⚡ Today in History

On September 11, 1789, Alexander Hamilton became the first U.S. Treasury secretary. In 2001, hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 people. Today, the nation marks 25 years since that attack, the same morning the government released a new inflation report that will help decide whether the Federal Reserve raises interest rates next week.

Top News

Trump pledges $5,000 payment if Republicans hold Congress $5,000

Speaking at the Republican Party's first midterm convention in Dallas Wednesday night, President Trump promised a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in November. The pledge, which Trump called a "Trump dividend," would cost about $1.2 trillion and would require Congress to approve the spending. Trump did not say how the payments would be funded or when they might arrive.

Supreme Court blocks Missouri's GOP-drawn map for the second time this week 6-2 SPLIT

In a dispute over congressional district lines, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked Missouri from using a newly drawn map that favored Republicans in November's midterm elections. The justices left in place a state court ruling requiring Missouri to use its 2022 map, which splits House seats 6-2 in favor of Republicans, instead of the new 7-1 map. Missouri's attorney general said she would keep fighting to use the new lines.

Nation marks 25 years since September 11 attacks

Twenty-five years after hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people, the country held memorial ceremonies Friday in New York, Washington, and Shanksville. Republicans also built part of Thursday night's midterm convention in Dallas around the anniversary before the two-day event closed.

August inflation report lands five days before the Fed's rate call

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its August consumer price index Friday morning, the last inflation reading the Federal Reserve will see before it meets on September 16. Economists had expected prices to rise 0.4% for the month and 3.4% over the past year, driven largely by higher energy costs tied to the war between the U.S. and Iran. A hotter than expected number could push the Fed toward raising interest rates instead of cutting them.

Iran war widens as Houthi rebels seize a Yemeni port city

Houthi rebels in Yemen captured the Red Sea port city of Mocha on Thursday, expanding their footing near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as fighting between the U.S. and Iran entered its seventh month. Iran also said it struck ten commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz overnight, the largest wave of shipping attacks since the war began in February. Shipping through the strait has fallen to a fraction of pre-war levels, pushing oil prices higher.

World

Only seven ships cross the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran war grinds on 7 SHIPS

Since the United States and Israel began strikes against Iran in late February, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly stopped. Only seven vessels crossed the waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman on September 9, according to maritime tracking firm Kpler, compared with more than 130 a day before the war began. The strait normally carries about a quarter of the world's seaborne oil.

Iran claims its largest wave of shipping attacks since the war began

Iran said it struck ten commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz overnight into Thursday, in what Reuters called the biggest coordinated assault on merchant shipping since the conflict with the United States started in February. A Panama-flagged tanker caught fire off Iraq's coast after being hit while carrying two million barrels of fuel oil. Britain's maritime trade office said it could not yet confirm casualties from the attacks.

Houthi rebels capture Yemen's Red Sea port of Mocha

Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the southwestern Yemeni port city of Mocha on Thursday, moving closer to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow passage ships have increasingly used to avoid the fighting in the Strait of Hormuz. Houthi-run television broadcast footage showing fighters inside the city. Yemen's internationally recognized government blamed the loss on a lack of international support.

Rubio wraps up South America tour focused on cartels

Secretary of State Marco Rubio ended a three-country trip through South America in Peru on Thursday, pressing regional governments to step up their fight against drug cartels. The tour was Rubio's latest push to build security cooperation as the Trump administration expands operations against trafficking networks in the region.

Delhi builds toward BRICS summit as India pushes Russia trade goal

Ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Indian officials confirmed a tour of Chandni Chowk and Khan Market for the spouses of visiting world leaders. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal this week called for India and Russia to raise bilateral trade from about $60 billion to $100 billion by 2030, with a matching $50 billion investment target.

Politics

Vance uses convention keynote to position himself for 2028 55 DAYS OUT

Vice President JD Vance delivered the penultimate speech at the Republican Party's first midterm convention in Dallas Thursday, 55 days before the November elections. Vance leaned on the tax provisions of Trump's spending law, including no tax on tips or overtime, instead of the grievance-heavy tone that marked the convention's opening night. Republican officials in attendance said they see Vance as the party's likely 2028 nominee.

