Quick Hits

• The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Trump's bid to tighten mail-in voting rules ahead of the midterms (MPR News; Al Jazeera) — one of two courtroom losses for the administration, which Al Jazeera reports also suffered a "double legal setback" over visa and green card limits after challenges from courts and Democratic-led states.
• Trump downplayed top AI CEOs' unified calls for a global development slowdown (MPR News) and phoned into a live Nvidia event to call AI fears "a hoax" (Al Jazeera); a University of St. Thomas AI ethics expert tells MPR News an independent body should regulate the technology.
• The EPA said Monday it is repealing rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse-gas emissions from coal- and natural-gas-fired power plants (MPR News).
• The Kennedy Center told its board it is on the brink of bankruptcy and might close as early as Tuesday, the Washington Post reported Sunday evening, per MPR News.
• Al Jazeera's live coverage reports 54 Saudi air strikes targeting Houthis as Yemen fighting rages, with CENTCOM refuting an Iranian claim that a supertanker hit mines near Hormuz; MPR News reports Minnesota diesel prices jumped above $6 a gallon amid the Middle East war.

Top Stories

• Mail voting ruling: The Supreme Court ruled against Trump, rejecting his efforts to enact new mail-in voting restrictions before the midterm elections (MPR News; Al Jazeera). Al Jazeera separately reports courts and Democratic-led states mounted successful challenges to the administration's visa and green card policies.
• AI policy clash: Speaking at the Irish Open at his Doonbeg, Ireland golf links, Trump downplayed the slowdown calls (MPR News), which came after two former Anthropic researchers raised concerns that AI is becoming too powerful (MPR News). Trump also interrupted a live Nvidia event by phone to tell its CEO that fears about AI are "a hoax" (Al Jazeera).
• EPA rollback: The agency said it is repealing the power plant emissions rules and announced additional steps (MPR News).
• Kennedy Center: The performing arts center's administration told its board it faces possible closure as soon as Tuesday (Washington Post, via MPR News).
• Sports and culture: The U.S. women won their fifth straight FIBA World Cup, beating France 97-79 behind captain Breanna Stewart (MPR News); "The Pitt" and "Widow's Bay" took the top Emmy prizes, with Matthew Rhys winning two lead-actor awards (MPR News); costume designer Bob Mackie, the "Sultan of Sequins" who dressed Marilyn Monroe, Elton John and Cher, died at 87 (MPR News).

Left Perspective

How the lean-left outlet in today's feed (MPR News) is covering the day:

• Its AI coverage pairs Trump's dismissal with the St. Thomas ethics expert's argument that an independent regulator is needed, foregrounding the former Anthropic researchers' warnings.
• Its environment and consumer reporting frames the EPA move as repealing limits on "planet-warming" emissions, and ties Minnesota diesel prices — now averaging just over $6.07 per gallon, per AAA — to the ongoing Middle East war.
• Labor: About 150 doctors at Allina Health's Mercy and Unity hospitals began a four-day strike after three years of failed contract negotiations, with dozens rallying Monday.
• Arts and business: Beyond the Kennedy Center warning, MPR News reports St. Paul's Summit Brewing faces foreclosure after BMO Bank sued to collect more than $8 million in unpaid debt.

International View

Outlets: Al Jazeera.

• Iran/Yemen war: A live blog reports 54 Saudi air strikes targeting Houthis; the Houthis say attacks are ongoing, and Yemen's prime minister accuses the militia of killing and displacing civilians. CENTCOM refuted Iran's claim that a supertanker hit mines at Hormuz.
• Sweden: The election is too close to call with 95% counted; the far right is losing ground and the opposition bloc leads.
• Syria: Russia resupplied its military bases for the first time under a new deal, maintaining its Mediterranean foothold following talks with Damascus.
• Rwanda-DRC: Geneva talks are testing the peace deal amid continued fighting and disputes over implementing key security commitments.
• West Bank: Israeli rights group B'Tselem says Israeli settler violence aims to eliminate Palestinian existence.
• Elsewhere: Rotterdam saw protests after a suspected bicycle thief died during a police arrest in the Netherlands; Indian police opened a probe after a woman biker shared video of a car ramming her motorcycle.

Underreported

• McConnell reappears: Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was seen publicly for the first time since his June hospitalization, leaving his Washington home to return to the Senate floor for votes (Tangle).
• $5,000 dividend: Tangle examines Trump's $5,000 dividend promise, framed around the midterms (Tangle).
• Border wall lawsuit: Texas landowners, joined by Indigenous groups, environmentalists and locals, asked a court to stop the Trump border wall; Al Jazeera notes Big Big Bend accounts for about 1% of border arrests. (Correction: Big Bend.)
• Wilderness rescue: Two paddlers on Isle Royale found hiker Craig Berg, 70, of Royal Oak, Mich., lost in the remote Lake Superior wilderness for more than a week (MPR News, citing the National Park Service).
• Infrastructure milestone: The 165-mile Mesabi Trail, Minnesota's longest paved bike path, is finished after more than 30 years of planning and construction (MPR News).
• Sports notes: Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray remains in the NFL concussion protocol after an illegal hit, leaving his status uncertain (MPR News); Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said she would not consider the WNBA commissioner role, calling it a "thankless" and "hard job" (MPR News).
• Redevelopment: Rochester's long-vacant 10-acre Seneca Foods site could become a performing arts center or children's museum (MPR News).

Sources

• MPR News (lean left): Trump downplays AI slowdown; St. Thomas AI ethics expert; EPA repeals power plant emissions rule; Supreme Court rejects mail voting restrictions; Kennedy Center bankruptcy warning; Diesel above $6/gallon; Allina doctors strike; Summit Brewing foreclosure; FIBA World Cup; Emmys winners; Bob Mackie obituary; Murray concussion; Reeve on commissioner role; Isle Royale rescue; Mesabi Trail; Rochester Seneca site
• Tangle (center): Trump's $5,000 dividend promise; McConnell seen publicly
• Al Jazeera (center): Iran war live; Sweden election; Trump immigration setback; Supreme Court mail ballots; Trump call to Nvidia CEO; Texas border wall lawsuit; Russia resupplies Syria bases; Rwanda-DRC Geneva talks; B'Tselem report; Netherlands arrest death; India hit-and-run
• Washington Post: Kennedy Center reporting cited via MPR News.

Note: No right-leaning outlets were included in today's supplied article set; a Right Perspective section is therefore omitted.