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NEWS ARCHIVE

Sep 2026 news archive

61 reviewed briefs from Sep 2026 editions. Open any article for the response, sources and dates.

Sep 2026 briefs

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 16, 2026 · 8:04 AM EDT

AP reports over $177B in federal grants cancelled, cut or frozen

AP reports that an analysis by Grant Witness identified more than $177 billion in federal grants canceled, cut or frozen under the Trump administration, with effects described across every state and several policy areas.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 16, 2026 · 6:00 AM EDT

House holds Leon Black in contempt in Epstein probe

The House approved by unanimous consent a resolution holding billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress after lawmakers said he did not comply with subpoenas in their Epstein-related investigation. AP reports that the matter was referred to the Justice Department.

Courts & Power · Source published: Sep 15, 2026 · 12:45 PM EDT

Courts keep mail-voting restrictions blocked for now

AP reports that the Supreme Court rejected, for now, the administration's request to allow challenged mail-ballot restrictions to take effect before the midterms.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 15, 2026 · 10:50 AM EDT

Whistleblower alleges DHS voter-roll probe may wrongly flag citizens

AP reports that a whistleblower alleged the Department of Homeland Security is reviewing state voter rolls and Social Security data on a scale experts say may conflict with state privacy rules and wrongly implicate U.S. citizens.

Money & Influence · Source published: Sep 15, 2026 · time not supplied

AP cites ProPublica report on Russian-linked funding for Donald Trump Jr. wedding

AP, citing ProPublica, reports that Donald Trump Jr.'s planned wedding to Bettina Anderson is being partly funded by a couple that includes Umar Kremlev, a Russian boxing official and businessman. AP reports the couple confirmed helping arrange and pay for wedding-related expenses.

Money & Influence · Source published: Sep 15, 2026 · time not supplied

Senate crypto bill stalls over Trump-family ethics concerns

AP reports that Senate Democrats blocked cryptocurrency regulation legislation after demanding stronger limits on President Trump and his family's crypto interests.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · 11:19 AM EDT

Federal judge rules DHS's FEMA workforce cuts violated law

Reuters reports that U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled DHS acted unlawfully by taking over FEMA's personnel authority and steering it toward a workforce cut of roughly half.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · 6:20 AM EDT

Trump comments on Irish unity and the Falkland Islands

Reuters reports that Trump said he would welcome the eventual unification of Ireland and British-administered Northern Ireland. Downing Street subsequently said Prime Minister Andy Burnham's position remains unchanged: he had said there would be no referendum without evidence of majority support.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · 12:14 AM EDT

First 11 Feet, Then 30: Trump Wants Bigger Washington Statues

AP and Reuters report that Trump asked the Smithsonian to install an 11-foot George Washington statue for Constitution Day, later replace an outdoor sculpture with a 30-foot Washington statue, and create an exhibit and a Center for American Heroes.

Money & Influence · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · time not supplied

Musk endorses Amodei's call to slow frontier AI development

Reuters and AP report that Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for slowing the development of advanced AI models so safety measures can catch up. Both report that Elon Musk responded on X that Amodei was right; AP also reports that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman supported one of Amodei's proposals.

Money & Influence · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · time not supplied

Trump's former childhood home sells for $1.93 million

AP reports that the Queens house where Trump lived until age four sold for $1.93 million after developer Tommy Lin renovated it. Lin bought the property for $835,000 in 2025 and said he spent about $500,000 on renovations; the new buyer was not disclosed.

Courts & Power · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · time not supplied

12 Trials. No Felony-Assault Convictions. AP Examines the Protest Cases.

AP reports that 41% of 102 felony-assault cases against protesters were dismissed, 34% ended in misdemeanor pleas, 10 defendants pleaded guilty to felonies and none of the 12 cases that reached trial produced a felony-assault conviction.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · time not supplied

AP photographs Donald Trump Jr. in Dublin and at the Irish president's residence

AP published September 12 photographs of Donald Trump Jr. and his children walking at Dublin Airport after disembarking Air Force One and, in an expanded gallery, of Trump Jr., his wife Bettina and their children being greeted by President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 12, 2026 · time not supplied

Africell Announces $99.6 Million U.S. Loan for Its Angola Network

AP reports that Africell announced a $99.6 million U.S. Export-Import Bank loan, advancing the financing beyond Reuters's earlier report of a planned announcement. Africell says it will use the financing for American and European telecommunications technology in Angola.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 11, 2026 · 6:02 AM EDT

More Than $24.9 Million in TV Ads: Inside Trump-Linked PAC Reservations

Reuters reports that Trump-affiliated No Going Back reserved more than $24.9 million in television advertising across six battleground states, while Musk's America PAC and Trump's MAGA Inc. added $2.4 million and $10 million, respectively, in the Texas Senate race.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 11, 2026 · 1:07 AM EDT

Washington Urges Countries to Leave the International Criminal Court, AP Reports

AP reports that the Trump administration is urging International Criminal Court member states to leave and has sanctioned court personnel. A State Department spokesperson told AP that the United States welcomed the five withdrawal announcements reported over the past year and welcomed more.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 11, 2026 · time not supplied

Who Gets Counted in 2030? A Census Proposal Could Change the Answer.

AP reports that the Trump administration's Census Bureau proposed residence criteria that could exclude some people without permanent immigration status from the apportionment count and proposed restrictions on demographic questions, including race.

Courts & Power · Source published: Sep 11, 2026 · time not supplied

DOJ Says It Used the Alien Terrorist Removal Court for the First Time

DOJ says an August 20 removal order for Nazira Haji Zada was unsealed September 11 after her removal. It says Blanche certified the July 15 application, and that Zada, represented by counsel, conceded the statutory terrorism ground and waived appeal.

Courts & Power · Source published: Sep 11, 2026 · time not supplied

The $1.776 Billion Fund Is Scrapped. A Related Tax-Case Appeal Remains.

A primary court filing shows that the IRS and Treasury noticed an appeal to the Eleventh Circuit from the July 13 order in the tax-disclosure lawsuit brought by Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and the Trump Organization.

The Washington File · Source published: Sep 10, 2026 · time not supplied

$500 ACA Refunds Announced. Funding Questions Remain.

The White House announced $500 refunds for nearly one million eligible unsubsidized federal-exchange enrollees, with mailing planned for October.