National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG
U.S. warns of rapid escalation in Middle East war | 20 Sep 2026 | The United States warned that fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis could “escalate rapidly” after a missile attack targeted Riyadh for the first time since the Yemen conflict resumed. U.S. President Donald Trump cut short a weekend at Camp David, a secluded presidential complex in rural Maryland, to return unexpectedly to the White House. The White House gave no explanation for the early return, which comes as a new threshold was crossed in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen and are fighting government forces backed by a coalition led by Riyadh. Loud explosions rang out on Saturday in the Saudi capital, where AFP journalists saw a fuel tank bearing the logo of oil giant Aramco on fire near the airport. “This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the U.S. State Department warned, adding American citizens outside the Middle East should “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.”
U.S. issues security alerts across Middle East | 20 Sep 2026 | The U.S. has issued security alerts for its citizens across the Middle East, warning of further escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The notices cover Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions,” the U.S. State Department said on Saturday night. “Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports. This military conflict has the potential to escalate rapidly,” the notice read, urging Americans to refrain from traveling to the Middle East.
NORAD F-16 intercepts aircraft that violated restricted airspace over Camp David with Trump present – officials | 19 Sep 2026 | A NORAD F-16 fighter jet intercepted an aircraft that violated restricted airspace over the area of Camp David Saturday morning while President Donald Trump is spending the weekend there, according to officials. There is a permanent no-fly zone over Camp David in Maryland, with additional restrictions when the president is there. NORAD dispensed flares during the intercept to get the pilot’s attention, and were able to safely escort them out of the area, the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) said in a release. “Should NORAD aircraft intercept a general aviation aircraft, the pilot should immediately come up on frequency 121.5 or 243.0 and turn around to reverse course until receiving additional instructions on one of those frequencies,” the release said.
Pentagon’s Iran war costs hit $38 billion in five months – budget office | 16 Sep 2026 | The U.S. war with Iran cost the Pentagon approximately 38 billion in its first five months, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The bill could rise by another 2 billion to 3 billion for every additional month of fighting — and by more if hostilities intensify. In a report released on Tuesday, the CBO estimated Defense Department expenses from the start of U.S. combat operations on February 28 through August 1. The figure includes the estimated cost of replacing expended munitions and equipment lost in battle, as well as additional flying hours, military operations, and higher fuel costs… The CBO estimates that replacing munitions used through August 1 would cost 21.7 billion, including 7.3 billion for land-attack cruise missiles, 13.1 billion for missile-defense interceptors and 1.2 billion for other weapons.
Iran war costs U.S. households $860 each as energy prices surge – economist | 10 Sep 2026 | American consumers are facing higher costs as the war in Iran pushes energy prices higher, with U.S. households having spent over 100 billion more this year due to elevated gasoline and diesel prices, an economist says. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told FOX Business that “higher oil prices and energy more broadly” have been the main economic consequence of the Iran war felt by U.S. households. “The war has added about 115 billion in additional costs through higher gasoline prices, what we pay at the pump; diesel that goes to everything that’s put on a truck from groceries to Amazon packages; and jet fuel,” Zandi said. “If you add that all up, it’s about 115 billion. And if you divide by the number of households, that’s about 860 per household. So, a typical household is spending 860 more on energy than they otherwise would have if there had been no war.”
Oil surges past $101 to highest closing level since May as Middle East conflict intensifies | 9 Sep 2026 | The price of oil breached the 100 threshold Wednesday, as new flare-ups in the United States war with Iran stoked fresh concern for global energy markets.Prices did not stop there and continued rising throughout the day. The international benchmark, Brent crude, jumped 3.3% to end the trading session at 101.21 per barrel. U.S. crude oil ended the day higher by 3.2% at 96.05 per barrel. For both critical oil benchmarks, it’s their highest closing levels since May 22. Wednesday’s spike came a day after the U.S. military said it destroyed five Iranian tankers in response to attempted missile attacks on a Navy warship. Tehran responded with attacks on U.S. ships and a base in Jordan. Gas prices rose to 4.22 earlier Wednesday morning, the highest level since June 5.
Fox News Poll: 71% think Trump administration lacks plan to end Iran war –Support for Israelis drops to record low | 17 Sep 2026 | Nearly seven months into the war with Iran, a new Fox News national survey finds views souring as voters feel the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the war, a growing number think the conflict will make the U.S. less safe and a majority believes the decision to take military action was wrong. Seven in 10 voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the conflict, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents and 43% of Republicans… A low of 48% say they side more with the Israelis than the Palestinians (38%) in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. That is down from 54% in June and a high of 68% at the conflict’s outset in October 2023.
