⚡ Today in History

On September 4, 1998, Larry Page and Sergey Brin incorporated Google in a Menlo Park, California garage. In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicated after 58 years on the throne. Today? The AI boom Google helped launch now powers a data center fight that has become a flashpoint in November's midterm elections.

Top News

Gloria Steinem dies at 92 92

Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine and a leading voice of the women's liberation movement, died Thursday at her home in New York City. The Gloria Steinem Foundation said she passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, though it did not disclose a cause of death. Steinem's 1972 magazine became the first major publication run entirely by women, and her advocacy helped shape decades of debate over reproductive rights and workplace equality.

Iran war reignites, killing at least 18 18

Six months after the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran, fresh American strikes this week killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 100, Iran's health ministry said. Iranian officials say one strike hit a wedding celebration in Hormozgan province, killing four civilians, while Tehran claims retaliatory strikes on U.S.-linked bases in Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. President Trump warned Wednesday the U.S. is prepared to strike Iran again "anytime we want."

Minneapolis shooting kills 1, wounds 6 6

A gunman opened fire at an apartment tower near the Minneapolis Convention Center on Wednesday, killing one person and wounding six others, including two police officers, authorities said. The Minneapolis Police Department warned residents in the nearby Loring Park neighborhood to stay away as officers surrounded the building. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said state officials were assisting local police, and the FBI said it would offer resources to support the investigation.

Trump calls data center critics "backwards and poor"

As rising electricity bills and noise complaints turn voters against new AI data centers, President Trump warned Monday that communities blocking the projects risk becoming "backwards and poor." The backlash spans both parties ahead of November's midterms, with Republicans defending a narrow Senate majority and Democrats sensing an opening. Vice President JD Vance said Thursday the issue mostly affects areas already burdened by higher utility bills.

August jobs report lands today

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its August employment report Friday morning, the first full snapshot of hiring since a weak July reading. Economists expect only modest hiring growth after last month's slowdown. A soft report would add to pressure on the Federal Reserve, whose officials have signaled openness to cutting interest rates if inflation keeps easing.

World

Vance: "I wouldn't call it a war" $4.14

Asked whether the Iran war would end before November's midterms, Vice President JD Vance told reporters Thursday there is "no active shooting" right now, and said he would not call the conflict a war. Vance added that the U.S. will not negotiate with Tehran until Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz stop. Average U.S. gas prices reached $4.14 a gallon Thursday, according to AAA, nearly a dollar higher than a year ago.

Israel claims control of Lebanon ridge from Hezbollah

Israel's military said Thursday it had taken "operational control" of the Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, a site of weeks of clashes with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. Troops cleared two underground tunnel routes and killed several fighters, the military said, while others fled. The ridge overlooks roads leading to the city of Nabatiyeh, and losing it would disrupt Hezbollah's supply lines in the area.

South Korea weighs troops for Hormuz security

South Korea's government said Friday it is weighing a military contribution to U.S.-led security efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, provided the move does not weaken its own defenses. President Trump has pressed Seoul for months to help secure the waterway, which Iran has partly blockaded since the war began in February. No final decision has been made, a South Korean presidential official said.

Saudi tanker crew killed in Hormuz attack

Two Filipino sailors were killed Monday when their oil tanker was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri said Wednesday. Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the attack and Iran's broader strikes on Gulf countries, calling for a return to negotiations. Ship traffic through the strait remains far below prewar levels, with 102 transits recorded last week compared with more than 130 a day before the war.

Netanyahu: Iran regime collapse "within reach"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told military leaders Thursday that Iran's government is "teetering" and that its fall is "within reach." The comments come ahead of Israel's October 27 election, in which some polls show Netanyahu trailing opponents who accuse him of failing to end the war with Iran. Iran's government has not responded publicly to the remarks.

Politics

Trump: data center critics risk being "backwards and poor" 53-47

President Trump said Monday that American communities opposing new AI data centers "will only have themselves to blame" if the projects move elsewhere. The remarks come as rising electricity bills and construction noise turn voters in both parties against local data center projects ahead of November's midterms. Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 Senate majority and a slim House edge, and strategists say the backlash threatens seats in both chambers.

Anthropic-backed group spends $10M defending AI rules

Public First Action, an advocacy group backed by $40 million from the AI company Anthropic, has spent more than $10 million on ads supporting candidates who favor AI safety regulation. The group has run spots for lawmakers including Texas Republican Nathaniel Moran, who sponsored a bill expanding oversight of AI systems. Most other tech-linked spending in the midterms has avoided mentioning AI or data centers directly.

