Trump claims "permanent control" in Greenland —
Denmark hasn't confirmed the terms.
Trump said late Friday, Sept. 18 that the U.S. reached an agreement giving America "permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland" — a self-governing Danish territory of about 57,000 people. No agreement text has been published; Danish officials have not confirmed his description of it.
Denmark and Greenland each say they expect something to be signed soon. The U.S. already operates Pituffik Space Base on the island under a 1951 defense treaty.
September 19, 2026 · Six stories, illustrated
- What Trump says it gives America
"permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland"
permanent U.S. access, basing and military rights on the island
- What exists on paper
No agreement text has been published
Danish officials have not confirmed Trump's description of it
Denmark and Greenland each said they expect something to be signed soon
The U.S. Pituffik Space Base — a 1951 defense treaty with Denmark already lets American forces operate on the island.
Still open: whether the signed text says "permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland" — Trump's phrase — or something narrower about basing and access.
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The Pentagon's public casualty list
leaves out at least two men.
More U.S. troops have died in the Middle East since the war with Iran began than the Defense Department has acknowledged in public, The Washington Post reported Friday, Sept. 18. The running list families and reporters use to count the war's cost omits men who died on missions unconnected to the conflict.
Defense officials told the Post they were frustrated that the deaths do not appear. The Pentagon has not said whether the names will be added — or how it draws the war-related line.
the deaths the database counts — the public record families and reporters use
at least two men — deployed to the region, died on missions unconnected to the conflict
The Post identified one man; his name and unit could not be independently confirmed.
- The names
The Pentagon has not said whether the two names will be added.
- The count
It has not said how many deaths in the region it counts as war-related.
- The line
It has not published the standard it uses to draw that line.
Without the count and the standard, a reader cannot tell whether two omissions are an error or the rule working as written.
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Trump signed the bill authorizing
100% tariffs on Russian-oil buyers.
The law — named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham — lets him tax imports from countries that keep buying Russian oil at up to 100% of an item's value, a doubling at the border. It also requires sanctions on Russian leaders, defense-industry collaborators and the aging tankers moving the crude.
Authorized, not imposed: nothing takes effect until Trump names a country and a rate — and the White House has not said whether he will while talks with Moscow continue.
- The tariff
Imports from countries that keep buying Russian oil can be taxed at rates as high as 100% of an item's value — a doubling of its price at the border.
- The sanctions
Mandatory sanctions on Russian leaders, on foreign firms working with Russia's defense industry, and on the aging tankers that move Russian crude outside Western insurance rules.
- Sept. 16
The House cleared the bill 214-211; the Senate had passed it earlier.
- Sept. 18
Trump signed the Russia sanctions bill into law in the Oval Office.
- Not yet
Nothing takes effect until Trump names a country and a rate.
The law is named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The White House has not said whether Trump will use it while talks with Moscow continue.
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Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico
from the White House.
"Because they're fake news," Trump said Friday, Sept. 18 — a remark Axios alone reported. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he "fully supports" the decision.
There is no written order, and the White House has not said how the bar would work. Federal courts have held it cannot revoke press access over an outlet's coverage.
- No written order
The bar exists as a remark, not a document.
- No mechanism
The White House has not said how the bar would work.
- One report
Axios alone reported the remark; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he “fully supports” it.
Federal courts have previously held the White House cannot revoke press access over an outlet's coverage.
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Newsom ordered California
to build an AI "kill switch."
Gov. Gavin Newsom said he signed the AI executive order because the federal government has not done enough to regulate AI.
He vetoed a broader AI safety bill in 2024.
California directed to build AI oversight — including the switch — because, Newsom said, the federal government has not done enough to regulate AI.
He vetoed a broader AI safety bill in 2024.
An executive order, not a law — California builds its own oversight while Washington, by Newsom's account, has not done enough.
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Both books moved the Senate
toward Democrats this week.
With 45 days to the midterms, Kalshi put a Democratic Senate at 59.5% — up 10.5 points in a week — and Polymarket at 60.5%, up 8. The House sits at 89.5% on both.
The races that decide the chamber are already priced. In Maine, Troy Jackson (D) faces Susan Collins (R).
- U.S. Housechance Democrats take it
- Polymarket89.5%+3 this week
- Kalshi89.5%+3.5 this week
- U.S. Senatechance Democrats take it
- Polymarket60.5%+8 this week
- Kalshi59.5%+10.5 this week
Troy Jackson (D) faces Susan Collins (R). one of the seats that decides the chamber.
Prices as both books had them overnight Sept. 19 — implied probabilities, not forecasts. Week moves are each book's seven-day change.