Today's News with Larry Schweikart
TODAY'S NEWS, September 22-23, 2026
Episode Summary
Today’s news brings Trump’s Greenland security deal and new military bases, battles over media coverage, fraud investigations, immigration and H1B restrictions, and continued fights over polling and political influence. AI competition is heating up, while economic news shows stronger manufacturing, falling tech employment, changing energy priorities, and new retirement initiatives. Internationally, China is purging military leadership and Western climate policies face growing scrutiny. Medical news brings a rebound in teenage mental health, a major cleanup of fraudulent Obamacare enrollments, and two deaths linked to kratom. And finally, creatine searches have exploded by 300%.
Episode Notes
IN POLITICAL NEWS
- 1. Greenland: Denmark’s PM praised Trump’s new security deal, with the U.S. reportedly planning two military bases in Greenland.
- 2. White House media: Trump launched “Trump TV” after networks threatened to limit coverage, but CNN and others still aired his live appearances, including his UN speech. Trump also opened the new White House helipad and met Japan’s prime minister.
- 3. Air traffic: Two unrelated failures at Philadelphia air traffic control caused widespread five-hour delays across the Northeast.
- 4. Fraud: JD Vance’s fraud task force is pursuing more than 750,000 fraudulent accounts involving up to $2 billion in alleged criminal activity.
- 5. Universities: Faculty emails from Utah Valley University following Charlie Kirk’s murder have sparked controversy over political hostility on campus.
- 6. Democrats: Former Democratic operative Lindy Li criticized the party as increasingly communist and accused it of racism toward Asians.
- 7. Political funding: A reported $638 million left-wing political network operating through tax-exempt charities is under scrutiny, while CAIR reportedly contributed heavily to Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign. An NBC poll reportedly shows Democrats down nine points among mail voters.
- 8. Missouri redistricting: The Eighth Circuit reinstated Missouri’s Republican-favored congressional map, potentially restoring a Republican House seat.
- 9. Terrorism: Kash Patel says the FBI has foiled more than 1,100 terrorist attacks since 2025.
- 10. “Big Balls” assault: Judge Jeanine Pirro brought federal charges against two people accused of assaulting DOGE employee Edward Coristine.
- 11. Trump and Secret Service: A Secret Service agent praised Trump for personally knowing agents and their families and ensuring they receive breaks and meals.
- 12. Harvey Weinstein: Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
IN AI NEWS
- 13. Amazon vs. Meta: The AI competition is escalating, with Amazon reportedly blocking Meta’s AI agents from its platform.
IN ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIEN NEWS
- 14. Illegal voting: Up to 300,000 suspected illegal-alien voting cases are reportedly awaiting investigation.
- 15. Austin: Austin is using taxpayer funds for legal challenges against deportations.
- 16. South African refugees: The Trump administration plans to admit 17,500 white South African refugees.
IN CULTURAL NEWS
- 17. Pell Grants: Florida will allow Pell Grants to fund workforce training programs aimed at employment.
- 18. Mumbai restaurant: A celebrity restaurant was shut down after inspectors found food stored beside a urinal.
- 19. Tylenol murders: A doctor known as the “unknown wanderer” was found dead from cyanide poisoning in an Idaho church, potentially providing a new lead in the decades-old Tylenol murder case.
IN ECONOMIC NEWS
- 20. Converse: Converse altered an advertisement after criticism over how an image of an Asian girl holding sneakers was presented.
- 21. News traffic: Major U.S. news websites have suffered a sharp decline in web traffic.
- 22. San Francisco: Tech, science, and social-media employment in San Francisco and Silicon Valley has fallen to roughly 2019 levels.
- 23. Manufacturing: The latest Purchasing Managers’ Index increased again, beating expectations.
- 24. Defense manufacturing: GM reportedly converted a vehicle factory in just 22 days to produce Patriot missile components.
- 25. Diesel: An oil-industry argument warns that banning diesel exports could have significant consequences.
- 26. Energy: S&P Global has reportedly shifted away from climate-transition language toward a greater focus on energy realities.
- 27. Retirement: Trump signed an executive order creating low-cost IRA options for low-income Americans.
IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- 28. Carbon capture: A European carbon-capture project reportedly plans to liquefy emissions and store them in tanks before dumping them into the ocean.
- 29. Israel: Fauda, an Israeli-produced series depicting Hamas and October 7, is reportedly the top Netflix show in Lebanon.
- 30. China: Former DNC chairman Howard Dean reportedly addressed a conference involving Chinese Communist Party leaders.
- 31. Chinese military: Xi Jinping has reportedly purged much of China’s senior military leadership.
IN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
- 32. Influencer charged: Online influencer Clavicular has been charged with rape following allegations involving an intoxicated woman.
- 33. Hayden Panettiere: Further reports have emerged about Panettiere’s history of overdose and rehabilitation before her death.
- 34. CNN/Paramount: CNN staffers are reportedly concerned about the Paramount merger.
- 35. Antonio Brown: Former NFL receiver Antonio Brown accepted a plea deal in an attempted-murder case.
IN MEDICAL NEWS
- 36. Teen mental health: Teenage mental health has reportedly improved, with broader post-pandemic conditions cited as one possible factor.
- 37. Obamacare: The administration has cancelled more than 314,000 allegedly fraudulent Obamacare enrollments.
- 38. Kratom: Two University of Mississippi students died after using the over-the-counter stimulant kratom.
AND FINALLY . . .
- 39. Creatine: Online searches for creatine have surged 300%, driven largely by growing interest among women as well as fitness enthusiasts.