Quick Hits

• The Republican midterm convention wrapped up in Dallas with protesters gathering on the final night, as the party works to rally its base ahead of November's legislative elections (Al Jazeera). President Trump's pitch to send Americans $5,000 checks if Republicans win is drawing scorn from some members of Congress — the people who hold constitutional authority over spending — and skepticism from economists (MPR News). Trump also jokingly told Republican voters they can "cheat like hell" in the midterms, "like Democrats" (Al Jazeera).
• Communities across Minnesota and the country mark 25 years since the Sept. 11 attacks Friday, with ceremonies, music and volunteer service planned (MPR News); Tangle examines how America looks back at 9/11 a quarter-century later.
• Anthropic says its Claude AI was used to develop missile guidance software in Yemen and to power cyber operations, according to a report (Al Jazeera).
• Minnesota's violent crime rate fell in 2025 to pre-pandemic levels, continuing a yearslong downward trend, according to Department of Public Safety data released Thursday (MPR News).
• In women's sports, the U.S. basketball team routed Hungary 108-56 to reach the FIBA World Cup semifinals (MPR News), and the PWHL announced its first season-long U.S. national broadcast deal, with Scripps Sports (MPR News).

Top Stories

GOP midterm convention and Trump's $5,000 promise. Al Jazeera's takeaways from the Dallas convention, which began Sept. 9, describe a final night marked by protests as Republicans seek to rally supporters ahead of what the outlet calls consequential legislative elections. MPR News reports that Trump's pledge to send $5,000 checks should Republicans prevail in November is drawing scorn from some in Congress — noting that lawmakers, not the president, hold the constitutional authority over such spending — and that economists don't appear thrilled with the idea. Al Jazeera separately reports Trump joked that Republicans can "cheat like hell" in the midterms, "like Democrats."

25 years since 9/11. MPR News reports events across Minnesota on Friday will mark the anniversary with community service, music and ceremonies, including hundreds of volunteers in St. Paul, and profiles Minnesotans whose 9/11 stories remain "painful, powerful" 25 years later. Tangle's retrospective asks what has changed in America since the attacks.

Left Perspective

• MPR News frames Trump's $5,000 payment proposal as facing pushback from Congress and economists, emphasizing that constitutional spending authority rests with lawmakers.
• MPR News reports a campaign staffer for a Republican nominee in a competitive Minnesota congressional race resigned after racist and violent social media posts were highlighted by the rival DFL campaign; the outlet's headline describes him as a "self-avowed white Christian nationalist."
• MPR News highlights new Department of Public Safety data showing Minnesota's violent crime rate fell in 2025 to pre-COVID levels, with killings and other violent crimes continuing a yearslong decline.
• MPR News also covers a Hennepin County judge finding a Minneapolis man not guilty by reason of mental illness in the killing of grocery clerk Robert Skafte, and the sentencing of a woman to probation and community service for repeated threats against Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth.

International View

• Al Jazeera reports Anthropic claims its Claude AI was used to develop missile guidance software in Yemen and to power cyber and espionage operations, according to a report.
• New Delhi is rolling out the red carpet for BRICS, but blocked roads, evictions and restrictions have sparked anger in India's capital (Al Jazeera).
• In sport, Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to set up a US Open final against Elena Rybakina, and Fenerbahce's president refused coach Ismail Kartal's resignation after a fan threw a bottle at him during a Champions League tie at Roma (Al Jazeera).

Underreported

• PWHL media deal: The newly expanded women's hockey league enters its fourth season with its first season-long U.S. national broadcast agreement, with Scripps Sports, announced Wednesday (MPR News).
• FIBA World Cup: Napheesa Collier scored 19 points as the U.S. women beat Hungary 108-56 Thursday to advance to the semifinals, where they will face the Spain-Australia winner (MPR News). AllSides, meanwhile, features a piece on sports as "a powerful unifier."
• BWCA wildfires contained: The Forest Service declared this week that wildfires that burned more than 100 square miles of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area this summer are fully contained; MPR News examines the fires' role in forest health and rebirth.
• Red Lake search: The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs executed a search warrant Thursday at a building on the Red Lake Reservation; few details were disclosed (MPR News).
• School boards: The majority of Minnesota's more than 300 public school districts have board seats on November ballots as tenures shrink amid partisanship and generational change (MPR News).
• Minnesota sports business: Quinn Hughes says he is in no rush to complete a contract extension with the Wild ahead of training camp, and Harrison Smith has rejoined the Vikings (MPR News).
• Also notable: The Hispanic Heritage Awards were held outside Washington, D.C., for the first time, hosted in Minneapolis (MPR News); rangers are searching for overdue hiker Craig Berg, 70, at Isle Royale National Park (MPR News); and Tangle checks in on the latest involving Sen. John Fetterman and Democrats.

Sources

• MPR News: Trump's $5,000 checks and Congress; RNC convention expectations; Minnesotans' 9/11 stories; 9/11 events; violent crime report; GOP staffer resignation; PWHL-Scripps deal; U.S. FIBA win; BWCA wildfires; Red Lake search warrant; school boards; mental illness ruling; Demuth threat sentencing; Quinn Hughes; Harrison Smith; Hispanic Heritage Awards; Isle Royale search
• Al Jazeera: RNC convention takeaways; Trump "cheat like hell" remark; Anthropic/Claude claims; BRICS in New Delhi; US Open; Fenerbahce-Roma
• Tangle: What's Changed Since 9/11; John Fetterman
• AllSides: Derate the Hate: Why Sports are a Powerful Unifier