Monday, September 21st

What happened

The White House denied CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters access after President Donald Trump barred the outlets, accusing them of “fake news” and “purposely negative stories.” Security staff deactivated or confiscated press badges, and all three outlets said they were preparing legal action or other steps to restore access. First Amendment advocates and legal experts said the government likely cannot exclude journalists from White House spaces based on viewpoint after opening them to the press. The administration said the reporters were not acting in good faith, while press groups called the ban unconstitutional. Trump said more outlets could follow, naming The New York Times and The Washington Post as possible targets.

What happened

AI insiders pushed fears of a runaway technology into Washington’s debate after a former Anthropic researcher’s viral warning spread beyond the industry. The alarm centers on advanced systems that could help enable bioweapons, cyberattacks, autonomous weapons, or large-scale violence without enough human control. Trump adviser David Sacks has become a central anti-regulation voice, and reporters describe him as a major reason President Donald Trump has rejected safety efforts. Trump and his allies call AI doom warnings a hoax or scam, while Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk have urged stronger guardrails. Lawmakers are now weighing model checks, kill switches, and policy panels.

What happened

An ICE agent shot and wounded a man during an operation in North Austin on Sunday afternoon. City officials said the man was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center in serious but stable condition. His lawyer identified him as Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, a Venezuelan immigrant later released from the hospital into ICE custody. Austin police said city officers were not involved in the shooting, which followed a traffic stop and may have included a foot pursuit. Federal law-enforcement sources said he was in the country illegally with a final removal order; lawyer Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said he entered lawfully and once had a valid work permit. Protesters gathered afterward. The investigation is still unfolding.