In a news wrap on September 15, 2026, Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would have introduced regulations for cryptocurrencies, citing the need for stronger safeguards to prevent officials from profiting while in office. The measure, known as the CLARITY Act, was rejected by a vote of 49 to 50, marking a setback for the crypto industry.
FBI Director Kash Patel defended his handling of the agency during a nearly five-hour Senate hearing. He faced questions regarding the firing of experienced agents and the FBI's plans for the midterms. Patel did not confirm whether Joe Biden won the 2020 election and defended changes to hiring requirements related to prostitution and bestiality, stating that the adjustments aimed to protect victims.
An FBI spokesperson later stated that the agency is not relaxing hiring standards, calling the suggestion "totally false."
The U.S. military confirmed for the first time that it has weapons in space. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced at a conference that the U.S. possesses on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending against hostile actions. However, he did not provide details on the weapons. China's Foreign Ministry and a Kremlin spokesperson expressed concerns about the potential for an arms race in space.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels accused each other of attacks, with the Saudi military reporting injuries from Houthi strikes in several cities. The U.N. estimates that 125,000 people in Yemen have been displaced due to the conflict.
Khadija Kudaf, a displaced Yemeni, stated, "We fled from the war and took nothing with us. We didn't even bring the children's clothes. We have no flour. The children are hungry. We have no food."
A new assessment from the Congressional Budget Office found that the war in Iran has cost the U.S. more than $38 billion through August 1, with ongoing costs expected to reach up to $3 billion a month, contributing to inflation.
In California, prosecutors announced they will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, charged with the first-degree murder of his parents, director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
On Wall Street, stocks declined ahead of the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates, with the Dow Jones industrial average dropping over 300 points, and the Nasdaq falling around 200 points.
At the 78th Emmy Awards, the Apple TV series "Widow's Bay" won 14 awards, the most ever for a comedy series in a single year. Matthew Rhys became the first man to win two lead actor awards in the same year, and Jean Smart made history by winning her fifth consecutive Emmy for "Hacks."