Today’s Top Stories from NBC News

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026

In today’s newsletter: A rare fall nor’easter threatens flooding in New York and New England, while Hawaii braces for Hurricane Nolo. Americans’ view of the economy hits a near-record low. And a debate about whether to bring iced coffee to a job interview is brewing online.

Here’s what to know today.

▼ The Lead

Nor’easter begins lashing Atlantic coast, and Hurricane Nolo skirts Hawaii

(The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

New York and parts of New England are bracing for heavy winds and rain as a rare fall nor’easter arrives in the region. A state of emergency has been declared in New York, major concerts and events have been canceled — including Ed Sheeran’s Massachusetts shows — and a travel advisory is in effect for New York City through Sunday.

The strongest winds are expected on Long Island and in New England, with gusts forecasted to be up to 60 mph. Heavy rain from the Jersey Shore to eastern Massachusetts is expected to last into tomorrow, with 4 to 6 inches predicted for New York City.

Here’s what else to know about the nor’easter.

Meanwhile in Hawaii, residents are bracing for Hurricane Nolo, which is forecast to strengthen into a major hurricane — meaning Category 3 or higher — this weekend and could intensify into next week. This marks the third hurricane in less than two months to whip past the state, fueled by a record-setting El Niño.

The storm’s outer rain bands began hitting the Big Island yesterday evening, the National Hurricane Center said, and hurricane conditions are possible today. Nolo is forecast to dump 8 to 12 inches of rain on parts of the Big Island. The rest of Hawaii will experience lesser rainfall totals, but isolated flooding is possible.

Here’s what else to know about Hurricane Nolo.

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Amid warnings that AI could soon wipe out humanity, some lawmakers don’t feel Congress has the expertise or ability to regulate AI. “A lot of them can’t spell it,” quipped Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. “They just don’t have the experience.” Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego was equally skeptical, saying, “They still don’t know how to get on the internet,” let alone understand AI.

Others, however, are more optimistic. “Yeah, you don’t need to be a Ph.D. or a master’s in computer science to know what to do next,” said Democratic Rep. Don Beyer, who argued the real holdup is Republicans.

One thing that everyone seems to agree on: Congress has been notoriously slow to regulate new technology, and it’s not close to regulating AI.

What others on Capitol Hill are saying about AI.

More AI coverage:

For subscribers: OpenAI’s safety committee holds an unusual sway over how and whether the company’s products are released to the public. Now it faces increasing scrutiny in the wake of high-profile incidents.

More politics news:

The White House said it plans to cut $800 million in congressionally approved funding using a rare tactic, spurring criticism from both sides of the aisle.

For the third time, the Supreme Court shut down efforts by Missouri Republicans to use a new congressional map in the midterm elections.

For subscribers: The U.S. intelligence community’s inspector general is investigating how a CIA officer found with $40 million in gold bars at his home deceived the top spy agency.

✱ FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Americans’ view of the economy hits near-record low

Americans today feel worse about the economy than they did during either the Covid-19 pandemic or the 2008 financial crisis, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey. September’s results, released yesterday, showed the survey’s second-lowest reading in its 74-year history. The lowest month was May, when gas peaked at $4.56 a gallon.

In recent months, tariffs have become a renewed focus for both consumers and the Trump administration. And gas prices are on the rise again, with near-record diesel costs threatening to push prices on transportation and everyday items even higher. All of it translates to persistent inflation, the effects of which are rippling through the economy.

Where things stand in the U.S. economy.

▼ Quiz Time

Americans are drinking less for the first time since the pandemic, according to a new study. Which age cohort was the only one to report an increase?

18 to 39 years old
40 to 49 years old
50 to 64 years old
65+ years old

Find out the answer and test your knowledge of this week's most-read stories. (The answer to the question is also at the bottom of this newsletter.)

TAKE THE NEWS QUIZ

▼ Staff Pick

The caffeinated controversy brewing online

Should you bring an iced coffee to a job interview? It’s the question that’s tearing the internet apart, and pitting generations against each other. So how did we get here?

It all started when a recruiter shared a TikTok video saying she thought it was “too casual” for candidates to bring an iced coffee to an interview. Older generations like millennials and Gen X agreed, with many calling it unprofessional. That’s when Gen Z pushed back online, arguing it’s just “really not that serious.”

So is there a right answer? We spoke to Gen Z job seekers, hiring managers and etiquette experts to get to the bottom of it all. Who knew an iced beverage could turn into such a heated debate?

— Natalie Bennett, segment producer

▼ Read All About It

Two people were arrested and a load of kratom was seized days after the deaths of two Ole Miss students.

Two leaders of an underground University of Wisconsin-Madison fraternity were arrested after dozens of pledges were found injured, shirtless and covered in condiments in a sweltering basement.

For subscribers: Paramount made a big promise to seal its Warner Bros. deal. Hollywood insiders are skeptical.

For subscribers: The Chicago Bears will likely rely on their No. 3 quarterback in Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Coach Ben Johnson seems ready for the challenge.

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