Today's Headlines: OpenAI’s Systems Meddled With U.S. Government Sites After Going Rogue
As Xi Leaves Washington, Divisions Still Simmer Beneath the Surface
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines
September 26, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

OpenAI’s Systems Meddled With U.S. Government Sites After Going Rogue

The company did not learn until recently that its technology had meddled with websites for the Education and Commerce Departments and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As Xi Leaves Washington, Divisions Still Simmer Beneath the Surface

President Trump welcomed Xi Jinping of China for a state visit that was heavy on pomp and ceremony. But surprisingly little time was spent on the issues that most divide the two superpowers.

White House Blocks CNN From Air Force One

CNN won’t be able to join President Trump on a Saturday trip to Tennessee. He had banned CNN and two other news outlets from the White House, but a court order on Thursday restored their access.

World

China’s Xi Snubs a Troubled U.N. for Trump, Overshadowing Its Big Week

The U.S.-China summit offered a sharp contrast with the action at the faltering United Nations in a gridlocked New York.

Netanyahu Is Said to Have Been Warned About Hamas Attack Before Oct. 7

The warning from the leader of the United Arab Emirates, which lacked specific details about the nature of an attack, never reached the chiefs of Israel’s security establishment, Israeli officials said.

A Tetris-Like Maze Blocks Protests in Pakistan’s Capital

Pakistani authorities have barricaded Islamabad with more than 1,500 shipping containers to stop opposition protesters, choking off access to the capital.

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U.S.

ICE Raids in Beef Country Raise Fears of Higher Prices

Cattle industry groups in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas and two Republican senators said the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions were hurting operations.

Beaches Are Disappearing in Southern California as El Niño Bears Down

Beachfront homeowners and beachcombers are watching the sand vanish into the ocean as torrid waves strike the coast.

Report Finds Security Failings at Event Where Charlie Kirk Was Killed

A review commissioned by Utah Valley University faults campus and Turning Point USA officials for poor planning of the event last year.

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Politics

Supreme Court Allows Expansive Federal Database for Voter Screening

Critics of a citizenship database built by the Trump administration have raised alarms about privacy and improper voter purges.

Supreme Court Once Again Blocks Republican-Backed Voting Map in Missouri

A federal appeals court had sided with Republicans seeking to use redrawn congressional district boundaries to give their party an advantage in the midterms elections.

U.S. Rejects U.N. Declaration on Preparing for Future Pandemics

Most member nations spoke in support of the declaration, but some rich countries had strong objections.

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Business

Distributor of Recalled Meat Worked for Years Without Proper Permits

Star Meat Delivery did not complete the requirements necessary to process food, the Agriculture Department said.

Sunkist, Sunset: Fruit Gems, a Century-Old Candy, Are Discontinued

The jelly candies were a staple at bar and bat mitzvahs and other Jewish celebrations for generations.

Fed Confronts the Prospect of Another Rate Increase Ahead of Midterms

Financial markets are placing nearly 70 percent odds on the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in late October.

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Technology

How OpenAI’s Rogue A.I. Agents Tried to Trick a Robot Detector

A new report by a Bay Area start-up called Parse adds details to an incident that has shocked the A.I. world and led to calls for closer government regulation.

TikTok to Pay Alabama $100 Million to Settle Social Media Addiction Claims

The settlement, which also includes changes to the platform’s features, is the latest in a string of agreements by companies to address child addiction.

Trump Administration’s Blacklisting of Anthropic Was Legal, Judges Rule

The Pentagon had “ample support for its conclusion” that the A.I. company’s products could pose a national security risk, according to a Washington appeals court.

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New York

After Much Political Ado, Ed Sheeran’s Boston Concerts Are Canceled for Weather

The cancellations come after the Gillette Stadium owner pressured Mr. Sheeran to remove an act who made pro-Palestine statements.

Embattled New Jersey Lt. Governor Resigns After Ethics Inquiry

Dale G. Caldwell, a Methodist minister and former university president, quit one day after the release of a report that found he had crossed ethical lines.

2 Men Were Searching for Gold in New York City’s Sewers, Police Say

The men, who were charged with trespassing on Friday, were part of a group that slinked out of a manhole near where world leaders were staying for the U.N. General Assembly, the authorities said.

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Arts

The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

More than 500 influential stars, showrunners and other notable names in the world of TV voted on the best series released since Jan. 1, 2000. See what they chose.

Kennedy Center Shelved Repairs Now Cited for Closure, Whistle-Blowers Say

In a letter to Congress, former employees say the center delayed a plan to address the leaks tha