged the government to focus on anti-racism efforts.
Hanson has a history of making controversial comments about Indigenous Australians.
Hanson's comments sparked criticism from politicians across different parties.
Hanson claimed she invited Price to join the One Nation party before the 2025 election.
Hanson responded to the criticism by saying the media is overreacting to year-old remarks.
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Police found fingerprints linking Liverpool councillor Gerard Woodhouse to hate mail sent to a housing association boss in 2022 but dropped the case because they could not contact the victim and the time limit to prosecute expired. Woodhouse later pleaded guilty to harassing a former Labour Party colleague by sending over 100 offensive letters between 2023 and 2025.
Key Facts
Gerard Woodhouse was a Liverpool councillor and anti-poverty campaigner.
In 2022, police found his fingerprints on an anonymous threatening letter sent to Julie Fadden, a housing association worker.
Police stopped the 2022 investigation because they could not reach the complainant after she left her job.
The harassment case against Woodhouse related to the 2022 letters was dropped due to time limits on prosecution.
Between 2023 and 2025, Woodhouse sent over 100 offensive letters to Christine Banks, a former Lord Mayor and Labour Party colleague.
Woodhouse pleaded guilty and received a community order for harassing Banks.
Julie Fadden later became a Liverpool Labour councillor and linked the 2022 letters to Woodhouse after seeing a BBC investigation.
Police did not comment publicly on their efforts to contact Fadden during the original investigation.
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Leroy Douglas was jailed in 2005 for stealing a mobile phone and given an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection (IPP), which means he was held in prison with no fixed release date after a minimum term. More than 20 years later, he is finally set to be released in October 2026, shortly before the government announced plans to end IPP sentences.
Key Facts
Leroy Douglas was 24 when sentenced in 2005 for stealing a mobile phone.
He received an IPP sentence, meaning no set release date after a minimum time served.
He remained in prison for over 20 years, much longer than the original minimum term of 2.5 years.
IPP sentences were introduced to keep serious offenders detained as a public protection measure.
IPP sentences were stopped in 2012 due to criticism but were not applied retroactively.
Around 2,200 prisoners remain in custody on IPP sentences as of mid-2026.
A human rights lawyer helped secure Leroy’s upcoming release by challenging the legality of his detention.
Leroy will be released under strict conditions, including an electronic tag and being housed far from his family, who want him closer for support.
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A Sydney mayor, Matthew Blackmore, told the New South Wales corruption watchdog that he was threatened and secretly watched after he refused to step down as mayor as part of a political deal. The inquiry is looking into whether former Labor councillors Sharangan Maheswaran and Karen Pensabene harassed or spied on Blackmore to pressure him to resign.
Key Facts
Matthew Blackmore was the independent mayor of Strathfield council in Sydney.
He had an initial agreement to step down so a Labor councillor would take over but changed his mind.
Blackmore said Labor councillor Sharangan Maheswaran threatened to damage his reputation if he did not resign.
Maheswaran allegedly sent people to secretly follow Blackmore and record his conversations, including surveillance of his children.
Karen Pensabene warned Blackmore of “attack flyers” spreading negative information about him.
Blackmore received media inquiries and felt his safety was threatened after refusing to step down.
Maheswaran claimed the harassment would stop if Blackmore resigned as mayor.
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) is investigating these events under Operation Rosny.
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From September 20, rail passengers in Britain will be allowed to use tickets from one train company on another company’s train for free if their original train is canceled. This change aims to make traveling easier and avoid delays caused by needing new tickets during disruptions.
Key Facts
Starting September 20, passengers with a valid ticket can travel on another operator’s train up to two hours before or after their canceled service without extra cost.
This rule applies to major intercity operators like CrossCountry, GWR, Avanti West Coast, and Chiltern Railways.
Passengers previously had to wait for agreements or buy new tickets if their trains were canceled, causing confusion and extra cost.
Automatic acceptance of tickets across operators was already in place for companies returned to public ownership.
The British government plans to bring nearly all passenger trains into public ownership next year under the Great British Railways.
East Midlands Railway is excluded from the change for now due to ongoing operational problems.
The rail minister said this change puts passengers first and helps create a fairer, simpler railway system.
An independent watchdog welcomes the change but stresses the need for clear information to passengers during disruptions.
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Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, New York is seeing a new generation of Americans with South-West Asian and North African roots gaining influence in culture and politics. Despite this progress, negative attitudes toward Islam and Muslims remain strong in the US, reflected in ongoing Islamophobia and political attacks on Muslim public figures.
Key Facts
New York has a growing generation of people with roots in South-West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) gaining social and political power.
Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, faces opposition partly due to fears linking him to the 9/11 attacks.
This group includes a wide range of people—from practicing Muslims to those who identify culturally with Islam.
The new generation challenges traditional American views by criticizing US foreign policy and military actions in the Middle East.
