Trending News
Wednesday briefing: ​Can Burnham ​seek a ​different ​path​ to Trump's world order?
In today's newsletter: The PM's first face‑to‑face with​ the US president marks a fragile resetGood morning. In the early hours of Tuesday a plane carrying Andy Burnham, a handful of UK ministers, an excited group of British political journalists, and Burnham's wife, Marie France, landed at a New York airport for one of Burnham's first major outings as prime minister: a face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump.Considering the president once described Burnham as the mayor of "a town," and the prime minister once said Trump wouldn't be welcome in said town (Manchester), the meeting yesterday afternoon went remarkably well.UN general assembly | Donald Trump has called on nations to unite to isolate Tehran and bring down global energy prices, as he gave a bellicose defence of his administration's foreign policy and decision to strike Iran.The far right | Charities have condemned footage of a far-right activist using a blade to slash an inflatable dinghy in the Channel while a rescue worker was onboard, in a further escalation of organised anti-immigration protest.UK news | Children as young as 13 in the UK have been referred to a specialist clinic for a "devastating" bladder condition linked to sustained use of ketamine.West Bank | British banks and financial institutions are receiving warnings from MPs that they should not invest in Israel's E1 settlement project.UK politics | Andy Burnham has opened the door to fighting the next election on the UK rejoining the EU, but said his immediate priority was continuing to rebuild bridges with European allies. Continue reading...
Defending Trump media ban, DOJ cites national security and says White House access is a 'privilege'
The Department of Justice said in a court filing late Tuesday that President Donald Trump has the right to ban media outlets CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House, calling their access a "privilege" and citing national security concerns.The filing urges a federal judge not to block the ban, ahead of an emergency hearing Wednesday on the news organizations' request for a temporary order restoring their access.The Trump administration argues that the ban does not violate First Amendment protections on press freedom. "Access to the White House is a privilege—not a right," the DOJ says in the filing.It contends that the three news outlets had "failed to maintain basic minimum 'standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those given access to the White House Complex,' including, "publishing sensitive or classified information," wrote DOJ Attorney Michael Velchik.The DOJ said the three news organizations were sent individual letters from the White House Press Office earlier Tuesday laying out the reasoning for the revocation of their passes, and citing a "non-exhaustive list of reporting incidents" the White House said it had found "threatened national security and spread falsehoods." The letters cite stories on construction details related to the East Wing bunker, funding for the White House ballroom, munitions stockpiles impacted by the Iran war and sanctions against Russia. The outlets did not immediately respond to overnight requests for comment from NBC News on the filing's claims. The letters give the news organizations a deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday to "contest this initial decision." If the deadline is missed "this initial decision will be final," they say.The decision to ban CNN, Politico and MS NOW came Friday via a Truth Social post, where Trump wrote that he was "proud to announce" the ban from the White House "effective immediately." He said the decision was "a result of their constant "reporting" FAKE NEWS! Media Outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America." He added: "Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow."Journalists from the three outlets, including MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner, CNN's Betsy Klein and Politico's Cheyenne Haslett, subsequently found their access passes deactivated and their White House press credentials confiscated. First Amendment experts and the White House Correspondents' Association called the turning away of credentialed reporters unconstitutional. CNN, Politico and MS NOW filed their lawsuit Monday arguing that the president's move violated the defendants' due process rights and First Amendment protections for newsgathering and speech.The three outlets said they were filing the lawsuit "to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes." Trump administration Sep 19 MS NOW, CNN, Politico say their journalists were denied access to White House after Trump ban Media Sep 18 Trump says he's banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, will preside over the hearing Wednesday. He will evaluate the outlets' request to issue a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the ban and restoring reporters' hard passes to access White House grounds.Kelly ruled against Trump in a similar case back in 2018, when the White House withdrew credentials from reporter Jim Acosta, who was then with CNN. On Tuesday, Trump remarked that he would "probably" ​let journalists from CNN, ⁠MS ​NOW and ​Politico back into the White ​House if ​a court rules ‌against ⁠his decision to ban the ​media ​outlets ⁠from the White ​House grounds.Later that day, during his address to the United Nations' General Assembly in New York, Trump told CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins: "You shouldn't be here … You said you weren't going to cover me." Collins responded that CNN never said it was not going to cover Trump, and that while it had been banned from the White House it was credentialed by the U.N. as usual.The solidarity among TV networks has been swift, as they refused to provide TV pool coverage of the president's activities this week, resulting in quiet mics and a lack of photographs of Trump's official activities. Pool coverage is when one network attends an event and then distributes information and media, such as video footage and audio, to other outlets. The system has been recognized by administrations from both parties for decades, and the coverage is used by pool members and subscribers, which includes outlets like Newsmax, One America News Network, C-SPAN and international outlets.Print and radio pools are still in place, and TV pools for events for other parts of the administration will continue. Individual TV networks, including NBC News, continue to provide coverage of White House events that are open to the press, outside of the pool. Outside of events, NBC News reporters continue to report on the administration's activities.Gary Grumbach contributed.