Revealed: Netanyahu Received Explicit Warning Days Before Oct. 7. He Didn’t Brief Israel’s Security Chiefs –In September 2023, UAE President bin Zayed called Netanyahu to deliver a harsh warning. Netanyahu did nothing. Netanyahu: “This is an absolute lie”. | 8 Sep 2026 | …But this time, the call initiated by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed — known as MBZ — was unusual. A week and a half before October 7, 2023, the Emirati ruler called Netanyahu from the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi and spoke with him for 45 minutes. In that conversation, bin Zayed warned that Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was planning a major operation against Israel. Bin Zayed expressed concern that the event in question would not only lead to bloodshed but also destabilize the entire region and undermine the Abraham Accords. Three foreign senior sources are familiar with the contents of the conversation, the existence of which is revealed here for the first time… In a 45-minute conversation, bin Zayed warned Netanyahu that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel. To his surprise, the prime minister reacted calmly. Hamas intended to operate in the West Bank, he said, and Israel was prepared for any scenario.
Trump signs new Russia sanctions bill –Moscow has warned that the measure could complicate Ukraine peace efforts and drive U.S. fuel prices higher | 19 Sep 2026 | U.S. President Donald Trump has signed sweeping legislation expanding the sanctions on Russia and authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy. Moscow warned that additional sanctions would complicate efforts to settle the Ukraine conflict and could further destabilize the energy markets. In a statement on Friday, the White House announced that Trump approved the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act [honoring the sociopath], after the Senate passed it 86-11 in August and the House passed it 262-159 on Wednesday. The legislation targets senior Russian officials, banks, defense and energy entities, as well as what Western countries refer to as Russia’s “shadow fleet” of ships.
U.S. Congress passes Lindsey Graham’s Russia sanctions bill | 16 Sep 2026 | The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill authorizing President Donald Trump to slap tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy and impose tougher sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. The lower chamber approved the legislation on Wednesday by a vote of 262-159. According to The Hill, 203 Republicans and 58 Democrats voted in favor, while seven Republicans and 152 Democrats opposed it. The bill passed the U.S. Senate last month. The bill, which also grants Trump the authority to impose additional sanctions on Iran, is named in honor of hawkish Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who unexpectedly passed away last month… Trump recently [accurately] blamed Ukraine for rising diesel prices and urged Kiev to stop striking Russian refineries.
NATO troops in Ukraine would mean war with Russia – Putin | 11 Sep 2026 | The deployment of troops from European NATO countries to Ukraine would mean a direct war with Russia, President Vladimir Putin warned, arguing that political shifts across the EU reflect growing public discontent with the policies of the Western “globalist elites.” Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday, Putin said Europe’s current political and economic troubles are the result of “systemic mistakes” made by its leaders in foreign policy, security, and economics after the end of the Cold War. The globalist elites, Putin said, have convinced themselves that they are “at the top of Olympus” and effectively incapable of being wrong, but their mistakes have since accumulated “like a snowball.”
Trump announces Greenland deal | 18 Sep 2026 | The U.S. will effectively control Greenland’s security under an agreement reached with Denmark and the self-governing Arctic territory, President Donald Trump has announced. In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump said the agreement “gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns.” “At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America,” he added. “Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.” Trump promised that the U.S. would be “very protective” of Greenland, describing the deal as “a dream come true for the United States of America.”
Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, Politico From White House Over ‘Fake News’ | 18 Sep 2026 | President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is immediately banning establishment legacy news outlets Politico, MS NOW, and CNN from the White House for “‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS.” Trump announced his decision in a Truth Social post Friday: “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility!), and Politico (The recipients of an illegal and ridiculous 8 Million D-llar subscription, an All Time Record, directly from the United States Government, under Crooked Joe Biden, in order to keep them ‘alive.’ Seems like corruption to me!), from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!” Trump added that he will bar more outlets he deems “Fake News” from the White House campus as well.
Garbage Trucks Now Have AI Cameras to Score Your House and Clock Code Violations –A company called City Detect is outfitting municipalities with cameras to give homes a “blight score,” effectively turning a whole city into an HOA. | 15 Sep 2026 | The city of Dallas, Texas, armed its trash collection trucks with AI-powered cameras earlier this year. This month, the NBC station down there did an investigation and discovered that they’re being used to assign “blight scores” to homes and send residents warning letters about things like grass height and dirty chimneys. Basically, we now have the technology to turn the entire country into an HOA. NBC 5 Investigates found that “artificial intelligence identified at least one possible code violation on more than 21,000 properties,” and then shared some examples of things that were flagged: “Lawn, Grass Height, Sidewalk, Debris.” The company that operates the cameras is called City Detect, and its tendrils extend way beyond Dallas. The City Detect tech is working in at least three other states besides Texas.
