Good morning. It’s Thursday, Aug. 20, and we are in awe of this majestic photo of the sun’s atmosphere taken by meteorologist Matthew Cappucci during last week’s eclipse. Let’s catch up.
The U.S. national debt officially surpassed a record $40 trillion.
The milestone arrived earlier than expected: The rapid rise in national debt was caused in part by billions of dollars in lost revenue from President Donald Trump’s invalidated tariffs.
It comes at a perilous moment: This week, an array of concerns — including soaring government debt — prompted investors to dump government bonds, raising the price of borrowing.
Trump signs a piece of stone as he tours the construction site. (Al Drago for The Post)
For a brief period yesterday: Trump set aside more troubling issues to revel in his role as White House redeveloper. He was visibly pleased as he took reporters on a helipad tour.
At the Kennedy Center: Trump will oversee more than $250 million in renovations, according to plans presented last week. See the biggest changes leaders are proposing here.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are moving back to Britain from California.
According to the BBC: The couple, who exiled themselves six years ago after a major fallout with the royal family, plan to establish a private, nonroyal residence outside London.
Does this mean the royals have patched things up? Not necessarily. Harry probably won’t resume official duties, and his relationship with Prince William reportedly remains chilly.
A Florida school board at the center of culture wars lost its conservative majority.
In an election in Sarasota this week: Democrat-backed candidates flipped the board’s majority. In recent years, it has led national debates over covid mask mandates and book bans.
In Texas: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is taking aim at Muslim washing stations in airports. He said the facilities discriminate against non-Muslims, but legal experts dispute his claim.
A highway in Texas exploded this summer — many more are at risk.
A pavement buckle along Interstate 94 in North Dakota. (North Dakota Highway Patrol)
Last month: A stretch of Highway 69 kept expanding in extreme heat until it exploded, creating a sharp ramp. Then a pickup hit it and flew several feet in the air — watch here.
Across the nation: Hotter summers are buckling roads and bending train tracks. Some cities are trying new ways to protect infrastructure, including painting everything white.
Drinking tea might help you live longer, research suggests.
A gift from nature: After water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage. Because of that, scientists have spent decades carrying out studies on its possible health benefits.
What they’ve found: We listed five science-backed benefits of tea here. One consistent finding is that tea drinkers tend to live slightly longer than people who don’t drink it.
Trump wants to build a ballroom in Ireland. This guy is determined to stop him.
Liam Madden is concerned that the project could endanger a local snail population. (Anastasia Taylor-Lind for The Post)
Meet Liam Madden: He is notorious in Ireland for blocking hundreds if not thousands of development projects. Many call him a “serial objector,” though he refers to himself as a “god.”
He’s set his sights on Trump: The president wants to build a ballroom at his golf club in the village of Doonbeg. Madden is doing all he can to spoil the plans — and he’s having a ball.
One more good read: A new force is increasing inequality in America.
Want to know what people really think? The Post is launching a newsletter exploring what polls reveal about the big issues shaping our lives. Sign up for The Pollwatcher here.
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