Convention closes with 9/11 tribute and remembrance of Charlie Kirk

Organizers built Thursday night's program around the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and a tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated one year ago. Karoline Leavitt, Donald Trump Jr., and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also spoke before Trump and Vance closed the two-day convention at Dallas's American Airlines Center.

Missouri attorney general calls redistricting ruling a "constitutional crisis"

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said Thursday's Supreme Court order "has thrust our state into a full-fledged constitutional crisis" after the justices sided with groups fighting the state's new Republican map. The ruling likely ends a national test case for the mid-decade redistricting push President Trump urged GOP-led states to launch last year, with Missouri now set to use district lines drawn after the 2020 census.

Democrats skip counter-programming during GOP convention

As Republicans held their first-ever midterm convention in Dallas this week, the Democratic Party organized no formal counter-event, according to convention coverage from Al Jazeera. Some Democrats have privately questioned that choice, with less than two months left before an election in which both parties are courting voters on the economy and the war in Iran.

GOP senator moves to turn Trump's dividend pledge into law

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said Wednesday night he would introduce legislation authorizing the payments Trump proposed at the convention, as soon as Republicans win November's elections. Congress controls federal spending, so Trump cannot issue the checks without lawmakers' approval, and several Republicans have raised concerns about adding to a national debt that topped $40 trillion last month.

Markets

Stocks fall a fourth straight day as oil tops $100 a barrel $102.48

U.S. stocks dropped Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 316 points, the S&P 500 slipping 0.58%, and the Nasdaq Composite dropping 0.65%. It was the fourth straight daily loss for all three indexes. West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $102.48 a barrel, its highest level since May, as shipping disruptions from the Iran war kept pressure on oil supply.

Treasury yields hit 52-week highs ahead of CPI report

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.95% Thursday, up nearly a full percentage point since the U.S.-Iran war began in late February. Rising yields reflect investor concern that persistent inflation from higher energy costs could push the Federal Reserve toward raising rates instead of cutting them at next week's meeting.

Oil is up nearly 80% this year as Hormuz traffic stays low

West Texas Intermediate crude has risen 78.5% since the start of 2026 and 52.9% since the U.S.-Iran war began in late February, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains a fraction of pre-war levels. Brent crude settled at $107.63 a barrel Thursday, its highest close since May 19.

Gold slips to $4,368 an ounce

Gold traded at $4,367.87 an ounce Thursday morning, down 0.77% over the past day, as investors weighed the odds of a Federal Reserve rate move against continued safe-haven demand tied to the Iran war. Gold remains well below its January 28 record high of $5,602.22 an ounce.

Odds of a Fed rate hike climb past 73% after wholesale inflation data

Traders raised the odds of a quarter-point Federal Reserve rate increase to more than 73% after Thursday's producer price data showed wholesale inflation climbing on higher energy costs. Friday's consumer price index, the last inflation reading before the Fed's September 16 meeting, was expected to show prices up 0.4% in August and 3.4% over the past year.

Entertainment

Emmy Awards air Sunday with "The Pitt" leading the pack 25 NODS

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards air Sunday, September 14, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with Mariska Hargitay hosting. Medical drama "The Pitt" leads all shows with 25 nominations, including 12 in major categories, ahead of a ceremony honoring television from June 2025 through May 2026.

Nirvana to receive MTV VMAs' Video Vanguard Award

MTV announced this week that Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award at the 2026 VMAs, recognizing the band's influence across three studio albums: "Bleach," "Nevermind," and "In Utero." The honor, one of MTV's highest, has previously gone to artists including Michael Jackson and Beyoncé.

"Practical Magic 2" arrives in theaters this month

Warner Bros.' sequel "Practical Magic 2" is set to open in theaters later this month, nearly three decades after the 1998 original starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The sequel brings back both original stars alongside a younger cast.

Tommy Hilfiger opens New York Fashion Week at the Plaza

Tommy Hilfiger held its Spring 2027 runway show at New York's Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, drawing a lineup of celebrity guests as New York Fashion Week continued through the week. The show was among the highest-profile of this year's fall preview season.

CBS airs a new "Big Brother" episode tonight

CBS airs a new episode of "Big Brother" Friday night, continuing the reality competition's summer season as houseguests face fresh nominations heading toward the finale.