Islamophobia in the US has increased since 9/11, with many Americans holding more negative and partisan views about Islam than in 2002.
Recently, some Muslim politicians have been unfairly labeled as terrorists or threats by other US politicians.
Public criticism of Muslims in office shows deep-rooted fears and mistrust still exist in American society.
President Donald Trump has claimed that jihadists are being elected in many places, contributing to political Islamophobia.
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A new food redistribution center called the Big Heart Food Hub has opened in Barking, east London, to share up to 10 tonnes of food each week with local charities and food banks. The hub collects surplus food that would have been wasted and provides it to more than 20 groups helping about 7,000 people facing food insecurity.
Key Facts
The Big Heart Food Hub is located in Barking, east London.
It aims to distribute up to 10 tonnes of food weekly to charities and food banks.
The hub supports over 20 local organizations that assist people struggling financially.
Most food is surplus unsold items that would otherwise be wasted.
The food helps feed roughly 7,000 local residents each week.
Barking and Dagenham is considered the poorest borough in London.
Partners in the hub include the local council, several charities, and community groups.
The hub plans to offer volunteer programs and cooking training in the future.
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The UK government is debating new rules to limit donations to political parties from British citizens living abroad after Reform UK received £72 million in donations in a short time. The proposed law would put a £100,000 cap on donations from British expats and apply the limit to recent returns to the UK, with the aim of reducing the influence of large donors.
Key Facts
Reform UK got £72 million from two billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, within 24 hours.
The UK government wants to cap political donations from British citizens living abroad at £100,000, applied retroactively from March 25.
The House of Lords is debating this bill to change donation laws.
The cap would also apply for one year after British expats return to live in the UK.
Some politicians and trade unions, like Unite, support limits on large donations.
Reform UK and Nigel Farage’s party criticize these changes as unfair.
Officials say the large donations received comply with current laws.
The law change aims to reduce the impact of “mega-donors” on UK politics.
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President Donald Trump has agreed to most parts of a new ethics rule in a large cryptocurrency bill set for a key vote this week. The rule will give state attorneys general the power to help enforce the law, along with the Justice Department, and requires officials to separate themselves financially from crypto companies.
Key Facts
President Trump accepted about 80% of a strict ethics proposal in the crypto bill.
The bill includes a ban on federally elected officials, their spouses, and federal judges from issuing digital assets.
Some Democrats and Republican Senator Thom Tillis wanted stronger conflict-of-interest rules related to Trump's crypto assets.
The bill now gives state attorneys general authority to enforce the crypto law, not just the Justice Department.
White House officials were concerned state attorneys general might use the law for political reasons.
The bill requires officials to either sell off or put in a blind trust any major financial interests in crypto companies.
State attorneys general will be able to sue crypto exchanges that list banned digital assets.
The bill is bipartisan and aims to address ethics and regulation of cryptocurrencies.
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The White House has accepted new rules about ethics in a cryptocurrency law called the Clarity Act. These rules would stop public officials from creating or promoting digital money and can be enforced by government lawyers and the Justice Department.
Key Facts
The White House approved new ethics language in the Clarity Act bill.
The Clarity Act focuses on cryptocurrency regulation.
The new rules prevent public officials from issuing or supporting digital assets.
Enforcement could be done by state attorneys general.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) may also enforce these rules.
A key vote on the bill will take place in the Senate on Tuesday.
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A new visitor education center began construction at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. The center will honor the 184 people who died in the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon and is expected to open in 2029.
Key Facts
Groundbreaking for the visitor education center took place recently at the Pentagon Memorial.
The Pentagon Memorial honors 184 victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
The new center aims to educate visitors about the events and impact of 9/11 at the Pentagon.
The project had been delayed for years due to bureaucratic obstacles.
The visitor center is planned to open in the year 2029.
The center will provide historical information and commemorate those who lost their lives.
The 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is located at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
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Police departments are working with a nonprofit group called Do the Right Thing to improve relationships with underprivileged children. The Palm Springs chapter recently gave 95 scholarships to help these students reach their goals.
Key Facts
Police departments are partnering with a charity named Do the Right Thing.
The charity honors students who do good things in communities across the U.S.
This partnership aims to build better connections between police and kids from less wealthy backgrounds.
The Palm Springs group of this charity awarded 95 scholarships.
These scholarships support underprivileged students in pursuing their dreams.
The effort is part of a larger goal to improve police culture and community trust.
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President Donald Trump visited Ireland during a time when Americans are dealing with rapidly rising energy prices. Gas prices increased by 16 cents in one week, reaching an average of $4.31 per gallon across the country.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump traveled to Ireland recently.
Americans are experiencing high energy and fuel costs.
Gas prices rose by 16 cents in one week.
The national average price of gasoline is $4.31 per gallon.
Concerns about oil prices were part of the discussion around President Trump's trip.
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