Today's Headlines: The U.S. Is Burning Through Weapons in Iran. Russia and China Are Taking Note.
In Confirming Blanche, Senators Endorse a Justice Dept. Under Trump’s Sway
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines
August 9, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

The U.S. Is Burning Through Weapons in Iran. Russia and China Are Taking Note.

The Iran war has depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, resulting in a significant erosion of firepower. A more drawn-out Iran conflict benefits Moscow and Beijing, some analysts say.

In Confirming Blanche, Senators Endorse a Justice Dept. Under Trump’s Sway

Time and again, Todd Blanche has made it clear that he believes President Trump possesses a nearly limitless right to directly control the actions of the Justice Department.

Max Miller, Republican Accused of Abuse, Won’t Drop Out, Spokeswoman Says

Mr. Miller, who has faced pressure from fellow Republicans to end his campaign and avoid endangering a solidly red seat in Ohio, will stay in the race, his spokeswoman said.

World

Iran Issues List of Demands, Complicating Efforts to Reopen Strait

The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States met certain conditions.

How a Drone ‘Hellscape’ Might Stop a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

Inspired by Ukraine’s battlefield gains, Taiwan is betting on drones to deter a potential Chinese invasion.

‘Like a Bomb Going Off’: Wildfire Forces Evacuation of 18,000 People in Canada

The Bald Range fire has burned more than 25,000 acres in British Columbia. At one point, the fire spread more than 2,000 acres in about an hour, officials said.

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U.S.

Hunter Biden Says His Father’s Cancer Is Worsening

In an interview with the BBC, Mr. Biden said that former President Joseph R. ⁠Biden Jr.’s prostate cancer had spread into his bones and was causing pain.

Internal Report on Avalanche That Killed 9 Skiers Assigns No Blame

The report was commissioned by Blackbird Mountain Guides, which was in charge of the trip near Lake Tahoe in February.

Firefighting Helicopter Crashes Near Utah Wildfire, Killing 2 Crew Members

The aircraft was responding to the Widemouth 2 fire, which has burned more than 100,000 acres since starting last month.

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Politics

Senate Bows to Reality, Leaving Trump’s Voting Bill Undone

The summer exit confirmed what had been apparent for weeks: that Republicans lacked the votes to pass the voting restrictions the president has made a top priority.

Fact-Checking 3 Competitive Senate Races in Maine, Michigan and Ohio

Republican attacks have focused on terrorism and illegal immigration, while Democrats have sought to capitalize on the unpopularity of President Trump’s cuts to Medicaid.

Beth, the Beloved Vacuum of a 92-Year-Old Iowa Senator, Has Died

Senator Chuck Grassley mourned his decades-long cleaning companion, writing on social media: “GOOD BYE BETH. U hv been a real workhorse.”

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Business

How an N.F.L.-Backed Plan to Revitalize Canton, Ohio, Faltered

The “Hall of Fame Village” was pitched in 2014 as a boon to the city. But hundreds of millions were spent, the N.F.L. backed out, and the project is unfinished.

Costco, Kayaks and Netflix: Medicare Advantage’s Perks Get Scrutiny

Officials said no to health plans that wanted to expand extra benefits to cover medical marijuana, streaming services and shopping clubs. More changes are coming in 2027.

MacKenzie Scott Steps Back Into Spotlight With New Book

She posted four pages of a manuscript on a newly started Substack newsletter on Saturday and said that the novel would be released serially throughout August.

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New York

She Cares for Holocaust Survivors. Her Job Will Soon End.

Since the ’90s, Rizy Horowitz has put on events and served food to survivors in Brooklyn. With fewer than 300 of them left at her nonprofit, she’s thinking about her next chapter.

Should N.Y. Bathhouses Be Allowed to Offer Space for Sex?

Two state lawmakers have proposed repealing a health code that prohibits establishments like bathhouses from allowing sexual activity.

How Your ‘Sex and the City’ B.F.F. Spends a Day That Starts at Noon

Mario Cantone, who played Charlotte York’s bestie on the show, has a late breakfast of eggs and caviar with his husband at their apartment in Chelsea.

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Arts

How to Break Bread Like It’s the Last Supper

In Berlin, the artist Maurizio Cattelan gathered friends and collaborators for a dinner with a dramatic theme.

Where a Ring of Steel Once Stood, Belfast Unites in Song

A weeklong celebration of Irish music and culture is bringing an expected 800,000 people to Northern Ireland’s capital. It’s a sign of how far the city has come decades after a bloody sectarian conflict.

9 Songs We’re Talking About This Week

Karol G returns, Steve Earle and Los Lobos link up and Temper City climbs the charts.

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Books

How DNF Became A-OK

Is it shameful, or sensible, to put down a book you don’t enjoy? Three little letters, and social media, have turbocharged a longstanding debate.

There Were No Oxygen Masks: On Caring for a Loved One With PTSD

“A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving,” by Virginia Eubanks, is a memoir of what happened after her partner survived a brutal attack — and her own will to endure.