'This is treason': Rahul Gandhi revives 'vote chori' charge after report of rift within EC
Rahul Gandhi has leveled grave accusations against the Election Commission, claiming treason in the wake of the electoral roll revision process. These accusations arose after a report revealed dissent among Election Commissioners. Veteran Congress leaders echoed this sentiment, urging a parliamentary review. In response, the Election Commission refuted any internal conflicts, asserting that all decisions were made collectively and in strict adherence to legal protocols and Supreme Court directives.
'What the heck did I just hear?' Harry Enten floored after MAGA senator's wild spin
CNN's chief data analyst was stunned by the way a MAGA senator brushed off mounting concerns about rising gas prices.During a Tuesday segment, Harry Enten reacted to a clip of Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) defending President Donald Trump as gas prices hurt voters ahead of the midterms."Obviously, gas prices are high. They've been high before," Tuberville said. "People will deal with that. They know it's going to go up and down. But, you know, our people in Alabama know that. They voted for President Trump."Tuberville also agreed that his constituents are "willing to pay" higher gas prices. "Sure, they are," he said."What the heck did I just hear?" Enten reacted, holding his hands up to his face, when the cameras cut back to him. "The president of the United States, his approval rating on gas prices is like 20 percent," Enten exclaimed."And I don't just mean like 20 percent. It is 20 percent," Enten stressed. "He has the highest disapproval rating of all time of any president on gas prices."Enten added, "In polls, when you ask the question, 'Hey, you know, is the war [in Iran] worth the cost?' Americans over and over again say, 'No!'"He then turned his attention back to Tuberville, saying, "The senator from Alabama is just making up stuff that is not supported by the polling data."Enten made the comments while sitting on a panel with Republican strategist Shermichael Singleton and Democratic strategist Van Jones. Enten echoed a point made by Singleton earlier in the discussion, saying, "Shermichael hit on it: corruption is not the number one issue. It is the cost of living."Then, offering advice ahead of the midterms that are just weeks away, Enten said, "You want to talk about the cost of living. The president of the United States has negative net approval ratings in the minus 60s. In some polls, by far the worst numbers ever."Enten continued, "Democrats are begging, 'Pretty please, please, can this election be about the cost of living?' Because if it is, then that Republican majority, not just in the House but the Senate as well, is adios, amigos, goodbye!"
Cuban delegation walks out as Trump calls country a 'failed state' at the United Nations – video
Cuban delegates left the room during the US president's speech to the UN general assembly, where he called Cuba 'a failed state' and said the country 'will fall'. The US has maintained a trade embargo on Cuba for more than 60 years, and Trump's administration has stepped up pressure on the communist-controlled island nation. Continue reading...
