Human Race: Shake-up at the museum

Lonnie Bunch III resigned as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution on Sept. 8 after a seven-year tenure marked by recent scrutiny from the Trump administration for the institution’s portrayal of American history and values. Bunch, 73, acknowledged the stress of the role but said his decision to step down was not due to pressure from the White House. In March 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order accusing the institution of coming under the influence of “a divisive, race-centered ideology.” It threatened to remove funding for exhibitions that “degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law.” In an August letter to the Smithsonian board, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the executive departments and agencies “cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership.” Earlier this year, Bunch said he was complying with White House demands to submit records for review from eight Smithsonian museums. Bunch assumed his role as the institution’s first black secretary in 2019. He held prior roles at the Smithsonian for nearly 40 years, including founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Custody battle

A surrogate mother from Alaska has urged the Supreme Court to intercede in a multistate custody dispute over a California couple’s medically fragile newborn. In August, McKenna West fled to Texas and gave birth to a baby boy she carried on behalf of Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar. The couple previously demanded West undergo a late-term abortion after the baby was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart defect. A California court upheld the Los Angeles couple’s parental rights. But West asked the Supreme Court to temporarily block the California ruling so she can be part of the newborn’s ongoing medical care. West claimed the baby’s parents could remove him from a Texas hospital to California for hospice care, despite his condition being treatable. —Liz Lykins

New tech titan

John Ternus took over as Apple’s CEO on Sept. 1. Ternus joined the tech company in 2001 and will replace Tim Cook who served as CEO since 2011, succeeding Steve Jobs. Apple’s board of directors approved the transition unanimously as part of a long-term succession plan. Ternus oversaw the launch of Apple’s new foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, unveiled on Sept. 9. It represents Apple’s first foray with folding screens and follows the lead of Samsung, which released a folding smartphone in 2019. Ternus is also tasked with solving Apple’s AI problem, as the company is currently relying on Google models for its Apple Intelligence feature. —Claire Wilkerson

One long walk

On Aug. 31, 91-year-old Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders became the oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail—again. Sanders set the record in 2017 when he was 82. Four years later, Sanders’ friend, M.J. “Nimblewill Nomad” Eberhart, stole the title at the age of 83. Sanders would not let that stand. Sanders’ latest thru-hike began Sept. 6, 2025. It took him a total of 359 days to complete the 2,193-mile trail, just six days shy of the one-year deadline. When Sanders reached the final summit in Maine, he stopped and prayed. “I had to thank God, and I had to thank my support team and everybody that got me here,” Sanders said. —Claire Wilkerson

Royal send-off

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Oslo to watch the funeral procession of King Harald V on Sept. 9. The king died Aug. 28 at the age of 89, ending his 35-year reign. Norway’s monarchy is largely symbolic, but Harald was a popular and unifying figure. Royalty and leaders from around the world attended the funeral service at Oslo Cathedral. They included Britain’s Prince William, King Abdullah of Jordan, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Oslo Cathedral is also where Harald married his wife Queen Sonja in 1968. Upon Harald’s death, his son Haakon immediately became the new king. —Emma Freire

Across the aisle

Among the sea of red at the Republican National Committees’ first-ever midterm convention, one Democrat made a surprise appearance. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania made his RNC debut on Sept. 9 via a pre-­recorded video. Fetterman, sporting his signature hoodie, introduced his Republican colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick, and appeared to criticize his own party. “I will always stand for America, reject the extremes, socialism, and that anti-­American way of life,” he said. McCormick, the junior Pennsylvania senator, took to social media after the address to thank Fetterman. But Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-PA, told reporters Fetterman should “represent Pennsylvania the way he ran, with the values that he ran on.” Attendees told WORLD they admired Fetterman’s willingness to cross party lines. —Joanna Insco

Sharing the gospel

A London court has acquitted a 72-year-old man prosecuted for distributing gospel tracts. Police arrested Richard Johnson last year for handing out a leaflet retelling the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and connecting the Bible passage to sin, repentance, and salvation. After Johnson passed out the tract in the Soho district, two individuals lodged complaints against him over the pamphlet’s message about homosexuality. They argued that Soho, in London’s West End, should be a safe space and pressed charges against Johnson under a public conduct law that says individuals can be charged for threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behavior. While the tract’s material was offensive, the court ruled, it wasn’t a public crime to share offensive words. —Liz Lykins

Jail time

Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin will serve a 60-day jail sentence for failing to respond to two outstanding contempt of court warrants related to a child support dispute. Police arrested Bevin on Sept. 3, and he was sentenced the following day. Jefferson County Judge Angela Johnson issued a warrant in March and another in June after Bevin allegedly failed to appear in court for child support hearings and disclose financial documents. “You have done nothing to show the court that you are willing to act in good faith,” Johnson told Bevin before issuing his sentence. Johnson added that Bevin may appeal the decision after he spends 30 days in jail. —Bekah Bernhardt