⚡ TODAY IN HISTORY

On September 21, 2001, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed its worst week since the Great Depression, a 14.3% drop in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was nominated to the Supreme Court as its first female justice. Today is also the United Nations' International Day of Peace. This year it falls as President Trump weighs a new strike on Iran and world leaders arrive in New York for the UN General Assembly.

TOP NEWS

Trump weighs "blowing up" Iran in new ultimatum 8 MONTHS

Iran's military warned Sunday that it has information the United States is preparing new strikes, and threatened "painful" retaliation against US bases in the region. President Trump responded by telling Fox News he is in "deciding mode" on the war, now in its eighth month, and could order an attack, let sanctions grind Iran down, or negotiate a deal. Trump said he would probably meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at this week's United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Congress has 9 days to stop a shutdown SEPT 30

Government funding expires September 30, and lawmakers have made little progress on a deal to keep federal agencies open. The House Appropriations Committee released a $184.5 billion funding proposal Monday, about $14 billion below last year's level. Senate Democrats say they will not support a stopgap bill unless the White House reverses recent cuts to federal programs. A shutdown would furlough thousands of federal workers just as the fiscal year ends.

World leaders converge on New York for UN meetings

World leaders begin arriving in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly's annual high-level meetings. President Trump is scheduled to address the assembly and host a state dinner for Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected to attend, raising the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Trump on the sidelines.

Wall Street futures climb as oil retreats for a fourth day

Brent crude fell for a fourth straight session Monday, its longest losing streak in three months, after Saudi Arabia said it would restore about half its damaged pipeline capacity within days. The relief helped lift US stock futures, with Nasdaq 100 contracts up nearly 1% ahead of this week's Trump-Xi summit. Treasury yields also climbed, with European bonds outperforming.

Saudi Arabia calls Houthi attack on Mecca a "red line"

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a drone toward Mecca on September 16, the first such attack on Islam's holiest city since the region's war began. Saudi air defenses shot the drone down before it entered restricted airspace, and the Saudi-led coalition vowed retaliation. The Houthis denied targeting Mecca and continue to blockade Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.

WORLD

Yemen's war forces 82,000 from their homes this month 82,000

Fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels has escalated sharply since July, when the Houthis launched a new offensive in northern Yemen. The United Nations says 82,000 people have been displaced since September began alone. Yemen's UN representative, Abdullah al-Saadi, called this week for the international community to act against the Houthis.

Nigeria and South Africa move to ease tensions after unrest

Violent anti-migrant protests strained relations between Nigeria and South Africa in recent weeks. Officials from both countries have since worked to calm the dispute through diplomatic channels. The underlying tensions over migration and economic competition between the two nations remain unresolved.

Cuba's unfinished nuclear plant symbolizes a broken promise

Cuba began building the Juragua nuclear plant decades ago, hoping it would free the island from dependence on imported oil. The project was never completed, and it now stands as a symbol of the country's economic struggles. Cuba continues to face fuel shortages and rolling blackouts today.

Denmark cautiously welcomes new US-Greenland agreement

Danish leaders responded cautiously Monday to a new agreement between the United States and Greenland. Some officials in Copenhagen view the deal as a retreat from earlier US threats to annex the Arctic territory, even as Washington frames it as a win for both sides. Greenland has been a flashpoint in US-Danish relations since the start of the Trump administration.

Ukraine launches major drone attack inside Russia

Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone attack on Russian territory over the weekend, according to Monday morning news reports. Details on the targets and damage were not immediately available. The attack came as the broader war between Russia and Ukraine continues without a ceasefire in sight.

POLITICS

White House's $5 billion "pocket rescission" inflames funding fight $5B

The White House said late last month it would cancel $5 billion in previously approved foreign aid without formal congressional approval, a move Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins called unlawful. Delaware Senator Chris Coons said he will not support keeping the government open past September 30 if the administration keeps bypassing Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of waging "an all-out war" on Congress's constitutional funding power.

White House restricts access for several news outlets

Several left-leaning news organizations were barred from routine White House access over the weekend. The move drew criticism from the White House Correspondents' Association, whose former president, CBS News' Weijia Jiang, said selectively granting access shrinks the range of coverage. Current WHCA president Jacqui Henrich, of Fox News, said covering the White House remains a privilege reporters do not take for granted.

