Saturday, September 26, 2026 · Evening Edition

Today

By StaffNews Desk

Good morning. The administration is handing carmakers a windfall at the planet's expense. Trump said he finalized new fuel-economy standards Saturday that would kill the federal effort to speed the transition to electric vehicles. He announced he had approved standards eliminating the electric vehicle mandate introduced under Biden, whose 2024 rule set new pollution standards for automakers, reversing stricter policies meant to spur EV adoption.

The same government that frees capital from emissions rules is pulling money from the people with the least. Through a so-called pocket rescission it is moving to cancel $810 million in federal funding, clawing back spending approved for programs serving immigrants, minority groups, and children.

Trump's immigration line is now a loyalty test inside his own party. His social media lit up Saturday with a 13-post tirade against Rep. María Elvira Salazar after the Florida Republican sharply broke with him on immigration. House Democrats are preparing vast oversight with impeachment on the table; leader Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become House speaker if Democrats take the chamber, said, "There is a cost to the American people of the out-of-control corruption."

Abroad, the pageantry told the story. Trump gave Xi Jinping a warm welcome in Washington, from the National Archives to a state dinner, in a first White House summit that ran less than 48 hours. The red carpet underscored how fast the balance of power has shifted. At home, the same machine is running government-funded ads touting his achievements — paid for by you.