Wednesday morning news: September 2, 2026

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Iran latest » The U.S. military began striking Iranian targets again on Tuesday along the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command says the targets belong to Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

President Trump announced the strikes on social media, calling them large and powerful. He said it answers an Iranian attempt to mine the strait, as well as a missile attack against a U.S. military base in Jordan.

The pressure isn't only military. A temporary ceasefire deal the two sides signed in June didn't hold. And the Trump administration is now turning the screws on Iran’s economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

BESSENT: We are going to economically asphyxiate this regime. And as President Trump said, the reason the MoU did not work, they were not ready for a deal. Mm-hmm. My job is to make sure that they want to have a deal. Mm. And they will want to have one.

Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, claims Tehran would go back to the June terms immediately if Washington does.

Meanwhile Trump says the strait is clear of mines, but oil prices still rose again on Tuesday. He met with executives from oil and gas companies at the White House yesterday to discuss ways to bring gas prices down.

House passes funding » There will not be another government shutdown, at least not before Election Day.

Lawmakers in the House saw to that on Tuesday as the House gave final approval to a short-term spending bill.

AUDIO: On this vote, the yeas are 370, the nays are 48. Two-thirds being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended. The Senate amendment is agreed to.

That sends it to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

The government's budget year ends September 30th. Without new funding by then, much of Washington would close. Instead, agencies keep running at current spending levels until December 11th. That pushes the next fight past the November elections.

Kirk killer trial ruling » The man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk will stand trial for murder.

That from Utah Judge Tony Graf in a Tuesday ruling.

GRAF:  It is hereby ordered that the defendant, Tyler James Robinson, is bound over for trial in the Fourth Judicial District Court

Judge Graf heard from both sides yesterday over the question of whether accused shooter Tyler Robinson should be tried in the case. Prosecutor Ryan McBride argued that there was more than enough to go on, including video, DNA, circumstantial evidence, and a confession from Robinson himself.

MCBRIDE: Any one of those four categories of evidence would provide evidence—certainly probable cause, and possibly proof beyond a reasonable doubt—that the defendant is the one who shot Charlie Kirk. And in this case, we have all four categories of evidence.

Prosecutors also argued that the shooting endangered several bystanders who were attending the crowded event at Utah Valley University. But defense attorney Staci Visser argued that wasn't the case.

VISSER: There were no actual threats by the assailant to the third party. There was no evidence that would suggest anyone else was threatened.

Robinson still has not entered a plea, and could face the death penalty if convicted.

Tropical storm » Tropical Storm Edouard crashed ashore near the Texas-Louisiana line Tuesday afternoon with sustained winds around 60 miles per hour. Forecasters had called for a storm surge of up to five feet.

But they have been more worried about Edouard as a rain event. Brad Reinhart with the National Hurricane Center, Tuesday:

REINHART: We're forecasting rainfall totals of three to six inches, uh, up to a maximum of nine inches for parts of the upper Texas coast, with, uh, two to four inches possible in, uh, far southwestern Louisiana. 

Edouard fell apart as it pushed inland overnight, but the rain kept falling. Flood watches are in effect. Houston could still see scattered downpours today.

Massie Epstein action » With Congress back in session, a Republican congressman is pushing for legal action against former clients of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. World’s Harrison Watters reports from Washington.

HARRISON WATTERS: Thomas Massie of Kentucky took to the House floor on Monday, saying the Trump administration isn’t done handing over the Epstein files.

MASSIE: It's been a year since the president signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the government continues to withhold over 3 million files.

WATTERS: Massie led the effort to force a vote on that bill last year. President Trump initially said there was nothing more to see, but signed on after both chambers passed it. The DOJ released more than 3 million files in January, but Massie says Congress should pass a second bill to declassify more.

He named 14 individuals connected with Epstein that he says the DOJ should investigate, including former JPMorgan CEO Jes Staley and magician David Copperfield.

MASSIE: Perhaps hearing these names will shame the Department of Justice into delivering justice.

WATTERS: Todd Blanche, now Attorney General, told reporters earlier this year the DOJ didn’t have enough evidence to charge others with ties to Epstein.

Massie lost his Kentucky primary in May to a challenger with President Trump’s endorsement.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Harrison Watters in Washington.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Hunter Baker is standing by for Washington Wednesday. And later: Dolly Parton’s humble beginnings.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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