China's Xi kicks off state visit with a rare presidential airport welcome from Trump
When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington on Wednesday, he’s expected to get a rare greeting from President Donald Trump, who will be on the tarmac to welcome his counterpart’s plane instead of waiting for him to drive up to the White House.Trump’s decision to greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington rather than receiving him at the executive residence shows how far the U.S. president is going to honor China‘s leader as he makes his first state visit in more than a decade.The White House has not released many details about Wednesday’s greeting, but Trump is expected to participate in an arrival ceremony at the base with Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. The salutation will kick off a three-day visit that’s expected to be saturated with pomp, even by White House standards. The state visit, complete with a formal state dinner at the White House on Thursday, is supposed to reciprocate for the ceremonial grandeur that marked Trump’s May visit to China.But it’s also a showy patina at a time when tensions between the two geopolitical rivals are high over trade, artificial intelligence, Trump’s war with Iran and China’s designs on Taiwan.Beyond using the visit to try to keep "strategic stability" between the two countries, Trump seems to be pulling out all the diplomatic stops to show off for Xi. He has lavished praise on him as a "great leader" and described a warm relationship with the man he has called a friend. That’s all while he’s given Xi a pass on many issues.Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the "lavish welcome.” He said during a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday that Trump should not have invited the Chinese leader "based on all of the troubling issues we have with President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party."Wicker archly suggested a list of topics that Trump could discuss with Xi at the state dinner, such as "the purposes of China's massive military buildup, or about China's clear support for Iran," saying that "during every minute of dialogue" Trump should keep in mind that "his guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbors and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America."Trump has made it clear he wants to wow Xi, telling reporters in recent weeks that he was delighted his new "work of art" helicopter landing pad would be ready for the visit while bemoaning that his massive White House ballroom would not. On Wednesday, Trump is expected to try to match the pageantry he was met with in China earlier this year. Xi wasn’t there to meet Trump — he sent Chinese Vice President Han Zheng instead. But there was a long red carpet rolled out to meet Air Force One in Beijing. Along the sides were a military honor guard, a military band and about 300 Chinese youths waving Chinese and American flags and chanting, "Welcome, welcome! Warm welcome!" The children were wearing white and light blue uniforms that mirrored the traditional paint colors of the presidential plane. Trump’s airport ceremony will be followed on Thursday by more formalities, including an arrival ceremony at the White House and a review of troops. Before the black-tie dinner — which will feature tech industry leaders like Nvidia's Jensen Huang and SpaceX's Elon Musk — the two leaders are expected to dive into the weighty issues behind closed doors, even as expectations are low that the trip will produce any major breakthroughs in the relationship.On Friday, Xi and Peng will be back at the White House for a private tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump before joining them on a tour of the National Archives in Washington. The White House has said they will view historic documents underscoring the relationship between the two countries.___Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Prem Rugby 2026-27: the essential club-by-club guide to the new season
Bath have a point to prove, Newcastle are shy of an A-lister and Aaron Wainwright could prove the signing of the summer at Welford RoadThe 2025 champions go into the new campaign with a point to prove after they were humbled on home turf by Exeter in last season's semi-finals. Successfully defending the title is no easy task – it has not been done since Saracens in 2019 – but last season's failure to return to Twickenham should stiffen the sinews in Johann van Graan's squad. There is a World Cup at the end of the campaign and plenty in Bath's squad also have a point to prove to Steve Borthwick – the centres Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh, and Ted Hill chief among them. Recruitment has been kept to a minimum, but the arrival of Dan du Preez adds some more Springbok beef. Losing Thomas du Toit, who has returned to South Africa, is a huge blow, but Will Stuart's return after a lengthy layoff due to an achilles injury softens it somewhat. If they finish in the top two Bath would forgo a home semi-final with the Rec finally undergoing much-needed refurbishment, which could ultimately count against them. Expect them to be in the mix. Continue reading...
Brothers review – Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey's super-fun sitcom about the chance they're related
The actors co-star in a lightly fictionalised meta-comedy about their real-life bromance – and possible sharing of parents. It's a tasty little treatThe cheek! The indulgence! The privilege! Did anyone, anywhere in 2026, look up from news of a world in flames and say, what we really need now is a meta-comedy where two actors play gently self-satirising fictional versions of themselves?They did not, and yet here are Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. They once co-starred in the first season of True Detective, one of TV's darkest and best crime dramas, but otherwise their personae have them as lifelong besties who are both free spirits, unencumbered by the rules of the fame game – not the sort of chaps who would stop and think about how their self-referential comedy bagatelle might be received. In Brothers, they portray themselves as blokes who don't stop and think, full stop. Continue reading...