Starbucks resolves Florida DEI lawsuit with blockbuster nationwide agreement | 17 Sep 2026 | Starbucks will pay Florida 1 million and will not use race-and sex-based goals, quotas and preferences in employment practices companywide under a sweeping settlement ending the state’s civil rights lawsuit against the coffee giant. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agreement applies to all Starbucks operations nationwide, not just the company’s locations in Florida. “Every Floridian deserves to be hired, promoted and compensated based on merit, qualifications and character — not race or sex,” Uthmeier told Fox News Digital. “This resolution ensures that Starbucks’ policies and practices fully comply with Florida’s civil rights laws. DEI can never be an excuse to violate civil rights.” The negotiated resolution ends the lawsuit Uthmeier filed in December 2025 accusing Starbucks of violating the Florida Civil Rights Act through racial and sex-based goals, quotas and preferences in its workplace policies.
Illegal immigrant freed by Biden executes woman who rejected his advances after months of stalking her as a DoorDash driver – including secretly cutting a key to her home | 14 Sep 2026 | A California woman has been shot dead by a 22-year-old DoorDash worker who had been stalking her for months after he illegally entered the US in 2023. Shalini Thakur, 38, was gunned down outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento as horrified witnesses watched on during the afternoon of September 8. The suspect, Rohit Rohit, an illegal migrant from India who was allegedly released by the Biden administration, fled in a vehicle before fatally shooting himself, police said. Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Amar Gandhi said the horror unfolded just before 3pm, when Rohit approached Thakur outside her workplace at a shopping mall on Howe Avenue and “began to accost her.” “As the victim attempted to run away, Rohit chased her down, pulled out a firearm, and shot her multiple times,” he said. “The victim fell to the ground.” Gandhi added that Rohit then walked over to Thakur’s body as she lay dying on the sidewalk, and “shot her in the head at close range.”
Madwoman slaughtered frightened elderly couple, stole their car then cackled with delight when asked about her new wheels, murder trial told –Prosecutors showed the court images of jewelry that police said Williams was wearing when she was arrested in Georgia. | 18 Sep 2026 | A woman who allegedly slaughtered a frightened elderly couple and stole their car cackled with delight when asked about her new wheels, her murder trial heard. Vickie Williams, 50, is accused of killing Darryl, 83, and Sharon Getman, 80, at their Mount Dora, Florida home, near Orlando, on December 31, 2022. She allegedly armed herself with a kitchen knife and stabbed the couple several times, her trial heard this week, WESH 2 reported. Williams is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle. She pleaded not guilty to all charges, court records show, with the defense asking the jury not to convict her due to an alleged psychosis at the time of the killings.
NC Dem Legislative Candidate Shelly Headen: ‘Visiting Dauchau [sic] Concentration Camp in Germany…This is where Trump supporters belong’ | 20 Sep 2026 | North Carolina Democrat state legislative candidate Shelly Headen posted a Facebook story from a vacation showing her in front of ovens in a German concentration camp memorial, saying, “Visiting Dauchau [sic] Concentration Camp in Germany…This is where Trump supporters belong.” Headen was reportedly visiting Dachau. In social media photos, Headen is seen smiling as she stands in front of what appears to be crematorium ovens… In another Facebook post, Headen appears to call for an unspecified terrorist attack against America, writing, “I think our only hope is an attack on U.S. soil…preferably Alabama, Louisiana…where the stupid people are.”
Michael Rapaport Hits the Streets to Rally Against Mamdani: ‘Zohran the Moron Must Be Removed from Office’ | 20 Sep 2026 | Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport is renewing his call to have socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) removed from office and he is pondering a run for the office himself to achieve that goal. The outspoken comedian and social media commentator told Fox News Zohran has been a disaster for New York City. “Zohran the moron is the most divisive mayor in the history of this city by far,” he said, adding: “He’s a two-bit con man.” The actor also said he is “absolutely considering running for mayor” and running against Mamdani in 2029.
HOA seizes man’s $450K home over $977 debt – and sells it for just $8K | 15 Sep 2026 | An Arizona man lost the home he bought for nearly half a million d-llars after falling just 977 behind on homeowners association fees — with the property ultimately selling back to the HOA for a mere 8,172. Toby Newton purchased the four-bedroom Mesa home for 450,000 in 2022, but ran into financial trouble two years later after losing his job and being diagnosed with diabetes, according to the Mesa Tribune. Newton fell behind on his quarterly HOA assessments, which were around 170, eventually owing 977 in fees and interest. Newton said he contacted the Superstition Springs Community Master Association in an attempt to work out a payment plan. He initially offered to pay 50 per month toward his debt while keeping up with his regular assessments. After that was rejected, he increased his proposed payments — eventually offering 200 a month — but said the HOA rejected those offers as well.