Trump's proposed DC arch draws "military complex" label

President Trump told reporters his planned triumphal arch for Washington, DC, will function as a "military complex." The president has pushed the arch project alongside other monument proposals this year. Funding and construction timelines have not yet been released.

Corruption becomes a central line of attack in the midterms

Both parties are increasingly campaigning against corruption ahead of November's 2026 midterm elections. Republicans and Democrats are each accusing the other of enabling government dysfunction ahead of the vote. The theme is emerging as Congress also faces its September 30 funding deadline.

Supreme Court justices headline dueling law school events

Justice Samuel Alito is scheduled to speak Monday at Pepperdine Law School in Malibu, California, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh addresses the St. Thomas More Society dinner in Dallas. Both appearances come as the Supreme Court's new term approaches. Neither justice's remarks were expected to touch on pending cases.

MARKETS

Stocks set to open higher as oil slides for a fourth day +0.7%

Dow Jones futures rose about 0.7% Monday after the blue-chip index posted its third straight weekly loss. S&P 500 futures gained a similar amount, and Nasdaq 100 contracts climbed roughly 1%, led by technology and semiconductor stocks. Brent crude fell for a fourth straight session as hopes grew for renewed US-Iran diplomacy around this week's UN General Assembly. Traders are also weighing last week's Federal Reserve rate hike and this week's Trump-Xi summit.

Fed's rate hike is still rattling bond markets

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates last week, sending Treasury yields toward multi-year highs. Rising borrowing costs have pressured small-cap stocks, with Russell 2000 futures underperforming larger indexes Monday. Investors are watching Wednesday's earnings from Paychex, Cintas and General Mills for signs of how higher rates are affecting hiring and consumer spending.

Bessent meets Chinese counterpart ahead of Trump-Xi summit

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met for hours Saturday with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York, days ahead of a planned summit between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The US side said it proposed a new AI safety notification system as part of the talks, while Chinese state media confirmed only that AI was discussed. The meeting took place at JPMorgan Chase's global headquarters.

Saudi Arabia moves to restore oil pipeline capacity

Saudi Arabia expects to restore about half its East-West pipeline capacity within days after an attack disrupted flows earlier this month, easing some of the geopolitical premium built into oil prices. Crude exports have also recovered from August's lows, according to market analysts. Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure remain a risk to that recovery.

Retailers set to report earnings this week

AutoZone reports fourth-quarter results Tuesday, offering a read on auto-parts demand tied to borrowing costs. General Mills and Paychex both post earnings Wednesday, with investors watching packaged-food pricing and payroll trends for hints about consumer and hiring resilience.

ENTERTAINMENT

Widow's Bay dominates the Emmys with 14 wins 14 WINS

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards aired September 14 from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, hosted by Mariska Hargitay. Apple TV+'s freshman comedy Widow's Bay won Outstanding Comedy Series and took home 14 trophies total, the most of any show. HBO Max's medical drama The Pitt won Outstanding Drama Series, with star Noah Wyle winning Lead Actor.

Jean Smart ties the record for most Emmy acting wins

Jean Smart won her eighth Emmy for Hacks at the September 14 ceremony, tying Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Cloris Leachman for the most acting wins in Emmy history. Smart's win came in the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category. Hacks aired its fifth and final season this year.

Michael J. Fox gets two standing ovations at the Emmys

Michael J. Fox received the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at the September 14 Emmy Awards, recognizing his decades of advocacy for people with Parkinson's disease. The audience gave Fox two standing ovations during the presentation. "It couldn't take away what I do," Fox told the crowd, thanking supporters for keeping him going.

Rhea Seehorn upsets a stacked drama actress field

Rhea Seehorn won Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Pluribus at the September 14 Emmys, beating nominees including Zendaya for Euphoria and Keri Russell for The Diplomat. Sally Field also won Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Remarkably Bright Creatures. The ceremony spread more than 100 awards across three nights this year.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day tops $900 million

Sony's Spider-Man: Brand New Day passed $900 million at the domestic box office by early September, more than a month after its late-July release. The film has held the top or near-top spot at the box office for several consecutive weekends. It remains one of 2026's highest-grossing releases alongside Toy Story 5 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.