What we know about the WNBA playoffs so far: Teams, bracket, start date and more
The bracket for the 2026 WNBA playoffs has finally started taking shape.While the postseason field has been set since before the FIBA World Cup break, no team was locked into a playoff seed until the third-to-last night of the regular season. And the first seed to be decided was the No. 1 spot, which the Minnesota Lynx clinched. Minnesota enters as the top seed for the second straight postseason as Olivia Miles, Napheesa Collier and Co. seek the franchise’s first championship since 2017.The rest of the playoff picture will come into focus over the final two days of the regular season. So, what could the rest of the bracket look like, and when does the postseason tip off? Here’s what to know:How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?The top eight teams in the league standings, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason.How do the WNBA playoffs work?The postseason begins with best-of-three series in the first round where the matchups are No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The higher seed has home-court advantage in Game 1 and, if necessary, Game 3. WNBA Sep 13 U.S. wins fifth straight women's FIBA World Cup title, beating France 97-79 WNBA Sep 4 WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to retire at the end of the year The playoffs follow a bracket format, so teams are not reseeded after Round 1. The semifinal series have a best-of-five format where the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.The last two teams standing then meet in a best-of-seven WNBA Finals, with the higher seed having home-court advantage in Games 1 and 2, along with Games 5 and 7 if necessary.When do the 2026 WNBA playoffs start?The postseason tips off Sunday, Sept. 27.Which teams are going to the 2026 WNBA playoffs?One of these eight teams will be crowned 2026 champions: the Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, or Dallas Wings.Which teams have been eliminated from 2026 WNBA playoff contention?That means the Portland Fire, Chicago Sky, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Toronto Tempo, Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm have missed out on the postseason.2026 WNBA playoff picture, bracketHere’s a look at the standings entering play on Sept. 23:Lynx, 32-11 (clinched No. 1 seed)Valkyries, 31-12Aces, 30-13Dream, 29-14Fever, 28-15Mystics, 27-16Wings, 26-17Liberty, 26-17The Valkyries and defending champion Aces will finish second and third, in some order, while the Dream and Fever are battling for the fourth seed.Here are the playoff seeding possibilities entering play on Sept. 23, according to The Athletic (this section will be updated as the playoff picture becomes clearer):LynxValkyries/AcesAces/ValkyriesDream/FeverFever/Dream/MysticsMystics/Fever/LibertyWings/Liberty/MysticsLiberty/WingsWhat is the 2026 WNBA playoff schedule?All four series will begin on the opening day of the postseason. Here’s what we know about the Round 1 schedule so far (this section will be updated as more details are finalized):Sept. 27TBD at TBD, Game 1 — time TBD, Prime VideoTBD at TBD, Game 1 — 2 p.m. ET, ABCTBD at TBD, Game 1 — 4 p.m. ET, ABCTBD at TBD, Game 1 — 9 p.m. ET, USA NetworkSept. 29TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, USA NetworkTBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, Prime VideoSept. 30TBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, ESPNTBD at TBD, Game 2 — time TBD, ESPNOct. 1TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, ESPNTBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, USA NetworkOct. 2TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, ESPN 2TBD at TBD, Game 3 (if necessary) — time TBD, Prime VideoWhen are the 2026 WNBA Finals?This year’s WNBA Finals tip off Saturday, Oct. 17. Games will air across NBC, Peacock and USA Network.Here’s a look at the full schedule:Game 1: Oct. 17, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC and PeacockGame 2: Oct. 19, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA NetworkGame 3: Oct. 22, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA NetworkGame 4: Oct. 24, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC and PeacockGame 5 (if necessary): Oct. 26, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA NetworkGame 6 (if necessary): Oct. 29, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA NetworkGame 7 (if necessary): Oct. 31, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and USA NetworkWho won the 2025 WNBA Finals?The Aces swept the Mercury in four games in last year’s WNBA Finals. It marked the third title in four years for A’ja Wilson and Co.Editor’s note: The original version of this story was published on Sept. 17.
'Very defensive!' Jen Psaki tears apart MAGA 'myth' about Trump's press scheme
President Donald Trump and his allies are already feeling the heat for having banned major news outlets from the White House, MS NOW's Jen Psaki said on Tuesday evening's edition of "The Briefing" — and are concocting lies to try to justify it.The ban has resulted in Trump not getting coverage during his events, and is already subject to a blockbuster lawsuit from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico that experts consider likely to succeed."So far, this whole thing has not been going especially well for Donald Trump and his administration," said Psaki, herself a former White House press secretary. "For one, Trump officials are struggling to come up with an even remotely logical explanation for why the president is blocking press access just 42 days before the election, perhaps because there isn't one."In response to the uproar, Psaki noted, "the White House is circulating a set of very, very defensive talking points to try and, I guess, retroactively justify the president's latest completely rash decision. And unsurprisingly, none of their justifications hold water whatsoever."To start with, she said, "They essentially claim that Democratic administrations did the same thing, suggesting that the Obama administration intentionally barred Fox News from participating in a round of interviews during his administration. Now, I happened to be part of the Obama communications team at the time, and I lived through this. So let me just take the liberty of debunking this particular myth."What really happened, explained Psaki, is that "back in 2009, the Treasury Department did not include Fox News on a list of outlets that would be interviewing one of their officials on one particular day," and the reason was simply that Fox News didn't request an interview. "But when Fox News complained that they had been left off the list and the other networks backed them up, the Obama White House immediately granted Fox News an interview.""Now, is that a reflection of everyone in the Obama White House loving Fox News, wanting to sing kumbaya together and loving all their coverage?" she asked. "Of course not. That's not the point. I mean, that is the point, actually." - YouTube youtu.be
On TV
Ted Lasso — 4x8: "Follow the Anger" (Apple TV)
 The Lady Greyhounds navigate a difficult setback. Roy and Keeley prepare for the Wall of Legends.
