Yemen, Alzheimer’s, America 250 reenactors

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By Nadja Lovadinov

September 17, 2026

By Nadja Lovadinov

September 17, 2026

 
 

Welcome back. Bringing a tumultuous, two-year session to a colorful close, Speaker Mike Johnson closed the House early Wednesday, but not before drawing a scathing rebuke from Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. Also in the news today: Houthis draw Yemen into the wider war as thousands flee; and how you can lower your risk of dementia. Plus, scenes from a colonial resurrection.

 
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, in Washington.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

POLITICS

Speaker Johnson recesses the House early as GOP lawmaker pushes Hegseth impeachment

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie’s resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the war in Iran and his bipartisan effort to force the release of more files in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation are all being left behind, blocked from votes. Read more.

Why this matters:

  • The renegade Republican from Kentucky, seized control of the chamber for a blistering hourlong speech criticizing Johnson, the Republican majority and the work he said the speaker is refusing to conduct to lower prices for Americans and hold the Trump administration accountable. Massie lost his own primary bid for reelection after Trump mounted a costly campaign to kick him out of Congress.

  • Earlier in the day, Johnson, who claimed this Congress was the most productive in decades, dismissed Massie’s effort to impeach Hegseth as “a stunt.” “Secretary Hegseth has done an extraordinary job at the Department of War,” Johnson said. 

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  • House approves sweeping Russia sanctions bill, sending it to Trump
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  • House passes bill aimed at addressing impact of data centers on energy costs
  • Federal judge restricts warrantless immigration arrests in Southern California
  • AP exclusive: Change in human trafficking policy could make some minors easier to deport
  • Fencing goes up around the main Kennedy Center building after board votes to close it
  • Trump and Whatley double down on the administration’s record in North Carolina Senate contest 
  • Kamala Harris is to campaign in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed 
  • The Obamas’ family dog Sunny dies, the former president says

 

WORLD NEWS

Tens of thousands flee as Iran-backed rebels draw Yemen into the wider war

More than 125,000 people in Yemen have fled as the Iran-backed rebels advanced down the Red Sea coast to a key maritime chokepoint. The offensive, linked to the wider Iran war, has threatened Saudi oil exports, pushed up global fuel prices and rattled markets. Read more.

What to know:

  • A Saudi-led blockade, along with the Houthis’ repressive rule and detention of U.N. and aid workers, has made life miserable in the now-expanding territory under rebel control. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government, weak and fragmented, has struggled to push them back.

As the Houthis continue to make headlines, I found this explainer by our colleague Joseph Krauss on why Yemen’s Houthis have only grown stronger through years of war particularly helpful. Do you have a question about the Houthis, Yemen or the wider conflict with Iran? Email us here and we’ll put your questions to our reporters.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

  • UN-backed experts cite possible US war crimes in Iran strikes 
  • Saudis seek allies’ help as missile defenses run low in fight with Houthis, officials say 
  • WATCH: Yemeni families flee fighting

 

HEALTH

Want to lower your risk of dementia? It doesn’t involve a blood test

New blood tests that might predict Alzheimer’s years before symptoms begin may sound tantalizing for people who worry about later-in-life dementia, but doctors say they aren’t quite ready yet. Besides, you don’t need a test before trying to lower your risk. Read more.

Why this matters:

  • Instead, focus on addressing potentially preventable brain risks. One large study found people who reached middle age without high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking lived dementia-free for nearly 13 years longer than people with all three of those common health problems in their 50s.

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  • Cut the number of choices you make each day. Your brain will thank you
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