Ohio Senate race turns on data centers

In Ohio's closely watched Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown has made data centers a central attack line against Republican Jon Husted, a GOP strategist told RealClearPolitics this week. Data center construction has drawn far less opposition in states like Louisiana than in Ohio and Montana, reflecting how local the fight has become. Republican consultant Mark Weaver said the issue still ranks low among voter concerns but requires candidates to show they are listening.

Campaign donations hit record $646M this cycle $646M

Corporate political donations have reached $646 million this election cycle, 40% above spending during the 2024 presidential race, according to a review of campaign finance filings. Most of the money has gone to Republican candidates and committees, including $115 million from venture investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. Tech billionaire Elon Musk is separately spending $200 million to support Republican candidates, with a focus on Texas races.

Vance urges Fed to cut rates for housing relief

Vice President JD Vance said Thursday the Federal Reserve should cut interest rates to make homes more affordable, adding to pressure President Trump has placed on the central bank. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said this week a rate hike would not be warranted if inflation keeps slowing, a shift from his earlier warnings. Treasury yields eased following Waller's comments, helping lift stocks Wednesday and Thursday.

Markets

Stocks notch back-to-back gains +1.1%

The S&P 500 rose 1.1% Thursday to close at 7,747.71, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 624 points and the Nasdaq Composite added 1.4%. Treasury yields eased after Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said a rate hike would not be needed if inflation keeps cooling. The three major indexes remain on pace for a fourth straight year of gains.

Oil hits six-week high on Hormuz war $97

Brent crude climbed above $97 a barrel Thursday, its highest level since July, after Iran claimed new strikes on U.S.-linked bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Both benchmark crude prices have risen roughly 40% over the past year as the war disrupts tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. crude also traded above $92 a barrel, its highest price in more than a month.

Snowflake soars 20% on earnings beat

Snowflake shares jumped more than 20% Thursday after the data software company posted stronger-than-expected quarterly results. Broadcom shares fell despite beating Wall Street's earnings estimates, as investors focused on the company's forecast instead. The divergence showed how closely tech investors are scrutinizing artificial intelligence spending plans this earnings season.

Fed's Waller signals openness to rate cuts

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said this week that a rate hike would not be warranted if underlying inflation keeps slowing, a shift from his earlier warnings about inflation risks. Waller's comments helped push Treasury yields lower and lifted stocks Wednesday and Thursday. The Fed's next policy meeting comes as officials weigh slowing job growth against inflation that remains above their 2% target.

August jobs data due today

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its August employment report Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, the final major economic release before the Fed's next meeting. July's report showed hiring had slowed sharply, and economists expect only modest improvement in August. A weak reading would add to pressure on the Fed to cut interest rates this month.

Entertainment

Christian Bale nears deal for "Heat 2"

Christian Bale is closing in on a deal to join Leonardo DiCaprio in Michael Mann's long-awaited sequel to "Heat," according to multiple entertainment outlets. Bale would reunite with Mann, who directed him in 2009's "Public Enemies," with filming expected to begin this November in Chicago. The sequel is based on a 2022 novel Mann co-wrote with Meg Gardiner that serves as both prequel and sequel to the 1995 original.

Emmys move to Monday night for first time in decades SEPT. 14

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will air Monday, September 14, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, a scheduling shift made to avoid conflicting with NBC's Sunday Night Football. Actress Mariska Hargitay will host the ceremony, the first solo actress to do so since Jane Lynch in 2011. HBO Max's medical drama "The Pitt" leads all nominees with 25 nominations.

Creative Arts Emmys hand out craft awards this weekend

The Television Academy holds its Creative Arts Emmy Awards Saturday and Sunday, honoring categories such as cinematography, music composition and lighting design ahead of next week's main ceremony. The two-night format has become standard in recent years as the number of submitted categories has grown. Winners announced this weekend often preview momentum for the September 14 telecast.

Bill Maher says he's done with stand-up

Bill Maher told comedian Patton Oswalt on the Club Random podcast that he has no plans to return to stand-up comedy, citing the country's political divide. Maher said he does not want to perform live "in this political atmosphere," adding that he is also tired of touring. Maher continues to host HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

NFL teams finalize 53-man rosters

NFL teams completed their final round of preseason cuts this week, trimming rosters to the league-mandated 53 players before the opening weekend. Several well-known veterans were among the players released as teams balanced salary-cap needs against depth at key positions. The regular season kicks off Thursday night, with a full slate of games following through the weekend.