Slow Horses — 6x2: "Daddy Issues" (Apple TV)
The reemergence of Frank Harkness and a suspicious string of murders put Lamb and team on high alert.
NOVA — 53x10: "Knowledge Keepers" (PBS)
For millennia, Indigenous peoples in North America have practiced a unique form of science. From navigating the featureless Arctic to building energy-efficient homes in the desert, see how cultural traditions have led to remarkable innovations.
New Music

No new drops today. Go rediscover something in your old playlists.

In theaters
The Love Hypothesis (110 minutes)
Olive Smith, a biology PhD candidate, and Dr. Adam Carlsen, a hotshot professor and well-known tyrant, enter into a fake relationship, seeing each of their carefully calculated theories on love get thrown into chaos.
Primetime (109 minutes)
In 2006, To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history, turning an undercover investigation into one of the most controversial cultural phenomena of the decade.
Launching today

Nothing launching today. Every rocket is staying grounded and behaving.

Useless Fact

The Olympic was the sister ship of the Titanic, and she provided twenty-five years of service.

The loonie
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Today In History
2006 — Etta Baker, Influential American Folk Musician, Dies at 93
American folk musician Etta Baker, who influenced the folk music revival of the 1950s and '60s with her blend of Piedmont blues and bluegrass, died at age 93. musicians quiz
1987 — Bob Fosse, Renowned Musical Choreographer, Dies
American choreographer and director Bob Fosse—who revolutionized musicals with his distinct style of dance, including his frequent use of props, signature moves, and provocative steps—died in Washington, D.C. How much do you know about dance?
1980 — Bob Marley's Last Concert in Pittsburgh
Jamaican musician Bob Marley, who was especially known for popularizing reggae, performed his last concert, a sold-out show in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; he died of cancer the following year
1969 — Premiere of the classic western film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The American film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid had its world premiere, and it became a western classic, especially noted for the pairing of Paul Newman and Robert Redford as the titular outlaws. How much do you know about Paul Newman?
1949 — Bruce Springsteen Born in 1949
American singer, songwriter, and bandleader Bruce Springsteen, who became the archetypalrockperformer of the 1970s and '80s, was born
1939 — Death of Sigmund Freud, Founder of Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud, the founder of modern psychoanalysis, died in London
1932 — Unification of Hejaz and Najd into Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In 1932, the dual kingdom of the Hejaz and Najd, along with their dependencies, was unified by royal decree into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
1869 — Birth of Typhoid Mary
Mary Mallon—who later became known as Typhoid Mary, accused of causing multiple outbreaks of typhoid fever while working as a domestic servant in the United States—was born in Ireland
1868 — Puerto Rican Radicals' 1868 Revolt Crushed
A small group of Puerto Rican radicals committed to independence attempted an uprising, known as El Grito de Lares, but the revolt was quickly crushed by the Spanish authorities.
1862 — Otto von Bismarck appointed prime minister of Prussia
Otto von Bismarck was appointed prime minister of Prussia by William I
1846 — Neptune observed
This day in 1846, astronomer Johann Gottfried Gallebecame the first person ever to observe the planet Neptune, the existence of which had been mathematically predicted by Urbain-Jean-Joseph Le Verrierand John Couch Adams
1806 — Lewis and Clark Complete Expedition to Pacific Northwest
Lewis and Clark arrived in St. Louis, Missouri, at the end of their daring expedition to the Pacific Northwest
1779 — John Paul Jones Fights Serapis
During the American Revolution, in the midst of a naval engagement between the warships Bonhomme Richard and Serapisoff the east coast of England, American commander John Paul Jonesanswered a call to surrender from his English counterpart with the famous quotation, "I have not yet begun to fight!"How much do you know about the American Revolution?

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.