‘The Least Transparent Midterm’: How Dark Money Is Washing Over the 2026 Election
8/31/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
At least $1 billion from anonymous donors is flowing into the midterm elections. Dark money is not new, but it now permeates nearly every major contest.
More Mail Ballots Are Arriving Late This Year, and They’re Getting Tossed
8/31/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
State officials say they worry about the Postal Service’s ability to deliver votes this fall. They are urging voters to mail their ballots early or use drop boxes so their votes count.
The Navy’s Supply Chain Struggle, and Trump’s Unusual Oil Deal in Venezuela
8/31/2026 3:00 AM Open Story
Plus, a groundbreaking new space telescope.
U.S. and Iran Exchange Strikes Overnight After Monthlong Calm
8/31/2026 3:16 AM Open Story
The renewed attacks were the latest sign that the war that began six months ago appears far from over.
G20 Finance Officials Gather in U.S. as Iran War Grips Global Economy
8/31/2026 2:09 AM Open Story
The meeting is expected to focus on the ongoing economic shock from the war in Iran, which has driven up oil prices globally.
Global Oil Price Rises to $90 a Barrel After U.S. and Iran Trade Attacks
8/31/2026 4:25 AM Open Story
Oil/Stocks/Gas hed
Leader of DOJ’s Civil Rights Unit Spars With Harvard, the Left and Her Colleagues
8/31/2026 2:00 AM Open Story
Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s civil rights unit, has extracted flashy agreements and personnel moves from big universities and sought to force states to turn over confidential voter data.
Do D.E.I. Bike Paths Exist? The Trump Administration Says Yes.
8/31/2026 2:00 AM Open Story
The administration has revoked funding for bike paths, and encouraged removing some. A cycling advocate said it is playing on the idea of “that dork on a bike.”
These Generals Fought for Israel. Now They See ‘Jewish Terrorism’ as the Threat.
8/31/2026 2:00 AM Open Story
A growing number of former Israeli generals, intelligence officials and prime ministers are accusing settlers in the West Bank of committing ethnic cleansing with government support. “Once a society behaves this way,” one said, “that society is doomed.”
Gene-Editing Technology Offers New Ways to Create the Dogs of Our Dreams
8/31/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
Technologies like CRISPR are giving us new ways to create the dogs of our dreams — and a reason to reckon with our past mistakes.
Nonstop Russian Drones Make for Dangerous New Phase of War in Kyiv
8/31/2026 3:14 AM Open Story
The nearly constant air raids, a shift from years of largely overnight attacks, have left residents exhausted and on edge.
China Prepared for One Kind of Himalayan Flood. Then a Different Disaster Struck.
8/31/2026 2:18 AM Open Story
After a glacial flood last year, Chinese officials strengthened defenses at a border crossing with Nepal. But last week’s “cascade of hazards” overwhelmed them.
Nepal Raises Number of Missing From Floods to 4,700: What to Know
8/31/2026 1:08 AM Open Story
The number of people missing after a deadly Himalayan landslide and glacial collapse rose by about 1,750 on Monday. Rescuers are searching for survivors along the Nepal-China border.
For Nepal’s Young Leader, Flood Recovery Will Be a Herculean Task
8/31/2026 2:40 AM Open Story
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, 36, rose to power this year on the back of youth anger with graft and mismanagement. His fledgling government now faces a huge test.
He Warned That the End of History Could Be Rough. Maybe Now People Will Listen.
8/31/2026 2:00 AM Open Story
Francis Fukuyama’s famous take on the post-Cold War world was widely misunderstood. In a new memoir, he tries to set the record straight.
U.S. Start-Up Partners With Saudi Arabia for Data Center
8/31/2026 3:00 AM Open Story
Together AI, which serves open-source artificial intelligence models, announced a deal to use compute from Humain in Saudi Arabia, where it can bypass U.S. backlash over data centers.
One Dead and 15 Potentially Missing at Grand Canyon After Flash Flood
8/31/2026 3:02 AM Open Story
At least 62 people were evacuated on Saturday after flooding destroyed footbridges and damaged a campground and cabins near Bright Angel Creek in Arizona, the National Park Service said.
What Is Phantom Ranch? Inside the Grand Canyon Lodge Hit by Flash Flooding
8/31/2026 3:50 AM Open Story
Phantom Ranch, the only lodge within the Grand Canyon, has drawn adventurers and dignitaries, including Theodore Roosevelt, for more than a century.
Americans Hate Data Centers. Why?
8/31/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
Three fourths of Americans oppose data centers. Why?
Democrats Have a Trump Card for Attacks On Wokeness
8/31/2026 2:03 AM Open Story
The party that capitulated to Trump has the most to answer for
Coral Reefs Are Running Out of Time to Recover, Research Find
8/30/2026 9:01 PM Open Story
Rising sea temperatures mean reefs don’t have enough time to bounce back between intense heat waves, a new report warns.