Send to KindleGood morning. It’s Friday, September 18, 2026.
I’m your desk for the day. Here is the briefing from Just The News, Cord Cutters News, Newsmax, Fox News, and One America News.
Top Stories
Trump says a “big decision” is near on the next phase of the Iran war
President Trump told interviewers he is approaching a major crossroads on the conflict with Iran, as the White House and Pentagon face pressure from Congress over costs, duration, and legal authority. Senate Democrats sent a letter demanding a detailed accounting of war spending from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Russia and China vetoed a U.S. resolution at the U.N. to extend monitoring of Iran sanctions, leaving the Security Council split. The administration also pushed back against U.N.-backed claims that U.S. strikes may have amounted to war crimes.
Sources: Just The News; Newsmax; Fox News
House sends Russia energy sanctions bill to Trump’s desk
The House passed legislation sanctioning countries that purchase Russian energy, sending the measure to the president after more than a year and a half of negotiations. One America News framed the vote as a follow-through on late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s push to squeeze Moscow’s war machine and related Iranian networks. The bill arrives as oil prices have climbed on Middle East attacks and as U.S. diesel costs have strained farmers and freight.
Sources: Just The News; One America News; Newsmax
Canada leans toward an EU “associate” role; Trump threatens tariffs
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney embraced the idea of Canada becoming the European Union’s first associate member, arguing closer European ties would protect Ottawa’s markets and sovereignty as relations with Washington remain strained. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated the concept even though no such status exists in current EU treaties. Reporting also notes Trump has threatened tariffs on the EU if the arrangement moves forward.
Sources: Newsmax; Just The News
Politics / National
Jordan says ActBlue may be in legal jeopardy over donor verification
Rep. Jim Jordan pointed to new findings that ActBlue allegedly failed to properly verify foreign donor identities, renewing calls for Justice Department action. Just The News has also covered related fraud bills the House plans to take up next week, including data-sharing requirements and a new assistant attorney general focused on health-care fraud. The administration continues to highlight large-scale theft cases, including charges in a 12 million dollars homeless-aid scheme after a separate 10 million dollar childcare-aid bust.
Source: Just The News
New details surface on the Butler assassination attempt
Republican lawmakers said they were surprised by fresh revelations about Thomas Crooks, including that his father tried to restrict his access to firearms about two months before the July 2024 attack. Additional FBI material described Crooks as emotionally flat from childhood even as he posted high SAT scores. Trump has separately criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray over the investigation’s handling.
Source: Just The News
DOJ sues San Jose over a 1,591 dollar concealed-carry fee
The Justice Department sued San Jose, arguing the city’s nearly $1,600 permit fee places an unconstitutional burden on Second Amendment rights. The case is part of a broader administration push on guns, immigration, and local cooperation with federal authorities. Separately, the White House withdrew Trump’s nominee to lead ICE, leaving the agency without a Senate-confirmed director since 2017.
Sources: Newsmax; Just The News
Midterms tighten as Harris hits the trail and GOP maps the message
With about six weeks until the midterms, Just The News published a strategy piece on how Republicans can recapture the law-and-order message that helped in 2024. Kamala Harris is scheduled to campaign with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. The Detroit News endorsed Republican Mike Rogers in that same race. Newsmax also flagged tight or shifting Senate contests in Michigan, Texas, Alaska, and Georgia.
Sources: Just The News; Newsmax
Streaming & Tech
Cord-cutting 2.0: more U.S. homes now live without cable than with it
Cord Cutters News reports an estimated 80.7 million U.S. households have either canceled cable or satellite or never subscribed, compared with roughly 48 to 54 million that still pay. Comcast and Spectrum have together lost more than 15 million traditional TV subscribers over the past decade, and the losses continued into 2026. The site also noted more layoffs at Nexstar-owned local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations as operators replace on-site staff with centralized production.
Source: Cord Cutters News
Verizon starts killing copper landlines; Disney+ and Netflix keep expanding
Verizon is ending traditional copper telephone service in parts of northern New York by late November, steering customers to fiber or 5G replacements. Disney+ has launched curated playlists after the streaming unit turned profitable. Netflix and SEGA announced a multi-title deal that includes a live-action Crazy Taxi film and Sonic-related series. Apple plans to use iPhone 18 Pro cameras for a Friday Night Baseball Giants-Dodgers broadcast.
Source: Cord Cutters News
Newsmax-Fox lawsuit paused; AI “kill switch” blocked in the Senate
A judge paused Newsmax’s lawsuit against Fox News while considering a motion to dismiss, according to Cord Cutters News’ daily wrap. In Congress, Senator Rand Paul blocked a bid to require an AI “kill switch.” Newsmax interviews with lawmakers stressed a light-touch approach so safety rules do not freeze U.S. competition with China.
Sources: Cord Cutters News; Newsmax; Just The News
Other Notable
Buffett steps aside; Amazon raises starting pay to 20 dollars per hour.
Warren Buffett is stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman after more than 50 years and will become chairman emeritus immediately, Newsmax reported. Amazon is lifting its minimum starting wage for full-time core operations workers in the U.S. to 20 dollars an hour ahead of the holiday season. Just The News also noted August jobs came in at 162,000 and weekly unemployment claims fell to 196,000.
Sources: Newsmax; Just The News
Former Sen. Jon Kyl dies; F-16 crashes in Michigan
Former Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, who served as majority whip and returned briefly after John McCain’s death, has died at 84. An F-16 crashed in rural Michigan; the pilot ejected and was taken to a hospital. In Los Angeles, the death toll rose to six after a news helicopter crash near the scene of a deadly bus accident.
Sources: Just The News; Newsmax
Energy and farm squeeze
One America News and Newsmax both highlighted record or near-record diesel prices above 6 dollars a gallon in some reports, raising harvest costs for farmers and freight costs for groceries. Oil has traded above $100 a barrel after attacks on Middle East infrastructure. Trump said he expects Republicans to pass a farm bill after the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced it on a party-line vote.
Sources: One America News; Newsmax
That’s the book for Friday, September 18. Stay sharp, and I’ll see you at the next desk.