The Pentagon instructed U.S. Central Command several days ago to conclude preparations for resuming major combat operations in Iran, U.S. officials said.
Why it matters: The directive didn't include a specific date for launching strikes, and President Trump hasn't made any final decisions. But U.S. and Israeli sources say it could happen before the U.S. midterm elections and possibly the Israeli elections a week earlier.
Police and protesters clashed in Liège, Belgium, on Wednesday as student anger over education costs and school conditions grew, echoing massive protestsin neighboring France.
Why it matters: The protests are exposing broader anger across Europe over school funding and classroom conditions.
CBS News is launching a new election night streaming show that gives political junkies the opportunity to watch its decision desk analyze races and make calls in real time.
Why it matters: "The Nerd Show" represents the network's first election-focused show built for a digital audience.
The U.S. is coordinating across federal agencies to monitor travelers arriving from Siberia as a pneumonic plague case draws international concern, CDC director Erica Schwartz said Wednesday.
Why it matters: Pneumonic plague can spread from person to person and is the deadliest version of the disease, with a near 100% fatality rate if left untreated.
President Trump threatened Wednesday to fire two of his top political consultants if he finds a conflict, after reports that they advised a Russia-aligned government ahead of local elections there.
Why it matters:Chris LaCivita and James Blair are leading Republicans' midterm election strategy, putting their foreign consulting work in tension with their prominent roles in Trump's political operation.
Sriram Krishnan, who stepped down in June as the White House's senior policy advisor on AI, is seeking to raise around $500 million for a new venture capital fund, Axios has learned.
Zoom in: The fund, which is in its early stages, is expected to focus on growth-stage AI companies that have relevance to national security for the U.S. or allied nations.
President Trump will attend a summit Thursday meant to empower scientists and position the U.S. as a leader in breakthroughs driven by "super intelligence," according to an announcement shared first with Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump administration is looking for industry to step in amid its cuts to government funding for science research and development.
Federal Reserve officials worried that higher costs tied to energy, AI investment and other shocks could spill over into broader, more persistent inflation, according to the minutes from the central bank's Sept. 15-16 meeting.
Why it matters: That meeting concluded with the Fed's first interest rate increase in three years. The minutes show that "several" officials thought rates were doing little to restrain the economy, raising the stakes for further increases down the line.
Nearly nine in 10 voters say using taxpayer money to pay for election-related ads featuring the president or Cabinet members is inappropriate, including 80% of Republicans, according to a recent Reuters-Ipsos poll.
Why it matters: The administration's decision to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on Trump-fronted ads weeks before the midterms is facing an uproar and overwhelming public opposition.
Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers called for an immediate end to President Trump's tariff war with Canada in a new ad Wednesday.
Why it matters:Trump endorsed Rogers, but Rogers has increasingly broken with the president as he fights to win a tight race against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
The Trump administration is pledging to modernize headlight standards, addressing a growing complaint among drivers about glare from powerful LED lights.
Why it matters: Industry experts say U.S. headlight regulations are severely outdated, creating dangerous driving conditions.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced legislation Wednesday that would direct the Smithsonian to preserve and display artifacts he said reflect the rise of "governmental propaganda" under President Trump.
Why it matters: The bill will almost certainly fail in a Republican-controlled Congress. But it could preview how Democrats would scrutinize the president's use of taxpayer dollars to promote his image if they regain control in November.
Near-future versions ofGeneral Dynamics' next-generation tank and XM30 combat vehicle could have voice controls onboard, letting crews manipulate sensors, radios, drones and more with plain English instructions.
Why it matters: Such a setup could simplify training, ease troop burdens and improve battlefield performance — or what the military so coyly calls lethality.
Overland AI on Wednesday debuts Ibex, an autonomous ground vehicle capable of shuttling thousands of pounds of materiel and designed for rapid relocation aboard V-22 Ospreys.
Why it matters: The Seattle startup is building the reconfigurable robo-resupplier for the Marine Corps as well as the Army and Special Operations Command.
Texas Republican Senate nominee Ken Paxton privately lamented the impact of the Iran war and gas prices on his campaign in a meeting last month, telling a group of donors and lobbyists, "I don't make the decisions," according to audio obtained by Axios.
Why it matters: It's a candid admission from a close Trump ally about the challenging environment Republicans face this cycle.
Israel is marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks three weeks before an election where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal culpability for the country's worst-ever security failure will be a central issue.
Why it matters:Netanyahu has never looked more politically vulnerable than in the weeks after Oct. 7, but he has defied expectations by keeping his government afloat — presiding over simultaneous wars and an atmosphere of perpetual emergency. Though the polls are tight, they leave a clear path for the ultimate political survivor to hang on yet again.
