Good morning. It’s Monday, Aug. 31, and if you’re starting the week feeling exhausted, this quiz might help you sleep better tonight. Let’s catch up.
The U.S. military launched its first known strikes on Iran in nearly a month.
What happened? TheU.S. struck Iranian launchers that would have dispersed mines in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said. In response, Iran said it launched attacks at U.S. sites in Jordan.
Behind the scenes: Military leaders have told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that prolonging large-scale operations against Iran is unsustainable and could weaken U.S. capabilities.
The Pentagon secretly installed military influencers in civilian roles.
What’s going on? Conservative veterans with big social media followings have been hired by the Defense Department. Their roles were not disclosed — meet some of them here.
Why it matters: The influencers have used their large platforms to amplify Hegseth’s culture-war fights and attack people who scrutinize President Donald Trump’s administration.
Democrats want the midterms to be about Trump. He does, too.
Two months out from Election Day: Trump is spending money and political capital to keep him at the center of the campaign. For vulnerable Republicans, it is a risky strategy.
What else to know: The president threatened yesterday to report NBC host Kristen Welker to the FCC over a comment she made about his endorsements in the midterms.
One person died and about 15 are unaccounted for after flooding at the Grand Canyon.
Remnants of stone bridge pylons following a flash flood at Bright Angel Creek. (J. Thompson/NPS)
This weekend: Torrential rain caused flash flooding in parts of the Grand Canyon National Park. Officials are seeking information to account for missing hikers and backpackers.
In Nepal and Tibet: At least 85 U.S. citizens remain missing after a glacier collapse caused devastating floods last week. One is a Cincinnati man on a trip he’d planned for months.
This summer is a “near lock” to become the nation’s warmest on record.
The summer of 2026 is expected to surpass the Dust Bowl summer of 1936 and become the warmest summer on record. (Ben Noll/The Post; ECMWF)
One for the ages: Summer 2026 is on track to surpass the country’s average temperature record set during the Dust Bowl summer of 1936. See how the two summers compare here.
It continues a concerning trend: Five out the 10 warmest summers on record in the contiguous U.S. have occurred in the past decade, pushed along by the tailwind of climate change.
Your chatbot discussions are not as private as you might think.
Have you shared secrets with AI bots? Many of us do, revealing details about our relationships, health and more. But you should know your conversations may not be kept private.
New research revealed a major perk of being single.
The benefits of marriage are well-known: But singlehood offers its own boon, providing opportunities for personal growth through new experiences, perspectives and relationships.
Are you single or know someone who is? Experts recommend these tips for self-expansion. Traveling solo is the obvious one, but what matters is stepping out of your normal routine.
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