Edition 39 · Friday, September 25, 2026
Here's what happened.
A review of dozens of incidents caught on camera describes a largely invisible immigration crackdown that unfolded across the country during the summer. The reporting portrays the enforcement activity as a quiet surge occurring “everywhere all at once.”
James Copenhaver, 76, died two years after he was wounded in the assassination attempt against Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. He had been struck in the arm and abdomen during the shooting.
As climate-fueled wildfires increasingly test California’s water systems, a Lake County fire chief is working to adapt local preparedness. The effort reflects the challenges of protecting communities as fires become more devastating and affect water infrastructure in new ways.
California’s largest new water-storage project has taken a major step forward, according to the governor’s office. The supplied source does not provide further details about the project or the nature of the milestone.
Costa Mesa approved plans for 2,300 homes as California pursues a lawsuit over the city’s housing obligations. The state requires Costa Mesa to plan for 11,760 homes by 2029 or face potential penalties and zoning limits.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington produced a cordial red-carpet welcome, but China did not secure as much progress as it wanted on trade, technology and Taiwan. The summit remains a significant development in U.S.-China relations.
France will send soldiers to Saudi Arabia to help secure energy sites amid attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The attacks on Saudi cities along the Red Sea are adding pressure to global oil supplies.
Oracle sent a force majeure notice concerning its New Mexico Stargate data center. The notice would allow the company to delay payments if the facility misses its target to come online in 2028.
Google’s Gemini can now make calls for users through the Call for Me feature on Pixel 11 series phones. The feature gives robocalls a new meaning.
Several ingredients came together off the Pacific coast of Mexico to generate one of the strongest storms the eastern Pacific basin has ever seen. NASA documented Hurricane Polo’s explosive intensification.
Scientists at Anthropic announced their first biological finding from an A.I. system that is teaching itself biology. The system identified a group of enzymes whose function is unknown.
A rapid brain-tumor test can be used while a patient is still in surgery, NHS England says. The test is being piloted at five centers and could reduce diagnosis time from up to eight weeks to two hours, potentially allowing earlier treatment.
Four NHS integrated care boards in England have imposed minimum two-year waits for ADHD and autism assessments as referrals have risen sharply. Nearly 1 million people are on ADHD waiting lists, with an average wait of 64 weeks, while about 295,000 people await an autism assessment.
The UK’s food and drink trade deficit has risen above £21 billion, its largest level since 2000. Industry leaders attribute the deterioration to Brexit, the Middle East war and US tariffs, and are calling for greater protection of domestic production.
Poverty among older adults has been rising in recent years despite lower poverty overall. An AARP survey highlights the financial pressures facing people over 50 before retirement.
The UK government is urging people on universal credit and other low earners to join Help to Save. The government-backed account pays a bonus of 50p for every £1 saved over four years.
The California Supreme Court ruled that Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco violated state election law when his office seized ballots from the county registrar. The decision comes six weeks before the November midterm election, which will help determine control of Congress during President Trump’s final two years in office.
FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton told senators that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is “safe and effective.” She called it the best tool in the public-health response to the measles outbreak, after previously appearing alongside President Trump when he suggested the vaccine could be dangerous.
Supporters and opponents of California’s Proposition 40 are engaged in a costly ballot-measure fight. Opponents have contributed more than $187 million to defeat it, while Propositions 41 and 42 were also placed on the November ballot and could supersede Proposition 40 if either receives more votes.
Paraquat remains on the US market despite bans in dozens of countries over concerns about its health risks. The Guardian reports that regulators and lawmakers have focused on research linking the weedkiller with Parkinson’s disease, while Syngenta denies withholding relevant safety data from the EPA.
Entry-level tech job postings in New York City fell 49% by 2022, according to a Center for an Urban Future report, even as overall tech employment grew substantially from 2008 to 2023. The decline was sharpest in roles highly exposed to generative AI, while entry-level hiring grew for less AI-exposed jobs and for positions requiring AI skills.
A prolonged low-hiring market is leaving many laid-off tech workers unemployed for extended periods, with some eventually dropping out of the workforce. The article argues that AI-related layoffs and the message that workers have become obsolete may be contributing to falling labor-force participation, although it also notes that attributing all the job losses to AI may be misguided.
Companies may face retention problems if existing employees see new hires paid more for AI expertise, according to Payscale. The issue is whether workers who develop or bring valuable AI skills should receive higher compensation.
Sri Lanka defeated England by 16 runs at Headingley, with Kusal Mendis scoring 121. The result levelled the three-match series and set up a decider at The Oval on Sunday.
The Premier League has joined three leading European leagues in calling for fundamental reform of how Fifa is run. The move represents a significant challenge to the governance of world football.
The WNBA playoffs are due to begin Sunday after the regular season. NPR reviews the season and previews the postseason field with The Athletic's Annie Costabile.
A student’s nonconsensual intimate images and videos were stitched together and uploaded to X, where they were viewed millions of times. Vox describes the online “burnerverse” surrounding the case as an ecosystem trying to ruin young women’s lives.
The US government filed an application supporting X’s legal challenge against a €120 million fine issued under the European Union’s Digital Services Act. President Trump has described the penalty as “overseas extortion.”
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind the poorly received 2025 shooter MindsEye, has entered administration. The move follows reports of further layoffs and comes after the company blamed its difficulties on “saboteurs.”
Bungie has announced major changes for Marathon as its player slump continues, including a shift away from the game’s extraction-shooter roots. The studio says it wants to create more approachable experiences with different levels of intensity and commitment.
Dutch consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument has filed a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games over allegations that Fortnite misled young players. The group is seeking more than €100 million in compensation.
Embark Studios is testing a PvE mode in Arc Raiders after identifying a growing group of players who want cooperative play without fighting other players. During the October 13–20 trial, players can choose a version where the machines remain dangerous but human players cannot harm one another.
The Trump administration wants artificial intelligence used in every classroom, but some Republicans are opposing the idea. The debate follows a White House education summit featuring a robot presented as a possible personalized instructor for children.
Stanford used artificial intelligence to alter a student photograph, replacing a Black woman with a Hispanic young man. The student said the change was upsetting because he felt he had been “erased,” amid earlier accusations that universities manipulated photos to showcase diversity.
Taylor Swift announced “The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore,” a release featuring four new songs. The encore is scheduled to arrive Friday.
The BBC’s financial situation may mean some of its channels and radio stations close, director general Matt Brittin says. The warning points to potential changes across the broadcaster’s television and audio services.
CNN and MS NOW reporters were denied access to a White House state dinner despite a judge’s order that their press passes be restored. The dispute follows the administration’s decision to bar the outlets from White House coverage.
German authorities are investigating a 105-year-old man over alleged involvement in crimes at the Stalag 326 prisoner-of-war camp. Tens of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war died there, and the suspect is alleged to have been an accessory to murder.